Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The effect of age distribution on the prognosis of retroperitoneal neuroblastoma

Abstract Retroperitoneal neuroblastoma is a rare subtype of neuroblastoma and the role of age in its clinical prognosis is still unknown. To describe the age distribution and investigate the association between age and survival outcomes in patients diagnosed with retroperitoneal neuroblastoma. We retrospectively analyzed patients registered for retroperitoneal neuroblastoma in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) national database from 1973 to 2015. Age distribution was described and Cox proportional hazard regression was used to evaluate the measured effect of age on overall survival and disease-specific survival. A total of 399 retroperitoneal neuroblastoma patients with a median follow-up of 53.0 (interquartile range 17.0–133.5) months were included. We found a unimodal distribution of age with a median age of diagnosis to be 1.0 (interquartile range 0.0–4.0) years. Univariate analysis suggested that transformed age was associated with an increased risk of total death and disease-specific death (OR = 4.2, 95% CI 3.0–5.9; OR = 4.7, 95% CI 3.2–6.8). Adjusted smoothed plots showed a nonlinear correlation between age and disease-specific death. The risk of disease-specific death did not increase sharply as the age increased until reaching the inflection point (age < 3 years, OR = 0.4, 95% CI 0.2–1.0; age ≥ 3 years, OR = 1.2, 95% CI 0.9–1.5). There was, however, a linear relationship between age and total deaths (OR = 1.0, 95% CI 0.7–1.2). Adjusted multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that ages ≥ 3 years were associated with a significant increased risks of disease-specific death and total death (OR = 2.5, 95% CI 1.7–3.8; OR = 2.3, 95% CI 1.6–3.3, respectively). There was a unimodal age distribution of retroperitoneal neuroblastoma usually presented in infants or younger child. Older age was associated with a lower chance of overall survival and the risk of disease-specific death increased sharply after 3 years of age.
Correlation and Path Coefficients Analysis in Pearl Millet (Pennisetum americanum L.)

An experiment (comprised of 4 CMS lines and 4 open pollinated promising strains of pearl millet and their 16 hybrids) was conducted at MMRI, Sahiwal, during Kharif 1998 to ascertain the information of genetic variability, correlation, path and regression coefficients. Mean squares for plant height, leaf area, head length, head girth, biological yield per plot and grain yield per plot were highly significant and significant for number of leaves per main tiller. Genotypic coefficient of variability (GCV%) and phenotypic coefficient of variability (PCV%) were higher for plant height, biological yield/plot, harvest index and grain yield/ plot. The PCV% was higher than GCV% for all the traits studied. High genetic advance as percentage of mean and high heritability estimates 93.88, 86.83, 74.81 and 68.62% were observed for grain yield/plot, biological yield/plot, harvest index and plant height, respectively. Genotypic correlation coefficients were higher than phenotypic correlation coefficients for almost all the traits. Grain yield/plot was positively and significantly correlated with all traits. Positive direct effect of biological yield/plot (0.7238), harvest index (0.5976) and plant height (0.1419) on grain yield/plot was noted. Regression coefficients of biological yield and harvest index were significant and positive. This study indicated the presence of very high genetic variability for grain yield, biological yield, harvest index and plant height. Similarly analysis of correlation path and regression coefficients revealed the importance of biological yield, harvest index, head girth and plant height.
Characterising the diameter distribution of Sal plantations by comparing normal, lognormal and Weibull distributions at Tilagarh Eco-park, Bangladesh

For many years foresters have been using statistical probability density functions to describe and characterise stand structure. Predicting the current and future yields of a stand is essential for successful stand and timber management. Implicit prediction of current yield is accomplished by using diameter distribution methods. All diameter distribution yield systems predict the number of trees per unit area by diameter class. In this study, the normal, lognormal and the three-parameter Weibull probability density function were compared to characterise the diameter distributions of Sal (Shorea robusta) plantations grown at Tilagarh Eco-park, Bangladesh. Data from 70 plots, established in three plantations, were used for this study. The Weibull parameters were estimated by the maximum likelihood and moments estimator methods. A one-sample Kolmogorov–Smirnov test was used for the goodness of fit for all models. The Kolmogorov–Smirnov test results showed that both lognormal and Weibull distributions were suitable to characterise the diameter distributions of Sal plantations in the study area and may be applicable for other Sal forests in Bangladesh.
Conceptualizing the Vertebrate Sterolbiome

Vertebrates synthesize a diverse set of steroids and bile acids that undergo bacterial biotransformations. The endocrine literature has principally focused on the biochemistry and molecular biology of host synthesis and tissue-specific metabolism of steroids. Host-associated microbiota possess a coevolved set of steroid and bile acid modifying enzymes that match the majority of host peripheral biotransformations in addition to unique capabilities. The set of host-associated microbial genes encoding enzymes involved in steroid transformations is known as the sterolbiome. ABSTRACT Vertebrates synthesize a diverse set of steroids and bile acids that undergo bacterial biotransformations. The endocrine literature has principally focused on the biochemistry and molecular biology of host synthesis and tissue-specific metabolism of steroids. Host-associated microbiota possess a coevolved set of steroid and bile acid modifying enzymes that match the majority of host peripheral biotransformations in addition to unique capabilities. The set of host-associated microbial genes encoding enzymes involved in steroid transformations is known as the sterolbiome. This review focuses on the current knowledge of the sterolbiome as well as its importance in medicine and agriculture.
Barriers & facilitators to healthcare and social services among undocumented Latino(a)/Latinx immigrant clients: Perspectives from frontline service providers in Southeast Michigan

Immigration- and enforcement-related policies and laws have significantly and negatively impacted the health and well-being of undocumented immigrants. We examine barriers and facilitators to healthcare and social services among undocumented Latino(a)/Latinx immigrants specifically in the post 2016 US presidential election socio-political climate. By grounding our study on the perspectives of frontline providers, we explore their challenges in meeting the needs of their undocumented clients. These include client access to healthcare and social services, the barriers providers face in providing timely and effective services, and avenues to reduce or overcome factors that impede service provision to improve quality of care for this population. Data are from 28 in-depth interviews with frontline healthcare and social service providers. Based on data analysis, we found that the domains of the Three Delays Model used in obstetric care provided a good framework for organizing and framing the responses. Our findings suggest that these undocumented clients encounter three phases of delay: delay in the decision to seek care, delay in identifying and traveling to healthcare facilities, and delay in receiving adequate and appropriate care at healthcare facilities. Given the current socio-political climate for immigrants, healthcare and social services organizations that serve undocumented clients should adapt existing services or introduce new services, including those that are not site-based.
The Dual-Active Histamine H3 Receptor Antagonist and Acetylcholine Esterase Inhibitor E100 Alleviates Autistic-Like Behaviors and Oxidative Stress in Valproic Acid Induced Autism in Mice

The histamine H3 receptor (H3R) functions as auto- and hetero-receptors, regulating the release of brain histamine (HA) and acetylcholine (ACh), respectively. The enzyme acetylcholine esterase (AChE) is involved in the metabolism of brain ACh. Both brain HA and ACh are implicated in several cognitive disorders like Alzheimer’s disease, schizophrenia, anxiety, and narcolepsy, all of which are comorbid with autistic spectrum disorder (ASD). Therefore, the novel dual-active ligand E100 with high H3R antagonist affinity (hH3R: Ki = 203 nM) and balanced AChE inhibitory effect (EeAChE: IC50 = 2 µM and EqBuChE: IC50 = 2 µM) was investigated on autistic-like sociability, repetitive/compulsive behaviour, anxiety, and oxidative stress in male C57BL/6 mice model of ASD induced by prenatal exposure to valproic acid (VPA, 500 mg/kg, intraperitoneal (i.p.)). Subchronic systemic administration with E100 (5, 10, and 15 mg/kg, i.p.) significantly and dose-dependently attenuated sociability deficits of autistic (VPA) mice in three-chamber behaviour (TCB) test (all p < 0.05). Moreover, E100 significantly improved repetitive and compulsive behaviors by reducing the increased percentage of marbles buried in marble-burying behaviour (MBB) (all p < 0.05). Furthermore, pre-treatment with E100 (10 and 15 mg/kg, i.p.) corrected decreased anxiety levels (p < 0.05), however, failed to restore hyperactivity observed in elevated plus maze (EPM) test. In addition, E100 (10 mg/kg, i.p.) mitigated oxidative stress status by increasing the levels of decreased glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT), and decreasing the elevated levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) in the cerebellar tissues (all p < 0.05). Additionally, E100 (10 mg/kg, i.p.) significantly reduced the elevated levels of AChE activity in VPA mice (p < 0.05). These results demonstrate the promising effects of E100 on in-vivo VPA-induced ASD-like features in mice, and provide evidence that a potent dual-active H3R antagonist and AChE inhibitor (AChEI) is a potential drug candidate for future therapeutic management of autistic-like behaviours.
Vitamin D Status Is Not Associated with Cognitive or Motor Function in Pre-School Ugandan Children

Vitamin D deficiency is common worldwide and young children are among the most affected groups. Animal studies suggest a key role for vitamin D in brain development. However, studies investigating the effects of vitamin D on neurobehavioural outcomes in children are inconclusive and evidence is limited in sub-Saharan Africa. We evaluated the effect of vitamin D status on cognitive and motor outcomes using prospective data from the Entebbe Mother and Baby Study birth cohort. We analysed data from 302 Ugandan children with 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) measurements below five years and developmental measures at five years of age. We used multivariable linear regression, adjusted for potential confounders, to estimate the effect of 25(OH)D on cognitive and motor outcomes. Of 302 children, eight (2.7%) had 25(OH)D levels <50 nmol/L, 105 (35.8%) had levels 50–75 nmol/L and 189 (62.6%) had levels >75 nmol/L. There was no evidence that earlier vitamin D status was associated with cognitive and motor outcomes in five-year-old Ugandan children. This study adds to the sparse literature and highlights the need for further longitudinal studies on vitamin D and neurobehavioural outcomes in children living in sub-Saharan Africa.
Tuberculosis in Health Care Workers and the Impact of Implementation of Hospital Infection-Control Measures

Background: Most studies that have evaluated the impact of infection-control measures (ICM) reported a decrease in latent tuberculosis (TB) and not in TB. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of ICM on TB incidence among Health Care Workers (HCW’s). Methods: We conducted a retrospective record review study in a general, tertiary care, university-affiliated hospital. All TB case reports among HCWs in the hospital from 2005 to 2018 were reviewed. The TB incidence was measured before and after 2012 to evaluate the impact of ICM implemented. Findings: In total, there were 53 TB cases. The number of TB cases before and after the implementation of ICM was 42 (incidence: 100.0 cases/100,000 HCWs/year) and 11 (incidence: 26.2 cases/100,000 HCWs/year), respectively (p < .0001). Conclusions/Application to Practice: TB incidence among HCWs reduced significantly after the implementation of ICM. The establishment of ICM, such as written TB infection control plan, monitoring, screening, training, and education, can reduce TB incidence.
Effects of food availability and age on the reproductive effort of the apple snail, Pomacea canaliculata (Lamarck) (Gastropoda: Ampullariidae)

The effects of food availability and age on the reproductive traits of Pomacea canaliculata were determined in snails fed at three food levels under laboratory conditions (14L:10D; 25°C). In males, copulation frequency tended to increase with age, while food availability did not affect copulation frequency. In females, spawn production was lower in food-limited conditions, but current or weight-specific reproductive effort (RE) did not differ among food levels. The weight-specific RE and spawn frequency of the well-fed females decreased with age, but their current RE increased with age.
Five-Year Follow-up after Mesenchymal Stromal Cell–based Treatment of Severe Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome

study and the fact that we did not confirm the spatial distribution of the inhaled cigarette smoke by using a tracer. However, OEP is an excellent noninvasive tool to determine compartmental displacement during breathing accurately and has the advantage of allowing accurate observation without complex instrument interference. To conclude, we show for the first time that, while smoking, women mainly engage the pulmonary ribcage, whereas men mainly engage the abdominal compartment. These findings may help explain the increased susceptibility to cigarette smoke in women versus men, which underlies the increased risk of developing COPD, severe emphysema, and lung cancer in the female population. n
Bioactive Compounds and Their Effect on Blood Pressure—A Review

Elevated blood pressure affects a great part of the elderly population and is the leading risk factor for cardiovascular disease. New approaches have been taken in the fight against this growing problem, in the form of diets (Mediterranean, Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) and intermittent fasting). Recent research has shown the promising results regarding diets and their effect on the prevention and improvement of elevated blood pressure. This review attempts to take this a step further, reviewing 26 studies in the search for dietary elements that may be causing this improvement. Although good evidence was found in favor of lycopene, Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), fiber and anthocyanin, further evidence is needed before any conclusions can be made. In contrast, the evidence shows that licorice increases blood pressure.
Factors influencing the adoption of aflatoxin management practices in groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.)

Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) is a major oilseed crop of India. Groundnut has great potential for diversification, from oil extraction to food uses, due to its high nutritive value. Aflatoxin contamination is the major impediment to such diversification. Aflatoxins, produced by the fungi Aspergillus flavus and A. parasiticus, are the major toxins affecting the quality of groundnut meant for human consumption. The adoption of ‘Aflatoxin Management Practices of Groundnut’ (AMPG) is very important for reducing aflatoxin contamination. This study was undertaken with the aims of determining the extent of adoption of AMPG by farmers, to assess the constraints upon adoption of AMPG and to understand the relationship between adoption of AMPG by farmers and socio-economic and psychological factors. The results indicated that the majority of the farmers were unaware of aflatoxin contamination and hence had not adopted sowing, post-sowing and post-harvest aflatoxin management practices. The farmers with large land holdings were high adopters of AMPG compared to farmers with small land holdings. Socio-economic and psychological characteristics such as innovativeness, perception of groundnut quality, extension participation, socio-economic status, market orientation and farm size significantly influenced the adoption of AMPG. Mass awareness campaigns need to be organized to improve the stakeholders' perception of groundnut quality and the ill-effects of consuming aflatoxin-contaminated products.
Bioenergetic characterization of a shallow-sea hydrothermal vent system: Milos Island, Greece

Shallow-sea hydrothermal systems, like their deep-sea and terrestrial counterparts, can serve as relatively accessible portals into the microbial ecology of subsurface environments. In this study, we determined the chemical composition of 47 sediment porewater samples along a transect from a diffuse shallow-sea hydrothermal vent to a non-thermal background area in Paleochori Bay, Milos Island, Greece. These geochemical data were combined with thermodynamic calculations to quantify potential sources of energy that may support in situ chemolithotrophy. The Gibbs energies (ΔGr) of 730 redox reactions involving 23 inorganic H-, O-, C-, N-, S-, Fe-, Mn-, and As-bearing compounds were calculated. Of these reactions, 379 were exergonic at one or more sampling locations. The greatest energy yields were from anaerobic CO oxidation with NO2- (-136 to -162 kJ/mol e-), followed by reactions in which the electron acceptor/donor pairs were O2/CO, NO3-/CO, and NO2-/H2S. When expressed as energy densities (where the concentration of the limiting reactant is taken into account), a different set of redox reactions are the most exergonic: in sediments affected by hydrothermal input, sulfide oxidation with a range of electron acceptors or nitrite reduction with different electron donors provide 85~245 J per kg of sediment, whereas in sediments less affected or unaffected by hydrothermal input, various S0 oxidation reactions and aerobic respiration reactions with several different electron donors are most energy-yielding (80~95 J per kg of sediment). A model that considers seawater mixing with hydrothermal fluids revealed that there is up to ~50 times more energy available for microorganisms that can use S0 or H2S as electron donors and NO2- or O2 as electron acceptors compared to other reactions. In addition to revealing likely metabolic pathways in the near-surface and subsurface mixing zones, thermodynamic calculations like these can help guide novel microbial cultivation efforts to isolate new species.
Dynamic algorithms for LIS and distance to monotonicity

In this paper, we provide new approximation algorithms for dynamic variations of the longest increasing subsequence (LIS) problem, and the complementary distance to monotonicity (DTM) problem. In this setting, operations of the following form arrive sequentially: (i) add an element, (ii) remove an element, or (iii) substitute an element for another. At every point in time, the algorithm has an approximation to the longest increasing subsequence (or distance to monotonicity). We present a (1+є)-approximation algorithm for DTM with polylogarithmic worst-case update time and a constant factor approximation algorithm for LIS with worst-case update time Õ(n є) for any constant є > 0.
The Origin of the Primordial Germ Cells in the Amphibia

In urodele embryos, primordial germ cells arise epigenetically from the region of the ventral mesoderm, as a result of inductive influences from the ventral endoderm. In contrast, primordial germ cells in anuran embryos originate from cells which are in the endoderm and which contain germ plasm. In urodeles, the mechanism which allows primordial germ cells to differentiate from mesoderm cells remains to be discovered. Similarly, in anurans, whether germ plasm is the determinant and if so, how and when it acts, has yet to be determined.
Desempenho de codornas de corte submetidas a diferentes níveis de proteína bruta e energia metabolizável

Objetivou-se avaliar o desempenho de codornas de corte, submetidas a diferentes niveis de proteina bruta (PB) e energia metabolizavel (EM). Avaliaram-se 720 codornas distribuidas em delineamento em blocos ao acaso, em esquema fatorial (5x3), com cinco niveis de PB (18, 20, 22, 24 e 26%) e tres niveis de EM (2700, 2900 e 3100kcal kg-1). As analises foram realizadas utilizando-se o programa SAEG (2007). No periodo inicial, houve efeito quadratico da PB e EM sobre o consumo de racao (CR), efeito quadratico da PB e linear da EM sobre o peso corporal (PC), efeito linear da interacao EM e PB sobre o ganho de peso (GP) e conversao alimentar (CA). No crescimento, efeito quadratico da EM e PB sobre o CR, efeito linear da EM e PB sobre o PC e CA, efeito quadratico da PB e linear da EM sobre o GP. Na terminacao, efeito linear da EM e PB sobre o CR, PC e CA, efeito linear e quadratico da EM e PB sobre GP. Na fase inicial, recomenda-se 26% de PB e 3100kcal EM kg-1. Para a fase de crescimento, sugere-se 3100kcal EM kg-1 e 23% de PB, ja, para a fase de terminacao, recomenda-se 26% de PB e 3100kcal EM kg-1.
Commensal-derived probiotics as anti-inflammatory agents

Indigenous bacteria in the mammalian gastrointestinal tract comprise a rich ecosystem of organisms and secreted factors with direct effects on intestinal immunity. Commensal constituents of the gastrointestinal microbiota include the lactic acid bacteria such as Lactobacillus species. The genus Lactobacillus includes a restricted set of intestine-indigenous species from a pool of more than 100 Lactobacillus species. Scientific challenges include the abilities to define commensal species and specific bacterial clones with specific immunomodulatory activities. Our studies have resulted in the identification of Lactobacillus strains from mice and humans with potent anti-inflammatory effects. Commensal-derived Lactobacillus strains were isolated from healthy mice lacking evidence of intestinal inflammation and identified as candidate probiotics due to immunomodulatory activities. Less than 10% of commensal strains isolated from humans and mice had potent tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α-inhibitory activity. These strains down-regulated the production of TNF-α by macrophage cell lines and successfully suppressed inflammation in mouse colitis models. Human-derived Lactobacillus reuteri strains have been identified with potent human TNF-α-inhibitory effects on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated human myeloid cell lines and primary monocyte-derived macrophages from children with Crohn's disease. Human commensal-derived probiotics suppressed the transcription of human TNF-α by inhibition of MAP kinase signaling via AP-1. Alternatively, commensal-derived human L. reuteri strains suppressed nuclear factor (NF)-κB signaling in TNF-α-stimulated human myeloid cells. Suppression of NF-κB signaling in TNF-α-activated immune cells promotes apoptosis of activated immune cells and provides a novel mechanism for anti-inflammatory action in the mammalian intestine. In summary, commensal-derived probiotics provide opportunities for understanding mechanisms of microbial–host interactions in the gastrointestinal tract. By understanding mechanisms of probiosis, novel therapeutic strategies may be developed for prevention and treatment of inflammatory bowel disease and other intestinal disorders.