Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Influence of the plant interacting entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana on parasitoid host choice-behavior, development, and plant defense pathways

Inoculating plants with entomopathogenic fungi may influence plant nutrient uptake and growth, and herbivore performance. Knowledge is limited concerning the effects of this symbiosis on higher trophic levels. We examined how fungal treatment of faba bean seeds with the entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana influenced the choice-behavior and development of the aphid parasitoid Aphidius colemani. We also sampled plant material for analysis of changes in expression of genes related to plant defense pathways. While parasitoids were compatible with plants inoculated with B. bassiana initially (66 vs. 65% parasitization on inoculated and control plants, respectively; similar development times of parasitoids: 9.2 days), the emergence of adult parasitoids originating from aphids on fungus treated plants was significantly lower (67 vs. 76%, respectively). We also found that the defense response changed, similar to induced systemic resistance, when plants were treated with B. bassiana, similarly to what has been found for other plant symbiotic microorganisms. These novel findings show that although the application of entomopathogenic fungi to plants can alter the plants’ defense against herbivores, it may also have an impact on beneficial insects, so their function and use should be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
Fecal Microbiota Transplantation for the Treatment of Refractory Recurrent Urinary Tract Infection.

INTRODUCTION Fecal microbiota transplantation is a treatment for recurrent Clostridium difficile infection. A decrease in urinary tract infections (UTIs) has been observed after fecal microbiota transplantation for C. difficile and in a case report for treatment of recurrent UTI.1,2 Microbiota transplantation is thought to increase gut species diversity and may reduce relative abundance of uropathogens.2–4 We hypothesized that this treatment might reduce the number of symptomatic UTIs by altering the gut microbiome.
Insights Into the Controversial Aspects of Adiponectin in Cardiometabolic Disorders

Abstract In 2016, the World Health Organization estimated that more than 1.9 billion adults were overweight or obese. This impressive number shows that weight excess is pandemic. Overweight and obesity are closely associated with a high risk of comorbidities, such as insulin resistance and its most important outcomes, including metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and cardiovascular disease. Adiponectin has emerged as a salutary adipocytokine, with insulin-sensitizing, anti-inflammatory, and cardiovascular protective properties. However, under metabolically unfavorable conditions, visceral adipose tissue-derived inflammatory cytokines might reduce the transcription of the adiponectin gene and consequently its circulating levels. Low circulating levels of adiponectin are negatively associated with various conditions, such as insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes mellitus, metabolic syndrome, and cardiovascular disease. In contrast, several recent clinical trials and meta-analyses have reported high circulating adiponectin levels positively associated with cardiovascular mortality and all-cause mortality. These results are biologically intriguing and counterintuitive, and came to be termed “the adiponectin paradox”. Adiponectin paradox is frequently associated with adiponectin resistance, a concept related with the downregulation of adiponectin receptors in insulin-resistant states. We review this contradiction between the apparent role of adiponectin as a health promoter and the recent evidence from Mendelian randomization studies indicating that circulating adiponectin levels are an unexpected predictor of increased morbidity and mortality rates in several clinical conditions. We also critically review the therapeutic perspective of synthetic peptide adiponectin receptors agonist that has been postulated as a promising alternative for the treatment of metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Association of Prior Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease with Dementia After Stroke: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Background: Prior atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), including coronary heart disease (CHD) and peripheral artery disease (PAD), are common among patients with stroke, a known risk factor for dementia. However, whether these conditions further increase the risk of post-stroke dementia remains uncertain. Objective: To examine whether prior ASCVD is associated with increased risk of dementia among stroke patients. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted using the Clinical Practice Research Datalink with linkage to hospital data. Patients with first-ever stroke between 2006 and 2017 were followed up to 10 years. We used multi-variable Cox regression models to examine the associations of prior ASCVD with dementia and the impact of prior ASCVD onset and duration. Results: Among 63,959 patients, 7,265 cases (11.4%) developed post-stroke dementia during a median of 3.6-year follow-up. The hazard ratio (HR) of dementia adjusted for demographics and lifestyle was 1.18 (95% CI: 1.12–1.25) for ASCVD, 1.16 (1.10–1.23) for CHD, and 1.25 (1.13–1.37) for PAD. The HRs additionally adjusted for multimorbidity and medications were 1.07 (1.00–1.13), 1.04 (0.98–1.11), and 1.11 (1.00–1.22), respectively. Based on the fully adjusted estimates, there was no linear relationship between the age of ASCVD onset and post-stroke dementia (all p-trend >0.05). The adjusted risk of dementia was not increased with the duration of pre-stroke ASCVD (all p-trend >0.05). Conclusion: Stroke patients with prior ASCVD are more likely to develop subsequent dementia. After full adjustment for confounding, however, the risk of post-stroke dementia is attenuated, with only a slight increase with prior ASCVD.
EGFR‐mediated tyrosine phosphorylation of STING determines its trafficking route and cellular innate immunity functions

STING (STimulator of INterferon Genes) mediates protective cellular response to microbial infection and tissue damage, but its aberrant activation can lead to autoinflammatory diseases. Upon ligand stimulation, the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) protein STING translocates to endosomes for induction of interferon production, while an alternate trafficking route delivers it directly to the autophagosomes. Here, we report that phosphorylation of a specific tyrosine residue in STING by the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is required for directing STING to endosomes, where it interacts with its downstream effector IRF3. In the absence of EGFR‐mediated phosphorylation, STING rapidly transits into autophagosomes, and IRF3 activation, interferon production, and antiviral activity are compromised in cell cultures and mice, while autophagic activity is enhanced. Our observations illuminate a new connection between the tyrosine kinase activity of EGFR and innate immune functions of STING and suggest new experimental and therapeutic approaches for selective regulation of STING functions.
Effect of pruning and planting systems on growth, flowering, fruiting and yield of guava cv. Sardar

In present investigation, the effect of planting systems and pruning on growth, flowering, fruiting and yield of guava cv. Sardar was studied with two pruning levels, i.e. one leaf pair pruning and unpruned (control) and five planting systems, i.e. square, hedgerow, double-hedgerow, paired and cluster planting. Results revealed that regardless of planting systems, one leaf pair pruning significantly decreased the annual increment in tree height, tree spread, trunk diameter and tree volume as compared to control. Annual increase in tree height (1.63 m) was maximum in double-hedgerow system, while tree spread (1.92 m), trunk diameter (13.3 m) and tree volume (1.80 m3) was maximum in square system of planting with one leaf pair pruning during both the years. Number of flower buds was significantly increased with one leaf pair pruning during winter season crop and maximum number of flower buds (62.2) was found in the treatment combination of one leaf pair pruning and square system of planting. One leaf pair pruning significantly increased the winter season crop as compared to unpruned (control) in all planting systems. In rainy season, the maximum yield (66.0 and 2.77 kg/tree, respectively) was obtained from the treatment combination of unpruned and square system of planting, whereas, in winter season of the same year, maximum yield (62.4 and 2.95 kg/tree, respectively) was obtained from treatment combination of one leaf pair pruning and square system of planting. Thus, it can be concluded that one leaf pair pruning in guava cv. Sardar planted under square system is useful to maximize yield in winter season crop under terai regions.
The role of working memory capacity in spatial learning depends on spatial information integration difficulty in the environment.

A substantial amount of research has been conducted to uncover factors underlying the pronounced individual differences in spatial navigation. Spatial working memory capacity (SWM) is shown to be one important factor. In other domains such as reading comprehension, the role of working memory capacity in task performance differences depends on the difficulty of other task demands. In the current study, we investigated whether, similarly, the relationship between SWM and spatial performance was dependent on the difficulty of spatial information integration in the environment. Based on our prior work, spatial information integration difficulty depends on (a) difficulty in observing spatial relationships between locations of interest in the environment and (b) the individual's ability to integrate such relationships. Leveraging virtual reality, we manipulated the difficulty in observing the spatial relationships during learning by changing the visibility of the buildings, and measured individual's self-report sense of direction (SOD) which modulates the ability to integrate such relationships under different degrees of visibility. We consistently found that in the "easy" spatial integration condition (high SOD with high visibility), high SWM did not significantly improve spatial learning. The same pattern was observed in the difficult condition (low SOD with low visibility). On the other hand, high SWM improved spatial learning for medium difficulty (high SOD with low visibility, or vice versa). Together, our results reveal that the role of SWM in spatial learning differences depends on spatial integration difficulty. Our results also have significant applied implications for using virtual reality to target and facilitate spatial learning. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).
Potential protease inhibitors and their combinations to block SARS-CoV-2

Abstract COVID-19, which has emerged recently as a pandemic viral infection caused by SARS-coronavirus 2 has spread rapidly around the world, creating a public health emergency. The current situation demands an effective therapeutic strategy to control the disease using drugs that are approved, or by inventing new ones. The present study examines the possible repurposing of existing anti-viral protease inhibitor drugs. For this, the structural features of the viral spike protein, the substrate for host cell protease and main protease of the available SARS CoV-2 isolates were established by comparing with related viruses for which antiviral drugs are effective. The results showed 97% sequence similarity among SARS and SARS-CoV-2 main protease and has same cleavage site positions and ACE2 receptor binding region as in the SARS–CoV spike protein. Though both are N-glycosylated, unlike SARS-CoV, human SARS-CoV-2 S-protein was O-glycosylated as well. Molecular docking studies were done to explore the role of FDA approved protease inhibitors to control SARS-CoV-2 replication. The results indicated that, Ritonavir has the highest potency to block SARS-CoV-2 main protease and human TMPRSS2, a host cell factor that aids viral infection. Other drugs such as Indinavir and Atazanavir also showed favourable binding with Cathepsin B/L that helped viral fusion with the host cell membrane. Further molecular dynamics simulation and MM-PBSA binding free energy calculations confirmed the stability of protein-drug complexes. These results suggest that protease inhibitors particularly Ritonavir, either alone or in combination with other drugs such as Atazanavir, have the potential to treat COVID 19. Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma
Heparins in Thrombosis and Cancer

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Animal behaviour and environment in the dark-cutting condition in beef--a review

Dark-cuttting or high-pH meat is a persistent quality defect found in all meat species. Caused by a lack of normal acidification of meat during rigor development, dark-cutting is a direct consequence of low muscle glycogen at slaughter. Glycogen breakdown in muscle may be rapidly triggered by increased circulating adrenaline or by strenuous muscular activity. In addition, glycogen is slowly depleted during starvation. Any behaviour and environmental circumstances that trigger one or more of these glycogen breakdown mechanisms will cause dark-cutting if the stress is allowed to persist for sufficient time. Mounting activity is the behaviour most closely associated with muscle glycogen depletion and dark-cutting in beef. This behaviour is stimulated by social regrouping, as in mixed penning of young bulls, and also by oestrus in groups of females. Lairage modifications aimed at reducing mounting activity during the preslaughter period have been successful. Short-haul road transport is not associated with dark-cutting in beef but there is evidence that some lambs may be affected, even by relatively short journeys. Long-haul road transport resulted in small increases in beef final pH and these may be reversed by resting and feeding before slaughter. Fasting did not cause dark-cutting in beef or lamb; however, it lowered muscle glycogen reserves, thus rendering an animal more susceptible to dark-cutting from additional sources of stress. Fasting also inhibited muscle glycogen resynthesis during recovery after stress. There is a good theoretical basis, although little experimental evidence, to link cold exposure with dark-cutting meat. The use of beta-agonists as growth promoters may increase the incidence of dark-cutting meat unless a sufficent withdrawal period before slaughter is observed. Rates of glycogen resynthesis are slower in ruminants than in monogastrics, probably due to the lower availability of glucose in ruminants. Although drug interventions Vere unsuccessful in stimulating glycogen recovery during a rest period following stress, quality of feed was very important.
Life Expectancy in Chinese Cities: Spatially Varied Role of Socioeconomic Development, Population Structure, and Natural Conditions

Improving life expectancy, as well as people’s health and wellbeing, is an important goal both for the Chinese government and the United Nations. Therefore, to analyze the main factors influencing life expectancy in prefecture-level cities in China, this study uses classical ordinary least-squares regression and geographical weighted regression on the data of the latest census. Moreover, regional differences induced by each influencing factor are also depicted in this study. The results demonstrate that there is significant heterogeneity and spatial positive correlation among the distribution of life expectancy in prefecture-level cities, with a generally higher life expectancy in the provincial capitals and eastern China, and lower in western China. The geographically weighted regression analysis shows that the economic development level, medical conditions, demographic structure, natural environment, and city attributes all affect the distribution of life expectancy, but that their effects have significant spatial heterogeneity. Life expectancy of the less developed areas in Western China is affected dominantly by economic development level, whereas medical services and education are of great importance in determining the life expectancy in Northern and Southern China, respectively. Thus, it is crucial to solve health problems based on local conditions, especially focusing on the improvement of health and health care in underdeveloped areas. Meanwhile, for the eastern developed areas, special attention should be paid to environmental protection in the economic process, while striving to achieve high-quality development.
Implementation of Nursing Evidence -Based Practices in managing Intradialytic Hypotension during Hemodialysis sessions: A Quasi-experimental study

Background:Intradialytic Hypotension (IDH) is considering an important clinical health problem and may increase of mortality rate. Nurses at the dialysis unit facing a great challenge to manage patients with IDH. Practically using nursing evidence-based practices (EBP) is required to provide appropriate nursing care and improve patient outcomes. Aim:The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of applying nursing evidencebased practices in managing intradialytic hypotension (IDH) during hemodialysis sessions. Methods: The Quasi-experimental study was conducted in the dialysis unit of Hurghada government hospital (OctoberDecember 2017) on 47 patients 24-70 years old, on maintenance hemodialysis therapy. Data were collected using a developed structured questionnaire to assess patients’ socio-demographic data, disease characteristics, and hemodialysis session records. The nursing evidence-based practices as developed based on literature and applied by the researcher. Results:The results have shown that patients’ duration of dialysis mean ±SD (26.97±18.22) months and the main cause of ESRD among study sample was diabetes mellitus (38.3%), and the interdialytic weight gain ranged between 1 kg to 6 kg with mean±SD (2702.12±1369.93) grams. The blood pressure reading average highlighted that around 12% (n=6) were complaining of Intradialytic Hypotension (IDH) after assessment for 6 consecutive sessions. Moreover, the significant findings of the physical assessment for the patients with IDH was reported vomiting (67%), nausea (83%), cramps (83%). And other symptoms as headache (57%) and dizziness (67%). Statistically significant improvements were revealed between pre-post nursing intervention using EBP in the Systolic Blood Pressure (SBP), Diastolic Blood Pressure (DBP), and Mean Arterial Blood Pressure (MAP) scores, p<0.000. In conclusion, Nurses are playing a crucial role in the dialysis unit, implementation of EBP to managing patient with IDH was effective as guidelines to use cool Dialysate, high dialysate Ca concentration, reevaluate the dry weight, Trendelenburg position, slow Ultrafiltration rate, modification of dialysis session scheduling, provide continues Monitoring, aerobic exercise, prohibit eating during the dialysis session, fluid restriction, low salt diet, using of Midodrine and adjust antihypertensive drug.
The Rise of Dementia With Lewy Bodies: Nursing Interventions and Implications

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Age and dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) are highly associated. As the elderly population in the United States increases, so will the incidence of DLB. Nurses increasingly can expect to care for this population. This article will examine and explain the current literature describing the state of DLB as well as best practices for nursing care of physical, psychosocial, and educational needs of DLB patients, families, and caregivers. METHODS: CINAHL Complete and Google Scholar were used to search for relevant literature within the last 6 years. The following keywords were used alone or in combination: “Lewy,” “Lewy body,” “dementia,” “aging,” “caregiver,” “support,” and “nursing. ” RESULTS: Eighty articles were reviewed and 26 were chosen, along with 1 government website, for this review article. Dementia with Lewy bodies is defined, and the presentation is described. Behavioral and psychological, motor, autonomic, and cognitive symptoms most common and those considered to be hallmarks are explained. Diagnosis and both pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic treatments, along with nursing implications and interventions, are provided. CONCLUSION: Early recognition of signs and symptoms of DLB helps to provide timely diagnosis and appropriate treatment. The importance of knowledge acquisition for nurses to better care for DLB patients and their families is addressed throughout the article.
Artificial lateral line based relative state estimation between an upstream oscillating fin and a downstream robotic fish

The lateral line enables fish to efficiently sense the surrounding environment, thus assisting flow-related fish behaviors. Inspired by this phenomenon, varieties of artificial lateral line systems (ALLSs) have been developed and applied to underwater robots. This article focuses on using the pressure sensor arrays based ALLS-measured hydrodynamic pressure variations (HPVs) for estimating the relative states between an upstream oscillating fin and a downstream robotic fish. The HPVs and relative states are measured in flume experiments in which the oscillating fin and the robotic fish have been locate with upstream-downstream formation in a flume. The relative states include the relative oscillating frequency, amplitude, and offset of the upstream oscillating fin to the downstream robotic fish, the relative vertical distance, the relative yaw angle, the relative pitch angle, and the relative roll angle between the upstream oscillating fin and the downstream robotic fish. Regression models between the ALLS-measured and the mentioned relative states are investigated, and regression models-based relative state estimations are conducted. Specifically, two criteria are proposed firstly to investigate not only the sensitivity of each pressure sensor to the variations of relative state but also the insufficiency and redundancy of the pressure sensors. And thus the pressure sensors used for regression analysis are determined. Then four typical regression methods, including random forest (RF) algorithm, support vector regression, back propagation neural network, and multiple linear regression method are used for establishing regression models between the ALLS-measured HPVs and the relative states. Then regression effects of the four methods are compared and discussed. Finally, the RF-based method, which has the best regression effect, is used to estimate the relative yaw angle and oscillating amplitude using the ALLS-measured HPVs and exhibits excellent estimation performance.