Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A comprehensive phylogeny of flat bark beetles (Coleoptera: Cucujidae) with a revised classification and a new South American genus

The phylogenetic relationships within the beetle family Cucujidae were investigated for the first time. Fifty‐seven morphological characters were used for maximum parsimony and Bayesian analyses. Mitochondrial genomes were generated from museum specimens through genome skimming and used for phylogenetic analyses in a maximum likelihood framework due to the difficulty in collecting many of the Cucujidae species and the lack of availability of ethanol‐preserved specimens. Both morphological and molecular analyses supported the monophyly of the four established genera: Cucujus Fabricius, Pediacus Shuckard, Palaestes Perty, and Platisus Erichson. They also led to the description of a new genus, Thesaurus gen.n. , from South America, and the recognition of two new subfamilies, Pediacinae subfam.n. and Platisinae subfam.n. Diagnoses of Cucujidae subfamilies and genera are provided along with illustrations and keys for their identification. Phylogenetic relationships between the genera were analysed and discussed based on morphological and molecular data. Three new species were described in Thesaurus gen.n. : T. albertalleni gen. et sp.n. from Venezuela, T. zaitsevi sp.n. from Peru, and T. macclarini sp.n. from Ecuador. Illustrations and a key to species are provided. The previously unknown larvae of Palaestes and Thesaurus are illustrated and described for the first time. The Eocene fossil species, Platisus punctatus (Ramírez, Corsolini & Di Iorio), from Patagonia, Argentina, is here transferred to the genus Thesaurus.
Finite‐time stability of switched nonlinear time‐delay systems

This article addresses the problem of finite‐time stability (FTS) and finite‐time contractive stability (FTCS) for switched nonlinear time‐delay systems (SNTDSs). By virtues of the Lyapunov‐Razumikhin method, Lyapunov functionals approach, and the comparison principle technique, we obtain some improved Razumikhin‐type theorems that verify FTS and FTCS property for SNTDSs. Moreover, our results allow the estimate of the upper bound of the derivatives for Lyapunov functions to be mode dependent functions which can be positive and negative. Meanwhile, the proposed results also improve the related existing results on the same topic by removing some restrictive conditions. Finally, two examples are presented to verify the effectiveness of our methods.
Comparison of the effect of two combinations of myo-inositol and D-chiro-inositol in women with polycystic ovary syndrome undergoing ICSI: a randomized controlled trial

Abstract The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of two doses of D-chiro-inositol (DCI) in combination with Myo-inositol (MYO) in women with PCOS undergoing ICSI. This was a multicenter controlled, randomized, double-blind parallel group study with two MYO-DCI formulations for 12 weeks. The study group (SG) was administered 550 mg of MYO + 150 mg of DCI twice daily; the control group (CG) was administered 550 mg of MYO + 13.8 mg of DCI twice daily. The participants comprised 60 women with PCOS undergoing ICSI. At baseline, no differences were found between the two groups regarding age, BMI, HOMA-IR or testosterone levels. The pregnancy and live birth rates were significantly higher in the SG than in the CG (65.5 vs. 25.9 and 55.2 vs. 14.8, respectively) [risk ratio (RR) = 0.4; 95%CI (0.2, 0.79); p = . 003 and RR = 0.27; 95%CI (0.10, 0.70); p = . 002 respectively]. The risk of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) was lower in the SG (3.44 vs. 18.5%, p = .07). The combination of MYO-DCI at high doses of DCI improves the pregnancy rates and reduces the risk of OHSS in women with PCOS undergoing ICSI.
Deletion of the KH1 Domain of Fmr1 Leads to Transcriptional Alterations and Attentional Deficits in Rats

Abstract Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is a neurodevelopmental disorder caused by mutations in the FMR1 gene. It is a leading monogenic cause of autism spectrum disorder and inherited intellectual disability and is often comorbid with attention deficits. Most FXS cases are due to an expansion of CGG repeats leading to suppressed expression of fragile X mental retardation protein (FMRP), an RNA-binding protein involved in mRNA metabolism. We found that the previously published Fmr1 knockout rat model of FXS expresses an Fmr1 transcript with an in-frame deletion of exon 8, which encodes for the K-homology (KH) RNA-binding domain, KH1. Notably, 3 pathogenic missense mutations associated with FXS lie in the KH domains. We observed that the deletion of exon 8 in rats leads to attention deficits and to alterations in transcriptional profiles within the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), which map to 2 weighted gene coexpression network modules. These modules are conserved in human frontal cortex and enriched for known FMRP targets. Hub genes in these modules represent potential therapeutic targets for FXS. Taken together, these findings indicate that attentional testing might be a reliable cross-species tool for investigating FXS and identify dysregulated conserved gene networks in a relevant brain region.
Evolution of structural and functional properties of the Fe/BaTiO3 system guided by mechanochemical and thermal treatment

Multiferroic systems are attractive to the researches worldwide due to diversity of existing applications, as well as possible novel ones. In order to contribute to understanding of the processes that take place within the structure of such a system, we subjected it to mechanochemical activation and thermal treatment. Powdery mixtures of iron and barium titanate in a mass ratio of 30% Fe and 70% BaTiO3 were activated in a planetary ball mill for time duration of 30 to 300 min and subsequently sintered at 1200? C in the atmosphere of air. During the activation the system undergoes structural phase transitions, whereby the content of iron and its oxides changes. The highest Fe content was observed in the sample activated for 270 min, with local maxima in crystallite size and microstrain values and a minimum in dislocation density. The complex dielectric permittivity changes in the applied radio frequency field, rangingfrom 176.9 pF/m in thesample activated for 90 min to 918.1 pF/m in the sample activated for 180 min. As the frequency of the field increases, an exponential decrease in the magnetic with a simultaneous increase in the electrical energy losses is noticeable. The system exhibits ferromagnetic resonance, whereby longer activation in the mill shifts the resonant frequency to higher values. Negative electrical resistance was observed in all analyzed samples. The activation time changes both the demagnetization temperature and the Curie temperature of the samples undergoing heating and cooling cycles in the external permanent magnetic field. Curie temperature is the highest in the sample activated for 240 min. Thermal treatment increases the initial magnetization of all samples, with the most pronounced increase of ~95% in the sample activated for 300 min.
The Complex Relation Between Receptivity to Pseudo-Profound Bullshit and Political Ideology

This research systematically mapped the relationship between political ideology and receptivity to pseudo-profound bullshit—that is, obscure sentences constructed to impress others rather than convey truth. Among Swedish adults (N = 985), bullshit receptivity was (a) robustly positively associated with socially conservative (vs. liberal) self-placement, resistance to change, and particularly binding moral intuitions (loyalty, authority, purity); (b) associated with centrism on preference for equality and even leftism (when controlling for other aspects of ideology) on economic ideology self-placement; and (c) lowest among right-of-center social liberal voters and highest among left-wing green voters. Most of the results held up when we controlled for the perceived profundity of genuine aphorisms, cognitive reflection, numeracy, information processing bias, gender, age, education, religiosity, and spirituality. The results are supportive of theoretical accounts that posit ideological asymmetries in cognitive orientation, while also pointing to the existence of bullshit receptivity among both right- and left-wingers.
Avalanches and mixing behavior of porous 316L stainless steel under tension

The investigation of acoustic emission (AE) reveals mixing of avalanche processes in porous 316L stainless steel. One avalanche mechanism relates to the movement of dislocations, the other to crack propagation. Both mechanisms occur under different external tensions: small tension dislodges dislocations while crack propagation occurs at much higher tension close to the mechanical failure point. In an intermediate overlap regime, both effects occur simultaneously. The avalanche related power laws show a mixing behavior where the higher avalanche exponents form an upper limit for the mixing curve and the lower exponent is approached asymptotically for strong AE signals. The power law probability distribution functions, show a characteristic upwards bend near the crossover between the two mechanisms. The three regimes, namely, the dislocation movement, mixing, and crack propagation, are confirmed by other avalanche characteristics: the sparseness of the AE spectra, the avalanche exponents of energy, amplitude, and duration. Only the crack propagation follows mean field predictions, while the dislocation movements (in confined spaces) deviates significantly from mean field behavior with much greater exponents than those predicted in this approximation. We demonstrate that apparent deviations from scale invariance are, in reality, the result of two superimposed avalanche processes whereby each of them remains scale invariant. The seeming deviations from scale invariance are actually superposition effects.The investigation of acoustic emission (AE) reveals mixing of avalanche processes in porous 316L stainless steel. One avalanche mechanism relates to the movement of dislocations, the other to crack propagation. Both mechanisms occur under different external tensions: small tension dislodges dislocations while crack propagation occurs at much higher tension close to the mechanical failure point. In an intermediate overlap regime, both effects occur simultaneously. The avalanche related power laws show a mixing behavior where the higher avalanche exponents form an upper limit for the mixing curve and the lower exponent is approached asymptotically for strong AE signals. The power law probability distribution functions, show a characteristic upwards bend near the crossover between the two mechanisms. The three regimes, namely, the dislocation movement, mixing, and crack propagation, are confirmed by other avalanche characteristics: the sparseness of the AE spectra, the avalanche exponents of energy, amplitud.
AB1044 CYTOKINE PROFILE OF MACROPHAGE ACTIVATION SYNDROME ASSOCIATED WITH KAWASAKI DISEASE

Background Macrophage activation syndrome (MAS) is a severe, potentially life-threatening complication of childhood systemic inflammatory disorders. MAS occurs most often in children with systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis and less commonly in children with Kawasaki disease (KD). Objectives Our study aimed to assess the kinetics of cytokine release and compare the accuracy of serum biomarkers for diagnosis of MAS, including neopterin, IL-18, IL-6 and soluble TNF receptor type I (sTNFR-I) and sTNFR-II levels, we analysed these levels in patients with KD, including those with MAS, and compared them to the clinical features of KD and MAS. Methods Serum neopterin, interleukin (IL)-18, IL-6 and soluble tumour necrosis factor receptor type I (sTNFR-I) and sTNFR-II levels were determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 78 patients with KD, including five with MAS. Results were compared to the clinical features of MAS. Results Serum neopterin, IL-18, sTNFR-II levels and sTNFR-II/I ratio were significantly elevated in KD patients with MAS compared to those in the acute phase. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis revealed areas under the curve and cutoff values of neopterin, IL-18, sTNFR-II levels and sTNFR-II/I ratio were 0.9750/30.0 nmol/L, 0.9813/1165 ng/mL, 0.9969/16,600 pg/mL and 0.9875/4.475, respectively. Serum sTNFR-II levels correlated positively with disease activity. Conclusion These findings indicate that interferon (IFN)–γ and tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) are closely associated with the pathogenesis of MAS associated with KD. Serum sTNFR-II levels might be a useful marker to diagnose the transition to MAS. References [1] García-Pavón S, et al. J Pediatr Hematol Oncol 2017;39:445-451. [2] Shimizu M, et al. Cytokine 2018;108:168-172. Disclosure of Interests None declared
Microbiological Evaluation of Milk Quality and Antibiogram in Dairy Cows Managed on Pasture

Mastitis is a disease in dairy cattle that damage the milk chain. It was aimed identify the major causative agents of bovine mastitis in small dairy farms by producing an antibiogram and analysis of milk quality. Methods: During the summer, 280 dairy cows were examined on a farm located in Camapua, MS, Brazil. The farm had a concrete milking facility and used cleaning and disinfection of the udder before and after milking to control mastitis. For assess microbial resistance, two samples of milk per cow were collected biweekly between January and March. The antibiotics sulfazotrim (25 μg), penicillin (10 μg), streptomycin (10 μg), vancomycin (30 μg), chloramphenicol (30 μg), tetracycline (30 μg), amoxicillin (10 μg), and gentamycin (10 μg) were used. Results: A total of 17.14% of the animals were positive for the California Mastitis Test (CMT). The identification of the pathogens revealed that Staphylococcus aureus accounted for 41.65% of the isolated organisms and Escherichia coli for 37.5%. Our results showed only sulfazotrim and chloramphenicol had effective results for both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. The isolated strains presented high resistance to the other tested antibiotics. Conclusions: sulfazotrim (25 μg) and chloramphenicol (30 μg) can be used to disinfect the udder of dairy cows.
Productive and reproductive performance of Holstein cows in Agreste, Pernambuco, from 2007 to 2017

The aim of this study was to assess the productive and reproductive performance of Holstein cows grown in the Agreste region of Pernambuco. Dairy records were collected from three farms located in the Agreste region of the state of Pernambuco each month between 2007 and 2017. According to the National Institute of Meteorology the average annual temperature during the collection period was 24.21 oC, mean annual rainfall was 551.7 mm and mean annual relative humidity was 75.92%. A total of 42,677 data points concerning milk production, milk components and somatic cell score (SCS), as well as other zootechnical information regarding reproductive management, are analyzed herein. In order to assess cow productive performance, lactation curve estimates were performed according to calving order by applying the Wood model, while milk production, milk components and SCS were analyzed according to calving order and farm, season, calving year and the interaction between calving order and season. Regarding reproductive evaluations, farm effects on indices such as age at first calving (IPP), calving interval (IP) and service period (PS) were evaluated. Data were processed using analysis of variance SAS PROC GLM commands, while PROC NLIN commands were used to estimate the curves. Significant (p < 0.05) farm, calving order, season, calving year and interaction effects on production values, milk composition and SCS were noted. Higher amounts of certain milk components (lactose, total solids and non-fat solids) were observed in primiparous cows. Multiparous cows were the most productive in relation to the amount of milk produced milk (34.15 kg/milk/day) and, consequently, presented the highest SCS (4.48). The Wood model showed a good fit of lactation curve characterized by an ascending phase until peaking and a descending phase following the peak. Regarding the assessed reproductive indices, a significant effect (p < 0.05) of farm was observed on IP and PS. The parameters calving order, farm, season, year of calving, interaction between calving order and season, as well as the effect of farm on reproductive indices (IP and PS) are the most important factors in the evaluation of production and milk quality of cows raised in semiarid environments.
Outpatient Palliative Care: A case study illustrating clinic support offered to patients receiving cancer treatment

BACKGROUND: Palliative care programs in the United States are becoming more integrated with oncology outpatient practices. OBJECTIVES: This article offers a condensed review of available literature on the usefulness of palliative care in the oncology clinic setting and a case study to illustrate these ideas. METHODS: Literature was reviewed related to the successes and failures of providing an embedded palliative care team in an oncology clinic and its role and effectiveness as part of a collaborative interprofessional team for patients with cancer. FINDINGS: The incorporation of palliative care into outpatient oncology clinics presented a reduction in symptom burden, financial burden, and emergency department visits for symptom management. Palliative care also facilitates increased communication between patients and providers to ensure that care meets patients' wishes.
Elucidating the functional interplay between Parkinson’s disease-related proteins and the mitochondrion

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a common neurodegenerative disorder of unknown etiology, affecting nearly 5% of the world population over the age of 80. Nearly 10% of PD cases are familial forms with Mendelian inheritance pattern. Mitochondrial dysfunction has long been suspected to play a role in the physiopathology of sporadic PD. This possibility has been recently corroborated by major discoveries in the field of autosomal recessive PD. Parkin and PINK1, the products of two genes associated with these forms, participate in a common molecular pathway focused on maintenance of mitochondrial quality, with roles in mitochondrial transport, dynamics, biogenesis and clearance.The aim of this work was to elucidate some of the molecular mechanisms underlying the regulation of mitochondrial homeostasis by Parkin and PINK1. We used a combination of approaches in molecular and cell biology, biochemistry and confocal microscopy to identify and characterize molecular interactors of Parkin and PINK1 on the outer mitochondrial membrane (OMM). In the first part of my project, we discovered that Parkin and PINK1 associate on dysfunctional mitochondria in proximity of the translocase of the OMM (TOM), a complex devoted to the mitochondrial import of the vast majority of the mitochondrial proteins. We provided evidence that these associations play a key role in activation of the mitochondrial degradation program mediated by the PINK1/Parkin pathway. We also observed that the dynamin-related GTPase Drp1, involved in mitochondrial fission is recruited to defective mitochondria in proximity of Parkin and PINK1, suggesting that mitochondrial fission occurs at sites where mitochondrial clearance is initiated.In the second part of my project, we characterized the functional interaction between Parkin and the multifunctional neuroprotective mitochondrial matrix enzyme 17B-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 10 (HSD17B10), previously found by the team to be altered in abundance in Parkin-deficient mice. We demonstrated that HSD17B10 exerts a mitochondrion-protective function independent of its enzymatic activity. In addition, we provided evidence that Parkin directly interacts with HSD17B10 at the TOM machinery and that it positively regulates its mitochondrial levels, possibly through the regulation of its mitochondrial import.Altogether, these results provide novel insights into the molecular mechanisms by which Parkin and PINK1 control mitochondrial quality, and deepen our understanding of the role of these proteins in the physiopathology of autosomal recessive PD.
Comparison of the psychometric properties of the EQ-5D-3L and SF-6D in the general population of Chengdu city in China

Abstract The EQ-5D-3L and SF-6D are the most commonly used economic evaluation instruments. Data comparing the psychometric properties of the instruments are scarce in the Chinese population. This study compared the psychometric properties of these measures in the Chinese general population in Chengdu. From October to December 2012, 2186 respondents (age ≥18) were selected from urban and rural areas of Chengdu, China, via multistage stratified cluster sampling. Correlations, scatter plots and Bland-Altman plots were used to explore the relationships between the 2 measures. Ceiling and floor effects were used to analyze the score distribution. The known-groups method was used to evaluate discriminant validity. Among 2186 respondents, 2182 completed the questionnaire, and 2178 (18–82 years old, mean 46.09 ± 17.49) met the data quality requirement. The mean scores for the EQ-5D-3LCN, EQ-5D-3LUK, and SF-6DUK were 0.95 (Std: 0.11), 0.93 (Std: 0.15), and 0.79 (Std: 0.12), respectively. The correlations between domains ranged from 0.16 to 0.51. The correlation between the EQ-5D-3LCN and SF-6DUK and between the EQ-5D-3LUK and SF-6DUK was 0.46. The scatter plots and Bland-Altman plots demonstrated poor agreement between the EQ-5D-3L and SF-6D. The floor and ceiling effects were respectively 0.05% and 74.60% for the EQ-5D-3L and 0.05% and 2.53% for the SF-6DUK. The EQ-5D-3LCN, EQ-5D-3LUK and SF-6D have good discriminant validity in different sociodemographic and health condition groups. The SF-6D has higher level of discriminant validity in moderately healthy groups in the EQ-5D-3L full-health population. Both the EQ-5D-3L and SF-6D are valid economic evaluation instruments in the Chinese general population in Chengdu but do not seem to be interchangeable. The EQ-5D-3L has a higher ceiling effect and higher level of discriminant validity among different sociodemographic groups, and the SF-6D has a lower ceiling effect and higher level of discriminant validity in health condition groups. Users may consider the evidence in the choice of these instruments.