Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of a Novel Liquid Fiducial Marker, BioXmark®, for Small Animal Image-Guided Radiotherapy Applications

BioXmark® (Nanovi A/S, Denmark) is a novel fiducial marker based on a liquid, iodine-based and non-metallic formulation. BioXmark® has been clinically validated and reverse translated to preclinical models to improve cone-beam CT (CBCT) target delineation in small animal image-guided radiotherapy (SAIGRT). However, in phantom image analysis and in vivo evaluation of radiobiological response after the injection of BioXmark® are yet to be reported. In phantom measurements were performed to compare CBCT imaging artefacts with solid fiducials and determine optimum imaging parameters for BioXmark®. In vivo stability of BioXmark® was assessed over a 5-month period, and the impact of BioXmark® on in vivo tumour response from single-fraction and fractionated X-ray exposures was investigated in a subcutaneous syngeneic tumour model. BioXmark® was stable, well tolerated and detectable on CBCT at volumes ≤10 µL. Our data showed imaging artefacts reduced by up to 84% and 89% compared to polymer and gold fiducial markers, respectively. BioXmark® was shown to have no significant impact on tumour growth in control animals, but changes were observed in irradiated animals injected with BioXmark® due to alterations in dose calculations induced by the sharp contrast enhancement. BioXmark® is superior to solid fiducials with reduced imaging artefacts on CBCT. With minimal impact on the tumour growth delay, BioXmark® can be implemented in SAIGRT to improve target delineation and reduce set-up errors.
A new species of stream frog, genus Strongylopus (Anura: Ranidae) from Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania, with comments on a ‘northern volcanic mountains group’ within the genus

Abstract A new species of Stream frog, genus Strongylopus, is described. The new species is similar to its northern Tanzanian congener S. kitumbeine, but may be distinguished from that species by its facial markings, smaller tympanum, minor differences in head and snout shape, nostril closer to tip of the snout than to the eye, dorsal colour pattern, longitudinal skin folds, immaculate abdomen and slightly reduced webbing on the foot. It is suggested that there is a ‘northern volcanic’ group of species within Strongylopus. The phylogenetic grade of the ‘volcanic’ Strongylopus species is uncertain. If they are relatively plesiomorphic then the phylogeography of the genus is more complex than has hitherto been assumed. Should there turn out to be two widely separated plesiomorphic groups within the genus, then its evolutionary‐biogeographical relationships would be of considerable interest and merit further investigation. The conservation status of the new species is uncertain but it might be threatened by the effects of ongoing climate change on Mt Kilimanjaro.
An HS-GC-IMS Method for the Quality Classification of Virgin Olive Oils as Screening Support for the Panel Test

Sensory evaluation, carried out by panel tests, is essential for quality classification of virgin olive oils (VOOs), but is time consuming and costly when many samples need to be assessed; sensory evaluation could be assisted by the application of screening methods. Rapid instrumental methods based on the analysis of volatile molecules might be considered interesting to assist the panel test through fast pre-classification of samples with a known level of probability, thus increasing the efficiency of quality control. With this objective, a headspace gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometer (HS-GC-IMS) was used to analyze 198 commercial VOOs (extra virgin, virgin and lampante) by a semi-targeted approach. Different partial least squares-discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) chemometric models were then built by data matrices composed of 15 volatile compounds, which were previously selected as markers: a first approach was proposed to classify samples according to their quality grade and a second based on the presence of sensory defects. The performance (intra-day and inter-day repeatability, linearity) of the method was evaluated. The average percentages of correctly classified samples obtained from the two models were satisfactory, namely 77% (prediction of the quality grades) and 64% (prediction of the presence of three defects) in external validation, thus demonstrating that this easy-to-use screening instrumental approach is promising to support the work carried out by panel tests.
An examination of index‐calibration experiments: counting tigers at macroecological scales

An index‐calibration experiment involves rigorous estimation of animal abundance at a small scale to calibrate a less rigorously derived index of abundance. The efficacy of such index‐calibration experiments has been a matter of much controversy. In this study, we develop theoretical models and test them with empirical data on large‐scale index‐calibration experiments on tigers Panthera tigris to advance our understanding of this controversy. We propose two models that describe the sampling processes involved in typical index‐calibration experiments. Using analytical derivations and some simulations, we evaluate the relative roles of these sampling parameters on the R2 (coefficient of determination) statistic – a common inferential tool used in such calibration experiments. We make predictions about the R2 statistic using our theoretical derivations and estimates from large‐scale occupancy surveys of tigers in India. We then compare our predictions with empirical estimates of two tiger sign index‐calibration experiments (IC‐Karanth and IC‐Jhala). Our theoretical models show that the R2 statistic increases when individual‐specific detection probability is high and is constant, increases when the variance‐to‐mean ratio of abundance increases, increases when precision of abundance estimates improves and declines when mean abundance increases. All predictions about the two index‐calibration experiments showed a poor performance of the R2 statistic ( R2 < 0·40). Inference from IC‐Karanth was extremely poor ( R2=0·0004 ) and comparable to model predictions (P value = 0·0754). Anomalously (P value < 0·0001), inference from IC‐Jhala was exceedingly high ( R2=0·95 ). Our study shows that such direct index‐calibration experiments using the R2 statistic yield poor inferences unless all the sampling process parameters lie within a limited range. Ignoring the consequence of the effect of these parameters during survey design could result in expenditure of huge resources with little gain in ecological inference. Analysis using joint likelihood models, with appropriate survey designs, may be more fruitful than clinging on to such composite, direct R2 ‐based models.
Inhibitory Effects of Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor γ on Thyroid Carcinoma Cell Growth

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) is a nuclear receptor involved in such cellular processes as adipogenesis, inflammation, atherosclerosis, cell cycle control, apoptosis, and carcinogenesis. PPARγ gene mutations have been found in 4 of 55 sporadic colon cancers, and a chimeric PAX8-PPARγ1 gene frequently generates a chromosomal translocation in thyroid follicular carcinomas, implicating PPARγ in tumor suppression. We investigated whether PPARγ is involved in the growth regulation of normal and tumor thyroid cells. We found no mutations in PPARγ exons 3 and 5 in human thyroid carcinoma cell lines and tissues. Moreover, 1 cell line (NPA) of 6 analyzed did not express PPARγ. Treatment of NPA with PPARγ agonists did not induce any inhibitory effect. Conversely, PPARγ agonists and PPARγ overexpression led to a drastic reduction of the cell growth rate in PPARγ-expressing thyroid carcinoma cells. Restoration of PPARγ expression in NPA cells induced cell growth inhibition; PPARγ agonists induc.
Effectiveness and safety of the use of antifibrinolytic agents in total-knee arthroplasty

Abstract Background: Antifibrinolytic agents have been successfully used to reduce blood transfusion demand in patients undergoing elective knee arthroplasty. The purpose of this study was to investigate different antifibrinolytic agents for patients undergoing total-knee arthroplasty (TKA). Methods: We searched the randomized controlled trials assessing the effect of antifibrinolytic agents on TKA in MEDLINE, PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library. Participants are divided into antifibrinolytic agent group and control group under TKA. Double extraction technology is used and the quality of its methodology is evaluated before analysis. Outcomes analyzed included blood loss, number of blood transfusions, rates of blood transfusion, and deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Results: A total of 28 randomized controlled trials involving 1899 patients were included in this study. Compared with the control group, the antifibrinolytic agents group exhibited significantly reduced the amounts of total blood loss (weighted mean difference [WMD] with 95% confidence interval [CI]: −272.19, −338.25 to −206.4), postoperative blood loss (WMD with 95% CI: −102.83, −157.64 to −46.02), average units of blood transfusion (risk ratio with 95% CI: 0.7, 0.12 to 0.24), and average blood transfusion volumes (WMD with 95% CI: −1.34, −1.47 to −1,21). Antifibrinolytic agents significantly reduced the rate of blood transfusions and did not increase the occurrence risk of intraoperative blood loss and DVT. Several limitations should also be acknowledged such as the heterogeneity among the studies. Conclusion: The application of antifibrinolytic agents can significantly reduce blood loss and blood transfusion requirements. Additionally, these agents did not increase the risk of DVT in patients undergoing TKAs.
Selection for Sex Ratio

Fisher (1930) postulated that the primary sex ratio (that at fertilization) is determined by selection operating to balance the total energy expenditures on the two sexes. Kolman (1960) presented a model in support of Fisher's hypothesis and further postulated that if a population were divided in such a way that half produced only males and the other half only females, but the total mean expenditure per sex were equal, the population would be as stable as one in which each individual devoted half its energy to each sex. From this Kolman (1960) concluded that, 'since the selection is only for the total expenditure, only the mean sex ratio is fixed and there is no effect on the variance, that is, a population can have any degree of heterogeneity so long as the totals expended on the production of each of the sexes are equal. " In order that there be no effect on the variance, there must be no further variation among individuals or their offspring once a balance in the population's expenditures on the sexes is achieved, or all variations must be simultaneously compensated by variations in other individuals. Both of these requirements are statistical improbabilities. It can be shown that, *with variations, selection will tend to reduce the variance at a rate inversely proportional to the size of the population and directly proportional to the magnitude of the variation from a 50:50 energy expenditure on the sexes (see Bodmer and Edwards, 1960). Imagine a population consisting of five pairs: A, B, C, D, and E. Let a = the relative expenditure of Pair A on the production of males, b = that of Pair B, etc.; therefore 1 a = the expenditure of Pair A on females, 1 b = that of Pair B, etc. In sexually reproducing populations, each sex contributes half to the genetic composition of future generations; therefore the contribution of Pair A (CA) to future generations can be expressed:
PIGMENT AND PHOTOSYNTHETIC RESPONSES OF OSCILLATORIA AGARDHII (CYANOPHYTA) TO PHOTON FLUX DENSITY AND SPECTRAL QUALITY 1

The effects of photon flux density (PFD) and spectral quality on biomass, pigment content and composition, and the photosynthetic activity of Oscillatoria agardhii Gomont were investigated in steady‐state populations. For alterations of PFD, chemostat populations were exposed to 50, 130 and 230 μmol photons·m−2·s−1 of photosynthetic active radiation (PAR). Decreases in biomass, chlorophyll a (Chl a) and c‐phycocyanin (CPC) contents, and CPC: Chl a and CPC: carotenoid content was not altered. Increases in the relative abundances of myxoxanthophyll and zeaxanthin and deceases in the relative abundances of echinenone and β‐carotene within the carotenoid pigments coincided with increasing PFD. Increases in Chl a‐specific photosynthetic rates and maxima and decreases in biomass‐specific photosynthetic rates and maxima with increasing PFD were attributed to increased light harvesting by carotenoids per unit Chl a and reduction in total pigment content, respectively.
SARS-CoV-2 infection in ambulatory and hospitalised Spanish children

Limited paediatric data on COVID-19 suggest that it is less frequent and severe in children than in adults.1 2 Spain is currently one of the most affected countries. Our aim was to describe the patients under the age of 18 years diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2 infection at Hospital La Paz (Madrid) in the first month of the outbreak (11 March to 9 April 2020). Inclusion criteria were all children who underwent PCR for SARS-CoV-2 in nasopharyngeal smears. Out of 349 children, 58 (16.6%) had a positive PCR for SARS-CoV-2 (table 1). All had compatible symptoms, except two cases in which the PCR was indicated prior to intensive care unit (ICU) admission or surgery. Twenty-five (43%) children were followed up as outpatients. Nine …
Combined Anti-Cancer Strategies Based on Anti-Checkpoint Inhibitor Antibodies

Therapeutic monoclonal antibodies for the treatment of cancer came of age in 1997, with the approval of anti-CD20 Rituximab. Since then, a wide variety of antibodies have been developed with many different formats and mechanisms of action. Among these, antibodies blocking immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) have revolutionized the field, based on the novelty of their concept and their demonstrated efficacy in several types of cancer otherwise lacking effective immunotherapy approaches. ICI are expressed by tumor, stromal or immune cells infiltrating the tumor microenvironment, and negatively regulate anti-tumor immunity. Antibodies against the first discovered ICI, CTLA-4, PD-1 and PD-L1, have shown significant activity in phase III studies against melanoma and other solid cancers, alone or in combination with chemotherapy or radiotherapy. However, not all cancers and not all patients respond to these drugs. Therefore, novel antibodies targeting additional ICI are currently being developed. In addition, CTLA-4, PD-1 and PD-L1 blocking antibodies are being combined with each other or with other antibodies targeting novel ICI, immunostimulatory molecules, tumor antigens, angiogenic factors, complement receptors, or with T cell engaging bispecific antibodies (BsAb), with the aim of obtaining synergistic effects with minimal toxicity. In this review, we summarize the biological aspects behind such combinations and review some of the most important clinical data on ICI-specific antibodies.
Gut-Muscle Axis Exists and May Affect Skeletal Muscle Adaptation to Training

Excessive training may limit physiological muscle adaptation through chronic oxidative stress and inflammation. Improper diet and overtraining may also disrupt intestinal homeostasis and in consequence enhance inflammation. Altogether, these factors may lead to an imbalance in the gut ecosystem, causing dysregulation of the immune system. Therefore, it seems to be important to optimize the intestinal microbiota composition, which is able to modulate the immune system and reduce oxidative stress. Moreover, the optimal intestinal microbiota composition may have an impact on muscle protein synthesis and mitochondrial biogenesis and function, as well as muscle glycogen storage. Aproperly balanced microbiome may also reduce inflammatory markers and reactive oxygen species production, which may further attenuate macromolecules damage. Consequently, supplementation with probiotics may have some beneficial effect on aerobic and anaerobic performance. The phenomenon of gut-muscle axis should be continuously explored to function maintenance, not only in athletes.
Micronutrient and Inflammation Status Following One Year of Complementary Food Supplementation in 18-Month-Old Rural Bangladeshi Children: A Randomized Controlled Trial †

Background: Four fortified complementary food supplements (CFSs) in a randomized controlled trial (RCT) were found to improve childhood linear growth in rural Bangladesh. We hypothesized children receiving these supplements would have improved micronutrient status. Methods: In the RCT, we assessed hemoglobin and serum ferritin, retinol, zinc, C-reactive protein (CRP), and α-1-acid glycoprotein (AGP) at endline (18 mo) in a subsample of children (n = 752). The impact of supplementation on mean concentrations and the prevalence of nutrient deficiency and inflammation were evaluated using adjusted generalized estimating equation (GEE) linear and log-binomial regression models. Results: In the control arm at age 18 months, 13% of children were anemic (hemoglobin < 110 g/L), and 6% were iron (inflammation-adjusted ferritin < 12 μg/L), 8% vitamin A (inflammation-adjusted retinol < 0.70 μmol/L), and 5% zinc (zinc < 9.9 μmol/L) deficient. The prevalence of inflammation by CRP (>5 mg/L) and AGP (>1 g/L) was 23% and 66%, respectively, in the control group. AGP trended lower in CFS groups (p = 0.04), while CRP did not. Mean ferritin (p < 0.001) and retinol (p = 0.007) were higher in all supplemented groups relative to control, whereas hemoglobin improved with two of the four CFSs (p = 0.001), and zinc was equal or lower in supplemented groups relative to control (p = 0.017). Conclusions: CFSs improved iron status and vitamin A concentrations and lowered inflammation in a context of low underlying nutrient deficiency but high inflammation.
Commercially Available Fluoride-Releasing Restorative Materials: A Review and a Proposal for Classification

Resin composite and glass ionomer cement (GIC) are the most commonly used dental materials to perform direct restorations. Both have specific characteristics that explain their popularity and their limits. More than 20 years ago, the first attempt (followed by others) to combine the advantages of these two families was performed with compomers, but it was not very successful. Recently, new formulations (also called ‘smart materials’) with claimed ion release properties have been proposed under different family names, but there are few studies on them and explanations of their chemistries. This comprehensive review aims to gather the compositions; the setting reactions; the mechanical, self-adhesive, and potential bulk-fill properties; and the ion release abilities of the large existing families of fluoride-releasing restorative materials and the new restorative materials to precisely describe their characteristics, their eventual bioactivities, and classify them for an improved understanding of these materials. Based on this work, the whole GIC family, including resin-modified and highly viscous formulations, was found to be bioactive. Cention N (Ivoclar Vivadent, AG, Schaan, Lietschentein) is the first commercially available bioactive resin composite.
Assessment of oxidative stress in dry and lactating cows

The increasing production level requested of livestock, with particular relevance to milk producers, requires scientific studies in order to address management towards breeding that supports, in a qualitative-quantitative manner, production performance and animal welfare. Modern breeding is a rationalized management essentially based on genetic selection, type of breeding, feeding and health of the animals. The high productivity of lactating cows and the physiological phenomenon that characterizes the lactation phase determine endocrine and metabolic modifications, with enhancement of anabolic and catabolic processes. Oxidation leads to an increase of electron flow in the respiratory chain that involves the formation of ‘refuse products’ defined as free radicals. A free radical is defined as any species capable of independent existence that contains one or more unpaired electrons (Auroma, 1994). It should be noted that the terms reactive oxygen species (ROS) and free radicals are often used interchangeably in the literature. ROS are capable of attacking all of the major classes of biomolecules, although lipids are particularly susceptible (McBride & Kraemer, 1999). Oxidative stress, a particular kind of chemical stress, is caused by an imbalance between the production of free radicals and the capability of an organism to absorb their excess. Oxidative stress is extremely dangerous because it does not exhibit any symptoms and is recognizable with great difficulty by means of common methods of analysis. Physiologically, free radicals supply the immune system in defence against bacteria; in case of excess in production that cannot be counteracted by cytoprotective mechanisms, there is an ‘oxidative stress’ that promotes the insurgence of serious pathologies as a result of the degenerative damage of cellular structures (Freidovich, 1999; Matsuo & Kaneko, 2000; McCord, 2000). It seems obvious that free radicals constitute an important factor of risk for health and it is therefore imperative to maintain their levels at basal values. Measure of oxidative stress allows estimation of the real ‘status’ of physiological defence and prevention of the appearance of correlated pathologies. Recently, some preliminary investigations have addressed oxidative status in dairy cows during the ovarian cycle (Trout et al., 1998) and in the periparturition period (Kimura et al., 1999; Stefanon et al., 2005). Given the remarkable zooeconomic impact of metabolic stress, it is interesting to establish in an objective manner the effects of the different lactating phases on the efficiency of the antioxidant mechanisms. The aim of our study was to bring new knowledge to the physiology of lactation, in order to optimize productive performance with respect to animal welfare; it is thus important to consider oxidative stress as a potential index of animal welfare to be able to detect, preventively, excessive animal exploitation, thus protecting health status.
Prevalence of postmastectomy pain syndrome and associated risk factors

Abstract Postmastectomy pain syndrome (PMPS) is a frequent complication of breast surgery, and is considered a chronic neuropathic pain in the side of surgery which persists more than 3 months. We conducted a retrospective analysis of the largest reported cohort to investigate the prevalence of PMPS and to analyze its associated risk factors as well as the influence on quality of life (QoL). Two thousand thirty-three surgically-treated female patients diagnosed between 2012 and 2017 with early-stage breast cancer were asked to complete a questionnaire survey about their current chronic neuropathic pain problems and quality of life. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were applied to determine the associated risk factors of PMPS. Results have shown that 1983 (97.5%) patients responded and completed a questionnaire survey. Among them, PMPS was found in 28.2% of patients. In univariate analysis, age≤35 years, tumor staging, history of chronic pain, total mastectomy, and axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) were significantly correlated with PMPS (P < .05). Multivariate analysis showed that age≤35 years, history of chronic pain, total mastectomy, and ALND were the independent risk factors of PMPS. QoL outcomes have shown that the global QoL score, physical function score, role function score, and social function score in the PMPS group were reduced in the PMPS group (P < .05), while the difference in emotional function score and cognitive function score showed no statistical significance (P > .05). Besides, patients with PMPS have worse body image, sexual enjoyment, and more breast symptoms. In conclusion, PMPS is linked with a high incidence among breast cancer patients, and has a considerable negative influence on the quality of life. In addition, age, total mastectomy, ALND, and history of chronic pain are the independent risk factors of PMPS.