Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Niche evolution of the Neotropical tree genus Otoba in the context of global biogeography of the nutmeg family, Myristicaceae

Aim Plant distributions are influenced by species’ ability to colonize new areas via long-distance dispersal and propensity to adapt to new environments via niche evolution. We use Otoba (Myristicaceae), an ecologically dominant tree genus found in low-to-mid elevation wet forests, as a system to understand the relative importance of these processes within the Neotropics, a region characterized by high species richness and a diversity of biomes. Location Neotropics and global Taxon Otoba and entire Myristicaceae Methods We resolve the first phylogeny of Otoba using targeted sequence capture phylogenomics. We pair this with the most densely sampled phylogeny of Myristicaceae to date, inferred using publicly available data. We then use phylogenetic comparative methods to infer biogeography and examine patterns of niche evolution. Results Myristicaceae has an Old World origin, with a single expansion event into the Americas. Divergence dates, fossil evidence, and a notable lack of long-distance dispersal are consistent with a Boreotropical origin of Neotropical Myristicaceae. Mirroring the rarity of dispersal at the family level, Otoba’s biogeography is marked by few biogeographic events: two expansions into Central America from a South American ancestor and a single dispersal event across the Andes. This limited movement contrasts with rapid climatic niche evolution, typically occurring across geographically proximate habitats. Main conclusions Contrasting with previous studies, long-distance dispersal does not need to be invoked to explain the pantropical distribution of Myristicaceae, nor the biogeography of Otoba. This likely results from the family’s relatively large seeds that are dispersed by large-bodied vertebrates. Instead, rapid niche evolution in Otoba has facilitated its occurrence throughout mesic habitats of the northern Neotropics, including the Amazon rainforest and Andean montane forests. Otoba adds to a growing group of Neotropical plant clades in which climate adaptation following local migration is common, implying an important role of niche evolution in the assembly of the Neotropical flora. Significance statement Species distributions across the climatically and topographically heterogenous Neotropics are explained by a combination of local adaptation and dispersal. The relative importance of these mechanisms is clade dependent. We find that niche evolution in geographically proximal habitats is much more common than long-distance dispersal to preadapted regions in the tree genus Otoba, which includes both hyperdominant Amazonian species and narrow Andean endemics. The lack of long-distance dispersal is likely due to Otoba’s large seeds. Our results add to a growing body of literature demonstrating a key role of labile niche evolution across steep environmental gradients in Neotropical plant biogeography.
The prevalence, incidence, and risk factors of mental health problems and mental health service use before and 9 months after the COVID-19 outbreak among the general Dutch population. A 3-wave prospective study

Objectives. Gain insight in the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the prevalence, the incidence and risk factors of mental health problems among the Dutch general population and different age groups in November-December 2020, compared to the prevalence, incidence, and risk factors in the same period in 2018 and 2019. More specifically, the prevalence, incidence and risk factors of anxiety and depression symptoms, sleep problems, fatigue, disabilities due to health problems, use of medicines for sleep problems, medicines for anxiety and depression, and mental health services use. Methods. We extracted data from the LISS (Longitudinal Internet studies for the Social Sciences) panel that is based a probability sample of the Dutch population of 16 years and older by Statistics Netherlands. We used three waves of the longitudinal Health module held in November-December 2018 (T1), November-December 2019 (T2) and November-December 2020 (T3), and selected respondents who were 18 years and older at T1. Data were weighted using 16 demographics profiles of the Dutch adult population (Nstudy sample=4,064). The course of mental health problems was examined with repeated measures multivariate logistic regression analyses, and the differences in incidence with multivariate logistic regression analyses. In both types of analyses, we controlled for sex, age, marital status, employment status, education level and physical disease. Results. The repeated measures multivariate logistic regression analyses among the total study sample did not reveal a significant increase in the prevalence of anxiety and depression symptoms, sleep problems, fatigue, disabilities due to health problems, use of medicines for sleep problems, medicines for anxiety and depression, and mental health services use in November-December 2020, compared to November-December 2018 and 2019 (that is, T3 did not differ from T1 and T2). Among the four different age categories (18-34, 35-49, 50-64, and 65 years old and older respondents), 50-64 years respondents had a significantly lower prevalence of anxiety and depression symptoms at T3 than at T1 and T2, while T1 and T2 did not differ. A similar pattern among 65+ respondents was found for mental health services use. We found no indications that the incidence of examined health problems at T2 (no problem at T1, problem at T2) and T3 (no problem at T2, problem at T3) differed. Risk factors for mental health problems at T2 were mostly similar to risk factors at T3; sex and age were less associated with sleep problems at T3, compared to T2. Conclusions. The prevalence, incidence and risk factors of examined mental health problems examined nine months after the COVID-19 outbreak appear to be very stable across the end of 2018, 2019 and 2020 among the Dutch adult population and different age categories, suggesting that the Dutch adult population (20 years and older) in general is rather resilient given all disruptions due to this pandemic.
Simulated moving bed multiobjective optimization using standing wave design and genetic algorithm

Multiobjective optimization of simulated moving bed systems for chiral separations is studied by incorporating standing wave design into the nondominated sorting genetic algorithm with jumping genes. It allows simultaneous optimization of seven system and five operating parameters to show the trade-off between productivity, desorbent requirement (DR), and yield. If pressure limit, product purity, and yield are fixed, higher productivity can be obtained at a cost of higher DR. If yield is not fixed, it can be sacrificed to achieve higher productivity or vice versa. Short zones and high feed concentration favor high productivity, whereas long zones favor high yield and low DR. At fixed product purity and yield, increasing the pressure limit allows the use of smaller particles to increase productivity and to decrease DR. The performance of low-pressure simulated moving bed can be improved significantly by using shorter columns and smaller particles than those in conventional systems. © 2008 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 54: 2852–2871, 2008
Raman spectroscopy of GaN, AlGaN and AlN for process and growth monitoring/control

The use of micro‐Raman spectroscopy to monitor non‐invasively GaN, AlGaN and AlN material parameters for process and growth monitoring/control is demonstrated. Concepts to determine the crystalline quality, the stress, the free carrier concentration, the aluminium composition and the temperature from the Raman modes are reviewed. Raman monitoring of processing and growth is illustrated on selected examples: the high‐temperature processing of ion‐implanted and non‐implanted GaN layers, the Raman monitoring of AlGaN/GaN heterostructure field‐effect transistors and the in situ Raman monitoring of GaN growth at elevated temperatures. Ultraviolet Raman spectroscopy has been employed to characterize material properties of GaN surface layers and GaN/AlGaN interfaces. Raman mapping is illustrated on bulk AlN crystals to investigate stress fields related to growth striations and defects. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Evaluation of Anticancer Activity of Annona muricata in 1, 2-Dimethyl Hydrazine Induced Colon Cancer

Background: Cancer is a major public health burden in both developed and developing countries. Anticancer activity is the effect of natural and synthetic or biological and chemical agents to reverse, suppress or prevent carcinogenic progression. Several synthetic agents are used to cure the disease but they have their toxicity and hence the research is going on to investigate the plant derived chemotherapeutic agents. Cancers are the second cause of death worldwide in the 21 century. Colon cancer is third most common cancer. The st present study was conducted to evaluate in vivo anticolon cancer activity of Annona muricata. Materials and Methods: The anticolon cancer activity of Annona muricata against 1, 2-dimethyl hydrazine (DMH) induced colon cancer in Wistar albino rats. Results: The plant extract EEAM (Ethanolic extract of Annona muricata) at dose of 300 mg/kg significantly (P<0.001) decreasing the aberrant crypt foci (ACF), weight of individual organs, hematological parameters and significantly (P<0.001) increased weight gain and apoptosis index (P<0.05) when compared with disease control (DMH). The biochemical parameter total cholesterol level were also decreased significantly (P<0.01) when compared with disease control (DMH). We concluded that based on the above results Ethanolic extract of Annona muricata it has shows potent anti cancer activity.
Contamination performances of silicone rubber insulator subjected to acid rain

Acid rain causes one of the more severe environmental contaminants, and there is an increasing interest in the degradation of outdoor polymer insulating materials in severe pollution conditions such as acid rain. The performance of high temperature vulcanizing (HTV) silicon rubber insulators in accelerated aging of artificial acid rain is investigated by the salt fog method. Experimental results and theoretical analysis show that acid rain exerts a large erosion effect on the silicone rubber insulator. The inorganic filler alumina trihydrate (ATH) in the silicone rubber easily dissolves in acid rain, and the increasing discharge heat from dry band arcing due to acid rain can further cause the loss of ATH. The hydrophobic groups of hydrocarbon branch (ie. methyl in silicone rubber), are also degraded in acid rain. Therefore, the surface of aged insulators becomes rough, they become less hydrophobic, and the surface discharge current increases. However, in a subsequent dry environment, the low molecular weight (LMW) polymer silicone liquid or oil in the bulk of the insulator diffuses and migrates to the surface to provide a hydrophobic layer so that the degraded surface of silicone rubber insulator is compensated, and the contamination performance is restored to some extent. Such recovery of contamination indicates why silicone rubber insulators can be used for long times under severe environmental stress.
Odin/SMR Limb Observations of Trace Gases in the Polar Lower Stratosphere during 2004-2005

Prole measurements of key constituents relevant to stratospheric chemistry and dy- namics such as ozone (O3), nitrous oxide (N2O), chlorine monoxide (ClO), and nitric acid (HNO3), taken by the Odin Sub-Millimetre Radiometer (SMR), are presented and the characteristics of the Chalmers-v2.0 level-2 data are described. A comparison with correlative measurements of the En- visat/MIPAS instrument for this version results in a very good agreement for N2O, whilst Odin/SMR HNO3 mixing ratios are systematically larger than MIPAS data by up to 1.7 ppbv. Observations taken in the polar winter stratosphere of both hemispheres during the period 2004-2005 are also presented. The Odin/SMR measurements of nitrous oxide, chlorine monoxide, nitric acid, and ozone allow to study the chemical and dynamical evolution of the Arctic and Antarctic vortices by providing infor- mation on subsidence of vortex air, chlorine activation, denitrication, and on ozone loss.
Reproducibility and Concurrent Validity of Manual Palpation with Rehabilitative Ultrasound Imaging for Assessing Deep Abdominal Muscle Activity: Analysis with Preferential Ratios

The abdominal drawing-in maneuver (ADIM) is a clinical tool used for identifying preferential activity of deep abdominal muscles. However, concurrent validity and reproducibility of palpation during the ADIM has not been formally investigated. The aims of this study were (1) to assess intra- and interrater reliability of manual palpation during the ADIM, and (2) to determine the concurrent validity of manual palpation during the ADIM by calculating preferential activation ratio cut-off as assessed with ultrasound imaging (RUSI). Thirty-two subjects (n = 16 patients with nonspecific low back pain and 16 comparable healthy individuals) performed the ADIM in a supine hook-lying position. Two experienced assessors evaluated the presence or absence of preferential contraction of the deep abdominal muscles by palpation during the ADIM on 2 different days. Intrarater (test-retest) and interrater reliability of palpation were calculated using Cohen’s kappa coefficients. Muscle thickness of the transverse abdominis (TrA), internal oblique (IO), and external oblique (EO) muscles at rest and during the ADIM were also measured. TrA-Contraction Ratio (TrA-CR), TrA-Preferential Activation Ratio (TrA-PAR), and Modified-TrA-PR (M-TrA-PAR) were calculated. The concurrent validity of manual palpation was determined using the correlation between manual palpation and imaging and by calculating ROC curve (operating characteristics curve), Youden index, and sensitivity and specificity. Intra- and interrater reliability of manual palpation during the ADIM was excellent (k: 0.82–1.00) and good to excellent (k: 0.71–1.00), respectively. Interrater reliability for muscle thickness ranged from good to excellent (ICC3,1 0.79–0.91). Manual palpation and TrA ratio showed low to moderate correlations (r: 0.36–0.60). When evaluating the diagnostic accuracy of manual palpation, the best predictive model (ROC value: 0.89; p < 0.001) for correct a preferential contraction of TrA was obtained when the M-TrA-PAR was ≥0.08 (sensitivity: 0.95–1.00; specificity: 0.62). Good to excellent intra- and interrater reliability of manual palpation was found during the ADIM in both patients and healthy groups. Manual palpation showed concurrent validity for identifying the preferential activity of the TrA muscle supporting its use in clinical practice.
Nicotine Dependence among Adolescents Single and Dual Cigarette Users

The prevalence of concurrent use of combustible and electronic cigarettes (dual-use) is on the rise among Malaysian adolescents. This study compares nicotine dependence among exclusive cigarette users, e-cigarette users, and dual adolescent users. A total of 227 adolescent smokers completed a self-administrated questionnaire with items based on Hooked on Nicotine Checklist (HONC) incorporated. Endorsement of at least one HONC item indicates nicotine dependence. Exhaled carbon monoxide readings and salivary cotinine data were also collected. Over half (52.9%) of the participants were exclusive e-cigarette users (EC). The prevalence of exclusive conventional cigarette smokers (CC) and dual users was 11.9% and 35.2%, respectively. Adolescents who have mothers with secondary school education were more likely to become addicted to nicotine (Adjusted Odd Ratio (aOR) = 2.72; 95% CI = 1.17–6.32). Adolescents’ “mother’s education” level predicted nicotine dependence. This highlighted the need to target families within the identified demography with a more supportive anti-tobacco program.
Plasma Interleukin-10 and Cholesterol Levels May Inform about Interdependences between Fitness and Fatness in Healthy Individuals

Relationships between demographic, anthropometric, inflammatory, lipid and glucose tolerance markers in connection with the fat but fit paradigm were investigated by supervised and unsupervised learning. Data from 81 apparently healthy participants (87% females) were used to generate four classes of fatness and fitness. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) revealed that the principal component was preponderantly composed of glucose tolerance parameters. IL-10 and high-density lipoprotein, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and total cholesterol, along with body mass index (BMI), were the most important features according to Random Forest based recursive feature elimination. Decision Tree classification showed that these play a key role into assigning each individual in one of the four classes, with 70% accuracy, and acceptable classification agreement, κ = 0.54. However, the best classifier with 88% accuracy and κ = 0.79 was the Naïve Bayes. LDL and BMI partially mediated the relationship between fitness and fatness. Although unsupervised learning showed that the glucose tolerance cluster explains the highest quote of the variance, supervised learning revealed that the importance of IL-10, cholesterol levels and BMI was greater than the glucose tolerance PCA cluster. These results suggest that fitness and fatness may be interconnected by anti-inflammatory responses and cholesterol levels. Randomized controlled trials are needed to confirm these preliminary outcomes.
Eosinophil Lineage-Committed Progenitors as a Therapeutic Target for Asthma

Eosinophilic asthma is the most prevalent phenotype of asthma. Although most asthmatics are adequately controlled by corticosteroid therapy, a subset (5–10%) remain uncontrolled with significant therapy-related side effects. This indicates the need for a consideration of alternative treatment strategies that target airway eosinophilia with corticosteroid-sparing benefits. A growing body of evidence shows that a balance between systemic differentiation and local tissue eosinophilopoietic processes driven by traffic and lung homing of bone marrow-derived hemopoietic progenitor cells (HPCs) are important components for the development of airway eosinophilia in asthma. Interleukin (IL)-5 is considered a critical and selective driver of terminal differentiation of eosinophils. Studies targeting IL-5 or IL-5R show that although mature and immature eosinophils are decreased within the airways, there is incomplete ablation, particularly within the bronchial tissue. Eotaxin is a chemoattractant for mature eosinophils and eosinophil-lineage committed progenitor cells (EoP), yet anti-CCR3 studies did not yield meaningful clinical outcomes. Recent studies highlight the role of epithelial cell-derived alarmin cytokines, IL-33 and TSLP, (Thymic stromal lymphopoietin) in progenitor cell traffic and local differentiative processes. This review provides an overview of the role of EoP in asthma and discusses findings from clinical trials with various therapeutic targets. We will show that targeting single mediators downstream of the inflammatory cascade may not fully attenuate tissue eosinophilia due to the multiplicity of factors that can promote tissue eosinophilia. Blocking lung homing and local eosinophilopoiesis through mediators upstream of this cascade may yield greater improvement in clinical outcomes.
Examining the Relationship between Circulating CD4− CD8− Double-Negative T Cells and Outcomes of Immuno-Checkpoint Inhibitor Therapy—Looking for Biomarkers and Therapeutic Targets in Metastatic Melanoma

Background: The role of circulating CD4−/CD8− double-negative T cells (DNTs) in the immune response to melanoma is poorly understood, as are the effects of checkpoint inhibitors on T cell subpopulations. Methods: We performed a basal and longitudinal assessment of circulating immune cells, including DNTs, in metastatic melanoma patients treated with checkpoint blockade in a single-center cohort, and examined the correlations levels of immune cells with clinical features and therapy outcomes. Results: Sixty-eight patients (48 ipilimumab, 20 PD1 inhibitors) were enrolled in the study. Our analysis indicated that better outcomes were associated with normal LDH, fewer than three metastatic sites, an ECOG performance status of 0, M1a stage, lower WBC and a higher lymphocyte count. The increase in lymphocyte count and decrease of DNTs were significantly associated with the achievement of an overall response. The median value of DNT decreased while the CD4+ and NK cells increased in patients that responded to treatment compare to those who did not respond to treatment. Conclusions: DNT cells change during treatment with checkpoint inhibitors and may be adept at sensing the immune response to melanoma. The complementary variation of DNT cells with respect to CD4+ and other immune actors may improve the reliability of lymphocyte assessment. Further investigation of DNT as a potential target in checkpoint inhibitor resistant melanoma is warranted.
Innovating Occupational Safety Training: A Scoping Review on Digital Games and Possible Applications in Agriculture

Digital games have been successfully applied in different working sectors as an occupational safety training method, but with a very limited application in agriculture. In agriculture and other productive sectors, unintentional injuries tend to occur with similar dynamics. A literature review was carried out to understand how occupational risks are addressed during game-based safety training in different productive sectors and how this can be transferred to agriculture. Literature about “serious game” and “gamification” as safety training methods was searched in WEB OF SCIENCE, SCOPUS, PUBMED and PsycINFO databases. In the forty-two publications retained, the computer was identified as the most adopted game support, whereas “points”, “levels”, “challenges” and “discovery” were the preferred game mechanics. Moreover, an association can be detected between the game mechanics and the elements developed in the game. Finally, during the game assessment, much positive feedback was collected and the games proved to be able to increase the operators’ skills and safety knowledge. In light of the results, insights are provided to develop an effective, satisfying and engaging safety game training for workers employed in agriculture. Games can be best used to learn and they are certain to improve over the next few years.
Titanium Nitride as a New Prospective Material for NanoSQUIDs and Superconducting Nanobridge Electronics

Nanobridge Josephson junctions and nanometer-scale superconducting quantum interference devices (nanoSQUIDs) based on titanium nitride (TiN) thin films are described. The TiN films have a room temperature resistivity of ~15 µΩ·cm, a superconducting transition temperature Tc of up to 5.3 K and a coherence length ξ(4.2 K) of ~105 nm. They were deposited using pulsed DC magnetron sputtering from a stoichiometric TiN target onto Si (100) substrates that were heated to 800 °C. Electron beam lithography and highly selective reactive ion etching were used to fabricate nanoSQUIDs with 20-nm-wide nanobridge Josephson junctions of variable thickness. X-ray and high-resolution electron microscopy studies were performed. Non-hysteretic I(V) characteristics of the nanobridges and nanoSQUIDs, as well as peak-to-peak modulations of up to 17 µV in the V(B) characteristics of the nanoSQUIDs, were measured at 4.2 K. The technology offers prospects for superconducting electronics based on nanobridge Josephson junctions operating within the framework of the Ginzburg–Landau theory at 4.2 K.