Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
GENETIC APPROACH OF THE COIBA ISLAND HOWLER MONKEY Alouatta coibensis coibensis FROM PANAMA, AND ITS CONSERVATION IMPLICATIONS

Studies on genetic diversity are key to conservation management because they may determine the resilience of primate populations under environmental and anthropogenic changes. Herein, we studied genetic diversity and connectivity in a population sample of the Coiba island howler monkey Alouatta coibensis coibensis from Coiba island in Panama. We collected 14 faecal samples from individuals at two sites on the northern and north-eastern sides of the island at the Gambute and Los Pozos trails, respectively. DNA was extracted from these samples, and partial sequences of cytochrome oxidase I (COI) were obtained and used as molecular markers to determine genetic diversity. Haplotypic diversity estimates ranged from 0.68 to 0.80 and from 0.0026 to 0.0041 for nucleotide diversity. Genetic connectivity based on reduced genetic distances and nonsignificant Hudson Snn test values suggests elevated connectivity between sites and the existence of a single population with good variability. Demographic history data identified positive Tajimas D as an indication of population contraction and reduced population size in this species. These results will be the baseline for establishing a better understanding of population structure, genetic health, connectivity patterns and reproductive behaviour along the largest island of the Central American Pacific. This information will allow scientists to understand and better evaluate the conservation status of this primate, confirming good availability of genetic flow even for this population living in isolation.
Hybrid Endo-Epicardial Therapies for Advanced Atrial Fibrillation

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a growing health problem that increases morbidity and mortality, and in most patients progresses to more advanced diseases over time. Recent research has examined the underlying mechanisms, risk factors, and progression of AF, leading to updated AF disease classification schemes. Although endocardial catheter ablation is effective for early-stage paroxysmal AF, it consistently achieves suboptimal outcomes in patients with advanced AF. Identification of the factors that lead to the increased risk of treatment failure in advanced AF has spurred the development and adoption of hybrid ablation therapies and collaborative heart care teams that result in higher long-term arrhythmia-free survival. Patients with non-paroxysmal AF, atrial remodeling, comorbidities, or AF otherwise deemed difficult to treat may find hybrid treatment to be the most effective option. Future research of hybrid therapies in advanced AF patient populations, including those with dual diagnoses, may provide further evidence establishing the safety and efficacy of hybrid endo-epicardial ablation as a first line treatment.
Do Oral Parafunctional Behaviors Relate to the Natural Course of Self-healing of Temporomandibular Disorder? An 8-month Prospective Study

The assessment of parafunctional behaviors is an essential baseline examination because those behaviors can cause repetitive trauma to the masticatory system. The purpose of this study was to examine whether changes in oral parafunctional behaviors are related to the natural course of temporomandibular disorder(TMD). The parafunctional behaviors were assessed by the Oral Behavior Checklist(OBC), a subjective list of 21 parafunctional behaviors. Symptoms of TMD were assessed by a self-reporting diagnostic tool, the symptoms questionnaire(SQ). The OBC and SQ questionnaires were administered to 112 students(71 males and 41 females, mean age 22.91±1.99 years)at baseline(BL)and after an 8-month follow-up(FU)period. The chi-squared test was performed to test the null hypothesis that there would be no change in prevalence between symptoms at BL and symptoms at FU. The null hypothesis, which was that the natural course of the variety of the OBC tertile group(a group shift to a lower score tertile group, a group shift to a higher score tertile group, and the absence of a group shift after the 8-month FU period) would not be associated with the natural course of TMD symptoms, was rejected. There was a statistically significant association between the participants who shifted tertile groups and the natural course of TMD, with respect to pain(p=0.013)and noise(p＞0.00).
Depiction of modern and Pangean deserts: Evaluation of GCM hydrological diagnostics for paleoclimate studies

Hydrologic patterns are imprinted in the geologic record and play a prominent role in the investigations of Pangean climate. However, the hydrologic aspects of climate are complex: 1) many variables are required to analyze hydrology, 2) hydrologic processes act on spatial scales that are smaller than GCM grid spacing, and 3) observational data bases for calibrating modern climate simulations are few. This study, which uses a GCM to depict arid climates of the past and present, is designed to evaluate a variety of simulated hydrologic variables which are becoming increasingly available for paleoclimate model/data comparison studies. Simulations of the current climate show that there are quantifiable levels of precipitation (P), soil moisture, and surface runoff that delineate the locations of modern deserts. However, in a Pangean simulation, using the same model, the threshold values of these variables reveal disparate views of desert extent. Altered boundary conditions and atmospheric circulation can invalidate thresholds based on modern climatology. The credibility of these variables, thus, rests heavily on the accuracy of reconstructed boundary conditions. A more fundamental meteorological approach defines deserts as regions where the atmospheric demand for moisture (potential evapotranspiration, Ep) exceeds the supply (precipitation, P). GCM values of Ep are overestimated, thus simulated P-Ep fields are unusable. However, simulated Ep values can be derived independently using GCM-produced temperature values in empirically derived equations (ETp). Similar methods, using observed temperatures, are employed by atmospheric scientists to construct global and regional Ep data sets. The results of this study indicate Chandler 3 that P-ETp is more accurate than other individual variables for calculating moisture balance and is more useful for paleoclimate model/data comparisons because of its fundamental meteorological basis and lack of dependence on prescribed vegetation and soil conditions. Ultimately, hydrological misinterpretations can be avoided by understanding the limitations of GCM parameterizations and by strictly cross-checking variables with each other and with available paleoclimate data.
Assessment of Quality of Life among Terminally Ill Cancer Patients Receiving Palliative Care at Hospice Centre, Ahmedabad City, India

Background: Cancer has been the leading cause of death worldwide, and palliative care is an approach that improves the quality of life (QoL) of patients and their families facing the problem associated with life-threatening illness. Hospice care helps patients and their family to cope with the change from treating the cancer to living life as fully as possible through their final days. This study aimed to (1) assess the sociodemographic and clinical profile of terminally ill cancer patients, (2) assess the QoL among terminally ill cancer patients receiving palliative care, and (3) study various determinants affecting their QoL. Material and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among terminally ill cancer patients receiving palliative care at the Hospice Centre, Community Oncology Centre, Ahmedabad. Based on previous years’ admission data, a sample size of 360 was taken. Patients who are seriously ill up to the extent that they were unable to respond and had a previous positive history of psychiatric illness before the diagnosis of cancer were excluded. Institutional ethical committee (IEC) permission was obtained before the study. Statistical analysis was performed using the Chi-square test in Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software. Results: The mean age of participants was 48.1 ± 13.0 years. The gender distribution of participants was males and females (226 (62.8%) and 134 (37.2%)), respectively. On studying, the involvement of various anatomical sites as “primary site of cancer” revealed that head and neck carcinoma had the highest (63.3%) involvement and hematological cancer had the lowest (0.6%) involvement. Of total, 62% of participants had “below-average QoL,” followed by 34.9% of participants having “significantly poor QoL. ” There was a significant association between different age groups, time lag in cancer diagnosis, and treatment initiation and QoL. Conclusion: Spearman’s rank correlations between the majority of factors fell in “low partially positive” category except for the physical well-being (factor 2) and psychosocial well-being (factor 3) with optimism and belief (factor 7), where they were in “low partially negative” category.
Thymoquinone-Induced Reactivation of Tumor Suppressor Genes in Cancer Cells Involves Epigenetic Mechanisms

The epigenetic silencing of tumor suppressor genes (TSGs) is a common finding in several solid and hematological tumors involving various epigenetic readers and writers leading to enhanced cell proliferation and defective apoptosis. Thymoquinone (TQ), the major biologically active compound of black seed oil, has demonstrated anticancer activities in various tumors by targeting several pathways. However, its effects on the epigenetic code of cancer cells are largely unknown. In the present study, we performed RNA sequencing to investigate the anticancer mechanisms of TQ-treated T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia cell line (Jurkat cells) and examined gene expression using different tools. We found that many key epigenetic players, including ubiquitin-like containing plant homeodomain (PHD) and really interesting new gene (RING) finger domains 1 (UHRF1), DNMT1,3A,3B, G9A, HDAC1,4,9, KDM1B, and KMT2A,B,C,D,E, were downregulated in TQ-treated Jurkat cells. Interestingly, several TSGs, such as DLC1, PPARG, ST7, FOXO6, TET2, CYP1B1, SALL4, and DDIT3, known to be epigenetically silenced in various tumors, including acute leukemia, were upregulated, along with the upregulation of several downstream pro-apoptotic genes, such as RASL11B, RASD1, GNG3, BAD, and BIK. Data obtained from RNA sequencing were confirmed using quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) in Jurkat cells, as well as in a human breast cancer cell line (MDA-MB-468 cells). We found that the decrease in cell proliferation and in the expression of UHRF1, DNMT1, G9a, and HDAC1 genes in both cancer cell (Jurkat cells and MDA-MB-468 cells) lines depends on the TQ dose. Our results indicate that the use of TQ as an epigenetic drug represents a promising strategy for epigenetic therapy for both solid and blood tumors by targeting both DNA methylation and histone post-translational modifications.
The Predominance of the Health-Promoting Patterns of Work Behavior and Experience in General Practice Teams—Results of the IMPROVEjob Study

This study aims to identify the distribution of the “Work-related behavior and experience patterns” (Arbeitsbezogenes Verhaltens-und Erlebnismuster, AVEM) in general practitioners and their teams by using baseline data of the IMPROVEjob study. Members of 60 general practices with 84 physicians in a leadership position, 28 employed physicians, and 254 practice assistants participated in a survey in 2019 and 2020. In this analysis, we focused on AVEM variables. Age, practice years, work experience, and working time were used as control variables in the Spearman Rho correlations and analysis of variance. The majority of the participants (72.1%) revealed a health-promoting pattern (G or S). Three of eleven AVEM dimensions were above the norm for the professional group “employed physicians”. The AVEM dimensions “striving for perfection” (p < 0.001), “experience of success at work” (p < 0.001), “satisfaction with life” (p = 0.003), and “experience of social support” (p = 0.019) differed significantly between the groups’ practice owners and practice assistants, with the practice owners achieving the higher values, except for experience of social support. Practice affiliation had no effect on almost all AVEM dimensions. We found a high prevalence of AVEM health-promoting patterns in our sample. Nearly half of the participants in all professional groups showed an unambitious pattern (S). Adapted interventions for the represented AVEM patterns are possible and should be utilized for maintaining mental health among general practice teams.
“If I want to be able to keep going, I must be active.” Exploring older adults’ perspectives of remote physical activity supports: a mixed-methods study

Introduction Pandemic-related public health restrictions limited older adults’ physical activity programs and opportunities. Physical activity supports shifted to remote options, however, information on their adoption and effectiveness is limited. This study aims to describe the remote supports received by older adults and their perceived effectiveness. Additionally, it aims to describe facilitators and barriers to remote supports for physical activity among older adults, particularly those reliant on technology. Methods This study used an explanatory, sequential, mixed-methods design. Community-dwelling older adults (≥ 60 years) were recruited to partake in a web-based survey and an optional semi-structured follow-up interview informed by the COM-B model. Participant characteristics, perceived effectiveness of remote supports, and the presence and severity of barriers were described. Changes in physical activity levels before and during the pandemic were analyzed using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Qualitative data underwent inductive thematic analysis. Results Fifty seven older adults (68.3 ± 7.1 years, 43 Female) completed the survey, of which 15 participants (67.4 ± 5.8 years, 12 Female) participated in interviews. The majority were Caucasian, highly educated, and resided in Canada. Total physical activity levels showed no statistically significant change from before to during the pandemic (p = 0.74); however, at-home exercise participation and technology usage increased. Pre-recorded and real-time virtual exercise supports were perceived as most effective. Main barriers included limited contact with exercise professionals, limited access to exercise equipment or space, and decreased mental wellness. Thematic analysis identified five main themes: (i) Enabled by knowledge and resources; (ii) Diverse motivations for physical activity; (iii) Fostering participation through social connection; (iv) Supervision and safety: enabling adherence; and (v) Virtual exercise: a sustainable option with technological considerations. Conclusion Virtual platforms show promise in supporting older adults’ physical activity at home, especially for those with limited in-person access. Our study suggests that both real-time and pre-recorded virtual exercise supports are feasible, depending on technological capacity and support. While interactive real-time virtual programs allow interaction with professionals and peers, pre-recorded programs provide timing flexibility. Further research is needed to establish best practices for safe and effective virtual exercise programming, promoting its long-term adoption for supporting a wider range of older adults.
Focus on demonstratives: Experiments in English and Turkish

This paper deals with an unexpected contrast between demonstrative descriptions and definite descriptions on their anaphoric uses. If two (or more) discourse referents are introduced in the preceding sentence, it is perfectly natural to refer to one of them in the following sentence using a definite description. Use of demonstrative descriptions in the same context, however, is degraded, with existing accounts of anaphoric demonstratives and definites providing no explanation for this contrast. We present experimental evidence from two languages, one with definite determiners (English) and one without (Turkish), and show that the acceptability of demonstratives depends independently both on (i) whether one or two NPs are introduced in the initial sentence, and (ii) whether the follow-up sentence introduces a new situation or not. We propose a focus-driven information structural approach to demonstratives to account for this pattern. Following Dayal & Jiang (2021) (building on Schwarz 2009) in assuming that definite and demonstrative expressions in anaphoric contexts are similar in including an anaphoric index argument, we argue that demonstratives essentially differ in evoking focus alternatives on the index argument.
The double-strand bond between metacognition and schizophrenia: actual impact and future directions

Controlling, monitoring, and modulating cognitive processes is what is known as metacognition: it guides behavior through several types of mental activities that range in complexity from discrete activities, such as recognizing others' judgment, to more integrated ones, such as recognizing oneself and others' cognitive processes. There is an increasing body of research examining the impact of schizophrenia on metacognition, underlining their double-strand link, especially on a wide range of mental processes, including reasoning, autobiographical memory, cognitive beliefs, and clinical insight. Metacognition is intimately linked to the severity of symptoms as well as specific symptomatic sub-domains, such as positive symptoms, negative symptoms, or disorganization. Recently, cognitive-derived psychotherapies have been developed to treat metacognitive deficits in schizophrenia. While all these treatments share a metacognitive component, each one targets different aspects. In metacognitive therapy, false or unhelpful beliefs are treated; in metacognitive training, cognitive biases are the main focus; in cognitive-behavioral therapy for psychoses, the core is represented by schematic dysfunctional beliefs; in metacognitive reflection insight therapy, metacognitive knowledge and self-identity are addressed; and in metacognitive interpersonal therapy for psychosis, interpersonal ideas or events may trigger delusional thinking. Future directions should address the need for more refined knowledge of metacognition processes and the need for growing mental health professionals’ expertise in the field. Moreover, the evaluation of metacognition-based intervention effectiveness in real-world populations and in high-risk psychosis and their enforceability in mental health facilities should become a critical issue.
Pleomorphic viruses establish stable relationship with marine hyperthermophilic archaea

Abstract Non-lytic viruses with enveloped pleomorphic virions (family Pleolipoviridae) are ubiquitous in hypersaline environments across the globe and are associated with nearly all major lineages of halophilic archaea. However, their existence in other ecosystems remains largely unknown. Here, we show that evolutionarily-related viruses also infect hyperthermophilic archaea thriving in deep-sea hydrothermal vents. Archaeoglobus veneficus pleomorphic virus 1 (AvPV1), the first virus described for any member of the class Archaeoglobi, encodes a morphogenetic module typical of pleolipoviruses, including the characteristic VP4-like membrane fusion protein. We show that AvPV1 is a non-lytic virus chronically produced in liquid cultures without substantially affecting the growth dynamics of its host with a stable virus-to-host ratio of ~1. Mining of genomic and metagenomic databases revealed broad distribution of AvPV1-like viruses in geographically remote hydrothermal vents. Comparative genomics, coupled with phylogenetic analysis of VP4-like fusogens revealed deep divergence of pleomorphic viruses infecting halophilic, methanogenic, and hyperthermophilic archaea, signifying niche separation and coevolution of the corresponding virus-host pairs. Hence, we propose a new virus family, “Thalassapleoviridae,” for classification of the marine hyperthermophilic virus AvPV1 and its relatives. Collectively, our results provide insights into the diversity and evolution of pleomorphic viruses beyond hypersaline environments.
Tight Integration of GNSS and a 3D City Model for Robust Positioning in Urban Canyons

Positioning and navigation by GNSS in urban context are always challenging tasks, because of signal propagation problems such as shadowing effects and multipath. When not enough GNSS signals are received in line-of-sight (LOS), classical approaches mitigating multipath effects become insufficient because there is not enough reliable information available. Consequently, positioning errors can be about tens of meters, especially in urban canyons. In this paper, we introduce a GNSS positioning approach that uses constructively non-line-of-sight (NLOS) signals in order to have enough information to compute the user’s position. In this work, we use the SE-NAV software to predict the geometric paths of NLOS signals using a high realistic 3D model of the environment. More precisely, we propose a new version of the extended Kalman filter augmented by the information provided by SE-NAV, referred to as 3D AEKF, for GNSS navigation in NLOS context. In the proposed approach, the measurement model traditionally based on the trilateration equations is constructed from the received paths estimated by SE-NAV. The Jacobian of the measurement model is calculated through knowledge of the objects on which the reflections have occured. To use even less reliable measurements, we propose a robust version of the 3D AEKF. Simulations conducted in realistic scenarios allow the performance of the proposed method to be evaluated.
Effect of Different Doses of Calcium and Boron Pre-harvest Spray on Post-harvest Quality of Acid Lime (Citrus aurantifolia var. SunKagati-1)

Acid Lime (Citrus aurantifolia var. SunKagati-1) has been cultivated in 67 districts of Nepal. Its cultivation is becoming increasingly popular among farmers in Nepal. However, adequate post-harvest loss reduction measures are lacking. A field experiment was conducted in lime orchards in Chitwan during August-September 2019 and 2020. Pre-harvest spraying of different concentrations of calcium (0.1, 0.2, and 0.3%) and boron (0.2, 0.4, and 0.6%) in lime fruit trees was done before 45 and 30 days of fruit harvest. Fruits with the same maturity indices were harvested separately from the treated plants. The post-harvest study was conducted for 1 month under laboratory conditions. Different parameters like physiological loss of weight (PLW), decay loss, total soluble solids (TSS), titrable acidity (TA), ascorbic acid content (vitamin C), and freshness were recorded. Minimum PLW (18.2%) and decay loss (14.3%) were observed in boron (@0.6%) treated fruits. At the end of the experiment, minimum TA (1.79 and 2.12%) was recorded from boron (@0.6%) treated fruits in both years. Calcium (@0.3 %) and boron (@0.4 %) treated fruits expressed the maximum values for TSS in 2019 (9.67ºbrix) and 2020 (7.73 ºbrix), respectively. Fruit harvested from fruit trees sprayed with boron (@0.6%) showed the highest ascorbic acid content (55.47 and 49.61 mg/100g) and better lime freshness (2.67 and 3.0) in 2019 and 2020, respectively. This study concluded that the use of boron @0.6% as a pre-harvest spray can prolong the storage life of sour lime and maintain the fruit quality under environmental conditions of a mid-hill situation.