Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Platelet to Lymphocyte Ratio and Neutrophil to Lymphocyte Ratio in Missed Abortion

Abstract Objective Missed abortion occurs in ∼ 15% of all clinical pregnancies. The pathogenesis is not clearly known. However, defective placentation resulting in maternal systemic inflammatory response is considered responsible for missed abortion. Platelet lymphocyte ratio (PLR) and neutrophil lymphocyte ratio (NLR) are increasingly cited parameters of inflammation in the literature. However, no study evaluated the PLR and NLR rates in missed abortions so far. The aim of the present study is to investigate whether complete blood count (CBC) inflammatory parameters such as NLR and PLR are increased in patients with missed abortion. Methods Medical records of 40 pregnant women whose gestation ended in missed abortion at between 6 and14 weeks of gestation and of 40 healthy pregnant women were collected and compared retrospectively. The groups were compared regarding hemoglobin, hematocrit, platelet count (PLT), mean platelet volume (MPV), platelet distribution width (PDW), PLR and NLR. Results Platelet distribution width, NLR and PLR values were higher in the missed abortion group compared with the healthy pregnant women group (rates are p = 0.043; p = 0.038; and p = 0.010, respectively). Hematocrit, MPV, and lymphocyte values were found to be lower in the missed abortion group compared with the healthy pregnant women group (p = 0.027, p = 0.044 and p = 0.025, respectively). Conclusion The PDW, NLR and PLR values of the missed abortion group were reported high; and MPV values were reported low in the present study. These findings may help to speculate a defective placentation in the pathogenesis of missed abortion.
THE STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION OF PARDAXIN

Pardaxins are polypeptide pore-forming neurotoxins that alter cell plasma membrane permeability by packaging of the hydrophobic, amphipathic α-helices and assembly in the plasma membrane in oligomeric, poorly selective channels. At subcytotoxic concentrations, these small lesions in the plasma membrane induce a sustained increase in intracellular calcium activation, stimulation of the arachidonic acid cascade and massive release of neurotransmitters. These crucial events are further amplified by cascades of cellular signaling, due to the release of local mediators (prostaglandins) and/or neurotransmitters (dopamine) and modifications of intracellular enzymes, ion channels and receptor activities. The end result is a lethal hit to the signal transduction machinery of the attacked cell, resulting in cell death. Elucidation of the neuronal signal transduction pathways affected by pardaxin could provide a new understanding of synaptic transmission and new targets for therapy of patients affected by neurotoxins.
Size‐fractionated phytoplankton biomass and its implications for the dynamics of an oligotrophic tropical lake

SUMMARY 1. Size-fractionated phytoplankton biomass was examined in relation to the hydrodynamics of tropical Lake Alchichica from 1999 to 2002. 2. Alchichica is a warm monomictic lake, in which mixing takes place from late December to early March. The lake is oligotrophic (mean total chlorophyll-a concentration 4.2 ± 4.2 l gL )1 ) and its phytoplankton biomass is dominated (72.3 ± 16.4%) by large individuals (>2 lm). The degree of dominance of the large size class (nano- and microplankton) over the small size class (picoplankton) throughout the year is mainly determined by the availability of silicate and the Si/N ratio in the hypolimnion prior to the mixing period. 3. This is the first record of an oligotrophic tropical lake dominated by large size fractions of phytoplankton. Because of this dominance, the fate of most primary productivity is rapid sedimentation to the bottom followed by decomposition that promotes an anoxic hypolimnion. 4. Our findings in tropical Lake Alchichica challenge the idea that oligotrophic waters are dominated by small phytoplankton, as has been well established for the oligotrophic ocean and temperate lakes.
Segregation within school classes: Detecting social clustering in choice data

We suggest a new method for detecting patterns of social clustering based on choice data. The method compares similar subjects within and between cohorts and thereby allows us to isolate the effect of peer influence from that of exogenous factors. Using this method on Norwegian register data, we address the question of whether students tend to cluster socially based on similar background. We find that common background correlates with making the same choices of curricular tracks, and that both exogenous preferences and peer influence matter. This applies to immigrant students from the same country, and, to some extent, to descendants of immigrants, but not to students from culturally similar countries. There are also small effects related to parents’ education and income.
Sampling gap fraction and size for estimating leaf area and clumping indices from hemispherical photographs

Hemispherical photography is becoming a popular technique for gap fraction measurements to characterize bio- physical parameters and solar radiation in plant canopies. One of the crucial steps in the measurement of canopy gap frac- tion using hemispherical photography is determining the resolution of the sampling grid. In this work, the effects of varying resolutions of sampling grids by modifying the angle widths of zenithal annuli and azimuthal sectors were eval- uated for leaf area and clumping indices computations. Sensitivity analysis was performed to test these effects using artifi- cial photographs simulating ideal canopies with varying leaf area index and aggregation levels of foliage elements. Contrasting forest types, including natural tropical cloud forest and exotic plantations, were tested as real canopies. Results indicate that leaf area and clumping indices estimates are significantly affected by the variation of sampling grids. A new approach to solve the problem of null-gap segments, obscured completely by foliage, is proposed. However, the determina- tion of optimal combinations of zenithal annuli and azimuthal sector angular widths that suit all canopy types remains a difficult practical problem that is often overlooked. Finally, theoretically sound gap fraction and size sampling regions were demonstrated for reliable estimates of canopy biophysical parameters.
Clinical characteristics and quality of life, depression, and anxiety in adults with neurofibromatosis type 1: A nationwide study

Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is a genetic condition characterized by numerous somatic manifestations. The psychosocial burden in adults has rarely been studied. We examined the prevalence of self‐reported impairment of quality of life (QoL), symptoms of anxiety and depression and need for support, associated with disease severity and visibility. We conducted a nationwide cross‐sectional study of all 467 adults with NF1 diagnosed between 1977 and 2016 at one of the two national centers for rare diseases in Denmark. A total of 244 (56% response rate) completed a questionnaire that included standard measures of QoL, symptoms of depression and anxiety, indicators of disease‐related severity, visibility, and need for professional support. Associations between disease severity and visibility and psychosocial burden were analyzed in descriptive and multivariate models. We observed impaired QoL (mean = 81.3; 95% CI, 76.2; 86.4); 19% reported symptoms of depression (mean = 5.7; SD = 5.4), and 15% reported anxiety (mean = 5.1; SD = 5.2) at a clinical level. Adults with NF1 also reported requiring professional support for physical, psychological, and work‐related problems. Disease severity and (partly) visibility were significantly (p < .0001) associated with psychosocial well‐being and a requirement for support. This study provides new understanding of the factors associated with impaired QoL, indicating that follow‐up care should be optimized into adult life.
Editorial Perspective: Perils and promise for child and adolescent sleep and associated psychopathology during the COVID‐19 pandemic

It is anticipated that the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic and associated societal response will have wide‐ranging impacts on youth development and mental health. Sleep is crucial for child and adolescent health and well‐being, and the potential for sleep problems to emerge or worsen during and following the pandemic is high. This may be particularly true for children and adolescents who are at heightened risk for the onset of sleep and mental health disturbances and for those whom developmental changes impacting sleep are rapidly occurring. Youth with preexisting psychopathologies (including anxiety and depression) and neurodevelopmental conditions (including attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder and autism spectrum disorder) could be especially vulnerable to disturbed sleep during this period of change and uncertainty. It is thus imperative that sleep considerations be part of research and clinical initiatives aimed at understanding and mitigating the impact of the COVID‐19 pandemic in children and adolescents. This article considers ways in which the pandemic may impact sleep, including research and clinical implications.
TMPRSS2 and ACE2 Coexpression in SARS-CoV-2 Salivary Glands Infection

Xu et al. (2020) suggest that salivary glands are a potential target of severe acute respiratory syndrome–coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, since the expression of angiotensin I–converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), the receptor needed for virus entry into host cells, was higher in salivary glands as compared with lung when the GTEx portal was queried. However, SARS-CoV-2 entry into host cells mediated by the spike (S) protein requires 2 steps: first, the S1 subunit permits viral attachment to the extracellular surface by binding to ACE2. Subsequently, S protein must be cleaved at the S1/2 and S2 sites by the cellular protease transmembrane serine protease 2 (TMPRSS2) to allow viral fusion with cellular membranes driven by the S2 subunit (Hoffmann et al. 2020). So, ACE2 and TMPRSS2 need to be simultaneously expressed to allow SARS-CoV-2 infection. Aimed at assessing the expression of ACE2 and TMPRSS2 in salivary glands, we exploited The Human Protein Atlas repository (Uhlen et al. 2015) to further explore this matter: ACE2 gene expression was higher in the lung as compared with salivary glands, when HPA and FANTOM5 data sets were interrogated. However, given the consensus among the 3 data sets— namely, GTEx, HPA, and FANTOM5—the normalized expression (NX) was rather similar (1.1 and 0.8 NX in salivary glands and lung, respectively). To note, ACE2 mRNA expressions measured in the data sets were quite low. Moreover, the ACE2 protein was not present in the lung or salivary glands in the HPA data set. In contrast, TMPRSS2 mRNA expression was present and higher in the lung than in salivary glands, although the consensus showed the opposite (52.3 and 20.7 NX in salivary glands and lung, respectively). TMPRSS2 protein was slightly expressed in the glandular cells of salivary glands but not in macrophages and pneumocytes in the lung (see the Table for detailed expression data). Notably, the protein in silico findings concern only immunohistochemistry—not the best tools for quantitative evaluation but simply providing information about localization. This could be one of the reasons why the 2 data repositories yielded contradictory information that could be reconciled by data missing in one being present in the other. SARS-Cov-2 was recently identified in saliva (To et al. 2020); our findings from the HPA/FANTOM5 data sets confirm the hypothesis that saliva represents an important source of viral particles. The concomitant expression of ACE2 (already reported by Xu et al. 2020) and TMPRSS2—known to be required for virus entry (Hoffmann et al. 2020) and investigated in the present study in salivary glands—presumably facilitates efficient infection of these organs by SARS-CoV-2. 933589 JDRXXX10.1177/0022034520933589Journal of Dental ResearchTMPRSS2 and ACE2 Coexpression research-article2020
Temperature and sex chromosomes govern sex ratios of the mouthbrooding Cichlid fish Oreochromis niloticus

Up to now, temperature sex differentiation has been demonstrated in a single fish species, #Menidia menidia#. This study analyzes this hypothesis in #Oreochromis niloticus#. Treatments at 36 °C, covering the hormone sensitive period, increased the proportion of males (33% to 81%). The male proportion was affected by treatments starting not later than 13 days after fertilization and lasting 10 days or more. Survival rates were not affected by treatments. Functional masculinization of genetic females was demonstrated by the sex-ratio analysis of 10 temperature-treated males. Sex reversal by temperature treatment was also confirmed on a genotypic female population. The response to temperature strongly depends upon the breeding pairs. Hight temperatures override sex chromosome influence in #Oreochromis niloticus#. Therefore, #Oreochromis niloticus# sex is determined by genetic factors, temperature level, and genotype-temperature interactions. Temperature-dependent sex differentiation may occur more frequently in fish than previously thought, despite the presence of functional sex chromosomes. (Resume d'auteur)
Bioactive Compounds and Aroma Profile of Some Lamiaceae Edible Flowers

Edible flowers are consumed for their appearance, colours, nutritional and healthy properties, but the use is limited by the actual number of the species. Seven edible flowers of the Lamiaceae family (Ocimeae and Mentheae tribes) were investigated: Monarda didyma ‘Fireball’, Nepeta × faassenii ‘Six Hills Giant’, Ocimum basilicum ‘Blue Spice’, O. basilicum ‘Cinnamon’, Ocimum × citriodorum, Salvia discolor, and Salvia microphylla ‘Hot Lips’. Total soluble sugars, proteins, polyphenols, carotenoids, ascorbic acid and antioxidant activity were detected. The species of the Mentheae tribe contained higher sugar content than Ocimeae flowers, the opposite with regard to protein content. Ocimeae tribe flowers showed high polyphenols and carotenoids content. The Ocimeae tribe together with two specie of the Mentheae tribe showed an aroma profile dominated by sesquiterpene hydrocarbons (58.0% in S. discolor to 77.9% in Ocimum × citriodorum). Oxygenated monoterpenes prevailed in Nepeta and Monarda, also present in the essential oil of this latter species (84.5%). By contrast, Nepeta and S. discolor evidenced non-terpenes as the principal class (41.2% and 77.5%, respectively), while the oxygenated sesquiterpene was the main one in S. microphylla. The two varieties of Ocimum spp. showed oxygenated monoterpenes as the main class of volatiles.
Respiratory Dysfunction and Sleep-Disordered Breathing in Children With Myasthenia Gravis

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to prospectively evaluate sleep patterns and the presence of sleep-disordered breathing in children with myasthenia gravis. We further aimed to examine the relationship between sleep and daytime respiratory function using spirometry tests including upright and supine forced vital capacity, sniff nasal inspiratory pressure, and maximal inspiratory pressure. Methods: Eleven children between 3 and 18 years old with confirmed myasthenia gravis were recruited from The Hospital for Sick Children Neuromuscular Clinic in this prospective observational study. After informed consent was obtained, patients underwent a comprehensive clinical assessment with collection of anthropometric data. Following this, all subjects performed pulmonary function tests, overnight polysomnography and completed the Epworth Sleepiness Scale questionnaire. Results: Two of eleven children who reported no symptoms of sleep disordered breathing were diagnosed with mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea. Pulmonary function tests showed abnormal maximal inspiratory pressure in 6 of 11 patients, whereas seated forced vital capacity as well as seated to supine forced vital capacity ratios were normal in the entire group. Conclusions: In our small group of pediatric myasthenia gravis subjects, there was an unexpected finding of obstructive sleep apnea in 2 of the 11 patients studied. Maximal inspiratory pressure appears to be a more sensitive method of detecting abnormalities compared to upright or seated forced vital capacity. A larger multicenter study is needed to validate our findings and to determine the impact of obstructive sleep apnea in the pediatric myasthenia gravis population as well as risk factors associated with sleep disordered breathing.
The disease status of Australian salmonids: bacteria and bacterial diseases.

Eleven freshwater salmonid hatcheries in southern Australia were surveyed for bacterial pathogens and diseases between 1981 and 1985, Twenty-five populations of fish were examined in the study, representing a total of 2755 fish, from which kidney, liver, spleen, and in some cases peritoneum, blood and faeces were cultured. Bacteria of pathogenic significance isolated included Aeromonas hvdrophila, Streptococcus sp. , Lactobacillus piscicola, Yersinia ruckeri, Mycobacterium fortuitum, M. chelonei and a filamentous acid-fast organism of uncertain taxonomic position. Lacto-bacillus piscicola and Streptococcus sp. were associated with clinical and subclinical peritonitis. Mycobacterium chelonei was isolated from visceral granulomas in an externally normal fish. Aeromonas salmonicida, Renibacterium salmoninarum and Edwardsiella tarda were not isolated, indicating that the diseases furunculosis, bacterial kidney disease and edwardsiellosis are exotic to Australian salmonids. Similarly, while Y. ruckeri was isolated, enteric redmouth disease had not been recorded and is considered an exotic disease.
Sensorimotor and gait training improves proprioception, nerve function, and muscular activation in patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy: a randomized control trial

Objectives: To examine the effect of sensorimotor and gait training on proprioception, nerve function, and muscle activation in diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) patients. Methods: Thirty-eight (25 male and 13 female) participants with DPN were selected and randomly allocated to intervention and control group. Participants in the intervention group were provided sensorimotor and gait training for eight weeks (3 days/week) along with diabetes and foot care education; participants in the control group received diabetes and foot care education only. Outcome measures involved proprioception, nerve conduction studies of peroneal and tibial nerve, and activation of lower limb muscles and multifidus while standing with eyes open and eyes closed, and treadmill walking. Results: Mixed ANOVA revealed significant time effect and time×group interaction of proprioception in all four directions (p<0.05). The conduction velocity of peroneal nerve revealed significant time effect (p=0.007) and time×group interaction (p=0.022). Interaction effect was found to be significant for medial gastrocnemius and multifidus while standing with eyes open as well as with eyes closed (p≤0.004). Only multifidus showed significant group (p=0.002) and interaction effect (p=0.003) during walking. Conclusions: Sensorimotor and gait training is an effective tool for improvement of proprioception and nerve function. It benefits muscle activation around ankle and multifidus during postural control and walking in DPN patients. Clinical Trials Registry - India, National Institute of Medical Statistics (Indian Council of Medical Research): Registration Number - CTRI/2017/08/009328.
Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Associated with Green Gram in South India

Field studies are necessary to understand the abundance and type of indigenous arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi present in the rhizosphere. Green gram [Phaseolus aureus Roxb. (= Vigna radiata var. radiata)] is a major pulse crop of South India. A field study was conducted to identify the AM fungi associated with green gram under field conditions in this region. The rhizosphere soil samples from these fields were analyzed for AM fungal spores. Glomus mosseae, Glomus microcarpum, Gigaspora margarita, and Scutellospora sp. were identified as the AM fungi associated with green gram. Glomus mosseae was the most frequent AM fungal associate identified in 81%, G. microcarpum and G. margarita in 24% each, and Scutellospora sp. in 5% of the soils studied. The range of distribution varied from a single species of AM fungus to three species belonging to two genera in one sample. Correlations of spore count and percentage colonization for all the AM fungi on the crop in the field, along with soil parameters like pH, N, P, and K were studied. Significant negative correlation (P < 0.01) was obtained between percentage colonization and P. The pH and N were positively correlated (P < 0.01) with K. The study indicates involvement of factors other than soil nutrients in the distribution and sporulation of AM fungi.
Optimising the front foot contact phase of the cricket fast bowling action

ABSTRACT Cricket fast bowling is a dynamic activity in which a bowler runs up and repeatedly delivers the ball at high speeds. Experimental studies have previously linked ball release speed and several technique parameters with conflicting results. As a result, computer simulation models are increasingly being used to understand the effects of technique on performance. This study evaluates a planar 16-segment whole-body torque-driven simulation model of the front foot contact phase of fast bowling by comparing simulation output with the actual performance of an elite fast bowler. The model was customised to the bowler by determining subject-specific inertia and torque parameters. Good agreement was found between actual and simulated performances with a 4.0% RMS difference. Varying the activation timings of the torque generators resulted in an optimised simulation with a ball release speed 3.5 m/s faster than the evaluation simulation. The optimised technique used more extended front ankle and knee joint angles, increased trunk flexion and a longer delay in the onset of arm circumduction. These simulations suggest the model provides a realistic representation of the front foot contact phase of fast bowling and is suitable to investigate the limitations of kinematic or kinetic variables on fast bowling performance.