Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Special collection: The Rise of Ticks and Tick-Borne Diseases Impact of Land Use Changes and Habitat Fragmentation on the Eco-epidemiology of Tick-Borne Diseases

The incidence of tick-borne diseases has increased in recent decades and accounts for the majority of vectorborne disease cases in temperate areas of Europe, North America, and Asia. This emergence has been attributed to multiple and interactive drivers including changes in climate, land use, abundance of key hosts, and people’s behaviors affecting the probability of human exposure to infected ticks. In this forum paper, we focus on how land use changes have shaped the eco-epidemiology of Ixodes scapularis-borne pathogens, in particular the Lyme disease spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto in the eastern United States. We use this as a model system, addressing other tick-borne disease systems as needed to illustrate patterns or processes. We first examine how land use interacts with abiotic conditions (microclimate) and biotic factors (e.g., host community composition) to influence the enzootic hazard, measured as the density of host-seeking I. scapularis nymphs infected with B. burgdorferi s.s. We then review the evidence of how specific landscape configuration, in particular forest fragmentation, influences the enzootic hazard and disease risk across spatial scales and urbanization levels. We emphasize the need for a dynamic understanding of landscapes based on tick and pathogen host movement and habitat use in relation to human resource provisioning. We propose a coupled natural-human systems framework for tick-borne diseases that accounts for the multiple interactions, nonlinearities and feedbacks in the system and conclude with a call for standardization of methodology and terminology to help integrate studies conducted at multiple scales.
Do Remittance Outflow and Exchange Rate Wavering Distress Domestic Private Investment in ASEAN? A Conceptual Panel Cointegration

1. Lecturer, School of Economics, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, Punjab, Pakistan (khawjaasif@bzu.edu.pk) 2. Professor, School of Economics, Finance and Banking, Universiti Utara Malaysia. Corresponding Author (din636@uum.edu.my) 3. Professor, School of Economics, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, Punjab, Pakistan (zahirfaridi@bzu.edu.pk) PAPER INFO ABSTRACT Published: June 2020 Volume 1 Issue 1 The need for private investment is located in both developing and developed world economies. In this regard, Association of South East Asian Nations are always seen where the private investment is well hosted and is found to increase in ready course of time. However, the needs and requirements for private investment have changed drastically in the growing world of today where the race is to fetch economic growth and development at the back of sound and consistent flow of private investment. This research paper states the current scenario of private investment in the ASEAN and suggests for the tackle of its modules such as worker remittance and their outflow as well as exchange rate wavering to affect nature of private investment. Being conceptual in nature, empirical and theoretical views are highlighted together with the panel data analyses for conduction of regression results.
In vitro inhibitory effects of the ethanol extract of Tetrapleura tetraptera (Schum and thonn.) taub. against multidrug resistant staphylococcus aureus

In this study, the antibacterial effect of ethanol extract of Tetrapleura tetraptera was investigated in vitro against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus by agar diffusion and macrobroth dilution methods. At the lowest concentration of 20 mg/ml of the ethanol extract, 100 µl produced inhibition zones that ranged between 06 and 15 ± 1.0 mm while the inhibition zones ranged between 16 ± 1.0 mm and 22 ± 1.0 mm when the isolates were tested with 100 µl of the highest concentration (100 mg/ml) of ethanol extract. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of the ethanol extract were between 0.019 mg/ml and 5.0 mg/ml while its minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBCs) ranged between 0.078 and 10.0 mg/ml. Ten strains had their MICs less than 1.0 mg/ml while the remaining S. aureus strains had their MICs at concentrations ranging between 1.25 mg/ml and 5.0 mg/ml. The degree of antibacterial activity exhibited by the extract of T. tetraptera demonstrated that its herbal medicine could be as effective as modern medicine in treating diseases associated with the test pathogenic organism and justifying its traditional use in the treatment of bacterial infections.
PtdIns(3,4,5)P3-dependent Rac exchanger 1 (P-Rex1) promotes mammary tumor initiation and metastasis

Significance Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women and metastasis remains the leading cause of death. P-Rex1, a guanine nucleotide exchange factor, positively regulates Rac1-mediated oncogenic signaling. P-Rex1 is overexpressed in a subset of human breast cancers; however, little is known of its function in vivo. Here we show P-Rex1 regulates Rac1 activation in vivo in the mammary gland. Increased P-Rex1 expression enhances mammary epithelial cell proliferation and is causally associated with tumor initiation. In murine models, P-Rex1 cooperates with the neu oncogene to increase mammary tumor incidence and metastasis but not primary tumor growth. Our studies suggest that inhibiting the P-Rex1–Rac1 signaling axis may be an adjunct therapy for treating invasive cancers which exhibit increased P-Rex1 expression. The Rac-GEF, P-Rex1, activates Rac1 signaling downstream of G protein-coupled receptors and PI3K. Increased P-Rex1 expression promotes melanoma progression; however, its role in breast cancer is complex, with differing reports of the effect of its expression on disease outcome. To address this we analyzed human databases, undertook gene array expression analysis, and generated unique murine models of P-Rex1 gain or loss of function. Analysis of PREX1 mRNA expression in breast cancer cDNA arrays and a METABRIC cohort revealed that higher PREX1 mRNA in ER+ve/luminal tumors was associated with poor outcome in luminal B cancers. Prex1 deletion in MMTV-neu or MMTV-PyMT mice reduced Rac1 activation in vivo and improved survival. High level MMTV-driven transgenic PREX1 expression resulted in apicobasal polarity defects and increased mammary epithelial cell proliferation associated with hyperplasia and development of de novo mammary tumors. MMTV-PREX1 expression in MMTV-neu mice increased tumor initiation and enhanced metastasis in vivo, but had no effect on primary tumor growth. Pharmacological inhibition of Rac1 or MEK1/2 reduced P-Rex1-driven tumoroid formation and cell invasion. Therefore, P-Rex1 can act as an oncogene and cooperate with HER2/neu to enhance breast cancer initiation and metastasis, despite having no effect on primary tumor growth.
A double dissociation between plural and possessive “s”: Evidence from the Morphosyntactic Generation test

ABSTRACT People with aphasia demonstrate impaired production of bound inflectional morphemes, such as noun plurals and possession. They often show greater difficulty in marking possession versus plurality. Using a new tool for eliciting language, the Morphosyntactic Generation test, we assessed people with primary progressive aphasia and those in the acute and chronic phase following left hemisphere stroke. Clinical profiles were associated with different strengths and weaknesses in language production. Performance of the plural was stronger than possessive in group analyses. However, some individuals demonstrated the inverse pattern of performance. These participants provide counter-evidence to the theory that difficulty with marking possessives is purely the result of their greater cognitive-linguistic complexity and support a functional double dissociation between possessives and plurals. The deficits resulted from morphosyntactic impairment. Future work is needed to understand why plural and possessive markers were differently sensitive to neurological disorders of language.
Use of Exopolysaccharide-Synthesizing Lactic Acid Bacteria and Fat Replacers for Manufacturing Reduced-Fat Burrata Cheese: Microbiological Aspects and Sensory Evaluation

This study aimed to set-up a biotechnological protocol for manufacturing a reduced-fat Burrata cheese using semi-skimmed milk and reduced-fat cream, in different combinations with exopolysaccharides-synthesizing bacterial starters (Streptococcus thermophilus, E1, or Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis and Lc. lactis subsp. cremoris, E2) and carrageenan or xanthan. Eight variants of reduced-fat cheese (fat concentration 34–51% lower than traditional full-fat Burrata cheese, used as the control) were obtained using: (i) semi-skimmed milk and reduced-fat cream alone (RC) or in combination with (ii) xanthan (RCX), (iii) carrageenan (RCC), (iv) starter E1 (RCE1), (v) starter E2 (RCE2), (vi) both starters (RCE1-2), (vii) E1 and xanthan (RCXE1), or E1 and carrageenan (RCCE1). Post-acidification occurred for the RCC, RCX, and RCE2 Burrata cheeses, due to the higher number of mesophilic cocci found in these cheeses after 16 days of storage. Overall, mesophilic and thermophilic cocci, although showing cheese variant-depending dynamics, were dominant microbial groups, flanked by Pseudomonas sp. during storage. Lactobacilli, increasing during storage, represented another dominant microbial group. The panel test gave highest scores to RCE1-2 and RCXE1 cheeses, even after 16 days of storage. The 16S-targeted metagenomic analysis revealed that a core microbiota (S. thermophilus, Streptococcus lutetiensis, Lc. lactis, Lactococcus sp., Leuconostoc lactis, Lactobacillus delbrueckii, and Pseudomonas sp.), characterized the Burrata cheeses. A consumer test, based on 105 people, showed that more than 50% of consumers did not distinguish the traditional full-fat from the RCXE1 reduced-fat Burrata cheese.
Perisynaptic cells at the neuromuscular junction, protein expression and cellular interactions

The neuromuscular junction (nmj) is composed of specialized contacts between nerve terminals and muscle fibres. Nerve terminals are covered by perisynaptic Schwann cells (PSCs), which are specialized non-myelin-forming glia. PSCs expressed protein zero, a glycoprotein found uniquely in Schwann cells. Surprisingly, PSCs also expressed myelin-related proteins, such as myelinassociated glycoprotein. Both glycoproteins persisted afier denervation, including at newly formed PSC extensions. Thus, PSCs are of Schwann cell origin, but their expression of myelin-related proteins suggests that either myelin formation requires additional factors or that inhibitory molecules present at the nmj block myelination, or these proteins have other roles at the nmj. PSCs are sensitive to neurotransmitters, including acetylcholine (ACh), ATP, and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP). Normally, few PSCs express glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), but when deprived of synaptic activity for 6 hours, PSCs up-regulate this cytoskeletal protein. Muscarinic acetylcholine receptors (mAChRs) were located on PSCs and their activation was necessary for maintain ing low GFAP expression. Other transmitters activated PSCs, but did not affect GFAP up-regulation. Thus. ACh release from nerve terminais is a signal which preserves low GFAP in the surrounding PSCs. Muscarinic action on GFAP may involve cAMP because this second messenger blocked GFAP accumulation. The peptide transrnitter CGRP was found to modulate PSC ATP receptors. Normally, successive applications of ATP generate Ca2+ transients which largely do not attenuate in amplitude. However. CGRP and also cAMP elevations reduced the amplitude of ATP-evoked ca2+ transients. Thus. release of CGRP from nerve terminals modulates purinergic signalling in PSCs, possibly via stimulation of CAMP. Finally, special properties of perisynaptic fibroblasts located near nmjs were recognized. lmmunohistochemistry disclosed perisynaptic fibroblast extensions which contacted nmjs preferentially. Furthermore. similar to PSCs, fibroblasts responded to ATP with changes in ca2'. PSCs and perisynaptic fibroblasts should be considered the third and fourth cellular components of nmjs. Their capacity to detect neurotransmission suggests that they may in turn modulate synaptic structure and function.
UEFA expert group statement on nutrition in elite football. Current evidence to inform practical recommendations and guide future research

Football is a global game which is constantly evolving, showing substantial increases in physical and technical demands. Nutrition plays a valuable integrated role in optimising performance of elite players during training and match-play, and maintaining their overall health throughout the season. An evidence-based approach to nutrition emphasising, a ‘food first’ philosophy (ie, food over supplements), is fundamental to ensure effective player support. This requires relevant scientific evidence to be applied according to the constraints of what is practical and feasible in the football setting. The science underpinning sports nutrition is evolving fast, and practitioners must be alert to new developments. In response to these developments, the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) has gathered experts in applied sports nutrition research as well as practitioners working with elite football clubs and national associations/federations to issue an expert statement on a range of topics relevant to elite football nutrition: (1) match day nutrition, (2) training day nutrition, (3) body composition, (4) stressful environments and travel, (5) cultural diversity and dietary considerations, (6) dietary supplements, (7) rehabilitation, (8) referees and (9) junior high-level players. The expert group provide a narrative synthesis of the scientific background relating to these topics based on their knowledge and experience of the scientific research literature, as well as practical experience of applying knowledge within an elite sports setting. Our intention is to provide readers with content to help drive their own practical recommendations. In addition, to provide guidance to applied researchers where to focus future efforts.
Potential association of LOXL1 with peritoneal dissemination in gastric cancer possibly via promotion of EMT

Background Peritoneal dissemination (PD) frequently occurs in gastric cancer (GC) and is incurable. In this study, we aimed to identify novel PD-associated genes and clarify their clinical and biological significance in GC. Materials and methods We identified LOXL1 as a PD-associated candidate gene by in silico analysis of GC datasets (highly disseminated peritoneal GC cell line and two freely available GC datasets, GSE15459 and TCGA). Next, we evaluated the clinical significance of LOXL1 expression using RT-qPCR and immunohistochemistry staining (IHC) in a validation cohort (Kyushu cohort). Moreover, we performed gene expression analysis, including gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) with GSE15459 and TCGA datasets. Finally, we performed a series of in vitro experiments using GC cells. Results In silico analysis showed that LOXL1 was overexpressed in tumor tissues of GC patients with PD and in highly disseminated peritoneal GC cells, relative to that in the control GC patients and cells, respectively. High expression of LOXL1 was a poor prognostic factor in the TCGA dataset. Next, IHC showed that LOXL1 was highly expressed in GC cells. High LOXL1 mRNA expression was associated with poorly differentiated histological type, lymph node metastasis, and was an independent poor prognostic factor in the Kyushu validation cohort. Moreover, LOXL1 expression was positively correlated with the EMT (epithelial-mesenchymal transition) gene set in GSEA. Finally, LOXL1-overexpressing GC cells changed their morphology to a spindle-like form. LOXL1 overexpression reduced CDH1 expression; increased the expression of VIM, CDH2, SNAI2, and PLS3; and promoted the migration capacity of GC cells. Conclusions LOXL1 is associated with PD in GC, possibly through the induction of EMT.
Efficacy of heat for weed control varies with heat source, tractor speed, weed species and size

ABSTRACT The efficacy of a direct-fired, tractor-mounted steam weeder was compared with that of a flame weeder. At a tractor speed of 3 km h−1, steam killed 100% of 10-day-old mustard plants, sown as a surrogate weed, and flame killed 92%. Plant survival increased with increasing tractor speed, but was always lower for the steam weeder. Mean survival over all speeds was 40% for steam and 74% for flame. By contrast, for 15 agricultural weed species, at a tractor speed of 3 km h−1 weed survival for both weeders was similar. At 3 km h−1 both methods killed Stellaria media and Veronica agrestis at all growth stages assessed, but neither killed Lolium perenne. Plants of all the other species were killed when the treatments were applied soon after emergence (cotyledon stage), but as the plants increased in size they became more resistant to heat, either because the terminal or axillary meristems were protected by soil, or because meristems were protected by thickened stems and leaves as the plants aged.
Systemic Markers of Injury and Injury Response are not Associated with Impaired Cerebrovascular Reactivity in Adult TBI: A CENTER-TBI Study.

The role of extra-cranial injury burden on cerebrovascular response in traumatic brain injury (TBI) is poorly documented. This study preliminarily assesses the association between admission features of extra-cranial injury burden on cerebrovascular reactivity. Using the CENTER-TBI HR ICU sub-study cohort, we evaluated those patients with both archived high-frequency digital intra-parenchymal ICP monitoring data of a minimum of 6 hours in duration, and the presence of a digital copy of their admission CT scan. Digital physiologic signals were processed for pressure reactivity index (PRx) and both the % time above defined PRx thresholds and mean hourly dose above threshold. This was conducted for both the first 72 hours and entire duration of recording. Admission extra-cranial injury characteristics and CT injury scores were obtained from the database, with quantitative contusion, edema, intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) and extra-axial lesion volumes were obtained via semi-automated segmentation. Comparison between admission extra-cranial markers of injury and PRx metrics was conducted using Mann-U testing, and logistic regression techniques, adjusting for known CT injury metrics associated with impaired PRx. A total of 165 patients were included. Evaluating the entire ICU recording period, there was limited association between metrics of extra-cranial injury burden and impaired cerebrovascular reactivity. Using the first 72 hours of recording, admission temperature (p=0.042) and white blood cell % (WBC %) (p=0.013) were statistically associated with impaired cerebrovascular reactivity on Mann-U and univariate logistic regression. After adjusting for admission age, pupillary status, GCS motor score, pre-hospital hypoxia/hypotension and intra-cranial CT characteristics associated with impaired reactivity, temperature (p=0.021) and WBC % (p=0.013) remained significantly associated with mean PRx values above +0.25 and +0.35, respectively. Markers of extra-cranial injury burden do not appear to be strongly associated with impaired cerebrovascular reactivity in TBI, during both the initial and entire ICU stay. Keywords: autoregulation, cerebrovascular reactivity, extra-cranial injury, injury burden, TBI.
Evaluation of the Milling Accuracy of Zirconia-Reinforced Lithium Silicate Crowns Fabricated Using the Dental Medical Device System: A Three-Dimensional Analysis

This study aimed to analyze the milling accuracy of lithium disilicate and zirconia-reinforced silicate crown fabricated using chairside computer-aided design/manufacturing (CAD/CAM) system. Mandibular left first premolar was selected for abutment. A master model was obtained for digital impression using an intraoral scanner, and crowns were designed using a CAD software design program. Amber Mill (AM), IPS e max CAD (IPS), and CELTRA DUO (CEL) were used in the CAD/CAM system, and a total 45 crowns (15 crowns each for AM, IPS, and CEL) was fabricated. Milling accuracy was analyzed with respect to trueness, measured by superimposing CAD design data and scan data through a three-dimensional program to compare the outer and inner surfaces and internal and external parts, thereby acquiring both quantitative and qualitative data. Data were analyzed using the non-parametric test and Kruskal–Wallis H test. In addition, the Mann–Whitney U test was used by applying the level of significance (0.05/3 = 0.016) adjusted by post-analysis Bonferroni correction. All the measured parts of the lithium disilicate and zirconia-reinforced silicate crowns showed statistically significant differences (p < 0.05). The lithium disilicate (AM and IPS) materials showed superior milling accuracy than the zirconia-reinforced lithium silicate (CEL) materials.
Association of ABO blood group with bleeding severity in patients with bleeding of unknown cause.

Blood group O has been associated with an increased bleeding tendency due to lower von Willebrand factor (VWF) and factor VIII (FVIII) levels. We explored whether blood group O is independently associated with bleeding severity in patients with mild-to-moderate bleeding of unknown cause (BUC) in the Vienna Bleeding Biobank cohort. Bleeding severity was recorded with the Vicenza bleeding score (BS). Blood group O was overrepresented in 422 patients with BUC compared with its presence in 23 145 healthy blood donors (47.2% vs 37.6%; odds ratio, 1.48; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.22-1.79). The BS and the number of bleeding symptoms were significantly higher in patients with blood group O than in patients with non-O after adjustment for VWF and FVIII levels and sex (least-square [LS] means of BSs: 6.2; 95% CI, 5.8-6.6 vs 5.3; 4.9-5.7; and of number of symptoms: LS, 3.5; 95% CI, 3.2-3.7 vs 3.0; 2.8-3.2, respectively). Oral mucosal bleeding was more frequent in those with blood group O than in those with other blood types (group non-O; 26.1% vs 14.3%), independent of sex and VWF and FVIII levels, whereas other bleeding symptoms did not differ. Patients with blood group O had increased clot density in comparison with those with blood group non-O, as determined by rotational thromboelastometry and turbidimetric measurement of plasma clot formation. There were no differences in thrombin generation, clot lysis, or platelet function. Our data indicate that blood group O is a risk factor for increased bleeding and bleeding severity in patients with BUC, independent of VWF and FVIII levels.