Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Mean Platelet Volume is Affected in Term Fetuses with Intrauterine Growth Restriction

Abstract Objectives The aim of our study was to analyze the mean platelet volume levels as a potential marker of altered placentation in intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) cases. Methods A total of 126 term singleton pregnant women with IUGR fetuses and 345 healthy pregnant controls were recruited and compared. Results The mean platelet volume was significantly higher in the IUGR group (10.8±0.9 fl) than the control group (9.9±1.1 fl) (p=0.03). The mean hemoglobin was lower in IUGR group (11.3 (8.3–14.5) g/dl) than the control group (11.9 (8.2–13.0) g/dl) (p=0.04). The optimal cut-off MPV for prediction of IUGR was ≥10.55 fl, with a sensitivity of 59% and a specificity of 75%. Conclusion Increased MPV levels in term pregnant women may be particularly helpful for discrimination and prediction of high-risk fetuses when IUGR is suspected.
Systematic Review on Late Cochlear Implantation in Early-Deafened Adults and Adolescents: Predictors of Performance.

OBJECTIVES Early-deafened, late-implanted adolescents and adults constitute a unique group of cochlear implant (CI) users, showing a large variability in outcomes. The current systematic review aimed to determine which preimplantation factors are relevant in predicting postoperative outcomes in this patient group. DESIGN A systematic search for studies published between 2000 and September 2017 was performed in five electronic databases (PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane library, CINAHL, and PsycInfo). Prognostic studies that assessed the relation between patient-related factors and CI outcomes in early-deafened but late-implanted adolescent and adult CI users were included. Study quality was assessed with the Quality In Prognosis Studies (QUIPS) tool. RESULTS The systematic search and subsequent full-text evaluation identified 13 studies that had a clear prognostic study goal. Eight out of these 13 studies had a high risk of bias for at least one of the five QUIPS domains. Analysis of the outcomes identified that communication mode (in childhood), preoperative speech intelligibility, and preoperative speech recognition scores were significantly related to speech perception outcomes for this group of CI users. A number of additional factors considered worth for further investigation were also identified. CONCLUSIONS The analysis of the studies assessing the effect of a number of patient-related factors on outcome with CI in early-deafened adolescents and adults identified three potential prognostic factors and a number of additional factors to be incorporated in future research. More high-quality prognosis studies in the investigated patient population are still needed.
Sub-cellular imaging shows reduced photosynthetic carbon and increased nitrogen assimilation by the non-native endosymbiont Durusdinium trenchii in the model cnidarian Aiptasia.

Hosting different symbiont species can affect inter-partner nutritional fluxes within the cnidarian-dinoflagellate symbiosis. Using nanoscale secondary ion mass spectrometry (NanoSIMS), we measured the spatial incorporation of photosynthetically-fixed 13 C and heterotrophically-derived 15 N into host and symbiont cells of the model symbiotic cnidarian Aiptasia (Exaiptasia pallida) when colonised with its native symbiont Breviolum minutum or the non-native Durusdinium trenchii. B. minutum exhibited high photosynthetic carbon assimilation per cell and translocation to host tissue throughout symbiosis establishment, while D. trenchii assimilated significantly less carbon, but obtained more host nitrogen. These findings suggest that D. trenchii has less potential to provide photosynthetically-fixed carbon to the host despite obtaining considerable amounts of heterotrophically-derived nitrogen. These sub-cellular events help explain previous observations that demonstrate differential effects of D. trenchii compared to B. minutum on the host transcriptome, proteome, metabolome, and host growth and asexual reproduction. Together, these differential effects suggest that the non-native host-symbiont pairing is sub-optimal with respect to the host's nutritional benefits under normal environmental conditions. This contributes to our understanding of the ways in which metabolic integration impacts the benefits of a symbiotic association, and the potential evolution of novel host-symbiont pairings. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Evaluation of human cartilage endplate composition using MRI: Spatial variation, association with adjacent disc degeneration, and in vivo repeatability

Cartilage endplate (CEP) biochemical composition may influence disc degeneration and regeneration. However, evaluating CEP composition in patients remains a challenge. We used T2* mapping from ultrashort echo‐time (UTE) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), which is sensitive to CEP hydration, to investigate spatial variations in CEP T2* values and to determine how CEP T2* values correlate with adjacent disc degeneration. Thirteen human cadavers (56.4 ± 12.7 years) and seven volunteers (36.9 ± 10.9 years) underwent 3T MRI, including UTE and T1ρ mapping sequences. Spatial mappings of T2* values in L4‐S1 CEPs were generated from UTE images and compared between subregions. In the abutting discs, mean T1ρ values in the nucleus pulposus were compared between CEPs with high vs low T2* values. To assess in vivo repeatability, precision errors in mean T2* values, and intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) were measured from repeat scans. Results showed that CEP T2* values were highest centrally and lowest posteriorly. In the youngest individuals (<50 years), who had mild‐to‐moderately degenerated Pfirrmann grade II‐III discs, low CEP T2* values associated with severer disc degeneration: T1ρ values were 26.7% lower in subjects with low CEP T2* values (P = .025). In older individuals, CEP T2* values did not associate with disc degeneration (P = .39‐.62). Precision errors in T2* ranged from 1.7 to 2.6 ms, and reliability was good‐to‐excellent (ICC = 0.89‐0.94). These findings suggest that deficits in CEP composition, as indicated by low T2* values, associate with severer disc degeneration during the mild‐to‐moderate stages. Measuring CEP T2* values with UTE MRI may clarify the role of CEP composition in patients with mild‐to‐moderate disc degeneration.
Homoplasy Increases Phylogenetic Structure

According to currently accepted theories, rapidly evolving nucleotide sites are phylogenetically less informative than more slowly evolving ones, especially for recognizing more ancient groupings. For this reason third codon positions are often regarded as less reliable than first and second positions as indicators of phylogeny. Analysis of the largest nucleotide matrix treated to date—2538 rbc L sequences covering all major lineages of green plants—shows the opposite: although rapidly evolving and highly homoplastic, third positions contain most of the phylogenetic structure in the data. Frequency of change should thus be used with caution as a criterion for weighting or selecting characters.
Inibição da ação do etileno retarda o desenvolvimento de injúrias de frio em tangor 'Murcott'

The blockage of ethylene-dependent signaling may affect the quality of tropical fruit in a positive or negative way after cold storage. Hence, the role of ethylene on chilling injury in tangor 'Murcott' and the responses related to injuries resistance were the aims of this study. Fruit were treated for 12h with 500nL L-1 of 1 methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) or immersed into solutions containing 2000nL L-1 ethephon or salicylic acid for 5min before storage at 1°C for 90 days. As a control fruit were stored at 1°C. Chilling injury symptoms were anticipated and intensified when fruit were treated with ethephon or salicylic acid. On the other hand, the ethylene inhibition by 1-MCP delayed symptoms and resulted in the lowest injury index and percentage of fruit decay at the end of storage. At 45 days the superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity was intensified, however, in lower intensity in salicylic acid treated fruit. Afterwards, SOD activity decrease in all the treatments, though at 90 days the intensity was slightly superior to that at the initial 30 days of storage. During storage period it were not observed significantly alterations in putrescine (Put) and spermine (Spm) levels in flavedo tissues. In contrast, spermidine (Spm) levels were more affected by chilling stress.
Corticosterone Levels during the Nesting Process in Red-eared Sliders (Trachemys scripta)

Abstract Free-living vertebrates tend to respond to environmental challenges by increasing circulating glucocorticoid levels. Changes in glucocorticoids can modulate various aspects of physiology and behavior, which can have fitness benefits in the short term but may be detrimental to fitness if elevated levels are frequent, prolonged, or both. The transfer of glucocorticoids from females to offspring might also have fitness consequences, but there is less known about the potential effects of transgenerational glucocorticoid transfer. Our study examined corticosterone levels in female Red-eared Sliders (Trachemys scripta) during the nesting season because of the potential fitness consequences for both females and offspring. Whether caught in aquatic traps or caught during the nesting process, females had similar circulating corticosterone levels that were relatively low. However, when females were subjected to a restraint protocol, corticosterone rose. Therefore, corticosterone levels may be elevated during the nesting process, but the nesting process itself does not result in elevated corticosterone levels. Understanding how natural processes such as nesting influence corticosterone levels has important consequences for interpreting corticosterone levels as an index of fitness.
Sugar and amino acid composition of ant‐attended nectar and honeydew sources from an Australian rainforest

Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) consume a broad spectrum of liquid food sources including nectar and honeydew, which play a key role in their diet especially in tropical forests. This study compares carbohydrates and amino acids from a representative spectrum of liquid sources used by ants in the canopy and understorey of a tropical rainforest in northern Queensland, Australia. Eighteen floral nectars, 16 extrafloral nectars, two wound sap and four homopteran honeydew sources were analysed using high performance liquid chromatography. Wounds comprised flower abscission scars on Normanbya normanbyi L. H. Bailey and bitemarks on Cardwellia sublimis F. Muell. where ants were actively involved in wounding. Discriminant analysis was performed to model differences between food sources in sugar and amino acid concentration and composition. All characteristics varied significantly among plant species. Honeydew contained a broader spectrum of sugars (including melezitose, raffinose, melibiose, lactose and maltose) than nectar (sucrose, glucose, fructose), but certain extrafloral nectars had similar amino acid profiles and, like honeydew sources, were often monopolized by ants. Most common amino acids across the sources were proline, alanine and threonine among 17 α-amino acids identified. Interspecific variability concealed characteristic differences in sugar and amino acid parameters between nectar, honeydew and wound sap across all plants, but these types differed significantly when found on the same plant. Among all sources studied, only a few flower nectars were naturally not consumed by ants and they were significantly less attended than sugar controls in feeding trials. These nectars did not differ in sugars and amino acids from ant-attended flower nectars, suggesting the activity of repellents. Apart from these exceptions, variability in amino acids and carbohydrates is proposed to play a key role in ant preferences and nutrition.
Biochemical biomarkers alterations in Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)

Abstract Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a respiratory disease, which can evolve into multi-organ failure (MOF), leading to death. Several biochemical alterations have been described in COVID-19 patients. To date, many biomarkers reflecting the main pathophysiological characteristics of the disease have been identified and associated with the risk of developing severe disease. Lymphopenia represents the hallmark of the disease, and it can be detected since the early stage of infection. Increased levels of several inflammatory biomarkers, including c-reactive protein, have been found in COVID-19 patients and associated with an increased risk of severe disease, which is characterised by the so-called “cytokine storm”. Also, the increase of cardiac and liver dysfunction biomarkers has been associated with poor outcome. In this review, we provide an overview of the main biochemical characteristics of COVID-19 and the associated biomarkers alterations.
Interaction of Insects and Weeds in a Snap Bean Agroecosystem

Integrated weed management strategies maintain sub-threshold levels of weeds. The remaining weeds may impact the feeding and habitation patterns of both potato leaf- hoppers and bean leaf beetles in a snap bean agroecosystem. The objective of our study was to determine the effect of interference between snap beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) and either redroot pigweed (Amaranthus retroflexus L.) or large crabgrass (Digitaria sanguinalis L.) on populations of potato leafhopper (Empoasca fabae (Harris)) and bean leaf beetle (Cerotoma trifurcata (Forster)). Plots were seeded with redroot pigweed or large crabgrass at either the same time as snap bean planting (early) or when snap bean had one trifoliate leaf open (late). The weed density averaged two plants per meter of row. Bean leaf beetle populations, snap bean pod damage, and leaf defoliation were lower in weed-free plots compared to those with either early emerging pigweed or crabgrass. Leafhopper nymphs and adults were 31% to 34% less in plots with crabgrass emerging with snap beans com- pared to those in weed-free snap bean plots. Thus, the effect of sub-threshold densities of pigweed and crabgrass on insect pests in snap bean varied depending on the species and should be considered when deciding to integrate weed management approaches.
Longitudinal structural and metabolic changes in frontotemporal dementia

Objective To compare the sensitivity of structural MRI and 18F-fludeoxyglucose PET (18FDG-PET) to detect longitudinal changes in frontotemporal dementia (FTD). Methods Thirty patients with behavioral variant FTD (bvFTD), 7 with nonfluent/agrammatic variant primary progressive aphasia (nfvPPA), 16 with semantic variant primary progressive aphasia (svPPA), and 43 cognitively normal controls underwent 2–4 MRI and 18FDG-PET scans (total scans/visit = 270) as part of the Frontotemporal Lobar Degeneration Neuroimaging Initiative study. Linear mixed-effects models were carried out voxel-wise and in regions of interest to identify areas showing decreased volume or metabolism over time in patients as compared to controls. Results At baseline, patients with bvFTD showed bilateral temporal, dorsolateral, and medial prefrontal atrophy/hypometabolism that extended with time into adjacent structures and parietal lobe. In nfvPPA, baseline atrophy/hypometabolism in supplementary motor cortex extended with time into left greater than right precentral, dorsolateral, and dorsomedial prefrontal cortex. In svPPA, baseline atrophy/hypometabolism encompassed the anterior temporal and medial prefrontal cortex and longitudinal changes were found in temporal, orbitofrontal, and lateral parietal cortex. Across syndromes, there was substantial overlap in the brain regions showing volume and metabolism loss. Even though the pattern of metabolic decline was more extensive, metabolic changes were also more variable and sample size estimates were similar or higher for 18FDG-PET compared to MRI. Conclusion Our findings demonstrated the sensitivity of 18FDG-PET and structural MRI for tracking disease progression in FTD. Both modalities showed highly overlapping patterns of longitudinal change and comparable sample size estimates to detect longitudinal changes in future clinical trials.
Growth in length and weight of northern brown bears: differences between sexes and populations

Growth curves were fitted to data on age, length, and spring weight for individuals from three populations of the brown bear, Ursus arctos, in northern Canada and northwest Alaska. Females reached 90% of asymptotic length before sexual maturity and before the age of first production. Their weight remained approximately in proportion to the cube of their length. Males reached 90% of asymptotic length 0.7 to 1.7 years later than females, and had asymptotic lengths 10–15% greater. Males continued their growth in weight even longer, and reached asymptotic weights 80–100% greater than females. Variation between these populations was small compared with the total range of variation in the species.
Evaluation of mice, sheep and human IgG and IgE antibody responses against the mice Crude Hydatid Cyst Fluid (HCF) antigens

Hydatidosis is a dangerous parasitic disease which commonly occurs in humans and animals. It annually causes many economic and health problems throughout the world. The existing diagnostic kit uses sheep cystic fluid antigen as an available antigen to evaluate the human IgG antibody. The current study was designed to evaluate an alternative antigen which is the mice HCF antigen for such diagnosing kit. For this purpose the IgG responses in sera of human, mice and sheep against the mice crude hydatid fluid antigens was applied using ELISA and Western Blot. Thirty Balb/c mice were immunized using sheep hydatid cyst and complete freunds adjuants. The hydatid cyst fluid antigens of human and sheep were obtained from naturally infected human and sheep and for mice from experimentally infected mice with protoscolices of hydatid cysts (HC). Antigens were used in ELISA and SDS PAGE after their concentrations were measured applying Bradford procedure. Thirty positive samples sera from mice, sheep and human were employed as the case and 30 healthy sera from each as the control group. The statistic analysis tests were ANOVA and post Hoc Analysis Model. The highest mice antibody response against mice HCF antigens was IgGAM antibody (with mean OD value 0.4) while the lowest was IgE (with mean OD value 0.26). The best antibody response was seen for human total IgG against mice HCF with mean OD value of 0.71 while the lowest response against this antigen belonged to human IgG3 and IgE each with mean OD value of 0.12. ANOVA analysis indicated significant differences between the human IgG class and subclass responses to mice HCF antigens (P < 0.05). The sensitivity and specificity of the ELISA for antibody responses to this antigen was mostly more than 90% almost for all sera of different hosts. The mean OD value of sheep IgG against mice HCF antigen was 0.34. The studied sera (mice, human and sheep) considerably showed a positive response against mice HCF antigens by ELISA test. The human and mice sera showed a higher response over the sheep sera in that their mean OD values and their OD ratio were significantly higher than that for the sheep. Totally there are some immune responses from the serum of each animal recognizing the crude hydatid cyst fluid antigen of mice. According to the results of the current study the mice HCF is an appropriate candidate for diagnosing of hydatidosis of human and animal. Key words: Hydatid cyst, cross-reaction, IgG response, hydatid cyst fluid.
U.S. Phase I First-in-human Study of Taletrectinib (DS-6051b/AB-106), a ROS1/TRK Inhibitor, in Patients with Advanced Solid Tumors

Purpose: Taletrectinib (DS-6051b/AB-106) is an oral, tyrosine kinase inhibitor of ROS1 and NTRK with potent preclinical activity against ROS1 G2032R solvent-front mutation among others. We report the first-in-human U.S. phase I results of taletrectinib. Patients and Methods: Patients ≥18 years old with neuroendocrine tumors, with tumor-induced pain, or tumors harboring ROS1/NTRK rearrangements were eligible. Accelerated titration followed by modified continuous reassessment method and escalation with overdose control was used (50–1,200 mg once daily or 400 mg twice daily). Primary objectives were safety/tolerability, and MTD determination. Secondary objectives were food-effect pharmacokinetics and antitumor activity. Results: A total of 46 patients were enrolled. Steady-state peak concentration (Cmax) and exposure (AUC0-8) increased dose dependently from 50-mg to 800-mg once-daily doses. The ratio of the geometric mean of AUC0-24 between low-fat-diet-fed/fasted state was 123% (90% confidence interval, 104%–149%). Dose-limiting toxicities (grade 3 transaminases increase) occurred in two patients (1,200-mg once-daily dose). MTD was 800 mg once daily. Most common treatment-related adverse events were nausea (47.8%), diarrhea (43.5%), and vomiting (32.6%). Pain score reductions were observed in the 800-mg once-daily dose cohort. Confirmed objective response rate was 33.3% among the six patients with RECIST-evaluable crizotinib-refractory ROS1+ NSCLC. One patient with TPM3-NTRK1 differentiated thyroid cancer achieving a confirmed partial response of 27 months at data cutoff. We identified a cabozantinib-sensitive ROS1 L2086F as an acquired taletrectinib-resistance mutation. Conclusions: Taletrectinib has manageable toxicities at the MTD of 800 mg daily. Preliminary efficacy was observed in patients with crizotinib-refractory ROS1+ NSCLC.
Successful and unsuccessful attempts to resolve caribou management and timber harvesting issues in west central Alberta

Research studies of woodland caribou in west central Alberta began in 1979 in response to proposed timber harvesting on their winter ranges. Using results from initial studies, timber harvest guidelines were developed. A recent review of these guidelines, and the assumptions on which they were based, has resulted in a renegotiation by government and industry of timber harvesting on caribou range in west central Alberta. Caribou range in west central Alberta overlaps many jurisdictional boundaries: federal and provincial lands, four Forest Management Agreement Areas, three Alberta Land and Forest Service Regions and two Alberta Fish and Wildlife Service Regions. This jurisdictional complexity in combination with other factors such as total allocation of the timber resources, high levels of petroleum, natural gas and coal extraction activities, a high level of concern by public groups for caribou conservation and recent understanding of woodland caribou needs for abundant space has made resolution of caribou/timber harvest conflicts exceedingly slow and often relatively unproductive. This paper reviews 10 years of trying to resolve conflicts between timber harvesting and caribou conservation through meetings, committees, integrated resource planning, policy papers and public consultation. We describe what might be learned by other jurisdictions that are trying to resolve similar caribou/timber harvesting issues. We conclude with an overview of recent timber harvest planning initiatives on caribou range in west central Alberta.
Association between circulating follistatin‐like‐1 and metabolic syndrome in middle‐aged and old population: A cross‐sectional study

Follistatin‐like‐1 (FSTL‐1) is considered to be a novel cytokine, and it is associated with metabolic diseases. However, it is necessary to investigate further the association of FSTL‐1 with metabolic syndrome (MetS) and insulin resistance (IR). We performed a cross‐sectional study to investigate the associated of circulating FSTL‐1 with the MetS.