Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Predation of Radio-Marked Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) Ducklings by Eastern Snapping Turtles (Chelydra serpentina serpentina) and Western Fox Snakes (Pantherophis vulpinus) on the Upper Mississippi River

Abstract Information on the predation rate of Eastern Snapping Turtles (Chelydra serpentina serpentina) and Western Fox Snakes (Pantherophis vulpinus) on waterfowl, particularly ducklings, is minimal. Most information that exists focuses on the percent of waterfowl found in the diet of sampled turtles or snakes. Although this information is useful, it does not elucidate the potential effect of reptile predation on waterfowl populations by measuring predation rate (i.e., the number of sampled ducklings consumed by reptile predators). We attempted to determine this by tracking the fate of 448 day-old Mallard (Anas platyrhychos) ducklings from 1991–1994 on the Upper Mississippi River. A total of 120 ducklings were preyed upon during the study (26.7% predation rate). Of these, 13 were consumed by Eastern Snapping Turtles (2.9% predation rate) and four by Western Fox Snakes (0.8% predation rate). Predation rate by reptiles was lower than mammals and similar to that of fish and birds, but several depredations with undetermined sources could have been caused by Eastern Snapping Turtles. For a proper perspective on predation impacts on duckling populations, one must also consider the influence of habitat quality as it relates to the interactions of predation, food resources, and cover.
A change of heart: Preliminary results of the US 2018 adult heart allocation revision

In 2018, the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) modified adult heart allocation to better stratify candidates and provide broader access to the most medically urgent candidates. We analyzed OPTN data that included waiting list and transplant characteristics, geographical distribution, and early outcomes 1 year before (pre: October 18, 2017‐October 17, 2018) and following (post: October 18, 2018‐October 17, 2019) implementation. The number of adult heart transplants increased from 2954 pre‐ to 3032 postimplementation. Seventy‐eight percent of transplants in the post era were for the most medically urgent (statuses 1‐3) compared to 68% for status 1A in the pre era. The median distance between the donor hospital and transplant center increased from 83 to 216 nautical miles, with an increase in total ischemic time from 3 to 3.4 hours (all P < .001). Waiting list mortality was not different across eras (14.8 vs 14.9 deaths per 100 patient‐years pre vs post respectively). Posttransplant patient survival was not different, 93.6% pre and 92.8% post. There is early evidence that the heart allocation policy has enhanced stratification of candidates by their medical urgency and broader distribution for the most medically urgent candidates with minimal impact on overall waiting list mortality and posttransplant outcomes.
Progress toward a phylogenetic classification of the Polyporaceae through parsimony analysis of mitochondrial ribosomal DNA sequences

We used sequence data from mitochondrial small-subunit ribosomal DNA to infer phylogenetic relationships of the Polyporaceae. We examined 62 species representing 14 families of Aphyllophorales and Agaricales. Parsimony analyses of these sequences suggest that the Polyporaceae are polyphyletic. Higher order relationships are poorly resolved, but seven groups of species are generally well supported (as measured by bootstrapping) or are congruent with previous taxonomic hypotheses. Group 1 includes Polyporus s.str. , seven other genera of Polyporaceae, Lentinus, and Ganoderma. Because this clade contains the type species of Polyporus, it may serve as the core for a future recircumscription of the Polyporaceae. Group 2 is morphologically and ecologically diverse, but all members have amyloid, ornamented spores (with the possible exception of Heterobasidion). This group includes Bondarzewia, Heterobasidion, Hericium, Echinodontium, Lentinellus, Auriscalpium, and Russula. Group 3 includes five exemplars of the H.
A trait-based understanding of wood decomposition by fungi

Significance Fungi play a key role in the global carbon cycle as the main decomposers of litter and wood. Although current climate models reflect limited functional variation in microbial groups, fungi differ vastly in their decomposing ability. Here, we examine which traits explain fungal-mediated wood decomposition. In a laboratory study of 34 fungal isolates, we found that decomposing ability varies along a spectrum from stress-tolerant, poorly decomposing fungi to fast-growing, competitive fungi that rapidly decompose wood. We observed similar patterns in a 5-y field experiment, in which communities of fast-growing fungi more rapidly decomposed logs in the forest. Finally, we show how linking decomposition rates to known spatial patterns in fungal traits could improve broad-scale predictions of wood decomposition by fungi. As the primary decomposers of organic material in terrestrial ecosystems, fungi are critical agents of the global carbon cycle. Yet our ability to link fungal community composition to ecosystem functioning is constrained by a limited understanding of the factors accounting for different wood decomposition rates among fungi. Here we examine which traits best explain fungal decomposition ability by combining detailed trait-based assays on 34 saprotrophic fungi from across North America in the laboratory with a 5-y field study comprising 1,582 fungi isolated from 74 decomposing logs. Fungal growth rate (hyphal extension rate) was the strongest single predictor of fungal-mediated wood decomposition rate under laboratory conditions, and accounted for up to 27% of the in situ variation in decomposition in the field. At the individual level, decomposition rate was negatively correlated with moisture niche width (an indicator of drought stress tolerance) and with the production of nutrient-mineralizing extracellular enzymes. Together, these results suggest that decomposition rates strongly align with a dominance-tolerance life-history trade-off that was previously identified in these isolates, forming a spectrum from slow-growing, stress-tolerant fungi that are poor decomposers to fast-growing, highly competitive fungi with fast decomposition rates. Our study illustrates how an understanding of fungal trait variation could improve our predictive ability of the early and midstages of wood decay, to which our findings are most applicable. By mapping our results onto the biogeographic distribution of the dominance-tolerance trade-off across North America, we approximate broad-scale patterns in intrinsic fungal-mediated wood decomposition rates.
Short-term variations and long-term changes in oak productivity in northeastern France. The role of climate and atmospheric CO2

Une etude dendroecologique a ete menee dans 2 forets de chene du nord-est de la France dans le but de mettre en evidence et de quantifier d'eventuels changements a long terme dans la croissance radiale du chene sessile (Quercus petraea [Matt] Liebl) et du chene pedoncule (Q robur L). Un total de 150 placettes ont ete selectionnees, representatives de la diversite ecologique de ces forets. Les largeurs de cernes mesurees ont ete corrigees a l'aide d'un index Cd afin de compenser l'effet des variations du statut de competition entre les arbres. Ces donnees ont ete standardisees par reference a la courbe moyenne des accroissements annuels en surface terriere en fonction de l'âge cambial. Les courbes d'indices de croissance revelent une forte augmentation a long terme du niveau de productivite, aussi bien chez le chene sessile (+ 64% entre 1888 et 1987) que chez le chene pedoncule (+ 40) [. ]
CeO2:Mn3O4 Catalytic Micro-Converters Tuned for CH4 Detection Based on Catalytic Combustion under Real Operating Conditions

Mesoporous CeO2:Mn3O4 materials (3:7 and 7:3 molar ratio) were prepared by co-precipitation and deposited as porous thick films over alumina (Al2O3) planar substrate provided with Pt meander. The aim was oriented towards detecting low levels methane (CH4) at moderate operating temperatures. Herein we demonstrated that the sensitivity of catalytic micro-converters (CMCs) towards a given peak of CH4 concentration corresponds to specific gas-surface interaction phenomena. More precisely, a transition from thermal conductivity to combustion rate is likely to occur when CMCs are operated under real atmospheric conditions (normal pressure, presence of relative humidity, and constant operating temperature). The response to CH4 was analyzed over different gas flows and different gas concentrations under the same operating regime. The materials were fully characterized by adsorption-desorption isotherms, H2-Temperature Programmed Reduction (H2-TPR), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and Raman spectroscopies. Thus, the applicative aspect of using CeO2:Mn3O4 as moderate temperature CMC for CH4 detection is brought to the fore.
Advances in Nanoliposomes Production for Ferrous Sulfate Delivery

In this study, a continuous bench scale apparatus based on microfluidic fluid dynamic principles was used in the production of ferrous sulfate-nanoliposomes for pharmaceutical/nutraceutical applications, optimizing their formulation with respect to the products already present on the market. After an evaluation of its fluid dynamic nature, the simil-microfluidic (SMF) apparatus was first used to study the effects of the adopted process parameters on vesicles dimensional features by using ultrasonic energy to enhance liposomes homogenization. Subsequently, iron-nanoliposomes were produced at different weight ratios of ferrous sulfate to the total formulation components (0.06, 0.035, 0.02, and 0.01 w/w) achieving, by using the 0.01 w/w, vesicles of about 80 nm, with an encapsulation efficiency higher than 97%, an optimal short- and long-term stability, and an excellent bioavailability in Caco-2 cell line. Moreover, a comparison realized between the SMF method and two more conventional production techniques showed that by using the SMF setup the process time was drastically reduced, and the process yield increased, achieving a massive nanoliposomes production. Finally, duty-cycle sonication was detected to be a scalable technique for vesicles homogenization.
The improved and the unimproved: Factors influencing sanitation and diarrhoea in a peri-urban settlement of Lusaka, Zambia

Accounting for peri-urban sanitation poses a unique challenge due to its high density, unplanned stature, with limited space and funding for conventional sanitation instalment. To better understand users, needs and inform peri-urban sanitation policy, our study used multivariate stepwise logistic regression to assess the factors associated with use of improved (toilet) and unimproved (chamber) sanitation facilities among peri-urban residents. We analysed data from 205 household heads in 1 peri-urban settlement of Lusaka, Zambia on socio-demographics (economic status, education level, marital status, etc.), household sanitation characteristics (toilet facility, ownership and management) and household diarrhoea prevalence. Household water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) facilities were assessed based on WHO-UNICEF criteria. Of particular interest was the simultaneous use of toilet facilities and chambers, an alternative form of unimproved sanitation with focus towards all-in-one suitable alternatives. Findings revealed that having a regular income, private toilet facility, improved drinking water and handwashing facility were all positively correlated to having an improved toilet facility. Interestingly, both improved toilets and chambers indicated increased odds for diarrhoea prevalence. Odds of chamber usage were also higher for females and users of unimproved toilet facilities. Moreover, when toilets were owned by residents, and hygiene was managed externally, use of chambers was more likely. Findings finally revealed higher diarrhoea prevalence for toilets with more users. Results highlight the need for a holistic, simultaneous approach to WASH for overall success in sanitation. To better access and increase peri-urban sanitation, this study recommends a separate sanitation ladder for high density areas which considers improved private and shared facilities, toilet management and all-inclusive usage (cancelling unimproved alternatives). It further calls for financial plans supporting urban poor access to basic sanitation and increased education on toilet facility models, hygiene, management and risk to help with choice and proper facility use to maximize toilet use benefit.
Disease-Specific Derangement of Circulating Endocannabinoids and N-Acylethanolamines in Myeloproliferative Neoplasms

Growing evidence highlights the endocannabinoid (EC) system involvement in cancer progression. Lipid mediators of this system are secreted by hematopoietic cells, including the ECs 2-arachidonoyl-glycerol (2AG) and arachidonoyl-ethanolamide (AEA), the 2AG metabolite 1AG, and members of N-acylethanolamine (NAE) family—palmitoyl-ethanolamide (PEA) and oleoyl-ethanolamide (OEA). However, the relevance of the EC system in myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN) was never investigated. We explored the EC plasma profile in 55 MPN patients, including myelofibrosis (MF; n = 41), polycythemia vera (PV; n = 9), and essential thrombocythemia (ET; n = 5) subclasses and in 10 healthy controls (HC). AEA, PEA, OEA, 2AG, and 1AG plasma levels were measured by LC–MS/MS. Overall considered, MPN patients displayed similar EC and NAE levels compared to HC. Nonetheless, AEA levels in MPN were directly associated with the platelet count. MF patients showed higher levels of the sum of 2AG and 1AG compared to ET and PV patients, higher OEA/AEA ratios compared to HC and ET patients, and higher OEA/PEA ratios compared to HC. Furthermore, the sum of 2AG and 1AG positively correlated with JAK2V617F variant allele frequency and splenomegaly in MF and was elevated in high-risk PV patients compared to in low-risk PV patients. In conclusion, our work revealed specific alterations of ECs and NAE plasma profile in MPN subclasses and potentially relevant associations with disease severity.
Treatment of High Risk Resected Melanoma in Australia: Current Landscape and Practises

Stage III melanoma involves regional lymph nodes and/or in‐transit or satellite disease, without spread to distant metastatic sites. Stage IIIA melanoma includes a T1a‐T2a primary lesion with N1a or N2a nodal involvement, whilst stage IIID melanoma includes a T4b primary lesion with N3a‐N3c nodal involvement. With surgery alone, patients with stage IIIA melanoma have 10‐year survival rates of ~88%; however, patients with stage IIID melanoma have 10‐year survival rates of only ~24%. Targeted therapy and immunotherapy are being explored in stage III disease as adjuvant therapy after surgical resection, to eliminate micro‐metastatic disease and thereby prevent relapse of melanoma and increase patient survival. A number of pivotal trials published in the last two years have shown improved relapse‐free survival (RFS) and overall survival in patients with stage III melanoma treated with adjuvant therapy. COMBI‐AD showed adjuvant dabrafenib and trametinib improving RFS compared with placebo (HR 0.49; 95% CI 0.40–0.59). Checkmate‐238 demonstrated an improvement in RFS of adjuvant nivolumab over ipilimumab (HR 0.68, P < 0.001) whilst Keynote‐054 demonstrated an improvement in RFS with adjuvant pembrolizumab over placebo (HR 0.57, P < 0.001). Many nuances need to be considered when interpreting this data, including implications of an updated staging system, which patients are suitable for adjuvant therapy and the choice between adjuvant targeted therapy and immunotherapy in BRAF mutant patients. This review article summaries the currently available literature on adjuvant targeted therapy and provides a guide on applying this data in everyday practise.
Mutation of HPR1 encoding a component of the THO/TREX complex reduces STOP1 accumulation and aluminum resistance in Arabidopsis thaliana.

C2H2-type zinc finger transcription factor STOP1 plays an essential role in aluminum (Al) resistance in Arabidopsis thaliana by controlling the expression of a set of Al-resistance genes including the malate transporter-encoding gene AtALMT1 that is critically required for Al resistance. STOP1 is suggested to be modulated by Al at posttranscriptional and/or posttranslational levels. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain to be demonstrated. We carried out a forward genetic screen on an EMS-mutagenized population, which contains the AtALMT1 promoter-driven luciferase reporter gene (pAtALMT1:LUC), and identified HPR1, which encodes a subunit of the THO/TREX complex. We investigate the effect of hpr1 mutations on the expression of Al-resistance genes and Al resistance, and we also examined the regulatory role of HPR1 in nuclear mRNA and protein accumulation of STOP1 gene. Mutation of HPR1 reduces the expression of STOP1-regulated genes and the associated Al resistance. The hpr1 mutations increase STOP1 mRNA retention in the nucleus and consequently decrease STOP1 protein abundance. Mutation of RAE1 that mediates STOP1 degradation in the hpr1 mutant background can partially rescue the deficient phenotypes of hpr1 mutants. Our results demonstrate that HPR1 modulates Al resistance partly through the regulation of nucleocytoplasmic STOP1 mRNA export.
Chief Nurse Executives involuntary turnover in times of health care reforms: Findings from an interpretative phenomenology study

In recent years, due to several health care system reforms in different countries, an increased involuntary turnover rate of Chief Nurse Executives has been reported around the World. However, no data on their perceived experience of their dismissal have been documented up to now in the European context. Describing the experience of involuntarily dismissed Chief Nurse Executives was the main aim of this interpretative phenomenological study. Data were collected through face-to-face audiotaped interviews performed by involving a purposeful sample of 13 Chief Nurse Executives; data analysis was performed by using the QSR NVIVO 11 software. The Chief Nurse Executives’ experience of Being fired is characterized by three main themes: (1) “Health Care Institutions are places influenced by political turbulences”; (2) “My competence and presence in the arena is despised by a range of strategies”; and (3) “Transiting from darkness to light”. According to their experience, the reason for dismissal was due to changes in the political climate and the introduction of a new chief executive officer; moreover, Being fired caused a deep pain similar to that experienced during bereavement. In some socio-political contexts, the political climate can influence the role of a Chief Nurse Executive: political membership, whether implicit or explicit, is considered of great value. In other contexts, the Chief Nurse Executives’ value is based on professional competences and achieved outcomes. At times of changes in the political climate, the peculiarities of the specific socio-political context should be evaluated as to whether one should anticipate his/her resignation or not.
Shootin‐1 is required for nervous system development in zebrafish

Semaphorin6A (Sema6A) and its PlexinA2 (PlxnA2) receptor canonically function as repulsive axon guidance cues. To understand downstream signaling mechanisms, we performed a microarray screen and identified the “clutch molecule” shootin‐1 (shtn‐1) as a transcriptionally repressed target. Shtn‐1 is a key proponent of cell migration and neuronal polarization and must be regulated during nervous system development. The mechanisms of Shtn‐1 regulation and the phenotypic consequences of loss of repression are poorly understood.
Toll-like receptor 4 signaling-mediated responses are critically engaged in optimal host protection against highly virulent Mycobacterium tuberculosis K infection

ABSTRACT Toll-like receptors (TLRs) play critical roles in the innate recognition of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) by host immune cells. However, controversy has arisen regarding the role of TLR4 in determining the outcomes of Mtb infection. To address this controversy, the function of TLR4 in the induction of an optimal protective immune response against the highly virulent Mtb K-infection was comparatively investigated in C3 H/HeJ (TLR4-deficient mutant) and C3 H/HeN (TLR4-competent wild-type) mice. Interestingly, following Mtb infection, C3 H/HeJ mice showed a more severe disease phenotype than C3 H/HeN mice, exhibiting reduced weight and a marked increase in bacterial burden along with necrotic lung inflammation. Analysis of the immune cell composition revealed significantly increased neutrophils in the lung and significant production of IL-10 accompanied by the impairment of the protective Th1 response in C3 H/HeJ mice. Reducing the neutrophil numbers by treating C3 H/HeJ mice with an anti-Ly6 G monoclonal antibody (mAb) and blocking IL-10 signaling with an anti-IL-10 receptor mAb reduced the excessive lung inflammation and bacterial burden in C3 H/HeJ mice. Therefore, abundant IL-10 signaling and neutrophils have detrimental effects in TLR4-deficient mice during Mtb infection. However, the blockade of IL-10 signaling produced an increase in the CD11bhiLy6 Ghi neutrophil population, but the phenotypes of these neutrophils were different from those of the CD11bintLy6 Gint neutrophils from mice with controlled infections. Collectively, these results show that TLR4 positively contributes to the generation of an optimal protective immunity against Mtb infection. Furthermore, investigating the TLR4-mediated response will provide insight for the development of effective control measures against tuberculosis.
Ocorrência do ácaro fitófago Catarhinus tricholaenae Keifer (Acari: Diptilomiopidae) em cultivares de milho Bt

The objective of this study was to evaluate the occurrence of "microacaro-da-face-inferior-das-folhas-de-milho" Catarhinus tricholaenae Keifer (Acari: Diptilomiopidae) on transgenic cultivars of corn containing proteins Cry1F and Cry 1 A (b) and non-Bt corn. During the period from June 2010 to January 2011 were collected, every two weeks, five random samples of four leaves in plots of Bt corn containing the protein Cry 1F and Cry 1 A (b) and non-Bt corn in the experimental area of Embrapa Corn and Sorghum, Sete Lagoas, MG. The leaf samples were examined for 15 minutes in the central region of leaf in search of adult C. tricholaenae. We recorded 2930 individuals of C. tricholaenae, 1114 on Bt Cry 1F, 752 on Cry 1 A (b) and 1063 individuals on leaves of non-Bt cultivars. The highest average population abundances occurred in the months of November and December. Factors of plant phenological stage and rainfall positively affected the abundance of C. tricholaenae. The average abundance of the collection period of C. tricholaenae was reduced by cultivar corn containing Cry 1 A (b) protein. This is the first report of mites on the cultivars of transgenic corn in Brazil.