Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Elucidating connections between the strigolactone biosynthesis pathway, flavonoid production and root system architecture in Arabidopsis thaliana

Abstract Strigolactones (SLs) are the most recently discovered phytohormones, and their roles in root architecture and metabolism are not fully understood. Here, we investigated four MORE AXILLARY GROWTH (MAX) SL mutants in Arabidopsis thaliana, max3‐9, max4‐1, max1‐1 and max2‐1, as well as the SL receptor mutant d14‐1 and karrikin receptor mutant kai2‐2. By characterising max2‐1 and max4‐1, we found that variation in SL biosynthesis modified multiple metabolic pathways in root tissue, including that of xyloglucan, triterpenoids, fatty acids and flavonoids. The transcription of key flavonoid biosynthetic genes, including TRANSPARENT TESTA4 (TT4) and TRANSPARENT TESTA5 (TT5) was downregulated in max2 roots and seedlings, indicating that the proposed MAX2 regulation of flavonoid biosynthesis has a widespread effect. We found an enrichment of BRI1‐EMS‐SUPPRESSOR 1 (BES1) targets amongst genes specifically altered in the max2 mutant, reflecting that the regulation of flavonoid biosynthesis likely occurs through the MAX2 degradation of BES1, a key brassinosteroid‐related transcription factor. Finally, flavonoid accumulation decreased in max2‐1 roots, supporting a role for MAX2 in regulating both SL and flavonoid biosynthesis.
Experience of parents of preschool children in Hawaii during the COVID‐19 pandemic

Abstract Objective The COVID‐19 pandemic has resulted in major disruption to economic, health, education, and social systems. Families with preschool children experienced extraordinary strain during this time. This paper describes a qualitative study examining the experience of parents of preschool children in Hawaii during the COVID‐19 pandemic. Sample Thirteen (N = 13) parents of preschool children living on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, participated in small group discussions occurring in February and March 2021, approximately 1 year after the start of the pandemic in the state. Discussion transcripts were coded and sorted into themes. Results Four themes emerged: stressors due to the COVID‐19 pandemic, family coping and resources, meaning of the COVID‐19 crisis to the family, and family adaptation patterns. Themes mapped to the Family Adjustment and Adaptation Response model. Conclusion Families relied on various resources to cope with stressors experienced due to the COVID‐19 pandemic, and adopted new patterns related to seeking healthcare and household emergency preparedness. Findings may inform policies and interventions to support families during the ongoing COVID‐19 pandemic and future public health emergencies.
A retrospective study analyzing indications and outcomes of mid-trimester emergency cervical cerclage in a tertiary care perinatal centre over half a decade

We studied the indications, success rate, perinatal outcomes and maternal complications following mid-trimester emergency cervical cerclage. All women undergoing mid-trimester emergency cerclage at our centre during 2014–2019 were included in this retrospective study. There were 46 women in our cohort. Mean cervical length was 1.5 cm (SD ± 0.7), and 52.1% of them had bulging membranes. The mean gestational age at cerclage was 23.35 weeks (SD ± 3.341). Three were loss to follow up. Out of 43 pregnancies (23 singletons and 20 twins) analyzed, 37/43, 86.4% had livebirths. Success rate in the singletons and twins were 91.3% and 80% respectively. Maternal complications were seen in 56.5% of patients. Composite neonatal morbidity was significantly more in the twin group (p-value 0.04). Overall live birth rate was 86.4% with similar success rates in singleton and multiple pregnancies. Although, evidence for beneficial effect of prophylactic cerclage in multiple gestation is lacking, emergency cerclage may have a role in twin gestation.
Re‐sequencing of candidate genes FOXF1, HSPA6, HAAO, and KYNU in 522 individuals with VATER/VACTERL, VACTER/VACTERL‐like association, and isolated anorectal malformation

The acronym VATER/VACTERL association describes the combination of at least three component features (CFs): vertebral defects (V), anorectal malformations (ARM) (A), cardiac defects (C), tracheoesophageal fistula with or without esophageal atresia (TE), renal malformations (R), and limb defects (L). Individuals presenting two CFs have been termed VATER/VACTERL‐like. Recently, FOXF1, HSPA6, HAAO, KYNU, TRAP1, and ZIC3 have been proposed as candidate genes for VATER/VACTERL, VATER/VACTERL‐like, and ARM. Re‐sequencing studies identified disease‐causing variants in TRAP1 and ZIC3, the contribution of other genes was not independently investigated. One affected variant carrier in FOXF1 was previously identified. Here we re‐sequenced FOXF1, HSPA6, HAAO, and KYNU in 522 affected individuals.
A cross-sector review on the use of value stream mapping

Value Stream Mapping (VSM) has become a popular method for lean thinking and implementation in recent years. Previous reviews related to VSM are limited to individual sectors due to varied research objectives. The lack of studies which focus on cross-sector review of VSM studies is impeding the implementation of VSM by both lean researchers and practitioners. The paper aims to determine the-state-of-the-art development of VSM in five sectors, including manufacturing, health care, construction, product development and service sectors. A total of 131 journal articles are reviewed and analysed from the period of 1999–12/2016. The analysis covers the complete implementation cycle of VSM, including metrics for current state map, improvement techniques for future state map, benefits and achievements of VSM application, and critical success factors for VSM implementation. Cross-sector comparisons and investigations are conducted to understand the differences of VSM implementations in various sectors to facilitate VSM development and increase the number of successful VSM implementation. The results suggest that understanding value and waste in a diverse value stream environment and ensuring the suitability and usability of traditional lean metrics/techniques within the different flow settings are central to the VSM development.
Frequency and clinical significance of histologic upper gastrointestinal tract findings in children with inflammatory bowel disease

Abstract Objective Assessment of the upper gastrointestinal tract (UGI) may enable more personalized treatment strategies in pediatric inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). However, data on the frequency and significance of these findings remain limited. Methods Data on 132 pediatric IBD patients with systematic UGI sampling were collected and the baseline characteristics and presence of complications compared between those with and without histological UGI findings. The control group comprised 162 children who received no diagnoses. Results Seventy-six children had ulcerative colitis (UC), 47 Crohn’s disease (CD) and nine IBD unclassified. UGI findings were more common in IBD patients than controls (69.7% vs. 30.9%, respectively, p < .001), particularly in the stomach (62.1% vs. 16.8%; p < .001). Among IBD patients, findings were more common in CD than in UC (80.9% vs. 63.2%; p = .038), particularly in the duodenum (21.3% vs. 2.6%, p = .001). Four patients had UGI granulomas consistent with CD. Hypoalbuminemia (OR 3.22; 95% CI 1.18–8.79) and failure to thrive (2.82; 1.17–6.78) increased the likelihood of UGI findings in IBD. In CD, perianal morbidity was less common in those with than in those without UGI findings (13.2% vs. 44.4%; p = .032) whereas in UC, UGI findings increased the risk for co-morbidities (18.8% vs. 3.6%; p = .059). The long-term outcomes did not differ between patients with or without UGI findings. Conclusions Histologic UGI findings were more common in children with IBD than in children with no gastrointestinal diagnoses. In CD, UGI findings were more frequent than in UC, especially in the duodenum. In UC, UGI findings were associated with more complex disease.
Interactive evolutionary concept exploration in preliminary ship design

Preliminary ship design (or early stage design in US terminology) is the very first step in designing a new ship. In this stage ship designers attempt to find an affordable balance of the future owner's (customer or operator) ambitions and operational needs. This balance is then translated into more tangible design requirements. However, the search for such a balance and the accompanying design requirements is not a trivial task. Ships, and service vessels in particular, are considered as some of the largest, most complex, moving man-made structures which often need to operate for extended periods of time in a hostile environment. Not surprisingly, the preliminary design of such ships is also inherently complex. The search for a balanced design solution benefits from early insight into the complex interrelations and interactions between the design requirements, the accompanying solutions, and their performances and cost. Insight which is often gained by generating and studying numerous design alternatives with varying requirements, performances, and costs, in a broad and investigatory phase of preliminary design called concept exploration. However, the complexity of ships and the design problem also challenge concept exploration.
PPARα polymorphisms association with total cholesterol and LDL-C levels in a Mexican population.

OBJECTIVE Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARα) is a nuclear transcription factor with a role in gene expression changes associated to lipid metabolism. PPARα polymorphic variants have been previously correlated to serum lipid profile but in Mexico, there is no previous report about that association. For this reason, the aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between PPARα polymorphic variants and lipids level in serum in a Mexican population. PATIENTS AND METHODS Two-hundred and forty women from the Northeast region of Mexico were included in the study. Anthropometric characteristics and serum lipid profile (such as triglycerides, total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and HDL cholesterol) were evaluated. Genomic DNA extraction and purification were made from blood samples. Real-time PCR and TaqMan probes were used for genotyping of rs1800206 and rs4253778 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). RESULTS Linear regression analysis (adjusted by age and body mass index (BMI)) showed a significant statistical association of rs4253778 with total cholesterol (p=0.034) and LDL cholesterol (p=0.037). Any significant association was found between rs1800206 and lipid levels. CONCLUSIONS These results suggested that rs4253778 (C allele) is associated with high levels of total cholesterol and LDL in a Mexican women population.
90 vs 50-Watt Radiofrequency Applications for Pulmonary Vein Isolation: Experimental and Clinical Findings

Background: Fifty-watt radiofrequency applications have proven to be safe and efficient for pulmonary vein isolation (PVI). However, as PV reconnection still occurs and ablation catheter instability significantly contributes to suboptimal lesion formation, a new ablation catheter capable of delivering 90 W for 4 seconds only has been developed with the aim of improving PVI outcomes. In this setting, we sought to determine whether 90 W applications create transmural lesions without collateral damage experimentally and whether they can safely improve PVI procedures clinically compared with 50 W settings. Methods: Experimentally, individual lesions were created in vivo in the right atrium of 6 swine with 90 W-4 seconds applications using the SmartTouch-SF catheter in a power-controlled mode (3 animals) or the QDOT-MICRO catheter in a temperature-controlled mode (3 animals). Clinically, PVI was performed in a homogenous population of 150 consecutive paroxysmal atrial fibrillation patients using CARTO and the QDOT-MICRO catheter in a temperature-controlled mode (75 patients 50 W-ablation index-guided and 75 patients 90 W-4 seconds). Results: Mostly, (94.9%) experimental lesions were transmural in the thin-walled right atrium of swine. However, collateral damage was observed with both catheters in 17.9% of lesions. Clinically, 90 W procedures had a lower first-pass PVI rate (49% versus 81%, P<10−4) and a higher acute PV reconnection rate (21% versus 5%, P=0.004) than 50 W procedures, whereas total procedural duration (62 versus 66 minutes, P=0.09), 1-year sinus rhythm maintenance (88% versus 90%, P=0.6) and safety (1 tamponade per group) were similar in both groups. Conclusions: Experimentally, using the QDOT-MICRO catheter, 90 W-4 seconds lesions are mostly transmural in the thin-walled right atrium of swine (median depth 1.87 mm) with a moderate lesion diameter of 6.62 mm but retain the potential for collateral damage. Clinically, 90 W-4 seconds applications are associated with a lower first-pass PVI rate and a higher acute PV reconnection rate than 50 W applications but similar safety outcomes and effectiveness at 1 year.
Contrasting patterns of richness, abundance, and turnover in mountain bumble bees and their floral hosts.

Environmental gradients generate and maintain biodiversity on Earth. Mountain slopes are among the most pronounced terrestrial environmental gradients, and the elevational structure of species and their interactions can provide unique insight into the processes that govern community assembly and function in mountain ecosystems. We recorded bumble bee-flower interactions over three years along an 1400 m elevational gradient in the German Alps. Using nonlinear modeling techniques, we analyzed elevational patterns at the levels of abundance, species richness, species β-diversity, and interaction β-diversity. While floral richness exhibited a mid-elevation peak, bumble bee richness increased with elevation before leveling off at the highest sites, demonstrating the exceptional adaptation of these bees to cold temperatures and short growing seasons. In terms of abundance, though, bumble bees exhibited divergent species-level responses to elevation, with a clear separation between species preferring low vs. high elevations. Overall interaction β-diversity was mainly caused by strong turnover in the floral community, which exhibited a well-defined threshold of β-diversity rate at the tree line ecotone. Interaction β-diversity increased sharply at the upper extreme of the elevation gradient (1800-2000 m), an interval over which we also saw steep decline in floral richness and abundance. Turnover of bumble bees along the elevation gradient was modest, with the highest rate of β-diversity occurring over the interval from low- to mid-elevation sites. The contrast between the relative robustness bumble bee communities and sensitivity of plant communities to the elevational gradient in our study suggests that the strongest effects of climate change on mountain bumble bees may be indirect effects mediated by the responses of their floral hosts, though bumble bee species that specialize on high-elevation habitats may also experience significant direct effects of warming.
The incidence and spectrum of congenital hand differences in patients with Fanconi anaemia: analysis of 48 patients

We analysed the spectrum of congenital hand differences in a cohort of patients with Fanconi anaemia (FA). Data of 48 FA patients at the National Cancer Institute were reviewed focusing on age at diagnosis, type and severity of limb difference and any potential association with other known clinical anomalies that are part of the FA phenotype, specifically VACTERL-H and PHENOS. Twenty-eight patients had an upper limb difference, which always included thumb hypoplasia. Twenty-three patients had bilateral upper limb differences, including varying combinations and severities of thumb hypoplasia, radial dysplasia and thumb duplication. Patients with a limb difference were diagnosed at a younger age (<2 years: 15/28 with limb anomaly versus 4/20 without a limb anomaly). However, 7/28 with limb anomalies, usually thumb hypoplasia, were not diagnosed until after 6 years of age. This study demonstrates the broad spectrum of radial ray anomalies within the FA phenotype along with the possibility of either unilateral or bilateral upper limb differences and adds further merit to consideration of screening for FA in all cases of radial ray anomaly. Level of evidence: II
Indoor path loss prediction for Wi-Fi network in ultrahigh frequency band using one-dimensional multi-resolution technique

In this work, Wi-Fi received signal strength was monitored in an indoor environment at 2437 MHz in ultrahigh frequency band of channel 6. The received signal strength was compressed, decomposed, filtered and reconstructed using one dimensional multi – resolution technique in order to predict how Wi-Fi received signal strength fades (path loss). The prediction result showed that the received signal strength was attenuated at 5.56 dB, fades 3 times and followed more of Gaussian than the Log – Normal and Rayleigh distributions with mean of 64.44 dBm and standard deviation of 0.568 dB. Cumulative frequency distribution was used to validate the wavelet prediction Keyword: Wavelet, Signal Strength, Wireless, Prediction, Path Loss, Channel and Model
Clinical profile, outcome and management of kidney disease in COVID-19 patients - a narrative review.

OBJECTIVE COVID-19 disease can cause damage to various organs, especially the kidneys, so the main purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of different aspects of kidney damages caused by COVID-19 in a narrative review study. MATERIALS AND METHODS To conduct this study, all studies related to the topic under discussion during 2020-2021 were reviewed by systematic search in internationally available databases including Web of Science, Science Direct, Scopus, PubMed, and Google Scholar. Finally, 42 completely related studies were selected to extract the results. RESULTS The prevalence of acute kidney injury (AKI) varies in different parts of the world and has reached almost 70%. The results showed that, in general, a high percentage of COVID-19 patients had symptoms of renal dysfunction at the time of hospitalization, and the most important of these symptoms were proteinuria, hematuria, and increased serum creatinine. Based on the results, it can be said that AKI most likely occurs early in the disease and in parallel with lung damage. So far, various drugs have been used to control or treat COVID-19 and reduce inflammation in patients. Regardless of their usefulness, some of these drugs may adversely affect kidney function and damage the kidneys. The study results show that chronic kidney disease (CKD) in COVID-19 patients plays a minor role in renal replacement therapy (RRT), and the highest impact on the need for RRT is COVID-19. CONCLUSIONS This study showed that one of the major negative effects of COVID-19 on the human body is kidney damage, among which acute kidney injury (AKI) is the most important one. In addition, the prevalence of AKI due to COVID-19 varies widely around the world. Although any medication may damage the kidneys, COVID-19 or anti-inflammatory drugs are not an exception to this rule, but more research is needed to gain more information.
The Group Loss++: A Deeper Look Into Group Loss for Deep Metric Learning

Deep metric learning has yielded impressive results in tasks such as clustering and image retrieval by leveraging neural networks to obtain highly discriminative feature embeddings, which can be used to group samples into different classes. Much research has been devoted to the design of smart loss functions or data mining strategies for training such networks. Most methods consider only pairs or triplets of samples within a mini-batch to compute the loss function, which is commonly based on the distance between embeddings. We propose Group Loss, a loss function based on a differentiable label-propagation method that enforces embedding similarity across all samples of a group while promoting, at the same time, low-density regions amongst data points belonging to different groups. Guided by the smoothness assumption that “similar objects should belong to the same group”, the proposed loss trains the neural network for a classification task, enforcing a consistent labelling amongst samples within a class. We design a set of inference strategies tailored towards our algorithm, named Group Loss++ that further improve the results of our model. We show state-of-the-art results on clustering and image retrieval on four retrieval datasets, and present competitive results on two person re-identification datasets, providing a unified framework for retrieval and re-identification.
SARS‐CoV‐2 spike spurs intestinal inflammation via VEGF production in enterocytes

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus‐2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) can cause gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms that often correlate with the severity of COVID‐19. Here, we explored the pathogenesis underlying the intestinal inflammation in COVID‐19. Plasma VEGF level was particularly elevated in patients with GI symptoms and significantly correlated with intestinal edema and disease progression. Through an animal model mimicking intestinal inflammation upon stimulation with SARS‐CoV‐2 spike protein, we further revealed that VEGF was over‐produced in the duodenum prior to its ascent in the circulation. Mechanistically, SARS‐CoV‐2 spike promoted VEGF production through activating the Ras‐Raf‐MEK‐ERK signaling in enterocytes, but not in endothelium, and inducing permeability and inflammation. Blockage of the ERK/VEGF axis was able to rescue vascular permeability and alleviate intestinal inflammation in vivo. These findings provide a mechanistic explanation and therapeutic targets for the GI symptoms of COVID‐19.
Telehealth use by mental health professionals during COVID-19

Objective: To examine and describe telehealth use and attitudes among mental health professionals in Australia and New Zealand during the initial stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: Participants completed a brief online survey between May and July 2020. Participants were recruited via peak and professional organisations and through psychology-focused social media groups and networks. The survey examined frequency of telehealth use, reasons for non-use, telehealth modalities, prior use, attitudes towards use, plans for future use, and training, information or resource needs. Results: A total of 528 professionals (85.2% female) participated in the survey, of which 98.9% reported using telehealth and 32.2% reported using telehealth exclusively. Respondents were less likely to use telehealth if they worked with clients experiencing complex issues (e.g. trauma), had more hours of weekly client contact, had a choice about whether to use telehealth or felt less positive about using technology. Respondents were more likely to hold positive views towards telehealth if they were female, had used online programmes with clients previously, were frequent telehealth users and were comfortable using technology. Participants expressed mixed views on client safety and the impact of telehealth on therapeutic process and effectiveness. Conclusion: Telehealth has a clear and ongoing role within mental healthcare and there is a need for strong guidance for professionals on how to manage client risk, privacy, security and adapt therapy for delivery via telehealth. In particular, there is a need for individual-, organisational-, professional- and policy-level responses to ensure that telehealth remains a viable and effective healthcare medium into the future.