Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Cadmium‐induced changes in glutathione and phenolics of Thlaspi and Noccaea species differing in Cd accumulation

Glutathione (GSH) and phenolics play an important role in plant defense against metal-ion toxicity. The antioxidant activity and metal-binding capacity of these compounds can account for the protective effects. In contrast to animal-cell models, however, the possible interplay among these substances in stress defense of plants is poorly investigated. This study compares the influence of cadmium (Cd) on the profiles of both soluble phenolics and GSH in shoots of different Thlaspi and Noccaea species: two ecotypes of the nonhyperaccumulator T. arvense differing in Cd resistance (ecotype Aigues Vives, Cd-sensitive, and ecotype Jena, Cd-resistant) and two Cd-tolerant Cd-Zn hyperaccumulators N. praecox and N. caerulescens (formerly Thlaspi praecox and T. caerulescens). To reveal the possible influence of Cd-induced sulfur (S) shortage on the stress response, plants receiving normal S concentrations (500 μM MgSO4) and plants treated with surplus S (500 μM MgSO4 + 500 μM K2SO4) were analyzed. Our working hypothesis was that species differences in tolerance to high tissue Cd concentrations should be reflected by differences in endogenous levels of GSH and phenolic compounds. The results reveal clear species-dependent differences in both the constitutive patterns and the Cd- and S-induced changes in shoot concentrations of GSH and phenolics. However, no simple relationship between these shoot concentrations and Cd accumulation and tolerance can be established.
Structure analysis of the proteins associated with polyA repeat expansion disorders

Abstract Repeat regions are low-complexity regions in the human genome that largely code for intrinsic disorder in proteins. Expansions outside the normal thresholds in repeat regions are likely to be pathogenic, leading to the so-called repeat expansion diseases. There have been numerous studies on the most common group of repeat expansion diseases, which are the polyglutamine (polyQ) repeat expansion diseases, but there has been much less work done on the second-largest group of expansion repeats disorders, which involves the expansion of polyalanine (polyA) repeat tracts. In this article, we present a comprehensive study of the structural changes predicted using I-TASSER when comparing the wild type and enlarged structures of all known polyA expansion disorders. The results show that there is a reduction in α helices, an increase in extended strands in parallel and/or anti-parallel β-sheet conformation, an increase in random coils/loops and irregular elements, and a large increase in solvent-accessible surface area. When compared to the findings in polyQ expansions disorders we see similar trends, suggesting that the polyQ and polyA repeat expansion causes similar effects on the respective proteins, which lead to higher misfolding and aggregation propensities. Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma
Tolerance to sudden organic solvent shocks by soil bacteria and characterization of Pseudomonas putida strains isolated from toluene polluted sites

Upon a sudden addition of toluene to soil (10% vol/wt) a significant proportion (about 1%) of the soil indigenous bacteria survived, the survival ones recolonized the soil to reach a high cell density. Two bacterial strains called MTB5 and MTB6, which use toluene as the sole carbon and energy source, were isolated from the soil polluted with this large amount of toluene after 15 days incubation. The strains were taxonomically identified as Pseudomonas putida sensu stricto based on 16S rRNA sequences. Another strain (P. putida R1) isolated from a biofilm washed with toluene-polluted waters was also studied regarding toluene degradation and toluene tolerance. All three strains used the toluene dioxygenase pathway for toluene metabolism. Strain P. putida MTB6 was able to grow on liquid medium with 10% (vol/vol) toluene, whereas the other two strains did not grow at concentrations of toluene higher than 0.1% (vol/vol). All three strains grew in the presence of 1% (vol/vol) ethylbenzene. After exposure to arom.
Changes in Body Weight and Concurrent Changes in Cardiovascular Risk Profiles in Community Residents in Japan: the Hisayama Study

Aim: We investigated the influence of weight change on concurrent changes in predicted cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk and individual CVD risk factors over time. Methods: A total of 2,140 community-dwellers aged 40–74 years participated in both 2002 and 2007 health examinations. Obesity was defined as body mass index ≥ 25 kg/m 2 . Weight trajectories were classified as: “stable obese” (obese at both examinations), “obese to nonobese” (obese in 2002 but nonobese in 2007), “nonobese to obese” (nonobese in 2002 but obese in 2007), or “stable nonobese” (nonobese at both examinations). We compared changes in the model-predicted risk for CVD and individual CVD risk factors across weight-change categories. Results: The predicted risk for CVD increased during 5 years in all groups; the increment in the predicted risk for CVD was smallest in the obese to nonobese participants and steepest in the nonobese to obese subjects. Compared with the stable obese participants, the obese to nonobese participants had greater favorable changes in waist circumferences, blood pressure, fasting plasma glucose, serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, serum triglycerides, and liver enzymes. For all these parameters, opposite trends were observed when comparing the nonobese to obese participants with the stable nonobese group. Conclusions: We demonstrated the favorable association of losing weight in obese people and avoiding excessive weight gain in nonobese people with global risk of future CVD and individual CVD risk factors in a real-world setting. The findings could improve behavioral lifestyle interventions that provide information on the health consequences of weight change at health checkups.
Microbial memories: Sex‐dependent impact of the gut microbiome on hippocampal plasticity

Germ‐free rodents, raised in the absence of a measurable gut microbiome, have been a key model to study the microbiome‐gut‐brain axis. Germ‐free mice exhibit marked behavioural and neurochemical differences to their conventionally raised counterparts. It is as yet unclear how these neurochemical differences lead to the behavioural differences. Here, we test the electrophysiological properties of hippocampal plasticity in adult germ‐free mice and compare them to conventionally raised counterparts. Whilst basal synaptic efficacy and pre‐synaptic short‐term plasticity appear normal, we find a striking alteration of hippocampal long‐term potentiation specifically in male germ‐free slices. However, the spike output of these neurons remains normal along with altered input‐output coupling, potentially indicating homeostatic compensatory mechanisms, or an altered excitation/inhibition balance. To our knowledge this is the first time the electrophysiological properties of the hippocampus have been assessed in a microbiome deficient animal. Our data indicate that the absence of a microbiome alters integration of dendritic signalling in the CA1 region in mice.
Computer Methods and Programs in Biomedicine

Background and objective: In the diﬃcult problem of comparing countries regarding their lockdown mea- sures or deaths caused by the COVID-19, there is still no agreement on what is the best strategy to follow. Thus, we propose a new way of comparison countries that avoids the main diﬃculties in the comparison by using three-dimensional trajectories for this type of data. Methods: We introduce a new index to analyze the level of conﬁnement that each country was subject to overtime, based on the Community Mobility Reports published by Google resorting to Principal Component Analysis. Subsequently, by using longitudinal clustering, we divide the European countries into similar groups according to the COVID-19 obits and also to the conﬁnement index. However, to make the most out of the clustering methods we resort to artiﬁcial longitudinal data to evaluate both the methods and the indices. Results: By using artiﬁcial data, we discover that Calinski–Harabasz outperformed other internal indices in indicating the real number of clusters. The tests also suggested that K -means with Euclidean distance was the best method among the ones studied. With the application to both the mobility and fatalities datasets, we found two groups in each one. Conclusions: Our analysis enables us to discover that European northern countries had more mobility during the ﬁrst conﬁnement and that the deaths caused by
Dietary supplementation of essential oils and lysozyme reduces mortality and improves intestinal integrity of broiler chickens with necrotic enteritis.

The objective of this study was to investigate the individual and combined effects of essential oils (EO; comprised of thymol and carvacrol) and lysozyme on experimental NE in broiler chickens. A total of 320 1-day-old chicks were randomly assigned to five treatment groups: no-challenge control (NC), NC + C. perfringens challenge (CC), CC + 120 mg/kg of EO, CC + 100 mg/kg of lysozyme, and CC + 120 mg/kg of EO + 100 mg/kg of lysozyme. The results showed that EO or lysozyme decreased the mortality, alleviated the gut lesions, inhibited the liver Enterobacteriaceae carriage, and increased the villus height of the ileum compared with CC (p < .05), although the proliferation of C. perfringens in the ileum was not inhibited (p > .05). Moreover, EO or lysozyme was found to decrease the ileal concentration of sialic acid and the Mucin2 mRNA expression (p < .05). However, the blend of EO and lysozyme did not display significant effect on the NE-associated mortality or gut damage in contrast with CC (p > .05). In conclusion, these findings suggest the similar protective effects of EO and lysozyme in NE-associated mortality and intestinal impairment, but their blend did not exhibit ameliorative effect.
Minimally invasive surgery versus transcatheter aortic valve replacement: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) has recently been approved for use in patients who are at intermediate and low surgical risk. Moreover, recent years have witnessed a renewed interest in minimally invasive aortic valve replacement (miAVR). The present meta-analysis compared the outcomes of TAVR and miAVR in the management of aortic stenosis (AS). We conducted an electronic search across six databases from 2002 (TAVR inception) to December 2019. Data from relevant studies regarding the clinical and length of hospitalisation outcomes were extracted and analysed using R software. We identified a total of 11 cohort studies, of which seven were matched/propensity matched. Our analysis demonstrated higher rates of midterm mortality (≥1 year) with TAVR (risk ratio (RR): 1.93, 95% CI: 1.16 to 3.22), but no significant differences with respect to 1 month mortality (RR: 1.00, 95% CI: 0.55 to 1.81), stroke (RR: 1.08, 95% CI: 0.40 to 2.87) and bleeding (RR: 1.45, 95% CI: 0.56 to 3.75) rates. Patients undergoing TAVR were more likely to experience paravalvular leakage (RR: 14.89, 95% CI: 6.89 to 32.16), yet less likely to suffer acute kidney injury (RR: 0.38, 95% CI: 0.21 to 0.69) compared with miAVR. The duration of hospitalisation was significantly longer in the miAVR group (mean difference: 1.92 (0.61 to 3.24)). Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation assessment revealed ≤moderate quality of evidence in all outcomes. TAVR was associated with lower acute kidney injury rate and shorter length of hospitalisation, yet higher risks of midterm mortality and paravalvular leakage. Given the increasing adoption of both techniques, there is an urgent need for head-to-head randomised trials with adequate follow-up periods.
Metabolomic differences in blastocoel and uterine fluids collected in vivo by ultrasound biomicroscopy on rabbit embryos†

Abstract The success of embryo development and implantation depends in part on the environment in which the embryo evolves. However, the composition of the uterine fluid surrounding the embryo in the peri-implantation period remains poorly studied. In this work, we aimed to develop a new strategy to visualize, collect, and analyze both blastocoelic liquid and juxta-embryonic uterine fluid from in vivo peri-implantation rabbit embryos. Using high-resolution ultrasound biomicroscopy, embryos were observed as fluid-filled anechoic vesicles, some of which were surrounded by a thin layer of uterine fluid. Ultrasound-guided puncture and aspiration of both the blastocoelic fluid contained in the embryo and the uterine fluid in the vicinity of the embryo were performed. Using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, altogether 24 metabolites were identified and quantified, of which 21 were detected in both fluids with a higher concentration in the uterus compared to the blastocoel. In contrast, pyruvate was detected at a higher concentration in blastocoelic compared to uterine fluid. Two acidic amino acids, glutamate and aspartate, were not detected in uterine fluid in contrast to blastocoelic fluid, suggesting a local regulation of uterine fluid composition. To our knowledge, this is the first report of simultaneous analysis of blastocoelic and uterine fluids collected in vivo at the time of implantation in mammals, shedding new insight for understanding the relationship between the embryo and its local environment at this critical period of development. Summary sentence: Development of an innovative technique coupling ultrasound biomicroscopy, guided puncture, and nuclear magnetic resonance to characterize the in vivo uterine and blastocoelic microenvironment of the peri-implantation rabbit embryo. Graphical Abstract
Percutaneous mechanical thrombectomy in acute and subacute lower-extremity ischemia: impact of adjunctive, solely nonthrombolytic endovascular procedures.

PURPOSE We aimed to evaluate the role of adjunctive, solely nonthrombolytic endovascular therapy in treatment of acute lower-extremity ischemia by rotational percutaneous mechanical thrombectomy. METHODS A retrospective, single-center evaluation of 165 patients (167 limbs) that underwent rotational percutaneous mechanical thrombectomy between 2009 and 2016 was performed. RESULTS Rotational percutaneous mechanical thrombectomy was used as a single therapy in 9.0% (15 limbs), followed by percutaneous aspiration thrombectomy in 6.0% (10 limbs), percutaneous transluminal angioplasty in 19.8% (33 limbs) and stenting in 25.7% (43 limbs). Rotational percutaneous mechanical thrombectomy was followed by any combination of these three interventions in 39.5%. Clinical and technical success was documented in 92.2%, complications in 10.3% (n=17). No significant difference in clinical and technical success was observed using rotational percutaneous mechanical thrombectomy alone or with additional endovascular therapy. On a long-term basis, the re-ischemia-free survival was nearly twice as high as in previous studies that reported more cases treated by rotational percutaneous mechanical thrombectomy alone. CONCLUSION To assure a long-lasting primary patency after percutaneous mechanical thrombectomy, concomitant treatment of underlying lesions with adjunctive, nonthrombolytic endovascular methods should be considered.
Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) in cancer patients: psychometric properties and measurement invariance.

BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to evaluate the psychometric properties, convergent validity, and factorial invariance of the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) in cancer patients. METHOD Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was conducted to explore the scale's dimensionality and test for strong measurement invariance across sex and age in a cross-sectional, multicenter, prospective study. Patients completed the MSPSS and Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS). RESULTS A total of 925 consecutive patients were recruited in 13 hospitals between July 2015 and December 2018. The CFA indicated that the original three-factor model was replicated in patients with cancer. The results of the multi-group CFA revealed a strong invariance according to sex and age. The Spanish version of the MSPSS had high estimated reliability with values exceeding . 90. The simple sum of the items of each scale was a good indicator of oncology patients' perceived social support. The three MSPSS subscales correlated significantly with the SWLS. Women scored higher on social support by friends than men. CONCLUSION The Spanish version of the MSPSS proved to be a valid, reliable instrument to assess perceived social support in cancer patients.
Effort-Based Decision-Making for Exercise in People with Parkinson's Disease.

BACKGROUND People with Parkinson's disease (PwPD) are less active than their age-matched peers. Non-motor symptoms, specifically, deficient motivation, may influence decision-making for exercise due to the impaired mesolimbic dopaminergic pathway. OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to determine if effort-based decision-making for physical effort was different in PwPD compared to healthy controls. We sought to determine the relationship between effort-based decision making for exercise and a discrete motor task as well as the impact of components of motivation on decision-making for physical effort in PwPD. METHODS An effort-based decision-making paradigm using a discrete motor task (button pressing) and a continuous exercise task (cycling) was implemented in 32 PwPD and 23 healthy controls. Components of motivation were measured using the Apathy Scale and the Temporal Experience of Pleasure Scale- Anticipatory Pleasure scale. RESULTS The presence of Parkinson's disease (PD) did not moderate decisions for either physical effort task. There was a moderate correlation between decisions for both tasks, within each group. The anticipation of pleasure and apathy were predictors of decisions for both physical effort tasks in PwPD, but not in healthy controls. CONCLUSION PwPD responded similarly to effort and reward valuations compared to those without PD. Individuals were consistent in their decisions, regardless of the physical effort task. The anticipation of pleasure and apathy were significant predictors of decisions for exercise in PwPD only. Increased anticipation of pleasure, reduction of apathy, and the use of rewards may enhance engagement in high effort exercise among PwPD.
CORRELAÇÃO ENTRE A CONTAGEM DE CÉLULAS SOMÁTICAS E COMPOSIÇÃO QUÍMICA NO LEITE CRU RESFRIADO EM PROPRIEDADES DO RIO GRANDE DO NORTE

Due to the damage caused by subclinical mastitis in loss of production and quality of milk, the present study aimed to verify the correlation between somatic cell count (SCC) and the chemical composition of cooled raw milk collected in the Agreste region of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil, in drought and rain seasons. Samples were collected in seven dairy farms during morning time, between January 2010 and March 2012, and sent to the Brazilian et of Milk Quality Laboratory (ESALQ/USP). The contents of protein, fat, lactose, casein, total solids, nonfat dry extract and urea nitrogen, besides of SCC and total bacterial count were performed. Data were submitted to analysis of variance, correlation analysis and comparison of means by Tuckey test , 5%. The average SCC was 604,000 cells/mL and had significant variation in the dry period (558 000 cells/mL) and rainy (650 000 cells/mL). The SCC was positively correlated with fat and total solids but negatively with the lactose cow’s milk of bulk tank, regardless of the season in the Agreste of Rio Grande do Norte.
Possible ground states of rare-earth nickelates (RNiO3, R = La, Nd, Pr): a mean-field study

The ground states of rare-earth nickelates (RNiO3) are antiferromagnetic insulators except LaNiO3, which is a strongly correlated metal. Rare-earth nickelates (R ≠ La) undergo a sharp transition from a high-temperature paramagnetic metal to a low-temperature antiferromagnetic insulator at finite temperature TMI that increases with the increase in atomic number of the rare-earth ions. The magnetic and resistive transitions are coupled for NdNiO3 and PrNiO3, but independent for the other members of the series. Whether the antiferromagnetic and insulating ground states of nickelates are due to charge ordering, or orbital ordering, it is a matter of current dispute. The present paper intends to explain the difference in the observed ground states of RNiO3 compounds, by calculating their band structure and density of states. The experimentally observed ground states of nickelates have been explained on the basis of mean-field calculation and the correlation effect is incorporated in the dynamical mean-field theory thereof.
Cognitive-motor dual-task gait training within 3 years after stroke: A randomized controlled trial

ABSTRACT Background Dual-task gait training may improve dual-task gait speed after stroke, but the effects on the relative amount of dual-task interference are unclear. Objective To compare the efficacy of dual-task gait training (DTGT) and single-task gait training (STGT) on cognitive-motor dual-task interference after stroke. Methods 36 adults within 3 years of stroke were randomized 1:1 to STGT or DTGT, 3 times a week for 4 weeks. The primary outcomes were the relative dual-task effect on gait speed (DTEg, %) and cognitive task performance (DTEc, %) during walking at preferred and fast speed in two different dual-task conditions (auditory Stroop, auditory clock task). Results There were no treatment effects on DTEg or DTEc in either group for either dual-task at either walking speed. Across all participants, there were significant improvements in both single and dual-task gait speed in all conditions, without any relative change in the dual-task effect. Subgroup analysis suggested that those with greater interference at baseline may benefit more from DTGT. Conclusions DTGT and STGT improved single and dual-task gait speed but did not change the amount of relative interference. The findings may be confounded by an unexpectedly small amount of gait-related dual-task interference at baseline.
The effect of social media on patient acceptance of temporary anchorage devices: A cross-cultural study.

OBJECTIVES To investigate the relationship between the use of social networking sites (SNSs) on patient perceptions, acceptance, and expectations of treatment using temporary anchorage devices (TADs) and to compare differences between patients from the United Kingdom and Brazil. MATERIALS AND METHODS Cross-sectional questionnaires were administered to 39 participants at orthodontic practices in the United Kingdom and Brazil about patients' use of SNSs, exposure to TADs on SNSs, and thoughts on extractions, jaw surgery, or TADs as treatment options. RESULTS UK patients prefer for clinicians to have SNS profiles (P = .022). Most UK and Brazilian patients want to see their clinician's work online (76.7%) and use SNSs to get information about treatment options (76.6%). There was a statistically significant difference in Brazilian patients' acceptance of TADs as a treatment option compared with UK patients, particularly if it meant avoiding extractions (P = .002), avoiding jaw surgery (P = .004), or reducing treatment time (P = .010). Knowledge of TADs was greater in Brazilian patients (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS Patients use SNSs to obtain information about treatments and prefer clinicians to have social media accounts. Patients exposed to TADs on SNSs are more likely to accept them as an orthodontic treatment option. UK patients have less knowledge of TADs and are therefore less sure to consider TADs as an option. Brazilian patients are more confident in considering the use of TADs. Clinicians should consider increasing their social media presence to accommodate patients' expectations and acceptance of TADs.