Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor during Oral Glucose Tolerance Test Predicts Cardiovascular Outcomes

We investigated if brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) accumulation after glucose intake could predict cardiovascular outcomes. We enrolled patients admitted for angiography due to angina. After their conditions stabilized, serum BDNF levels were detected at 0, 30, and 120 min during oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). Area under the curve (AUC) of BDNF was calculated. The first occurrence of nonfatal myocardial infarction, nonfatal stroke, and all-cause mortality served as the primary composite endpoint. Of 480 enrolled patients, 428 completed the follow-up, and 36 primary endpoint events occurred during a median follow-up of 4.4 years. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve significantly increased from 0.61 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.52–0.73) for the Framingham risk score (FRS) alone model to 0.72 (95%CI: 0.63–0.81) for the AUC of BDNF plus FRS model (p = 0.016) for predicting the primary endpoint, but not to 0.65 (95%CI: 0.55–0.75) for the fasting BDNF plus FRS model (p = 0.160). Grouped by median AUC of BDNF of 38.0 (ng/mL) × h, the low BDNF group had a significantly higher risk of the endpoint than the high BDNF group (hazard ratio = 3.410, 95%CI: 1.520–7.653, p = 0.003). In conclusion, AUC of BDNF during OGTT could be superior to fasting BDNF for predicting a low cardiovascular risk.
Resistance in Lettuce to Diabrotica balteata (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae): The Roles of Latex and Inducible Defense

Abstract A previous study showed that feeding of adult banded cucumber beetle, Diabrotica balteata LeConte, and development of the female reproductive system were strongly inhibited by a diet of fresh Valmaine (Val) romaine lettuce, Lactuca sativa L. , relative to Tall Guzmaine (TG). Leaf surface chemicals have been shown not to be involved in the resistance of Val. In this study, leaves of TG and Val were freeze-dried and incorporated into an artificial diet to evaluate whether the chemicals within the lettuce leaves were responsible for resistance to D. balteata feeding. The amount consumed and mature eggs produced were not significantly different when adults were given either a choice or no choice of TG or Val diets. However, latex from TG and Val strongly inhibited D. balteata feeding on a favorite food, lima bean leaves, when applied to leaf surfaces. Latex from Val turned brown faster than that from TG, and flowed for a longer period of time before ceasing. Localized induced resistance to feeding was found in Val but not in TG after plants were previously damaged for 48 h. Therefore, we propose that localized inducible resistance and physical defenses in latex may account for resistance in Val to D. balteata.
Surgical infection prophylaxis prior to left ventricular assist device implantation: A survey of clinical practice

Short duration, antimicrobial prophylaxis that includes antistaphylococcal activity is recommended at the time of left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation to reduce infection‐related complications. There continues to be wide variability in surgical infection prophylaxis (SIP) regimens among implantation centers. The aim of this study is to characterize current SIP regimens at different LVAD centers.
Nondisplaceable Binding Is a Potential Confounding Factor in 11C-PBR28 Translocator Protein PET Studies

Visual Abstract The PET ligand 11C-PBR28 (N-((2-(methoxy-11C)-phenyl)methyl)-N-(6-phenoxy-3-pyridinyl)acetamide) binds to the 18-kDa translocator protein (TSPO), a biomarker of glia. In clinical studies of TSPO, the ligand total distribution volume, VT, is frequently the reported outcome measure. Since VT is the sum of the ligand-specific distribution volume (VS) and the nondisplaceable-binding distribution volume (VND), differences in VND across subjects and groups will have an impact on VT. Methods: Here, we used a recently developed method for simultaneous estimation of VND (SIME) to disentangle contributions from VND and VS. Data from 4 previously published 11C-PBR28 PET studies were included: before and after a lipopolysaccharide challenge (8 subjects), in alcohol use disorder (14 patients, 15 controls), in first-episode psychosis (16 patients, 16 controls), and in Parkinson disease (16 patients, 16 controls). In each dataset, regional VT estimates were obtained with a standard 2-tissue-compartment model, and brain-wide VND was estimated with SIME. VS was then calculated as VT − VND. VND and VS were then compared across groups, within each dataset. Results: A lower VND was found for individuals with alcohol-use disorder (34%, P = 0.00084) and Parkinson disease (34%, P = 0.0032) than in their corresponding controls. We found no difference in VND between first-episode psychosis patients and their controls, and the administration of lipopolysaccharide did not change VND. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that in TSPO PET studies, nondisplaceable binding can differ between patient groups and conditions and should therefore be considered.
Influence of food quantity and lead exposure on maturation in Daphnia magna; evidence for a trade-off mechanism.

1. The start of reproduction is an important life-history trait in both ecology and ecotoxicology. Effects of food availability and toxic stress on maturation in female Daphnia magna are presented. 2. Five instars to maturation were observed under conditions of moderate to high food levels. Age and size at subsequent stages of the maturation process, i.e. ovary provisioning and egg deposition, depended on the rate of body growth. 3. At low food, a trade-off between reproduction and growth occurred. Within the same environment, some females reproduced at early age and small size, whereas others gave priority to growth over reproduction. In the latter resorption of yolk from the ovaries was observed. 4. Except for the production of malformed young, effects of lead on maturation resembled increased food stress. With abundant food, toxic effects were different to effects at low food. The results of standardized laboratory tests may therefore underestimate toxic effects at reduced food availability. 5. The phenomena observed in our studies can only partly be explained by a food-independent size threshold for maturation, which initiates resource allocation to reproduction; a minimum food uptake is required to enable the production of eggs
First identification of the cylindrospermopsin‐producing cyanobacterium Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii in New Zealand

Abstract Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii is a planktonic freshwater cyanobacterium that is becoming increasingly prevalent in water bodies worldwide. During a survey of toxic cyanobacteria in New Zealand, C. raciborskii was identified in a sample collected from Lake Waahi (Waikato). This is the first identification of this species in New Zealand. Liquid chromatography‐mass spectrometry and liquid chromatography‐tandem mass spectrometry were used to confirm the presence of the cyanotoxins cylindrospermopsin (CYN) and deoxy‐cylindrospermopsin (do‐CYN). Detection of CYN and do‐CYN demonstrates that C. raciborskii is a now a species of concern in recreational, stock drinking, and potable water supplies in New Zealand.
Photosynthetic Determinants of Growth in Maize Plants: Effects of Nitrogen Nutrition on Growth, Carbon Fixation and Photochemical Features

Photosynthetic characteristics of mature maize leaves that may be determinants of plant growth. Nitrogen supply was varied to manipulate growth. Specific objectives were to determine whether biomass production was related to carbon exchange rate and/or export rate and whether carbon exchange rate was related to photosynthetic enzyme levels, triose phosphate utilization and/or photochemical capacity as expressed in the functional organization of the photosynthetic unit
Prdm8 regulates pMN progenitor specification for motor neuron and oligodendrocyte fates by modulating the Shh signaling response

ABSTRACT Spinal cord pMN progenitors sequentially produce motor neurons and oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs). Some OPCs differentiate rapidly as myelinating oligodendrocytes, whereas others remain into adulthood. How pMN progenitors switch from producing motor neurons to OPCs with distinct fates is poorly understood. pMN progenitors express prdm8, which encodes a transcriptional repressor, during motor neuron and OPC formation. To determine whether prdm8 controls pMN cell fate specification, we used zebrafish as a model system to investigate prdm8 function. Our analysis revealed that prdm8 mutant embryos have fewer motor neurons resulting from a premature switch from motor neuron to OPC production. Additionally, prdm8 mutant larvae have excess oligodendrocytes and a concomitant deficit of OPCs. Notably, pMN cells of mutant embryos have elevated Shh signaling, coincident with the motor neuron to OPC switch. Inhibition of Shh signaling restored the number of motor neurons to normal but did not rescue the proportion of oligodendrocytes. These data suggest that Prdm8 regulates the motor neuron-OPC switch by controlling the level of Shh activity in pMN progenitors, and also regulates the allocation of oligodendrocyte lineage cell fates. This article has an associated ‘The people behind the papers’ interview. Highlighted Article: Expression and functional analyses revealed that Prdm8 regulates the timing of a motor neuron-oligodendrocyte switch and oligodendrocyte lineage cell identity in the zebrafish spinal cord by dampening Shh activity in pMN progenitors.
Oral and pre-absorptive sensing of amino acids relates to hypothalamic control of food intake in rainbow trout

ABSTRACT To assess the putative role of taste and pre-absorptive sensing of amino acids in food intake control in fish, we carried out an oral administration with l-leucine, l-valine, l-proline or l-glutamic acid in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). Treatment with proline significantly reduced voluntary food intake at 2 h and 3 h after oral administration, while glutamic acid showed a less pronounced satiating effect at 3 h. The mRNA expression of taste receptor subunits tas1r1, tas1r2a, tas1r2b and tas1r3 was measured in the epithelium overlying the bony basihyal of the fish (analogous to the tetrapod tongue) at 10, 20 or 30 min following treatment. No significant changes were observed, except for a tas1r down-regulation by valine at 30 min. Of the downstream taste signalling genes that were analysed in parallel, plcb2 and possibly trpm5 (non-significant trend) were down-regulated 20 min after proline and glutamic acid treatment. The signal originated in the oropharyngeal and/or gastric cavity presumably relays to the brain as changes in genes involved in the regulation of food intake occurred in hypothalamus 10–30 min after oral treatment with amino acids. In particular, proline induced changes consistent with an increased anorexigenic potential in the hypothalamus. We have therefore demonstrated, for the first time in fish, that the peripheral (pre-absorptive) detection of an amino acid (l-proline), presumably by taste-related mechanisms, elicits a satiety signal that in hypothalamus is translated into changes in cellular signalling and neuropeptides regulating food intake, ultimately resulting in decreased food intake. Summary: Pre-absorptive sensing of amino acids, at least partially mediated by taste-signalling mechanisms, elicits a satiety signal that in the hypothalamus is translated into changes in cellular signalling and neuropeptides regulating food intake in fish.
Biomechanical Loading Comparison between Titanium and Bioactive Resorbable Screw Systems for Fixation of Intracapsular Condylar Head Fractures

Osteosynthesis resorbable materials made of uncalcined and unsintered hydroxyapatite (u-HA) particles, poly-L-lactide (PLLA), are bioresorbable, and these materials have feasible bioactive/osteoconductive capacities. However, their strength and stability for fixation in mandibular condylar head fractures remain unclear. This in vitro study aimed to assess the biomechanical strength of u-HA/PLLA screws after the internal fixation of condylar head fractures. To evaluate their biomechanical behavior, 32 hemimandible replicas were divided into eight groups, each consisting of single-screw and double-screw fixations with titanium or u-HA/PLLA screws. A linear load was applied as vertical and horizontal load to each group to simulate the muscular forces in condylar head fractures. Samples were examined for 0.5, 1, 2, and 3-mm displacement loads. Two screws were needed for stable fixation of the mandibular condylar head fracture during biomechanical evaluation. After screw fixation for condylar head fractures, the titanium screws model was slightly more resistant to vertical and horizontal movement with a load for a small displacement than the u-HA/PLLA screws model. There was no statistically significant difference with load for large displacements. The u-HA/PLLA screw has a low mechanical resistance under small displacement loading compared with titanium within the limits of the mandibular head fracture model study.
Study of Osmophilic Yeasts producing Invertase

SUMMARY: Samples of sugar cane (Saccharum officinarum), cane juice, raw sugar and refinery samples were screened for osmophilic yeasts able to ferment sucrose. One of the isolates showed properties bordering on the original definition of an obligate osmophil. Therefore, diagnostic tests were adapted to fit ecological considerations. These modifications in technique were adopted for all isolates when it was found that more consistent results could thus be obtained. As a result of these tests relevant organisms were identified as Torulopsis apicola, T. globosa, T. lactis-condensi, T. bacillaris, Candida guilliermondii, Saccharomyces florentinus and a new species, T. kestoni.
Nivolumab plus Ipilimumab versus Existing Immunotherapies in Patients with PD-L1-Positive Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis

No head-to-head trials have compared the efficacy and safety of nivolumab (Niv) plus ipilimumab (Ipi) combination therapy (Niv+Ipi) and existing regimens with immunotherapies approved as first-line treatment in patients with programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1)-positive previously untreated advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). We conducted a network meta-analysis of four relevant Phase Ⅲ trials to compare the efficacy and safety of Niv+Ipi, pembrolizumab (Pem) plus platinum-based chemotherapy (PBC) (Pem+PBC), Pem, Niv, or PBC using Bayesian analysis. The primary efficacy endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS) in patients with advanced NSCLC with PD-L1 expression ≥1%. The primary safety endpoint was the incidence of Grade 3–5 drug-related adverse events (G3–5AEs). Efficacy and safety were ranked using surface under the cumulative ranking curve (SUCRA). With regard to PFS, Niv+Ipi was inferior to Pem+PBC, and superior to Pem, Niv, or PBC alone. SUCRA ranking showed Pem+PBC had the highest efficacy for PFS, followed by Niv+Ipi, Niv, PBC, and Pem. The safety outcome analysis revealed Niv+Ipi was generally well tolerated compared to existing immunotherapy regimens. These results provide clinical information regarding the efficacy and safety of Niv+Ipi and indicate the possibility of the Niv+Ipi combination as a new therapeutic option in PD-L1-positive advanced NSCLC.
Oil content and fruit quality of nine olive (Olea europaea L.) varieties affected by irrigation and harvest times

Abstract A field experiment was conducted on nine olive varieties with the objective of determining the effect of regulated deficit irrigation on olive oil content and physical quality parameters of fruits. Three irrigation levels were applied as a percentage of crop evapotranspiration (ETc) during the pit-hardening period: rainfed, R (0% ETc); deficit, D (50% ETc); and irrigated, I (100% ETc). Rainfall and ETc during the pit-hardening period were 78 mm and 164 mm, respectively. Olives were sampled four times during the normal crop harvest period. Withholding irrigation during the pit-hardening period (R treatment) reduced the fruit size of three of the varieties, but had no effect on oil contents, while saving 35% irrigation water compared with the I treatment. The D treatment resulted in 17.5% water saving with minor effects on fruit size, timing of maturity and oil content. The olive cultivars responded differently to irrigation treatments in terms of most of the parameters considered. This necessitates cultivar-specific irrigation management.
Estimativas de (Co)Variâncias e Tendências Genéticas para Pesos em um Rebanho Canchim

The objectives of this study were to estimate variances and covariances and to evaluate the genetic trends for body weight at birth (BW), weaning (WW) and twelve months of age (YW) in a Canchim (5/8 Charolais + 3/8 Zebu) herd. Data on 6.517 animals, born from 1953 through 1996, were used to estimate breeding values by the derivative free restricted maximum likelihood method, using a model that included the fixed effects of contemporary group (year-season of birth-sex of calf) and the covariable age of cow at calving (linear and quadratic effects), and the random additive direct, additive maternal and permanent environmental effects. Genetic trends for direct, maternal and total maternal effects were estimated by the weighed regression of the annual (generation) breeding value (direct, maternal and total maternal) means on year (generation) of birth of the animals. The direct heritability estimates were equal to 0.39, 0.48 and 0.63 for BW, WW and YW, respectively, while the maternal heritabilities were, in the same order, equal to 0.03, 0.04 and 0.05, respectively. The annual direct genetic trends were equal to 0.046, 1.336 and 1.619 kg for BW, WW and YW, respectively, corresponding to 0.13, 0.66 and 0.75% of the herd means. By generation, the genetic trends were, in the same order, 0.269, 7.715 and 9.599 kg, respectively. The maternal and total maternal genetic trends were linear and positive. The results showed that the selection criteria used resulted in genetic progress for BW, WW and YW; however, the progress obtained was much smaller than the possible one.
EXPRESSION OF THE GROWTH HORMONE AND INSULIN-LIKE GROWTH FACTOR 1 GENES IN MALE AND FEMALE BLUE GOURAMI (TRICHOGASTER TRICHOPTERUS) AT DIFFERENT TEMPERATURES

In this study, the GH and IGF-I of blue gourami (Trichogaster trichopterus) were examined at different temperatures of 23οC, 27οC and 31οC. GH mRNA expression in the pituitary of males and females at various temperatures was examined using RT-PCR. The mean of mRNA levels was higher in the pituitary glands of females maintained in 23οC and 27οC than in males. However, no significant difference in GH mRNA expression was observed in the pituitary glands of females maintained at 23οC, 27οC and 31οC (ANOVA p>0.05). The GH expression is high in females at 23οC and in males at 31οC. The mean of IGF-I expression in females was high at temperatures of 27οC and 31οC compared to 23οC in brain, liver and ovary, and only 27οC in muscle. In males, a high mean of IGF-I mRNA levels was detected in brain, liver and muscle at 27οC and at all three temperatures in the testis (23οC, 27οC and 31οC); the difference among mRNA levels was not significant. In males, a high mean of IGF-I mRNA levels was detected in brain, liver, ovary and muscle at 27οC but not in the testis.
New Journal of Physics

Competition between h/e and h/2e oscillations in a semiconductor Aharonov–Bohm interferometer Abstract. The magnetoresistance of a quasi-ballistic Aharonov–Bohm (AB) ring defined in the two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) of an InP/In 0.8 Ga 0.2 As quantum well is studied. The ring is connected to an Al contact on one side and to a 2DEG reservoir at the other side. Two distinct magnetic field regimes can be identified. At magnetic field values where time-reversal symmetry (TRS) is broken, AB oscillations are observed. Besides oscillations with h/e periodicity, we also observe higher harmonics with h/2e and h/3e periods. In the low-magnetic field range, where TRS is preserved, the AB oscillations are alternately dominated by the h/e or h/2e component, depending on the bias voltage. Although Al is superconducting at these low magnetic fields, no evidence is found that the observed AB oscillations are related to the proximity of the superconductor. The bias voltage dependence is qualitatively described in terms of a 1D scattering model.
Asymptotic distribution and power of the likelihood ratio test for mixtures: bounded and unbounded cases

In this paper, we consider the log-likelihood ratio test (LRT) for testing the number of components in a mixture of populations in a parametric family. We provide the asymptotic distribution of the LRT statistic under the null hypothesis as well as under contiguous alternatives when the parameter set is bounded. Moreover, for the simple contamination model we prove that, under general assumptions, the asymptotic power under contiguous hypotheses may be arbitrarily close to the asymptotic level when the set of parameters is large enough. In the particular problem of normal distributions, we prove that, when the unknown mean is not a priori bounded, the asymptotic power under contiguous hypotheses is equal to the asymptotic level.
Insights into evolution and speciation in the red alga Bostrychia: 15 years of research

was the first genus in which a mitochon-drial marker was used for intraspecific red algal phylogeny, and the first for which a 3-genome phylogeny was undertak-en. The genus was the first red alga used to genetically show maternal plastid and mitochondria inheritance, and also to show correlation between cryptic species (genetically divergent intraspecific lineages) and reproductive incompatibility. The chemotaxonomic use, and physiological function of osmolytes, has also been extensively studied in
Alternatives to hiatal hernia repair for the high-risk patient

Hiatal hernia is a common problem affecting the comorbid elderly patients who are not always the best candidates for traditional hiatal hernia repair, which requires general anesthesia and relatively long periods of pneumoperitoneum with mediastinal dissection. This review article explores existing evidence and discusses alternative management and interventional strategies in treating hiatal hernia in the highrisk patients. In addition to discussion of non-operative management of hiatal hernia in these patients, we explore the roles of endoscopic, surgical, and combined endoscopic and laparoscopic interventions as alternatives to the traditional hiatal hernia repair. Given that gastric volvulus is one of the few complications from hiatal hernia that would require urgent operative intervention, we focus on acute gastric volvulus specifically with a proposed management algorithm in the high-risk patient population. While there is no consensus in the literature on the optimal alternative management to definitive hiatal hernia repair, we favor a patient-centered approach with goals of adequate symptom control as well as prevention and treatment of any potential life-threatening complications. It is important for surgeons and gastroenterologists alike to be familiar with the alternative management options for hiatal hernia in order to take care of patients who are otherwise too high risk to undergo traditional laparoscopic or open hiatal hernia repair.