Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Key Maize Drought-Responsive Genes and Pathways Revealed by Comparative Transcriptome and Physiological Analyses of Contrasting Inbred Lines

To unravel the molecular mechanisms underpinning maize (Zea mays L.) drought stress tolerance, we conducted comprehensive comparative transcriptome and physiological analyses of drought-tolerant YE8112 and drought-sensitive MO17 inbred line seedlings that had been exposed to drought treatment for seven days. Resultantly, YE8112 seedlings maintained comparatively higher leaf relative water and proline contents, greatly increased peroxidase activity, but decreased malondialdehyde content, than MO17 seedlings. Using an RNA sequencing (RNA-seq)-based approach, we identified a total of 10,612 differentially expressed genes (DEGs). From these, we mined out four critical sets of drought responsive DEGs, including 80 specific to YE8112, 5140 shared between the two lines after drought treatment (SD_TD), five DEGs of YE8112 also regulated in SD_TD, and four overlapping DEGs between the two lines. Drought-stressed YE8112 DEGs were primarily associated with nitrogen metabolism and amino-acid biosynthesis pathways, whereas MO17 DEGs were enriched in the ribosome pathway. Additionally, our physiological analyses results were consistent with the predicted RNA-seq-based findings. Furthermore, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) analysis and the RNA-seq results of twenty representative DEGs were highly correlated (R2 = 98.86%). Crucially, tolerant line YE8112 drought-responsive genes were predominantly implicated in stress signal transduction; cellular redox homeostasis maintenance; MYB, NAC, WRKY, and PLATZ transcriptional factor modulated; carbohydrate synthesis and cell-wall remodeling; amino acid biosynthesis; and protein ubiquitination processes. Our findings offer insights into the molecular networks mediating maize drought stress tolerance.
Maternal comforting behavior, toddlers' dysregulated fear, and toddlers' emotion regulatory behaviors.

Developmental theories of emotion regulation suggest that influences from both extrinsic (e.g., from caregivers) and intrinsic (i.e., temperament) sources contribute to children's displays of emotion regulatory behaviors. Very few studies have examined specific caregiver behaviors in relation to specific regulatory behaviors. Further, few empirical investigations have tested theoretical notions that temperament may be an important context in which to understand the nature of the relation between caregiver behavior and toddlers' regulatory behaviors. The current study examined the specific maternal behavior of physical comfort in relation to three regulatory strategies exhibited by toddlers (attention-shifting, caregiver-focused behavior, and self-focused behavior) in 117 pairs of mothers and their 24-month-old toddlers. Further, we tested the temperament dimension of dysregulated fear, a more recent derivation of behavioral inhibition, both in relation to regulatory efforts and as a moderator of relations between maternal comforting and toddler regulatory behaviors. Dysregulated fear related directly and positively to attention-shifting, and it moderated the relation between maternal comforting and both caregiver-focused and self-focused behaviors. This study provides new evidence of the importance of both extrinsic and intrinsic correlates of emotion regulation in early childhood. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).
Risks of Postendoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography Pancreatitis and Hyperamylasemia After Endoscopic Papillary Balloon Dilation: A Retrospective Analysis

It is currently unclear whether endoscopic papillary balloon dilation (EPBD) is associated with increased severe postendoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography pancreatitis (PEP)-related morbidity owing to conflicting reports. This study aimed to investigate whether EPBD increases the risk of PEP and hyperamylasemia. Clinical data of patients with choledocholithiasis, treated at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University from January 2015 to December 2016 were analyzed. Patients were divided into the EPBD group and endoscopic sphincterotomy (EST)+EPBD group, and their characteristics and PEP and hyperamylasemia incidences were compared. Incidences related to dilated balloon diameter were also analyzed. There were no significant differences in patient characteristics and the incidences of PEP (2.6% vs. 0%; P=0.257) and hyperamylasemia (4.4% vs. 5.6%; P=0.954) between the 2 groups. Results were similar even with different balloon dilatations. EPBD without endoscopic sphincterotomy did not increase the risk of PEP and hyperamylasemia. It is a safe option for choledocholithiasis patients.
Association of Adiposity Indices with Hypertension in Middle-Aged and Elderly Thai Population: National Health Examination Survey 2009 (NHES-IV)

Obesity in terms of excess fat mass is associated with increased morbidity, disability and mortality due to obesity-related disorders, including hypertension. Many hypertensive individuals are overweight and often receive their advice to lose weight related to body-fat, in order to lower their blood pressure. However, it is still unclear whether there is a strong association of adipose tissue measured by adiposity indicators with hypertension in the Thai population. Various adiposity indices have been published to distinguish the distribution of body fat with disparate properties. This study examined nine adiposity markers and their association with hypertension in 15,842 Thai adults ≥35 years old. Data were obtained from the nationwide Thai National Health Examination Survey 2009. Accuracy performance and associations of indexes with hypertension were analyzed by Area Under Curve (AUC) and logistic regression analyses. Regardless of gender, the best methods to distinguish performance were waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) [AUC: 0.640 (0.631–0.649)], followed by lipid accumulation product (LAP) [AUC: 0.636 (0.627–0.645)], waist circumference (WC) [AUC: 0.633 (0.624–0.641)], and Conicity index (C-Index) [AUC: 0.630 (0.621–0.639)]. Linear regression analysis exhibited the independent association of the top four indices, WC, WHtR, C-Index, and LAP with higher systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Those indices’ quartiles were graded in a dose-response manner which significantly increased at the higher quartiles. The indicator’s cutoff point carried the odds ratio of presence hypertension in the range of 1.7 to 2.5 (p < 0.001). Among the nine obesity indices, WHtR (cutoff >0.52) in both genders was the simplest and most practical measurement for adiposity in association with hypertension in middle-aged and elderly Thais.
The oceanic sink for anthropogenic CO2 from 1994 to 2007

The state of ocean CO2 uptake The ocean is an important sink for anthropogenic CO2 and has absorbed roughly 30% of our emissions between the beginning of the industrial revolution and the mid-1990s. This effect is an important moderator of climate change, but can we count on it to remain as strong in the future? Gruber et al. calculated the ocean uptake of anthropogenic CO2 for the interval from 1994 to 2007, which continued as expected. They also observed clear regional deviations from this pattern, suggesting that there is no guarantee that uptake will remain as robust with time. Science, this issue p. 1193 Ocean uptake of atmospheric CO2 continued apace between 1994 and 2007. We quantify the oceanic sink for anthropogenic carbon dioxide (CO2) over the period 1994 to 2007 by using observations from the global repeat hydrography program and contrasting them to observations from the 1990s. Using a linear regression–based method, we find a global increase in the anthropogenic CO2 inventory of 34 ± 4 petagrams of carbon (Pg C) between 1994 and 2007. This is equivalent to an average uptake rate of 2.6 ± 0.3 Pg C year−1 and represents 31 ± 4% of the global anthropogenic CO2 emissions over this period. Although this global ocean sink estimate is consistent with the expectation of the ocean uptake having increased in proportion to the rise in atmospheric CO2, substantial regional differences in storage rate are found, likely owing to climate variability–driven changes in ocean circulation.
“Made Me Feel Connected”: A Qualitative Comparative Analysis of Intimate Partner Violence Routine Screening Pathways to Impact

Intimate partner violence (IPV) routine screening is widely implemented, yet the evidence for pathways to impact remains unclear. Of the 32 abused women interviewed 16 weeks after antenatal IPV screening, 24 reported positive impact, six reported nil positive impact, and two reported negative impact. Using qualitative comparative analysis (QCA), key conditions for positive impact were care in asking, and support and validation from the midwife. Lack of these and lack of continuity of care were relevant to nil positive impact. Benefits included naming the abuse, connection, unburdening, taking steps to safety, and enabling informed care. Disclosure was not required for positive impact.
A modified V-shaped incision combined with superficial musculo-aponeurotic system flap for parotidectomy

Abstract Background: V-shaped incision (VSI) for parotidectomy had been introduced for cosmetic purpose. Despite having aesthetic superiority, it required excessive retraction or an additional hairline incision for adequate surgical exposure. To overcome these problems, we conceptualized a modified VSI approach combined with a separate superficial musculo-aponeurotic system flap. Aims: This study aimed to propose this approach and evaluate its technical feasibility and efficacy for excision of parotid tumors. Materials and methods: This is a prospective, nonrandomized study involving 74 patients with small-to-medium (<4 cm), benign parotid tumors located superficially. The patients were divided into two groups based on the incision techniques used: modified VSI and modified Blair incision (MBI). The clinical outcomes of both approaches for parotidectomy were analyzed. Results: Thirty-four patients underwent modified VSI approach, while 40 underwent MBI. All parotidectomies with modified VSI were successfully completed without any further incision, and no facial nerve injury or intraoperative tumor rupture complication was reported. There were no significant differences in the complications between both approaches, such as hematoma, infection, wound dehiscence, skin necrosis, sialocele, or sensory disturbance. The modified VSI group showed better cosmetic satisfaction results than did the MBI group (9.2 and 7.8, respectively; p < .001). Conclusions and significance: The modified VSI approach is safe and feasible for small-to-medium benign parotid tumors. This approach could be a possible option for patients with a high cosmetic demand. Level of Evidence: 4. Study design: Prospective pilot study.
Adoption of technology and management practices by Canadian cow-calf producers.

Statistics Canada's 2016 census data were analyzed to determine the proportion of Canadian cow-calf producers who had adopted the use of 7 different technologies and 2 different grazing/feeding management practices, collectively referred to as "management tools. " The 4 most commonly used management tools were rotational grazing, in-field winter grazing/feeding, smartphones/tablets, and computers/laptops. Differences in the adoption of these technologies by geographical region, number of producers/operations, herd size, operator gender, and operator age were examined using logistic regression. Estimates of the mean proportion of producers in eastern (65%) and western (60%) Canada using rotational grazing were similar (P = 0.24). However, a greater proportion of producers in western Canada versus eastern Canada were using in-field winter grazing/feeding (P < 0.001), smartphones/tablets (P < 0.001), and computers/laptops (P = 0.002). Adoption of all 4 tools was higher on farm operations with ≥ 2 operators versus those with 1 operator (P < 0.001). Larger herd size was associated with higher adoption rates across all 4 management tools. The effect of gender on adoption rates was equivocal.
CIDE Proteins in Human Health and Disease

Cell death-Inducing DNA Fragmentation Factor Alpha (DFFA)-like Effector (CIDE) proteins have emerged as lipid droplet-associated proteins that regulate fat metabolism. There are three members in the CIDE protein family—CIDEA, CIDEB, and CIDEC (also known as fat-specific protein 27 (FSP27)). CIDEA and FSP27 are primarily expressed in adipose tissue, while CIDEB is expressed in the liver. Originally, based upon their homology with DNA fragmentation factors, these proteins were identified as apoptotic proteins. However, recent studies have changed the perception of these proteins, redefining them as regulators of lipid droplet dynamics and fat metabolism, which contribute to a healthy metabolic phenotype in humans. Despite various studies in humans and gene-targeting studies in mice, the physiological roles of CIDE proteins remains elusive. This review will summarize the known physiological role and metabolic pathways regulated by the CIDE proteins in human health and disease.
Combinations of Symptoms in Emergency Presentations: Prevalence and Outcome

The predictive power of certain symptoms, such as dyspnoea, is well known. However, research is limited to the investigation of single chief complaints. This is in contrast to patients in the emergency department (ED) presenting usually more than one symptom. We aimed to identify the most common combinations of symptoms and to report their related outcomes: hospitalisation, admission to intensive care units, and mortality. This is a secondary analysis of a consecutive sample of all patients presenting to the ED of the University Hospital Basel over a total time course of 6 weeks. The presence of 35 predefined symptoms was systematically assessed upon presentation. A total of 3960 emergency patients (median age 51, 51.7% male) were included. Over 130 combinations of two, 80 combinations of three, and 10 combinations of four symptoms occurred 42 times or more during a total inclusion period of 42 days. Two combinations of two symptoms were predictive for in-hospital mortality: weakness and fatigue (Odds ratio (OR) = 2.45), and weakness and headache (OR = 3.01). Combinations of symptoms were frequent. Nonspecific complaints (NSCs), such as weakness and fatigue, are among the most frequently reported combinations of symptoms, and are associated with adverse outcomes. Systematically assessing symptoms may add valuable information for prognosis and may therefore influence triage, clinical work-up, and disposition.
Impact of pressure as a tactile stimulus on working memory in healthy participants

Studies on cross-modal interaction have demonstrated attenuated as well as facilitated effects for both neural responses as well as behavioral performance. The goals of this pilot study were to investigate possible cross-modal interactions of tactile stimulation on visual working memory and to identify possible neuronal correlates by using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). During fMRI, participants (n = 12 females, n = 12 males) performed a verbal n-back task (0-back and 2-back tasks) while tactile pressure to the left thumbnail was delivered. Participants presented significantly lower behavioral performances (increased error rates, and reaction times) during the 2-back task as compared to the 0-back task. Task performance was independent of pressure in both tasks. This means that working memory performance was not impacted by a low salient tactile stimulus. Also in the fMRI data, no significant interactions of n-back x pressure were observed. In conclusion, the current study found no influence of tactile pressure on task-related brain activity during n-back (0-back and 2-back) tasks.
An NPY Y1 receptor antagonist unmasks latent sensitization and reveals the contribution of Protein Kinase A and EPAC to chronic inflammatory pain.

Peripheral inflammation produces a long-lasting latent sensitization of spinal nociceptive neurons that is masked by tonic inhibitory controls. We explored mechanisms of latent sensitization with an established four-step approach: 1) induction of inflammation; 2) allow pain hypersensitivity to resolve; 3) interrogate latent sensitization with a channel blocker, mutant mouse, or receptor antagonist; 4) disrupt compensatory inhibition with a receptor antagonist so as to reinstate pain hypersensitivity. We found that the neuropeptide Y Y1 receptor antagonist BIBO3304 reinstated pain hypersensitivity, indicative of an unmasking of latent sensitization. BIBO3304-evoked reinstatement was not observed in AC1 knockout mice and was prevented with intrathecal co-administration of a pharmacological blocker to either: the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR); adenylyl cyclase type 1 (AC1); protein kinase A (PKA); transient receptor potential cation channel A1 (TRPA1); channel V1 (TRPV1); or exchange protein activated by cAMP (Epac1 or Epac2). A PKA activator evoked both pain reinstatement and touch-evoked pERK expression in dorsal horn; the former was prevented with intrathecal co-administration of a TRPA1 or TRPV1 blocker. An Epac activator also evoked pain reinstatement and pERK expression. We conclude that PKA and Epac are sufficient to maintain long-lasting latent sensitization of dorsal horn neurons that is kept in remission by the NPY-Y1 receptor system. Furthermore, we have identified and characterized two novel molecular signaling pathways in the dorsal horn that drive latent sensitization in the setting of chronic inflammatory pain: NMDAR→AC1→PKA→TRPA1/V1 and NMDAR→AC1→Epac1/2. New treatments for chronic inflammatory pain might either increase endogenous NPY analgesia or inhibit AC1, PKA or Epac.
Osteogenic protein-1 alleviates high glucose microenvironment-caused degenerative changes in nucleus pulposus cells

Increasing evidence has indicated a close relationship between diabetes mellitus (DM) and disc degeneration. As a potential therapeutic growth factor, osteogenic protein-1 (OP-1) has lots of protective effects on the healthy disc cell’s biology. The present study was aimed to investigate the effects of OP-1 on degenerative changes of nucleus pulposus (NP) cells in a high glucose culture. Rat NP cells were cultured in the baseline medium or the high glucose (0.2 M) culture medium. OP-1 was added into the high glucose culture medium to investigate whether its has some protective effects against degenerative changes of NP cells in the high glucose culture. NP cell apoptosis ratio, caspase-3/9 activity, expression of apoptosis-related molecules (Bcl-2, Bax, and caspase-3), matrix macromolecules (aggrecan and collagen II), and matrix remodeling enzymes (MMP-3, MMP-13, and ADAMTS-4), and immuno-staining of NP matrix proteins (aggrecan and collagen II) were evaluated. Compared with the baseline culture, high glucose culture significantly increased NP cell apoptosis ratio, caspase-3/9 activity, up-regulated expression of Bax, caspase-3, MMP-3, MMP-13 and ADAMTS-4, down-regulated expression of Bcl-2, aggrecan and collagen II, and decreased staining intensity of aggrecan and collagen II. However, the results of these parameters were partly reversed by the addition of OP-1 in the high glucose culture. OP-1 can alleviate high glucose microenvironment-induced degenerative changes of NP cells. The present study provides that OP-1 may be promising in retarding disc degeneration in DM patients.
Adhesion and invasion of gingival epithelial cells by Porphyromonas gulae

Porphyromonas gulae, an animal periodontal pathogen, possess fimbriae classified into three genotypes (A-C) based on the diversity of fimA genes encoding FimA. Accumulating evidence suggests that P. gulae strains with type C fimbriae are more virulent as compared to those with other types. The ability of these organisms to adhere to and invade gingival epithelial cells has yet to be examined. P. gulae showed the greatest levels of adhesion and invasion at a multiplicity of infection of 100 for 90 min. P. gulae type C and some type B strains invaded gingival epithelial cells at significantly greater levels than the other strains, at the same level of efficiency as P. gingivalis with type II fimbriae. Adhesion and invasion of gingival epithelial cells by P. gulae were inhibited by cytochalasin D and sodium azide, indicating the requirements of actin polymerization and energy metabolism for those activities. Invasion within gingival epithelial cells was blocked by staurosporine, whereas those inhibitors showed little effects on adhesion, while nocodazole and cycloheximide had negligible effects on either adhesion or invasion. P. gulae proteases were found to be essential for adhesion and invasion of gingival epithelial cells, while its DNA and RNA, and protein synthesis were unnecessary for those activities. Additionally, α5β1 integrin antibodies significantly inhibited adhesion and invasion by P. gulae. This is the first report to characterize P. gulae adhesion and invasion of human gingival epithelial cells.
Protective Effect of N-Arachidonoyl Glycine-GPR18 Signaling after Excitotoxical Lesion in Murine Organotypic Hippocampal Slice Cultures

N-arachidonoyl glycine (NAGly) is an endocannabinoid involved in the regulation of different immune cells. It was shown to activate the GPR18 receptor, which was postulated to switch macrophages from cytotoxic to reparative. To study GPR18 expression and neuroprotection after NAGly treatment we used excitotoxically lesioned organotypic hippocampal slice cultures (OHSC). The effect of NAGly was also tested in isolated microglia and astrocytes as these cells play a crucial role during neuronal injury. In the present study, the GPR18 receptor was found in OHSC at mRNA level and was downregulated after N-Methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) treatment at a single time point. Furthermore, treatment with NAGly reduced neuronal damage and this effect was abolished by GPR18 and cannabinoid receptor (CB)2 receptor antagonists. The activation but not motility of primary microglia and astrocytes was influenced when incubated with NAGly. However, NAGly alone reduced the phosphorylation of Akt but no changes in activation of the p44/42 and p38 MAPK and CREB pathways in BV2 cells could be observed. Given NAGly mediated actions we speculate that GPR18 and its ligand NAGly are modulators of glial and neuronal cells during neuronal damage.
Beware greedy algorithms

To fairly compare the nestedness of ecological networks, a network's observed nestedness can be divided by its maximum nestedness. The authors show that a greedy algorithm does not find networks’ maximum nestedness values. Simulated annealing achieved much better results, laying the foundation for future development of even more sophisticated algorithms.