Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Research Online Research

Background Wide evidence suggests that physical activity (PA) confers protection against Alzheimer’s disease (AD). On the other hand, the apolipoprotein E gene ( APOE ) ε4 allele represents the greatest genetic risk factor for develop‑ ing AD. Extensive research has been conducted to determine whether frequent PA can mitigate the increased AD risk associated with APOE ε4. However, thus far, these attempts have produced inconclusive results. In this context, one possible explanation could be that the influence of the combined effect of PA and APOE ε4 carriage might be dependent on the specific outcome measure utilised.
Pre-Pulse Inhibition of an escape response in adult fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster

Pre-Pulse Inhibition (PPI) is a neural process where suppression of a startle response is elicited by preceding the startling stimulus (Pulse) with a weak, non-startling one (Pre-Pulse). Defective PPI is widely employed as a behavioural endophenotype in humans and mammalian disorder-relevant models for neuropsychiatric disorders. We have developed a user-friendly, semi-automated, high-throughput-compatible Drosophila light-off jump response PPI paradigm, with which we demonstrate that PPI, with similar parameters measured in mammals, exists in adults of this model organism. We report that Drosophila PPI is affected by reduced expression of Dysbindin and both reduced and increased expression of Nmdar1 (N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor 1), perturbations associated with schizophrenia. Studying the biology of PPI in an organism that offers a plethora of genetic tools and a complex and well characterized connectome will greatly facilitate our efforts to gain deeper insight into the aetiology of human mental disorders, while reducing the need for mammalian models.
Advanced magnetic resonance imaging detects altered placental development in pregnancies affected by congenital heart disease

Congenital heart disease (CHD) is the most common congenital malformation and is associated with adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes. The placenta is crucial for healthy fetal development and placental development is altered in pregnancy when the fetus has CHD. This study utilized advanced combined diffusion-relaxation MRI and a data-driven analysis technique to test the hypothesis that placental microstructure and perfusion are altered in CHD-affected pregnancies. 48 participants (36 controls, 12 CHD) underwent 67 MRI scans (50 control, 17 CHD). Significant differences in the weighting of two independent placental and uterine-wall tissue components were identified between the CHD and control groups (both pFDR<0.001), with changes most evident after 30 weeks gestation. A Significant trend over gestation in weighting for a third independent tissue component was also observed in the CHD cohort (R = 0.50, pFDR=0.04), but not in controls. These findings add to existing evidence that placental development is altered in CHD. The results may reflect alterations in placental perfusion or the changes in fetal-placental flow, villous structure and maturation that occur in CHD. Further research is needed to validate and better understand these findings and to understand the relationship between placental development, CHD, and its neurodevelopmental implications.
Development and evaluation of a diverse dynamic global vegetation model based on plant functional tradeoffs

Dynamic Global Vegetation Models (DGVMs) typically abstract the immense diversity of vegetation forms and functioning into a relatively small set of predefined semiempirical Plant Functional Types (PFTs). There is growing evidence, however, from the field ecology community as well as from modelling studies that current PFT schemes may not adequately represent the observed variations in plant functional traits and their effect on ecosystem functioning. Also, these PFTs are defined a priori and their simulated distribution is often based on observed relationships between present-day climate and vegetation patterns. Climate model projections, however, point towards the possibility of regional climates without present-day analogs. This PhD study concerns the development, evaluation, and application of a novel global vegetation model, the Jena Diversity-DGVM, which seeks to overcome these deficits with a richer representation of functional diversity more closely based on first-principles. JeDi-DGVM simulates the performance of a large number of randomly-generated plant growth strategies (PGSs), each defined by a set of 15 trait parameters which characterize various aspects of plant functioning including carbon allocation, ecophysiology and phenology. Each trait parameter is involved in one or more functional tradeoffs. These tradeoffs ultimately determine whether a PGS is able to survive under the climatic conditions in a given model grid cell and its performance relative to the other PGSs. The biogeochemical fluxes and land-surface properties of the individual PGSs are aggregated to the grid cell scale using a mass-based weighting scheme based on the ‘biomass-ratio hypothesis. Simulated global biogeochemical and biogeographical patterns are evaluated against a variety of field and satellite-based observations following a protocol established by the Carbon-Land Model Intercomparison Project. The land surface fluxes and vegetation structural properties are reasonably well simulated by JeDi-DGVM, and compare favorably with other state-of-the-art terrestrial biosphere models. This is despite the parameters describing the ecophysiological functioning and allometry of JeDi-DGVM plants evolving as a function of vegetation survival in a given climate, as opposed to typical approaches that assign land surface parameters for each PFT a priori.
THE PLANKTONIC FORAMINIFERA OF THE YELLOW SEA AND THE EAST CHINA SEA

In the summer o? 1957, we started work on the foraminiferal fauna of our seas. The area of our investigation covered the Yellow Sea west of 124°E (including Pohai) and the East China Sea north of 28°N, west of 126.5°E. Samples were collected by means of an "Ocean-50" grab (area, 0.1 m2). The samples were dried in an oven and then washed through a series of brass sieves with different mesh size. The washed material was dried again and the Foraminifera were floated off 'from the rest of the sediment by means of carbon tetrachloride.
Services ecosystémiques du parc agroforestier à Cordyla pinnata (Lepr. ex A. Rich.) Milne-Redh. dans le Sud du Bassin Arachidier (Sénégal)

Les parcs agroforestiers fournissent d’importants et multiples services aux populations vivant au Sud du Bassin Arachidier du Senegal. Cependant, ces parcs sont confrontes a plusieurs facteurs de degradation. Cette recherche, menee dans l’ancienne communaute rurale de Keur Samba Gueye (region de Fatick), vise a documenter les services ecosystemiques fournis par le parc a Cordyla pinnata . L’approche methodologique est basee sur des enquetes socioeconomiques et ethnobotaniques aupres des populations locales et un inventaire des individus de C. pinnata et des especes ligneuses associees. Les resultats de l’enquete revelent que le parc contribue a l’amelioration de la fertilite des sols et fournissent des produits utilises dans l’alimentation humaine et du betail, la pharmacopee, le bois de service et d’energie, et comme sources de revenus. Dans le parc agroforestier, le stock moyen de carbone des individus de C. pinnata est evalue a 8.81 tCO 2 . ha -1 . L’ensemble de ces resultats devraient aider a sensibiliser les populations et a promouvoir une gestion rationnelle du parc agroforestier a C. pinnata . © 2016 International Formulae Group. All rights reserved. Mots cles: Agroforesterie, Cordyla pinnata , services ecosystemiques, sequestration du carbone, Senegal English Title: Ecosystem services of Cordyla pinnata (Lepr. ex A. Rich.) Milne-Redh. agroforestry parkland of Senegal’s South Peanut Basin English Abstract Agroforestry parklands provide multiple valuable services to farmers in the Southern Peanut Basin of Senegal. In order to understand ecosystem services provided by Cordyla pinnata agroforestry parkland, we conducted a study in the rural community of Keur Samba Gueye (Fatick, Senegal). The methodological approach was based on socioeconomic and ethnobotanical surveys with local populations and an inventory of C. pinnata trees and associated ligneous species. The results of the survey revealed that the agroforestry parkland improves soil fertility and provides several products used in human consumption, livestock fodder, traditional medicine, construction and fuel, and income generation. The average carbon stock of C. pinnata trees in the agroforestry parkland is also estimated at 8.81 tCO 2 . ha -1 . The results from this study could be used to raise awareness of the ecosystem services provided by C. pinnata agroforestry parkland to promote its sustainable management. © 2016 International Formulae Group. All rights reserved. Keywords: Agroforestry, Cordyla pinnata , ecosystem services, carbon sequestration, Senegal
Exhausted Tumor-infiltrating CD39+CD103+ CD8+ T Cells Unveil Potential for Increased Survival in Human Pancreatic Cancer

Abstract In pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, the infiltration of CD8+ T cells within the tumor microenvironment correlates with a favorable prognosis. However, a significant proportion of tumor-infiltrating T cells become trapped within the desmoplastic stroma and lack tumor reactivity. Here, we explored different T-cell subsets in pancreatic tumors and adjacent tissues. We identified a subset of CD8+ T cells, double positive (DP) for CD39 and CD103 in pancreatic tumors, which has recently been described to display tumor reactivity in other types of solid tumors. Interestingly, DP CD8+ T cells preferentially accumulated in central tumor tissues compared with paired peripheral tumor and adjacent non-tumor tissues. Consistent with an antigen encounter, DP CD8+ T cells demonstrated higher proliferative rates and displayed an exhausted phenotype, characterized by elevated expression of PD-1 and TIM-3, compared with CD39−CD103− CD8+ T cells. In addition, DP CD8+ T cells exhibited higher expression levels of the tissue trafficking receptors CCR5 and CXCR6, while displaying lower levels of CXCR3 and CXCR4. Importantly, a high proportion of DP CD8+ T cells is associated with increased patient survival. These findings suggest that DP CD8+ T cells with a phenotype reminiscent of that of tumor-reactive T cells are present in pancreatic tumors. The abundance of DP CD8+ T cells could potentially aid in selecting patients for pancreatic cancer immunotherapy trials. Significance: Patients with pancreatic cancer with a high proportion of CD39+CD103+ CD8+ T cells exhibiting a tumor-reactive phenotype have improved survival rates, suggesting their potential utility in selecting candidates for immunotherapy trials.
Catastrophic injuries and exertional medical events in lacrosse among youth, high school and collegiate athletes: longitudinal surveillance over four decades (1982–2020)

Abstract Objective To determine the incidence rates (IRs) of catastrophic injuries and exertional medical events in lacrosse athletes. Methods Catastrophic injuries and exertional medical events in lacrosse in the US among youth or amateur, high school and college athletes were analysed from the National Center for Catastrophic Sport Injury Research (NCCSIR) database from 1982/83 to 2019/20. Frequencies, IRs per 100,000 athlete-seasons (AS) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs), and incidence rate ratios (IRRs) with 95% CIs were calculated. Participation data were gathered from the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS), National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and USA Lacrosse. Results Sixty-nine catastrophic events (16 youth or amateur, 36 high school and 17 college; 84% male) occurred in US lacrosse from 7/1/1982 to 6/30/2020. Thirty-six percent of all incidents were fatal. The overall IR was 0.5 per 100,000 AS (95% CI: 0.4–0.7). There were 15 cases of non-traumatic sudden cardiac arrests (SCAs) and 15 incidents of commotio cordis. Fatality rates from SCA and commotio cordis decreased 95% (IRR = 0.05; 95% CI: 0, 0.2) from 1982/83–2006/07 to 2007/08–2019/20. Incidence rates were higher for collegiate versus high school 1982/83–2019/20 (IRR = 3.2; 95% CI: 1.8, 5.7) and collegiate versus youth 2005/06–2019/20 (IRR = 8.0; 95% CI: 3.0, 21.4) level. Contact with a stick or ball (41%) and contact with another player (20%) were the primary mechanisms of injury. Conclusions The incidence of catastrophic events during lacrosse was higher among collegiate than high school or youth athletes. SCA from an underlying cardiac condition or from commotio cordis was the most common catastrophic event. Fatality rates from catastrophic injuries have declined significantly over the study period, perhaps driven by protective measures adopted by lacrosse governing bodies.
Growth differentiation factor-15 may be a novel biomarker in pancreatic cancer: A review

Pancreatic cancer is a highly malignant and invasive gastrointestinal tumor that is often diagnosed at an advanced stage with a poor prognosis and high mortality. Currently, carbohydrate antigen199(CA199) is the only biomarker approved by the FDA for the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer, but it has great limitations. Growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15) is expected to be a novel biomarker for the diagnosis, efficacy prediction, and prognosis assessment of pancreatic cancer patients. In this paper, we searched the keywords GDF-15, macrophage inhibitory cytokine-1 (MIC-1), CA199, pancreatic cancer, and tumor markers in PubMed and Web of Science, searched related articles, and read and analyzed the retrieved papers. Finally, we systematically described the characteristics, mechanism of action, and clinical value of GDF-15, aiming to provide help for the detection and treatment of pancreatic cancer.
Pedogenesis, Permafrost, and Ecosystem Functioning: Feedbacks and Interactions along Climate Gradients across the Tibetan Plateau

We investigated the main parameters [e.g. mean annual air temperature, mean annual soil temperature, mean annual precipitation, soil moisture (SM), soil chemistry and physics] influencing soil organic carbon (Corg), soil total nitrogen (Nt) as well as plant available nitrogen (Nmin) at 47 sites along a 1,200 km transect across the high-altitude and low-latitude permafrost region of the central-eastern Tibetan Plateau. This large-scale survey allows testing the hypothesis that beside commonly used ecological variables, diversity of pedogenesis is another major component for assessing carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) cycling. The aim of the presented research was to evaluate consequences of permafrost degradation for C and N stocks and hence nutrient supply for plants, as the transect covers all types of permafrost including heavily degraded areas and regions without permafrost. Our results show that SM is the dominant parameter explaining 64% of Corg and 60% of N variation. The extent of the effect of SM is determined by permafrost, current aeolian sedimentation occurring mostly on degraded sites, and pedogenesis. Thus, the explanatory power for C and N concentrations is significantly improved by adding CaCO3 content (P = 0.012 for Corg; P = 0.006 for Nt) and soil texture (P = 0.077 for Corg; P = 0.015 for Nt) to the model. For soil temperature, no correlations were detected indicating that in high-altitude grassland ecosystems influenced by permafrost, SM overrides soil temperature as the main driving parameter at landscape scale. It was concluded from the current study that degradation of permafrost and corresponding changes in soil hydrology combined with a shift from mature stages of pedogenesis to initial stages, have severe impact on soil C and plant available N. This may alter biodiversity patterns as well as the development and functioning of the ecosystems on the Tibetan Plateau. Carbon and nitrogen contents across the Tibetan Plateau 74
The impact of MYD88 and PIM1 in mature large B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphomas: Defining element of their evolution and prognosis

Sequence studies of the entire exome and transcriptome of lymphoma tissues have identified MYD88 and PIM1 as involved in the development and oncogenic signaling. We aimed to determine the frequency of MYD88 and PIM1 mutations, as well as their expressions in conjunction with the clinicopathological parameters identified in mature large B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphomas. The ten-year retrospective study included 50 cases of mature large B-cell lymphoma, diagnosed at the Pathology Department of the Emergency County Hospital of Constanţa and Săcele County Hospital of Brasov. They were statistically analyzed by demographic, clinicopathological, and morphogenetic characteristics. We used a real-time polymerase chain reaction technique to identify PIM1 and MYD88 mutations as well as an immunohistochemical technique to evaluate the expressions of the 2 genes. Patients with lymphoma in the small bowel, spleen, brain, and testis had a low-performance status Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (P = .001). The Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status represented an independent risk factor predicting mortality (HR = 9.372, P < .001). An increased lactate dehydrogenase value was associated with a low survival (P = .002). The international prognostic index score represents a negative risk factor in terms of patient survival (HR = 4.654, P < .001). In cases of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), immunopositivity of MYD88 is associated with non-germinal center B-cell origin (P < .001). The multivariate analysis observed the association between high lactate dehydrogenase value and the immunohistochemical expression of PIM1 or with the mutant status of the PIM1 gene representing negative prognostic factors (HR = 2.066, P = .042, respectively HR = 3.100, P = .004). In conclusion, our preliminary data suggest that the oncogenic mutations of PIM1 and MYD88 in our DLBCL cohort may improve the diagnosis and prognosis of DLBCL patients in an advanced stage.
Heterogeneity of diabetic dyslipidemia, data from the NHANES (2011–2016)

Epidemiologic studies have demonstrated that diabetes amplifies the effects of dyslipidemia as a risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). A better understanding of lipid profiles is important for lipid-lowering treatment and reducing cardiovascular risk in populations with diabetes. To describe the dyslipidemia patterns in patient with and without diabetes in the adult US population. Data from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2011 to 2016 was analyzed. Surprisingly, 49.9% of the people with diabetes have both normal triglycerides (TGs) and normal high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C). 33.4% of the people with diabetes have elevated TGs and 36.1% of them have low HDL-C. Only 19.3% of them have both elevated TGs and low HDL-C. Among people without diabetes, 67.5% have normal TGs and normal HDL-C, 28.0% have elevated TGs, 23.9% have low HDL-C and 8.8% have both elevated TGs and low HDL-C. The differences in the proportions of individuals with both elevated TGs and low HDL-C between the diabetic group and the nondiabetic group were more obvious in females: 7.7% in women without diabetes and 22.7% in women with diabetes. The proportion of individuals in the TG↑HDL-C↓group in the population with diabetes exhibited a decreasing trend in age groups > 30 years old, and the 30 to 40 years group of individuals with diabetes had the highest proportion of atherogenic dyslipidemia. The low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) to apoB ratio is generally lower in people with diabetes, with the lowest level in the TG↑HDL-C↓group. Dyslipidemia patterns in diabetes patients are highly heterogeneous. Deep phenotyping sub-groups of dyslipidemia is warranted to identify higher-risk patients for evaluation of non-LDL-C therapies. This explained at least partially of the difficult search for novel therapies in the post-LDL-C era.
11222 - Produção de manga e banana orgânicas em área de pequenos produtores do sertão da Bahia Organic production of mango and banana in small farmer area at Bahia State, Brazil

A producao de frutas orgânicas em area de pequenos produtores da Associacao dos Produtores Orgânicos da Adutora Caraibas e Adjacencias - APROAC, na comunidade de Santa Helena, municipio de Juazeiro-BA, e Associacao dos Produtores Rurais da Adutora - APRA III, distrito de Pilar, municipio de Jaguarari-BA, apresenta problemas de ordem tecnologica, financeira e organizacional. A Embrapa Semiarido, visando contribuir para solucionar as demandas tecnologicas desses produtores, realizou estudos sobre nutricao mineral e adubacao, inducao floral e manejo de poda e de irrigacao nas culturas de mangueira e bananeira. Estes estudos caracterizaram-se pelo diagnostico do estado nutricional, por meio de analises de solo e de folhas; inducao floral e manejo de poda na cultura da mangueira, visando melhorias na sanidade das plantas, produtividade e qualidade dos frutos; e manejo de irrigacao na cultura da bananeira, por meio da substituicao da irrigacao por sulcos pelo sistema de microaspersao, avaliacao da vazao dos emissores e maior uniformidade de distribuicao de agua. Apesar dos avancos tecnologicos obtidos, ha muito a conquistar pelas duas associacoes em outras areas do associativismo.
Finger Millet: Food Security Crop in the Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALs) of Kenya

This paper aims at highlighting the positive attributes of finger millet. It reviews the works from peer-reviewed articles, agricultural research and development reports from national and international institutions. Primary data were obtained through preliminary survey conducted in the month of March, 2016 at the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Organization (KALRO), Kibos office, Kisumu County, Kenya. The study has revealed that the crop has the ability to grow under adverse agro-climatic conditions such as those found in the ASALs. The ASALs of Kenya cover about 80% of the total land area and is home to about 38% of Kenya’s population. Strong case has therefore emerged for stepping up the efforts towards the improvement of finger millet production to boost food security in the country. Through investment in agricultural research and development; and adoption of improved finger millet varieties especially in the ASALs, food production would increase significantly leading to reduced incidences of food poverty.