Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Computation in the human cerebral cortex uses less than 0.2 watts yet this great expense is optimal when considering communication costs

Darwinian evolution tends to produce energy-efficient outcomes. On the other hand, energy limits computation, be it neural and probabilistic or digital and logical. After establishing an energy-efficient viewpoint, we define computation and construct an energy-constrained, computational function that can be optimized. This function implies a specific distinction between ATP-consuming processes, especially computation per se vs action potentials and other costs of communication. As a result, the partitioning of ATP-consumption here differs from earlier work. A bits/J optimization of computation requires an energy audit of the human brain. Instead of using the oft-quoted 20 watts of glucose available to the brain (1, 2), the partitioning and audit reveals that cortical computation consumes 0.2 watts of ATP while long-distance communication costs are over 20-fold greater. The bits/joule computational optimization implies a transient information rate of more than 7 bits/sec/neuron. Significance Statement Engineers hold up the human brain as a low energy form of computation. However from the simplest physical viewpoint, a neuron’s computation cost is remarkably larger than the best possible bits/joule – off by a factor of 108. Here we explicate, in the context of energy consumption, a definition of neural computation that is optimal given explicit constraints. The plausibility of this definition as Nature’s perspective is supported by an energy-audit of the human brain. The audit itself requires certain novel perspectives and calculations revealing that communication costs are 20-fold computational costs.
A Method for Comparing the Impact on Carcinogenicity of Tobacco Products: A Case Study on Heated Tobacco Versus Cigarettes

Comparing the harmful health effects related to two different tobacco products by applying common risk assessment methods to each individual compound is problematic. We developed a method that circumvents some of these problems by focusing on the change in cumulative exposure (CCE) of the compounds emitted by the two products considered. The method consists of six steps. The first three steps encompass dose‐response analysis of cancer data, resulting in relative potency factors with confidence intervals. The fourth step evaluates emission data, resulting in confidence intervals for the expected emission of each compound. The fifth step calculates the change in CCE, probabilistically, resulting in an uncertainty range for the CCE. The sixth step estimates the associated health impact by combining the CCE with relevant dose‐response information. As an illustrative case study, we applied the method to eight carcinogens occurring both in the emissions of heated tobacco products (HTPs), a novel class of tobacco products, and tobacco smoke. The CCE was estimated to be 10‐ to 25‐fold lower when using HTPs instead of cigarettes. Such a change indicates a substantially smaller reduction in expected life span, based on available dose‐response information in smokers. However, this is a preliminary conclusion, as only eight carcinogens were considered so far. Furthermore, an unfavorable health impact related to HTPs remains as compared to complete abstinence. Our method results in useful information that may help policy makers in better understanding the potential health impact of new tobacco and related products. A similar approach can be used to compare the carcinogenicity of other mixtures.
A multi-tier species delimitation approach resolves conflicts in delineating the primitively segmented spider genus Heptathela endemic to Japanese islands

Accurate species delimitation impacts all biological inferences, but taxonomic studies often face conflicts within/among datasets or among species delimitation methods. Here we use a multi-tier analytical strategy to handle conflicts in species delimitation on a group of primitively segmented spiders, genus Heptathela endemic to Japanese islands. Tier 1 analysis uses a suite of quick species delimitation methods to test the initial species hypothesis (ISH) and to identify fully congruent lineages. Testing ISH of 19 species based on morphological taxonomic evidence presented elsewhere, tier 1 analysis subjects a molecular dataset of 180 original Heptathela samples to distance- and tree-based species delimitation methods, and recovers 16 fully congruent species plus 3, 4 or 6 conflicting lineages. Given these conflicting lineages, tier 2 analysis tests, only within these lineages, alternative species hypotheses (ASH) via multi-locus, coalescent-based species delimitation methods on enriched dataset. We add additional molecular markers only for 35 samples from conflicting lineages, then evaluate three ASH using coalescent-based species delimitation methods (BP&P and BFD). While BP&P lacks delimitation power, BFD best supports 6-species without rejecting the 4-species hypothesis. Because incongruence persists, tier 3 analysis then uses additional operational criteria for identifying diagnosable lineages as valid species. Reevaluating morphological and DNA evidence for 4-vs. 6-species hypothesis, it reveals a DNA barcoding gap supporting 4-species. Our multi-tier approach to resolving conflicts in species delimitation by enriching data selectively for conflicting lineages is a fast and efficient strategy to delimit species in an integrative taxonomic framework.
Diagnosis of Pseudoexfoliation Syndrome in Pseudophakic Patients

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of pseudoexfoliation syndrome diagnosis in pseudophakic patients and potential means of improving it. Methods: This prospective, nonrandomized study comprised 41 consecutive patients (41 eyes) scheduled for cataract surgery at a tertiary medical center during 2016 and 2017. Preoperatively, all patients underwent a detailed slit-lamp examination, including gonioscopic assessment of the iridocorneal angle. The examination was performed by a glaucoma specialist who completed an assessment form documenting the presence/absence of clinical signs of pseudoexfoliation syndrome. It was repeated 1–2 weeks postoperatively by a second, masked, glaucoma specialist. Results: Sixteen patients (39.0%) were diagnosed with pseudoexfoliation syndrome preoperatively. The diagnosis was confirmed postoperatively in 11/16 patients (68.8% sensitivity) and in an additional patient not diagnosed preoperatively (96% specificity). The ability to diagnose pseudoexfoliation syndrome postoperatively was significantly worse than preoperatively (Z = 12.161, p < 0.0001). Pupillary border deposits (75% of cases) and the Sampaolesi line (83.3%) were the cornerstones of the postoperative diagnosis; anterior capsular deposits were evident in only 41.6% of cases diagnosed postoperatively (31.3% of the originally diagnosed cases). Conclusions: Underdiagnosis of pseudoexfoliation syndrome is common in pseudophakic patients and may have significant implications for future management. Careful attention to pupillary border anatomy and meticulous gonioscopic assessment of the iridocorneal angle are essential for accurate diagnosis. Preoperative documentation of pseudoexfoliation syndrome could help prevent this diagnostic pitfall.
Cell-free prototyping of limonene biosynthesis using cell-free protein synthesis

Metabolic engineering of microorganisms to produce sustainable chemicals has emerged as an important part of the global bioeconomy. Unfortunately, efforts to design and engineer microbial cell factories are challenging because design-built-test cycles, iterations of re-engineering organisms to test and optimize new sets of enzymes, are slow. To alleviate this challenge, we demonstrate a cell-free approach termed in vitro Prototyping and Rapid Optimization of Biosynthetic Enzymes (or iPROBE). In iPROBE, a large number of pathway combinations can be rapidly built and optimized. The key idea is to use cell-free protein synthesis (CFPS) to manufacture pathway enzymes in separate reactions that are then mixed to modularly assemble multiple, distinct biosynthetic pathways. As a model, we apply our approach to the 9-step heterologous enzyme pathway to limonene in extracts from Escherichia coli. In iterative cycles of design, we studied the impact of 54 enzyme homologs, multiple enzyme levels, and cofactor concentrations on pathway performance. In total, we screened over 150 unique sets of enzymes in 580 unique pathway conditions to increase limonene production in 24 hours from 0.2 to 4.5 mM (23 to 610 mg/L). Finally, to demonstrate the modularity of this pathway, we also synthesized the biofuel precursors pinene and bisabolene. We anticipate that iPROBE will accelerate design-build-test cycles for metabolic engineering, enabling data-driven multiplexed cell-free methods for testing large combinations of biosynthetic enzymes to inform cellular design. TOC Figure Highlights Applied the iPROBE framework to build the nine-enzyme pathway to produce limonene Assessed the impact of cofactors and 54 enzyme homologs on cell-free enzyme performance Iteratively optimized the cell-free production of limonene by exploring more than 580 unique reactions Extended pathway to biofuel precursors pinene and bisabolene
A model for the assessment of bluetongue virus serotype 1 persistence in Spain

Bluetongue virus (BTV) is an arbovirus of ruminants that has been circulating in Europe continuously for more than two decades and has become endemic in some countries such as Spain. Spain is ideal for BTV epidemiological studies since BTV outbreaks from different sources and serotypes have occurred continuously there since 2000; BTV-1 has been reported there from 2007 to 2017. Here we develop a model for BTV-1 endemic scenario to estimate the risk of an area becoming endemic, as well as to identify the most influential factors for BTV-1 persistence. We created abundance maps at 1-km2 spatial resolution for the main vectors in Spain, Culicoides imicola and Obsoletus and Pulicaris complexes, by combining environmental satellite data with occurrence models and a random forest machine learning algorithm. The endemic model included vector abundance and host-related variables (farm density). The three most relevant variables in the endemic model were the abundance of C. imicola and Obsoletus complex and density of goat farms (AUC 0.86); this model suggests that BTV-1 is more likely to become endemic in central and southwestern regions of Spain. It only requires host- and vector-related variables to identify areas at greater risk of becoming endemic for bluetongue. Our results highlight the importance of suitable Culicoides spp. prediction maps for bluetongue epidemiological studies and decision-making about control and eradication measures.
Age and Growth of Atlantic Sturgeon from the Saint John River, New Brunswick, Canada

AbstractAs a long-lived and late-maturing species, Atlantic Sturgeon Acipenser oxyrinchus are susceptible to overharvest, which makes knowledge concerning their age and growth essential to sustainable management. The Saint John River, New Brunswick, and the St. Lawrence River, Quebec, support the two remaining commercial fisheries for Atlantic Sturgeon in North America; however, the relationship between age and growth has not previously been modeled for the Saint John River population. Ages of Saint John River Atlantic Sturgeon were estimated by using pectoral fin spine sections collected from 262 individuals of known TL. Most (87%) of the pectoral spine sections were aged by two readers to evaluate possible reader bias. An age–bias plot and coefficient of variation (CV) indicated relatively low between-reader precision (CV = 5.6%) compared with that reported in other studies. Von Bertalanffy growth model (VBGM) parameters were estimated for males (n = 67), females (n = 85), and the combined sexes. Unsexe.
Polyphenolic Profile and Varied Bioactivities of Processed Taiwanese Grown Broccoli: A Comparative Study of Edible and Non-Edible Parts

Broccoli contains a substantial amount of bioactive compounds such as glucosinolates, phenolics, and essential nutrients, which are positively linked to health-promoting effects. This work aimed to evaluate whether both edible and non-edible parts of broccoli could be effective by examining in vitro antioxidant, cytotoxic, apoptotic, and antibacterial properties of its floret, leaf, and seed extracts (FE, LE, and SE, correspondingly). High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and various assays exhibited strong antioxidant activities of all samples. LE obtained the highest capacity, correlated to its polyphenolic contents. SE exerted significant cytotoxicity against A549, Caco-2, and HepG2 cancer cell lines at low inhibitory concentration (IC)50 values (0.134, 0.209, and 0.238 mg/mL, respectively), as tested by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Flow cytometry confirmed apoptosis induction of extracts in Caco-2 cells by revealing an increased subG1 population and a decreased mitochondrial membrane potential. The considerable antibacterial efficacy was observed in either LE and SE against Bacillus subtilis and Salmonella typhimurium (0.39–0.78 mg/mL) using well-agar diffusion and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) techniques, along with the weak activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli (1.56–3.13 mg/mL). The findings suggest that broccoli and its byproducts might serve as a promising source for further development of food or pharmaceutical products.
Effect of sugar alcohols, antioxidants and activators of systemically acquired resistance on severity of bacterial angular leaf spot (Xanthomonas fragariae) of strawberry in controlled environment conditions

Abstract Bacterial angular leaf spot of strawberry caused by Xanthomonas fragariae is an increasingly important disease for which few management strategies are available. The resistance status of most cultivars is unknown and of those cultivars tested, few have significant levels of resistance. Copper formulations are available and have limited effectiveness but phytotoxicity is a problem with repeated applications. This controlled environment study examined the efficacy of foliar applications of various antioxidants, such as α-tocopherol and mannitol, along with the plant activators acetylsalicylic acid and acibenzolar-S-methyl, and the fungicide fosetyl-Al, for disease control. Mannitol and acibenzolar-S-methyl consistently provided excellent control of disease, while fosetyl-Al and α-tocopherol were significantly less effective. Other antioxidants and sugar alcohols similar to mannitol did not provide the same level of angular leaf spot control. Interestingly, interactions were observed between various sugar alcohols and strawberry cultivars in suppressing disease. The mode of action of sugar alcohols against angular leaf spot is likely not related to their antioxidant activity. Sugar alcohols, especially mannitol, may represent a new and non-toxic approach to bacterial angular leaf spot control.
A Rare Case of Primary Cutaneous Diffuse Large B- Cell Lymphoma- Leg Type with Testicular Infiltration in a Young Male

Primary cutaneous B-cell lymphomas (PCBCLs) are a heterogenous group of rare clonal B-cell lymphoproliferative disorders with distinct clinicopathological features compared with nodal counterparts. It is less frequent than lymphomas of T-cells. Primary cutaneous diffuse large B-cell lymphoma-leg type (PCLBCL-LT) is a rare subtype which constitutes only 4%. It is predominantly seen in elderly people and has a female preponderance. We report a case of PCLBCL-LT with testicular infiltration occurring in a young male who presented with three painless skin swellings over thigh, chest and upper lip and with bilateral scrotal swelling.
The Utility of Cervical Spine Bracing As a Postoperative Adjunct to Multilevel Anterior Cervical Spine Surgery

ABSTRACT Background: Use of cervical bracing/collar subsequent to anterior cervical spine discectomy and fusion (ACDF) is variable. Outcomes data regarding bracing after ACDF are limited. Here, we study the impact of bracing on short-term outcomes related to safety, quality of care, and direct costs in multilevel ACDF. Methods: Retrospective cohort analyses of all consecutive patients undergoing multilevel ACDF with or without bracing from 2013 to 2017 was undertaken (n = 616). Patient demographics and comorbidities were analyzed. Tests of independence and logistic regressions were used to assess differences in length of stay (LOS), discharge disposition (home, assisted rehabilitation facility [ARF], or skilled nursing facility [SNF]), quality-adjusted life year (QALY), direct cost, readmission within 30 days, and emergency room (ER) visits within 30 days. Results: Amongst the study population, 553 were braced and 63 were not braced. There was no difference in comorbidities (P > .05) such as obesity, smoking, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, hypertension, coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure, and problem list number. A significant difference in American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score was found, with more ASA 2 patients in the braced cohort and more ASA 3 patients in the unbraced cohort (P = .007). LOS was extended for the unbraced group (median 156.9 ± 211.4 versus 86.67 ± 130.6 h, P = .003), and ER visits within 30 days were 0.21 times less likely in the braced group (P = .006). There was no difference in readmission (P = .181), QALY gain (P = .968), and direct costs (P = .689). Conclusion: Bracing following multilevel cervical fixation does not alter short-term postoperative course or reduce the risk for early adverse outcomes in a significant manner.
The Anterior Transarticular Fixation of C1/C2 in the Elderly With Dens Fractures

ABSTRACT Background: Anterior transarticular screw fixation (ATSF) of C1/C2 can be used for the treatment of unstable dens fractures. Here, we evaluated the feasibility of an anterior C1/C2 fixation in elderly patients with unstable dens fractures. Furthermore, we tried to analyze safe entry zones for ATSF surgery. Methods: A consecutive cohort of 13 patients with unstable dens fractures were treated with ATSF of C1/C2 between January 2015 and October 2016. If necessary, an additional screw was placed into the odontoid process. The placement was radiographically analyzed using the 3D Arcadis Orbic (Siemens, Erlangen, Germany). Additionally, computed tomography scans of the cervical spine from 50 trauma patients were analyzed to evaluate safe entry zones for anterior odontoid screw fixation and for ATSF. Results: ATSF was performed in 13 cases (7 female, 6 male; mean age 81.80 years). One screw had to be corrected intraoperatively due to initial malplacement. Neurological deficits or an injury of the vertebral artery were not observed. All patients suffered from swallowing difficulties during the postoperative course, without lesions of the esophagus or the trachea. In 4 patients (30.8%), an additional posterior fixation was offered to the patients due to progressive loosening of the screws. The anatomical-radiographic analyzes revealed a significantly shallower angle of trajectory for anterior odontoid screw fixation (24.9° ± 5.85°) than for ATSF (39.1° ± 6.44° (left); 40.5° ± 6.79° (right) P = 0.02). Conclusions: The ATSF of C1/C2 might be a valuable option in the treatment of instable C1/C2 fractures, especially in the elderly or in patients with short necks and/or high body mass index due to the steeper trajectory compared with odontoid screw placement. Yet available screws seem to be of inferior resistance compared with the biomechanical properties of a dorsal fixation. Further studies should focus on screws with better mechanical properties and probably additional cement augmentation. Level of Evidence: 4.
Item recognition and lure discrimination in younger and older adults are supported by alpha/beta desynchronization

Our episodic memories vary in their specificity, ranging from a mere sense of familiarity to detailed recollection of the initial experience. Recent work suggests that alpha/beta desynchronization promotes information flow through the cortex, tracking the richness in detail of recovered memory representations. At the same time, as we age, memories become less vivid and detailed, which may be reflected in age-related reductions in alpha/beta desynchronization during retrieval. To understand age differences in the specificity of episodic memories, we investigated differences in alpha/beta desynchronization between younger (18–26 years, n = 31) and older (65–76 years, n = 27) adults during item recognition and lure discrimination. Alpha/beta desynchronization increased linearly with the demand for memory specificity, i.e., the requirement to retrieve details for an accurate response, across retrieval situations (correct rejections < item recognition < lure discrimination). Stronger alpha/beta desynchronization was related to memory success, as indicated by reliable activation differences between correct and incorrect memory responses. In line with the assumption of a loss of mnemonic detail in older age, older adults had more difficulties than younger adults to discriminate lures from targets. Importantly, they also showed a reduced modulation of alpha/beta desynchronization across retrieval demands. Together, these results extend previous findings by demonstrating that alpha/beta desynchronization dissociates between item recognition and the retrieval of highly detailed memories as required in lure discrimination, and that age-related impairments in episodic retrieval are accompanied by attenuated modulations in the alpha/beta band. Thus, we provide novel findings suggesting that alpha/beta desynchronization tracks mnemonic specificity and that changes in these oscillatory mechanisms may underlie age-related declines in episodic memory.
Comparative Cytogenetic Mapping and Telomere Analysis Provide Evolutionary Predictions for Devil Facial Tumour 2

The emergence of a second transmissible tumour in the Tasmanian devil population, devil facial tumour 2 (DFT2), has prompted questions on the origin and evolution of these transmissible tumours. We used a combination of cytogenetic mapping and telomere length measurements to predict the evolutionary trajectory of chromosome rearrangements in DFT2. Gene mapping by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) provided insight into the chromosome rearrangements in DFT2 and identified the evolution of two distinct DFT2 lineages. A comparison of devil facial tumour 1 (DFT1) and DFT2 chromosome rearrangements indicated that both started with the fusion of a chromosome, with potentially critically short telomeres, to chromosome 1 to form dicentric chromosomes. In DFT1, the dicentric chromosome resulted in breakage–fusion–bridge cycles leading to highly rearranged chromosomes. In contrast, the silencing of a centromere on the dicentric chromosome in DFT2 stabilized the chromosome, resulting in a less rearranged karyotype than DFT1. DFT2 retains a bimodal distribution of telomere length dimorphism observed on Tasmanian devil chromosomes, a feature lost in DFT1. Using long term cell culture, we observed homogenization of telomere length over time. We predict a similar homogenization of telomere lengths occurred in DFT1, and that DFT2 is unlikely to undergo further substantial rearrangements due to maintained telomere length.