Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Modification of the response of photosynthetic productivity to rising temperature by atmospheric CO2 concentrations: Has its importance been underestimated?

Abstract. Climate change will include correlated increases in temperature and atmospheric CO2 concentration (Ca). Rising temperatures will increase the ratio of photorespiratory loss of carbon to photosynthetic gain, whilst rising Ca will have an opposing effect. The mechanism of these effects at the level of carboxylation in C3 photosynthesis are quantitatively well understood and provide a basis for models of the response of leaf and canopy carbon exchange to climate change. The principles of such a model are referred to here and used to quantitatively examine the implications of concurrent increase in temperature and Ca. Simulations of leaf photosynthesis show the increase, with elevation of Ca from 350 to 650 μmol mol-1, in light saturated rates of CO2 uptake (Asat) and maximum quantum yields (φ) to rise with temperature. An increase in Ca from 350 to 650 μmol mol-1 can increase Asat by 20% at 10°C and by 105% at 35°C, and can raise the temperature optimum of Asat by 5°C. This pattern of change agrees closely with experimental data. At the canopy level, simulations also suggest a strong interaction of increased temperature and CO2 concentration. Predictions are compared with the findings of long-term field studies. The principles used here suggest that elevated Ca will alter both the magnitude of the response of leaf and canopy carbon gain to rising temperature, and sometimes, the direction of response. Findings question the value of models for predicting plant production in response to climate change which ignore the direct effects of rising Ca and the modifications that rising Ca imposes on the temperature response of net CO2 exchange.
Transformation and tolerance of tellurite by filamentous fungi: accumulation, reduction, and volatilization

Accumulation and transformation of tellurite (TeO 3 2- ) by a species of Fusarium and Penicillium citrinum was examined using both solid and liquid Czapek Dox medium. In liquid medium, tellurite partitioned into soluble and insoluble species, and in tellurite-containing (1 mM) liquid medium at pH 6, approx. 60% of added tellurite precipitated after 48 h. Experiments showed that in liquid medium containing 1 mM sodium tellurite, the Fusarium sp. accumulated a maximum of ∼ 0.6 μmol Te (mg D.w.) -1 after 48 h. P. citrinum accumulated a much lower amount of tellurium, ∼ 0.07 μmol (mg D.W.) -1 falling to -1 after 48 h. Both organisms showed marked differences in the pattern of pH change of the medium, with the pH increasing during growth of the Fusarium sp. in 1 mM tellurite to ∼ pH 6.7 after 2 wk. In contrast, the pH decreased during growth of P. citrinum in 1 mM tellurite, to a level of ∼ pH 2.7 after 2 wk. On agar medium, test fungi exhibited tolerance to high levels of tellurite (up to 100 mM Na 2 TeO 3 ) and this was associated with blackening of the growing colonies as well as the surrounding agar. TEM revealed the deposition of large black granules, apparently in vacuoles, which corresponded with the reduction of tellurite to amorphous elemental tellurium. Precipitation of amorphous tellurium on and around the biomass was also observed and confirmed by energy-dispersive X-ray microprobe analysis. In addition to the reductive transformation of tellurite, Fusarium sp. also displayed transformation of tellurite into a volatile form. The production of volatile tellurium by Fusarium sp. occurred over the whole growth period and amounted to an average value of 7.8 μmol Te (∼ 0.16%) from 51 growth medium with an initial concentration of 1 mM Na 2 TeO 3 . Although P. citrinum also transformed tellurite to elemental tellurium, volatilization of tellurium was not detected. It is concluded that different mechanisms of tellurium transformation are species-dependent and can be influenced by physico-chemical changes in the medium, e.g. pH, which can affect tellurium speciation into soluble and insoluble forms and bioaccumulation. In view of the extremely small amounts of Te volatilized by the Fusarium sp. , this process cannot be considered to be an important detoxification mechanism.
Human Adipose Derived Cells in Two- and Three-Dimensional Cultures: Functional Validation of an In Vitro Fat Construct

Obesity, defined as a body mass index of 30 kg/m2 or above, has increased considerably in incidence and frequency within the United States and globally. Associated comorbidities including cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes mellitus, metabolic syndrome, and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease have led to a focus on the mechanisms promoting the prevention and treatment of obesity. Commonly utilized in vitro models employ human or mouse preadipocyte cell lines in a 2-dimensional (2D) format. Due to the structural, biochemical, and biological limitations of these models, increased attention has been placed on “organ on a chip” technologies for a 3-dimensional (3D) culture. Herein, we describe a method employing cryopreserved primary human stromal vascular fraction (SVF) cells and a human blood product-derived biological scaffold to create a 3D adipose depot in vitro. The “fat-on-chip” 3D cultures have been validated relative to 2D cultures based on proliferation, flow cytometry, adipogenic differentiation, confocal microscopy/immunofluorescence, and functional assays (adipokine secretion, glucose uptake, and lipolysis). Thus, the in vitro culture system demonstrates the critical characteristics required for a humanized 3D white adipose tissue (WAT) model.
Effect of mesenchymal stem cell-incorporated hydroxyapatite-collagen scaffold on tissue repair in acute spinal cord injury, and the mechanism involved

Purpose: To study the effect of hydroxyapatite-collagen (HC) scaffold with mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) on tissue repair in acute spinal cord injury (SCI). Method: Adult female Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 200 - 230 g were randomly divided into two groups implanted either with bone marrow-MSCs (experimental group) or HC scaffold alone (control group). Spinal cord injury was induced using laminectomy, resulting in a 2.0-mm gap at T10 of the spinal cord. The gap was filled in both groups with 2-mm HC scaffold at day 10 of culture. Cellular development, viability, and proliferation inside the scaffold were determined. Angiogenesis was determined by measuring fibronectin (FN) immunofluorescence, von Willebrand factor (vWF), hypoxiainducible factor 1-alpha (HIF-1α) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Results: HC scaffold strengthened MSCs. Bone marrow MSCs exhibited no statistically significant difference when compared with cells in culture at day 10 (47.03 ± 3.135 %, p > 0.05). Moreover, on days 5 and 10, FN deposition was higher in MSCs with scaffold than in scaffold-free MSCs. The expressions of FN, vWF, HIF-1α and VEGF were positively correlated, indicating that incorporation of HC scaffold into MSCs significantly improved tissue repair by improving angiogenesis via a differentiation process (p < 0.001). Conclusion: These findings suggest that HC scaffold with MSCs is a potential therapeutic procedure for spinal cord injury. Keywords: Mesenchymal stem cells, Hydroxyapatite-collagen, Spinal cord injury, HC scaffold
Outcome of Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty in Young Patients with Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma and Ocular Hypertension

Purpose To determine the effectiveness and safety of selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) in young patients with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) and ocular hypertension (OHT). Methods This was a retrospective clinical study. Fifty-six eyes from 56 young (age ≤ 40 y) patients with POAG or OHT treated with SLT were included. According to age, patients were divided into group 1 and group 2. Patients in group 1 were younger than 18 years old, and patients in group 2 were between 18 and 40 years old. Patients were evaluated before treatment and at 1 hour, 1 day, 1 week, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, and 1 year after treatment. We also collected older patients (age ≥ 60 y) who received SLT during the same period for comparison at 1-year follow-up. Possible factors affecting the success of SLT, including baseline IOP, age, sex, diagnosis (POAG or OHT), and whether or not use of antiglaucoma medication before treatment, were analyzed. Results SLT treatment produced significant reduction in IOP in the young patients with POAG or OHT during the 1-year follow-up period（P < 0.05）. Mean IOP at 1 hour after SLT was lower in group 1 than in group 2 (P < 0.01), but at other follow-up time points, IOP values were not different (P > 0.05). IOP reduction and success rate were not significantly different between young and old patients at 1 year after treatment. IOP measurements over a 24-hour period were recorded before and after the SLT in 20 young adult patients. IOP values were significantly lower in the treated patients at all time points than at pretreatment (P < 0.05), and 24-hour mean IOP, peak IOP, valley IOP, and fluctuation in IOP were also lower in SLT-treated patients (P < 0.05). Baseline IOP was found as a predictor of SLT success in young patients (OR = 1.895, P=0.003), whereas age, gender, diagnosis, and whether or not use of antiglaucoma medication were not correlated with SLT success (P=0.725, P=0.750, P=0.061, and P=0.201, respectively). Conclusion In this study, SLT was found as an effective and safe treatment for young patients with POAG and OHT. High baseline IOP predicted high SLT success.
A Scoping Review on Clinical Trials of Pain Reduction With Cannabis Administration in Adults

Indications of cannabis use are numerous although the indication to relief pain remains a major research interest and clinical application. Studies investigating the effect of herbal cannabis and cannabis-based medicine on neuropathic, non-neuropathic pain, acute pain and experimentally induced pain were reviewed. A search was performed in PubMed and Cochrane library for articles published in English between January 1, 2000 and May 8, 2020. The search terms used were related to cannabis and pain in adults. We identified 34 studies, of which 30 were randomized controlled clinical trials (RCTs). Varying effects were identified from the RCTs, and as expected more promising effects from non-RCTs. Cannabis-based medications were found most effective as an adjuvant therapy in refractory multiple sclerosis, and weak evidence was found to support the treatment of cancer pain especially in advanced stages. Chronic rheumatic pain showed promising results. Adverse events of cannabis-based treatment were found to be more frequent with tetrahydrocannabinol herbal strains compared to other cannabis-derived products.
The characteristics of isolated para-aortic lymph node metastases in endometrial cancer and their prognostic significance

Background: The aim of this study was to clarify the features and prognostic significance of isolated para-aortic lymphatic metastasis of endometrial cancer. Methods: A retrospective study of patients with stage IIIC endometrial cancer was performed based on the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. A total of 2767 patients were divided into three groups according to the lymphatic metastasis patterns: isolated pelvic lymphatic metastasis, isolated para-aortic lymphatic metastasis and dual lymphatic metastasis. The clinic-pathological characteristics and prognosis of patients were compared among the three groups. Result: The proportion of patients with isolated para-aortic lymphatic metastasis was 13.70%. Patients with isolated pelvic lymphatic metastasis or isolated para-aortic lymphatic metastasis shared similar histological characteristics, except that patients with isolated para-aortic lymphatic metastasis had a lower proportion of tumors over 5 cm in diameter than patients with isolated pelvic lymphatic metastasis (35.1% versus 45.7%, p = 0.001). Compared with patients with dual lymphatic metastasis, isolated para-aortic lymphatic metastasis was more common in patients with endometrioid tumors (78.6% versus 67.3%, p < 0.001), grade 1–2 cancers (53.3% versus 36.3%, p < 0.001) and negative peritoneal cytology (76.2% versus 61.1%, p < 0.001). Dual lymphatic metastasis was an independent predictive factor for the poor outcomes of patients at stage IIIC. However, in stage IIIC endometrioid tumors, patients with isolated pelvic lymphatic metastasis and those with isolated para-aortic lymphatic metastasis shared similar prognosis. Patients at stage IIIC with nonendometrioid tumors and patients at stage IV could not be further divided into subgroups according to lymphatic metastasis patterns in terms of prognosis. Conclusion: Endometrioid patients with isolated pelvic lymphatic metastasis and isolated para-aortic lymphatic metastasis share similar clinical pathological characteristics and prognoses.
A dCDD-Based Transmit Diversity for NOMA Systems

In this paper, a new transmit diversity scheme for cooperative non-orthogonal multiple access (NOMA) is proposed without perfect channel state information at the transmitter (CSIT). To support two users under a near-far user pairing constraint, a distributed cyclic delay diversity (dCDD) scheme is adjusted into NOMA by dividing a set of remote radio heads (RRHs) into two groups for multiple cyclic-prefixed single carrier transmissions. Using only a limited channel relevant information needed to make dCDD work, a new RRH assignment and power allocation mechanism is proposed. After then, closed-form expressions for the rates of two users achieved by the proposed RRH assignment and power allocation mechanism are derived. For various scenarios, link-level simulations verify that superior rates can be achieved by NOMA with dCDD over the traditional orthogonal multiple access with dCDD.
No‐analog climates and shifting realized niches during the late quaternary: implications for 21st‐century predictions by species distribution models

Empirically derived species distributions models (SDMs) are increasingly relied upon to forecast species vulnerabilities to future climate change. However, many of the assumptions of SDMs may be violated when they are used to project species distributions across significant climate change events. In particular, SDM's in theory assume stable fundamental niches, but in practice, they assume stable realized niches. The assumption of a fixed realized niche relative to climate variables remains unlikely for various reasons, particularly if novel future climates open up currently unavailable portions of species’ fundamental niches. To demonstrate this effect, we compare the climate distributions for fossil‐pollen data from 21 to 15 ka bp (relying on paleoclimate simulations) when communities and climates with no modern analog were common across North America to observed modern pollen assemblages. We test how well SDMs are able to project 20th century pollen‐based taxon distributions with models calibrated using data from 21 to 15 ka. We find that taxa which were abundant in areas with no‐analog late glacial climates, such as Fraxinus, Ostrya/Carpinus and Ulmus, substantially shifted their realized niches from the late glacial period to present. SDMs for these taxa had low predictive accuracy when projected to modern climates despite demonstrating high predictive accuracy for late glacial pollen distributions. For other taxa, e.g. Quercus, Picea, Pinus strobus, had relatively stable realized niches and models for these taxa tended to have higher predictive accuracy when projected to present. Our findings reinforce the point that a realized niche at any one time often represents only a subset of the climate conditions in which a taxon can persist. Projections from SDMs into future climate conditions that are based solely on contemporary realized distributions are potentially misleading for assessing the vulnerability of species to future climate change.
The Effects of Discussion Groups on Teacher Confidence and Comfort-Level with Anti-Bias Education at a Private Urban Montessori School

This action research was conducted to examine the effects of peer discussion groups on the comfort and confidence of lower-elementary Montessori teachers in conducting literaturebased anti-bias lessons. The intervention was conducted in a private, urban, Montessori school, serving students from toddler to middle school. The participants of this study were five first-third grade teachers, including the participant researcher. Data was collected through preand postintervention surveys, teacher post-lesson self-assessments, transcription coding of discussion groups, and researcher self-reflection rating scale and journal prompts. Three discussion groups were scheduled two weeks apart, with teachers giving literature-based, anti-bias lessons between the first and second discussion groups and the second and third discussion groups. Data indicated that teachers became more comfortable and confident in their anti-bias teaching practice and that the discussion groups created a space for reflective dialogue. The action plan suggests that this intervention could have a farther reach if it were conducted for a longer period of time, across a wider age range, and in multiple schools.
The Dynamic Regime Concept for Ecosystem Management and Restoration

Abstract Because the response of ecosystem patterns and processes to disturbance is rarely linear, the dynamic regime concept offers a more realistic construct than linear models for understanding ecosystems. Dynamic regimes, and shifts between them, have been reported for a diversity of ecosystem types (e.g., terrestrial, marine, aquatic) at a variety of scales (e.g., from small lakes to the global climate). Ecosystem regimes that are obvious at one scale may not be at another. Regimes are maintained by internal relationships and feedbacks between species, and these internal dynamics can interact with large-scale external forces (such as global weather patterns) and trigger shifts to alternative regimes. The dynamic regime concept is commonly used in ecosystem management, restoration, and sustainability efforts, in what are known as “state-and-transition,” “threshold,” or “alternative stable state” models. Here we review the application of this concept to ecosystem management and restoration, and discuss how dynamic processes at multiple scales can affect this application.
Medical Management of COVID-19: Evidence and Experience

Coronavirus disease 2019 is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), and this infectious disease is termed COVID-19 in short. On a global scale, as of June 1, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) published statistics of 6,057,853 infected patients and 371,166 deaths worldwide. Despite reported observational data about the experimental use of certain drugs, there is no conclusively proven curative therapy for COVID-19 as of now; however, remdesivir received emergency use authorization (EUA) by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently for use in patients hospitalized with COVID-19. There are several ongoing clinical trials related to the pharmacological choices of therapy for COVID-19 patients; however, drug trials related to observational studies so far have yielded mixed results and therefore have created a sense of confusion among healthcare professionals (HCPs). In this review article, we seek to collate and provide a summary of treatment strategies for COVID-19 patients with a variable degree of illness and discuss pharmacologic and other therapies intended to be used either as experimental medicine/therapy or as part of supportive care in complicated cases of COVID-19.
Role of the mechanical microenvironment in cancer development and progression

Cross-talk between tumor cells and mechanical stress in the tumor microenvironment has been shown to be involved in carcinogenesis. High mechanical stress in tumors can alter the metabolism and behaviors of cancer cells and cause cancer cells to attain cancer stem-like cell properties, thus driving tumor progression and promoting metastasis. The mechanical signal is converted into a biochemical signal that activates tumorigenic signaling pathways through mechanotransduction. Herein, we describe the physical changes occurring during reprogramming of cancer cell metabolism, which regulate cancer stem cell functions and promote tumor progression and aggression. Furthermore, we highlight emerging therapeutic strategies targeting mechanotransduction signaling pathways.
COVID-19 Pandemic Causing Acute Kidney Injury and Impact on Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease and Renal Transplantation

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) has caused significant mortality and has been declared as a global pandemic by the World Health Organization. The infection mainly presents as fever, cough, and breathing difficulty, and few patients develop very severe symptoms. The purpose of this review is to analyze the impact of the virus on the kidney. COVID-19 infection causes acute kidney injury (AKI) and is an independent risk factor for mortality. Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptors, direct viral damage, and immune-mediated damage play important roles in the pathogenesis. AKI in COVID-19 infection could be from the synergistic effect of virus-induced direct cytotropic effect and cytokine-induced systemic inflammatory response. AKI caused in the viral infection has been analyzed from the available epidemiological studies. The proportion of patients developing AKI is significantly higher when they develop severe disease. Continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) is the most used blood purification technique when needed. The impact of COVID-19 infection on chronic kidney disease (CKD) and renal transplant patients is also discussed in the manuscript. No vaccine has been developed against the 2019-nCoV virus to date. The critical aspect of management is supportive care. Several investigative drugs have been studied, drugs approved for other indications have been used, and several clinical trials are underway across the globe. Recently remdesivir has received emergency use authorization by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the USA for use in patients hospitalized with COVID-19. Prevention of the infection holds the key to management. The patients with underlying kidney problems and renal transplant patients are vulnerable to developing COVID-19 infection.
Estimates of genetic parameters of litter size traits at birth and weaning in domestic rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) raised in Anwai community, South Nigeria.

Data on litter size traits of 224 bunnies obtained from a mating involving five sires and fifteen dams at three dams/sire were collected and analyzed to estimate genetic parameters in commercial domestic rabbits raised in Anwai, Delta State, Nigeria. Traits studied were: total litter size born (TB), number born Alive (BA), number born dead or still born (BD), and number weaned (NW). The analysis of variance was done in a nested or hierarchical design with equal number of sub-class. Heritability and correlations were calculated using standard expressions. Heritability estimates from sire component for TB, BA, BD and NW were 0.08, 0.02, 0.007 and 0.94 and 0.89, 0.55, 0.76 and 0.97 respectively using dam component of variance. Genetic correlations were generally positive and highly significant (P<0.01) for TB X NW. Environmental correlations ranged from negative to positive values and were highly significant (P<0.01) for TB X BD and BA X NW from dam component while estimates of phenotypic correlation were generally positive but mostly low. In conclusion heritability of litter size traits were mostly low from sire component and high from dam component while genetic and phenotypic correlations among the traits were generally positive. The low heritability for litter size (TB, BA and BD) suggest possible improvement of these traits by progeny selection or sib-testing while the trait with high heritability can be improved by record based on own performance while the positive correlations indicates that genes responsible for those traits are related.