Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Histology of the stomach of Aphanius dispar (Rüppell 1828), a cyprinodont fish, with emphasis on changes caused by stress from starvation

The tubular stomach of the omnivorous cyprinodont, Aphanius dispar (Ruppell 1828) is composed of four layers, mucosa, submucosa, muscularis and serosa. In the transitional area between the oesophagus and stomach of specimens kept in freshwater, the stratified epithelium is replaced by a monolayer of cuboidal epithelium and columnar epithelium with goblet cells. There are numerous goblet cells in the apical mucosa of normally fed fish. When starved, the goblet cells became more rounded and their numbers reduced considerably; the negative relationship between the duration of starvation and the number of goblet cells was significant (P < 0.001). The stomach histology of A. dispar and its response to starvation are discussed.
Prevalence and Potential Predictors of Frailty among Community-Dwelling Older Persons in Northern Thailand: A Cross-Sectional Study

This study aimed to determine the prevalence and associated factors of frailty among Thai older persons. A cross-sectional study was conducted with a representative sample of 1806 older persons aged 60 years or older. Frailty was assessed by Fried’s frailty phenotypes, which consists of five criteria, namely, unintended weight loss, exhaustion, slow walking, weak handgrip and decreased physical activity. Older people who met 3 in 5, 1–2 in 5, and none of the criteria were considered frail, pre-frail and non-frail respectively. The prevalence was calculated and multinomial logistic regression was performed. Prevalence rates of frailty, pre-frailty and non-frailty were 13.9% (95% CI 9.9 to 18.8), 50.9% (95% CI 47.5 to 54.1) and 35.1% (95% CI 31.5 to 39.9), respectively. Increasing age, lower education, having no spouse, poorer health perception, increasing number of comorbidities, osteoarthritis and smaller mid-arm circumference increased the risk of frailty (p < 0.001). The prevalence of geriatric frailty syndrome in this study was much higher than that of developed countries but was lower than that of less developed countries. Factors associated with frailty reflect common characteristics of disadvantaged older persons in Thailand.
New updates in the world of hepatitis C virus infected organ transplantation.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW With the advent of direct acting antiviral (DAA) therapy, the use of organs from hepatitis C virus infected (HCV+) donors is gaining more traction. In this review, we aim to: provide an overview of recent literature that supports the use of HCV+ organs, outline ongoing challenges to the use of these organs, and highlight the areas within this field where active investigation is ongoing. RECENT FINDINGS The present review describes clinical outcomes related to the transplantation of both HCV+ nonviremic and viremic organs and the distinction between hepatic and nonhepatic transplants. It also discusses the current debate pertaining to the ideal treatment strategy for donor-derived HCV infection, that is pre-emptive therapy versus prophylaxis therapy. SUMMARY Data suggest that the use of HCV+ organs is an effective and relatively well tolerated strategy to combat the organ scarcity. However, clinicians must be vigilant to a signal of increased inflammation as HCV+ organ transplantation becomes more universal. Recent studies suggest that shorter courses of DAA may sufficiently treat donor-derived HCV infection, however the best treatment approach to minimize risk, cost, and toxicity is still under investigation.
Dual contrast in computed tomography allows earlier characterization of articular cartilage over single contrast

Cationic computed tomography contrast agents are more sensitive for detecting cartilage degeneration than anionic or non‐ionic agents. However, osteoarthritis‐related loss of proteoglycans and increase in water content contrarily affect the diffusion of cationic contrast agents, limiting their sensitivity. The quantitative dual‐energy computed tomography technique allows the simultaneous determination of the partitions of iodine‐based cationic (CA4+) and gadolinium‐based non‐ionic (gadoteridol) agents in cartilage at diffusion equilibrium. Normalizing the cationic agent partition at diffusion equilibrium with that of the non‐ionic agent improves diagnostic sensitivity. We hypothesize that this sensitivity improvement is also prominent during early diffusion time points and that the technique is applicable during contrast agent diffusion. To investigate the validity of this hypothesis, osteochondral plugs (d = 8 mm, N = 33), extracted from human cadaver (n = 4) knee joints, were immersed in a contrast agent bath (a mixture of CA4+ and gadoteridol) and imaged using the technique at multiple time points until diffusion equilibrium. Biomechanical testing and histological analysis were conducted for reference. Quantitative dual‐energy computed tomography technique enabled earlier determination of cartilage proteoglycan content over single contrast. The correlation coefficient between human articular cartilage proteoglycan content and CA4+ partition increased with the contrast agent diffusion time. Gadoteridol normalized CA4+ partition correlated significantly (P < .05) with Mankin score at all time points and with proteoglycan content after 4 hours. The technique is applicable during diffusion, and normalization with gadoteridol partition improves the sensitivity of the CA4+ contrast agent.
Deliberate Practice, Functional Performance and Psychological Characteristics in Young Basketball Players: A Bayesian Multilevel Analysis

Background: Early sport specialization has increased its popularity mostly based on the deliberate practice theory premises. In this study, we examined the influence of the age of onset of deliberate basketball practice on body size, functional performance (countermovement jump, line drill and yo-yo intermittent recovery level 1), motivation for achievement and competitiveness, motivation for deliberate practice and sources of enjoyment among young Brazilian basketball players. In addition, we adjusted for the influence of gender, age group, maturity status and state basketball federation on the outcomes. Methods: The sample included 120 female and 201 male adolescent basketball players aged 14.0 (1.7) years, on average. We grouped players by the age of onset of deliberate basketball practice as related to biologic maturation milestones (pre-puberty deliberate practice onset, mid-puberty deliberate practice onset and late-puberty deliberate practice onset). Results: There was no substantial variation among contrasting players by the onset of deliberate practice in all of the outcomes. Adjusting for gender, male players with late-puberty deliberate practice onset had better functional performance than players with pre- and mid-puberty onset of practice. Females players with late-puberty deliberate practice onset had slightly worst functional performance than players with pre- and mid-puberty onset of practice. Conclusions: Early deliberate basketball practice does not appear to provide an advantage for the development of physiological functions. Likewise, enjoyment, motivation for deliberate practice and motivation for achievement and competition do not appear to be negatively influenced by early deliberate basketball practice. The debate about the relationship between time spent in deliberate practice and performance development in young athletes will need to emphasize the coaching pedagogical quality and the training environment and account for informal practice and deliberate play.
The Effect of a Flow Field on Chemical Detection Performance of Quadrotor Drone

The determination of a suitable sensor location on quadrotor drones is a very important issue for chemical reconnaissance platforms because the magnitude and direction of air velocity is different for each location. In this study, we investigated a customized chemical reconnaissance system consisting of a quadrotor drone and a chip-sized chemical sensor for detecting dimethyl-methylphosphonate (DMMP; a Sarin simulant) and investigated the chemical detection properties with respect to the sensor position through indoor experiments and particle image velocimetry (PIV) analysis of the system. The PIV results revealed an area free of vortex–vortex interaction between the drone rotors, where there was distinctly stable and uniform chemical detection of DMMP. The proposed chemical reconnaissance system was found to be realistic for practical application.
Marine Parasites and Disease in the Era of Global Climate Change.

Climate change affects ecological processes and interactions, including parasitism. Because parasites are natural components of ecological systems, as well as agents of outbreak and disease-induced mortality, it is important to summarize current knowledge of the sensitivity of parasites to climate and identify how to better predict their responses to it. This need is particularly great in marine systems, where the responses of parasites to climate variables are less well studied than those in other biomes. As examples of climate's influence on parasitism increase, they enable generalizations of expected responses as well as insight into useful study approaches, such as thermal performance curves that compare the vital rates of hosts and parasites when exposed to several temperatures across a gradient. For parasites not killed by rising temperatures, some simple physiological rules, including the tendency of temperature to increase the metabolism of ectotherms and increase oxygen stress on hosts, suggest that parasites' intensity and pathologies might increase. In addition to temperature, climate-induced changes in dissolved oxygen, ocean acidity, salinity, and host and parasite distributions also affect parasitism and disease, but these factors are much less studied. Finally, because parasites are constituents of ecological communities, we must consider indirect and secondary effects stemming from climate-induced changes in host-parasite interactions, which may not be evident if these interactions are studied in isolation. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Marine Science, Volume 13 is January 3, 2021. Please see http://www.annualreviews. org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.
Long‐term Outcomes for Revision Endoscopic Dacryocystorhinostomy—The Effect of the Primary Approach

Revision endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy (END‐DCR) is the preferred approach for failed primary surgeries, yet quality data on long‐term outcomes are lacking. This study aimed to evaluate three aspects of revision END‐DCR: 5‐year success rates, patient satisfaction, and the primary surgical approach's possible impact on revision.
Roflumilast counteracts DMH-induced preneoplastic colon damage in albino Wistar rats

Objective: The study explored the chemoprophylactic potential of roflumilast against 1,2-dimethylhydrazine (DMH) actuated preneoplastic colon damage in albino Wistar rats. Methods: Animals were arbitrarily divided into five groups of six animals each. DMH was used to induce preneoplastic colon damage (20 mg/kg/7 days, subcutaneously, for 42 days). Roflumilast was administered subcutaneously at two doses (1 and 5 mg/kg/day, from day 28 to 42). At the end of the study, the animals were recorded for the electrocardiographic changes and heart rate variability (HRV) paradigms on 42nd day, using PowerLab system. Blood samples were collected from all the animals to measure hydrogen sulfide (H2S) and nitric acid. The colon tissue was dissected out and analyzed for inflammatory markers, biochemical parameters including, superoxide dismutase, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, catalase, and glutathione reductase and histopathology. Results: DMH caused derangement of HRV factors, abnormal antioxidant markers, and elevated levels of inflammatory markers. H2S and nitric oxide levels upsurge in DMH-treated rats and promoted preneoplastic damage. Histopathologically, loss of crypts, goblet cells, and distorted lamina propria were observed in toxic group. Treatment with roflumilast was able to curtail down oxidative stress and inflammatory markers and stabilitate the hemodynamic derangements as well as was able to restore the normal architecture of colonic mucosa. Conclusion: The findings from the present study conclude that treatment with roflumilast positively modulates the preneoplastic colon damage.
Euglycaemic diabetic ketoacidosis as a complication of SGLT-2 inhibitors: epidemiology, pathophysiology, and treatment

ABSTRACT Introduction Sodium-glucose co-transporters 2 (SGLT-2) inhibitors are a relatively novel class of oral medications for the treatment of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, which lower plasma glucose by inhibiting glucose reabsorption in the proximal renal tubule. Apart from their hypoglycemic action, recent data suggest these agents have additional major cardioprotective and nephroprotective properties. Areas covered This review summarizes the existing data on epidemiology, pathophysiology, and treatment of euglycaemic ketoacidosis (euDKA) as a complication of SGLT-2 inhibitor use. Expert opinion Although SGLT-2 inhibitors have a relatively good adverse event profile, they have been associated with the serious and potentially life-threatening metabolic complication of euDKA. Data from major outcome trials suggest that the rate of DKA is quite low. However, the rate of DKA could be generally underestimated in clinical trials due to the atypical presentation of ketoacidosis, and even more so in real-life conditions. Management of this serious metabolic complication requires a proper understanding of its pathophysiology as well as increased awareness and early recognition of the potential risk factors involved. Following this, the institution of an array of simple supportive measures, could safely restore normal acid–base balance in most patients.
Tracking and treating malnutrition: a retrospective observational study of the nutritional status of vulnerable people accessing a meals-on-wheels (MOW) service

Abstract Aim: The aims of the study were to describe the characteristics of meals-on-wheels (MOW) recipients, including prevalence of malnutrition amongst those who have received input from the Nutrition and Wellbeing Service (NWS) and to explore whether the NWS had an impact on the nutritional status (malnutrition risk) of recipients over time. Background: Support services, for example, MOW, play an important role in the prevention and treatment of malnutrition in the community. In the UK, MOW services are under threat. However, little is known about how they support the health and well-being of older people. This study reports on the characteristics of MOW recipients and investigates change in nutritional status over time. Methods: A retrospective study of MOW recipients of nutritional concern who were offered a check through the NWS was conducted. Demographic, social and health information were gathered at the initial visit. Nutritional status (risk of malnutrition) was obtained using the validated Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool (MUST), at the initial and subsequent visits. Changes over time were investigated for recipients receiving at least two follow-up visits. Findings: An initial visit was made to 399 MOW recipients, and 148 recipients had two or more follow-up visits. At initial screening, 177 (44%) of recipients were at medium or high risk of malnutrition. Frailty was significantly related to malnutrition risk (P = 0.049). At follow-up, there was a reduction in malnutrition risk. Conclusions: The MOW service was associated with a reduction in malnutrition risk. By offering well-being visits within a MOW service, malnutrition can be identified early. Future studies into how MOW services might delay or prevent the need for support from acute health services and social care are warranted.
ARCHITECTURE OF JUVENILE PENNANTIA CORYMBOSA, A DIVARICATE SHRUB FROM NEW ZEALAND

Abstract Juvenile Pennantia corymbosa plants are divaricate in form. They display periodic growth patterns along axes; there are stem sections with long internodes, stem angles which deviate from 180°, and expanded lateral shoots, between which are stem sections with short internodes which lack lateral shoots and stem angles. There is a strong positional association between long intemodes, stem angles, and lateral outgrowth. Plants have three shoot types ‐ short shoots, non‐sylleptic long shoots, and syll‐eptic long shoots ‐ that differ in parental control of elongation. The ratios of leaf: total dry‐weight biomass of juvenile P. corymbosa branches are similar to ratios from North American deciduous woody shrubs but lower than ratios from evergreen shrubs. Juvenile P. corymbosa plants display features such as phenotypic plasticity, a diversity of shoot types, and wide branch angles which may enhance light capture. However, the costs for light capture associated with a low contribution of biomass to foliag.
Altered awareness of motor symptoms in Parkinson's disease and Dementia with Lewy Bodies: A systematic review

Altered awareness of motor symptoms is reported in people with Parkinson's disease and Dementia with Lewy Bodies, and may adversely affect quality of life and medication concordance. How symptom awareness is influenced by motor and cognitive disease severity, age and medication use is not fully understood. We carried out a systematic review of the literature on motor symptom awareness in Parkinson's disease and Dementia with Lewy Bodies.
High pH Treatments and the Alleviation of Soil Hydrophobicity on Golf Greens

Hydrophobic soil associated with localized dry spots (LDS) on creeping bentgrass (Agrostis palustris Huds.) putting greens has been shown to be caused by a humic and/or fulvic acid coating of the sand particles. Under laboratory conditions, humic acid begins to solubilize at pH 7.0 and is completely soluble at pH 9.5 or greater. The purpose of this study was to determine the potential of high pH treatments for alleviating soil hydrophobicity of a creeping bentgrass golf green. Three separate studies were conducted on the University of Georgia Experimental Golf Green, Athens, GA, during the spring and summer of 1990 and spring of 1991. The creeping bentgrass green, constructed with an 85% sand and 15% peat root zone mixture, had a well documented history of LDS caused by hydrophobic soil [. ]
Anesthesiologists’ and Intensive Care Providers’ Exposure to Coronavirus Disease 2019 Infection in a New York City Academic Center: A Prospective Cohort Study Assessing Symptoms and Coronavirus Disease 2019 Antibody Testing

BACKGROUND: Protecting first-line health care providers against work-related coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection at the onset of the pandemic has been a crucial challenge in the United States. Anesthesiologists in particular are considered at risk, since aerosol-generating procedures, such as intubation and extubation, have been shown to significantly increase the odds for respiratory infections during severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) outbreaks. This study assessed the incidence of COVID-19–like symptoms and the presence of COVID-19 antibodies after work-related COVID-19 exposures, among physicians working in a large academic hospital in New York City (NYC). METHODS: An e-mail survey was addressed to anesthesiologists and affiliated intensive care providers at Columbia University Irving Medical Center on April 15, 2020. The survey assessed 4 domains: (1) demographics and medical history, (2) community exposure to COVID-19 (eg, use of NYC subway), (3) work-related exposure to COVID-19, and (4) development of COVID-19–like symptoms after work exposure. The first 100 survey responders were invited to undergo a blood test to assess antibody status (presence of immunoglobulin M [IgM]/immunoglobulin G [IgG] specific to COVID-19). Work-related exposure was defined as any episode where the provider was not wearing adequate personal protective equipment (airborne or droplet/contact protection depending on the exposure type). Based on the clinical scenario, work exposure was categorized as high risk (eg, exposure during intubation) or low risk (eg, exposure during doffing). RESULTS: Two hundred and five health care providers were contacted and 105 completed the survey (51%); 91 completed the serological test. Sixty-one of the respondents (58%) reported at least 1 work-related exposure and 54% of the exposures were high risk. Among respondents reporting a work-related exposure, 16 (26.2%) reported postexposure COVID-19–like symptoms. The most frequent symptoms were myalgia (9 cases), diarrhea (8 cases), fever (7 cases), and sore throat (7 cases). COVID-19 antibodies were detected in 11 of the 91 tested respondents (12.1%), with no difference between respondents with (11.8%) or without (12.5%) a work-related exposure, including high-risk exposure. Compared with antibody-negative respondents, antibody-positive respondents were more likely to use NYC subway to commute to work and report COVID-19–like symptoms in the past 90 days. CONCLUSIONS: In the epicenter of the United States’ pandemic and within 6–8 weeks of the COVID-19 outbreak, a small proportion of anesthesiologists and affiliated intensive care providers reported COVID-19–like symptoms after a work-related exposure and even fewer had detectable COVID-19 antibodies. The presence of COVID-19 antibodies appeared to be associated with community/environmental transmission rather than secondary to work-related exposures involving high-risk procedures.
Analysis of Scapular Muscle EMG Activity During Elastic Resistance Oscillation Exercises From the Perspective of Different Arm Positions

Background: Little is known about the optimal exercise intensity and the effects of arm position on elastic resistance exercise. The purpose of this study was to investigate scapular muscle activity in different arm positions utilized during standing elastic resistance exercise. Hypothesis: Lower trapezius (LT), serratus anterior (SA), and infraspinatus (IS) muscle activity will vary across arm positions above shoulder level. Also, oscillation resistance exercise will result in increased muscle activity compared with isometric contraction. Study Design: Controlled laboratory study. Level of Evidence: Level 4. Methods: A total of 19 uninjured male collegiate baseball players volunteered to participate in this study. The electromyography (EMG) activity of the LT, upper trapezius (UT), middle deltoid (MD), SA, and IS muscles was determined using surface EMG in 3 arm positions: diagonal pattern 1 (D1), 120° of shoulder abduction (120), and 90° shoulder abduction with external rotation and elbow flexion (90/90) during both isometric contraction and oscillation resistance exercise. Results: No difference in EMG activity of the LT muscle was found between the 120 and 90/90 position. However, the 120 position increased UT and MD muscle activity significantly more than those of the 90/90 position. The D1 arm position significantly increased SA muscle activity more than the 120 and 90/90 positions while the LT muscle activity was nearly silent. Conclusion: The standing 90/90 position effectively generated both LT and IS muscle EMG activity while minimizing both UT and MD muscle activity. Clinical Relevance: The use of oscillation movements under elastic loading can create high muscle activation in the LT muscle without an adverse effect of the humeral head position and scapular rotation.