Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
New gastropods from East Pacific hydrothermal vents

The following new prosobranch species are described: Cyuthermia (gen.n.) naticoides, Lucunoidc (gen.n.) exquisitus (Neomphalidae); Peltospira Iamellifera, Pachydermia (gen.n.) laevis, Depressigyra (gen. n.) g1obulus. D. plunispira, Solutigyra (gen. n.) reticulata, Lirapex (gen. n.) humata, L. granularis (Peltospiridae); Bathymargarites (gen.n.) symplector (Trochidae) and Provanna mucleani (Littorinoidea). Shells and soft parts of the species are described and figured. One species each of Sinezona (Scissurellidae), Moel1rriopsis (Seguenzoidea) and Phymorrhynchus (Turridae) is recorded from East Pacific hydrothermal vents, but not identified to species. Information about feeding biology and type of larval development is given for most of these species. The systematic position of the new species of Neomphalidae and Peltospiridae is considered uncertain, but further anatomical investigations are in progress. The gastropod fauna of East Pacific sulphide‐rich environments is summarized and composition, endemism, age. dispersal, predation, adaptations and feeding biology are discussed.
Toxicity assessment of carmine and its interaction with calf thymus DNA

Abstract Carmine (CRM) is a colouring agent, extensively used in a variety of foods, beverages, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. A battery of in vitro toxicity tests and chemical interaction studies of CRM with calf thymus DNA (ctDNA) have been conducted. Hemolysis assay clearly revealed the cytotoxic potential of CRM while Allium cepa and seed germination tests for phytotoxicity of CRM were also positive. DNA binding studies withplasmid nicking assay, clearly affirmed the genotoxic potential of CRM. The formation of CRM–ctDNA complex was suggested by UV-visible absorption and fluorescence spectra. The binding constant of CRM–ctDNA complex determined by ITC was found to be 1.72 x 106 M −1. It also revealed the negative ΔH and ΔS values, indicating the role of hydrogen bonds and Van der Waals interactions in the formation of CRM–ctDNA complex. A remarkable (43.4%) displacement of Hoechst as compared to acridine orange (100%) suggests probable disruption of groove which might be possible due to the large size of CRM. Intercalatory mode of CRM binding was further confirmed by significant increase in double helix melting temperature of ctDNA and changes it's in circular dichroism spectra. Molecular docking also supported the notion that DNA binding involved both modes i.e. intercalatory as well as groove binding; moreover, it is consistent with the binding energies determined from ITC. In a nutshell, CRM is significantly cytotoxic to human and plant systems with its remarkable genotoxic potential too, wherein it targets DNA as a partial intercalator and ultimately break its backbone. Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma
Objects Discovery Based on Co-Occurrence Word Model With Anchor-Box Polishing

The state-of-the-art objects discovery approaches can be categorized into two: deep learning methods based on a convolutional neural network with region proposals, and conventional machine learning methods based on topic models, low-rank matrix factorization, or image processing. The deep learning methods for objects discovery are based on sacrificing computational complexity to achieve precision, and the training time can be long without GPU platforms, whereas the conventional methods usually lack detection accuracy. To effectively address the problems of the training complexity and the detection speed, we present a new objects discovery approach by proposing a two-stage (training and verification) method. In the training stage, a topic model with words co-occurrence prior is proposed on the basis of Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) model, in which the co-occurrence information among the features is sufficiently utilized. In the verification stage, we propose an anchor-box polishing algorithm that fine-tunes the detection results corresponding to the pre-trained topic model from some conventional algorithms with fast detection time. The experiments on various datasets demonstrate that the proposed approach can improve the detection performance in terms of efficiency and computing costs. It is also robust to objects different in colors, lightings, scales, and so on. Interestingly, the proposed method can be combined with many fast but inaccurate detection algorithms, in which it enhances the model’s flexibility.
Knowledge and Attitude Towards Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Among Doctors of a Tertiary Care Hospital in Karachi

Objective Cardiac arrest is an emergency, which can be managed effectively by sound knowledge and practice of basic life support (BLS) skills. However, it has been globally reported that the knowledge of doctors regarding cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and BLS is sub-standard. We conducted this study with the aim to assess the knowledge and attitude of doctors toward CPR in Dr. Ruth K.M. Pfau Civil Hospital, one of the largest tertiary care hospitals, in Pakistan. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional study, in Dr. Ruth K.M. Pfau Civil Hospital located in Karachi, Pakistan, using cluster sampling. A total of 285 doctors were interviewed. Results A majority of the doctors were unaware of the revised rate and depth of chest compressions (65.6% and 75.8% respectively). While many know the abbreviations of BLS and CPR (96.55% and 95.4%, respectively), 56.5% did not know what automated external defibrillator (AED) stood for. CPR was preferred over chest compression-only resuscitation (CCR) by 91.6% of the doctors. Half of the participants rated their knowledge as average. Most stated that they will not be reluctant to perform CPR in an emergency situation. The majority also agreed that BLS training should be an integral part of the medical curriculum. Conclusion There is an evident lack of knowledge of CPR among healthcare professionals, particularly regarding the updates made in the 2015 American Heart Association (AHA) guidelines. However, an overall positive attitude was observed.
Release of cowpea line IT99K-494-6 for yield and resistance to the parasitic weed, Alectra vogelii Benth. in Malawi

Field trials were conducted between 2008/09 and 2009/10 seasons to evaluate four new cowpea lines, selected in preliminary studies, for yield, adaptation and resistance to the parasitic weed Alectra vogelii in Malawi. The design was randomised complete block design with 4 replicates at research stations and 5 at on-farm sites. For on-farm, villages were the sites and each farmer hosted one replicate. The trial sites were Lisasadzi, Mngwangwa, Bunda College, Chitedze Research Station, Rivirivi and Mpokwa in 2008/09 season and in 2009/10 the sites at Chitedze and Mpokwa were replaced by Mkwinda and Chitala Research Station. Four promising cowpea lines, IT98K-503-1, IT97K-825-15, IT99K-7-21-2-2-1 and IT99K-494-6, all originally from IITA and selected for resistance to parasitic weed Alectra vogelii in screen house studies, were compared with released varieties Sudan 1, IT82E-16 and a farmers local entry. The following parameters were evaluated: cowpea grain yield, plants/m2, seeds/pod, seed weight (g/100 seeds), days to mid-flower, days to maturity, disease scores (scale 1 [clean] – 9 [most severe]) and A. vogelii emergence (plants/m2). The line IT99K-494-6 was found to have comparable or better agronomic traits as compared to control varieties and was eventually released in Malawi in January 2011. The line which is medium maturing has brown grain texture with yield potential of 1-2.0 t/ha. Such a resistant variety is important in A. vogelii hot spots to reduce build up in soil seed bank and a viable option for farmers to rotate with cowpeas in order to manage other pests such as Striga asiatica, an important parasitic weed, or improve soil fertility through the nitrogen fixation of cowpeas. Key words: Legumes, witchweeds, parasitic weeds, cowpea, Alectra vogelii, Vigna unguiculata.
Role of interleukin-6 (IL-6) in predicting gestational diabetes mellitus

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is the most common pregnancy-associated metabolic disorder that is steadily increasing worldwide. Early diagnosis of pregnant women susceptible to GDM is the first step for deploying effective preventive treatment to reduce maternal, fetal, and neonatal complications. The diagnostic process of GDM is still controversial and interleukin-6 (IL-6) is one of the most recent markers used for the diagnosis of GDM. In this study, we aimed to systematically review the role of IL-6 in the diagnosis of GDM. In this systematic review, Google Scholar, Scopus, PubMed, ISI Web of Science, ProQuest, and MEDLINE databases were searched using the following keywords: GDM, screening, and IL-6, with the time interval 2009–2020. The quality of articles was assessed using the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology checklist. Twenty-four articles with desired quality that met the inclusion criteria were selected and reviewed further. Sixteen studies showed a statistically significant association, while 8 studies did not report any relationship between IL-6 levels and GDM. Based on the results of these studies, assessing the serum IL-6 levels can be investigated a newly established diagnostic biomarker for GDM. Therefore, through early diagnosis of susceptible women, effective measures can be implemented to reduce its complications.
Role of Blowing Agents in Expansion of High‐Amylose Starch Acetate During Extrusion

ABSTRACT High-amylose starch acetate (DS 2) was processed in a Brabender twin-screw extruder with ethanol and isopropanol as blowing agents at concentrations of 0, 2, 5, 10, 15, and 25%. A constant temperature of 150°C, a constant screw speed of 140 rpm, and a die nozzle with diameter of 4.0 mm and length of 16.2 mm were used to study the role of blowing agents on the expansion of the extrudates. Extrudates without blowing agent shrunk considerably after exiting the die as the cells collapsed drastically after expansion. Stable radial expansion of the extrudates increased with increase in the ethanol concentration to an optimum value of 18.0 at 5% (db) ethanol concentration and decreased with further increase in the ethanol concentration. Stable radial expansion increased to a maximum of 17.0 as the concentration of isopropanol was increased to 25% (db), though the rate of increase in expansion decreased with the increase in isopropanol concentration >10%. Flashing off of blowing agents aided in removing .
Ginseng and Cancer-Related Fatigue: A Systematic Review of Clinical Trials

Abstract Purpose The data on the effect of ginseng on general fatigue were previously reviewed. However, there is limited data on the effect of various types of ginseng on cancer-related fatigue (CRF). CRF is one of the most pervasive symptoms of cancer and cancer treatment. The primary objective of the current study was to systematically review trials investigating the safety and efficacy of three different types of ginseng separately used in the treatment protocol for patients with CRF. Methods We searched the available online databases for relevant publications up to October 2019. Data were independently extracted by two reviewers. We assessed the risk of bias using the Cochrane Collaboration Review Manager (RevMan, version 5.3) and reported the results in a narrative summary. Results A total of 210 studies were identified by the initial search, from which seven clinical trials and one retrospective study were included in this systematic review. A total of two clinical trials and one retrospective review examined the impact of American ginseng on CRF symptoms, three studies tested Asian ginseng, and two trials were conducted using Korean ginseng. The quality of the selected studies varied greatly. All three types of ginseng were tolerated well with few low-grade adverse events. American ginseng, containing more than 5% ginsenosides, consumed at the dosage of 2000 mg/day for up to eight weeks significantly reduced fatigue. Asian ginseng, containing ≥ 7% ginsenosides, relieved symptoms of fatigue at the dosage of 400 mg/day in the majority of patients with CRF. Korean ginseng, consumed at the dosage of 3000 mg/day for 12 weeks, decreased symptoms of CRF. Conclusions Although our findings support the safety and effectiveness of ginseng in the treatment of CRF, the number of high-quality studies is not adequate to adopt ginseng as a standard treatment option for CRF.
Rapid detection of biofilm with modified alcian blue staining: In‐vitro protocol improvement and validation with clinical cases

For chronic wounds, biofilm infection is a critical issue because it can tip the scales toward an unhealing state. Biofilm‐based wound therapy has been extensively advocated. However, point‐of‐care biofilm diagnosis still largely relies on clinical judgment. In this study, we aimed to develop a rapid tool for diagnosing wound biofilm presence by alcian blue staining. First, we sought to optimize alcian blue staining using a colorimetric‐based approach to detect the biofilm, specifically targeting polysaccharides in the extracellular polymeric substances. Among examined transfer membranes and cationic detergents at various concentrations, we selected a positively charged nylon transfer membrane for sample loading, and 1% cetyl trimethyl ammonium chloride (CTAC) as the blocking solution. After sample loading and blocking, the membrane was immersed in alcian blue solution for staining, followed by immersion in 1% CTAC to decrease background noise. Each step required only 30 seconds, and the whole procedure was completed within a few minutes. In the second part of this study, we enrolled 31 patients with chronic wounds to investigate the predictive validity of biofilm detection for unhealed wounds at a 1‐month follow‐up visit. Among the 18 cases with positive wound biofilm staining, 15 wounds (83.3%) were not healed at the 1‐month follow‐up visit. Only three unhealed wounds (30%) produced in negative staining cases. This finding indicates that biofilm infection is associated with poor healing outcome for chronic wounds. Moreover, our staining results correlated well with the clinical microbiological culture assessment (83.9% consistency; 95.2% sensitivity, and 60% specificity). In conclusion, the modified alcian blue staining protocol used here represents a rapid and sensitive procedure for detecting biofilm in chronic wounds. This technique provides a practical point‐of‐care approach for detection of wound biofilm, the implementation of which may improve clinical outcomes for chronic wound patients. Additional studies are required to validate this method.
Antimalarial and cytotoxic drugs on COVID-19 and the cardiovascular burden: Literature review and lessons to be learned

Background The world is witnessing an unprecedented crisis with Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). It is important to accurately analyze the available evidence to provide correct clinical guidance for optimal patient care. We aim to discuss current clinical evidence regarding chloroquine, hydroxychloroquine, azithromycin, remdesivir, and the cardiovascular burden of COVID-19. Methods A literature review was performed using PubMed and Google Scholar. Additional clinical trials were identified through the “TrialsTracker” project. Results We found conflicting evidence of chloroquine, hydroxychloroquine plus azithromycin, and remdesivir in COVID-19 despite promising early reports of in vitro antiviral activity against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. Some of the current studies have demonstrated adverse drug reactions to chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine + azithromycin. Widespread systemic inflammation and procoagulant/hypercoagulable state, including thrombotic microangiopathy, endothelial dysfunction, bleeding disorder, and thrombosis are increasingly being witnessed in COVID-19. Evidence of cardiac injury and stroke is mostly reported in hospitalized patients; however, large specialized studies that focus on cardiac or neuropathology are lacking. Discussion There is no convincing clinical evidence of chloroquine, hydroxychloroquine with or without azithromycin, and remdesivir use in COVID-19. As evidence of systemic inflammation is rapidly unfolding, there is a dire need to maximize our resources to find the best possible solutions to the current crisis while conclusive evidence from clinical trials emerges.
University EFL Learners’ Perceptions of Their Autonomous Learning Responsibilities and Abilities

This study investigated the readiness of university students for autonomous learning of English as a foreign language. Data was collected using questionnairs and interviews. The study assessed learners’ readiness for autonomous learning across three dimensions: a) learners’ perceptions of their educational responsibilities; b) learners’ abilities related to autonomous learning and c) the actual autonomous English activities that were practiced by the participants while learning English. The data collected were analyzed quantitatively using the comparisons of means method and the t-test. Data collected through the interviews were analyzed qualitatively using the content analysis procedure. Analysis of the results suggested that as a result of previous educational experiences, the learners dwere habituated by their past educational experiences to place the responsibility for the success or failure of their language acquisition on their teachers. However, the participants reported that they have the ability to learn autonomously if given the opportunity to do so. A t-test showed that in terms of students’ perceptions of their abilities to engage in autonomous learning activities, gender and level of achievement did not play a significant role. Recommendations and implications for training autonomous learners are discussed.
Genetically modified organisms and food security in Southern Africa: conundrum and discourse

ABSTRACT The importance of food security and nourishment is recognized in Southern African region and in many communities, globally. However, the attainment of food security in Southern African countries is affected by many factors, including adverse environmental conditions, pests and diseases. Scientists have been insistently looking for innovative strategies to optimize crop production and combat challenges militating against attainment of food security. In agriculture, strategies of increasing crop production include but not limited to improved crop varieties, farming practices, extension services, irrigation services, mechanization, information technology, use of fertilizers and agrochemicals. Equally important is genetic modification (GM) technology, which brings new prospects in addressing food security problems. Nonetheless, since the introduction of genetically modified crops (GMOs) three decades ago, it has been a topic of public discourse across the globe, conspicuously so in Southern African region. This is regardless of the evidence that planting GMOs positively influenced farmer’s incomes, economic access to food and increased tolerance of crops to various biotic and abiotic stresses. This paper looks at the issues surrounding GMOs adoption in Southern Africa and lack thereof, the discourse, and its potential in contributing to the attainment of food security for the present as well as future generations.
Genome-wide role of Rad26 in promoting transcription-coupled nucleotide excision repair in yeast chromatin

Significance The mechanism of eukaryotic transcription-coupled nucleotide excision repair (TC-NER) is poorly understood. Here, we studied the genome-wide role of yeast Rad26, a homolog of the human Cockayne syndrome group B (CSB) protein, in the repair of UV-induced DNA damage. We found that Rad26 is not uniformly required for TC-NER in transcribed chromatin. Instead, nucleosome organization and the distribution of transcription regulators such as TFIIH and Spt4/Spt5 significantly modulate the requirement for Rad26 in TC-NER. Importantly, TC-NER is conserved from yeast to humans. Our data provide insights into the mechanism of TC-NER in eukaryotes. Transcription-coupled nucleotide excision repair (TC-NER) is an important DNA repair mechanism that removes RNA polymerase (RNAP)-stalling DNA damage from the transcribed strand (TS) of active genes. TC-NER deficiency in humans is associated with the severe neurological disorder Cockayne syndrome. Initiation of TC-NER is mediated by specific factors such as the human Cockayne syndrome group B (CSB) protein or its yeast homolog Rad26. However, the genome-wide role of CSB/Rad26 in TC-NER, particularly in the context of the chromatin organization, is unclear. Here, we used single-nucleotide resolution UV damage mapping data to show that Rad26 and its ATPase activity is critical for TC-NER downstream of the first (+1) nucleosome in gene coding regions. However, TC-NER on the transcription start site (TSS)-proximal half of the +1 nucleosome is largely independent of Rad26, likely due to high occupancy of the transcription initiation/repair factor TFIIH in this nucleosome. Downstream of the +1 nucleosome, the combination of low TFIIH occupancy and high occupancy of the transcription elongation factor Spt4/Spt5 suppresses TC-NER in Rad26-deficient cells. We show that deletion of SPT4 significantly restores TC-NER across the genome in a rad26∆ mutant, particularly in the downstream nucleosomes. These data demonstrate that the requirement for Rad26 in TC-NER is modulated by the distribution of TFIIH and Spt4/Spt5 in transcribed chromatin and Rad26 mainly functions downstream of the +1 nucleosome to remove TC-NER suppression by Spt4/Spt5.
How well are sepsis and a sense of urgency documented throughout the acute care chain in the Netherlands? A prospective, observational study

Objective To investigate the documentation of sepsis and a sense of urgency throughout the acute care chain. Design Prospective cohort study. Setting Emergency department (ED) in a large district hospital in Heerlen, The Netherlands. Participants Participants included patients ≥18 years with suspected sepsis who visited the ED during out-of-hours between September 2017 and January 2018 (n=339) and had been referred by a general practitioner and/or transported by ambulance. We defined suspected sepsis as suspected or proven infection and the presence of ≥2 quick Sepsis-related Organ Failure Assessment and/or ≥2 Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome criteria. Outcome measures We analysed how often sepsis and a sense of urgency were documented in the prehospital and ED medical records. A sense of urgency was considered documented when a medical record suggested the need of immediate assessment by a physician in the ED. We described documentation patterns throughout the acute care chain and investigated whether documentation of sepsis or a sense of urgency is associated with adverse outcomes (intensive care admission/30-day all-cause mortality). Results Sepsis was documented in 16.8% of medical records and a sense of urgency in 22.4%. In 4.1% and 7.7%, respectively, sepsis and a sense of urgency were documented by all involved professionals. In patients with an adverse outcome, sepsis was documented more often in the ED than in patients without an adverse outcome (47.9% vs 13.7%, p<0.001). Conclusions Our study shows that in prehospital and ED medical records, sepsis and a sense of urgency are documented in one out of five patients. In only 1 out of 20 patients sepsis or a sense of urgency is documented by all involved professionals. It is possible that poor documentation causes harm, due to delayed diagnosis or treatment. Hence, it could be important to raise awareness among professionals regarding the importance of their documentation.