Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Comparative Platelet Releasate Proteomic Profiling of Acute Coronary Syndrome versus Stable Coronary Artery Disease

Upon activation, platelets release a host of soluble and vesicular signals, collectively termed the “platelet releasate” (PR). The contents of this PR play a significant role in haemostasis, inflammation, and pathologic sequelae. Despite this, proteomic studies investigating the PR in coronary artery disease have not been performed. Here, we undertook a comparative label-free quantitative (LFQ) proteomic profiling of the 1 U/ml thrombin-induced PR from 13 acute coronary syndrome vs. 14 stable angina pectoris patients using a tandem mass spectrometry approach. Data are available via ProteomeXchange with identifier PXD009356. 318 PR proteins were identified across both cohorts with 9 proteins found to be differentially released, including tetranectin (CLEC3B), protein disulfide-isomerase-A3 (PDIA3), coagulation factor V (F5), and fibronectin (FN1). Strikingly, these 9 differential proteins were all associated with the gene ontology cellular component term “extracellular vesicle” and reduced levels of EVs were detected in the corresponding plasma of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients. Network analysis revealed 3 proteins either reduced (F5; FN1) or absent (CLEC3B) in the PR of STEMI patients that are strongly connected to both the clotting cascade and major druggable targets on platelets. This moderated proteomic signature may prove useful for non-invasive risk assessment of the progression of coronary artery disease. These data further contribute to the growing evidence-base of using the platelet releasate as a predictor of pathological state and disease severity.
Leaf area and growth of juvenile temperate evergreens in low light: species of contrasting shade tolerance change rank during ontogeny

Summary 1 Interspecific variation in leaf life span of woody plants should have important consequences for ontogenetic variation in biomass distribution, and hence carbon balance, in low light. This proposal was examined by measuring foliage turnover, growth, biomass allocation and biomass distribution of juveniles (25–1180 mm tall) of four evergreens differing in shade tolerance, growing in low light (2–5% canopy openness) in temperate rainforest understoreys in south-central Chile. 2 As predicted, ontogenetic trends in leaf area ratio (LAR) of two very shade-tolerant species with long-lived leaves (Aextoxicon punctatum and Myrceugenia planipes) contrasted strongly with those of mid-tolerant Eucryphia cordifolia and intolerant Aristotelia chilensis. Low-light LAR fell rapidly with increasing plant size in Eucryphia and Aristotelia, but was size-invariant in the two shade-tolerant taxa. As a result, although small seedlings of Eucryphia and Aristotelia displayed more leaf area than shade-tolerant seedlings of similar size (largely because of differences in specific leaf area), this relationship was reversed for plants over ≈500 mm tall. 3 Although the slower foliage turnover of the shade-tolerant species at least partly explains this reversal, allocational differences may also be involved. Root mass fraction of both shade-tolerant species was significantly negatively correlated with size, possibly reflecting declining allocation to roots in larger plants. In contrast, root mass fraction was not correlated with size in Eucryphia or Aristotelia. 4 Above-ground relative growth rate in low light followed similar ontogenetic trends to LAR, declining more quickly in light-demanding species than in shade-tolerant associates. As a result, large seedlings (>400 mm tall) of shade-tolerant Myrceugenia and Aextoxicon grew more quickly than their light-demanding associates at the same height. The steeply declining LAR and growth of Eucryphia and Aristotelia suggest that these taxa will eventually die of energy starvation in low light. 5 Results are consistent with the idea that accumulation of an extensive leaf area eventually gives juvenile shade-tolerant evergreens a net carbon gain advantage over their light-demanding associates in low light. Awareness of long-term ontogenetic trends will enhance understanding of relationships of shade-tolerance variation with morphology and growth of woody evergreens.
STEM-END ROTS : INFECTION OF RIPENING FRUIT

Fruit from an unsprayed orchard were harvested at a maturity of >30% dry matter, and placed 10 per box in a room at 20 o C. Fifty fruit per day were cut, assessed for rots and all fruit were tested daily for ripeness. When most fruit were ripe, an additional 500 fruit were cut in one day, tested for ripeness by hand and assessed for rots. Stem-end rots were only found in fruit that had reached or passed optimal ripeness. The number of unripe fruit observed with a slight browning at the stem-end was similar to the number of optimally ripe fruit with stem-end rots. However, no fungi were isolated from these symptoms on unripe fruit. It was concluded that because only ripe fruit developed stemend rots in this study, the hypothesis that stem-end rots are caused by endophytic populations of fungi growing down the stalk to infect fruit is not supported. However, it is possible that host defence mechanisms other than antifungal dienes precluded fungal invasion, or that the dienes may be available in fungitoxic amounts in flesh of ‘Hass’ fruit in New Zealand.
Distribution Maps of Lichens in Britain

Records from 3125 ten-kilometre grid squares have been received and processed for the British Lichen Society's Computer Database at the University of Bradford; of these, 1126 (including 60 for Ireland) have over 100 records, 888 (including 128 for Ireland) have 50-100 records, and 1111 (including 333 for Ireland) have less than 50 records. 811% of the British Isles has received some form of coverage, but Irish recording remains patchy and disappointingly low with a coverage of only 51-7%. A comparison with the situation in June 1979 (see Lichenologist 11: 324) shows that although the increase in the area covered has been less than 5%, there has been a substantial increase (17%) in the records accumulated, with an average up-grading of records per grid square of nearly 12%. M. R. D. Seaward Mapping Recorder
Plackett-Burman Design in Choice-based Conjoint Analysis

The authors propose a Plackett-Burman experimental design to rearrange profiles in blocks in choice-based conjoint analysis as an alternative technique for measuring preferences that accommodate large numbers of options. Although in choice-based conjoint analysis profiles are usually randomly organised in blocks, we propose a manually statistical arrangement because its design takes into account all the factors in the same number and equally distributed, and because it allows us to determine the degree of resolution in advance. Plackett-Burman can be an efficient design if we consider a tradeoff between the number of stimuli in each choice set and the number of choice sets used in the assessment process. To illustrate its uses we describe an empirical application measuring preferences for shocking warning messages on cigarette packages described in 11 pictures and we estimate the distribution of these on tobacco products to optimise impact on teenagers.
User Expectations and Willingness to Share Self-Collected Health Data

The rapid improvement in mobile health technologies revolutionized what and how people can self-record and manage data. This massive amount of information accumulated by these technologies has potentially many applications beyond personal need, i.e. for public health. A challenge with collecting this data is to motivate people to share this data for the benefit of all. The purpose of this study is to survey and examine factors that may motivate sharing this data. We asked 447 participants four questions related to health data sharing and motivation. Participants with a chronic disease were concerned about data sharing but also willing to share health data if personalized feedback is provided. Functionality, ease of use, and privacy are regarded as crucial features of health apps.
Monitoring predation behaviour of the pygmy bluetongue lizard to decide when conservation intervention is needed

Abstract. Documenting natural behaviours may be an important component of conservation management of threatened species in that deviations from some behaviours may serve as early warning signs of subsequent deteriorating condition and the possible need for intervention. We described predation behaviour of the endangered Australian scincid lizard Tiliqua adelaidensis from 23 burrows by watching video images from cameras over 10 days each month for five months in spring and summer. We observed 341 predation attempts, of which 277 were successful. These lizards predominantly ambush passing prey from their burrow entrance without completely emerging from the burrow. Orthopterans were the major component of their captures; prey captures peaked in November and December. We measured the proportion of unsuccessful foraging attempts, the proportion of foraging attempts that involved full emergence, the mean distance a lizard moved away from the burrow entrance, and the proportion of plant parts in the diet. We suggest that if any of these parameters increase it could indicate the requirement for intervention management. Our study supports the view that behavioural monitoring could be considered as an integral component of any conservation management of endangered animal species.
The National Landscape of Acute Mastoiditis: Analysis of the Nationwide Readmissions Database

Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text Objective: To determine risk factors for readmission, prolonged length of stay, and discharge to a rehabilitation facility in patients with acute mastoiditis. Trends in treatment and complication rates were also examined. Study Design: Retrospective cohort study. Setting: Nationwide Readmissions Database (2013, 2014). Patients: Pediatric and adult patients in the Nationwide Readmissions Database with a primary diagnosis of acute mastoiditis. Interventions: Medical treatment, surgical intervention. Outcome Measures: Rates of and risk factors for readmission, prolonged length of stay, and discharge to a rehabilitation facility. Procedure and complication rates were also examined. Results: Four thousand two hundred ninety-five pediatric and adult admissions for acute mastoiditis were analyzed. The overall rates of readmission, prolonged length of stay, and discharge to a rehabilitation facility were 17.0, 10.4, and 10.2%, respectively. Children 4 to 17 years of age had the highest rates of intracranial complications, and children ≤3 years were most likely to undergo operative intervention. Any procedure was performed in 31.2% of cases, and undergoing myringotomy or mastoidectomy was associated with lower rates of readmission but higher rates of prolonged length of stay. Those with intracranial complications and subperiosteal abscesses had the highest surgical intervention rates. Conclusions: Readmission, prolonged length of stay, and discharge to a rehabilitation facility are common in patients with acute mastoiditis with various sociodemographic and disease-related risk factors. While once a primarily surgical disease, a minority of patients in our cohort underwent procedures. Undergoing a surgical procedure was protective against readmission but a risk factor for prolonged length of stay.
The ecological and evolutionary significance of frost in the context of climate change.

The effects that below-freezing temperature (frost) can have at times of year when it is unusual are an interesting ecological phenomenon that has received little attention. The physiological consequence of formation of ice crystals in plant tissue is often death of the plants, or at least of sensitive parts that can include flower buds, ovaries, and leaves. The loss of potential for sexual reproduction can have long-lasting effects on the demography of annuals and long-lived perennials, because the short-term negative effects of frosts can result in longer-term benefits through lowered populations of seed predators. The loss of host plants can have dramatic consequences for herbivores, even causing local extinctions, and the loss of just flowers can also affect populations of seed predators and their parasitoids. Frosts can cause local extinctions and influence the geographical distribution of some species. The potential for global climate change to influence the frequency and distribution of frost events is uncertain, but it seems likely that they may become more frequent in some areas and less frequent in others.
Efficacy of supplementary enzymes on in vitro digestibility of various ratios of maize with wheat offal

The basic experimental diets were 4 x 5 factorial combinations of the inclusion levels of wheat offal at the expense of maize in the control diet with different enzymes. Basically the control diet had 100% of maize while in other diets 25, 50, 75 or 100% of maize was replaced with wheat offal. Each of these was replicated thrice and undertaken in the presence of no enzyme, with different types of enzymes at the recommended level or a combination of different types of enzymes. Thus were a total of 60 treatment samples and then the in vitro digestibility trial was carried out. The results showed that increase in the level of wheat offal at the expense of maize without enzyme supplementation caused significant decrease in nutrient digestibility (P<0.05). However, inclusion of fungal or bacterial enzyme and their combinations improved nutrient digestibilities in vitro (P< 0.05).
Establishment of a novel risk score model by comprehensively analyzing the immunogen database of bladder cancer to indicate clinical significance and predict prognosis

Background: Bladder cancer (BCa) has the highest incidence of aggressive malignant tumors in the urogenital system and is the ninth most common cancer worldwide. Immune function-related genes (IFRGs), which are plentiful in immune cells and the immune microenvironment (IME), have the potential to assess prognosis and predict the efficacy of immunotherapy. A complete and significant immunogenomic analysis based on abundant BCa genetic samples from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) will provide insight into the field. Results: A total of 57 differentially expressed IFRGs were significantly associated with the clinical outcomes of patients with BCa. Functional enrichment analysis showed that these genes actively participated in the KEGG pathway of human cytomegalovirus infection. Based on the IFRGs (CALR, MMP9, PAEP, RBP7, STAT1, CACYBP, ANHAK, RAC3, SLIT2, EDNRA, IGF1, NAMPT, NTF3, PPY, ADRB2 and SH3BP2), the risk scores were calculated to predict survival and reveal the relationships with age, sex, grade, staging, T-stage, N-stage, and M-stage. Interestingly, IFRG-based risk scores (IRRSs) reflected the infiltration of several types of immune cells. The expression of CACYBP was more significant in grade 3, T3 and T4 stages than in earlier grades and T-stages. Conclusion: Our results highlighted some sIFRGs with remarkable clinical relevance, showed the driving factors of the immune repertoire, and illustrated the significance of IFRG-based individual immune features in the identification, monitoring, and prognosis of patients with BCa. Methods: Based on the TCGA dataset, we integrated the expression profiles of IFRGs and overall survival (OS) in 430 patients with BCa. Differentially expressed IFRGs and survival-related IFRGs (sIFRGs) were highlighted by calculating the difference algorithm and COX regression analysis in patients with BCa. Based on computational biology, the potential molecular mechanisms and characteristics of these IFRGs were also explored. Using multivariate Cox analysis, new risk scores based on immune-related genes were developed. The expression of CACYBP was verified by qPCR, western blot and immunohistochemistry. The relations between CACYBP and clinical features were proven by immunohistochemistry.
Inhibitory Mechanism of Signal Transduction through Chicken Leptin Receptor by Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling 3 (SOCS3)

Leptin is an adipocyte-derived hormone involved in the regulation of feeding behavior and energy homeostasis in vertebrates. We recently reported that leptin activates the JAK-STAT signaling pathway through the chicken leptin receptor (chLEPR). However, the molecular inhibitory mechanism by suppressor of cytokine signaling 3 (SOCS3), observed in mammalian leptin signaling, has not been elucidated in avian species. Therefore, the role of chicken SOCS3 (chSOCS3) in signal transduction through the chLEPR was analyzed in this study. Leptin increases SOCS3 mRNA expression in chicken hepatoma cells, LMH, and also activates the chSOCS3 gene promoter in the chLEPRexpressing cells. Overexpression of chSOCS3 inhibited leptin-induced signaling by blocking phosphorylation of JAK2 and subsequent activation of STAT3 similar to that observed in mammals. Signaling inhibited by chSOCS3 was not restored in the chLEPR mutated docking site of SOCS3. In addition, mutation of Phe25 in the kinase inhibitory region of chSOCS3 abolished SOCS3 activity via the wild chLEPR. The present study indicates that SOCS3 is a negative feedback regulator of leptin signaling in chickens as well as in mammals. However, the inhibitory mechanism in chickens may differ slightly from that observed in mammals.
Composição, avaliação sensorial e propriedades de derretimento do sorvete de leite de cabra produzido a partir de diferentes fontes de gordura

O presente estudo avaliou a composição (sólidos totais e solúveis, pH, acidez total titulável, proteína, gordura,cinzas, açúcares totais), os atributos sensoriais (aparência, odor, consistência e sabor) e o comportamento,durante o derretimento, de duas formulações experimentais de sorvete caprino elaborados com duasdiferentes fontes de gordura, gordura vegetal hidrogenada (F1) e um substituto de gordura livre de ácidosgraxos trans (F2). Os teores de sólidos totais e solúveis, gordura e açúcares totais das amostras de sorveteapresentaram diferenças estatisticamente significantes (p<0,05). Os resultados sensoriais mostram elevadoíndice de aceitação (IA) sensorial (>70%) para ambas as formulações, com exceção do atributo sabor daformulação F1 que apresentou IA de 62,041%. No teste de derretimento, o grupo F2 derreteu mais rápido quea formulação F1. Os resultados demonstraram também que o tipo de gordura usada interfere diretamentenas características de derretimento, nível de aceitação sensorial e composição do sorvete caprino.
Toward the Clinical Development and Validation of a Thy1-Targeted Ultrasound Contrast Agent for the Early Detection of Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma

Supplemental digital content is available in the text. Objectives Early detection of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) represents the most significant step toward the treatment of this aggressive lethal disease. Previously, we engineered a preclinical Thy1-targeted microbubble (MBThy1) contrast agent that specifically recognizes Thy1 antigen overexpressed in the vasculature of murine PDAC tissues by ultrasound (US) imaging. In this study, we adopted a single-chain variable fragment (scFv) site-specific bioconjugation approach to construct clinically translatable MBThy1-scFv and test for its efficacy in vivo in murine PDAC imaging, and functionally evaluated the binding specificity of scFv ligand to human Thy1 in patient PDAC tissues ex vivo. Materials and Methods We recombinantly expressed the Thy1-scFv with a carboxy-terminus cysteine residue to facilitate its thioether conjugation to the PEGylated MBs presenting with maleimide functional groups. After the scFv-MB conjugations, we tested binding activity of the MBThy1-scFv to MS1 cells overexpressing human Thy1 (MS1Thy1) under liquid shear stress conditions in vitro using a flow chamber setup at 0.6 mL/min flow rate, corresponding to a wall shear stress rate of 100 seconds−1, similar to that in tumor capillaries. For in vivo Thy1 US molecular imaging, MBThy1-scFv was tested in the transgenic mouse model (C57BL/6J − Pdx1-Cretg/+; KRasLSL-G12D/+; Ink4a/Arf−/−) of PDAC and in control mice (C57BL/6J) with l-arginine–induced pancreatitis or normal pancreas. To facilitate its clinical feasibility, we further produced Thy1-scFv without the bacterial fusion tags and confirmed its recognition of human Thy1 in cell lines by flow cytometry and in patient PDAC frozen tissue sections of different clinical grades by immunofluorescence staining. Results Under shear stress flow conditions in vitro, MBThy1-scFv bound to MS1Thy1 cells at significantly higher numbers (3.0 ± 0.8 MB/cell; P < 0.01) compared with MBNontargeted (0.5 ± 0.5 MB/cell). In vivo, MBThy1-scFv (5.3 ± 1.9 arbitrary units [a.u.]) but not the MBNontargeted (1.2 ± 1.0 a.u.) produced high US molecular imaging signal (4.4-fold vs MBNontargeted; n = 8; P < 0.01) in the transgenic mice with spontaneous PDAC tumors (2–6 mm). Imaging signal from mice with l-arginine–induced pancreatitis (n = 8) or normal pancreas (n = 3) were not significantly different between the two MB constructs and were significantly lower than PDAC Thy1 molecular signal. Clinical-grade scFv conjugated to Alexa Fluor 647 dye recognized MS1Thy1 cells but not the parental wild-type cells as evaluated by flow cytometry. More importantly, scFv showed highly specific binding to VEGFR2-positive vasculature and fibroblast-like stromal components surrounding the ducts of human PDAC tissues as evaluated by confocal microscopy. Conclusions Our findings summarize the development and validation of a clinically relevant Thy1-targeted US contrast agent for the early detection of human PDAC by US molecular imaging.
Developing a new muscle power prediction equation through vertical jump power output in adolescent women

Abstract Explosive power is a performance determinant in many sports activities. Vertical jump tests for assessing power output are widely employed. Accurate and reliable methods are needed to predict human power output using the widely employed vertical jump height. To determine vertical jump capacity by using force platform in high school-level girls and to develop an equation that predict vertical jump muscle power (MP) (watts) through body composition and vertical jump height. An experimental group consisting of 87 high school-level young sedentary girls (mean; age; 16.49 ± 1.93, height;161.25 ± 6.21, weight; 55.59 ± 10.27) and a validation (control) group consisting of a similar population of 30 people (mean; age; 16.14 ± 1.31, height; 163.30 ± 6.28, weight; 56.65 ± 9.59), participated in this study. A stepwise linear regression model, including fat free body mass, vertical jump height and fat percentage as independent parameters was applied to develop a new muscle power (MP) estimation equation. Pearson product-moment correlation coefficients were calculated between actual and predicted MP. The new prediction equation obtained from regression analysis for muscle power (MP) could explain 74.5% (R2) of the variation. A strong and high correlation was observed between the Pearson product-moment correlation coefficients of the actual and predicted MP (experimental; r = 0.863; P < .000) and (control; r = 0.898; P < .000). The direct measurements of muscle power (MP) require researchers to access costly and complex instruments. This need will be met by the MP estimation equations obtained from a simple vertical jump height and body composition measurement.