Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Interventions for social and community participation for adults with intellectual disability, psychosocial disability or on the autism spectrum: An umbrella systematic review

Objective This umbrella systematic review examined the effectiveness, facilitators, and barriers of interventions for social, community and civic participation for adults on the autism spectrum, or with intellectual or psychosocial disability. Data Sources Eight databases were searched to identify eligible reviews defined by the: Sample (≥50% adults on the autism spectrum or with intellectual or psychosocial disability), Phenomena of Interest (interventions in community settings that aimed to improve social, community or civic participation, or capacity to participate), Design (any), Evaluation (any method that evaluated impacts on participation or capacity to participate), and Research type (reviews as journal articles, dissertations or in grey literature, in English, published 2010-2020). Review Methods Rapid review methods were used. One researcher screened 27,890 records and 788 potentially eligible full texts. A second reviewer independently screened 20% of records, and ambiguous full text publications. Study quality was extracted, and review quality was assessed with the Assessing Methodological Quality of Systematic Reviews (AMSTAR) checklist. Data from 522 studies in 57 eligible systematic reviews were extracted for narrative synthesis. The Corrected Covered Area (CCA) was calculated to indicate overlap between reviews. Results There was a pooled sample of 28,154 study participants, predominantly from studies in North America, the UK and Europe. There was very low overlap between reviews (CCA = 0.3%). Reviews were predominantly low quality: 77.2% of reviews met <50% of AMSTAR criteria. Most studies were low (45.4%) or moderate (38.3%) quality. Three broad intervention categories improved participation, inclusion and belonging outcomes: (1) interventions to help people identify and connect with participation opportunities (e.g., person centred planning); (2) participation opportunities or activities (e.g., joining a community group, sports or outdoor activities, or arts-based activities); and (3) supports to build skills and capacity to participate socially and in the community. Conclusions The evidence highlighted that improved social and community participation requires purposeful strategies that identify meaningful participation preferences (e.g., where, when, how, and with whom) and provide support to build capacity or enable ongoing participation. Community capacity building, peer support and advocacy may also be needed to make the community more accessible, and to enable people to exercise genuine choice.
Recent advances in stereoselective 1,2-cis-O-glycosylations

For the stereoselective assembly of bioactive glycans with various functions, 1,2-cis-O-glycosylation is one of the most essential issues in synthetic carbohydrate chemistry. The cis-configured O-glycosidic linkages to the substituents at two positions of the non-reducing side residue of the glycosides such as α-glucopyranoside, α-galactopyranoside, β-mannopyranoside, β-arabinofuranoside, and other rather rare glycosides are found in natural glycans, including glycoconjugate (glycoproteins, glycolipids, proteoglycans, and microbial polysaccharides) and glycoside natural products. The way to 1,2-trans isomers is well sophisticated by using the effect of neighboring group participation from the most effective and kinetically favored C-2 substituent such as an acyl group, although high stereoselective synthesis of 1,2-cis glycosides without formation of 1,2-trans isomers is far less straightforward. Although the key factors that control the stereoselectivity of glycosylation are largely understood since chemical glycosylation was considered to be one of the useful methods to obtain glycosidic linkages as the alternative way of isolation from natural sources, strictly controlled formation of these 1,2-cis glycosides is generally difficult. This minireview introduces some of the recent advances in the development of 1,2-cis selective glycosylations, including the quite recent developments in glycosyl donor modification, reaction conditions, and methods for activation of intermolecular glycosylation, including the bimodal glycosylation strategy for 1,2-cis and 1,2-trans glycosides, as well as intramolecular glycosylations, including recent applications of NAP-ether-mediated intramolecular aglycon delivery.
IL-8 and its role as a potential biomarker of resistance to anti-angiogenic agents and immune checkpoint inhibitors in metastatic renal cell carcinoma

The therapeutic armamentarium of metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma (mRCC) has consistently expanded in recent years, with the introduction of VEGF/VEGFR (Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor/Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor) inhibitors, mTOR (mammalian Target Of Rapamycin) inhibitors and Immune Checkpoint (IC) inhibitors. Currently, for the first-tline treatment of mRCC it is possible to choose between a VEGFR-TKI (VEGFR-Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor) monotherapy, an ICI-ICI (Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor) combination and an ICI-VEGFRTKI combination. However, a consistent part of patients does not derive benefit from first-line therapy with ICIs; moreover, the use of combination regimens exposes patients to significant toxicities. Therefore, there is a critical need to develop prognostic and predictive biomarkers of response to VEGFR-TKIs and ICIs, and measurement of serum IL-8 is emerging as a potential candidate in this field. Recent retrospective analyses of large phase II and phase III trials found that elevated baseline serum IL-8 correlated with higher levels of tumor and circulating immunosuppressive myeloid cells, decreased T cell activation and poor response to treatment. These findings must be confirmed in prospective clinical trials; however, they provide evidence for a potential use of serum IL-8 as biomarker of resistance to VEGFR-TKIs and ICIs. Considering the amount of new agents and treatment regimens which are transforming the management of metastatic renal cell carcinoma, serum IL-8 could become a precious resource in tailoring the best therapy for each individual patient with the disease.
Surgical techniques and indications for treatment of adult moyamoya disease

Moyamoya disease (MMD) is a chronic, progressive cerebrovascular disease involving the occlusion or stenosis of the terminal portion of the internal carotid artery (ICA) and the proximal anterior and middle cerebral arteries. Adults with MMD have been shown to progressively accumulate neurological and cognitive deficits without treatment, with a mortality rate double that of pediatric patients with MMD. Surgical intervention is the mainstay of treatment to prevent disease progression and improve clinical outcomes. Several different types of bypasses can be utilized for revascularization in MMD, including indirect, direct, and combined forms of extracranial-to-intracranial (EC-IC) bypass. Overall, the choice of appropriate technique requires consideration of the age of the patient, preoperative hemodynamics, neurologic status, and territories most at risk and in need of revascularization. Here, we will review the indications and surgical techniques for the treatment of adult MMD. Step-by-step instructions for performing several bypass variants with technical pearls are discussed.
Genome-Wide Analysis and Evolutionary Perspective of the Cytokinin Dehydrogenase Gene Family in Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Cytokinin dehydrogenase (CKX; EC.1.5.99.12) regulates the level of cytokinin (CK) in plants and is involved in CK regulatory activities. In different plants, a small gene family encodes CKX proteins with varied numbers of members. These genes are expanded in the genome mainly due to segmental duplication events. Despite their biological importance, CKX genes in Triticum aestivum have yet to be studied in depth. A total of 11 CKX subfamilies were identified with similar gene structures, motifs, domains, cis-acting elements, and an average signal peptide of 25 amino acid length was found. Introns, ranging from one to four, were present in the coding regions at a similar interval in major CKX genes. Putative cis-elements such as abscisic acid, auxin, salicylic acid, and low-temperature-, drought-, and light-responsive cis-regulatory elements were found in the promoter region of majority CKX genes. Variation in the expression pattern of CKX genes were identified across different tissues in Triticum. Phylogenetic analysis shows that the same subfamily of CKX clustered into a similar clade that reflects their evolutionary relationship. We performed a genome-wide identification of CKX family members in the Triticum aestivum genome to get their chromosomal location, gene structure, cis-element, phylogeny, synteny, and tissue- and stage-specific expression along with gene ontology. This study has also elaborately described the tissue- and stage-specific expression and is the resource for further analysis of CKX in the regulation of biotic and abiotic stress resistance, growth, and development in Triticum and other cereals to endeavor for higher production and proper management.
Centaur antibodies: Engineered chimeric equine-human recombinant antibodies

Hyper-immune antisera from large mammals, in particular horses, are routinely used for life-saving anti-intoxication intervention. While highly efficient, the use of these immunotherapeutics is complicated by possible recipient reactogenicity and limited availability. Accordingly, there is an urgent need for alternative improved next-generation immunotherapies to respond to this issue of high public health priority. Here, we document the development of previously unavailable tools for equine antibody engineering. A novel primer set, EquPD v2020, based on equine V-gene data, was designed for efficient and accurate amplification of rearranged horse antibody V-segments. The primer set served for generation of immune phage display libraries, representing highly diverse V-gene repertoires of horses immunized against botulinum A or B neurotoxins. Highly specific scFv clones were selected and expressed as full-length antibodies, carrying equine V-genes and human Gamma1/Lambda constant genes, to be referred as “Centaur antibodies”. Preliminary assessment in a murine model of botulism established their therapeutic potential. The experimental approach detailed in the current report, represents a valuable tool for isolation and engineering of therapeutic equine antibodies.
Effects of footwear with different longitudinal bending stiffness on biomechanical characteristics and muscular mechanics of lower limbs in adolescent runners

Background: Running shoes with carbon plates have been identified to have positive effects on improving running performance from a biomechanical perspective. However, the specific difference between the effects of carbon plates with different longitudinal bending stiffness (LBS)on biomechanical characteristics and muscular mechanics of lower limbs in adolescent runners remains unclear. This study aimed to identify the difference in biomechanical characteristics and muscular mechanics in lower limbs during running stance phases between wearing shoes with low longitudinal bending stiffness (Llbs) and high longitudinal bending stiffness (Hlbs) carbon plates in adolescent runners. Methods: 10 male adolescent runners with a habit of daily running exercise (age: 13.5 ± 0.6 years; height: 166.3 ± 1.9 cm; bodyweight: 50.8 ± 3.1 kg; foot length: 25.4 ± 0.2 cm) were recruited and asked to conduct two times of tests by wearing shoes with Llbs and Hlbs carbon plates in a randomized order. Paired t-test and statistical parametric mapping (SPM) analysis were used to identify the difference in biomechanical characteristics and muscular mechanics in lower limbs during running stance phases. Result: Under the condition of wearing shoes with Hlbs, the time of foot contact significantly increased, whereas the range of motion (ROM) of hip and metatarsophalangeal (MTP) in the sagittal plane significantly reduced as well as the peak moment of ankle joint in the sagittal plane. The activations of vastus medialis, vastus lateralis, flexor digitorum brevis (flex dig brevis), and flexor hallucis longus (flex hall long) significantly increased under the condition of wearing shoes with Hlbs. According to the results of the SPM analysis, the joint angles (hip, ankle, and MTP), the net joint moments (knee, ankle, and MTP), and the muscle forces (gluteus maximus and tibialis anterior) were significant difference during the running stance phase between conditions of wearing shoes with Hlbs and Llbs. Conclusion: Running shoes with Llb carbon plates are appropriate for adolescent runners due to the advantages of biomechanical characteristics and muscular mechanics.
Can science fiction engagement predict identification with all humanity? Testing a moderated mediation model

Identification with all humanity (IWAH) is viewed as a critical construct that facilitates global solidarity. However, its origins have rarely been explored in previous literature, and no study has yet investigated the role of pop-culture in cultivating IWAH. To address this gap, this study initially focuses on science fiction (sci-fi), a specific pop-culture genre with worldwide audiences, and examines its effect on IWAH. It hypothesized a direct association between sci-fi engagement and IWAH from the narrative persuasion approach, and an indirect association via abstract construal based on the cognitive-literary approach. Moreover, the moderating role of actively open-minded thinking (AOT) in the direct and indirect association was also assessed. Results were obtained through a cross-sectional survey conducted in China (n = 570) and showed that sci-fi engagement was positively associated with IWAH; this association was also partially mediated by abstract construal. Interestingly, and inconsistent with our hypotheses, AOT positively moderated the indirect effect but negatively moderated the direct effect. Theoretical and practical implications for cultivating IWAH from the media and pop-cultural perspective were discussed.
Phosphatidylinositol glycan anchor biosynthesis, class C is a prognostic biomarker and correlates with immune infiltrates in hepatocellular carcinoma

Background and aims: The exact function of Phosphatidylinositol Glycan Anchor Biosynthesis, Class C (PIGC) gene has yet to be elucidated. In the study, we attempted to clarify the correlations of PIGC to prognosis and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods: PIGC expression was analyzed via the Oncomine database, Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis, Hepatocellular carcinoma data base, Human Protein Atlas database and Tumor Immune Estimation Resource (TIMER). We showed the correlation of PIGC with the clinical characteristics using UALCAN. We evaluated the influence of PIGC on clinical prognosis using Kaplan-Meier plotter databases. And co-expressed genes with PIGC and its regulators were identified using LinkedOmics. The correlations between PIGC and cancer immune infiltrates were investigated via TIMER. We analyzed the drug sensitivity and immunotherapy response via R package. Results: PIGC was found up-regulated in tumor tissues in multiple HCC cohorts, also increased in HCC patient with different clinical characteristics. High PIGC expression was associated with poorer overall survival. PIGC expression showed a strong positive association with the expression of ACBD6, a strong negative association with AGXT212. The cell components and distribution in treatment and non-treatment of HCC patients were quite distinct, which may reveal the relationship between the immunotherapy with tumor microenvironment. Notably, PIGC expression was positively correlated with infiltrating levels of immune cells. Conclusion: These findings suggest that PIGC is correlated with prognosis and immune infiltrating in HCC, which can be used as a prognostic biomarker for determining prognosis, laying a foundation for further study of the immune regulatory role of PIGC in HCC.
A comparative analysis of RNA isolation methods optimized for high-throughput detection of viral pathogens in California’s regulatory and disease management program for citrus propagative materials

Citrus germplasm programs can benefit from high-throughput polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based methods for the detection of graft-transmissible pathogens in propagative materials. These methods increase diagnostic capacity, and thus contribute to the prevention of disease spread from nurseries to citrus orchards. High quality nucleic acids, as determined by purity, concentration, and integrity, are a prerequisite for reliable PCR detection of citrus pathogens. Citrus tissues contain high levels of polyphenols and polysaccharides, which can affect nucleic acid quality and inhibit PCR reactions. Various commercially available RNA isolation methods are used for citrus and include: phenol-chloroform (TRIzol®, Thermo Fisher Scientific); silica columns (RNeasy® Plant Mini Kit, Qiagen); and magnetic beads-based methods (MagMAX™-96 Viral RNA Isolation Kit, Thermo Fisher Scientific). To determine the quality of RNA and its impact on the detection of graft-transmissible citrus pathogens in reverse transcription (RT) PCR-based assays, we compared these three RNA isolation methods. We assessed RNA purity, concentration, and integrity from citrus inoculated with different viruses and viroids. All three RNA isolation methods produced high quality RNA, and its use in different RT-PCR assays resulted in the detection of all targeted citrus viruses and viroids with no false positive or negative results. TRIzol® yielded RNA with the highest concentration and integrity values but some samples required serial dilutions to remove PCR inhibitors and detect the targeted pathogens. The RNeasy® kit produced the second highest concentration and purity of RNA, and similar integrity to TRIzol®. MagMAX™ isolation also provided high quality RNA but most importantly produced RNA with consistent results clustered around a median value for concentration, purity, and integrity. Subsequently, MagMAX™-96 was combined with the semi-automated MagMAX™ Express-96 Deep Well Magnetic Particle Processor, for high-throughput sample processing. MagMAX™-96 enabled the diagnostic laboratory of the Citrus Clonal Protection Program-National Clean Plant Network at the University of California, Riverside to process over 16,500 samples from citrus budwood source trees between 2010 and 2019. This high-throughput approach dramatically reduced the incidence of viroids in citrus nurseries and was key to the successful implementation of the mandatory Citrus Nursery Stock Pest Cleanliness Program in California.
Parallel import mechanisms ensure the robust nuclear localization of actin in Drosophila

Actin, as an ancient and fundamental protein, participates in various cytoplasmic as well as nuclear functions in eukaryotic cells. Based on its manifold tasks in the nucleus, it is a reasonable assumption that the nuclear presence of actin is essential for the cell, and consequently, its nuclear localization is ensured by a robust system. However, today only a single nuclear import and a single nuclear export pathway is known which maintain the dynamic balance between cytoplasmic and nuclear actin pools. In our work, we tested the robustness of the nuclear import of actin, and investigated whether the perturbations of nuclear localization affect the viability of the whole organism. For this aim, we generated a genetic system in Drosophila, in which we rescued the lethal phenotype of the null mutation of the Actin5C gene with transgenes that express different derivatives of actin, including a Nuclear Export Signal (NES)-tagged isoform which ensures forced nuclear export of the protein. We also disrupted the SUMOylation site of actin, suggested earlier to be responsible for nuclear retention, and eliminated the activity of the single nuclear import factor dedicated to actin. We found that, individually, none of the above mentioned manipulations led to a notable reduction in nuclear actin levels and thus, fully rescued lethality. However, the NES tagging of actin, together with the knock out of its importin, significantly reduced the amount of nuclear actin and induced lethality, confirming that the presence of actin in the nucleus is essential, and thereby, over-secured. Supporting this, we identified novel nuclear importins specific to actin, which sheds light on the mechanism behind the robustness of nuclear localization of actin, and supports the idea of essentiality of its nuclear functions.
Genetic mapping of QTLs for drought tolerance in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.)

Chickpea yield is severely affected by drought stress, which is a complex quantitative trait regulated by multiple small-effect genes. Identifying genomic regions associated with drought tolerance component traits may increase our understanding of drought tolerance mechanisms and assist in the development of drought-tolerant varieties. Here, a total of 187 F8 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) developed from an interspecific cross between drought-tolerant genotype GPF 2 (Cicer arietinum) and drought-sensitive accession ILWC 292 (C. reticulatum) were evaluated to identify quantitative trait loci (QTLs) associated with drought tolerance component traits. A total of 21 traits, including 12 morpho-physiological traits and nine root-related traits, were studied under rainfed and irrigated conditions. Composite interval mapping identified 31 QTLs at Ludhiana and 23 QTLs at Faridkot locations for morphological and physiological traits, and seven QTLs were identified for root-related traits. QTL analysis identified eight consensus QTLs for six traits and five QTL clusters containing QTLs for multiple traits on linkage groups CaLG04 and CaLG06. The identified major QTLs and genomic regions associated with drought tolerance component traits can be introgressed into elite cultivars using genomics-assisted breeding to enhance drought tolerance in chickpea.