Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Breath Analysis for Early Detection of Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma: Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) Determination and Possible Biochemical Pathways

Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is a rare neoplasm, mainly caused by asbestos exposure, with a high mortality rate. The management of patients with MPM is controversial due to a long latency period between exposure and diagnosis and because of non-specific symptoms generally appearing at advanced stage of the disease. Breath analysis, aimed at the identification of diagnostic Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) pattern in exhaled breath, is believed to improve early detection of MPM. Therefore, in this study, breath samples from 14 MPM patients and 20 healthy controls (HC) were collected and analyzed by Thermal Desorption-Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (TD-GC/MS). Nonparametric test allowed to identify the most weighting variables to discriminate between MPM and HC breath samples and multivariate statistics were applied. Considering that MPM is an aggressive neoplasm leading to a late diagnosis and thus the recruitment of patients is very difficult, a promising data mining approach was developed and validated in order to discriminate between MPM patients and healthy controls, even if no large population data are available. Three different machine learning algorithms were applied to perform the classification task with a leave-one-out cross-validation approach, leading to remarkable results (Area Under Curve AUC = 93%). Ten VOCs, such as ketones, alkanes and methylate derivates, as well as hydrocarbons, were able to discriminate between MPM patients and healthy controls and for each compound which resulted diagnostic for MPM, the metabolic pathway was studied in order to identify the link between VOC and the neoplasm. Moreover, five breath samples from asymptomatic asbestos-exposed persons (AEx) were exploratively analyzed, processed and tested by the validated statistical method as blinded samples in order to evaluate the performance for the early recognition of patients affected by MPM among asbestos-exposed persons. Good agreement was found between the information obtained by gold-standard diagnostic methods such as computed tomography CT and model output.
Volumetric Changes in Morse Taper Connections After Implant Placement in Dense Bone. In-Vitro Study

The stability of the implant–abutment interface is crucial for the maintenance of the implant index integrity. Several factors are capable of inducing deformation in implant–abutment connection, such as the actual insertion of the implant into the bone. This study aimed to evaluate the deformations produced in the connection after the insertion of the implant. Ten implants with two different implant carriers (Type A: carrier attached to platform and Type B: carrier attached inside the index-connection) were placed in artificial Type II bone, and volumetric changes were evaluated for different connection features with a 3D digital microscope. ANOVA (analysis of variance), Wilcoxon, and Tukey HSD post-test were used for statistical comparisons. Type A implants presented deformation at the platform level (inner slot angles and slot width), but no volumetric changes were observed inside the connection. Type B implants presented deformation in three parameters inside the connection (outer channel length, coronal step width, and coronal step length). Within the limitations of this study, we can conclude that more deformation is expected at the internal connection when the implant carrier engages this area. The engagement area should be as far away as possible from the index connection.
Interobserver Agreement for the International Academy of Cytology Yokohama System for Reporting Breast Fine-Needle Aspiration Biopsy Cytopathology

Background: A number of guidelines have been developed to improve standardization of the terminology and criteria for cytologic specimens obtained from the thyroid, pancreas, lung, and salivary glands. A major goal of these guidelines is to improve reproducibility and understanding of the reporting of diagnostic results among cytopathologists and between cytopathologists and clinicians. The International Academy of Cytology Yokohama System for Reporting Breast Fine-Needle Aspiration Biopsy Cytopathology (IAC YSRB) is the most recent of these guidelines. The value of this system is, in part, dependent upon interobserver reproducibility. Design: Ninety consecutive fine-needle aspiration biopsies (FNAB) of the breast, performed over a 6-year period, were independently evaluated by 4 board-certified pathologists blinded to the original diagnoses. The 5 diagnostic categories used were those of the IAC YSRB according to published criteria for these categories. Observed agreement and chance corrected agreement (Fliess κ) were calculated. Differences in κ values were evaluated using the T statistic of Gwent. Statistical calculations were performed using STATA v16.0 (STATA Corp., College Station, TX, USA). Results: Overall agreement between observers was good. Observed unweighted agreement was 69% and weighted agreement was 91%. The majority of diagnoses were concordant (68.6%). Conclusions: Interobserver agreement of 4 cytopathologists was good using the 5 categories of the IAC YRSB (69%). Agreement was greater among pathologists with more years of experience. The IAC YSRB system appears to provide greater agreement among viewers than guidelines for cytologic specimens obtained from some other body sites (salivary gland and lung). Most discrepancies were only by a single category, with only 22/113 (19%) differing by more than one category.
Joy in Work for Clinicians and Staff: Identifying Remedial Predictors of Burnout from the Mini Z Survey

Purpose: The CMS Transforming Clinical Practice Initiative (TCPI) provided coaching and learning support to practices during transition to new models of value-based care. Maryland ambulatory practices participated in the Garden Practice Transformation Network (GPTN) as a part of the TCPI. During practices assessment, we measured prevalence of burnout and identified its remediable predictors among GPTN-Maryland practices. Methods: A modified Mini Z tool survey was distributed among clinicians and staff in November 2018 - July 2019. Association between presence of burnout and burnout drivers was assessed using a Generalized Estimating Equation regression model for ordinal outcome. Results: Data from 166 responses were analyzed. Prevalence of burnout symptoms was 22%, with 35% enjoying their work. A 100-point Time Constraints/Teamwork (T/T) score was constructed using factors significantly associated with burnout symptoms. T/T score increase by 1 unit was associated with 10% increase in the odds of moving from the group experiencing burnout or stress to the group who found ‘joy in work’ (OR = 1.1, 95% CI 1.07, 1.13, p < 0.0001). Conclusions: The Mini Z-derived T/T score could be useful for quick assessment of the degree of burnout and identifying burnout drivers related to effective organizational structure and supportive teamwork in practice personnel.
Transcriptomics in Alzheimer’s Disease: Aspects and Challenges

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia. Although the heritability of AD is high, the knowledge of the disease-associated genes, their expression, and their disease-related pathways remain limited. Hence, finding the association between gene dysfunctions and pathological mechanisms, such as neuronal transports, APP processing, calcium homeostasis, and impairment in mitochondria, should be crucial. Emerging studies have revealed that changes in gene expression and gene regulation may have a strong impact on neurodegeneration. The mRNA–transcription factor interactions, non-coding RNAs, alternative splicing, or copy number variants could also play a role in disease onset. These facts suggest that understanding the impact of transcriptomes in AD may improve the disease diagnosis and also the therapies. In this review, we highlight recent transcriptome investigations in multifactorial AD, with emphasis on the insights emerging at their interface.
Desempenho agronômico e qualidade físico-química de híbridos de tomateiro em cultivo rasteiro

The evaluation of cultivars within the same soil and climatic conditions allows comparison of genotypes for its yield and quality potential, seeking to establish the most adapted for each region. This study aimed to evaluate the yield and fruit quality of tomato hybrids grown without guiding, for fresh consumption and processing. The field experiment was carried out in Pinhao, Parana state, Brazil, in two years (2009/2010 and 2010/2011). The experimental design was a randomized complete block with four replications. Ten tomato hybrids were used (Supera, Granadero, AP-529, AP-533, Katia, Laura, Fascinio, Tinto, Red Spring and Venus). We evaluated total and marketable yield, average fruit weight, fruit damage, presence of peduncle; and characteristics of quality: dry mass, fruit firmness, mesocarp thickness, soluble solids, titratable acidity, soluble solids/titratable acidity ratio, pH, ascorbic acid, lycopene and reducing sugars. Granadero was the hybrid with the highest total yield (112.5 t ha-1 in 2009/2010 and 78.5 t ha-1 in 2010/2011) and marketable yield (88.7 t ha-1 in 2009/2010 and 69.0 t ha-1 in 2010/2011) in two years of experiment, as well as the highest dry matter and soluble solids and the highest mesocarp thickness. Tinto and Venus also stood out in total and marketable yield and the hybrid which had the highest average fruit weight was Venus (99.9 g). For the soluble solids/titratable acidity ratio, Granadero, Venus, Supera, Tinto and Fascinio showed ratios above 10 in both years. Laura, Red Spring and Venus showed good values for ascorbic acid and lycopene. Overall, the best performing hybrid for traits and for both segments was Granadero, but this hybrid showed low genotypic stability. So Venus and Tinto, despite lower yields, could be recommended because they presented good quality and stability to the region.
Characterization of Staphylococci and Streptococci Isolated from Milk of Bovides with Mastitis in Egypt

The aim of this study was to characterize staphylococci and streptococci in milk from Egyptian bovides. In total, 50 milk samples were collected from localities in the Nile Delta region of Egypt. Isolates were cultivated, identified using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS), and antibiotic susceptibility testing was performed by the broth microdilution method. PCR amplifications were carried out, targeting resistance-associated genes. Thirty-eight Staphylococcus isolates and six Streptococcus isolates could be cultivated. Staphylococcus aureus isolates revealed a high resistance rate to penicillin, ampicillin, clindamycin, and erythromycin. The mecA gene defining methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, erm(C) and aac-aphD genes was found in 87.5% of each. Coagulase-negative staphylococci showed a high prevalence of mecA, blaZ and tetK genes. Other resistance-associated genes were found. All Streptococcus dysgalactiae isolates carried blaZ, erm(A), erm(B), erm(C) and lnuA genes, while Streptococcus suis harbored erm(C), aphA-3, tetL and tetM genes, additionally. In Streptococcus gallolyticus, most of these genes were found. The Streptococcus agalactiae isolate harbored blaZ, erm(B), erm(C), lnuA, tetK, tetL and tetM genes. Streptococcus agalactiae isolate was analyzed by DNA microarray analysis. It was determined as sequence type 14, belonging to clonal complex 19 and represented capsule type VI. Pilus and cell wall protein genes, pavA, cadD and emrB/qacA genes were identified by microarray analysis.
Effect of Intra-Ply Hybrid Patches and Hydrothermal Aging on Local Bending Response of Repaired GFRP Composite Laminates

This study investigates the influence of intra-ply hybrid patches and hydrothermal aging on the indentation properties of patch repaired GFRP composites. Fabrics with various proportions of glass and Kevlar fibers were employed as the patches to achieve enhanced mechanical properties by hybridizing Kevlar and glass fibers together. Hydrothermal aging behavior of repaired composite laminates modified with water-resistant glass fibers in the outer layers was further investigated. Specimens were immersed in an environmental chamber containing seawater at temperatures of 30 (ambient), 50, and 70 °C until up to saturation. Damage mechanisms of repaired laminates were monitored using real-time acoustic emission (AE) technique. The experimental results showed that specimens repaired with 50G:50K patches offered superior performance than the virgin specimens. The hydrothermal aging effect on indentation behavior of the modified repaired specimens showed a considerable reduction in indentation properties, with higher strength retention exhibited by the repaired specimens modified with chopped glass fibers compared to the particulate fibers.
Single-cell fate decisions of bipotential hematopoietic progenitors.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW In hematopoiesis, rapid cell fate decisions are necessary for timely responses to environmental stimuli resulting in the production of diverse types of blood cells. Early studies have led to a hierarchical, tree-like view of hematopoiesis with hematopoietic stem cells residing at the apex and serially branching out to give rise to bipotential progenitors with increasingly restricted lineage potential. Recent single-cell studies have challenged some aspects of the classical model of hematopoiesis. Here, we review the latest articles on cell fate decision in hematopoietic progenitors, highlighting single-cell studies that have questioned previously established concepts and those that have reaffirmed them. RECENT FINDINGS The hierarchical organization of hematopoiesis and the importance of transcription factors have been largely validated at the single-cell level. In contrast, single-cell studies have shown that lineage commitment is progressive rather than switch-like as originally proposed. Furthermore, the reconstruction of cell fate paths suggested the existence of a gradient of hematopoietic progenitors that are in a continuum of changing fate probabilities rather than in a static bipotential state, leading us to reconsider the notion of bipotential progenitors. SUMMARY Single-cell transcriptomic and proteomic studies have transformed our view of lineage commitment and offer a drastically different perspective on hematopoiesis.
Allergenicity of Deamidated and/or Peptide-Bond-Hydrolyzed Wheat Gliadin by Transdermal Administration

Hydrochloric acid (HCl)-treated wheat protein (HWP) is widely used in various products, including foods, cosmetics and shampoos. Recently, immediate hypersensitivity towards facial soap containing HWP has been reported. HCl treatment of protein causes hydrolysis not only of main-chain amide bonds (peptide-bond hydrolysis) but also of side-chain ones (deamidation). We have already reported that gliadin, the main allergen in wheat, reduces allergenicity and increases digestibility by deamidation, indicating that deamidation and peptide-bond hydrolysis are effective to reduce the allergenicity of wheat protein. However, transdermally administered HWP is assumed to induce sensitization to orally administered wheat protein even in those who have been taking wheat products daily before sensitization. The present study was conducted to examine which structural change is responsible for the induction of cutaneous sensitization by comparing the allergenicity of deamidated and/or peptide-bond-hydrolyzed wheat gliadin. Because we have developed a deamidation method without causing peptide-bond hydrolysis, only deamidated wheat gliadin is available. Therefore, after deamidated-only, hydrolyzed-only, and deamidated and hydrolyzed gliadins were transdermally administered to mice for several weeks, the corresponding gliadin was intraperitoneally administered and allergenicity was evaluated. Transdermal administration of deamidated and hydrolyzed gliadin induced severe allergic reaction, while that of deamidated-only and hydrolyzed-only gliadin showed almost no allergic response. This result indicates that both deamidation and peptide-bond hydrolysis are necessary to increase the allergenic potency of transdermally administered wheat gliadin.
A comparison between modern pollen spectra of moss cushions and Cundill pollen traps

Pollen spectra of 23 Cundill pollen traps from 23 different sampling sites in Southwest Turkey are compared with the corresponding pollen spectra of moss cushions from the same sites. The Cundill pollen traps represent the modern pollen rain data from one year whereas the moss cushions represent the pollen rain of several years. The comparative study reveals some main differences between the two pollen entrapment media. The one-year entrapment medium (pollen trap) appears to be more sensitive for local (releve area 10x10 m) and regional (100-500 m, or a few kilometres for Olea europaea) vegetation. Pollen spectra of moss cushions are dominated by high pine pollen percentage values and hardly sense fine vegetation structures. The conclusion of this comparative modern pollen study allows to interpret fossil sediment spectra from the Near East in a more critical way. It is concluded that one should preferably sample rapidly deposited sediments for palynological analyses, as the resulting highresolution pollen diagrams will be most informative about the former vegetation patterns.
TrkB-agonists prevent post-ischemic emergence of refractory neonatal seizures in mice.

Refractory neonatal seizures do not respond to first-line anti-seizure medications (ASMs) like phenobarbital (PB), a positive allosteric modulator for GABAA receptors. GABAA receptor-mediated inhibition is dependent upon electroneutral cation-chloride transporter KCC2 which mediates neuronal chloride extrusion and its age-dependent increase, postnatally shifts GABAergic signaling from depolarizing to hyperpolarizing. BDNF-TrkB activation following excitotoxic injury recruits downstream targets like PLCγ1, leading to KCC2 hypofunction. Here, the anti-seizure efficacy of TrkB agonists LM22A-4, HIOC, and Deoxygedunin (DG), on PB-refractory seizures, and post-ischemic TrkB-pathway activation was investigated in a mouse model (CD-1, P7) of refractory neonatal seizures. LM, a BDNF loop II mimetic, rescued PB-refractory seizures in a sexually dimorphic manner. Efficacy was associated with a significant reduction in the post-ischemic phosphorylation of TrkB at Y816, a site known to mediate post-ischemic KCC2 hypofunction via PLCγ1 activation. LM rescued ischemia-induced pKCC2-S940 dephosphorylation, preserving its membrane stability. Full TrkB agonists HIOC and DG similarly rescued PB-refractoriness. Chemogenetic inactivation of TrkB significantly reduced post-ischemic neonatal seizure burdens at P7. Sex differences identified in developmental expression profiles of TrkB and KCC2 may underlie the sexually dimorphic efficacy of LM. These results support a novel role for the TrkB receptor in the emergence of age-dependent refractory neonatal seizures.
Colostrum and milk composition of sows immunized against somatostatin or its carrier protein

Colostrum and milk composition were determined in sows immunized against somatostatin (SRIF-IMM, n = 9) or its carrier protein (BSA-IMM, n = 8). Immunization against somatostatin (SRIF) did not alter milk composition but many components of mammary secretions were affected by the stage of lactation. It was concluded that SRIF-IMM has no beneficial effect on colostrum or milk composition in sows. Key words: Sow, immunization, somatostatin, milk
Responses of Dairy Cows Fed Alfalfa Silage Supplemented with Phosphorus, Copper, Zinc, and Manganese

Abstract Thirty-three Holstein-Friesian cows (21 multiparous, 12 uniparous) were allocated randomly to three treatments 14 wk prepartum and fed through 22 wk postpartum. Each cow individually was fed alfalfa silage to 2%, dry matter, of body weight and high moisture grain corn to exceed National Academy of Sciences-National Research Council recommendation for energy by 10% and soybean meal to meet that for protein. The basal diet was supplemented with phosphorus, copper, zinc, and manganese to supply either 100%, 150%, or 200% of recommendations for these minerals. A trend for increased dry matter intake and decreased total milk yield caused a slight linear decrease in yield/intake with increased mineral supplementation. However, milk protein percentage increased linearly with increased mineral supplementation, and lactose and fat were unaffected. No reproductive traits differed. There was, however, a trend for cows supplemented with minerals at 200% recommendations to have fewer days to first estrus. Inorganic phosphorus in blood increased linearly with increased mineral supplementation as did retentions of all supplemented minerals. No effects on lactational or reproductive performance were adverse in cows fed alfalfa silage (1.27% calcium, 16.5% crude protein, dry matter basis) as the sole forage. Therefore, supplementation with phosphorus, copper, zinc, and manganese above recommendations may be necessary only when alfalfa silage contains more than 1.5% calcium.
Repair of Iliac Crest Defects with a Hydroxyapatite/Collagen Composite

Study Design Retrospective study. Purpose This study aimed to assess the effect of refilling with hydroxyapatite/collagen (HAp/Col) composite on an iliac crest defect after spinal fusion. Overview of Literature The use of iliac crest bone graft has been the gold standard in spinal fusion for a long time because of its biological and non-immunologic properties. Few reports have addressed how bone defects recover after iliac crest bone harvest following spinal fusion. Methods Cancellous bone was collected from the anterior iliac crest during lateral interbody fusion (LIF), and the bone void of the ilium was refilled with a porous HAp/Col composite. We assessed bone recovery using computed tomography (CT). From the 74 patients who underwent LIF between January 2015 and December 2016, we included 49 patients whose iliac crest could be evaluated using CT at 3 months and 1 year after the surgery. Results Bone defects decreased in a time-dependent manner after the surgery. Cortical closure was observed in 28.5% of the cases 3 months after the surgery; at 1 year postoperatively, 95.9% of the patients had cortical closure. Complete repair of the cancellous bone was achieved in 57.1% of the patients at 3 months after the surgery and in 95.9% at 1 year after the surgery. There were no significant hematomas, infections, iliac crest fractures, or soft tissue herniation. Conclusions Radiographic recovery of cortical and cancellous bone defects was achieved with high probability via refilling with HAp/Col composite over the 1-year period.