Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Analysis of Risk Factors for Coronary Artery Lesion in Children with Kawasaki Disease.

OBJECTIVE To determine the frequency of coronary artery lesion (CAL) in children with Kawasaki disease (KD) and to analyse the related risk factors of CAL and the predictive value of risk factors for CAL. STUDY DESIGN A descriptive study. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY Department of Pediatrics, People's Hospital of Linquan County, Anhui Province, China, from January 2019 to January 2022. METHODOLOGY Clinical data of 71 children with KD were retrospectively analysed, including 31 in the CAL group and 40 in the non-CAL group. The age, gender, days of fever, blood routine, plasma N-terminal B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), and Kobayashi score were registered as independent variables of all the children, and the presence or absence of CAL was used as the dependent variable. All the independent variables were subjected to univariate analysis between the groups, and those with significance in univariate analysis were further subjected to unconditional binary logistic regression analysis. A receiver operating curve (ROC) was drawn to analyse the predictive power and optimal cut-off value of related risk factors for CAL. RESULTS On univariate analysis, age, NT-proBNP and Kobayashi's score were closely related to CAL (all p<0.05). Multivariate analysis showed that NT-proBNP and Kobayashi scores were independent risk factors for CAL in children with KD. ROC curve analysis showed that the area under the curve (AUC) of NT-proBNP and Kobayashi scores were 0.771 and 0.732, respectively, at optimal critical values of 543.12 ng/L and 7.50 points, respectively. CONCLUSION The frequency of CAL in children with KD is high. NT-proBNP and Kobayashi scores are independent risk factors for the occurrence of CAL in children with KD, and they have good predictive performance for the diagnosis of CAL. KEY WORDS Kawasaki disease, Children, Coronary artery lesion, Risk factors, Kobayashi score, NT-pro BNP.
The effect of polystyrene microplastic and biosolid application on the toxicity and bioaccumulation of cadmium for Enchytraeus crypticus

Plastics smaller than 5 mm that end up in a soil environment are known as microplastics (MPs). Microplastics have become a common contaminant in agricultural areas in addition to metals. However, the effect of cadmium (Cd) on soil organisms has not been clearly defined in the presence of MPs. In addition to MPs, biosolid application as a soil amendment in agricultural lands is also leading to shifts in soil conditions, such as the concentrations of nutrients and organic matter. Therefore, the aim of this study is to investigate the toxicity and bioaccumulation of Cd for Enchytraeus crypticus in the presence of polystyrene (PS)‐MPs and biosolids to provide insight into their possible interactions. The lethal toxic concentration (LC50) for Cd was higher than 650 mg Cd/kg dry soil for all conditions. The presence of PS‐MPs increased the toxicity of Cd for which EC50 was 102 and 38 mg Cd/kg dry soil without and with Cd, respectively, which may be the result of an increased exposure rate through adsorption of Cd on PS‐MPs. On the contrary, the presence of biosolids decreased the toxicity of Cd where EC50 was 193 and 473 mg Cd/kg dry soil for the sets applied with 0.6 and 0.9 g biosolids, respectively. Coexistence of biosolids and PS‐MPs decreased the reproduction toxicity of Cd, which is similar to the biosolid effect (EC50 is 305 mg Cd/kg dry soil). Bioaccumulation of Cd only positively correlated with its initial concentration in soil and was not affected by the presence of PS‐MPs or biosolids. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2023;19:489–500. © 2022 SETAC
Relationship of V1 Derivation Biphasic P Waves with Morbidity and Mortality in Myocardial Infarction Cases.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the biphasic P (V1bP) wave in lead V1 in terms of three-vessel disease (TVD), bypass, and mortality in patients with acute coronary syndrome. STUDY DESIGN A descriptive study. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Health Sciences, Bagcilar Training and Research Hospital, Turkey, between January 2018 and December 2019. METHODOLOGY A total of 497 patients were admitted to the emergency department due to acute coronary syndrome. Patients were grouped as the right atrium and the left atrium according to the direction of the V1bP wave. Gensini score (GS), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), TVD, bypass, and mortality rates were compared according to these groups. RESULTS According to the atrial involvement of the patients, the median age was 66 (58-74) years, 220 (44.3%) females and 277 (55.7%) males. In the left atrial group in the V1bP wave, anterior myocardial infarction was the most common in 128 (41.8%) patients, mortality in 17 (5.6%), TVD in 69 (22.5%), and bypass in 13 (4.2%) patients. In the right atrial group, it was found that 127 (66.5%) patients had inferior myocardial infarction, 34 (17.8%) mortality, 66 (34.6%) TVD, and 19 (9.9%) bypass TVD; GS was 89 (80-117) points and LVEF was 45 (36-55)%. In addition, a significant relationship was found with mortality (p=0.019), bypass (p<0.001) and complications (p=0.043). Although the variables showed differences in acute coronary syndrome, mortality, LVEF, GS, mild and/or moderate correlations were found. CONCLUSION V1bP wave can be a determining parameter for acute coronary syndromes in terms of TVD, bypass, and mortality. KEY WORDS Emergency department, Biphasic p in lead V1, Three-vessel disease, Bypass, Mortality.
Assessing suspension and infectivity times of virus-loaded aerosols involved in airborne transmission

Significance Respiratory viruses are carried by droplets containing not only water but also, proteins and salts. This research investigates the impact of fluid complexity, air humidity, and temperature on the two characteristic times underlying airborne transmission, which assess how long droplets remain suspended in air and how long viruses survive in these dried droplets. Combining the quantitative assessment of these times with the exhaled droplets’ size distribution highlights two distinct aerosols, displaying a different environmental dependence of their transmission efficiency. The first aerosol contains small droplets, which are more numerous and remain suspended for hours. The second aerosol contains larger droplets that can only remain suspended for minutes but represent a much higher volume and consequently, a higher viral load.
Increased levels of neurofilament light chain in suicide attempters’ serum

Abstract Background A specific biological vulnerability underlies suicidal behavior. Recent findings have suggested a possible role of inflammation and neuroaxonal injury. However, the relationship between inflammation and clinical symptoms in this disorder is still unclear. The objective of this study is applying novel blood markers of neuroaxonal integrity such as neurofilament light chain (NfL) and comparing the results with the healthy control subjects. Methods In this cross-sectional study patients with suicide attempts were evaluated. The serum concentration of NfL on admission was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Results A total of 50 patients with a suicide attempts and 35 healthy controls were included in the study. The levels of NfL in attempted suicide patients were significantly higher in comparison with healthy controls (40.52 ± 33.54 vs 13.73 ± 5.11, P < 0.001). A significant association between serum levels of NfL and risk factors for suicide was not found. Conclusion These findings indicate that axonal damage may be an underlying neuropathological component of suicide attempt patients, although no correlation was observed with clinical features. This line of work could lead to new horizons in understanding the neurobiology of suicidal attempts and the development of better management strategies for these patients.
The Exquisite Corpse of History. Radu Jude and the Intermedial Collage

Abstract The article argues for the relevance of intermediality in the interpretation of Radu Jude’s films made after 2016: The Dead Nation (Ţara moartă, 2017), I Do Not Care If We Go Down in History as Barbarians (Îmi este indiferent dacă în istorie vom intra ca barbari, 2018), The Marshal’s Two Executions (Cele două execuţii ale Mareşalului, 2018), To Punish, to Discipline (A pedepsi, a supraveghea, 2019), The Exit of the Trains (Ieşirea trenurilor din gară, 2020), Uppercase Print (Tipografic majuscul, 2020), Bad Luck Banging or Loony Porn (Babardeală cu bucluc sau porno balamuc, 2021). Instead of framing Jude’s aesthetic in terms of the Eisensteinian montage, as many reviewers have done, the article addresses the way in which these films insist on the tensions between media, on creating an ontological collage, not only a cinematic montage. The collage effect of the films materializes in sensuously and intellectually layered permutations that connect different media and shares some traits with the Surrealist play of the cadavre exquis. The mixture of heterogeneous materials becomes a strategy (informed by the ideas of Walter Benjamin) to reflect on history in the conditions of postmemory as well as a way to explore the relationship between media and reality through various positions of spectatorial engagement and the affective metalepsis between reflexivity and immersion.1
Distribution of invasive plants and their association with wild ungulates in Barandabhar Corridor Forest, Nepal

Abstract Invasive and alien plant species (IAPS) are considered as major threats to native biodiversity because IAPS alter ecosystem structure and their functions. We assessed the association of four major IAPS (Mikania micrantha, Chromolaena odorata, Lantana camara, and Parthenium hysterophorus) and the abundance of wild ungulates in Barandabhar Corridor Forest (BCF), Chitwan, Nepal. We collected data on the presence of wild ungulates in IAPS invaded habitats through direct observation and sign surveys. Our study showed that the cover of M. micrantha was significantly high in Sal forest (Prominence value PV = 73.23) followed by riverine forest (PV = 40.5) and grassland (PV = 37.7) whereas P. hysterophorus was high in grasslands (PV = 22.9). Similarly, C. odorata was significantly high in Sal forest (PV =141.6%), and L. camara was high in mixed forest (PV = 22.6). It was found that there was a significant negative association of IAPS (p = 0.002) with wild ungulates. The abundances of deer and wild pigs were more in the buffer zone than in the non-buffer zone. The abundance of deer decreased with increasing cover of C. odorata, M. micrantha, and P. hysterophorus (p = 0.002). Similarly, the abundance of wild pigs decreased with increasing cover of M. micrantha and L. camara. IAPS were not uniformly distributed in different habitats and abundances of wild ungulates were less in IAPS invaded habitats. Hence, it is important to initiate management plans to control IAPS spread to avoid their negative impacts on wild ungulate population such as deer and wild pigs.
Lived experiences as a resource for scaffolding metapragmatic understandings with young language learners

ABSTRACT The present study explores the ways in which young EFL learners draw on lived experiences, viewed as interactional experiences in L1 or L2 which they have participated in or observed, to ground their metapragmatic understandings. Building on previous research with adult (e.g. McConachy 2018) and young learners (Savić 2021; Savić and Myrset 2021), the present study sets out to explore how 9-, 11- and 13-year-old EFL learners use lived experiences as a resource for scaffolding their metapragmatic understandings. The data set comprises task-based group discussions performed by 167 young Greek Cypriot (n = 88) and Norwegian EFL learners (n = 79), aged roughly 9, 11 and 13. The findings reveal that lived experiences were spontaneously used by all age groups, most often to ground understandings of the interplay between language and context. In addition, they were employed to make generalisations about in/appropriate pragmatic behaviours and ground explorations of similarities and/or differences between L1 and L2. Providing empirical and pedagogical insights, this study suggests that lived experiences may be useful resources for scaffolding metapragmatic understandings in the young learner EFL classroom.
A Mechanism Involving Solar Ultraviolet Variations for Modulating the Interannual Climatology of the Middle Atmosphere

In years of low solar activity, free traveling wave modes in the upper stratosphere are dominated by atmospheric normal modes such as the 16-day wave. However, within a 4-year interval centered on the 1980 to 1981 solar maximum, cross-spectral analyses of zonal mean satellite temperature data versus the solar UV flux demonstrate significant power near 27 and 13 days, providing indirect evidence that short-term UV variations were capable of exciting traveling planetary-scale waves in the upper stratosphere. Previous theoretical and observational work has indicated that interference between traveling waves and stationary waves forced from below (and the resulting oscillating latitudinal heat transports) plays a likely role in the initiation of stratospheric warmings. Researchers therefore hypothesize that the initiation of a major stratospheric warming in the upper stratosphere and lower mesosphere may depend to some extent on the amplitude of longer-period 27-day traveling waves in the upper stratosphere. This would represent a new mechanism for solar UV effects on stratospheric climatology that may be relevant to the interpretation of some recent long-term correlative results.
Early Literacy, Equity, and Test Score Comparability during the Pandemic

ABSTRACT Kindergarten entry assessments (KEAs) are frequently used to understand students’ early literacy skills. Amidst COVID-19, such assessments will be vital in understanding how the pandemic has affected early literacy, including how it has contributed to inequities in the educational system. However, the pandemic has also created challenges for comparing scores from KEAs across years and modes of administration. In this study, we examine these issues using a KEA administered to most Kindergarten students in Virginia. This screener was rapidly converted to an online platform to ensure students could continue taking it during the pandemic. Results indicate that the sample of students taking the test shifted substantially pre- and post-pandemic, complicating comparisons of performance. While we do not find evidence of noninvariance by mode at the test level, we do see signs that more subtle forms of item-level bias may be at play. Implications for equity, fairness, and inclusion are discussed.
Soluble amyloid-β precursor peptide does not regulate GABAB receptor activity

Amyloid-β precursor protein (APP) regulates neuronal activity through the release of secreted APP (sAPP) acting at cell-surface receptors. APP and sAPP were reported to bind to the extracellular sushi domain 1 (SD1) of GABAB receptors (GBRs). A 17 amino-acid peptide (APP17) derived from APP was sufficient for SD1 binding and shown to mimic the inhibitory effect of sAPP on neurotransmitter release and neuronal activity. The functional effects of APP17 and sAPP were similar to those of the GBR agonist baclofen and blocked by a GBR antagonist. These experiments led to the proposal that sAPP activates GBRs to exert its neuronal effects. However, whether APP17 and sAPP indeed influence classical GBR signaling pathways in heterologous cells was not analyzed. Here, we confirm that APP17 binds to GBRs with nanomolar affinity. However, biochemical and electrophysiological assays indicate that APP17 does not influence GBR activity in heterologous cells. Moreover, we found no evidence for APP17 regulating K+ currents in cultured neurons, neurotransmitter release in brain slices, or neuronal activity in vivo. Our results show that APP17 is not a functional GBR ligand and indicate that sAPP exerts neuronal effects through receptors other than GBRs.
Hepatic inactivation of murine Surf4 results in marked reduction in plasma cholesterol

PCSK9 negatively regulates low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) abundance on the cell surface, leading to decreased hepatic clearance of LDL particles and increased levels of plasma cholesterol. We previously identified SURF4 as a cargo receptor that facilitates PCSK9 secretion in HEK293T cells (Emmer et al., 2018). Here, we generated hepatic SURF4-deficient mice (Surf4fl/fl Alb-Cre+) to investigate the physiologic role of SURF4 in vivo. Surf4fl/fl Alb-Cre+ mice exhibited normal viability, gross development, and fertility. Plasma PCSK9 levels were reduced by ∽60% in Surf4fl/fl Alb-Cre+ mice, with a corresponding ∽50% increase in steady state LDLR protein abundance in the liver, consistent with SURF4 functioning as a cargo receptor for PCSK9. Surprisingly, these mice exhibited a marked reduction in plasma cholesterol and triglyceride levels out of proportion to the partial increase in hepatic LDLR abundance. Detailed characterization of lipoprotein metabolism in these mice instead revealed a severe defect in hepatic lipoprotein secretion, consistent with prior reports of SURF4 also promoting the secretion of apolipoprotein B. Despite a small increase in liver mass and lipid content, histologic evaluation revealed no evidence of steatohepatitis or fibrosis in Surf4fl/fl Alb-Cre+ mice. Acute depletion of hepatic SURF4 by CRISPR/Cas9 or liver-targeted siRNA in adult mice confirms these findings. Together, these data support the physiologic significance of SURF4 in the hepatic secretion of PCSK9 and APOB-containing lipoproteins and its potential as a therapeutic target in atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases.
Contributions of gonadal hormones in the sex-specific organization of context fear learning

It is widely established that gonadal hormones are fundamental to modulating and organizing the sex-specific nature of reproductive-related behaviors. Recently we proposed that context fear conditioning may emerge in a sex-specific manner organized prior to the pubertal surge of gonadal hormones. Here we sought to determine the necessity of male and female gonadal hormones secreted at critical periods of development upon context fear learning. We tested the organizational hypothesis that perinatal and pubertal gonadal hormones play a permanent role in organizing contextual fear learning. We demonstrate that the life-long absence of gonadal hormones by perinatal orchiectomy (oRX) in males and ovariectomy (oVX) in females resulted in a reduction of CFC in adult males and an enhancement of CFC in adult females. In females, the gradual introduction of estrogen before conditioning partially rescued this effect. However, the decrease of CFC in adult males was not rescued by introducing testosterone before conditioning. Next, at a further point in development, preventing the pubertal surge of gonadal hormones by prepubertal oRX in males resulted in a reduction in adult CFC. In contrast, in females, prepubertal oVX did not alter adult CFC. However, the adult introduction of estrogen in prepubertal oVX rats reduced adult CFC. Lastly, the adult-specific deletion of gonadal hormones by adult oRX or oVX alone or replacement of testosterone or estrogen did not alter CFC. Consistent with our hypothesis, we provide initial evidence that gonadal hormones at early periods of development exert a vital role in the organization and development of CFC in male and female rats.
YAP antagonizes TEAD-mediated AR signaling and prostate cancer growth

Hippo signaling restricts tumor growth by inhibiting the oncogenic potential of YAP/TAZ-TEAD transcriptional complex. Here we uncover a context-dependent tumor suppressor function of YAP in androgen receptor (AR) positive prostate cancer (PCa) and show that YAP impedes AR+ PCa growth by antagonizing TEAD-mediated AR signaling. TEAD forms a complex with AR to enhance its promoter/enhancer occupancy and transcriptional activity. YAP and AR compete for TEAD binding and consequently, elevated YAP in the nucleus disrupts AR-TEAD interaction and prevents TEAD from promoting AR signaling. Pharmacological inhibition of Hippo/MST1/2 kinase or transgenic activation of YAP suppressed the growth of PCa expressing therapy resistant AR splicing variants. Our study uncovers an unanticipated crosstalk between Hippo and AR signaling pathways, reveals an antagonistic relationship between YAP and TEAD in AR+ PCa, and suggests that targeting the Hippo signaling pathway may provide a therapeutical opportunity to treat PCa driven by therapy resistant AR variants. YAP acts as a context-dependent tumor suppressor in AR+ PCa TEAD interacts with AR to enhance its promoter/enhancer occupancy YAP inhibits AR activity by competing for TEAD binding Small molecule Hippo pathway inhibitor impedes AR+ PCa growth
Plasmonic Effect on Quantum-Dot Photodetector Responsivity

In this paper, we analyze and simulate the plasmonic effect on the quantum-dot photodetector responsivity. For this purpose, a plasmonic-based quantum-dot photodetector is designed in which a few quantum dots are embedded in the hot-spot regions of the plasmonic nanoparticles, wherein a high-intensity localized field is created. Notably, due to the maximum overlapping of the plasmonic field with the quantum dots at the hot spot, some of the optical characteristics of the quantum dot, particularly the spontaneous emission decay rate, are changed. This paper focuses on the engineering of the decay rate, through which we found that the quantum-dot photodetector responsivity is strongly enhanced with the order of 100 times at the visible range. For analyzing the proposed system, we first work on the plasmonic effect of the nanoparticle on the quantum-dot lifetime using the Heisenberg–Langevin equations. It is shown that by embedding the quantum dots at the hot spot of the nanoparticle, the decay rate of the quantum dot is dramatically influenced. In the following, plasmonic-quantum dot system responsivity is theoretically examined using a time-varying perturbation theory. Using this approach is necessary because the spontaneous emission cannot be analyzed with the classical methods. Consequently, it is proved that using plasmonic effect leads to enhanced photodetector responsivity, suggesting that even very small incoming signals are detectable.
Cooperative actin filament nucleation by the Arp2/3 complex and formins maintains the homeostatic cortical array in Arabidopsis epidermal cells

Precise control over how and where actin filaments are created leads to the construction of unique cytoskeletal arrays within a common cytoplasm. Actin filament nucleators are key players in this activity and include the conserved Actin-Related Protein 2/3 (Arp2/3) complex, that creates dendritic networks of branched filaments, as well as a large family of formins that typically generate long, unbranched filaments and bundles. In some eukaryotic cells, these nucleators compete for a common pool of actin monomers and loss of one favors the activity of the other. To test whether this is a common mechanism, we combined the ability to image single filament dynamics in the homeostatic cortical actin array of living Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) epidermal cells with genetic and/or small molecule inhibitor approaches to stably or acutely disrupt nucleator activity. We found that Arp2/3 mutants or acute CK-666 treatment markedly reduced the frequency of side-branched nucleation events as well as overall actin filament abundance. We also confirmed that plant formins contribute to side-branched filament nucleation in vivo. Surprisingly, simultaneous inhibition of both classes of nucleator increased overall actin filament abundance and enhanced the frequency of de novo nucleation events by an unknown mechanism. Collectively, our findings suggest that multiple actin nucleation mechanisms cooperate to generate and maintain the homeostatic cortical array of plant epidermal cells.