Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Expression of hepatic stellate cell activation-related genes in HBV-, HCV-, and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease-associated fibrosis

Liver fibrosis is a manifestation of chronic liver injury. It leads to hepatic dysfunction and is a critical element in the pathogenesis of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. The activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSC) plays a central role in liver fibrogenesis of different etiologies. To elucidate the molecular mechanism of this phenomenon, it is important to analyze the changes in gene expression that accompany the HSC activation process. In this study, we isolated quiescent and activated HSCs from control mice and mice with CCl4-induced liver fibrosis, respectively, and performed RNA sequencing to compare the differences in gene expression patterns between the two types of HSCs. We also reanalyzed public gene expression data for fibrotic liver tissues isolated from patients with HBV infection, HCV infection, and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease to investigate the gene expression changes during liver fibrosis of these three etiologies. We detected 146 upregulated and 18 downregulated genes in activated HSCs, which were implicated in liver fibrosis as well. Among the overlapping genes, seven transcription factor-encoding genes, ARID5B, GATA6, MITF, PBX1, PLAGL1, SOX4, and SOX9, were upregulated, while one, RXRA, was downregulated. These genes were suggested to play a critical role in HSC activation, and subsequently, in the promotion of liver fibrosis. We undertook the RNA sequencing of quiescent and activated HSCs and analyzed the expression profiles of genes associated with HSC activation in liver fibrotic tissues from different liver diseases, and also aimed to elucidate the changes in gene expression patterns associated with HSC activation and liver fibrosis.
Bidirectional Linear Motion by Travelling Waves on Legged Piezoelectric Microfabricated Plates

This paper reports the design, fabrication and performance of MEMS-based piezoelectric bidirectional conveyors featuring 3D printed legs, driven by linear travelling waves (TW). The structures consisted of an aluminium–nitride (AlN) piezoelectric film on top of millimetre-sized rectangular thin silicon bridges and two electrode patches. The position and size of the patches were analytically optimised for TW generation in three frequency ranges: 19, 112 and 420 kHz, by the proper combination of two contiguous flexural modes. After fabrication, the generated TW were characterized by means of Laser–Doppler vibrometry to obtain the relevant tables of merit, such as the standing wave ratio and the average amplitude. The experimental results agreed with the simulation, showing the generation of a TW with an amplitude as high as 6 nm/V and a standing wave ratio as low as 1.46 for a device working at 19.3 kHz. The applicability of the fabricated linear actuator device as a conveyor was investigated. Its kinetic performance was studied with sliders of different mass, being able to carry a 35 mg silicon slider, 18 times its weight, with 6 V of continuous sinusoidal excitation and a speed of 0.65 mm/s. A lighter slider, weighting only 3 mg, reached a mean speed of 1.7 mm/s at 6 V. In addition, by applying a burst sinusoidal excitation comprising 10 cycles, the TW generated in the bridge surface was able to move a 23 mg slider in discrete steps of 70 nm, in both directions, which is a promising result for a TW piezoelectric actuator of this size.
Early Predictors of Clinical Deterioration in a Cohort of 239 Patients Hospitalized for Covid-19 Infection in Lombardy, Italy

We described features of hospitalized Covid-19 patients and identified predictors of clinical deterioration. We included patients consecutively admitted at Humanitas Research Hospital (Rozzano, Milan, Italy); retrospectively extracted demographic; clinical; laboratory and imaging findings at admission; used survival methods to identify factors associated with clinical deterioration (defined as intensive care unit (ICU) transfer or death), and developed a prognostic index. Overall; we analyzed 239 patients (29.3% females) with a mean age of 63.9 (standard deviation [SD]; 14.0) years. Clinical deterioration occurred in 70 patients (29.3%), including 41 (17.2%) ICU transfers and 36 (15.1%) deaths. The most common symptoms and signs at admission were cough (77.8%) and elevated respiratory rate (34.1%), while 66.5% of patients had at least one coexisting medical condition. Imaging frequently revealed ground-glass opacity (68.9%) and consolidation (23.8%). Age; increased respiratory rate; abnormal blood gas parameters and imaging findings; coexisting coronary heart disease; leukocytosis; lymphocytopenia; and several laboratory parameters (elevated procalcitonin; interleukin-6; serum ferritin; C-reactive protein; aspartate aminotransferase; lactate dehydrogenase; creatinine; fibrinogen; troponin-I; and D-dimer) were significant predictors of clinical deterioration. We suggested a prognostic index to assist risk-stratification (C-statistic; 0.845; 95% CI; 0.802–0.887). These results could aid early identification and management of patients at risk, who should therefore receive additional monitoring and aggressive supportive care.
Genetic heterogeneity of pediatric systemic lupus erythematosus with lymphoproliferation

Abstract Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic, rare autoimmune disease. In recent years, multiple monogenic diseases with early onset autoimmunity and lymphoproliferation have been identified, such as autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome, rat sarcoma (RAS)-associated autoimmune leukoproliferative disease, signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 gain-of-function syndrome and interleukin-2 receptor α deficiency. Therefore, we performed whole-exome sequencing in children with SLE with lymphoproliferation to identify genes associated with these conditions. We enrolled 7 patients with SLE with lymphoproliferation from different families. Demographic data, clinical manifestations, laboratory and histopathologic findings, treatment, and outcome were documented. Whole-exome sequencing was performed in 7 patients and their families. Suspected variants were confirmed by Sanger sequencing. Protein levels were detected in patients with gene mutations by western blot. Four patients were male, and 3 were female. No consanguinity was reported within the 7 families. The average age at onset was 5.0 years (range: 1.2–10.0 years). The most common features were renal (7/7 patients) and hematologic (6/7 patients) involvement and recurrent fever (6/7 patients), while only 2 patients presented with skin involvement. Antinuclear antibodies at a titer of ≥1:320 were positive in all patients. All patients fulfilled four 2019 European League Against Rheumatism/American College of Rheumatology (EULAR/ACR) criteria for the classification of SLE. We identified a somatic activating NRAS variant (c.38 A>G, p.G13C) in peripheral venous blood from 4 patients, at levels ranging from 8.8% to 42.8% in variant tissues that were absent from their parents. B cell lymphoma (BCL)-2-interacting mediator of cell death levels in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 4 patients were markedly reduced, whereas those in the control were normal. Another 2 mutations, c.559C>T (p.Q187X) in the TNFAIP3 gene and c.3061G>A (p.E1021K) in the PIK3CD gene were detected in 2 patients. The SLE is a novel phenotype of somatic mutations in the NRAS gene and germline mutations in the PI3CKD gene. These genes, NRAS, TNFAIP3, and PIK3CD, should be considered candidates for children with SLE with lymphoproliferation. If patients with SLE and lymphoproliferation present with renal and hematologic involvement and recurrent fever, they need gene testing, especially male patients.
Evaluation of the Environmental Benefits Associated with the Addition of Olive Pomace in the Manufacture of Lightweight Aggregates

A Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) using SimaPro software has been carried out concerning the manufacture of artificial lightweight aggregates (LWAs). The study aims to evaluate the changes in the environmental impact when an additive of residual origin, specifically olive pomace (OP), is added following the principles of the Circular Economy. This residue (commonly known as alperujo) was used as a substitute for clay in 1.25, 2.5 and 5 wt%. The environmental impact related to the use of olive pomace in the mixture was estimated using the CML 2000 methodology, yielding improvements of 3.8%, 7.7% and 15.3% for 1.25, 2.5 and 5 wt% OP added, respectively. Optimum addition results are in the range of 1.25 and 2.5 wt% OP. In this way, the reduction of emissions associated with LWA manufacture would be favored without negatively affecting the technological properties of the resulting material.
Tropical forest fragmentation and the local extinction of understory birds in the eastern Usambara Mountains, Tanzania

Small tropical forest fragments in the Eastern Usambara Mountains have lost understory bird species following forest fragmentation. The local extinction of these species is documented through a comparison of species number on nine smaller fores t fragments with species number on a tenth larger control forest site. The number of species captured in the control forest site is significantly larger than the number captured in eight of the nine smaller forest fragments under an equivalent capture effort. Forest-dependent understory species vary greatly in their vulnerability to forest fragmentation. Relatively rare species and forest interior species are the avifauna most adversely affected by forest fragmentation. A concerted effort should be made to protect the existing corridors of native forest that link established forest reserves in the Eastern Usambara Mountains. Resumen: Pequenios fragmentos de bosque hopicul en las montatias Usambara del Este ban perdido especies de aves del sotobosque despds de la fragmentacion del bosque. La extincion local de estas especies esta documentada a tram de una comparacion del numem de especies en nueve peqwtios fragmentos de bosque con el numem de especies en un bosque diez veces mayor utilizado como control. El numem de especies capturado en el bosque control es significativamente mayor que el numem capturado en los nueve fragmentos pequefaos bajo un esfueno de captura equivalente. Las especies de eotobosque deFdientes del bosque van an grandementeen su vulnerabilidad a la fragmentacidn del bosque. Especies relativamente raras y especies del interior del bosque son la auifauna afectada mriS adwrsamentepor la fragmentacion del bosque Una concertacion de esfuerzos se debe de hacer para proteger los corredores existentes de bosque natiw que unen las resetwas de bosques establecidas en las rnontatias Us umbara del Este.
Ethnobotanical Survey of Plants Used for Treating Cough Associated with Respiratory Conditions in Ede South Local Government Area of Osun State, Nigeria

In many developing countries, community members depend on their local flora for treating diverse ailments including those affecting the respiratory system. This is often attributed to the high cost and limited access to health care facilities. This present study focused on the documentation of plant species used against cough associated with the respiratory diseases in Ede South Local Government Area of Osun State. The survey was conducted using semi-structured interviews among 100 participants. Information obtained was analyzed using different ethno-botanical indices including relative frequency of citation (RFC) and fidelity level (FL). A total of 87 plant species from 39 families, which was mostly represented by Fabaceae, were reported in the study area. Crinum jagus was the most popular plant used against cough and approximately 32% of the plants have been reported as cough remedies for the first time. However, some of the documented plants have been reported for the treatment of cough and related respiratory diseases in several countries. In terms of the life-form, trees constituted the highest proportion of the medicinal plants (37%), while leaves (36%) were the predominant plant part prescribed for cough. Decoction was the main method of preparing the plants, which were all administered orally. Approximately 63% of the plants were exclusively sourced from the wild. The current study revealed the richness and widespread use of plant species for managing cough associated with respiratory diseases in the study area. The generated inventory contributes to the expanding database of valuable plant resources with medicinal potential in Nigeria and Africa.
Marine Predators Algorithm for Forecasting Confirmed Cases of COVID-19 in Italy, USA, Iran and Korea

The current pandemic of the new coronavirus, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), or COVID-19, has received wide attention by scholars and researchers. The vast increase in infected people is a significant challenge for each country and the international community in general. The prediction and forecasting of the number of infected people (so-called confirmed cases) is a critical issue that helps in understanding the fast spread of COVID-19. Therefore, in this article, we present an improved version of the ANFIS (adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system) model to forecast the number of infected people in four countries, Italy, Iran, Korea, and the USA. The improved version of ANFIS is based on a new nature-inspired optimizer, called the marine predators algorithm (MPA). The MPA is utilized to optimize the ANFIS parameters, enhancing its forecasting performance. Official datasets of the four countries are used to evaluate the proposed MPA-ANFIS. Moreover, we compare MPA-ANFIS to several previous methods to evaluate its forecasting performance. Overall, the outcomes show that MPA-ANFIS outperforms all compared methods in almost all performance measures, such as Root Mean Squared Error (RMSE), Mean Absolute Error (MAE), Mean Absolute Percentage Error (MAPE), Root Mean Squared Relative Error (RMSRE), and Coefficient of Determination(R2). For instance, according to the results of the testing set, the R2 of the proposed model is 96.48%, 98.59%, 98.74%, and 95.95% for Korea, Italy, Iran, and the USA, respectively. More so, the MAE is 60.31, 3951.94, 217.27, and 12,979, for Korea, Italy, Iran, and the USA, respectively.
Variation in the protein content of single seeds of four varieties of oil seed rape

Single seeds of four varieties of oil seed rape, Bronowski, Gulle, Zephyr and Oro were analysed for protein content using a micro-Kjeldahl method. Considerable variation was detected and protein levels ranged from 11 to 42% of total seed dry weight. Approximately 70% of the seed protein was found in the cotyledons. Heavier seeds were found to contain more protein in all four varieties, though no correlation could be detected between the percentage protein content of the seeds and seed weight.
Typing of Common Dermatophytes by Random Amplification of Polymorphic DNA

Seventy-six clinical isolates of dermatophytes and 8 preserved strains of Arthroderma were investigated by random amplification of polymorphic DNA (RAPD) assay to determine the DNA types of common dermatophytes and find any relationships of DNA-based typing with morphology, teleomorphs, geographic origins and sites of human infection. It was found that each species showed a distinct DNA pattern, which can be used as an identification marker. Forty-two isolates of Trichophyton mentagrophytes were classified into 3 main types and intratype polymorphism was revealed with some primers. No simple relationship was found between DNA type and morphology, but the DNA types of strains were closely related to their geographic origins. The RAPD groups of Arthroderma benhamiae, A. vanbreuseghemii, A. gypsea and A. otae were distinctly different, whereas the 42 clinical isolates of T. mentagrophytes shared similar patterns with A. vanbreuseghemii. Among 30 clinical isolates of T. rubrum, 22 showed almost identical RAPD type, while the other 8 strains differed slightly in band patterns. T. rubrum exhibited great differences from A. benhamiae and A. vanbreuseghemii. In conclusion, RAPD provides a stable and reliable means of typing common dermatophytes, and is a powerful tool for dermatophyte identification and epidemiological study.
Effect of storage temperature and harvest bud maturity on bud opening and vase life of Paeonia lactiflora cultivars

Abstract Six Paeonia lactiflora cultivare ('Coral Sunset’, ‘Festiva Maxima’, ‘Maestro’, ‘Nick Shaylor’, ‘Pink Hawaiian Coral’, ‘Sarah Bernhardt') were studied to determine whether postharvest storage temperatures (0–7°C) impacted on postharvest quality of flowers that had been harvested at different bud maturities. The flowers of each of the cultivare differed in their response to postharvest storage temperatures for particular bud harvest maturities. The development of harvested buds in cold storage was affected by both bud maturity at harvest and the temperature that the buds were stored after harvest. The open vase‐life of flowers was unaffected by postharvest storage temperatures (0–7°C) but bud maturity at harvest did impact on the open vase‐life of one cultivar ('Festiva Maxima'). For ‘Festiva Maxima’, buds harvested at less mature stages had a greater open vase‐life than those harvested at more mature stages. The current research shows that maintaining low postharvest storage temperatures (<8°C) for short‐term storage of P. lactiflora cultivare slows bud development, thereby influencing flower maturity at export destinations while not impacting on the open vase‐life of the cut flowers.
Association Between Physical Fitness and Bone Strength and Structure in 3- to 5-Year-Old Children

Background: The positive association between physical fitness and bone structure has been widely investigated in children and adolescents, yet no studies have evaluated this influence in young children (ie, preschoolers). Hypothesis: Fit children will present improved bone variables when compared with unfit children, and no sex-based differences will emerge in the sample. Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Level of Evidence: Level 3. Methods: Handgrip strength, standing long jump (SLJ), speed/agility, balance, and cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) were assessed using the Assessing FITness levels in PREschoolers (PREFIT) test battery in 92 children (50 boys; age range, 3-5 years). A peripheral quantitative computed tomography scan was performed at 38% of the length of the nondominant tibia. Cluster analysis from handgrip strength, SLJ, speed/agility, and CRF was developed to identify fitness groups. Bone variables were compared between sexes and between cluster groups. The association between individual physical fitness components and different bone variables was also tested. Results: Three cluster groups emerged: fit (high values on all included physical fitness variables), strong (high strength values and low speed/agility and CRF), and unfit (low strength, speed/agility, and CRF). The fit group presented higher values than the strong and unfit groups for total and cortical bone mineral content, cortical area, and polar strength strain index (all P < 0.05). The fit group also presented a higher cortical thickness when compared with the unfit group (P < 0.05). Handgrip, SLJ, and speed/agility predicted all bone variables except for total and cortical volumetric bone mineral density. No differences were found for bone variables between sexes. Conclusion: The results suggest that global fitness in preschoolers is a key determinant for bone structure and strength but not volumetric bone mineral density. Clinical Relevance: Physical fitness is a determinant for tibial bone mineral content, structure, and strength in very young children. Performing physical fitness tests could provide useful information related to bone health in preschoolers.
Evidence of Pelvic and Nonpelvic Constraint on Egg Size in Two Species of Kinosternon from Mexico

Abstract Optimal egg size theory predicts that natural selection optimizes egg size within populations and most of the variation in reproductive output is attributable to clutch size variation driven by body size, available resources, and age. For small-bodied turtles, morphological (pelvic) constraint on egg size has been considered the main explanation when populations exhibit considerable variation in egg size, because the pelvis could be under selection for other functions besides reproduction. Kinosternids, a small-bodied and semiterrestrial lineage of turtles, show evidence for both pelvic and nonpelvic constraint on egg size. In order to test if small species show a tendency toward pelvic constraint on egg size, we examined possible pelvic constraints in 1 population of the small-bodied Kinosternon chimalhuaca from western Mexico and in 3 populations of medium- to large-bodied Kinosternon integrum from central Mexico. Gravid females were X-rayed to measure both pelvic aperture and egg width. To test for pelvic constraint on each population we compared the slopes of pelvic aperture and egg width (mean and maximum) to body size (plastron length) with analysis of covariance (ANCOVA); we also compared egg elongation with fresh egg measurements among populations using ANCOVA (with body size as covariate), and we conducted an allometric analysis in order to test for egg size optimization. We found evidence of pelvic constraint in 1 population of K. integrum, and evidence of nonpelvic constraint in the K. chimalhuaca population and in the other 2 populations of K. integrum. Our data did not support the supposed adaptive compromise and pelvic constraints on egg size in small-bodied turtles reported in other studies. Environmental factors such local pressure on egg size (stability of the environment) could explain this pelvic constraint discrepancy in kinosternids.
Comparative studies of moderate and high altitude stress on humans: studies on plasma lipid profiles

Studies have been carried out on plasma cholesterol, LDL—cholesterol, triglyceride, free fatty acids and phospholipids of fifteen male Indian students at a moderate altitude (2200 m) and at a high altitude (5100 m). The studied plasma lipid profiles of the human subjects increased significantly at high altitude in comparison to the moderate altitude. In the event of the process of acclimatization of the subjects from the high to the moderate altitude, the studied plasma lipid patterns reverted to the values observed at the initial moderate altitude condition.
The meaning of DAPI bands observed after C-banding and FISH procedures

Abstract Under specific technical conditions chromosome staining with 4′,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) permits characterization of heterochromatic regions as AT-rich (DAPI+) or AT-poor (DAPI−), especially when the chromosomes are counterstained with chromomycin A3 (CMA), which preferentially binds to GC-rich DNA. DAPI+ bands also often have been observed after C-banding or FISH. In these cases, however, it is not clear whether only AT-rich regions stain positively with DAPI or other heterochromatins with different base compositions also are stained. We evaluated the meaning of DAPI bands observed after C-banding and FISH using three plant species bearing different types of heterochromatin: DAPI+/CMA−, DAP−/CMA+ and DAPI0/CMA0 (neutral bands). Additional tests were performed using propidium iodide, a fluorochrome without preferential affinity for AT or GC. Our results indicate that AT-rich heterochromatin stains as DAPI+ bands after C-banding or FISH, but other kinds of heterochromatin also may be stained by DAPI.