Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Impaired Hematological Status Increases the Risk of Mortality among HIV-Infected Adults Initiating Antiretroviral Therapy in Tanzania.

BACKGROUND Hematological status may predict HIV disease progression and mortality among adults initiating highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). OBJECTIVES We aimed to examine the relation of anemia and iron status at HAART initiation with survival and morbidity outcomes. METHODS We conducted a case-cohort study of 570 HIV-infected adults initiating HAART who were enrolled in a trial of multivitamins in Tanzania. Hemoglobin, serum ferritin, and hepcidin concentrations were assessed at HAART initiation and participants were followed up monthly. We adjusted serum ferritin for inflammation using a regression correction method to characterize hematological status. Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate HRs for mortality and incident clinical outcomes. RESULTS We found an 83% prevalence of anemia, 15% prevalence of iron deficiency anemia, and 66% prevalence of anemia of chronic diseases (ACD). The prevalence of elevated iron was 33% and 19% had iron deficiency (ID). After multivariate adjustment, severe anemia (HR: 2.57; 95% CI: 1.49, 4.45) and ACD (HR: 4.71; 95% CI: 2.91, 7.62) were associated with increased risk of mortality as compared with nonanemic participants. In addition, both ID (HR: 2.65; 95% CI: 1.08, 7.78) and elevated iron (HR: 2.83; 95% CI: 2.10, 3.82) were associated with increased risk of mortality as compared with normal iron concentrations. Severe anemia and elevated iron concentrations were associated with incident wasting and >10% weight loss (P values <0.05). CONCLUSIONS Anemia and both ID and elevated iron were associated with increased mortality among HIV-infected adults initiating HAART. Safety and efficacy studies including anemia etiology, timing of HAART initiation, and dose of iron supplementation among HIV patients appear warranted.This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT00383669.
A model of pycnocline thickness modified by the rheological properties of phytoplankton exopolymeric substances

We model how phytoplankton-produced exopolymeric substances (EPS) may change pycnocline thickness delta z through control by Richardson number Ri. Shear stress tau(FORCED) is imposed across the pycnocline, giving a shear rate delta u/delta z, where delta u is cross-pycnocline velocity difference, modulated by viscosity eta. In natural waters, viscosity is composed of two components. The first is Newtonian, perfectly dispersed viscosity due to water and salts. The second is non-Newtonian, and depends on phytoplankton abundance raised to an exponent between +1.0 and +1.5. It is also generally shear-thinning, depending on (delta u/delta z)(P), where P is negative. In suspensions of microbial aggregates, viscosity depends also on (length scale)(d). Published measurements of EPS rheology in a culture of Karenia mikimotoi are input. These measurements were made at 0.5 mm, so they can be scaled to delta u/delta z if d is known for this EPS over the appropriate range of length scales. The model shows that delta u/delta z is very sensitive to d. At values of d 1 cm). Future investigations of pycnocline dynamics should include measurements of rheological properties, and particularly d.
Climate and the distribution of grasses in West Africa

Questions Which environmental variables influence grass diversity in West Africa? What are the effects of climate and grass functional traits on the spatial patterns (richness and abundance) of the grass clades Andropogoneae, Paniceae and Chloridoideae? Location West Africa, demarcated by the Atlantic Ocean in the west and south (20° W and 4° N), the Sahara desert in the north (25° N) and the border between Niger and Chad in the east (20° E). Methods Based on 38 912 georeferenced occurrence records, we modelled the distribution of 302 grass species (51% of West African grass diversity). We integrated species richness, abundance and functional traits (life cycle, photosynthetic type and height) to determine the contribution of the most speciose grass clades (Andropogoneae, Paniceae and Chloridoideae) to overall grass diversity in West Africa. Results Precipitation is the variable most often influencing the species distribution models of grasses in West Africa. Richness and relative abundance of the tribe Andropogoneae show a centre of diversity in Sudanian savanna regions. The height of Andropogoneae species, generally >150 cm, is driving this ecological dominance. Species richness of the tribe Paniceae is more dispersed and shows two main centres of abundance: The southern regions with higher mean annual precipitation and tree density are dominated by C3 Paniceae species. The Sahelian regions in the north are dominated by short Paniceae species with the C4 NAD-ME photosynthetic subtype, as well as Chloridoideae possessing the same functional attributes. Conclusions Our study provides insight into the environmental correlates of grass species richness in West Africa and contributes to the much-needed research on tropical rangelands. Moreover, the integration of evolutionary history significantly improves our understanding of large-scale biodiversity patterns.
CDK8 is associated with RAP2.6 and SnRK2.6 and positively modulates abscisic acid signaling and drought response in Arabidopsis.

CDK8 is a key subunit of Mediator complex, a large multi-protein complex that is a fundamental part of the conserved eukaryotic transcriptional machinery. However, the biological functions of CDK8 in plant abiotic stress responses remain largely unexplored. Here, we demonstrated CDK8 as a critical regulator in the ABA signaling and drought response pathways in Arabidopsis. Compared to wild type, cdk8 mutants showed reduced sensitivity to ABA, impaired stomatal apertures, and hypersensitivity to drought stress. Transcriptomic and chromatin immunoprecipitation analysis revealed that CDK8 positively regulates the transcription of several ABA-responsive genes probably through promoting the recruitment of RNA polymerase II to their promoters. We discovered that both CDK8 and SnRK2.6 physically interact with an ERF/AP2 transcription factor RAP2.6, which can directly bind to the promoters of RD29A and COR15A with GCC or DRE elements, thereby promoting their expression. Importantly, we also showed that CDK8 is essential for the ABA induced expression of RAP2.6 and RAP2.6-mediated up-regulation of ABA-responsive genes, indicating that CDK8 could link the SnRK2.6-mediated ABA signaling to RNA polymerase II to promote immediate transcriptional response to ABA and drought signals. Overall, our data provide new insights into the roles of CDK8 in modulating ABA signaling and drought responses.
Canis latrans (Coyote) Habitat Use and Feeding Habits in Central West Virginia

Abstract Canis latrans (Coyote) populations are expanding throughout the eastern United States, making them the apex predator in many systems. Despite abundant research in the western United States, relatively little information exists on the space use or feeding patterns of Coyotes in the forested landscapes of the Appalachians. We used radio-telemetry and scat analysis to describe seasonal habitat use and feeding patterns of Coyotes in central West Virginia during 2006–2008. Odocoileus virginianus (White-tailed Deer) was the most common prey, occurring in 76% of scats collected in winter and 45% of scats collected in summer. Rodents were the most common prey item in summer, occurring in 48% of scats; other prey items occurred in <20% of scats. Coyotes selected for recently harvested forest stands while avoiding intact stands in both summer and winter. Despite exhibiting seasonal prey-switching behavior, Coyotes in this region do not alter habitat-use patterns with respect to season. Coyotes in our study seem to be opportunistic feeders that prefer areas with abundant cover. Their opportunistic feeding patterns may contribute to their rapid population expansion in this region.
Therapeutic targeting of metabolic alterations in acute respiratory distress syndrome

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) remains a significant source of mortality in critically ill patients. Characterised by acute, widespread alveolar inflammation and pulmonary oedema, its pathophysiological heterogeneity has meant that targeted treatments have remained elusive. Metabolomic analysis has made initial steps in characterising the underlying metabolic derangements of ARDS as an indicator of phenotypical class and has identified mitochondrial dysfunction as a potential therapeutic target. Mesenchymal stem cells and their derived extracellular vesicles have shown significant promise as potential therapies in delivering mitochondria in order to redivert metabolism onto physiological pathways. ARDS' biological heterogeneity is an obstacle in clinical translation of interventions. Analysis of metabolic alterations can inform development of therapeutics aimed at ARDS subpopulations. Mitochondrial dysfunction may be a potential therapeutic target. https://bit.ly/2XHfAFV
Early impact of COVID-19 lockdown on children's sleep: a four-week longitudinal study.

Citation:Dellagiulia A, Lionetti F, Fasolo M, Verderame C, Sperati A, Alessandri G. Early impact of COVID-19 lockdown on children’s sleep: a 4-week longitudinal study. J Clin Sleep Med. 2020;16(9):.
Is physical activity protective against myopia?

As the myopia epidemic gathers pace, with 5 billion people expected to be myopic and 1 billion predicted to have sight-threatening high myopia by 2050, there is an urgent need to identify targets for early intervention to mitigate the onset and progression of myopia among children.1 Research has suggested that insufficient time spent outdoors in childhood is one of myopia’s major modifiable risk factors,2 and public health interventions that increase time spent outdoors may therefore be the most scalable and efficacious preventative strategies. However, much of the time children spend outdoors consists of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, and studies on the effect of time spent outdoors have typically not accounted for potentially confounding protective effects of physical activity against myopia.3 There is a noteworthy lack of research on and understanding of the independent association between myopia and physical activity, which might be measured independently of time spent outdoors by objectively studying physical activity in exclusively indoor environments or including ambient light sensors in studies on physical activity. This knowledge gap may impede the optimisation of behavioural interventions for myopia prevention. Physical activity exerts myriad positive effects on paediatric health and may protect against other eye diseases including glaucoma,4 and there are compelling reasons to expect that it may also attenuate axial elongation independently of time spent outdoors, perhaps through promotion of choroidal perfusion and thickening,5 although this has been disputed.6 A 2017 systematic review by Suhr Thykjaer and colleagues attempted to clarify the relationship between physical activity and myopia, but the authors were unable to draw strong conclusions owing …
Sero-Prevalence and Associated Risk Factors of Camel Brucellosis in Southern lowland of Ethiopia

Brucellosis is a highly infectious bacterial disease of global significance, which affects a wide variety of animals as well as humans. A cross-sectional study was conducted in the Yabello and Gomole districts of Borena Zone, Oromia Region, and Southern Ethiopia, to determine the seroprevalence of camel brucellosis and associated risk factors in the selected pastoralist area. The two study districts were purposively selected based on their potential camel population and their accessibility due to a lack of sufficient logistics. Totally 368 of camels from selected districts were included in the study. All serum samples were tested and screened serologically using Rose Bengal Plate Test (RBPT) and confirmed using Indirect Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (i-ELISA) test. As a result, 46 (12.5%) were the Rose Bengal Plate Test (RBPT) reactors in which 11(3%) were confirmed to be positive by using Indirect Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (i-ELISA) test. Associated risk factor analysis was also conducted using chi-square and logistic regression analysis. The statistical analysis indicated that body condition score (χ2=6.004; p=0.050 and OR=2.503; 95% CI=0.066-95.951),herd size (χ2=8.560; p=0.014 and OR=8.195; 95% CI=0.289-232.523), physiological status (χ2=19.273; p=0.001 and OR=0.130; 95% CI=0.003-6.686) and history of abortion (χ2=29.354; p=0.001 and OR=119.159; 95% CI=5.051-28.818) were statistically significant and the major risk factors for the presence and transmission of the disease between animals as the present study. But age, sex, parity, herd composition, and district (geographical location) were found statistically insignificant (P>0.05). Public awareness towards the diseases was interviewed with the structured questionnaire format and it was noted that most of the pastoralists had no knowledge about zoonotic disease transmission, consequences of consuming raw milk, meat and handling aborted animals without any protective material. In general, camel brucellosis is prevalent in this area of study and public awareness towards zoonotic importance is low. Therefore, fruitful and sustainable work is required from the government, animal health professionals, and other stakeholders in the prevention and control of the disease.
Aging affects sex- and organ-specific trace element profiles in mice

A decline of immune responses and dynamic modulation of the redox status are observed during aging and are influenced by trace elements such as copper, iodine, iron, manganese, selenium, and zinc. So far, analytical studies have focused mainly on single trace elements. Therefore, we aimed to characterize age-specific profiles of several trace elements simultaneously in serum and organs of adult and old mice. This allows for correlating multiple trace element levels and to identify potential patterns of age-dependent alterations. In serum, copper and iodine concentrations were increased and zinc concentration was decreased in old as compared to adult mice. In parallel, decreased copper and elevated iron concentrations were observed in liver. The age-related reduction of hepatic copper levels was associated with reduced expression of copper transporters, whereas the increased hepatic iron concentrations correlated positively with proinflammatory mediators and Nrf2-induced ferritin H levels. Interestingly, the age-dependent inverse regulation of copper and iron was unique for the liver and not observed in any other organ. The physiological importance of alterations in the iron/copper ratio for liver function and the aging process needs to be addressed in further studies.
Effect of Supplementing Rumen Protected Methionine and Lysine on Nutrient Utilization, Growth and Blood Biochemical Parameters in Hariana Heifers

A study was conducted to observe the effect of supplementing rumen protected lysine and methionine on nutrient utilization and blood biochemical parameters in growing Hariana heifers. Eighteen heifers were randomly distributed into 3 groups of 6 animals each based on body weight. The animals in control group (C) were fed rations to meet their requirements while rumen protected methionine (RPM) and rumen protected lysine (RPL) were also supplemented @ 1 + 5 g and 2 + 10 g/d/animal in group T 1 and T 2 , respectively. Intakes of DM, CP and TDN were similar in three groups. Digestibility of nutrients was also similar in 3 groups while average daily gain was found to be better (P<0.05) in supplemented groups. Supplementation of protected amino acids did not affect levels of total plasma protein, albumin, immunoglobulin and amino acid transferases, however, concentration of BUN and creatinine was lower (P<0.05) in group T 1 compared to C and T 2 .
Pain assessment in cerebral palsy: a systematic review of measurement properties and evaluation using the COSMIN checklist

Abstract Purpose This systematic literature review aims to analyse the methodological quality of instruments available to assess pain in Cerebral Palsy (CP), according to the COSMIN guidelines and checklist. Materials and methods Electronic literature searches were conducted in PubMed, ScienceDirect, Web of Science, PEdro, Scielo, Scopus and Academic Search Complete (EBSCO host) for articles on measurement properties of self-report, proxy or observational instruments. Results A total of 14 instruments were identified. Of these, 8 were self-report instruments, 4 were observational instruments and 2 could be used both as self-report or proxy-report. The quality of the manuscripts was inadequate or doubtful in 45.5%, adequate in 15.9% and very good in 38.6% of the cases. No instrument was assessed for all the properties recommended by COSMIN. The quality of the evidence for the measurement properties of the pain assessment instruments ranged from very low to moderate. Conclusions There is scarce and low-quality evidence on the measurement properties of instruments used to assess pain in individuals with cerebral palsy. Further research is needed designed in line with the COSMIN recommendations. Implications for rehabilitation There is scarce and low-quality evidence on the measurement properties of instruments used to assess pain in individuals with cerebral palsy; Clinicians need to carefully choose instruments to assess pain in individuals with cerebral palsy as there is insufficient evidence on the quality of instruments; Self-report pain intensity scales may be a useful instrument for a subgroup of individuals with cerebral palsy.
Elucidating the child’s perspective in health promotion: children’s experiences of child-centred health dialogue in Sweden

Summary Promoting young children’s health through health promotion activities is an investment for the future. In the Child Health Services in the south of Sweden a structured Child-Centred Health Dialogue (CCHD) directed to all 4-year-old children was developed using illustrations based on the most important health messages associated with the promotion of healthy lifestyle in preschool children. The aim of this study was to explore the experiences of children participating in CCHD using 21 non-participant observations during their 4-year health visit and additionally 16 individual interviews 0–7 days after their visit, conducted in the child’s home in the presence of a caregiver. Children participated as social actors when guided to express their views based upon their own understanding was the overall main category generated from the qualitative content analysis. The children showed that they liked to participate actively but could influence their choice to participate. They expressed their views based on their daily life and wanted to understand the meaning of the information with which they interacted. The study revealed that 4-year-old children given the opportunity to speak for themselves—elucidating the child’s perspective—interpreted the health messages in a different way than the intended meaning of the illustrations developed by adults. These findings are important for the improvement of CCHD and underline the utmost importance of including children in research on health promotion. This study supports the view that 4-year-old children can take an active role in their health and are capable of making health information meaningful.
Emergency Center Curbside Screening During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Retrospective Cohort Study

Background Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is a global pandemic that has placed a significant burden on health care systems in the United States. Michigan has been one of the top states affected by COVID-19. Objective We describe the emergency center curbside testing procedure implemented at Beaumont Hospital, a large hospital in Royal Oak, MI, and aim to evaluate its safety and efficiency. Methods Anticipating a surge in patients requiring testing, Beaumont Health implemented curbside testing, operated by a multidisciplinary team of health care workers, including physicians, advanced practice providers, residents, nurses, technicians, and registration staff. We report on the following outcomes over a period of 26 days (March 12, 2020, to April 6, 2020): time to medical decision, time spent documenting electronic medical records, overall screening time, and emergency center return evaluations. Results In total, 2782 patients received curbside services. A nasopharyngeal swab was performed on 1176 patients (41%), out of whom 348 (29.6%) tested positive. The median time for the entire process (from registration to discharge) was 28 minutes (IQR 17-44). The median time to final medical decision was 15 minutes (IQR 8-27). The median time from medical decision to discharge was 9 minutes (IQR 5-16). Only 257 patients (9.2%) returned to the emergency center for an evaluation within 7 or more days, of whom 64 were admitted to the hospital, 11 remained admitted, and 4 expired. Conclusions Our curbside testing model encourages the incorporation of this model at other high-volume facilities during an infectious disease pandemic.
Poor hive thermoregulation produces an Allee effect and leads to colony collapse

In recent years the honey bee industry has bee experiencing increased loss of hives. The accumulation of multiple stressors on a hive potentially drives hive loss in various ways, including winter loss and colony collapse disorder. One of these stressors is the breakdown of thermoregulation inside the hive. For pupae to develop correctly into healthy adult bees, the temperature within the hive must be regulated by the hive bees to within a narrow range that ensures optimal development. Suboptimal development in adults affects their brain and flight muscles so bees becomes inefficient foragers with shorter life spans. We model the effect of thermoregulation on hive health using a system of delay differential equations that gives insights into how varying hive temperatures have an effect on the survival of the colony. We show that thermoregulatory stress has the capacity to drive colony loss in the model via a saddle-node bifurcation with an associated Allee effect.
Vitamin D status and risk of all-cause and cause-specific mortality in a large cohort: results from the UK Biobank.

CONTEXT Although an inverse association between vitamin D status and mortality has been reported in observational studies, the precise association shape and optimal vitamin D status remain undetermined. OBJECTIVE To investigate the association between vitamin D status and risk of all-cause and cause-specific mortality, and estimate optimal serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] concentrations. DESIGN Prospective cohort study. SETTING UK Biobank. PARTICIPANTS 365,530 participants who had serum 25(OH)D measurements and no history of cardiovascular disease (CVD), cancer, or diabetes at baseline (2006-2010). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES All-cause and cause-specific mortality. RESULTS During a median follow-up of 8.9 (interquartile range: 8.3-9.5) years, 10,175 deaths occurred, including 1841 (18.1%) due to CVD and 5737 (56.4%) due to cancer. The multivariate analyses revealed non-linear inverse associations, with a decrease in mortality risk appearing to level off at 60 nmol/L of 25(OH)D for all-cause and CVD deaths, and at 45 nmol/L for cancer deaths. Compared to participants with 25(OH)D concentrations below the cutoffs, those with higher concentrations had a 17% lower risk for all-cause mortality (HR: 0.83, 95% CI: 0.79-0.86), 23% lower risk for CVD mortality (HR: 0.77, 95% CI: 0.68-0.86), and 11% lower risk for cancer mortality (HR: 0.89, 95% CI: 0.84-0.95). CONCLUSIONS Higher 25(OH)D concentrations are non-linearly associated with lower risk of all-cause, CVD, and cancer mortality. The thresholds of 45-60 nmol/L might represent an intervention target to reduce the overall risk of premature death, which needs further confirmation in large clinical trials.