Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
CP49 and filensin intermediate filaments are essential for formation of cold cataract

Purpose To investigate the molecular and cellular mechanisms of cataract induced by cold temperatures in young lenses of wild-type C57BL/6J (B6), wild-type 129SvJae (129), and filensin knockout (KO) mice. To determine how lens intermediate filament proteins, filensin (BFSP1) and CP49 (BFSP2), are involved in the formation of cold cataract. Methods The formation of cold cataract was examined in enucleated lenses at different temperatures and was imaged under a dissecting microscope. Lens vibratome sections were prepared, immunostained with different antibodies and fluorescent probes, and then imaged with a laser confocal microscope to evaluate the protein distribution and the membrane and cytoskeleton structures in the lens fibers. Results Postnatal day 14 (P14) wild-type B6 lenses showed cataracts dependent on cold temperatures in interior fibers about 420–875 µm (zone III) and 245–875 µm (zone II and zone III) from the lens surface, under 25 °C and 4 °C, respectively. In contrast, wild-type 129 (with CP49 gene deletion) and filensin KO (on the B6 background) lenses did not have cold cataracts at 25 °C but displayed a reduced cold cataract, especially in zone III, at 4 °C. Immunofluorescent staining data revealed that CP49 and filensin proteins were uniformly distributed in fiber cell cytosols without cold cataracts but accumulated or aggregated in the cell boundaries of the fibers where cold cataracts appeared. Conclusions CP49 and filensin are important components for the formation of cold cataract in young B6 mouse lenses. Accumulated or aggregated CP49 and filensin beaded intermediate filaments in fiber cell boundaries might directly or indirectly contribute to the light scattering of cold cataract. Cold cataract in zone II is independent of beaded intermediate filaments. CP49 and filensin intermediate filaments and other lens proteins probably form distinct high molecular organizations to regulate lens transparency in interior fibers.
Variation of radial wood properties from genetically improved Sitka spruce growing in the UK

There is little information about the impacts of past Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis [Bong.] Carr.) tree breeding on wood properties because the emphasis has traditionally been on improving stem form and growth rates. This study used both SilviScan and mechanical testing to investigate the radial variations in wood stiffness, bending strength, density and microfibril angle in defect-free samples taken from the first United Kingdom progeny trial to reach merchantable size. We tested for differences in these radial patterns of variation in half-sibling progeny of three plus trees originally selected for superior growth rate and stem form against a non-selected control. Large differences in all of the properties were observed with radial position, with properties generally being less desirable in the corewood. Significant undesirable differences between the improved families and the control were found for stiffness, strength and microfibril angle. There was no significant relationship between wood density and stiffness in samples taken from the inner part of the tree, where stiffness was more closely associated with microfibril angle. Overall, previous selections for growth rate and/or stem form have compromised timber properties. It is recommended that current breeding programmes focus on corewood stiffness to prevent further degradation in the wood properties of the future timber supply.
Comparison between Seismic Response of CSPSW and SPSW to Nonlinear Excitations

Recently, the application of Composite Steel Plate Shear Walls (CSPSWs) and Steel Plate Shear Walls (SPSWs) as lateral load-resisting systems has been developed. These systems should be resistant enough, ductile, and stiffened to support against different types of excitations. In this work, the seismic performance of these two systems is investigated under different nearand farfield inputs. Strip elements are employed to model the CSPSW and SPSW in SAP2000. An experimental result of CSPSW is first verified. A six story building frame equipped with both systems is then modeled and six different far and near field seismic records are applied to the building frame. Nonlinear Time History Analyses (NTHAs) are conducted based on different maximum ground acceleration levels. Based on the results, appropriate seismic performance of CSPSWs can be clearly observed. CSPSW are also able to decrease relative story displacements more than SPSW More precisely, CSPSWs experience Life Safety (LS) performance level or at least Collapse Prevention (CP) performance level while SPSWs fully collapse.
F1TENTH: An Open-source Evaluation Environment for Continuous Control and Reinforcement Learning

The deployment and evaluation of learning algorithms on autonomous vehicles (AV) is expensive, slow, and potentially unsafe. This paper details the F1TENTH autonomous racing platform, an open-source evaluation framework for training, testing, and evaluating autonomous systems. With 1/10th-scale low-cost hardware and multiple virtual environments, F1TENTH enables safe and rapid experimentation of AV algorithms even in laboratory research settings. We present three benchmark tasks and baselines in the setting of autonomous racing, demonstrating the (cid:13)exibility and features of our evaluation environment
Effects of a Universal Basic Income during the pandemic*

We examine some effects of Universal Basic Income (UBI) during the COVID-19 pandemic using a large-scale experiment in rural Kenya. Transfers significantly improved well-being on common measures such as hunger, sickness and depression in spite of the pandemic, but with modest effect sizes. They may have had public health benefits, as they reduced hospital visits and decreased social (but not commercial) interactions that influence contagion rates. During the pandemic (and contemporaneous agricultural lean season) recipients lost the income gains from starting new non-agricultural enterprises that they had initially obtained, but also suffered smaller increases in hunger. This pattern is consistent with the idea that UBI induced recipients to take on more income risk in part by mitigating the most harmful consequences of adverse shocks.
Assessment of Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy Using Current Perception Threshold

The aim of this study was to compare the current perception threshold (CPT) with a nerve conduction study (NCS) to evaluate the usefulness of CPT in the diagnosis of diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy (DPN). CPT measurement is quantitative method for assessment of peripheral sensory nerve function using electrical impulse. Enrolled in this study were 142 patients with type 2 diabetes who underwent both CPT testing and NCS between January 2013 and April 2016. DPN was diagnosed by NCS. CPT was performed on the right index finger and great toe of each patient. Patients with burning, tingling sensation and with longer history of diabetes tended to have a higher prevalence of DPN. In all frequencies tested (2000, 250, 5 Hz), CPT values of the DPN group were higher than the normal group. After classification in either the normoesthesia or hypoesthesia group according to CPT, the DPN group had a significantly higher prevalence of hypoesthesia than normal group. The receiver operating characteristics curve analysis showed that CPT had a high area under curve value for predicting the presence of DPN. In conclusion, CPT measurement is clinically valuable in detecting nerve dysfunction in patients with type 2 diabetes.
cellular microbiology

The scope of the journal includes the host cell responses and interactions elicited by prokaryotic, viral and eukaryotic microorganisms that illuminate exploitation of host cell structures, function and signaling pathways, and may include modulation or alteration of immune responses. Mechanistic insight obtained through robust biochemical, genetic, cellular, and bioimaging technologies are expected to support observational data.
HISTORICAL CHANGES IN A HERPETOFAUNAL ASSEMBLAGE IN THE FLINT HILLS OF KANSAS

-To assess changes in the herpetofauna in the northern Flint Hills of Kansas, we conducted a survey on the Fort Riley Military Reservation (Riley and Geary counties) in 1993 and compared our results with those of C. E. Burt and other early collectors. Of 46 species reported before 1930, 37 were found in 1993. Four species recorded before 1930 and not found in 1993 (Bufo cognatus, Carphophis vermis, Thamnophis radix and Crotalus horridus) are known or believed to persist in Riley and Geary counties. Four other species (Heterodon platirhinos, Nerodia erythrogaster; N. rhombifer and Regina grahamii) have not been reported in over 50 yr and may be extirpated locally. Two additional species (Spea bombifrons and Trachemys scripta) found in 1993 were not reported by early collectors. Changes in relative abundance of species from pre-1930 to 1993 were few, and there was no evidence of decline in amphibian populations. With the exception of declines in species dependent on rare habitats located in the floodplain of major rivers, the herpetological assemblage in the Fort Riley area has changed little during the past 70-100 yr. We attribute this stability to land uses that have maintained large tracts of native vegetation.
Response of growing rabbits to graded levels of fermented and unfermented pineapple peel

Forty growing rabbits were allocated equally to five groups in a 2 x 3 factorial layout and caged individually for a 56-day trial period in hutches. They were used to compare the effects of two processing methods (unfermented and fermented) and three dietary replacement levels of Pineapple peel meal (PPM) at 0%, 12.5% and 25% of maize on weight for weight basis. Parameters evaluated during the trial period included: growth rate, feed intake, feed conversion ratio and feed cost. Results show that average daily weight gain (ADG) reduced (P 0.05) with those fed the control diet (0%). However, ADG of rabbits fed fermented PPM was statistically higher (P 0.05) difference was observed in daily feed intake of rabbits as a result of dietary inclusion level or processing type of PPM. Better (P 0.05) effect on dressing-out percentage of experimental animals. There were neither significant (P>0.05) effects of processing type nor dietary inclusion level on retail cuts of the rabbits fed the different experimental diets. In all feeding rabbits with diets containing fermented PPM up to 12.5% replacement level for maize encouraged optimum performance. Keywords: Rabbit performance. Pineapple peel meal. Fermentation. Retail cuts. Economy of production
Studies on Protein Content in Rice Grain : I. Variation of protein content between rice varieties and the influences of environmental factors on the protein content

In order to clarify protein content variation of the rice varieties and the relation between protein content and environmental factors, some investigations were carried out as follows. To clarify the variation of protein content of rice varieties, 33 varieties of Hokkaido and Tohoku district were planted in the same paddy field for 7 years from 1963 to 1969 and protein content in their rice grains were compared yearly. As to the influences of the environmental factors, rice crops were grown during their ripening stage under high (25-27°C) air temperature, high (30°C) or low (17°C) water temperature, and sunshading, protein content of their rice grains were compared for 2 years of 1968 and 1969. The results are summarized as follows. Protein % in rice grains is respectably differing with rice varieties. In general, earlier ripening varieties tend to show higher % than the later one. Most varieties of Hokkaido belong to the earlier ripening group and showed higher % than most varieties of Tohoku district. In each district, Norin No.20 of Hokkaido and Oirase of Tohoku district were remarkably higher % than the other varieties yearly for 7 years, so it seems that they have somewhat super hereditary natures refering to accumulation of protein. Protein % of the same variety that was planted on the fixed plan differed year by year. This fact shows that protein content is influenced by the weather condition of each year. From the results of some experiments refering to weather environments, it was cleared that protein % of rice grains is increased by high air temperature or high water temperature as well as decreased by low water temperature or sunshading during their ripening stage.
Relationship Between Learned Resourcefulness and Academic Procrastination in Students Studying in Sports Departments

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between the learned resourcefulness levels and academic procrastination of students studying in sports departments. A total of 372 students who studied in Bingol University at School of Physical Education and Sports participated in the study as volunteers. In the study, the personal information form, learned resourcefulness scale, and academic procrastination scale were used as data collection tools. In the analysis of the obtained data, Pearson Correlation and Linear Regression analysis were applied by using the SPSS package program. According to the research findings, it was determined that there was a positive relationship between the learned resourcefulness level and the level of academic procrastination, and the learned resourcefulness predicted the academic procrastination level by 8%. As a result; it was concluded that there was a low level and a positive correlation between learned resourcefulness level and academic procrastination, and learned resourcefulness power affects academic procrastination. In this context, it was thought that coping with the difficulties faced by students was important in both achieving their academic goals in school life and maintaining their psychological health.
Two Types of El Niño Events: Cold Tongue El Niño and Warm Pool El Niño

In this study, two types of El Niño events are classified based on spatial patterns of the sea surface temperature (SST) anomaly. One is the cold tongue (CT) El Niño, which can be regarded as the conventional El Niño, and the other the warm pool (WP) El Niño. The CT El Niño is characterized by relatively large SST anomalies in the Niño-3 region (58S–58N, 1508–908W), while the WP El Niño is associated with SST anomalies mostly confined to the Niño-4 region (58S–58N, 1608E–1508W). In addition, spatial patterns of many atmospheric and oceanic variables are also distinctively different for the two types of El Niño events. Furthermore, the difference in the transition mechanism between the two types of El Niño is clearly identified. That is, the discharge process of the equatorial heat content associated with the WP El Niño is not efficient owing to the spatial structure of SST anomaly; as a result, it cannot trigger a cold event. It is also demonstrated that zonal advective feedback (i.e., zonal advection of mean SST by anomalous zonal currents) plays a crucial role in the development of a decaying SST anomaly associated with the WP El Niño, while thermocline feedback is a key process during the CT El Niño.
Insecticidal activity of leaf extracts from Drosophyllum lusitanicum against Liriomyza trifolii (Burgess) (Diptera: Agromyzidae)

Summary The present study was carried out to evaluate the insecticidal properties of Drosophyllum lusitanicum (L.) Link, an insectivorous plant that is endemic to the western Iberian Peninsula and northwest Morocco. The insecticidal capacities of extracts from field-grown D. lusitanicum plants were evaluated using contact and feeding bioassays against female adults of Liriomyza trifolii (Burgess), one of the major pests of several floricultural and vegetable crops. In addition, the toxicity of the extract from in vitro cultures of D. lusitanicum was evaluated in contact bioassays. The results showed that extracts of D. lusitanicum have considerable insecticidal potential, particularly through contact application (100% mortality 1 d after treatment). Moreover, extracts from in vitro cultures had similar toxicity to those from field-grown plants. Extracts were analysed by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The major constituent was 5-hydroxy-2-methyl-1,4-naphthoquinone (plumbagin), and its level was similar in extracts from field-grown plants (11.0 mg ml–1) and from in vitro cultures (8.2 mg ml–1). Although the results suggest that the insecticidal activity of extracts of D. lusitanicum is probably due to the presence of this naphthoquinone, further detailed research is required to identify other compounds that may be responsible for the activity.
Longitudinal immune profiling of mild and severe COVID-19 reveals innate and adaptive immune dysfunction and provides an early prediction tool for clinical progression

With a rising incidence of COVID-19-associated morbidity and mortality worldwide, it is critical to elucidate the innate and adaptive immune responses that drive disease severity. We performed longitudinal immune profiling of peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 45 patients and healthy donors. We observed a dynamic immune landscape of innate and adaptive immune cells in disease progression and absolute changes of lymphocyte and myeloid cells in severe versus mild cases or healthy controls. Intubation and death were coupled with selected natural killer cell KIR receptor usage and IgM+ B cells and associated with profound CD4 and CD8 T cell exhaustion. Pseudo-temporal reconstruction of the hierarchy of disease progression revealed dynamic time changes in the global population recapitulating individual patients and the development of an eight-marker classifier of disease severity. Estimating the effect of clinical progression on the immune response and early assessment of disease progression risks may allow implementation of tailored therapies.
Stool Banking for Fecal Microbiota Transplantation: Methods and Operations at a Large Stool Bank

Objectives Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) is a recommended therapy for recurrent Clostridioides difficile infection and is being investigated as a potential therapy for dozens of microbiota-mediated indications. Stool banks centralize FMT donor screening and FMT material preparation with the goal of expanding access to FMT material while simultaneously improving its safety, quality, and convenience. Although there are published consensuses on donor screening guidelines, there are few reports about the implementation of those guidelines in functioning stool banks. Methods To help inform consensus standards with data gathered from real-world settings and, in turn, to improve patient care, here we describe the general methodology used in 2018 by OpenBiome, a large stool bank, and its outputs in that year. Results In 2018, the stool bank received 7,536 stool donations from 210 donors, a daily average of 20.6 donations, and processed 4,271 of those donations into FMT preparations. The median time a screened and enrolled stool donor actively donated stool was 5.8 months. The median time between the manufacture of an FMT preparation and its shipment to a hospital or physician was 8.9 months. Half of the stool bank’s partner hospitals and physicians ordered an average of 0.75 or fewer FMT preparations per month. Conclusions Further knowledge sharing should help inform refinements of stool banking guidelines and best practices.
Test-retest reliability and concurrent validity of the Adapted Short QUestionnaire to ASsess Health-enhancing physical activity (Adapted-SQUASH) in adults with disabilities

ABSTRACT The current study determined the test–retest reliability and concurrent validity of the Adapted Short QUestionnaire to ASsess Health-enhancing physical activity (Adapted-SQUASH) in adults with disabilities. Before filling in the Adapted-SQUASH twice with a recall period of 2 weeks, participants wore the Actiheart activity monitor up to 1 week. For the test–retest reliability (N = 68), Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) were 0.67 (p < 0.001) for the total activity score (min x intensity/week) and 0.76 (p < 0.001) for the total minutes of activity (min/week). For the concurrent validity (N = 58), the Spearman correlation coefficient was 0.40 (p = 0.002) between the total activity score of the first administration of the Adapted-SQUASH and activity energy expenditure from the Actiheart (kcals kg−1 min−1). The ICC was 0.22 (p = 0.027) between the total minutes of activity assessed with the first administration of the Adapted-SQUASH and Actiheart. The Adapted-SQUASH is an acceptable measure to assess self-reported physical activity in large populations of adults with disabilities but is not applicable at the individual level due to wide limits of agreement. Self-reported physical activity assessed with the Adapted-SQUASH does not accurately represent physical activity assessed with the Actiheart in adults with disabilities, as indicated with a systematic bias between both instruments in the Bland–Altman analysis.
Early indirect impact of COVID-19 pandemic on utilization and outcomes of reproductive, maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health services in Kenya

Background: The COVID-19 global pandemic is expected to result in 8.3-38.6% additional maternal deaths in many low-income countries. The objective of this paper was to determine the initial impact of COVID-19 pandemic on reproductive, maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health (RMNCAH) services in Kenya. Methods: Data for the first four months (March-June) of the pandemic and the equivalent period in 2019 were extracted from Kenya Health Information System. Two-sample test of proportions for hospital attendance for select RMNCAH services between the two periods were computed. Results: There were no differences in monthly mean ({+/-}SD) attendance between March-June 2019 vs 2020 for antenatal care (400,191.2{+/-}12,700.0 vs 384,697.3{+/-}20,838.6), hospital births (98,713.0{+/-}4,117.0 vs 99,634.5{+/-}3,215.5), family planning attendance (431,930.5{+/-}19,059.9 vs 448,168.3{+/-}31,559.8), post-abortion care (3,206.5{+/-}111.7 vs 448,168.3{+/-}31,559.8) and pentavalent 1 immunisation (114,701.0{+/-}3,701.1 vs 110,915.8{+/-}7,209.4), p>0.05. However, there were increasing trends for adolescent pregnancy rate, significant increases in FP utilization among young people (25.7% to 27.0%), injectable (short-term) FP method uptake (58.2% to 62.3%), caesarean section rate (14.6% to 15.8%), adolescent maternal deaths (6.2% to 10.9%) and fresh stillbirths (0.9% to 1.0%) with a reduction in implants (long-term) uptake (16.5% to 13.0%) (p<0.05). No significant change in maternal mortality ratio between the two periods (96.6 vs 105.8/100,000 live births, p=0.1023) although the trend was increasing. Conclusion: COVID-19 may have contributed to increased adolescent pregnancy, adolescent maternal death and stillbirth rates in Kenya. If this trend persists, recent gains achieved in maternal and perinatal health in Kenya will be lost. With uncertainty around the duration of the pandemic, strategies to mitigate against catastrophic indirect maternal health outcomes are urgently needed. Key words: COVID-19, maternal, reproductive, stillbirths, family planning, adolescent, mortality, Kenya.
Physical, sensory and chemical characteristics of wheat breads supplemented with fenugreek (Trigonella foenum graecum L.

Addition of fenugreek (Trigonella foecum graecum L.) to wheat flour increased the baking absorption of wheat flour without exhibiting a loaf volume depression effect upto 3% level and gave a satisfactory leaf volume upto 7.5% level of substitution. However, at 9% level, fenugreek flavour dominated in the loaf. Addition of fenugreek to bread flour at 7.5% level not only increased the protein, available lysine and dietary fibre contents, but also gave a product of acceptable quality as judged by sensory evaluation studies.