Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Genetic divergence and local adaptation of Liriodendron driven by heterogeneous environments

Ecological adaptive differentiation alters both the species diversity and intraspecific genetic diversity in forests, thus affecting the stability of forest ecosystems. Therefore, knowledge of the genetic underpinnings of the ecological adaptive differentiation of forest species is critical for effective species conservation. In this study, single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) from population transcriptomes were used to investigate the spatial distribution of genetic variation in Liriodendron to assess whether environmental variables can explain genetic divergence. We examined the contributions of environmental variables to population divergence and explored the genetic underpinnings of local adaptation using a landscape genomic approach. Niche models and statistical analyses showed significant niche divergence between L. chinense and L. tulipifera, suggesting that ecological adaptation may play a crucial role in driving interspecific divergence. We detected a new fine‐scale genetic structure in L. chinense, and divergence of the six groups occurred during the late Pliocene to early Pleistocene. Redundancy analysis (RDA) revealed significant associations between genetic variation and multiple environmental variables. Environmental association analyses identified 67 environmental association loci (EALs; nonsynonymous SNPs) that underwent interspecific or intraspecific differentiation, 28 of which were associated with adaptive genes. These 28 candidate adaptive loci provide substantial evidence for local adaptation in Liriodendron. Our findings reveal ecological adaptive divergence pattern between Liriodendron species and provide novel insight into the role of heterogeneous environments in shaping genetic structure and driving local adaptation among populations, informing future L. chinense conservation efforts.
Personal Agency and Community Resilience: Narratives of Women Navigating Health Care With Chronic Lyme Disease

Chronic Lyme disease can manifest as a debilitating illness with symptoms that change over time. With its varied presentation, timeline variation, diagnostic difficulty, and lack of definitive treatment, clinical recognition of chronic Lyme disease remains controversial. At the same time, patients face challenges in finding a provider who is supportive and knowledgeable about diagnosing and treating Lyme. We examined the ways the medical system may have affected the lived experiences of chronic Lyme patients. In this article, we communicate the personal, health care, and community illness experiences of 14 women navigating the medical system with chronic Lyme disease through a qualitative community-based participatory research study using interviews and narrative reflection in a rural community setting. The women were interviewed by a researcher living with chronic Lyme disease and the transcripts were analyzed for themes. All participants described navigating multiple allopathic and nonallopathic care modalities to find satisfactory care. They struggled with physical and emotional burdens of chronic, nonlinear illness, as well as disbelief and discrimination by medical providers. Their lives followed patterns of illness and wellness, trust and mistrust of medical treatment, and community connection and disengagement. They learned to become their own advocates to seek affirmative care. They are aware of the controversial nature of their illness, and many have channeled their frustrations into caring for one another through their Lyme community. Women living with controversial diagnoses like chronic Lyme disease experience increased challenges navigating the medical system to find satisfactory care and thus create communities with each other for mutual aid and support. In understanding these challenges, the medical community can improve care for people living with contested chronic illnesses.
Evaluating the Prognosis of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma Patients via L3 Skeletal Muscle Index.

OBJECTIVES This study aims to construct a formula to predict L3 skeletal muscle cross-sectional area (CSA) from C3 CSA, and to select the cut-off values to evaluate the nutritional status in OSCC. MATERIALS AND METHODS 220 OSCC patients in NanFang Hospital were divided into two groups: the training set (n=100) and the validation set (n=120). Patients in the training set were performed the preoperative whole-body positron emission tomography computed tomography (PET/CT) scans and the validation set received preoperative head-and-neck computed tomography (CT) scans. C3 CSA and L3 CSA were delineated. The predictive formula was established and the gender-specific thresholds of malnutrition were obtained by X-tile software in Training set. Finally, the formula and cut-off values were validated. RESULTS The predictive formula was successfully established. The gender-specific cut-off values for L3 SMI were 55.0 cm²/m² for male and 36.6 cm²/m² for female. There were no differences between the overall survival (OS) of patients diagnosed with malnutrition and that of patients who are not malnutrition. CONCLUSIONS Our studies revealed that the L3 CSA could be calculated by C3 CSA conveniently with our formula in OSCC, which allowed us to assess malnutrition with head and neck CT-image. However, there is no direct connection found between malnutrition and OS in OSCC. Hence, further studies with a larger sample size may be required.
Fine‐needle aspiration biopsy of growing teratoma syndrome as a diagnostic pitfall of metastatic adenocarcinoma

Growing teratoma syndrome (GTS) is a rare clinical entity that can occur in patients with a history of treatment for germ cell tumors (GCTs) and normalized serum tumor markers. Owing to the assortment of tissue types found in teratomas that may exhibit atypical features, distinguishing GTS from metastatic cancer in extragonadal masses can be challenging. Fine‐needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) can be useful for the rapid diagnosis of metastatic masses and has been effective in distinguishing GCTs from one another. However, discrepancies in cytologic and histologic diagnoses have been reported in the evaluation of GCTs by FNAB. The potential incomplete sampling of metastatic teratomas in GTS by FNAB along with features of cellular atypia commonly found in teratomas can lead to a misdiagnosis of metastatic carcinoma and drastically affect treatment. Correlation of cytologic, histologic, clinical, and radiographic findings are essential in evaluating metastatic masses in patients with a history of GCT. We report a case of a 46‐year‐old man with GTS originally diagnosed on FNAB as metastatic adenocarcinoma compatible with a colorectal primary tumor.
Obstetrics and gynecology in Ehlers‐Danlos syndrome: A brief review and update

The Ehlers‐Danlos syndromes (EDSs) are a group of hereditary disorders affecting collagen and connective tissue. Gynecologic and obstetric complications occur with increased frequency and severity due to these abnormalities. Recent studies suggest that some complications, including endometriosis and premature rupture of the membranes may occur less often than previously thought. In addition, having a known diagnosis allows anticipatory planning, resulting in lower morbidity from hemorrhage and tissue injury. With continued progress in understanding the underlying mechanisms of EDS, more effective treatments can be developed.
Integrated analysis of genotype and phenotype reveals clonal evolution and cytogenetically driven disruption of myeloid cell maturation in myelodysplastic syndromes

Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are a heterogenous collection of clonal bone marrow diseases characterized by cytopenias, abnormal karyotypes, molecular abnormalities, and dysplasia by flow cytometry and/or morphology. The progression of MDS to severe cytopenias and/or overt leukemia is associated with the accumulation of additional cytogenetic abnormalities, suggesting clonal evolution. The impact of these accumulated abnormalities on myeloid maturation and the severity of the disease is poorly understood.
Factors Influencing Leprosy Incidence: A Comprehensive Analysis of Observations in Wenshan of China, Nepal, and Other Global Epidemic Areas

Leprosy remains endemic in some regions and is a global health concern. However, the possible causes and risk factors of the disease remain unclear. Data in Wenshan, China were collected from the Wenshan Institute of Dermatology (1986–2015); data in Nepal were obtained from the Leprosy Control Division, Department of Health Services, Nepal (2011 to 2015); and data from Indonesia, India, and Brazil were collected from WHO records. We assessed the epidemiological trends of leprosy in Wenshan and compared the features of possible causes and risk factors with those of other countries. We then performed a descriptive and statistical analysis to make our study more purposeful and definitive. A total of 3,376 cases were detected in Wenshan from 1986 to 2015. The overall prevalence rate (PR) of leprosy presented a decreasing trend with a peak (4.9/10,000 population) in 1986. The detection of new leprosy cases was higher in males than in females. Visible deformity increased every year since 2005 with a disability of 34.8% in 2015 among new cases. In Nepal, 2,461 leprosy patients received multi-drug therapy (MDT) in 2015 which corresponded to the PR of 0.89/10,000 population. Geographic latitude and socio-economic situations appeared to be the main causes of leprosy, and the healthcare condition was an important factor associated with leprosy incidence. The introduction of MDT effectively reduced leprosy prevalence worldwide. Wenshan (China), Nepal, and other countries share similarities in various aspects with respect to socio-cultural features, geographical distribution, environmental factors, and economic situation, which may contribute to leprosy being endemic in these areas.
Egg enrichment with n-3 fatty acids in farmed hens in sub-optimum temperature: A cold-temperament additive mix alleviates adverse effects of stress on performance and health.

At some stage, laying hen farming is likely to be subjected to sub-optimum temperatures (SOTem) due to climate change. While egg enrichment with n-3 fatty acids is a common practice in the poultry industry, in SOTem it has been less investigated. This study tested the effects of egg enrichment through extruded flaxseed (FLX) (180 g/kg) alone or along with hulled-soaked barley (H-SB) (170 g/kg), namely FLBA, with and without a cold-temperament additive mix (CTA) (25 g/kg: 5 g/kg flixweed (Descurainia sophia), 10 g/kg dried herb-extraction residues from pussy willow (Salix aegyptiaca) and 10 g/kg dried lemon (Citrus limon) residue) in two temperatures (20°C and SOTem: 27°C) on egg performance, yolk fatty acids, lipid components, blood biochemistry, serological enzymes, antioxidant and immune system of Hy-Line W-36 53-week-old for 9 weeks. Two hundred seventy layers were randomly distributed to nine treatments, resulting in six replicates with five hens. Hens fed flaxseed diets, regardless of temperature or CTA, had higher levels of n-3 fatty acids in yolks than others. Temperature negatively influenced feed intake and egg production. FLX + H27 and FLBA + H27 groups outperformed the other groups regarding cholesterol in yolk (10.1, 10.3 mg/g yolk), high-density lipoprotein (HDL) (5.19, 4.93 mg/g yolk), total protein (FLX + H27: 6.82 mg/dl), HDL in the blood (FLBA + H27:83.8 mg/dl), superoxide dismutase (FLBA + H27:90.4 U/ml), glutathione reductase (FLBA + H27: 1042.1 U/ml), glutathione peroxidase (FLX + H27: 1149.7 U/ml) and catalase (FLBA + H27: 12.5 U/ml). Total antibody, immunoglobulin G and immunoglobulin M after 42 days were significantly higher in chicks fed CTA-added diets (p < 0.05). Replacing corn and soya bean meal with H-SB did not negatively change the above-mentioned factors. Our findings collectively suggest that egg enrichment with n-3 fatty acids through dietary FLBA + H27 (180 g/kg flaxseed, 170 g/kg H-SB, and 25 g/kg CTA) in SOtem is suggested without any adverse impacts.
Outrigger Beam-Wall Connections. I: Component Testing and Development of Design Model

A key factor behind successful performance of outrigger beam–core wall connections in hybrid structures is the adequacy of headed studs that are typically used to connect a stud plate, onto which the outrigger beam is connected through a shear tab, to the wall. In an effort to better understand cyclic behavior of stud groups under combined action of gravity shear and cyclic diaphragm forces, the research reported was undertaken. Six 1/3-scale subassemblies that involve a portion of the wall, connection, and outrigger beam were fabricated and tested. The test results suggest that a design method which closely follows available equations for computing stud capacity results in connections that reach the design loads; however, the mode of failure is stud pullout. This mode of failure does not have any ductility and lacks energy dissipation capabilities. Moreover, the available design equations fail to capture the substantial increase in strength due to wall boundary element reinforcement around the studs. The.
Evidence for distinct isotopic composition of sap and tissue water in tree stems: consequences for plant water source identification

For decades, theory has upheld that plants do not fractionate water isotopes as they move across the soil-root interface or along plant stems. This theory is now being challenged by several recent studies reporting that the water held in woody stems has an isotopic composition that cannot be attributed to any potential water source. Isotopic offsets between stem and source water still need to be explained, as they prevent identifying unambiguously tree water’s origin from water isotope measurements. Here we show that isotopic offsets between stem and source water can be explained by micrometer-scale water isotope heterogeneity within woody stems and soil micropores. Using a novel technique to extract sap water in xylem conduits separately from the water held in other xylem tissues, we show that these non-conductive xylem tissues are more depleted in deuterium than sap water. We also report that, in cut stems and well-watered potted plants, the isotopic composition of sap water reflects well that of irrigation water, demonstrating that no isotopic fractionation occurs during root water uptake or the sap water extraction process. Previous studies showed that isotopic heterogeneity also exists in soils at the pore scale where water adsorbed onto soil particles is more depleted than capillary/mobile soil water. Data collected at a beech (Fagus sylvatica) forest indicate that sap water matches best the capillary/mobile soil water from deep soil horizons, indicating that micrometer-scale water isotope heterogeneity in soils and stems must be accounted for to unambiguously identify where trees obtain their water within catchments. Significance Statement Forests are prime regulators of the water cycle over land. They return, via transpiration, a large fraction of precipitation back to the atmosphere, influence surface runoff, groundwater recharge or stream flow, and enhance the recycling of atmospheric moisture inland from the ocean. The isotopic composition of water in woody stems can provide unique information on the role forests play in the water cycle only if it can be unambiguously related to the isotopic composition of source water. Here, we report a previously overlooked isotopic fractionation of stem water whereby non-conductive tissues are more depleted in deuterium than sap water, and propose a new technique to extract sap water separately from bulk stem water to unambiguously identify plant water sources.
OPF with Environmental Constraints with Multi Shunt Dynamic Controllers using Decomposed Parallel GA: Application to the Algerian Network

Due to the rapid increase of electricity demand, consideration of environmental constraints in optimal power flow (OPF) problems is increasingly important. In Algeria, up to 90% of electricity is produced by thermal generators (vapor, gas). In order to keep the emission of gaseous pollutants like sulfur dioxide (SO2) and Nitrogen (NO2) under the admissible ecological limits, many conventional and global optimization methods have been proposed to study the trade-off relation between fuel cost and emissions. This paper presents an efficient decomposed Parallel GA to solve the multi-objective environmental/economic dispatch problem. At the decomposed stage the length of the original chromosome is reduced successively and adapted to the topology of the new partition. Two subproblems are proposed: the first subproblem is related to the active power planning to minimize the total fuel cost, and the second subproblem is a reactive power planning design based in practical rules to make fine corrections to the voltage deviation and reactive power violation using a specified number of shunt dynamic compensators named Static Var Compensators (SVC). To validate the robustness of the proposed approach, the algorithm proposed was tested on the Algerian 59-bus network test and compared with conventional methods and with global optimization methods (GA, FGA, and ACO). The results show that the approach proposed can converge to the near solution and obtain a competitive solution at a critical situation and within a reasonable time.
Remarkable euryhalinity of a marine fish Lutjanus novemfasciatus in mangrove nurseries.

Abiotic environmental stress is a fundamental driver of population and community dynamics across diverse ecosystems (Menge and Sutherland 1987). In this context, specialist species persisting at great altitudes or depths, in near-boiling or subfreezing temperatures, through droughts or monsoons, and over prolonged bouts of resource deprivation highlight the adaptability of life on Earth.
Molecular analysis of 10 pleomorphic rhabdomyosarcomas reveals potential prognostic markers and druggable targets

Pleomorphic rhabdomyosarcoma (PRMS) is a rare and aggressive adult sarcoma with a median overall survival of less than 2 years. Most PRMS do not respond to conventional chemotherapy and/or radiation, and targeted therapies are nonexistent as few PRMS have undergone the molecular characterization necessary to identify therapeutic options. To date, complex structural and few recurrent regional copy alterations have been reported in the PRMS cases evaluated by cytogenetic and comparative genomic hybridization. Thus, there remains an urgent need for more comprehensive molecular profiling to both understand disease pathogenesis and to identify potentially actionable targets. Ten PRMS resection cases were retrieved from institutional archives and clinicopathologic demographics were recorded. All tumors were subjected to DNA‐based targeted next‐generation sequencing (NGS) of 340 cancer‐related genes while a subset (six cases) underwent gene‐expression profiling of 770 genes. Alterations identified by NGS included genes involved in cell cycle regulation (90%), the RAS/MAPK and AKT pathways (80%), telomere maintenance (40%), chromatin remodeling (40%), and DNA repair (20%), as well as the cAMP‐signaling pathway (10%). Microsatellite instability was absent in all cases, and tumor mutational burden was predominantly low. Gene expression profiling revealed up‐regulation of many of the same pathways, including the RTK/MAPK, AKT/PIK3CA/mTOR, Wnt, Hedgehog and JAK/STAT pathways. Survival analysis demonstrated patients with concurrent biallelic inactivation of CDKN2A and TP53 showed significantly shorter overall survival (median: 2 vs. 50 months). Our integrated molecular characterization identified not only potentially targetable alterations, but also prognostic markers for stratification of PRMS patients.
Characteristics of Pediatric Frequent Users of Emergency Departments in Alberta and Ontario

Supplemental digital content is available in the text. Objectives Emergency department (ED) volumes have drawn attention to frequent users but less attention has been paid to children. This study examined sociodemographic and ED presentation characteristics of pediatric high-system ED users (HSUs) in 2 provinces in Canada. Methods Cohorts of HSUs were created from the National Ambulatory Care Reporting System in 2015/2016 for children with the top 10% of ED presentations. Controls were random samples of non-HSU patients. Factors were explored in multivariable logistic regression models. Results There were 151,497 HSUs (51.7% girls, average age, 6.4 years) and 591,545 controls (53.1% girls; average age, 7.4 years). High-system ED users were more likely to be younger (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.89 per 5 years; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.88–0.89), live in less populated areas (aOR, 1.85; 95% CI, 1.82–1.88), and from lowest income neighborhoods (aOR, 1.51; 95% CI, 1.48–1.54) than controls. High-system ED users had higher proportions of presentations for pediatric complex chronic (aOR, 1.25 per 0.25 increase; 95% CI, 1.21–1.29), respiratory (aOR, 1.14 per 0.25; 95% CI, 1.12–1.15), and mental health (aOR, 1.14 per 0.25; 95% CI, 1.13–1.16) conditions than controls. Conclusions Complex factors underlie pediatric health care utilization decisions. Findings identified conditions to target in interventions to improve health care access and utilization. Future work should engage children and families to design interventions.
Sedentary Profiles: A New Perspective on Accumulation Patterns in Sedentary Behavior

ABSTRACT The health effects of sedentary behavior (SB) may be moderated by SB accumulation patterns (e.g., in prolonged bouts). These patterns are challenging to assess thoroughly and interpretably. Purpose The purpose of this study is to introduce SB profiles (i.e., groups of similar SB accumulation patterns) as a new approach to pattern-focused SB research. Methods Data came from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2003–2006). The SB bouts were determined from hip-worn accelerometer data, and k-medoid clustering was used to define three SB profiles (interrupted, intermediate, and prolonged). These were used as the exposure in logistic regression models to examine odds ratios (OR) of having high (>20%) predicted-10-yr risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). For comparison, the models were also fitted using standard metrics (i.e., tertiles of mean SB bout duration and daily total SB time). Results Those with interrupted profile (n = 1740) were typically sedentary ~32% of the time, in bouts ≤15 min. Those with intermediate profile (n = 2453) were typically sedentary ~47% of the time, in bouts ≤20 min. Those with prolonged profile (n = 1302) were typically sedentary ~61% of the time, frequently in bouts >20 min. The fully adjusted model showed that high CVD risk was more common for the intermediate (OR, 1.87) and prolonged (OR, 4.65) profiles than the interrupted profile (all P < 0.001). For standard metrics, OR ranged from 1.46 (middle tertile of daily total SB time) to 4.11 (upper tertile of mean bout duration) with all P < 0.002. Conclusions The SB profiles represent a promising new avenue for understanding and combating adverse SB trends. The value of the approach was highlighted by the strong associations with CVD risk.