Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Participant Satisfaction and Acceptability of a Culturally Adapted Brief Intervention to Reduce Unhealthy Alcohol Use Among Latino Immigrant Men

Latino immigrant men are at increased risk for unhealthy alcohol use, yet few interventions have been designed to meet their unique needs. The current study assessed participant satisfaction and acceptability of a culturally adapted brief intervention to reduce unhealthy alcohol use in this population. Adaptations to the brief intervention included delivering it in Spanish by promotores in a community setting. The mixed methods approach included surveys (N = 73) and in-depth interviews (N = 20) with participants in a pilot randomized controlled trial. The study drew on Sekhon’s theoretical framework of acceptability to asses affective attitude, burden, and perceived effectiveness of the intervention, along with satisfaction with the content, setting, and promotor. Participants’ survey responses indicated that they were highly satisfied with the content, setting, and delivery of the brief intervention. In interviews participants noted that the brief intervention helped them reflect on their drinking behaviors, that they perceived promotores to be a trusted source of health information, and that they liked receiving personalized feedback via tablets. Some participants found the feedback did not match their own perceptions of their alcohol use and wanted clearer advice on how to reduce their drinking. Men felt they would benefit from more contact with promotores. These findings suggest that Latino immigrant men in this study were receptive to the culturally adapted brief intervention. Future interventions may be more effective if they include multiple contacts with promotores and more directive guidance on strategies to reduce drinking.
Selenium: A Trace Element for a Healthy Skeleton - A Narrative Review.

Inadequate serum selenium levels may delay the growth and the physiological changes in bone metabolism. In humans, reduced serum selenium concentrations are associated with both increased bone turnover and reduced bone mineral density. Moreover, a reduced nutritional intake of selenium may lead to an increased risk of bone disease. Therefore, selenium is an essential nutrient playing a role in bone health, probably due to specific selenium-proteins. Some selenium-proteins have an anti-oxidation enzymatic activity and participate in maintaining the redox cellular balance, regulating inflammation and proliferation/differentiation of bone cells too. At least nine selenium-proteins are known to be expressed by fetal osteoblasts and appear to protect bone cells from oxidative stress at bone microenvironment. Mutations of selenium-proteins and reduced circulating levels of selenium are known to be associated with skeletal diseases such as the Kashin-Beck osteoarthropathy and postmenopausal osteoporosis. In addition, the intake of selenium appears to be inversely related to the risk of hip fragility fractures. Recent data suggest that an altered selenium state may affect bone mass even in males and seleniumproteins and selenium concentrations were positively associated with the bone mass at femoral, total and trochanteric site. However, selenium, but not selenium-proteins, seems to be associated with femoral neck bone mass after adjustment for many bone fracture risk factors. The present review summarizes the findings of observational and interventional studies, which have been designed for investigating the relationship between selenium and bone metabolism.
GRAZER‐INDUCED COLONY FORMATION IN SCENEDESMUS ACUTUS (CHLOROPHYCEAE): ECOMORPH EXPRESSION AT DIFFERENT TEMPERATURES

Scenedesmus acutus Meyen was cultured at four temperatures (9.5°, 16.5°, 24°, and 29° C) in standard medium or in medium with filtered water from a Daphnia culture. Growth was significantly reduced at low temperatures. At 9.5° C it took more than a week before formation of eight‐celled coenobia occurred in both the absence and presence of water from a Daphnia culture. At higher temperatures, formation of four‐ and eight‐celled coenobia occurred more rapidly and was already observed in the presence of Daphnia water within 2 days. As cultures aged, also in the absence of Daphnia water, four‐celled coenobia became dominant. At cold temperature, cell volume initially was significantly larger but declined after 3–4 weeks. Grazer‐induced colony formation had occurred independent of the incubation temperature, but the number of cells per colony was increased with declining temperature. The morphological expression may be interpreted as a cyclomorphosis driven by nutrients, temperature, and chemical cues from grazers.
INTERACTIONS BETWEEN FUNGAL PATHOGENS AND INSECT HOSTS

Fungal diseases in insects are common and widespread and often decimate insect populations in spectacular epizootics. Virtually all insect orders are susceptible to fungal diseases. Fungi infect insects by breaching the host cuticle; they are the principal pathogens among sucking insects because these hosts cannot ingest other pathogens that infect through the gut wall. Fungi are also particularly important for control of Coleoptera, because viral and bacterial diseases are rare among beetles. Entomopathogenic fungi are associated with insects living in diverse habitats, including fresh water, soil, soil surfaces, and aerial locations. Currently, widely publicized environmental concerns and health risks associated with use of synthetic chemical insecticides have stimulated efforts to develop biological-control agents as alternatives or supplements to these chemicals. Consequently, much recent interest in mycoinsecticides has led to the marketing of several of them. Nevertheless, of the 700 species of entomopathogenic fungi currently known, only 10 species have been, or are presently being, developed for control (85, 89, 101, 130, 136), and the full potential of entomopathogenic fungi has not been approached. To develop fungi for control purposes, we need to understand the requirements for the high levels of disease transmission in the field that are characteristic of epizootics. In-depth epizootiological studies of several systems have been undertaken, in some cases resulting in simulation models used for experi­ mentation with these complex systems as well as for development of control
Biodiversity assesment in a Sarawak lowland dipterocarp rainforest of Niah National Park

A transect survey was conducted from 2 – 6 December 2004 in Niah National Park to estimate species diversity and relative abundance of birds and mammals. This study was conducted in four forest line transects: Madu Trail (TR1), Sungai Tangap (TR2), Niah Great Cave (TR3), Bukit Kasut (TR4), and one river transect along the Niah River (RT). A total of 521 birds representing 59 species from 23 families were recorded. The Black-Nest Swiftlet (Aerodramus maximus) and the Mossy-Nest Swiftlet (Aerodramus salanganus) were the most common species in the park. The family Timaliidae (babblers), with nine species, was recorded as the most diverse family, whereas Strigidae (owls) and Hirundinidae (swallows) were the least diverse families with one species in each. A total of 29 mammalian individuals representing seven species from four families were recorded. The family Sciuridae (squirrels) with three species was recorded as the most diverse family, whereas Cynocephalidae (flying lemurs) and Muridae (rodents) were the least diverse families with one species and one individual each. TR1 was recorded with the highest Shannon-Weiner index (diversity index) of H’ = 4.75 and H’ = 2.20 for birds and mammals respectively. The lowest bird H’ = 3.73 was recorded for TR2, whereas the lowest mammal H’= 0 was recorded for TR2 and RT. Although this study does not identify factors that contribute to different species diversity at each transect line, field observations suggest that vegetation and human activities were the major elements that contributed to the observations found at each transect in this study. Studies on the vegetation types and potential disturbances that influence the faunal diversity will provide useful insights in conservation and management planning of this park.
The role of fecundity and sexual selection in the evolution of size and sexual size dimorphism in New World and Old World voles (Rodentia: Arvicolinae)

Evolutionary ecologists dating back to Darwin (1871) have sought to understand why males are larger than females in some species, and why females are the larger sex in others. Although the former is widespread in mammals, rodents and other small mammals usually exhibit low levels of sexual size dimorphism (SSD). Here, we investigate patterns of sexual dimorphism in 34 vole species belonging to the subfamily Arvicolinae in a phylogenetic comparative framework. We address the potential role of sexual selection and fecundity selection in creating sex differences in body size. No support was found for hyperallometric scaling of male body size to female body size. We observed a marginally significant relationship between SSD and the ratio of male to female home range size, with the latter being positively related to the level of intrasexual competition for mates. This suggests that sexual selection favours larger males. Interestingly, we also found that habitat type, but not mating system, constitutes a strong predictor of SSD. Species inhabiting open habitats – where males have extensive home ranges in order to gain access to as many females as possible – exhibit a higher mean dimorphism than species inhabiting closed habitats, where females show strong territoriality and an uniform distribution preventing males to adopt a territorial strategy for gaining copulations. Nonetheless, variation in the strength of sexual selection is not the only selective force shaping SSD in voles; we also found a positive association between female size and litter size across lineages. Assuming this relationship also exists within lineages (i.e. fecundity selection on female size), this suggests an additional role for variation in the strength of fecundity selection shaping interspecific differences in female size, and indirectly in SSD. Therefore our results suggest that different selective processes act on the sizes of males and females, but because larger size is favoured in both sexes, SSD is on average relatively small.
Effects of variable egg incubation temperatures on the embryonic development in Arctic charr Salvelinus alpinus

An evaluation of different thermal regimes during incubation of Arctic charr Salvelinus alpinus L. egg was conducted with regard to embryo survival and development. The study consisted of two major parts: In experiment A, a range of commonly used thermal regimes, constant and variable ranging from 2.7°C to 7°C, were tested for differences in embryo survival and developmental status of newly hatched alevins. Experiment B assessed the timing of a shift from autumn (6°C) to winter temperature (2.5°C) and its effect on embryo survival and the occurrence of spinal deformities in newly hatched alevins. In general, incubations that were initiated at temperatures below 3°C resulted in significantly higher mortality rates and spinal deformity frequencies than other treatments. Hence, Arctic charr eggs require an initial warmer period for unimpaired embryonic development. A general negative correlation was found between the duration of this warmer period (6°C) and both mortality rates and frequency of spinal deformities. The total absence of the 6°C period had the most detrimental effect, with deformity frequencies at least four times higher than all treatments with an initial warmer period. The upper incubation temperature threshold was not reached in the study. The highest temperature tested (7°C) did not result in excess mortality or increased deformity frequency. Higher incubation temperature resulted in less developed alevins at hatching, i.e. alevins were smaller with more yolk remaining. However, measurements on alevins from incubations at variable temperatures revealed different temperature effects on growth and yolk consumption during different parts of embryonic development.
Observation of backscattering induced by magnetism in a topological edge state

Significance One of the predicted characteristics of helical topological boundary modes is the absence of backscattering when time-reversal symmetry (TRS) is preserved. While previous experiments have provided evidence for this topological protection, inducing backscattering by breaking TRS has yet to be demonstrated. We test this fundamental property by investigating quasiparticle scattering in the one-dimensional topological edge state of bismuth bilayers, coupled to ferromagnetic iron clusters, using a scanning tunneling microscope. Our experimental observations demonstrate that backscattering is induced by magnetism of iron clusters in these topological edge modes. The boundary modes of topological insulators are protected by the symmetries of the nontrivial bulk electronic states. Unless these symmetries are broken, they can give rise to novel phenomena, such as the quantum spin Hall effect in one-dimensional (1D) topological edge states, where quasiparticle backscattering is suppressed by time-reversal symmetry (TRS). Here, we investigate the properties of the 1D topological edge state of bismuth in the absence of TRS, where backscattering is predicted to occur. Using spectroscopic imaging and spin-polarized measurements with a scanning tunneling microscope, we compared quasiparticle interference (QPI) occurring in the edge state of a pristine bismuth bilayer with that occurring in the edge state of a bilayer, which is terminated by ferromagnetic iron clusters that break TRS. Our experiments on the decorated bilayer edge reveal an additional QPI branch, which can be associated with spin-flip scattering across the Brioullin zone center between time-reversal band partners. The observed QPI characteristics exactly match with theoretical expectations for a topological edge state, having one Kramer’s pair of bands. Together, our results provide further evidence for the nontrivial nature of bismuth and in particular, demonstrate backscattering inside a helical topological edge state induced by broken TRS through local magnetism.
ONTOGENY OF LARGE BIRDS: MIGRANTS DO IT FASTER

Abstract We compared incubation and fledging times between large (>2 kg) migrating and sedentary birds. We found that while length of incubation period does not differ between migrants and nonmigrants, fledging period is significantly shorter in the former. This pattern is apparent in the class as a whole, as well as within orders, families, and genera. Additional, albeit weak, evidence suggests that clutch sizes of migrants are smaller than those of closely related resident birds. We hypothesize that the need to migrate constrains the length of developmental period of large migrating birds, especially in species that undertake long-distance migration. Ontogenia de Aves Grandes: Los Migrantes lo Hacen más Rápido Resumen. Comparamos los tiempos de incubación y emplumamiento entre aves grandes (>2 kg) migratorias y sedentarias. Encontramos que mientras la longitud del período de incubación no difiere entre migrantes y no migrantes, el período de emplumamiento es significativamente más corto en las migrantes. Este patrón resulta evidente a nivel de toda la clase, así como al interior de órdenes, familias y géneros. Existe evidencia adicional, aunque débil, que sugiere que las nidadas de las migrantes son más pequeñas que las de aves residentes estrechamente relacionadas. Proponemos la hipótesis de que la necesidad de migrar limita la longitud del período de desarrollo de las aves migrantes grandes, especialmente en las especies que realizan migraciones a través de grandes distancias.
Temporal variability in the spatial and environmental determinants of functional metacommunity organization - stream fish in a human-modified landscape

Summary 1. Quantifying the relative importance of environmental filtering versus regional spatial structuring has become an intensively studied area in the context of metacommunity ecology. However, most studies have evaluated the role of environmental and spatial processes using taxonomic data sets of single snapshot surveys. 2. Here, we examined temporal changes in patterns and possible processes behind the functional metacommunity organization of stream fishes in a human-modified landscape. Specifically, we (i) studied general changes in the functional composition of fish assemblages among 40 wadeable stream sites during a 3-year study period in the catchment area of Lake Balaton, Hungary, (ii) quantified the relative importance of spatial and environmental factors as determinants of metacommunity structure and (iii) examined temporal variability in the relative role of spatial and environmental processes for this metacommunity. 3. Partial triadic analysis showed that assemblages could be effectively ordered along a functional gradient from invertebrate consuming species dominated by the opportunistic life-history strategy, to assemblages with a diverse array of functional attributes. The analysis also revealed that functional fish assemblage structure was moderately stable among the sites between the sampling periods. 4. Despite moderate stability, variance partitioning using redundancy analyses (RDA) showed considerable temporal variability in the contribution of environmental and spatial factors to this pattern. The analyses also showed that environmental variables were, in general, more important than spatial ones in determining metacommunity structure. Of these, natural environmental variables (e.g. altitude, velocity) proved to be more influential than human-related effects (e.g. pond area, % inhabited area above the site, nutrient enrichment), even in this landscape with relatively low variation in altitude and stream size. 5. Pond area was, however, the most important human stressor variable that was positively associated with the abundance of non-native species with diverse functional attributes. The temporal variability in the relative importance of environmental and spatial factors was probably shaped by the release of non-native fish from fish ponds to the stream system during flood events. 6. To conclude, both spatial processes and environmental control shape the functional metacommunity organization of stream fish assemblages in human-modified landscapes, but their importance can vary in time. We argue, therefore, that metacommunity studies should better consider temporal variability in the ecological mechanisms (e.g. dispersal limitation, species sorting) that determine the dynamics of landscape-level community organization.
Downregulation of Polo-like kinase-1 (PLK-1) expression is associated with poor clinical outcome in uveal melanoma patients.

INTRODUCTION Uveal melanoma (UM) is the most common primary eye tumour in adults. Distant metastases are seen in 50% of cases regardless of treatment, which contributes to high mortality rates. Polo-like kinase-1 (PLK-1) is a protein regulator of mitotic entry and cytokinesis. Increased PLK-1 expression has been shown in different tumours, which makes its inhibition a potential treatment target. To date, no study has been published to discuss the prognostic role of PLK-1 expression in patients with uveal melanoma. MATERIAL AND METHODS . We assessed by immunohistochemistry PLK-1 expression in uveal melanoma cells collected in 158 patients treated by primary enucleation. We determined the correlation between PLK-1 levels evaluated by the immunoreactivity scale (IRS) method and detailed clinical as well as histological parameters. Additionally, we determined the association between PLK-1 expression levels and long-term prognosis. RESULTS Elevated PLK-1 expression in tumour cells, defined as IRS >2, was observed in 70% (111/158) of cases, whereas low expression or no expression was seen in the remaining 30% (47/158) of patients. There was a significant correlation between low PLK-1 expression and a higher clinical tumour stage (pT, p = 0.04) as well as a higher AJCC prognostic stage group (p = 0.037). We observed an inverse correlation between PLK-1 expression and tumour cell pigment content (p = 0.0019). There was no correlation between PLK-1 expression and other histological parameters such as mitotic rate or histological subtype. The Kaplan-Meier's analysis demonstrated that low PLK-1 expression was associated with significantly reduced overall survival (p = 0.0058). A similar trend, albeit not significant, was observed for disease-free survival (p = 0.088). CONCLUSIONS . Downregulated PLK-1 expression is a negative prognostic factor in uveal melanoma. It warrants further, multicentre research on prognostic role of PLK-1 expression and possibility of PLK-1 inhibition in uveal melanoma.
Impact of Preexisting Inflammatory Bowel Disease on the Outcome of Liver Transplantation for Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis

Approximately 80% of patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) also have inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and its effect on the outcomes of liver transplantation (LT) for PSC is unclear. We retrospectively collected data from adults who underwent LT for PSC from 1989 to January 2018 in 4 French LT centers. We compared the rates of patient and graft survivals and of complications after LT. Among 87 patients, 52 (60%) had preexisting IBD. Excluding those who died within the first 3 months, the 10‐year patient survival and graft survival rates were 92.6% (95% confidence interval [CI], 84.3%‐100%) and 77.1% (53.8%‐85.3%), respectively, in the PSC with IBD (PSC‐IBD) group and 97.1% (91.4%‐100%; P = 0.44) and 83.2% (69.6%‐96.9%; P = 0.43) in the isolated PSC group, respectively. Exposure to azathioprine after LT was significantly associated with mortality (odds ratio [OR], 15.55; 1.31‐184.0; P = 0.03), whereas exposure to mycophenolate mofetil was associated with improved survival (OR, 0.17; 95% CI, 0.04‐0.82; P = 0.03), possibly an era effect. The rate of recurrent PSC was 21% in the PSC‐IBD group and 11% in the isolated PSC group (P = 0.24). Severe infections occurred in 125 per 1000 person‐years in both groups. Exposure to mycophenolate mofetil was associated with a lower risk of infection (OR, 0.26; 95% CI, 0.08‐0.85; P = 0.03). The presence of IBD was associated with cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection (OR, 3.24; 95% CI, 1.05‐9.98; P = 0.04). IBD prior to LT for PSC may not affect patient or transplant survival but may increase the risk of CMV infection.