Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Local acetate inhibits brown adipose tissue function

Brown adipose tissue has been extensively studied in the last decade for its potential to counteract the obesity pandemic. However, the paracrine regulation within brown tissue is largely unknown. Here, we show that local acetate directly inhibits brown fat thermogenesis, without changing acetate levels in the circulation. We demonstrate that modulating acetate within brown tissue at physiological levels blunts its function and systemically decreases energy expenditure. Using a series of transcriptomic analyses, we identified genes related to the tricarboxylic acid cycle and brown adipocyte formation, which are down-regulated upon local acetate administration. Overall, these findings demonstrate that local acetate inhibits brown fat function.
Phylo-taxonogenomics supports revision of taxonomic status of twenty Xanthomonas pathovars to Xanthomonas citri.

Based on phylo-taxonogenomics criteria, we present amended descriptions for twenty pathovars to Xanthomonas citri. Incidentally, eighteen were first reported from India. Seven out of twenty are currently classified as X. axonopodis, twelve out of twenty as X. campestris, and one as X. cissicola. In this study, we have generated genome sequence data of four pathovars, and the genomes of the remaining sixteen were used from the published data. Comprehensive genome-based phylogenomic and taxonogenomic analyses reveal that all these pathovars belong to X. citri and need to reconcile their taxonomic status. The present proposal will aid in systematic studies of a major species and its constitutent members that infect economically important plants.
Expression of CTAG1B clone EPR13780 versus DDIT3 gene rearrangement distinguishes myxoid liposarcoma from its mimics with detection of novel DDIT3 gene copy number variations

ABSTRACT Myxoid liposarcoma (MLPS) has different patterns that are often difficult to distinguish from other soft tissue lesions. MLPS is characterized by a reciprocal translocation involving the DNA Damage Inducible Transcript 3 gene (DDIT3) that can be detected using fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH). Recently, the marker for cancer testis antigen 1b (CTAG1B) was found to be expressed in MLPS. The aim of the present study was to assess the potential use immunohistochemistry (IHC) for CTAG1B expression and DDIT3 rearrangement to diagnose MLPS and distinguish it from similar lesions. Out of 29 cases including MLPS and its mimics, CTAG1B was expressed in 92.86% of cases of MLPS and 20% of its mimics. DDIT3 rearrangement was 100% sensitive and 92.86% specific in distinguishing MLPS from its mimics. The DDIT3 rearrangement was found to be more sensitive but less specific than cytoplasmic expression of CTAG1B marker. DDIT3 polysomy and amplification were detected in some cases. Therefore, both CTAG1B expression and FISH for DDIT3 gene can be used to distinguish MLPS from similar tumors. The use of both immunohistochemistry for CTAG1B in addition to DDIT3 gene rearrangement detection by FISH was more specific than using either of them alone. However, the DDIT3 gene rearrangement alone was the most sensitive test for distinguishing MLPS from its mimics.
Quaternion-Based LQR Spacecraft Control Design Is a Robust Pole Assignment Design

AbstractRecently, a fully controllable quaternion spacecraft model was proposed. Based on this controllable quaternion model, an analytic linear-quadratic regulator (LQR) design for a spacecraft control system was obtained. Although the LQR design is based on the linearized quaternion model, it was shown that the design of the LQR control system globally stabilizes the original nonlinear spacecraft system. Because in spacecraft design practice engineers normally use models with simplified system dynamics and cost function (which has diagonal structure and excludes external torques) to make the design complexity manageable, this paper will show that the LQR control design is a robust pole assignment design; therefore, the controller is insensitive to the modeling error and external disturbances of nonlinear spacecraft systems. All these properties make this design very attractive. First, the designed controller locally achieves the desired performance because LQR design is optimal for the linearized system.
Molecular epidemiology of Paracoccidiodes spp. recovered from patients with paracoccidioidomycosis in a teaching hospital from Minas Gerais State of Brazil

Introduction Paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) is caused by several species of the Paracoccidioides genus which can be differentiated by interspecific genetic variations, morphology and geographic distribution. Intraspecific variability correlation with clinical and epidemiological aspects of these species still remains unclear. This study aimed to sequence the loci GP43, exon 2 and ARF of 23 clinical isolates of Paracoccidioides spp. from patients in the Southeast Region of Brazil. Methodology and main findings GenBank was used to compare the present (23) with previous described sequences (151) that included ARF and GP43. It was identified a high polymorphism rate among the 23 isolates in comparison to the other 151. Among the isolates, 22 (95.66%) were S1/P. brasiliensis and 1 (4.34%) was identified as PS2/P. americana. A total of 45 haplotypes were found as follows: 19 from S1/P. brasiliensis (13 from the present study), 15 from P. lutzii, 6 from PS2/P. americana (1 from the present study), 3 from PS3/P. restrepiensis and 2 from PS4/P. venezuelensis. Moreover, exclusive haplotypes according to clinical origin and geographical area were found. S1/P. brasiliensis (HD = 0.655 and K = 4.613) and P. lutzii (HD = 0.649 and K = 2.906) presented the highest rate of polymorphism among all species, from which 12 isolates of the present study were clustered within S1b/P. brasiliensis. The GP43 locus showed a higher variability and was found to be the main reason for the species differentiation. Conclusions The results herein decribed show a high intraspecific genetic variability among S1/P. brasiliensis isolates and confirm the predominance of this species in the Southeast region of Brazil. The finding of exclusive haplotypes according to clinical origin and geographical area would suggest correlation between the molecular profile with the clinical form and geographic origin of patients with PCM.
Identification of antibiotic resistance and virulence‐encoding factors in Klebsiella pneumoniae by Raman spectroscopy and deep learning

Klebsiella pneumoniae has become the number one bacterial pathogen that causes high mortality in clinical settings worldwide. Clinical K. pneumoniae strains with carbapenem resistance and/or hypervirulent phenotypes cause higher mortality comparing with classical K. pneumoniae strains. Rapid differentiation of clinical K. pneumoniae with high resistance/hypervirulence from classical K. pneumoniae would allow us to develop rational and timely treatment plans. In this study, we developed a convolution neural network (CNN) as a prediction method using Raman spectra raw data for rapid identification of ARGs, hypervirulence‐encoding factors and resistance phenotypes from K. pneumoniae strains. A total of 71 K. pneumoniae strains were included in this study. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of 15 commonly used antimicrobial agents on K. pneumoniae strains were determined. Seven thousand four hundred fifty‐five spectra were obtained using the InVia Reflex confocal Raman microscope and used for deep learning‐based and machine learning (ML) algorithms analyses. The quality of predictors was estimated in an independent data set. The results of antibiotic resistance and virulence‐encoding factors identification showed that the CNN model not only simplified the classification system for Raman spectroscopy but also provided significantly higher accuracy to identify K. pneumoniae with high resistance and virulence when compared with the support vector machine (SVM) and logistic regression (LR) models. By back‐testing the Raman‐CNN platform on 71 K. pneumoniae strains, we found that Raman spectroscopy allows for highly accurate and rationally designed treatment plans against bacterial infections within hours. More importantly, this method could reduce healthcare costs and antibiotics misuse, limiting the development of antimicrobial resistance and improving patient outcomes.
Waste Facilities in Residential Communities: Impacts and Acceptance

Large metropolitan areas experience resistance to waste disposal facilities because of physical and social impacts on typical rural host communities. The perception of the impacts is amplified by the perceived lack of host‐community control, familiarity, confidence and the unfair distribution of the facility benefits and costs. The small benefits that accrue to the host community do not offset the losses. To develop incentives for the host community to accept the facility, impacts are combined to define the acceptance criterion. This criterion requires that the net impacts (i.e., the total impacts minus the benefits) be minimized to within the narrow tolerance range of the host community. Acceptance, therefore, can be achieved either by reducing the impacts or increasing the benefits to the host community. Since losses are generally perceived to outweigh gains, the reduction rather than the compensation of the losses to the host community is hypothesized to be the most effective method of achieving facili.
U-Shaped Association between Maternal Hemoglobin and Low Birth Weight in Rural Bangladesh

ABSTRACT. Low birth weight (LBW) is associated with a higher risk of neonatal mortality and the development of adult-onset chronic disease. Understanding the ongoing contribution of maternal hemoglobin (Hgb) levels to the incidence of LBW in South Asia is crucial to achieve the World Health Assembly global nutrition target of a 30% reduction in LBW by 2025. We enrolled pregnant women from the rural Tangail District of Bangladesh in a Maternal Newborn Health Registry established under The Global Network for Women’s and Children’s Health Research. We measured the Hgb of pregnant women at enrollment and birth weights of all infants born after 20 weeks gestation. Using logistic regression to adjust for multiple potential confounders, we estimated the association between maternal Hgb and the risk of LBW. We obtained Hgb measurements and birth weights from 1,665 mother–child dyads between July 2019 and April 2020. Using trimester-specific cutoffs for anemia, 48.3% of the women were anemic and the mean (±SD) Hgb level was 10.6 (±1.24) g/dL. We identified a U-shaped relationship where the highest risk of LBW was seen at very low (< 7.0 g/dL, OR = 2.00, 95% CI = 0.43–7.01, P = 0.31) and high (> 13.0 g/dL, OR = 2.17, 95% CI = 1.01–4.38, P = 0.036) Hgb levels. The mechanisms underlying this U-shaped association may include decreased plasma expansion during pregnancy and/or iron dysregulation resulting in placental disease. Further research is needed to explain the observed U-shaped relationship, to guide iron supplementation in pregnancy and to minimize the risk of LBW outcomes.
Clinical and virological impact of single and dual infections with influenza A (H1N1) and SARS-CoV-2 in adult inpatients

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) mimics the influenza A (H1N1) virus in terms of clinical presentation, transmission mechanism, and seasonal coincidence. Comprehensive data for the clinical severity of adult patients co-infected by both H1N1 and SARS-CoV-2, and, particularly, the relationship with PCR cycle threshold (Ct) values are not yet available. All participants in this study were tested for H1N1 and SARS-CoV-2 simultaneously at admission. Demographic, clinical, treatment, and laboratory data were extracted from electronic medical records and compared among adults hospitalized for H1N1 infection, SARS-CoV-2 infection and co-infection with both viruses. Ct values for viral RNA detection were further compared within SARS-CoV-2 and co-infection groups. Score on seven-category ordinal scale of clinical status at day 7 and day 14 were assessed. Among patients with monoinfection, H1N1 infection had higher frequency of onset symptoms but lower incidence of adverse events during hospitalization than SAR-CoV-2 infection (P < 0.05). Co-infection had an increased odds of acute kidney injury, acute heart failure, secondary bacterial infections, multilobar infiltrates and admittance to ICU than monoinfection. Score on seven-category scale at day 7 and day 14 was higher in patients with coinfection than patients with SAR-CoV-2 monoinfection (P<0.05). Co-infected patients had lower initial Ct values (referring to higher viral load) (median 32) than patients with SAR-CoV-2 monoinfection (median 36). Among co-infected patients, low Ct values were significantly and positively correlated with acute kidney injury and ARDS (P = 0.03 and 0.02, respectively). Co-infection by SARS-CoV-2 and H1N1 caused more severe disease than monoinfection by either virus in adult inpatients. Early Ct value could provide clues for the later trajectory of the co-infection. Multiplex molecular diagnostics for both viruses and early assessment of SAR-CoV-2 Ct values are recommended to achieve optimal treatment for improved clinical outcome.
You do it to yourself: Attentional capture by threat-signaling stimuli persists even when entirely counterproductive.

Recent research has demonstrated a counterproductive attentional bias toward threat-related stimuli: under conditions in which fixating on a color distractor stimulus sometimes resulted in an immediate shock, participants were nevertheless more likely to look at this threat-related distractor than a neutral distractor matched for physical salience. However, participants in that prior research may not have realized that their own actions caused delivery of aversive outcomes, such that monitoring for the threat-related distractor may not have been counterproductive from participants' perspective. In Experiment 1 of the current study, we demonstrate that the attentional bias to the threat-related distractor persists (and indeed, becomes stronger) when participants are made explicitly aware that looking at this stimulus is the sole cause of aversive events, which are otherwise avoidable. In Experiment 2 we replicate the bias in informed participants under conditions in which there is additional (reward-driven) motivation to avoid attending to distractors. Taken together with prior findings, the observation of an attentional bias toward the threat-related distractor under these explicitly counterproductive conditions provides strong support for the idea that threat-related stimuli are automatically prioritized by our attentional system. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).
Study of the Somatotopic Organization of the Human Secondary Somatosensory Area by Comparing MEG and fMRI Results

We have studied the somatotopical organization of the Sll area by means of fMRI and MEG. Magnetoencephalography (MEG), by localizing in 3D the sources of the magnetic field, directly investigates event-related cerebral activity with millisecond time resolution. On the other hand, fMRI has a temporal resolution in the order of 1 s, being limited by hemodynamics. There is an increasing interest in the scientific community for the combination and comparison of brain mapping techniques with complementary properties [1], In a previous study we have studied the somatotopic organization of the SII area by means of fMRi, after median and tibial nerve electrical stimulation [2]. In this work, we compared fMRI activations, and Equivalent Current Dipole (ECD) localizations from evoked MEG data, following median and tibial nerve electrical stimulation.
Integrating deep learning with microfluidics for biophysical classification of sickle red blood cells adhered to laminin

Sickle cell disease, a genetic disorder affecting a sizeable global demographic, manifests in sickle red blood cells (sRBCs) with altered shape and biomechanics. sRBCs show heightened adhesive interactions with inflamed endothelium, triggering painful vascular occlusion events. Numerous studies employ microfluidic-assay-based monitoring tools to quantify characteristics of adhered sRBCs from high resolution channel images. The current image analysis workflow relies on detailed morphological characterization and cell counting by a specially trained worker. This is time and labor intensive, and prone to user bias artifacts. Here we establish a morphology based classification scheme to identify two naturally arising sRBC subpopulations—deformable and non-deformable sRBCs—utilizing novel visual markers that link to underlying cell biomechanical properties and hold promise for clinically relevant insights. We then set up a standardized, reproducible, and fully automated image analysis workflow designed to carry out this classification. This relies on a two part deep neural network architecture that works in tandem for segmentation of channel images and classification of adhered cells into subtypes. Network training utilized an extensive data set of images generated by the SCD BioChip, a microfluidic assay which injects clinical whole blood samples into protein-functionalized microchannels, mimicking physiological conditions in the microvasculature. Here we carried out the assay with the sub-endothelial protein laminin. The machine learning approach segmented the resulting channel images with 99.1±0.3% mean IoU on the validation set across 5 k-folds, classified detected sRBCs with 96.0±0.3% mean accuracy on the validation set across 5 k-folds, and matched trained personnel in overall characterization of whole channel images with R2 = 0.992, 0.987 and 0.834 for total, deformable and non-deformable sRBC counts respectively. Average analysis time per channel image was also improved by two orders of magnitude (∼ 2 minutes vs ∼ 2-3 hours) over manual characterization. Finally, the network results show an order of magnitude less variance in counts on repeat trials than humans. This kind of standardization is a prerequisite for the viability of any diagnostic technology, making our system suitable for affordable and high throughput disease monitoring.
Costs and benefits of masting: economies of scale are not reduced by negative density-dependence in seedling survival in Sorbus aucuparia.

Masting is a widespread reproductive strategy in plants that helps to reduce seed predation and increase pollination. However, masting can involve costs, notably negative density-dependent (NDD) seedling survival caused by concentrating reproduction in intermittent events. Masting benefits have received widespread attention, but the costs are understudied, which precludes understanding why some plant species have evolved intense masting, while others reproduce regularly. We followed seed production, seed predation (both 13 years), and seedling recruitment and survival (11 years) in Sorbus aucuparia. We tested whether NDD in seedling survival after mast years can reduce the benefits of pulsed reproduction that come through predator satiation. Seed predation rates were extreme in our population (mean = 75%), but were reduced by masting. The commonly accepted, but untested, assertion that pulsed recruitment is associated with strong NDD was unsupported. Consequently, the proportion of seedlings that survived their first year increased with fruit production. This provides a rare test of economies of scale beyond the seed stage. Our results provide estimation of the costs of mast seeding, and indicate that these may be lower than expected. Low masting costs, if common, may help explain why masting is such a widespread reproductive strategy throughout the plant kingdom.
Availability and Utilization of the WHO-Recommended Lifesaving Medicines for Under-Five Children at University of Gondar Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, Amhara Region, Ethiopia

According to the World Health Organization report, 5.4 million under-five children died, which is similar to under-five mortality rate of 39 deaths per 1000 live births. This rate is higher in sub-Saharan Africa with 76 deaths per 1000 live births. More than 1 out of every 2 deaths is because of diseases that can be managed with drug of low-cost and high quality. Institutional-based cross-sectional survey was conducted from January to February 2021, at the University of Gondar Comprehensive Specialized Hospital. Statistical Package for the Social Sciences software version 24 was used for data analysis. The results were presented using Figures, tables, and texts according to the nature of the data. The overall average availability of priority medicines was 75% on the day of visit and the average stock-out duration in the last 6 months was 23.85 days. Availability and utilization of priority medicines for the management of antiretroviral infections, Vitamin A deficiency, malaria, and diarrheal cases were high, whereas availability and utilization of suggested medication for neonatal sepsis were very low. A significant proportion of priority diseases was managed by non-priority medications. Medicines supply sources of the country, ministry of health, policymakers as well as facility managers should work in collaboration toward ensuring sustainable and consistent availability of priority medicines through the country. Continues in-service training of healthcare professionals is also mandatory to update themselves with newly developed guidelines, standards, and recommendations.
Positions of French Nurses Regarding the use of Hypnotherapy to Relieve Pain in Postoperative Settings

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to carry out a detailed mapping of the different personal positions of French nurses concerning the practice of hypnotherapy. Factorial design was used to assess the impact of 4 situational factors: type of postoperative care and degree of pain associated with it (chemotherapy, wound cleansing and bandaging, or body grooming that leads to pain on mobilization); whether paracetamol (also known as acetaminophen) was administrated along with hypnosis or not; professional credentials of the hypnotherapist; and patient’s identity (adult, young person, elderly person, or young person with learning difficulties). A combination of scenario technique and cluster analysis was implemented. Participants were 91 registered nurses and, for comparison, 19 nurse’s aides, 9 physicians, 5 psychologists, and 77 laypersons. Seven qualitatively different positions were found. Only a minority of French nurses were convinced that hypnotherapy is an indisputably acceptable practice in postoperative care. Most of them were indifferent to the issue as long as pain medication was used. Nurses’ views appeared to be similar to physicians’ views.
In silico prediction of volume of distribution of drugs in man using conformal prediction performs on par with animal data-based models

Abstract Volume of distribution at steady state (Vss) is an important pharmacokinetic endpoint. In this study we apply machine learning and conformal prediction for human Vss prediction, and make a head-to-head comparison with rat-to-man scaling, allometric scaling and the Rodgers-Lukova method on combined in silico and in vitro data, using a test set of 105 compounds with experimentally observed Vss. The mean prediction error and % with <2-fold prediction error for our method were 2.4-fold and 64%, respectively. 69% of test compounds had an observed Vss within the prediction interval at a 70% confidence level. In comparison, 2.2-, 2.9- and 3.1-fold mean errors and 69, 64 and 61% of predictions with <2-fold error was reached with rat-to-man and allometric scaling and Rodgers-Lukova method, respectively. We conclude that our method has theoretically proven validity that was empirically confirmed, and showing predictive accuracy on par with animal models and superior to an alternative widely used in silico-based method. The option for the user to select the level of confidence in predictions offers better guidance on how to optimise Vss in drug discovery applications.