Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
M2 Macrophages Infiltrating Epithelial Ovarian Cancer Express MDR1: A Feature That May Account for the Poor Prognosis

Multi drug resistance protein 1 (MDR1) expression on tumor cells has been widely investigated in context of drug resistance. However, the role of MDR1 on the immune cell infiltrate of solid tumors remains unknown. The aim of this study was to analyze the prognostic significance of a MDR1+ immune cell infiltrate in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) and to identify the MDR1+ leucocyte subpopulation. MDR1 expression was analyzed by immunohistochemistry in 156 EOC samples. In addition to MDR1+ cancer cells, we detected a MDR1+ leucocyte infiltrate (high infiltrate >4 leucocytes per field of view). Correlations and survival analyses were calculated. To identify immune cell subpopulations immunofluorescence double staining was performed. The MDR1+ leucocyte infiltrate was associated with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) (cc = 0.258, p = 0.005) and tumor-associated mucin 1 (TA-MUC1) (cc = 0.202, p = 0.022) expression on cancer cells. A high MDR1+ leucocyte infiltrate was associated with impaired survival, especially in patients whose carcinoma showed either serous histology (median OS 28.80 vs. 50.64 months, p = 0.027, n = 91) or TA-MUC1 expression (median OS 30.60 vs. 63.36 months, p = 0.015, n = 110). Similar findings for PFS suggest an influence of MDR1+ immune cells on the development of chemoresistance. A Cox regression analysis confirmed the independency of a high MDR1+ leucocyte infiltrate as prognostic factor. M2 macrophages were identified as main part of the MDR1+ leucocyte infiltrate expressing MDR1 as well as the M2 marker CD163 and the pan-macrophage marker CD68. Infiltration of MDR1+ leucocytes, mostly M2 macrophages, is associated with poor prognosis of EOC patients. Further understanding of the interaction of M2 macrophages, MDR1 and TA-MUC1 appears to be a key aspect to overcome chemoresistance in ovarian cancer.
Structure and conservation of Sri Lankan land-snail assemblages in fragmented lowland rainforest and village home gardens

Summary 1Modified habitats have a profound impact on the biota of fragmented tropical forests. We investigated the structure of land-snail assemblages in Sri Lankan lowland rainforest and village home gardens, a habitat of the surrounding matrix of modified habitats. We focused on four questions, (i) How do the land-snail faunas of lowland rainforest and home gardens differ and can forest species persist in gardens? (ii) Can environmental variables such as altitude, canopy density and soil pH explain significant variation in species composition independent of the effects of habitat type? (iii) What is the extent of geographical species turnover? (iv) How valuable are the two habitats for the conservation of native land snails? 2Sixty-nine standardized belt transects were sampled in 21 rainforest fragments and 12 gardens. Data were analysed using canonical and partial canonical correspondence analysis. 3Land-snail species composition varied significantly between gardens and forest. Lowland rainforest was dominated by native snails, many of which were restricted to forest. Gardens contained a distinct component of exotic and native synanthropic snails, as well as many native forest species. Altitude, canopy density and soil pH explained significant variation in species composition independent of the effects of habitat type but were closely correlated with variation in species composition between gardens and forest. Longitude and latitude explained significant variation in species composition across both gardens and forest. 4Synthesis and applications. Most rainforest snails were restricted to forest. This, together with the high level of geographical turnover and the scale of forest fragmentation, emphasizes the need to conserve all remaining rainforest cover. A substantial number of widespread and localized forest land-snail species can survive in gardens. Home gardens therefore offer great potential for restoring and increasing forest cover and connectivity.
Daily-Life Fatigue in Mild to Moderate Hearing Impairment: An Ecological Momentary Assessment Study

Objectives: Previous research has indicated an association between hearing impairment (HI) and daily-life fatigue. However, the temporal and contextual correlates of such fatigue are largely unexplored. The present study used ecological momentary assessment (EMA) to examine (1) whether people with HI are more fatigued than people with normal hearing, (2) whether individuals with HI and normal hearing (NH) show similar diurnal patterns of fatigue, (3) whether people with HI spend less time in challenging listening situations compared with NH controls, and (4) whether more challenging listening situations are associated with more fatigue and whether hearing ability influences any observed association. Design: After excluding 22 participants with self-reported fatiguing health conditions from analyses, the participant sample consisted of 24 adults with HI and 20 adults with NH, aged 44 to 77 years (M = 65.4, SD = 7.5). Data were collected using smartphones and a commercially available EMA app, which ran the specified EMA protocol for this study. Participants responded to six smartphone surveys per day for two weeks. “In-the-moment” questions asked participants to report on their listening situation and to rate their current level of fatigue (“momentary fatigue”) at quasi-random time points throughout the day. Data were analyzed using multilevel modeling. Results: Hearing group (HI versus NH) was unrelated to trait, daily, and momentary fatigue; both participants with HI and NH became increasingly fatigued throughout the day and at a similar rate. Challenging listening situations occurred infrequently both for HI and NH groups. Participants with NH were more likely to report that there were people speaking in the background whom they were trying to ignore, but participants with HI were more likely to report a greater number of background speakers. No associations were found between within-person listening situations and momentary fatigue, but person-mean listening activity and conversational status were related to momentary fatigue. Notably, having tinnitus was positively related to momentary fatigue, after controlling for other covariates. Finally, having a fatiguing health condition was a strong predictor of both trait and momentary fatigue. Conclusions: This is the first study to explore and compare fatigue across HI and NH groups using EMA. Contrary to expectations, the groups showed similar levels and diurnal patterns of fatigue, and fatigue was mostly unrelated to aspects of the listening environment. Between-person differences, although statistically significant, produced small effect sizes and therefore must be accepted cautiously. Issues with group matching, the measurement of fatigue, and perceived hearing-related difficulties among participants with NH are notable limitations. However, this study makes a novel contribution to both EMA and hearing research and demonstrates the importance of screening for fatiguing health conditions. Further research is warranted, particularly with individuals with more severe HI.
Statistical Modelling of the Effects of Weather Factors on Malaria Occurrence in Abuja, Nigeria

Background: despite the increase in malaria control and elimination efforts, weather patterns and ecological factors continue to serve as important drivers of malaria transmission dynamics. This study examined the statistical relationship between weather variables and malaria incidence in Abuja, Nigeria. Methodology/Principal Findings: monthly data on malaria incidence and weather variables were collected in Abuja from the year 2000 to 2013. The analysis of count outcomes was based on generalized linear models, while Pearson correlation analysis was undertaken at the bivariate level. The results showed more malaria incidence in the months with the highest rainfall recorded (June–August). Based on the negative binomial model, every unit increase in humidity corresponds to about 1.010 (95% confidence interval (CI), 1.005–1.015) times increase in malaria cases while the odds of having malaria decreases by 5.8% for every extra unit increase in temperature: 0.942 (95% CI, 0.928–0.956). At lag 1 month, there was a significant positive effect of rainfall on malaria incidence while at lag 4, temperature and humidity had significant influences. Conclusions: malaria remains a widespread infectious disease among the local subjects in the study area. Relative humidity was identified as one of the factors that influence a malaria epidemic at lag 0 while the biggest significant influence of temperature was observed at lag 4. Therefore, emphasis should be given to vector control activities and to create public health awareness on the proper usage of intervention measures such as indoor residual sprays to reduce the epidemic especially during peak periods with suitable weather conditions.
Foveal thickness, foveal microvasculature, and refractive error in children with asymmetric involvement of retinopathy of prematurity

Objective To evaluate foveal thickness, foveal microvasculature, and refractive error in children with asymmetric involvement of retinopathy of prematurity who had laser treatment in one eye and spontaneously regressed retinopathy of prematurity in the fellow eye. Methods Totally, 17 children (34 eyes) with a history of asymmetric course of acute Zone II retinopathy of prematurity were assessed. Data on best-corrected visual acuity, refractive status, axial length, anterior chamber depth, and optical coherence tomography angiography findings were analyzed between treated and non-treated fellow eyes. Results Treated eyes were more myopic than non-treated eyes (mean, –0.09 ± 1.86 diopters vs mean, 0.07 ± 0.98 diopters, p = 0.026). Compared to non-treated eyes, treated eyes had shallower anterior chamber depth (mean, 3.27 ± 0.24 mm vs mean, 3.55 ± 0.19 mm, p = 0.02). No significant difference was observed regarding optical coherence tomography angiography parameters between two eyes of the children. The mean central foveal thickness was found to be higher in treated eyes than in non-treated eyes (297.46 ± 22.03 vs 275.55 ± 18.45, p = 0.009). Higher number of laser spots were associated with decreased parafoveal superficial capillary plexus vessel density (r = –0.56, p = 0.02) and increased central foveal thickness (r = 0.62, p = 0.008). Conclusion Our results revealed no difference in optical coherence tomography angiography parameters between laser-treated and non-treated eyes in children with asymmetric involvement of Zone II retinopathy of prematurity except for a higher central foveal thickness in laser-treated eyes. Treated eyes were more myopic than the non-treated eyes. Number of laser applications during treatment had an impact on parafoveal superficial capillary plexus vessel density.
Body Temperatures and Winter Feeding in Immature Green Turtles, Chelonia mydas, in Moreton Bay, Southeast Queensland

Body temperatures of immature Clenonia mydas does not deviate significantly from water temperature in the range of 15-22.7 degrees C. Additionally, there was no correlation between Tb and body mass, indicating that larger turtles in the sampled range of sizes (9.2 - 39.5 kg) were not gaining a thermal advantage over smaller individuals.
A NEW SPECIES OF THAUMASTOSAURUS (AMPHIBIA: ANURA) FROM THE EOCENE OF EUROPE

Abstract Thaumastosaurus gezei, sp. nov., is described based on the incomplete, holotype skull and an isolated, referred squamosal, both from the so-called “old collections” (late middle or late Eocene in age) from the Phosphorites du Quercy, France. A suite of cranial features, mainly involving sculpture patterns and details of the maxilla and squamosal, differentiates T. gezei from the other three species of Thaumastosaurus. T. gezei appears to be unique among known species of Thaumastosaurus and is unusual among other anurans in having an anteriorly elongate process of the squamosal that extends along the entire dorsal edge of the maxilla, thereby preventing the maxilla from contacting the nasal and contributing to the orbital margin. This derived squamosal configuration, and some other cranial features, suggest a possible relationship between Thaumastosaurus and the South American ceratophryids. If such a relationship proves correct, Thaumastosaurus would be one of the few vertebrate taxa from the Eocene of Europe with South American affinities.
Strategies for hepatitis B booster vaccination among children: an 8-year prospective cohort study

ABSTRACT Debate continues regarding the need for a booster vaccination in children who received a universal infant hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccination. The aim was to explore the need and the strategies for the booster HBV vaccination. 8-year prospective cohort study was conducted among children aged 5–15 years in 2009–2010 in Zhejiang Province. The participants were divided into groups A (<0.1 mIU/mL), B (0.1 to < 1 mIU/mL) and C (1 to <10 mIU/mL) according to the pre-booster anti-HBs antibody levels. 5 μg (group I), 10 μg (group II), 20 μg hepatitis B vaccines (group III) or 5 μg hepatitis A and B (HAB) vaccines (group IV) with 0-1-6-month schedule were randomly administered to children negative for all markers. Blood samples were collected at baseline HBV marker testing, 1 month after the first dose, 1 month, 1 year, 5 years and 8 years after the third dose. Among 4170 children, 2326 (55.8%) were negative for all HBV markers. Group II showed the highest seropositive rates of 92.8%, 99.7%, 97.6%, 90.3% and 83.4% with GMTs of 4194.5 mIU/ml, 4163.9 mIU/ml, 466.9 mIU/ml, 190.6 mIU/ml, 122.6 mIU/ml from 1 month after dose 1 to 8 years after dose 3, respectively (P < .01). Participants in group C showed seropositive rates of 98.9%, 99.9%, 99.5%, 95.5%, 92.8% after the revaccination with GMTs of 6519.6 mIU/ml, 5267.4 mIU/ml, 547.1 mIU/ml, 249.5 mIU/ml, 155.3 mIU/ml, respectively, higher than group A and B (P < .001), except 1 month after the third dose. The 10 μg of HBV vaccine with a 0-1-6-month booster regimen may elicit robust responses and persist for 8 years or longer. Additionally, 1-dose revaccination maybe suitable for children with 1 to < 10 mIU/ml anti-HBs titers.
Host discrimination and larval competition in the aphid parasite Ephedrus californicus

Naive and experienced females of Ephedrus californicus Baker (Hymenoptera: Aphidiidae) were tested for their ability to discriminate between parasitized and unparasitized pea aphids, Acyrthosiphon pisum (Harris) (Homoptera: Aphididae). Attacks lasting ≥ 6 s generally resulted in oviposition; the average length was 11.8 s. The proportion of parasitized aphids that was rejected varied with the interval length between attacks. It is suggested that host discrimination is time‐dependent and can be induced by a pheromone‐like external marker left by a first‐attacking female (0–9 h), or by changes in host quality associated with parasite development (≥ 14 h). Experienced, but not naive, females responded to the external marker, which became less effective with time. In superparasitized aphids, the older of two E. californicus larvae usually eliminated a younger competitor; but younger larvae survived under certain conditions. Mechanisms for the elimination of supernumerary larvae varied with the relative developmental stage of the competitors and included physical combat and physiological suppression. Host instar had no effect on larval competition or the female's ability to discriminate.
Seeding rate and planting arrangement effects on growth and weed suppression of a legume-oat cover crop for organic vegetable systems.

Winter cover crops can add soil organic matter, improve nutrient cycling, and suppress weeds in organic vegetable systems. A 2-yr study was conducted on organic farms in Salinas and Hollister, CA, to evaluate the effect of seeding rate (SR) and planting arrangement on cover crop density, ground cover, and cover crop and weed dry matter (DM) with a mixed cover crop. The mix contained legumes (35% Vicia faba L., bell bean; 15% Vicia dasycarpa Ten., woolypod vetch; 15% Vicia benghalensis L., purple vetch; and 25% Pisum sativum L., pea) and 10% oat (Avena sativa L.) by seed weight. Three SRs (112, 224, and 336 kg ha ―1 ) and two planting arrangements (one-way versus grid pattern) were evaluated. Planting arrangement had no effect on the variables measured. When weeds were abundant, weed DM declined linearly with increasing SR from approximately 300 kg ha ―1 at the low SR to <100 kg ha ―1 at the high SR. Increasing SR increased oat and legume DM early in the season, but did not affect final cover crop DM that ranged from 7 to 12 Mg ha ―1 . Year affected final cover crop DM production at both sites. The legume DM portion of the total cover crop declined through the season but varied between sites and year, probably due to soil and climatic differences. Higher SRs may be cost effective because weed control is expensive and cover crop seed is a relatively small component of cover cropping costs in this region.
Association of Blood Pressure Responses to Submaximal Exercise in Midlife With the Incidence of Cardiovascular Outcomes and All‐Cause Mortality: The Framingham Heart Study

Background Few studies examined the associations of midlife blood pressure (BP) responses to submaximal exercise with the risk of cardiovascular outcomes and mortality in later life. Methods and Results We evaluated 1993 Framingham Offspring Study participants (mean age, 58 years; 53.2% women) attending examination cycle 7. We related BP responses to submaximal exercise with prevalent subclinical cardiovascular disease (CVD) using multivariable linear regression models. We also related BP responses to submaximal exercise to the incidence of hypertension, CVD, and all‐cause mortality using Cox proportional hazards regression models. Each SD increment of exercise BP was associated with higher log‐transformed left ventricular mass (systolic blood pressure [SBP], β=0.02, P=<0.001; diastolic blood pressure [DBP], β=0.01, P=0.004) and carotid intima‐media thickness (SBP, β=0.08, P=<0.001). Rapid BP recovery (per 1 SD increment) was associated with lower log left ventricular mass (SBP recovery; β=−0.03, P=<0.001) and carotid intima‐media thickness (SBP recovery, β=−0.07, P=0.003; DBP recovery, β=−0.09, P=0.003). Additionally, Each SD increment of exercise BP was associated with a higher risk of incident hypertension (SBP, hazard ratio [HR], 1.40; 95% CI, 1.20–1.62; DBP, HR, 1.24; 95% CI, 1.11–1.40) and CVD (DBP, HR, 1.15; 95% CI, 1.02–1.30). Finally, the multivariable‐adjusted HR for each 1‐SD increment of BP recovery was 0.46 (SBP recovery, 95% CI, 0.38–0.54) and 0.55 (DBP recovery, 95% CI, 0.45–0.67) for hypertension; 0.80 (SBP recovery, 95% CI, 0.69–0.93) for CVD; and 0.76 (SBP recovery, 95% CI, 0.65–0.88) for all‐cause mortality. Conclusions Higher submaximal exercise BP and impaired BP recovery after submaximal exercise in midlife may be markers of subclinical and clinical CVD and mortality in later life.
Identification, Localization in the Central Nervous System and Novel Myostimulatory Effect of Allatostatins in Tenebrio molitor Beetle

Allatostatins (ASTs) are pleiotropic insect neuropeptides that are potent myoinhibitors of muscle contractions. In this study, we identified and immunolocalized peptides from the MIP/AST and PISCF/AST families in the nervous system of a model beetle, Tenebrio molitor. Neurons containing MIPs were immunolocalized in the brains of adults and the ventral nerve cords of larvae, pupae and imagines of this species as well as in the retrocerebral complex. PISCFs were immunolocalized in the ventral nerve cord of all stages as well as the brain of the adult beetle. Faint signals were also observed in the corpus allatum but not in the corpus cardiacum. The results allowed us to deduce the sequences of three neuropeptides belonging to MIP/ASTs, Tenmo-MIP4—NWGQFGXWa, Tenmo-MIP5—SKWDNFRGSWa and Tenmo-MIP6—EPAWSNLKGIWa, and one peptide from the PISCF/AST family, QSRYXQCYFNPISCX. Furthermore, we showed for the first time myostimulatory action of endogenous MIP/ASTs. Tenmo-MIP5 caused dose-dependent stimulation of the contractile activity of the beetle oviduct muscles, showing a sigmoidal curve up to 81.20% at the 10−8 M concentration, and the EC50 value for the myostimulatory effect of this peptide was 8.50 × 10−12 M. This is the first report of myostimulatory action of an endogenous myoinhibitory peptide in insect muscles.
Phenolic-rich Pomegranate Peel Extract: In Vitro, Cellular, and In Vivo Activities for Skin Hyperpigmentation Treatment

Abstract The pomegranate phenolics are reported to have cutaneous benefits and to be effective in treating skin disorders, including hyperpigmentation. In this context, a preparation method was developed by which to obtain phenolic-rich pomegranate peel extract. Sinapic acid was presented as the major pomegranate peel phenolics, followed by gallic and ellagic acids, and 4 additional phenolics. The extract exhibited strong antioxidant activity with an in vitro tyrosinase inhibitory effect. The skin hyperpigmentation treating potency was confirmed by the suppression of cellular melanogenesis through tyrosinase and TRP-2 inhibitions as examined in the B16F10 melanoma cells. Cellular antioxidant and proliferative activities of the extract toward human dermal fibroblasts were evidenced, as well as an inhibitory effect against MMP-2. The extract was developed into the stable serum and mask. The products were proved to be non-irritated in 30 Thai volunteers participating in a single application closed patch test. A split-face, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled test of the skin lightening effect was evaluated in the 30 volunteers over 28 consecutive daily treatments and monitored by the Mexameter MX 18. The active serum and mask were better in facial skin lightening efficacy than the placebo (p < 0.005). That was in accordance with the sensory evaluation scored by the volunteers. Phenolic-rich pomegranate peel extract is evidenced as a safe herbal derived material promising for skin hyperpigmentation treatment. Supportive information regarding chemical and biological profiles is presented with the confirmed safety and cutaneous benefits in volunteers.
Comparative feeding ecology of two spatially coexisting species of ghost shrimp, Biffarius arenosusand Trypaea Australiensis (Decapoda: Callianassidae)

Abstract Burrow structure, feeding behaviour and diet selectivity of the ghost shrimps Biffarius arenosusand Trypaea aus-traliensiswere compared. Burrows of T. australiensiswere Y-shaped with a single tunnel extending up to 51 cm into the sediment. Overall burrow shape was less complex than that previously described for B. arenosus. In aquaria, T. australiensiswas observed to resuspend sediment within the burrow and feed on the suspended particles, and collect food directly from the burrow wall (deposit-feeding). Individuals of B. arenosus viere, only ever observed to deposit-feed. Particle size distribution of sediment ingested by both species was clearly different from that available in the sediment. The majority of particles ingested were < 63 μm in size and the majority of particles available were >125 μrn in size. Large T. australiensis (CL > 7.5 mm) preferred particles in the size range6-63 μrn, whereas foreguts of B. arenosuswere dominated by particles < 15.6 μrn in size. Small T. australiensis (CL < 7.5 mm) preferred particles 3.9-63 μrn in size. The two ghost shrimp species coexist on the inter-tidal mudflats of Western Port and appear to divide food resources by adopting different feeding modes and selectively ingesting different size sediment particles.