Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The longitudinal relationship between family and peer teasing in young adulthood and later unhealthy weight control behaviors: The mediating role of body image.

OBJECTIVE Sociocultural theories hold that family and peer weight-related teasing increases the risk for unhealthy weight control behaviors (UWCBs) by negatively impacting body image. Although much cross-sectional support exists for these pathways, longitudinal data are lacking. This study tested the longitudinal relationships among peer and family teasing (occurrence and perceived impact) in early adolescence, body satisfaction in late adolescence, and UWCBs in young adulthood among a racially/ethnically and socioeconomically diverse population. METHOD Data were drawn from three waves of Project EAT over a 15-year period (Eating and Activity in Teens and Young Adults), and included responses from 1,902 young adults (57% female). RESULTS Among female participants, a mediated indirect pathway emerged with family weight-related teasing predicting increased engagement in UWCBs in early adulthood via poorer body image in late adolescence. In contrast, peer teasing did not predict body image or UWCBs. Among boys, the mediated indirect pathways were not significant. However, poor body image in late adolescent males predicted higher likelihood of engaging in UCWBs in early adulthood. DISCUSSION These findings support the long-term impact of family weight-related teasing on greater risk for UWCBs among girls and young women, and poor body image as a mechanism accounting for this relationship. Moreover, the results highlight the poor body image among adolescent boys as a factor for increased risk of engaging in UWCBs in early adulthood. Pending replication in current cohorts, health promotion and prevention involving family members of early adolescents that address family weight teasing and body image are needed.
Bilateral Ethmoidal Mucocele Causing Proptosis in a Child

Objectives: Paranasal sinus mucocele is a benign cystic lesion, lined with respiratory epithelium and filled with mucoid secretions, which is generally seen in the ethmoid or frontal sinuses. Inflammation, trauma, fibrosis, neoplasm, and previous surgery play a role in etiology. Treatment of this condition requires marsupialization and drainage. Endoscopic surgery is the gold standard procedure. Methods: A 2-year-old boy was referred to our clinic with a diagnosis of bilateral ethmoid mucocele causing proptosis in the right eye. General clinical examinations and routine blood analysis revealed normal health condition of the patient and comorbidities such as cystic fibrosis (CF) and/or ciliary dysfunction were excluded. The patient was operated with an endoscopic endonasal approach. Results: As far as we know, our article reports the first case of bilateral ethmoidal sinus mucocele with no underlying comorbidity, such as cystic fibrosis or ciliary dyskinesia. Conclusions: Children are rarely affected by mucocele and if present at early age, there is usually an underlying cause. In pediatric patients with signs and symptoms suggestive of a mucocele, it is important to rule out other benign and malignant paranasal sinus pathologies. Marsupialization and drainage via endoscopic endonasal approach is the preferred treatment modality.
Using biodegradation kinetics to measure availability of aged phenanthrene to bacteria inoculated into soil

The rate of biodegradation of pollutants in soil can be limited by the pollutant's availability to microorganisms. We have developed a bioassay for the availability of phenanthrene to bacteria that degrade phenanthrene in soil. The assay uses a soil in which phenanthrene is degraded very slowly. The rate of phenanthrene mineralization in this soil may be increased substantially through bioaugmentation with a bacterial inoculum. By delaying inoculation, it is possible to manipulate the time phenanthrene is present in soil before accelerated biodegradation begins. A phenanthrene concentration much lower than the affinity constant of the inoculum is added; thus, biodegradation kinetics approach first order. Because the phenanthrene first‐order rate constant for the inoculum is the same regardless of the phenanthrene residence time in soil, the change in phenanthrene availability to the inoculum can be measured over time. The availability of phenanthrene to bacteria declined in a biphasic double exponential pattern with time. The initial rapid decline in availability resembled the change in amount of phenanthrene extracted from soil with hexane‐water. However, after phenanthrene had been present in the soil longer than 300 h, the fraction extracted with hexane‐water declined faster than the substrate available to the bacterial inoculum, suggesting that the bacteria are able to access a pool of phenanthrene unavailable to hexane.
A scalable computational approach to assessing response to name in toddlers with autism.

BACKGROUND This study is part of a larger research program focused on developing objective, scalable tools for digital behavioral phenotyping. We evaluated whether a digital app delivered on a smartphone or tablet using computer vision analysis (CVA) can elicit and accurately measure one of the most common early autism symptoms, namely failure to respond to a name call. METHODS During a pediatric primary care well-child visit, 910 toddlers, 17-37 months old, were administered an app on an iPhone or iPad consisting of brief movies during which the child's name was called three times by an examiner standing behind them. Thirty-seven toddlers were subsequently diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Name calls and children's behavior were recorded by the camera embedded in the device, and children's head turns were coded by both CVA and a human. RESULTS CVA coding of response to name was found to be comparable to human coding. Based on CVA, children with ASD responded to their name significantly less frequently than children without ASD. CVA also revealed that children with ASD who did orient to their name exhibited a longer latency before turning their head. Combining information about both the frequency and the delay in response to name improved the ability to distinguish toddlers with and without ASD. CONCLUSIONS A digital app delivered on an iPhone or iPad in real-world settings using computer vision analysis to quantify behavior can reliably detect a key early autism symptom-failure to respond to name. Moreover, the higher resolution offered by CVA identified a delay in head turn in toddlers with ASD who did respond to their name. Digital phenotyping is a promising methodology for early assessment of ASD symptoms.
Neanderthal cranial remains from Baume Moula-Guercy (Soyons, Ardèche, France).

OBJECTIVES We provide the first comparative description of the Guercy 1 cranium and isolated cranial fragments from Baume Moula-Guercy and examine their affinities to European Preneanderthals, Neanderthals, and Homo sapiens. MATERIALS AND METHODS The Moula-Guercy hominins derive from deposits chronostratigraphically and biostratigraphically dated to the Eemian Interglacial (MIS 5e). For comparisons we compiled a sample of European and Southwest Asian subadult-adult Middle-to-Late Pleistocene hominins (≈MIS 14-MIS 2; N = 184). This sample represents a Preneanderthal-Neanderthal group and a H. sapiens group, both of which were further divided into three time-successive subgroups defined by associated marine isotope stages (MIS). Metric and morphological observations were made on the original fossils and a virtual reconstruction of Guercy 1. Developmental age and sex and the minimum-maximum number of individuals were assessed. RESULTS Guercy 1 represents the remains of a late stage adolescent (≈15-16.0 years) female. Morphological and metric data combine to associate the total morphological pattern expressed in Guercy 1 with our MIS 7-MIS 5e ("Early Neanderthal") subgroup. Some features, especially those related to the frontal, suggest linkage to a paleodeme comprising the Moula-Guercy, Artenac, La Chaise Abri Suard and, possibly, the Biache-Saint-Vaast samples. DISCUSSION Remains of MIS 7-MIS 5e Neanderthals are rare and fragmentary, especially those dated to the Last Interglacial. The Baume Moula-Guercy sample provides new insights into the total morphological pattern expressed in MIS 5e Neanderthals. Further, our results support earlier suggestions that MIS 7-MIS 5e European hominins represent a morphotype that is distinct from both earlier and later members of the Preneanderthal-Neanderthal group.
A study on the colloidal nature of urea-formaldehyde resins and its relation with adhesive performance

Urea-formaldehyde (UF) resins present a swollen colloidal phase dispersed within a continuous water phase containing soluble oligomers. The main goal of the present investigation is to clarify the physical and chemical nature of those two phases and elucidate their impact on the bonding process. Optical and electronic microscopy has provided information on the morphology of the colloidal phase, showing primary particles and particle agglomerates. Mechanisms are suggested for the colloidal stabilization and dilution-induced flocculation. Three commercial UF resins with different F/U molar ratios were studied using particle size distribution (PSD) analysis. The results showed the influence of the resin's degree of condensation and the aging status on the size of the colloidal structures. Gel permeation chromatography analysis was performed on samples of different resins and of the respective continuous and dispersed phases, separated by centrifugation. The quantified fraction of insoluble molecular aggregates present in the chromatograms was related to the resins synthesis conditions and age. Differential scanning calorimetry and tensile shear strength tests were performed to evaluate the reactivity and adhesive performance of each phase. It is suggested that the colloidal phase acts as a reactive filler at the wood joint interfaces, contributing for the resins bonding performance. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2010
The effects of co-administration of probiotics and prebiotics on chronic inflammation, and depression symptoms in patients with coronary artery diseases: a randomized clinical trial

ABSTRACT Background It has been shown that dysbiosis might have a role in developing of chronic inflammation and depression. In this study, we are interested in exploring of anti-inflammatory and anti-depressant effects of Lactobacillus Rhamnosus G (LGG), a probiotic strain, alone or in combination with a prebiotic, Inulin, in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). Methods This randomized, double-blind clinical trial was held on 96 patients with CAD. Patients were randomly allocated into four different groups: LGG [a capsule/day, contained 1.9 × 109 colony-forming unit of Lactobacillus Rhamnosus G], inulin (15 g/day), co-supplemented (LGG and inulin), and placebo. Participants consumed the supplements for two months. Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), MacNew questionnaire and Spielberger state-trait anxiety inventory (STAI-Y) were used to assess depression, quality of life and anxiety, respectively. Serum levels of C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), lipopolysaccharide (LPS), tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and Interleukin (IL)-10 were also measured. Results Probiotic-Inulin Co-supplementation significantly decreased BDI (−11.52 ± 0+3.20 vs. +2.97 ± 0.39, P = 0.001), STAI-state (−17.63 ± 3.22 vs. −0.60 ± 0.33, P = 0.021), and STAI-trait (−24.31 ± 7.41 vs. −1.45 ± 0.66, P = 0.020) scores, hs-CRP (−1.69 ± 0+66 vs. +0.82 ± 0.39 mg/dL, P = 0.020), LPS (−22.02 ± 5.40 vs. +0.31 ± 0.18 (EU/L), P = 0.047), and TNF-α (−25.05 ± 7.41 vs. +0.79 ± 0.71 (ng/L), P = 0.032) in comparison to placebo. Conclusion Co-supplementation of probiotics and inulin in CAD subjects for eight weeks had beneficial effects on depression, anxiety, and inflammatory biomarkers. Adding inulin to probiotic supplements improved psychological outcomes and inflammatory biomarkers more effectively than two supplements separately. Trial registration: Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials identifier: IRCT20180712040438N4.
Adrenal Vein Cortisol to Metanephrine Ratio for Localizing ACTH-Independent Cortisol-Producing Adenoma: A Case Report.

Context Finding the source of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)-independent cortisol-producing adenoma in the patients with subclinical Cushing syndrome (SCS) and bilateral adrenal nodules is sometimes challenging. Computed tomography (CT) and positron emission tomography are helpful, but adrenal venous sampling (AVS) is the gold standard approach. However, interpretation of AVS is important to improve the accuracy of decision-making for surgery. We report a case and review of the literature to assess the benefit of using adrenal vein cortisol to metanephrine ratio to determine the source of cortisol production in SCS and bilateral nodules. Evidence Acquisition Three authors searched PubMed for data on patients with SCS who had AVS procedure and measurements of cortisol and catecholamines. Case Description A 51-year-old woman with SCS and hypertension crisis presented to our clinic. Paraclinical investigations revealed that she had an ACTH-independent cortisol-producing adenoma and her CT scan showed bilateral adrenal nodules. After AVS, cortisol (high to low) lateralization ratio could not determine the source of cortisol production but the cortisol to metanephrine ratio localized the source to the left side, which included the larger nodule according to CT measurements. Left adrenalectomy led to clinical and paraclinical improvement. Conclusion There is a possibility of co-secretion of other steroids accompanied with cortisol in the setting of ACTH-independent SCS. Moreover, cortisol measurement alone and interpretation of AVS results based on cortisol values may not help lateralizing the source of cortisol production with bilateral adrenal nodules. Therefore, we suggest applying cortisol to metanephrine ratio with the same gradient (gradient > 2.3, highest to lowest concentration) when the source of cortisol production cannot be determined by cortisol lateralization ratio.
Speech compensation responses and sensorimotor adaptation to formant feedback perturbations

Control of speech formants is important for the production of distinguishable speech sounds and is achieved with both feedback and learned feedforward control. However, it is unclear whether the learning of feedforward control involves the mechanisms of feedback control. Speakers have been shown to compensate for unpredictable transient mid-utterance perturbations of pitch and loudness feedback, demonstrating online feedback control of these speech features. To determine whether similar feedback control mechanisms exist in the production of formants, responses to unpredictable vowel formant feedback perturbations were examined. Results showed similar within-trial compensatory responses to formant perturbations that were presented at utterance onset and mid-utterance. The relationship between online feedback compensation to unpredictable formant perturbations and sensorimotor adaptation to consistent formant perturbations was further examined. Within-trial online compensation responses were not correlated with across-trial sensorimotor adaptation. A detailed analysis of within-trial time course dynamics across trials during sensorimotor adaptation revealed that across-trial sensorimotor adaptation responses did not result from an incorporation of within-trial compensation response. These findings suggest that online feedback compensation and sensorimotor adaptation are governed by distinct neural mechanisms. These findings have important implications for models of speech motor control in terms of how feedback and feedforward control mechanisms are implemented.
Neutrophil Phospholipase Cγ2 Drives Autoantibody‐Induced Arthritis Through the Generation of the Inflammatory Microenvironment

Gain‐of‐function mutations and genome‐wide association studies have linked phospholipase Cγ2 (PLCγ2) to various inflammatory diseases, including arthritis in humans and mice. PLCγ2‐deficient (Plcg2–/–) mice are also protected against experimental arthritis. This study was undertaken to test how PLCγ2 triggers autoantibody‐induced arthritis in mice.
The effect of hepatic steatosis on COVID-19 severity: Chest computed tomography findings

Background: The objective of our study was to investigate the location, extension and type of novel coronavirus-induced disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection involvement and hepatic steatosis on initial chest computed tomography (CT). The relationship between fatty liver and severity of the disease was also investigated by measuring the liver attenuation index (LAI). Methods: This study evaluated the chest CT images of 343 patients (201 male, mean age 48.43 years) who were confirmed to have COVID-19, using nasopharyngeal swab. The chest CTs were analyzed for laterality, number of involved lobes, diffuseness, number of lesions, and lesion types. The CT attenuation values of liver and spleen were measured, and LAI was calculated for the detection of hepatic steatosis. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis were used to identify the independent early predictors for severe COVID-19. Results: There was no significant difference between genders in terms of clinical course. Liver density and LAI were significantly lower in the intensive care unit (ICU) patients. The prevalence of severe disease was higher in the patients with hepatic steatosis than in the non-steatotic group (odds ratio [OR] 3.815, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.97–7.37, P < 0.001). After adjusting for age and comorbidities including hypertension, diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and chronic kidney disease, multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) was an independent risk factor for COVID-19 severity (OR 3.935, 95% CI 1.77-8.70, P = 0.001). The optimal cut-off value for LAI was calculated as 0.5 for predicting patients who required ICU treatment. Conclusions: On the initial chest CT images of COVID-19 patients, presence of fatty liver is a strong predictor for severe disease.
Anti-cryptococcal activity of preussolides A and B, phosphoethanolamine-substituted 24-membered macrolides, and leptosin C from coprophilous isolates of Preussia typharum

Abstract Cryptococcus neoformans is a serious human pathogen with limited options for treatment. We have interrogated extracts from fungal fermentations to find Cryptococcus-inhibiting natural products using assays for growth inhibition and differential thermosensitivity. Extracts from fermentations of four fungal strains from wild and domestic animal dung from Arkansas and West Virginia, USA were identified as Preussia typharum. The extracts exhibited two antifungal regions. Purification of one region yielded new 24-carbon macrolides incorporating both a phosphoethanolamine unit and a bridging tetrahydrofuran ring. The structures of these metabolites were established mainly by analysis of high-resolution mass spectrometry and 2D NMR data. Relative configurations were assigned using NOESY data, and the structure assignments were supported by NMR comparison with similar compounds. These new metabolites are designated preussolides A and B. The second active region was caused by the cytotoxin, leptosin C. Genome sequencing of the four strains revealed biosynthetic gene clusters consistent with those known to encode phosphoethanolamine-bearing polyketide macrolides and the biosynthesis of dimeric epipolythiodioxopiperazines. All three compounds showed moderate to potent and selective antifungal activity toward the pathogenic yeast C. neoformans.
COVID-19: Immunology, Immunopathogenesis and Potential Therapies

Abstract The Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) imposed public health emergency and affected millions of people around the globe. As of January 2021, 100 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 along with more than 2 million deaths were reported worldwide. SARS-CoV-2 infection causes excessive production of pro-inflammatory cytokines thereby leading to the development of “Cytokine Storm Syndrome. ” This condition results in uncontrollable inflammation that further imposes multiple-organ-failure eventually leading to death. SARS-CoV-2 induces unrestrained innate immune response and impairs adaptive immune responses thereby causing tissue damage. Thus, understanding the foremost features and evolution of innate and adaptive immunity to SARS-CoV-2 is crucial in anticipating COVID-19 outcomes and in developing effective strategies to control the viral spread. In the present review, we exhaustively discuss the sequential key immunological events that occur during SARS-CoV-2 infection and are involved in the immunopathogenesis of COVID-19. In addition to this, we also highlight various therapeutic options already in use such as immunosuppressive drugs, plasma therapy and intravenous immunoglobulins along with various novel potent therapeutic options that should be considered in managing COVID-19 infection such as traditional medicines and probiotics.
Bacterial Cellulose Retains Robustness but Its Synthesis Declines After Exposure to a Mars-Like Environment Simulated Outside the International Space Station.

Cellulose is a widespread macromolecule in terrestrial environments and a major architectural component of microbial biofilm. Therefore, cellulose might be considered a biosignature that indicates the presence of microbial life. We present, for the first time, characteristics of bacterial cellulose after long-term spaceflight and exposure to simuled Mars-like stressors. The pristine cellulose-based pellicle membranes from a kombucha microbial community (KMC) were exposed outside the International Space Station, and after their return to Earth, the samples were reactivated and cultured for 2.5 years to discern whether the KMC could be restored. Analyses of cellulose polymer integrity and mechanical properties of cellulose-based pellicle films, as well as the cellulose biosynthesis-related genes' structure and expression, were performed. We observed that (i) the cellulose polymer integrity was not significantly changed under Mars-like conditions; (ii) de novo cellulose production was 1.5 times decreased in exposed KMC samples; (iii) the dry cellulose yield from the reisolated Komagataeibacter oboediens was 1.7 times lower than by wild type; (iv) there was no significant change in mechanical properties of the de novo synthesized cellulose-based pellicles produced by the exposed KMCs and K. oboediens; and (v) the gene, encoding biosynthesis of cellulose (bcsA) of the K. oboediens, was downregulated, and no topological change or mutation was observed in any of the bcs operon genes, indicating that the decreased cellulose production by the space-exposed samples was probably due to epigenetic regulation. Our results suggest that the cellulose-based pellicle could be a good material with which to protect microbial communities during space journeys, and the cellulose produced by KMC members could be suitable in the fabrication of consumer goods for extraterrestrial locations.