Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Systematics of the reed-warblers of the Tuamotu Archipelago, eastern Polynesia

Abstract The Tuamotu Reed-Warbler (Acrocephalus atyphus) is a small insectivorous passerine endemic to eastern Polynesia in the Pacific Ocean. To complement a previous study of the phylogeography of this species based on molecular data, we undertook an analysis based on morphological characters taken from study skins and live birds and propose a new classification for the Tuamotu Reed-Warbler. Three of the six subspecies previously recognised, eremus, palmarum and niauensis, can be diagnosed by both morphological and genetic characters and all are found on uplifted coral islands with a peculiar geomorphology (a shallow or absent lagoon) and elevations higher than average for Tuamotu atolls. Conversely, morphological and molecular analyses suggest that all low-lying atoll populations should be merged into a single taxon, atyphus. Finally, we suggest priorities for conservation for this endemic bird. This study provides an evaluation of the morphological variation of a terrestrial bird across the largest chain of atolls in the world.
Exploring the Availability of Emergency Contraception in New Brunswick Pharmacies: A Mystery-Client Telephone Study

Although levonorgestrel-only emergency contraceptive pills (LNg-ECPs) have been available over the counter in Canada for more than a decade, barriers to access persist. We aimed to obtain information about the availability and cost of LNg-ECPs in New Brunswick. Using a mystery-client study design, we called all 207 non-specialty pharmacies in the province posing as a 17-year-old woman seeking something to prevent pregnancy after sex. We evaluated the information provided for accuracy and quality. The overwhelming majority of pharmacies (n = 180, 87%) had at least one brand of LNg-ECPs in stock; the price averaged CAD28.69 (USD21.65). Although the majority of pharmacy representatives provided accurate information about LNg-ECPs, a small number made incorrect statements about the timeframe for use, side effects, and mechanism of action. In nine interactions (4%) pharmacy representatives incorrectly indicated that a male partner could not obtain LNg-ECPs; none indicated that parental involvement was required to procure LNg-ECPs. None of the pharmacy representatives referenced any other modality of emergency contraception, including ulipristal acetate. Our findings suggest that LNg-ECPs are widely available and that most pharmacy representatives are providing accurate medical and regulatory information. However, supporting the continuing education of pharmacists and pharmacy staff, particularly around alternative modalities of emergency contraception, appears warranted.
Functional Analysis of Differentially Expressed Acetylated Spermatozoal Proteins in Infertile Men with Unilateral and Bilateral Varicocele

Sperm proteins undergo post-translational modifications, such as phosphorylation, acetylation, and ubiquitination, which in turn play a key role in determining their fertilizing ability. In the current study, we examined the sperm proteome of men with unilateral and bilateral varicocele to identify the key proteins affected by acetylation to gain an insight into the difference in the severity of affected sperm function in the latter. An LTQ-Orbitrap Elite hybrid mass spectrometer system was used to profile the sperm proteome in pooled unilateral and bilateral varicocele patients. Bioinformatics database and tools, such as UniProtKB, Ingenuity Pathway Analysis Software (IPA) and Metacore, were used to identify the differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) involved in the acetylation process. A total of 135 DEPs in the spermatozoa of unilateral and bilateral varicocele patients were found to be affected by acetylation. The majority of these DEPs found were regulated by key transcription factors such as androgen receptor, p53, and NRF2. Furthermore, the DEPs predicted to be affected by the acetylation process were associated with fertilization, acrosome reaction, mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress. Aberrant expression of proteins and their differential acetylation process may affect the normal physiological functions of spermatozoa. Protein–protein interactions identified dysregulation of the proteasome complex in the bilateral varicocele group. Damage to the proteasome complex may result in aggregation of the misfolded proteins, which in turn increase sperm DNA damage and apoptosis in patients with bilateral varicocele.
Contribution of oxygen extraction fraction to maximal oxygen uptake in healthy young men

We analysed the importance of systemic and peripheral arteriovenous O2 difference ( a-v¯O2 difference and a‐vfO2 difference, respectively) and O2 extraction fraction for maximal oxygen uptake ( V˙O2max ). Fick law of diffusion and the Piiper and Scheid model were applied to investigate whether diffusion versus perfusion limitations vary with V˙O2max . Articles (n = 17) publishing individual data (n = 154) on V˙O2max , maximal cardiac output ( Q˙max ; indicator‐dilution or the Fick method), a-v¯O2 difference (catheters or the Fick equation) and systemic O2 extraction fraction were identified. For the peripheral responses, group‐mean data (articles: n = 27; subjects: n = 234) on leg blood flow (LBF; thermodilution), a‐vfO2 difference and O2 extraction fraction (arterial and femoral venous catheters) were obtained. Q˙max and two‐LBF increased linearly by 4.9‐6.0 L · min–1 per 1 L · min–1 increase in V˙O2max (R2 = .73 and R2 = .67, respectively; both P < .001). The a-v¯O2 difference increased from 118‐168 mL · L–1 from a V˙O2max of 2‐4.5 L · min–1 followed by a reduction (second‐order polynomial: R2 = .27). After accounting for a hypoxemia‐induced decrease in arterial O2 content with increasing V˙O2max (R2 = .17; P < .001), systemic O2 extraction fraction increased up to ~90% ( V˙O2max : 4.5 L · min–1) with no further change (exponential decay model: R2 = .42). Likewise, leg O2 extraction fraction increased with V˙O2max to approach a maximal value of ~90‐95% (R2 = .83). Muscle O2 diffusing capacity and the equilibration index Y increased linearly with V˙O2max (R2 = .77 and R2 = .31, respectively; both P < .01), reflecting decreasing O2 diffusional limitations and accentuating O2 delivery limitations. In conclusion, although O2 delivery is the main limiting factor to V˙O2max , enhanced O2 extraction fraction (≥90%) contributes to the remarkably high V˙O2max in endurance‐trained individuals.
Inhibition of Programmed Death Receptor-1/Programmed Death Ligand-1 Interactions by Ginsenoside Metabolites

Evidence suggests that programmed death receptor-1/programmed death ligand-1 (PD-1/PD-L1) targeted inhibitors act as an immune checkpoint blockade, indicating that these compounds may be useful in cancer immunotherapy by inhibiting the immune response between T-cells and tumors. Previous studies have shown that ginsenosides can regulate the expression of PD-1 and PD-L1 in target diseases; however, it remains unknown whether ginsenosides act as a blockade of PD-1/PD-L1 interactions. In this study, we used competitive ELISA to investigate 12 ginsenosides for their ability to block PD-1/PD-L1 interactions. In addition, we performed a protein–ligand docking simulation and examined the hydrophobic interactions and hydrogen bonds formed at the interfaces between the ginsenosides and PD-L1/PD-1. Eight out of the 12 ginsenosides studied showed inhibition of PD-1/PD-L1 interactions at 35% at the maximum concentration (1 μM). Among them, Rg3 and Compound K (C-K) demonstrated the highest inhibitory effects. Rg3 and C-K were further identified for their interaction efficacy with PD-1/PD-L1, which supported our results demonstrating the blocking activity of these compounds against PD-1/PD-L1 binding interactions. Collectively, our findings suggest that some ginsenosides, including Rg3 and C-K, inhibit PD-1/PD-L1 binding interactions. Therefore, these compounds may prove useful as part of an overall immuno-oncological strategy.
Nomogram using F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography for preoperative prediction of lymph node metastasis in gastric cancer

BACKGROUND Lymph node (LN) metastasis is an important prognostic factor in patients with gastric cancer (GC). However, the evaluation of LN metastasis status in the preoperative setting is not accurate. Therefore, precise preoperative prediction of LN metastasis status is crucial for optimal treatment in patients with GC. AIM To develop a preoperative nomogram for LN metastasis using F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose (F-18 FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) and preoperative laboratory test findings in GC. METHODS In this study, the data of 566 GC patients who underwent preoperative F-18 FDG PET/CT and subsequent surgical resection were analyzed. The LN metastasis prediction model was developed in the training cohort and validated in the internal validation cohort. Routine preoperative laboratory tests, including albumin and carbohydrate antigen (CA) 19-9 were performed in all patients. Univariate and multivariable logistic regression was performed to validate the preoperative predictive indicators for LN metastasis. RESULTS Of the 566 patients, 232 (41%) had confirmed histopathologic LN metastasis. Univariate logistic regression revealed that the tumor location, blood hemoglobin, serum albumin levels, neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio, platelet to lymphocyte ratio, CA 19-9, maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) of the primary tumor (T_SUVmax), and SUVmax of LN (N_SUVmax) were significantly associated with LN metastasis. In multivariate analysis, T_SUVmax (OR = 1.08; 95%CI: 1.02–1.15; P = 0.011) and N_SUVmax (OR = 1.49; 95%CI: 1.19–1.97; P = 0.002) were found to be significant predictive factors for LN metastasis. The LN metastasis prediction model using T_SUVmax, N_SUVmax, serum albumin, and CA 19-9 yielded an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.733 (95%CI: 0.683–0.784, P = 0.025) in the training cohort and AUC of 0.756 (95%CI: 0.678–0.833, P < 0.001) in the test cohort. CONCLUSION T_SUVmax and N_SUVmax measured by preoperative F-18 FDG PET/CT are independent predictive factors for LN metastasis in GC.
Growth and Mortality of Chickens as Affected by the Floor Litter

Abstract THE first brood of chicks to be raised by the Ohio Station at Wooster with no removal of the floor litter during the first 12 weeks was started February 2, 1946. The procedure was repeated with another brood June 5, 1946. The surprise then was that the chicks did as well or better than previously when the floor litter had been removed at frequent intervals. Consequently, a second brood was started September 4, 1946 and raised on the same built-up litter. The viability of the second brood was 90 percent while that of the first was 85 percent. Thus began the Station’s continuous use of the same built-up litter for one brood of chicks after another. To date (June, 1950) 14 consecutive broods of chicks have been started and successfully raised during the first 10 to 16 weeks on the same built-up litter. BUILT-UP LITTER A SANITARY PROCEDURE In the .
The Fourier-Argand Representation: An Optimal Basis of Steerable Patterns

Computing the convolution between a 2D signal and a corresponding filter with variable orientations is a basic problem that arises in various tasks ranging from low level image processing (e.g. ridge/edge detection) to high level computer vision (e.g. pattern recognition). Through decades of research, there still lacks an efficient method for solving this problem. In this paper, we investigate this problem from the perspective of approximation by considering the following problem: what is the optimal basis for approximating all rotated versions of a given bivariate function? Surprisingly, solely minimising the <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$L^{2}$ </tex-math></inline-formula>-approximation-error leads to a rotation-covariant linear expansion, which we name Fourier-Argand representation. This representation presents two major advantages: 1) rotation-covariance of the basis, which implies a “strong steerability” — rotating by an angle <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\alpha $ </tex-math></inline-formula> corresponds to multiplying each basis function by a complex scalar <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$e^{-ik\alpha }$ </tex-math></inline-formula>; 2) optimality of the Fourier-Argand basis, which ensures a few number of basis functions suffice to accurately approximate complicated patterns and highly direction-selective filters. We show the relation between the Fourier-Argand representation and the Radon transform, leading to an efficient implementation of the decomposition for digital filters. We also show how to retrieve accurate orientation of local structures/patterns using a fast frequency estimation algorithm.
A service evaluation comparing home-based testing to clinic-based testing for HIV, syphilis and hepatitis B in Birmingham and Solihull

The sexual health services in the Birmingham and Solihull area of the United Kingdom, called Umbrella, has been offering home-based testing for sexually transmitted infections to patients since August 2015. The aim of this service evaluation was to evaluate the uptake, return rate and new diagnosis rates of home-based testing in comparison with clinic-based testing for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), syphilis (STS) and hepatitis B. Home-based testing, although popular, had low uptake amongst high-risk groups such as men who have sex with men (MSM), compared to the clinic-based group (1% versus 11%, p < 0.001). This resulted in low positivity rates for HIV (0.02%) and STS (0.17%) and no new cases of hepatitis B in the home-based group. Therefore, our results show that home-based testing is not a cost-effective method of testing for HIV and likely this is also the case for hepatitis B and STS. Our recommendation would be to encourage uptake of home-based testing in high-risk groups such as MSM and Black Africans to improve the diagnosis rates of HIV, STS and hepatitis B. Alternatively, the continuation of home-based blood testing in the Birmingham and Solihull area will need to be reviewed by Umbrella as a cost-saving strategy for the service in the future.
Psychological problem areas of pregnant women diagnosed with abortus imminens as a result of assisted reproductive techniques: A comparative study.

PURPOSE The study was to evaluate the anxiety, depressive symptoms, hopelessness, and perceived social support of women who became pregnant using assisted reproductive techniques and who were both diagnosed or not diagnosed with threatened miscarriage (TM). DESIGN AND METHODS This comparative and descriptive study was carried out with 194 pregnant women with-TM (96) and non-TM (98). The study data were collected using the Pregnant-Women-Information-Form, Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), Beck Hopelessness Scale (BHS) and Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS). FINDINGS Women in the TM group were found to have higher mean scores from the BDI, BAI, and BHS, and a lower mean score from the MSPSS compared to the non-TM group (The group with TM had higher levels of anxiety, depression, and hopelessness than the group without TM, and the level of perceived social support by this group was lower). It was found that there was a strongly significant positive correlation in both groups between the BDI and BAI, and between the BDI and BHS. A strongly significant negative correlation was found between the BDI, BAI, BHS, and MSPSS in the TM group, whereas there was a moderately significant negative correlation in the non-TM group. It was found that there was a statistically significant difference between the mean BDI, BAI, BHS, and MSPSS scores according to age group, educational status, number of interventional in vitro fertilization attempts, and history of depression. In addition, there was a statistically significant difference between the mean BDI, BAI, and BHS scores according to previous abortion and family history of depression in the TM group. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS Monitoring symptoms of depression, anxiety, and hopelessness in women diagnosed with TM who have become pregnant after infertility treatment, intervening due to the risk factors involved, may prevent possible mental problems and have a positive impact on the healthy continuation of the pregnancy.
Regenerative Rehabilitation for Stroke Recovery by Inducing Synergistic Effects of Cell Therapy and Neurorehabilitation on Motor Function: A Narrative Review of Pre-Clinical Studies

Neurological diseases severely affect the quality of life of patients. Although existing treatments including rehabilitative therapy aim to facilitate the recovery of motor function, achieving complete recovery remains a challenge. In recent years, regenerative therapy has been considered as a potential candidate that could yield complete functional recovery. However, to achieve desirable results, integration of transplanted cells into neural networks and generation of appropriate microenvironments are essential. Furthermore, considering the nascent state of research in this area, we must understand certain aspects about regenerative therapy, including specific effects, nature of interaction when administered in combination with rehabilitative therapy (regenerative rehabilitation), and optimal conditions. Herein, we review the current status of research in the field of regenerative therapy, discuss the findings that could hold the key to resolving the challenges associated with regenerative rehabilitation, and outline the challenges to be addressed with future studies. The current state of research emphasizes the importance of determining the independent effect of regenerative and rehabilitative therapies before exploring their combined effects. Furthermore, the current review highlights the progression in the treatment perspective from a state of compensation of lost function to that of a possibility of complete functional recovery.
Inertial Sensor-Based Motion Tracking in Football with Movement Intensity Quantification

Inertial sensor-based measurements of lower body kinematics in football players may improve physical load estimates during training sessions and matches. However, the validity of inertial-based motion analysis systems is specific to both the type of movement and the intensity at which movements are executed. Importantly, such a system should be relatively simple, so it can easily be used in daily practice. This paper introduces an easy-to-use inertial-based motion analysis system and evaluates its validity using an optoelectronic motion analysis system as a gold standard. The system was validated in 11 football players for six different football specific movements that were executed at low, medium, and maximal intensity. Across all movements and intensities, the root mean square differences (means ± SD) for knee and hip flexion/extension angles were 5.3° ± 3.4° and 8.0° ± 3.5°, respectively, illustrating good validity with the gold standard. In addition, mean absolute flexion/extension angular velocities significantly differed between the three movement intensities. These results show the potential to use the inertial based motion analysis system in football practice to obtain lower body kinematics and to quantify movement intensity, which both may improve currently used physical load estimates of the players.
Husbands' and Wives' Stressful Work, Couple BMI Dynamics, and Later-life Physical Health.

Previous research has not adequately investigated the persistent influence of stressful work experiences, particularly person-work mismatch (PWM), on the later-life physical health outcomes of working husbands and wives. Using prospective data collected from 235 working husbands and wives over a period of 27 years (1991-2017), this study examined PWM in early middle years (40-50 years of age) and BMI trajectories in mid-later years (50-65 years of age) in a dyadic actor-partner interdependence modeling (APIM) framework. Results showed PWM in early middle years was related to BMI trajectories in mid-later years, which contributed to multiple physical health outcomes in later life. Spouses' PWM influenced not only their BMI trajectories but also their partners' BMI trajectories, providing evidence for partner effects. This couple-level BMI process over the mid-later years was related to spouses' physical health in later years. Husbands' elevated BMI level resulted in adverse physical health outcomes. In contrast, for wives, it was the change in BMI over time that resulted in adverse physical health outcomes in their later years. These findings are particularly important for couple-focused family interventions as they highlight the need to consider couple-level lifestyle and behavioral factors that can safeguard spouses from the negative health consequences of PWM. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Seed respiration of sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] during germination as affected by temperature and osmoconditioning

Abstract Seed respiration has been utilized as an index of seed vigour and has correlated well with seedling development. We examined the respiration process as affected by temperature and osmopriming during imbibition in two cultivars of sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] differing in capacity to germinate at low temperatures. Respiration of imbibing seeds was measured with a specially built apparatus linked to an infrared gas analyser. Seed respiration at the beginning of the imbibition process strictly depended on temperature (T). T also greatly affected the total CO2 respired to reach the first germination event, which significantly increased as T declined from the optimum. Osmopriming affected seed respiration differently in the two cultivars. In the cold-tolerant cultivar (Brandes), osmopriming reduced the total thermal requirements and, at T close to the minimum for germination, the energy required to achieve the first radicle protrusion. In the cold-sensitive cultivar (H128), osmopriming lowered base T for respiration and reduced the requirements for total CO2 respired, allowing germination even at 10°C. The cold-tolerant cultivar always maintained higher respiration rates than the cold-sensitive one, showing a greater capability of mobilizing energy from reserves. Germination time (i.e. GR50) related well to cumulative seed respiration down to a threshold value of cumulative CO2, after which GR50 was more affected by T than was cumulative respiration. Seed water uptake significantly slowed with decreasing T, and was accelerated by osmopriming. However, water imbibition rate influenced the start of seed respiration, but not the subsequent rate of metabolic activity preceding germination. Seed respiration was a good indicator of the activation of germinative metabolic processes, although under extreme T conditions the seed populations still respired, even if at low levels, but did not germinate rapidly or completely.