Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The thick waxy coat of mycobacteria, a protective layer against antibiotics and the host's immune system

Tuberculosis, caused by the pathogenic bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), is the leading cause of death from an infectious disease, with a mortality rate of over a million people per year. This pathogen's remarkable resilience and infectivity is largely due to its unique waxy cell envelope, 40% of which comprises complex lipids. Therefore, an understanding of the structure and function of the cell wall lipids is of huge indirect clinical significance. This review provides a synopsis of the cell envelope and the major lipids contained within, including structure, biosynthesis and roles in pathogenesis.
Microalgal biomass in the St Lucia Estuary during the 2004 to 2007 drought period

Phytoplankton and microphytobenthic biomass were investigated over a 4 yr period in the drought-stricken St Lucia Estuary, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. This is the largest estuarine lake in Africa and part of the iSimangaliso Wetlands Park, South Africa's first World Heritage Site and a Ramsar Wetland of International Importance. The present study aimed at identifying the factors con- trolling the extreme variability in its ecological functioning. Water-column chlorophyll a (chl a) con- centrations averaged (±SD) 32.3 ± 53.4 mg m -3 , with the highest value reaching 413 mg m -3 . Within the sediment, average (±SD) chl a concentration was 201 ± 377 mg m -2 , with a maximum of 2576 mg m -2 . Both are among the highest values so far reported in the literature for any estuarine ecosystem and by far the highest values reported for any South African estuary. Areal phytoplankton biomass was highest in the Mouth and Narrows region, declining in the South and North lakes, while micro- phytobenthos showed the reverse trend. Ordinations and cluster analysis revealed that phytoplankton biomass differed between the southern and northern halves of the system, while differences in micro- phytobenthic biomass were found between the Narrows and the rest of the system. Dissolved inor- ganic nitrogen to phosphorus ratios were greater and lower than the Redfield optimum (16) 60% and 27% of the time, respectively, indicating that microalgal production may be limited by availability of either P or N for part of the year, with a peak in growth during summer. Water level and mouth state are key factors controlling microalgal biomass within the estuary. During the closed phase, the shal- low waters and vast surface area of the lakes region led to the development of hypersaline conditions and temperatures occasionally approaching 50°C. The negative effects of such extreme conditions on grazers, as well as negative correlations between grazer densities and microalgal biomass, have been documented in previous work on the system. This would suggest that the interaction between the physical environment and grazers may be important in regulating microalgal biomass in the estuary.
The risk of preterm birth in vanishing twin: A multicenter prospective cohort study

Objective To evaluate not only the risk of total preterm birth (PTB) but also spontaneous preterm birth (sPTB) and indicated preterm birth (iPTB) in vanishing twin (VT). Study design This is a secondary analysis of a multicenter prospective cohort study. In 12 different healthcare institutions, women with singleton pregnancies were enrolled in early pregnancy and followed up till delivery. Results A total of 4,746 women were included in the final analysis, and. the frequency of VT was 1.1% (54/4746). VT group had a higher risk for total PTB (PTB<34 weeks, 2.1% vs. 14.8%, p<0.001; PTB<32 weeks, 1.6% vs. 13.0%, p<0.001; PTB<28 weeks, 0.9% vs. 13.0%, p<0.001) than singleton group. The VT group had increased risk for both sPTB and iPTB (<34 weeks, <32 weeks, and <28 weeks), and this increased risk for sPTB and iPTB in VT group remained significant even after controlling for confounders such as maternal age, parity, pre-pregnancy BMI, and mode of conception. Conclusion Vanishing twin can be an independent risk factor for both sPTB and iPTB when compared with singleton pregnancy.
Ceratitis capitata: Effect of host fruit size on the number of eggs per clutch

A laboratory strain of Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann) was presented with grapes, plums, apples and peaches for oviposition. Fruit diameter was highly correlated with the number of eggs/oviposition. Clutch size was 3.9 ± 0.3 for grapes (20 mm) compared with 14.0 ± 0.7 for apples (70 mm). When Parafilm®‐enveloped whole peeled fruits and smaller spheres of fruit flesh were offered, fruit size proved more important than fruit type in determining egg clutch sizes. Ovipositions that required the puncture of fruit skin gave larger clutches than ovipositions through Parafilm or into punctured fruit.
Can tramadol really induce hyponatraemia? A pharmacovigilance study

Several papers have described hyponatraemia with tramadol. However, in most reports, several confounding factors can be found. We used the WHO pharmacovigilance database (VigiBase®) to investigate if tramadol alone could be associated with hyponatraemia. All 1992–2019 ICSRs (individual case safety reports) with the preferred term (PT) “hyponatraemia” and tramadol were included. Two disproportionality analyses were performed: (1) after inclusion of all reports, and (2) after exclusion of concomitant hyponatraemic drugs. Results are expressed as reporting odds ratios (ROR; 95% CI) and information component (IC). Of 19 747 604 ICSRs, 225 575 were included. A significant association was found between tramadol use and reports of hyponatraemia (ROR = 1.49 [1.39–1.60], IC = 0.57 [IC025 = 0.47]). After exclusion of hyponatraemic drugs, the previously found association disappeared. The study failed to find any pharmacovigilance signal of hyponatraemia with tramadol alone. We suggest that reports of hyponatraemia with tramadol can be explained principally by other underlying causes of hyponatraemia, especially other concomitant hyponatraemic drugs.
Effect of beetle size on predation of cabbage root fly eggs by ground beetles

Laboratory studies were done to determine the numbers of cabbage root fly (Delia radicum L.) (Diptera: Anthomyiidae) eggs eaten by sixty species of ground beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae) collected from a range of habitats. For 35 species that were between 2.7 mm and 10 mm long, there was a linear relationship between the numbers of eggs eaten and beetle length. For each 1 mm increase in length above 2.7 mm, an additional 18 eggs were eaten/beetle/day. Eight further species within the above size range did not eat any fly eggs, as these species are known to be either phytophagous or to feed on moving prey. Large numbers of eggs were eaten by beetles in 13 of the 25 genera tested. Based on size, maximum numbers of eggs were eaten by 7 species of Agonum Bonelli, 5 species of Amara Bonelli and seven species of Bembidion Latreille. Only one of the 6 species of Pterostichus Bonelli tested, P. strenuus (Panz.), ate the expected numbers of eggs, the other species being too large to feed from such small prey items as cabbage root fly eggs. The numbers of beetles larger than 10 mm that ate eggs was highly variable and so 10 mm was considered the upper size limit of carabid predators of cabbage root fly eggs.
Correspondence on ‘Clinical course of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in a series of 17 patients with systemic lupus under long-term treatment with hydroxychloroquine’

We thank Mathian et al for reporting the outcomes of COVID-19 disease in a series of 17 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) from several hospitals across France.1 In a context where there is substantial interest in the role of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) as a potential preventive or therapeutic agent for severe acute respiratory syndrome–coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), these cases are noteworthy. While the authors have correctly acknowledged the limitations of this case series report, we wish to emphasise several important points that impact the interpretation of the findings. The denominator of all patients with lupus on hydroxychloroquine who are ‘at risk’ of COVID-19 in this setting is unknown and may indeed be impossible to even estimate as it would need to …
Neonatal screening programme for CF: Results from the Irish Comparative Outcomes Study (ICOS)

The introduction of NBS in Ireland in July 2011, provided a unique opportunity to investigate clinical outcomes using a comparative historical cohort study. Clinical cohort: children clinically diagnosed with CF born 1 July 2008 to 30 June 2011, and NBS cohort: children diagnosed with CF through NBS born 1 July 2011 to 30 June 2016. Clinical data were collected from the CF Registry of Ireland, medical charts, and data on weight/height before diagnosis from public health nurses and family doctors. SPSS was used for analysis. A total of 232 patients were recruited (response 93%) (93 clinically diagnosed, 139 NBS‐detected). Following exclusions of meconium ileus (MI) (40), diagnosis outside Ireland (4), and being designated as CFSPID (2), a total of 77 clinically diagnosed patients and 109 NBS detected children were included in analysis. Over half were homozygous for F508del mutation. Being clinically diagnosed was independently associated with hospitalization for infective exacerbation of CF < 36 months (OR, 2.80; 95%CI 1.24‐6.29). Diagnosis to first acquisition of Pseudomonas aeruginosa was significantly longer in NBS than clinically detected; from birth there was no significant difference. Weight and length/height were significantly greater in NBS cohort at 6 and 12 months. We provide evidence of improved growth, reduced hospitalization for acute exacerbations, and delayed P. aeruginosa acquisition (from diagnosis) to age 3 for the NBS cohort. Screening practices likely account for the non‐significant difference in P. aeruginosa acquisition from birth.
Conjugated Linoleic Acid Reduces Hepatic Microsomal Triacylglycerol Transfer Protein Activity and Hepatic Triacylglycerol Mass in Obese Rats

Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) is known to modulate lipid and lipoprotein metabolism. We examined the effects of dietary CLA (1 and 2%) on hepatic microsomal triacylglycerol transfer protein (MTP) activity, known to be essential for the assembly/secretion of the apolipoprotein B-containing lipoproteins, and lipid concentrations of liver and plasma in OLETF obese rats. A significant reduction in hepatic MTP activity in CLA-fed rats in comparison to rats fed a linoleic acid (LA) diet was noted. Hepatic and serum triacylglycerol (TAG) concentrations were lowered in the CLA groups as compared to the control LA group. Decreased serum insulin and leptin levels were seen in the CLA groups. These results indicate that dietary CLA reduces both hepatic MTP activity and TAG content, and therefore reduces hepatic lipoprotein assembly and secretion.
Reciprocal Targeting of Hath1 and β-Catenin by Wnt Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3β in Human Colon Cancer

Background & Aims: The transcription factor Hath1 plays a crucial role in the differentiation program of the human gut epithelium. The present study was conducted to investigate the molecular mechanism of Hath1 expression and its close association with β-catenin/glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK3β) under the Wnt pathway in human colonocytes. Methods: Tissue distribution of Hath1 messenger RNA in human tissues was examined by Northern blot. Stability of Hath1 protein was analyzed by expression of FLAG-tagged Hath1 in human cell lines. Targeting of Hath1 protein by GSK3β was determined by specific inhibition of GSK-3β function. Expression of Hath1 protein in colorectal cancers was examined by immunohistochemistry. Results: Hath1 messenger RNA expression was confined to the lower gastrointestinal tract in human adult tissues. In colon cancer cells, although Hath1 messenger RNA was also detected, Hath1 protein was positively degradated by proteasome-mediated proteolysis. Surprisingly, the GSK3β-dependent protein degradation was switched between Hath1 and β-catenin by Wnt signaling, leading to the dramatic alteration of cell status between proliferation and differentiation, respectively. Hath1 protein was detected exclusively in normal colon tissues but not in cancer tissues, where nuclear-localized β-catenin was present. Conclusions: The present study suggests a novel function of the canonical Wnt signaling in human colon cancer cells, regulating cell proliferation and differentiation by GSK3β-mediated, reciprocal degradation of β-catenin or Hath1, respectively, which further emphasizes the importance of aberrant Wnt signaling in colonocyte transformation.
Alexithymia, infertility-related stress and quality of life in women undergoing an Assisted Reproductive Treatment.

The investigation of the association between alexithymia and quality of life in infertility is a relatively neglected area of research. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between alexithymia and infertility-related quality of life in women during Assisted Reproductive Treatment. Data were collected in a clinic in Rome, 93 infertile women completed the 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20), the Fertility Quality of Life (FertiQoL) questionnaire and a socio-demographic questionnaire. TAS-20 total and two factors - Difficulty in Identifying Feelings (DIF) and Difficulty in Describing Feelings (DDF) - showed significant negative correlations with the overall questionnaire and with both Core and Treatment modules of FertiQoL. The regression model explained the 43% variance in FertiQol overall scores (R2 =0.43; adjusted R2 =.38); a significant effect was reported for the number of previous attempts (beta=0.20; p<.04), TAS-20 DIF (beta=-0.47; p<.001) and TAS-20 Externally Orientated Thinking (EOT) (beta=0.20; p<.04); after applying Benjamini-Hochberg correction procedure only TAS-20 DIF maintained its significance. Alexithymia is associated with a worsened quality of life in infertile women; specifically, low difficulties in identifying feelings were associated to higher quality of life. Further investigations are needed also to develop specific therapeutic interventions aimed to promote emotional abilities in infertile people. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Changes in benzoxazinoid contents and the expression of the associated genes in rye (Secale cereale L.) due to brown rust and the inoculation procedure

Benzoxazinoids (BXs) are secondary metabolites with diverse functions, but are primarily involved in protecting plants, mainly from the family Poaceae, against insects and fungal pathogens. Rye is a cereal crop that is highly resistant to biotic stresses. However, its susceptibility to brown rust caused by Puccinia recondita f. sp. secalis (Prs) is still a major problem affecting its commercial production. Additionally, the genetic and metabolic factors related to this disease remain poorly characterized. In this study, we investigated whether and to what extent the brown rust infection and the inoculation procedure affect the contents of specific BXs (HBOA, GDIBOA, DIBOA, GDIMBOA, DIMBOA, and MBOA) and the expression of genes related to BX (ScBx1–5, ScIgl, and Scglu). We revealed that treatments with water and a urediniospore suspension usually downregulate gene expression levels. Moreover, HBOA and DIBOA contents decreased, whereas the contents of the remaining metabolites increased. Specifically, the MBOA content increased more after the mock treatment than after the Prs treatment, whereas the increase in GDIBOA and GDIMBOA levels was usually due to the Prs infection, especially at two of the most critical time-points, 17 and 24 h post-treatment. Therefore, GDIBOA and GDIMBOA are glucosides that are important components of rye defence responses to brown rust. Furthermore, along with MBOA, they protect rye against the stress associated with the inoculation procedure used in this study.
Data Handling in Industry 4.0: Interoperability Based on Distributed Ledger Technology

Information-intensive transformation is vital to realize the Industry 4.0 paradigm, where processes, systems, and people are in a connected environment. Current factories must combine different sources of knowledge with different technological layers. Taking into account data interconnection and information transparency, it is necessary to enhance the existing frameworks. This paper proposes an extension to an existing framework, which enables access to knowledge about the different data sources available, including data from operators. To develop the interoperability principle, a specific proposal to provide a (public and encrypted) data management solution to ensure information transparency is presented, which enables semantic data treatment and provides an appropriate context to allow data fusion. This proposal is designed also considering the Privacy by Design option. As a proof of application case, an implementation was carried out regarding the logistics of the delivery of industrial components in the construction sector, where different stakeholders may benefit from shared knowledge under the proposed architecture.
Normal human macula densa morphology and cell turnover: A histological, ultrastructural, and immunohistochemical investigation

The aim was to analyze the morphology of normal human macula densa (MD), evaluate the cells that may be responsible for its turnover, and collect quantitative data. Of four samples of normal human renal tissue, two were embedded in resin to measure the longitudinal extension and examine the ultrastructure of the MD, the other two were embedded in paraffin to study apoptosis and cell proliferation. The MD is composed of a monolayer tissue about 40 μm long, which includes 35–40 cells arranged in overlapping rows. Ultrastructurally, MD cells show two polarized portions: an apical end, with sensory features, and a basolateral aspect, with paracrine function. MD cells are connected apically by tight junctions, with/without adherens junctions, which form a barrier between the distal tubule lumen and the interstitium. Cells in degeneration, often associated with macrophages, and undifferentiated cells were found in the MD and adjacent distal tubule. A filamentous mat previously described in proximal tubule scattered tubular cells (STCs) was detected in the basal cytoplasm in undifferentiated cells. The tissue was consistently negative for the proliferation marker Ki67 and for the apoptotic markers caspase‐3 and caspase‐9. This work confirms our earlier morphological findings and provides new data: (a) MD cells display both apical adherens and tight junctions, the latter forming a tubulo‐mesangial barrier; (b) the MD is a monolayer made up of about 40 cells arranged in rows; (c) the simultaneous presence of degenerating (8–13%) and undifferentiated (4–13%) cells reminiscent of STCs suggests a non‐negligible cell turnover.
Exploring white matter microstructure and the impact of antipsychotics in adolescent-onset psychosis

White matter abnormalities are well-established in adult patients with psychosis. Less is known about abnormalities in the rarely occurring adolescent early onset psychosis (EOP). In particular, whether antipsychotic medication might impact white matter microstructure is not known. Using 3T diffusion weighted imaging, we investigated differences in white matter microstructure and the impact of antipsychotic medication status in medicated (n = 11) and unmedicated (n = 11) EOP patients relative to healthy controls (n = 33), aged between 12–18 years. Using Tract-based Spatial Statistics, we calculate case-control differences in scalar diffusion measures, i.e. fractional anisotropy (FA), axial diffusion (AD) and radial diffusion (RD), and investigated their association with antipsychotic medication in patients. We found significantly lower FA in the left genu of the corpus callosum, the left anterior corona radiata (ACR) and the right superior longitudinal fasciculus in EOP patients relative to healthy controls. AD values were also lower in the left ACR, largely overlapping with the FA findings. Mean FA in the left ACR was significantly associated with antipsychotic medication status (Cohen's d = 1.37, 95% CI [0.01, 2.68], p = 0.008), showing higher FA values in medicated compared to unmedicated EOP patients. The present study is the first to link antipsychotic medication status to altered regional FA in the left ACR, a region hypothesized to contribute to the etiology of psychosis. Replications are warranted to draw firm conclusions about putatively enhancing effects of antipsychotic medication on white matter microstructure in adolescent-onset psychosis.
Herbs versus trees: influences on teenagers' knowledge of plant species

The study reports on species knowledge among German adolescents (n=507) as: (1) self-assessed evaluation of one’s species knowledge; and (2) factual knowledge about popular local herbs and trees. Besides assessing species knowledge, we were interested in whether selected demographic factors, environmental attitude (as measured through the New Ecological Paradigm) and environmental preferences (measured through the Teen Environmental Preference Questionnaire) may predict species knowledge. Overall, pupils showed better knowledge of trees than of herbs. The Stinging Nettle (Urtica dioica) was the best known species among a total of 16 presented tree and herb species. Linear regression analyses revealed that female gender influenced knowledge about trees positively, while it showed a negative relation towards self-assessed evaluation of one’s species knowledge. In addition, higher age, urban provenance and the environmental preference dimension ‘city’ showed a negative relation with species knowledge of trees and herbs. The environmental preference dimension ‘nature’ was positively related to our adolescents’ self-assessed evaluation of one’s species knowledge. Our results will be discussed in the light of educational strategies to foster young people’s species knowledge.
Age-Sex Differences in the Diets of Wintering Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep

The winter diets of Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep in Banff National Park were studied to determine whether the age—sex classes have evolved differences in food exploitation patterns under selective pressure to reduce intrapopulation competition. Rams remained primarily on the north end of the study area while the "non—ram" superclass (ewes, lambs, yearlings) occupied primarily the south end. Vegetation analysis indicated that the southern part of the range was characterized by relatively more Bromus, Carex, Koeleria, Poa, Oxytropis, and Juniperus and less Festuca, Fragaria, Hedysarum, Arctostaphylos, and Rosa than the northern portion. In addition, the southern part of the range was typified by less soil, more xeric conditions, lower plant biomass and apparently overgrazed conditions relative to the more northern parts. Ewes, lambs, and yearlings were found to have diets more similar to each other than to that of adult rams. Class effects in multivariate statistical analysis were significant; the major univariate differences were that non—rams ate more Carex and less Festuca than did rams. This class effect was found to be wholly attributable to the fact that rams and non—rams segregate onto separate portions of the range which contain different availabilities of forage plants. It was considered to be unlikely that the spatial separation arose from diet preferences but rather from some unrelated factor. The observed differences should not be considered as an adaption for competition reduction.