Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Nematicide efficacy at managing Meloidogyne arenaria and non-target effects on free-living nematodes in peanut production

Abstract Meloidogyne arenaria (peanut root-knot nematode (PRKN)) is a major pest of peanut. Nematicide application is an important tool for the management of PRKN. Nematicides with minimal effects on free-living nematodes are desired. Fluopyram nematicide is recently introduced in peanut production and needs to be assessed. The objective of this research is to evaluate fluopyram and the established nematicides 1,3-Dichloropropene (1,3-D) and aldicarb for efficacy at managing PRKN and impacts on free-living nematodes. Nematicides were evaluated in field studies in 2017 and 2018 conducted in commercial peanut fields. All nematicides increased peanut yield in 2017 compared with untreated control, but did not affect soil PRKN abundances or root galling. In 2018, PRKN infestation was too low to accurately assess PRKN management by nematicides. Aldicarb and fluopyram did not affect any free-living nematode trophic group or individual genera. In contrast, 1,3-D decreased total fungivore and fungivore genera Filenchus and Aphelenchus soil abundances, but did not affect bacterivores, omnivore-predators, total herbivores, or any other nematode genera. In summary, 1,3-D, but not aldicarb or fluopyram, had non-target effects on free-living nematodes, particularly fungivores.
Heart rate variability and recovery following maximal exercise in endurance athletes and physically-active individuals.

The purpose of this study was to determine potential adverse cardiac effects of chronic endurance training by comparing sympathovagal modulation via heart rate variability (HRV) and heart rate recovery (HRR) in middle-aged endurance athletes (EA) and physically-active individuals (PA) following maximal exercise. 36 (53±5 years) EA and 19 (56±5 years) PA were recruited to complete a two-week exercise diary and graded exercise to exhaustion. Time domain and power spectral HRV analyses were completed on recorded R-R intervals. EA had a greater HRR slope following exercise (95%CI, 0.0134-0.0138 vs. 0.0101-0.0104 beats/second;p<0.001). While EA had greater HRR 1-5 minutes post-exercise (all p<0.01), PA and EA did not differ when expressed as a percentage of baseline HR (130±19 vs. 139±19; p=0.2). Root mean square of successive differences in R-R intervals (rest and immediately post-exercise) were elevated in EA (p<0.05). Low frequency (LF) and high frequency (HF) spectral components were non-significantly elevated post-exercise (p=0.045-0.147) in EA while LF/HF was not different (p=0.529-0.986). This data suggests greater HRR in EA may arise in part due to a lower resting HR. While non-significant elevations in HF and LF in EA produces a LF/HF similar to PA, absolute spectral component modulation differed. These observations require further exploration. Novelty Bullets: • Acute effects of exercise on HRV in EA compared to a relevant control group, PA, are unknown. • EA had greater HRR, and non-significant elevations in LF and HF compared to PA, yet LF/HF was not different. • Future work should explore the implications of this observation.
The Role of Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury in Early Hepatic Allograft Dysfunction

Liver transplantation (LT) is the only available curative treatment for patients with end‐stage liver disease. Early allograft dysfunction (EAD) is a life‐threatening complication of LT and is thought to be mediated in large part through ischemia/reperfusion injury (IRI). However, the underlying mechanisms linking IRI and EAD after LT are poorly understood. Most previous studies focused on the clinical features of EAD, but basic research on the underlying mechanisms is insufficient, due, in part, to a lack of suitable animal models of EAD. There is still no consensus on definition of EAD, which hampers comparative analysis of data from different LT centers. IRI is considered as an important risk factor of EAD, which can induce both damage and adaptive responses in liver grafts. IRI and EAD are closely linked and share several common pathways. However, the underlying mechanisms remain largely unclear. Therapeutic interventions against EAD through the amelioration of IRI is a promising strategy, but most approaches are still in preclinical stages. To further study the mechanisms of EAD and promote collaborations between LT centers, optimized animal models and unified definitions of EAD are urgently needed. Because IRI and EAD are closely linked, more attention should be paid to the underlying mechanisms and the fundamental relationship between them. Ischemia/reperfusion–induced adaptive responses may play a crucial role in the prevention of EAD, and more preclinical studies and clinical trials are urgently needed to address the current limitation of available therapeutic interventions.
The Changing Patterns of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in China: A Tempogeographic Analysis of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Epidemic

Abstract Background Evaluating whether an infectious disease has reached a turning point is important for planning additional intervention efforts. This study aimed to analyze the changing patterns and the tempogeographic features of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) epidemic in China, to provide further evidence for real-time responses. Methods Daily data on COVID-19 cases between 31 December 2019 and 26 February 2020 were collected and analyzed for Hubei and non-Hubei regions in China. Observed trends for new and cumulative cases were analyzed through joinpoint regression analysis. Spatial analysis was applied to show the geographic distribution and changing patterns of the epidemic. Results By 26 February 2020, 78 630 confirmed COVID-19 cases had been reported in China. In Hubei, an increasing trend (slope = 221) was observed for new cases between 24 January and 7 February 2020, after which a decline commenced (slope = −868). However, as the diagnosis criteria changed, a sudden increase (slope = 5530) was observed on 12 February, which sharply decreased afterward (slope = −4898). In non-Hubei regions, the number of new cases increased from 20 January to 3 February and started to decline afterward (slope = −53). The spatial analysis identified Chongqing, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Changsha, Nanchang, Wenzhou, Shanghai, Xinyang, Jining, and Beijing as the hotspots outside of Hubei Province in China. Conclusions The joinpoint regression analysis indicated that the epidemic might be under control in China, especially for regions outside of Hubei Province. Further improvement in the response strategies based on these new patterns is needed.
The role played by granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) on women submitted to in vitro fertilization associated with thin endometrium: systematic review

Objective: To provide evidence available in the literature on the role of granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) in women submitted to in vitro fertilization, with repeated implantation failure associated with thin endometrium. Methods: Systematic review of the use of G-CSF, as part of assisted reproduction techniques in women with repeated embryo implantation failures associated with thin endometrium. The study was carried out in the PubMed, BIREME and Elsevier databases from 2008 to 2018, in English, Spanish and Portuguese. Results: We included all the studies, which used intrauterine G-CSF. We found an increase in endometrial thickness in eight of the 10 studies included. Of these, the implantation rate improved significantly in two studies, but the gestation rate increased in only one. We found the highest rates of implantation (32%) and pregnancy (48%) in a non-randomized clinical trial. On the other hand, two other studies did not demonstrate an increase in endometrial thickness and in pregnancy rates in patients with thin endometrium submitted to the assisted reproduction in frozen embryo transfer cycles. Conclusion: Studies published so far point to a positive influence on the use of G-CSF in relation to the improvement in endometrial receptivity and pregnancy rates. Therefore, there is a need for further studies to determine whether to use it, as well as the period, route of administration, dosage and duration of treatment.
Relationship between hemodialysis patients’ educational level and arteriovenous fistula patency

Abstract Objectives Vascular access is a lifeline for the patients who are in need of long-term hemodialysis. Native arteriovenous fistula is the most intensively preferred vascular access method owing to its longevity and convenience of use. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to determine whether there might be a relationship between hemodialysis patients’ educational levels and arteriovenous fistula patency. Methods A total of 349 patients who were attending in a chronic hemodialysis program between June 2018 and September 2018 at Bursa Uludağ University, Faculty of Medicine Dialysis Unit and in a private dialysis center in İstanbul were included in this study. The patients were grouped into two: those who have had arteriovenous fistula primary failure at least once and those who have never had arteriovenous fistula primary failure. Educational levels of the patients were classified according to Turkish National Education system (illiterate, primary school graduate, secondary school graduate, high school graduate, and university graduate). Mann–Whitney U and Chi-square tests were performed for statistical analyses. Risk factors were determined by applying backward binary logistic regression analysis. Results A total of 349 patients, 161 (46.1%) females and 188 (53.9%) males, were examined retrospectively. The median age of the patients was 64 years (range: 18–90 years). Educational level comparison revealed statistically significant difference in terms of fistula patency (p = 0.016). In particular, fistula patency was significantly lower in illiterate, primary, secondary, and high school graduates in comparison with university graduates (p = 0.001, p = 0.015, p = 0.003, and p = 0.018, respectively). When each group of educational level was analyzed separately in terms of fistula patency, it was observed that the higher the educational level was, the lower arteriovenous fistula primary failure rates were. Conclusions In this study, we observed a lower rate of fistula patency in patients with a low level of education. Hence, we are of the opinion that the trainings delivered on arteriovenous fistula care in dialysis centers are required to be shaped in accordance with educational levels of patients.
Accuracy of Apple Watch Measurements for Heart Rate and Energy Expenditure in Patients With Cardiovascular Disease: Cross-Sectional Study

Background Wrist-worn tracking devices such as the Apple Watch are becoming more integrated in health care. However, validation studies of these consumer devices remain scarce. Objectives This study aimed to assess if mobile health technology can be used for monitoring home-based exercise in future cardiac rehabilitation programs. The purpose was to determine the accuracy of the Apple Watch in measuring heart rate (HR) and estimating energy expenditure (EE) during a cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) in patients with cardiovascular disease. Methods Forty patients (mean age 61.9 [SD 15.2] yrs, 80% male) with cardiovascular disease (70% ischemic, 22.5% valvular, 7.5% other) completed a graded maximal CPET on a cycle ergometer while wearing an Apple Watch. A 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) was used to measure HR; indirect calorimetry was used for EE. HR was analyzed at three levels of intensity (seated rest, HR1; moderate intensity, HR2; maximal performance, HR3) for 30 seconds. The EE of the entire test was used. Bias or mean difference (MD), standard deviation of difference (SDD), limits of agreement (LoA), mean absolute error (MAE), mean absolute percentage error (MAPE), and intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) were calculated. Bland-Altman plots and scatterplots were constructed. Results SDD for HR1, HR2, and HR3 was 12.4, 16.2, and 12.0 bpm, respectively. Bias and LoA (lower, upper LoA) were 3.61 (–20.74, 27.96) for HR1, 0.91 (–30.82, 32.63) for HR2, and –1.82 (–25.27, 21.63) for HR3. MAE was 6.34 for HR1, 7.55 for HR2, and 6.90 for HR3. MAPE was 10.69% for HR1, 9.20% for HR2, and 6.33% for HR3. ICC was 0.729 (P<.001) for HR1, 0.828 (P<.001) for HR2, and 0.958 (P<.001) for HR3. Bland-Altman plots and scatterplots showed good correlation without systematic error when comparing Apple Watch with ECG measurements. SDD for EE was 17.5 kcal. Bias and LoA were 30.47 (–3.80, 64.74). MAE was 30.77; MAPE was 114.72%. ICC for EE was 0.797 (P<.001). The Bland-Altman plot and a scatterplot directly comparing Apple Watch and indirect calorimetry showed systematic bias with an overestimation of EE by the Apple Watch. Conclusions In patients with cardiovascular disease, the Apple Watch measures HR with clinically acceptable accuracy during exercise. If confirmed, it might be considered safe to incorporate the Apple Watch in HR-guided training programs in the setting of cardiac rehabilitation. At this moment, however, it is too early to recommend the Apple Watch for cardiac rehabilitation. Also, the Apple Watch systematically overestimates EE in this group of patients. Caution might therefore be warranted when using the Apple Watch for measuring EE.
The impact of male infertility or intracytoplasmic sperm injection technique on perinatal outcomes

Abstract Objective The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of male infertility or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) technique on perinatal outcomes. Materials and methods A retrospective cohort study included patients with singleton live births after fresh-cycle embryo transfer that occurred between 1st January 2016 and 31st May 2018. The patients were divided into four groups: (1) IVF treatment without male infertility; (2) ICSI treatment without male infertility; (3) ICSI treatment with male infertility; and (4) IVF treatment with male infertility. Result In total, 2118 patients were analyzed. When comparing perinatal outcomes between the four groups, there were significant differences with regard to gender proportions of offspring and GDM. No statistically significant differences were reported in the incidence of preterm birth, gestational hypertension, placenta previa, fetal malformation, macrosomia, or low birthweight. A separate multiple logistic regression model was performed for each abnormal perinatal outcome to eliminate confounding factors, with the exception of GDM, the above abnormal perinatal outcomes still did not differ significantly when comparing the four groups. However, the incidence of GDM was higher in the third group than it was in the first group. The proportion of male births was significantly decreased in the third and fourth groups. Conclusion The results showed that ICSI may be associated with the risk of GDM in abnormal perinatal outcomes, but the risk is not due to male infertility. However, male infertility may reduce the proportion of male births.
Factors Affecting Patients' Acceptance of and Satisfaction with Cloud-Based Telehealth for Chronic Disease Management: A Case Study in the Workplace

Abstract Objective Understanding patients' acceptance of and satisfaction with telehealth use is important for workplace health promotion. In this study, we used a questionnaire to measure patients' usage behavior and satisfaction with cloud-based telehealth services in the workplace. We empirically investigated the factors that influence patients' usage and satisfaction based on data collected from 101 participants. Methods As its main research framework, this study utilized a revised version of the technology acceptance model 2 that was based on the telehealth services provided for chronic disease management. Through integrating a cross-sectional research design with an author-developed structured questionnaire that was assessed using reliability and validity tests, an anonymous survey was conducted on selected participants. The proposed research model and hypotheses were validated through path analysis using SPSS. Results We found that users believe telehealth services can promote their workplace health management; that job relevance, result demonstrability, and perceived ease of use (PEOU) positively affect the perceived usefulness (PU), which implies that cognitive instrumental processes have the most significant impact on the PU of cloud-based telehealth; and that both PEOU and PU positively affect the intention to use (IU), but PU has a bigger influence than PEOU on users' intentions to continue using telehealth. In particular, the IU and actual usage behavior were critical to the patients' satisfaction with telehealth services. Conclusion This research contributes to the rapid developing field of technology acceptance research by examining workplace telemedicine engagement. Our results will provide researchers with useful advice and a user-centered strategy for promoting workplace health management, which benefits both health care providers and corporate managers.
Building an Air Stable and Lithium Deposition Regulable Garnet Interface from Moderate-Temperature Conversion Chemistry.

Garnet-type electrolytes suffer from unstable chemistry against air exposure, which generates contaminants on electrolyte surface and accounts for poor interfacial contact with Li metal. Thermal treatment of the garnet at > 700 o C could remove the surface contaminates, yet it regenerates the contaminants in air, and aggravate the Li dendrite issue as more electron-conducting defective sites are exposed. In a departure from the removal approach, here we report a new surface chemistry that converts the contaminants into a fluorinated interface at moderate temperature <180 o C. The modified interface shows a high electron tunnelling barrier and a low energy barrier for Li + surface diffusion, so that it enables dendrite-proof Li plating/stripping at a high critical current density of 1.4 mA cm -2 . Moreover, the modified interface exhibits high chemical and electrochemical stability against air exposure, which prevents regeneration of contaminants and keeps high critical current density of 1.1 mA cm -2 . The new chemistry presents a practical solution for realization of high-energy solid-state Li metal batteries.
Identification and expression analysis of miRNAs and elucidation of their role in salt tolerance in rice varieties susceptible and tolerant to salinity

Soil salinization is a serious problem for cultivation of rice, as among cereals rice is the most salt sensitive crop, and more than 40% of the total agricultural land amounting to approximately 80 million ha the world over is salt affected. Salinity affects a plant in a varieties of ways, including ion toxicity, osmotic stress and oxidative damage. Since miRNAs occupy the top place in biochemical events determining a trait, understanding their role in salt tolerance is highly desirable, which may allow introduction of the trait in the rice cultivars of choice through biotechnological interventions. High throughput sequencing of sRNAs in the root and shoot tissues of the seedlings of the control and NaCl treated Pokkali, a salt-tolerant rice variety, identified 75 conserved miRNAs and mapped 200 sRNAs to the rice genome as novel miRNAs. Expression of nine novel miRNAs and two conserved miRNAs were confirmed by Northern blotting. Several of both conserved and novel miRNAs that expressed differentially in root and/or shoot tissues targeted transcription factors like AP2/EREBP domain protein, ARF, NAC, MYB, NF-YA, HD-Zip III, TCP and SBP reported to be involved in salt tolerance or in abiotic stress tolerance in general. Most of the novel miRNAs expressed in the salt tolerant wild rice Oryza coarctata, suggesting conservation of miRNAs in taxonomically related species. One of the novel miRNAs, osa-miR12477, also targeted L-ascorbate oxidase (LAO), indicating build-up of oxidative stress in the plant upon salt treatment, which was confirmed by DAB staining. Thus, salt tolerance might involve miRNA-mediated regulation of 1) cellular abundance of the hormone signaling components like EREBP and ARF, 2) synthesis of abiotic stress related transcription factors, and 3) antioxidative component like LAO for mitigation of oxidative damage. The study clearly indicated importance of osa-miR12477 regulated expression of LAO in salt tolerance in the plant.
Mapping Short Association Fibers in the Early Cortical Visual Processing Stream Using In Vivo Diffusion Tractography

Abstract Short association fibers (U-fibers) connect proximal cortical areas and constitute the majority of white matter connections in the human brain. U-fibers play an important role in brain development, function, and pathology but are underrepresented in current descriptions of the human brain connectome, primarily due to methodological challenges in diffusion magnetic resonance imaging (dMRI) of these fibers. High spatial resolution and dedicated fiber and tractography models are required to reliably map the U-fibers. Moreover, limited quantitative knowledge of their geometry and distribution makes validation of U-fiber tractography challenging. Submillimeter resolution diffusion MRI—facilitated by a cutting-edge MRI scanner with 300 mT/m maximum gradient amplitude—was used to map U-fiber connectivity between primary and secondary visual cortical areas (V1 and V2, respectively) in vivo. V1 and V2 retinotopic maps were obtained using functional MRI at 7T. The mapped V1–V2 connectivity was retinotopically organized, demonstrating higher connectivity for retinotopically corresponding areas in V1 and V2 as expected. The results were highly reproducible, as demonstrated by repeated measurements in the same participants and by an independent replication group study. This study demonstrates a robust U-fiber connectivity mapping in vivo and is an important step toward construction of a more complete human brain connectome.
Antiviral treatment of COVID-19

Currently, there is not any specific effective antiviral treatment for COVID-19. Although most of the COVID-19 patients have mild or moderate courses, up to 5%–10% can have severe, potentially life threatening course, there is an urgent need for effective drugs. Optimized supportive care remains the mainstay of therapy. There have been more than 300 clinical trials going on, various antiviral and immunomodulating agents are in various stages of evaluation for COVID-19 in those trials and some of them will be published in the next couple of months. Despite the urgent need to find an effective antiviral treatment for COVID-19 through randomized controlled studies, certain agents are being used all over the world based on either in-vitro or extrapolated evidence or observational studies. The most frequently used agents both in Turkey and all over the world including chloroquine, hydroxychloroquine, lopinavir/ritonavir, favipiravir and remdesivir will be reviewed here . Nitazoxanide and ivermectin were also included in this review as they have recently been reported to have an activity against SARS-CoV-2 in vitro and are licensed for the treatment of some other human infections.