Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Challenges in anaesthesia and pain management for burn injuries

Burn-injured patients provide unique challenges to those providing anaesthesia and pain management. This review aims to update both the regular burn anaesthetist and the anaesthetist only occasionally involved with burn patients in emergency settings. It addresses some aspects of care that are perhaps contentious in terms of airway management, fluid resuscitation, transfusion practices and pharmacology. Recognition of pain management failures and the lack of mechanism-specific analgesics are discussed along with the opioid crisis as it relates to burns and nonpharmacological methods in the management of distressed patients.
Differential activity and selectivity of N‐terminal modified CXCL12 chemokines at the CXCR4 and ACKR3 receptors

Chemokines play critical roles in numerous physiologic and pathologic processes through their action on seven‐transmembrane (TM) receptors. The N‐terminal domain of chemokines, which is a key determinant of signaling via its binding within a pocket formed by receptors’ TM helices, can be the target of proteolytic processing. An illustrative case of this regulatory mechanism is the natural processing of CXCL12 that generates chemokine variants lacking the first two N‐terminal residues. Whereas such truncated variants behave as antagonists of CXCR4, the canonical G protein‐coupled receptor of CXCL12, they are agonists of the atypical chemokine receptor 3 (ACKR3/CXCR7), suggesting the implication of different structural determinants in the complexes formed between CXCL12 and its two receptors. Recent analyses have suggested that the CXCL12 N‐terminus first engages the TM helices of ACKR3 followed by the receptor N‐terminus wrapping around the chemokine core. Here we investigated the first stage of ACKR3‐CXCL12 interactions by comparing the activity of substituted or N‐terminally truncated variants of CXCL12 toward CXCR4 and ACKR3. We showed that modification of the first two N‐terminal residues of the chemokine (K1R or P2G) does not alter the ability of CXCL12 to activate ACKR3. Our results also identified the K1R variant as a G protein‐biased agonist of CXCR4. Comparative molecular dynamics simulations of the complexes formed by ACKR3 either with CXCL12 or with the P2G variant identified interactions between the N‐terminal 2–4 residues of CXCL12 and a pocket formed by receptor's TM helices 2, 6, and 7 as critical determinants for ACKR3 activation.
The Kok effect revisited

Summary The Kok effect refers to the abrupt decrease around the light compensation point in the slope of net photosynthetic rate vs irradiance. Arguably, this switch arises from light inhibition of respiration, allowing the Kok method to estimate day respiration (R d). Recent analysis suggests that increasing proportions of photorespiration (quantified as Γ*/C c, the ratio of CO2 compensation point Γ* to chloroplast CO2 concentration, C c) with irradiance explain much of the Kok effect. Also, the Kok method has been modified to account for the decrease in PSII photochemical efficiency (Φ2) with irradiance. Using a model that illustrates how varying R d, Γ*/C c, Φ2 and proportions of alternative electron transport could engender the Kok effect, we quantified the contribution of these parameters to the Kok effect measured in sunflower across various O2 and CO2 concentrations and various temperatures. Overall, the decreasing Φ2 with irradiance explained c. 12%, and the varying Γ*/C c explained c. 25%, of the Kok effect. Maximum real light inhibition of R d was much lower than the inhibition derived from the Kok method, but still increased with photorespiration. Photorespiration had a dual contribution to the Kok effect, one via the varying Γ*/C c and the other via its participation in light inhibition of R d.
Pulmonary pathology of early‐phase COVID‐19 pneumonia in a patient with a benign lung lesion

An ongoing outbreak of 2019 novel coronavirus (CoV) disease (COVID‐19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) CoV‐2, has been spreading in multiple countries. One of the reasons for the rapid spread is that the virus can be transmitted from infected individuals without symptoms. Revealing the pathological features of early‐phase COVID‐19 pneumonia is important for understanding of its pathogenesis. The aim of this study was to explore the pulmonary pathology of early‐phase COVID‐19 pneumonia in a patient with a benign lung lesion.
Diversity among single zoospore isolates derived from single-zoosporangia of Phytophthora sojae Kauf. and Gerd.

Phytophthora sojae Kauf. and Gerd, a host specific pathogen to soybean, causes pre and postemergence damping-off and root and stem rot on soybean. The pathogen evokes severe yield losses in most soybean growing areas worldwide. The objective of this study was to determine phenotypic and genotypic diversity among single zoospore isolates (SZIs) originating from two single zoosporangia (Ps411-1 and Ps411-2) derived from the same parental isolate of P. sojae Ps411. Results showed that colony morphology and growth rate of 32 SZIs derived from sporangium Ps411-1 and 35 SZIs released from sporangium Ps411-2 did not significantly differ from the parental isolate Ps411. Pathogenicity of the SZIs was tested on three resistant and three susceptible Chinese soybean cultivars. While the majority of SZIs derived from sporangium Ps411-1(59.4%) and sporangium Ps411-2(71.4%) retained the same virulence spectrum as the parental isolate, the other SZIs of both progenies demonstrated either a higher or a lower level of virulence compared to that of parental isolate. A low level genetic variability in the populations of both single zoospore progenies was also demonstrated using the sequence-related amplified polymorphism (SRAP) technique. Cluster analysis separated the SZIs from both zoosporangia, Ps411-1 and Ps411-2, into four and three SRAP groups, respectively. No close correlation among SRAP and virulence could be established among SZIs. The results of this study suggest that virulence variability may be regarded as part of the total genetic changes among the zoospore progenies derived from single-zoosporangia. The pathogenic variability during asexual reproduction may play a role in changing the virulence structure of P. sojae.
NR5A1 Gene Variants: Variable Phenotypes, New Variants, Different Outcomes

NR5A1 (nuclear receptor subfamily 5 group A member 1) is a transcriptional regulator of adrenal and gonadal development and function. Heterozygous and homozygous NR5A1 mutations have been described in people with 46,XY disorders of sex development (DSD). The clinical, endocrine, and genetic features of four 46,XY subjects with NR5A1 genetic variants (2 sisters, 2 boys) from 3 unrelated families are reported. All subjects presented with hypergonadotropic hypogonadism and abnormal pubertal progression. Markers of Sertoli cell function were more affected than those of Leydig cell function. Genetic investigation demonstrated the presence of different heterozygous NR5A1 genetic variants. In the boys, pathogenetic NR5A1 gene variants were found that had been previously reported. The 2 sisters carried a new genetic variant in exon 4, and in silico analysis and ACMG classification indicated its pathogenicity. The data confirmed that NR5A1 gene mutations may present with variable genital phenotypes. Anyway, reproductive function was always impaired. Any clinical or endocrine data seem to be unable to differentiate these patients from other 46,XY DSD cases, suggesting that molecular analysis must be warranted. In subjects with NR5A1 mutations, different decisions in sex assignment may permit satisfying somatic and psychological outcome, but any option requires hormonal substitutive therapy from adolescence onward.
Thermal Tolerance of Fruit-Feeding Butterflies (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) in Contrasting Mountaintop Environments

Ectothermic organisms, such as insects, are highly temperature dependent and are good models for studies that predict organisms’ responses to global climate change. Predicting how climate change may affect species distributions is a complicated task. However, it is possible to estimate species’ physiological constraints through maximum critical temperature, which may indicate if the species can tolerate new climates. Butterflies are useful organisms for studies of thermal tolerance. We tested if species have different thermal tolerances and if different habitats influence the thermal tolerance of the butterflies present in Brazil’s campo rupestre (open areas) and forest islands (shaded areas). A total of 394 fruit-feeding butterflies, comprising 45 species, were tested. The results separated the species into two statistically different groups: the resistant species with maximum critical temperature of 53.8 ± 7.4 °C, and the non-resistant species with maximum critical temperature of 48.2 ± 7.4 °C. The species of butterflies displayed differences in maximum critical temperature between the campo rupestre and forest islands that can be related to the two distinct habitats, but this did not correlate phylogenetically. Species from the forest islands were also divided into two groups, “resistant” and “non-resistant”, probably due to the heterogeneity of the habitat; the forest islands have a canopy, and in the understory, there are shaded and sunny areas. Species from forest islands, especially species that displayed lower thermal tolerance, may be more susceptible to global warming.
Impact of Wind Speed on Response of Diffusion-Type Radon-Thoron Detectors to Thoron

Air exchange through a porous medium depends partly on a pressure gradient induced in it, i.e., air-flow conditions of the outer air. Consequently, response of diffusion-type detectors to radon and thoron may vary with air-flow conditions surrounding the detectors. This effect may be significant for thoron measurement because thoron has a shorter half-life than radon. The present study examined response of diffusion-type detectors (RADUETs and one AlphaGUARD) to thoron with respect to wind speed using a thoron calibration chamber. Response of RADUETs to thoron increased with wind speed. Response of the AlphaGUARD increased with wind speed, but it became constant at a high wind speed. Different response trends to thoron between the RADUETs and the AlphaGUARD could be qualitatively explained by flow states induced by the pressure gradient in the filter or the sponge of these detectors. For RADUETs, laminar (Darcy) flow was induced in the sponge in the examined wind speed range, which meant that thoron entry into the detector increased with wind speed. For the AlphaGUARD, laminar flow was induced in the filter in the low wind speed range, whereas flow was changed to turbulent (non-Darcy) flow at a high wind speed for which thoron entry into the detector did not depend on wind speed.
Evaluation of a pheromone trap for the cotton pink bollworm Pectinophora gossypiella Saunders

The synthetic sex pheromone of the pink bollworm Pectinophora gossypiella (Saunders) is used worldwide for monitoring and control of the species. While evaluating the indigenously synthesized sex pheromone of this species under field conditions, we identified the need for a modified trap design that will possess a relatively large surface area but still will remain compact in size. A trap was therefore developed using suitable locally available materials (identified here as the BARC trap), and its comparative efficacy was evaluated against some of the basic trap designs presently used for trapping pink bollworm. In two initial trials the BARC trap was compared with the Delta sticky trap, the Omnidirectional trap and plastic dry funnel traps of 8 and 15 cm diameter (figure 1) for trapping efficacy. For evaluation of trap sensitivity to indicate variations in population levels and also to determine the optimumpheromone loading for the BARC trap, a trial was further conducted in which BARC traps baited with 0.5, 1.0 or 1.5 mg pheromone were compared with Delta and Omnidirectional traps baited with the conventional 1.0 mg pheromone. Four traps of each type were included in every trial and each trap was placed >50 m apart in a randomized block design. The traps were hung at 15 cm above crop canopy level (Dhavan and Sidhu, 1988). Delta traps were changed every 4 days or earlier, if the sticky surface became saturated with insects/dust. To avoid the effect of locational and temporal variation on trap catch the traps were rotated every day after observation so that every trap occupied each location once in the experiment. Thus, all the values given in the tables are means of 64 observations. Prior to statistical analysis all observations were transformed to X x+1. The BARC trap is basically a modified dry funnel (8 cm diameter) trap made of plastic and has a relatively small open area for insect entry into the trap. This feature protects the pheromone bait from weathering elements such as direct sunlight, rain-water, dust, etc. The trap walls are modified as in figure 1 to increase the surface area, a feature incorporated for certain uses other than mere monitoring that are planned in the future. Trapped insects fall into a plastic bag coated with an insecticide dust. The BARC trap could catch 3.3 times more moths than the Delta trap, and 2.2 times more moths than the Omnidirectional trap, and it proved to be highly efficient despite having a significantly reduced entry-hole area and also a reduced capture area compared to those two traps (table 1). Furthermore, despite possessing a reduced entry-hole area, the BARC trap remained comparable in capture efficiency to a similar diameter dry funnel trap. Dhavan and Sidhu (1981, 1993) had earlier compared several trap designs including
Leaf decomposition and stream macroinvertebrate colonisation of Japanese knotweed, an invasive plant species.

Japanese knotweed (Fallopia japonica HOUTT. RONSE DECRANE) is a highly invasive exotic plant that forms monocultures in riparian areas, effectively reducing plant diversity. This change in riparian plant composition alters the allocthonous input of leaf litter into adjacent streams. A field experiment was completed to understand how leaf decomposition and macroinvertebrate colonisation associated with the incorporation of exotic leaf litter. Leaf packs of Japanese knotweed, native alder (Alnus incana L.), native cottonwood (Populus trichocarpa TORR. and GRAY), and two additional mixed pack types (alder and cottonwood; alder, cottonwood, and Japanese knotweed) were placed into a 50 m stream reach in Clear Creek, Idaho, and removed over a three-month period. Leaf decomposition and macroinvertebrate assemblages were similar between leaf types, despite differences in nitrogen and phosphorus content. The diversity of leaf types within a given leaf pack also had no effect on leaf decomposition or macroinvertebrate dynamics. These findings suggest that allochthonous inputs of Japanese knotweed fulfill a detrital function similar to that of native leaf litter.
Unburdening the Shoulders of Giants: A Quest for Disconnected Academic Psychology

In current academic psychology, scholars typically develop their research and ideas by drawing on the work of other contemporary and preceding psychological scientists and by following certain conventions of the field. I refer to this variant of psychology as connected because the emphasis is on connecting various research findings and ideas generated by different scholars (e.g., by showing how they are related to each other via referencing). In this article, I argue that, although connected psychology advances psychological knowledge, it restricts the total amount of knowledge that could eventually be produced and therefore limits the potential of the discipline to improve the understanding of psychological phenomena. As a solution, I propose that, alongside the currently existing connected psychology, disconnected psychology should be established. In disconnected psychology, researchers develop their ideas by following the main principles of psychological method, but they are disconnected from a “field” consisting of other psychologists and therefore do not follow the discipline’s norms and conventions. By drawing on one of the core constructs from information theory—information entropy—I argue that combining the two streams of psychology would result in the most significant advancement of psychological knowledge.
Activity of RH-0345 on ecdysteroid production and cuticle secretion in Tenebrio molitor pupae in vivo and in vitro

The activity of RH-0345 (halofenozide), a novel benzoylhydrazine analogue, was investigated on ecdysteroid production, cuticle secretion, and hemolymph protein concentrations in Tenebrio molitor pupae. The compound was applied topically (5 and 10 μg/pupa) on newly ecdysed pupae or added to the culture medium (1 and 10 μM) of sternal integuments explanted from newly ecdysed pupae. Enzyme immunoassay measurements of ecdysteroid titers in the hemolymph revealed that RH-0345 applied topically on newly ecdysed pupae had no effect on the peak position of ecdysteroids in the hemolymph, but it caused a significant increase of the peak values. With in vitro cultured integument explants, RH-0345 caused a significant increase of the amounts of ecdysteroids released into the culture medium. Further, integuments were cultured in medium containing RH-0345 and/or 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E) and the effects on apolysis and cuticle growth were tested. In the presence of 20E alone, the epidermis was able to secrete a new cuticle under the apolyzed pupal cuticle. Similarly, integument explants from RH-0345-treated series cultured without 20E underwent apolysis and then secreted a new cuticle. The thickness of such a newly induced cuticle did not change as a function of the concentration of RH-0345 nor of the incubation period. In contrast, integument explants from RH-0345-treated series cultured in the presence of 20E secreted a new significantly thicker cuticle. The observed differences in cuticle thickness could be explained by differences in the protein content.
The inverse autotransporters of Yersinia ruckeri YrInv and YrIlm contribute to biofilm formation and virulence.

Yersinia ruckeri causes enteric redmouth disease that mainly affects salmonid fishes and leads to significant economic losses in the aquaculture industry. An increasing number of outbreaks and the lack of effective vaccines against some serotypes necessitates novel measures to control enteric redmouth disease. Importantly, Y. ruckeri survives in the environment for long periods, presumably by forming biofilms. How the pathogen forms biofilms and which molecular factors are involved in this process, remains unclear. Y. ruckeri produces two surface-exposed adhesins, belonging to the inverse autotransporters (IATs), called Y. ruckeri invasin (YrInv) and Y. ruckeri invasin-like molecule (YrIlm). Here, we investigated whether YrInv and YrIlm play a role in biofilm formation and virulence. Functional assays revealed that YrInv and YrIlm promote biofilm formation on different abiotic substrates. Confocal microscopy revealed that they are involved in microcolony interaction and formation, respectively. The effect of both IATs on biofilm formation correlated with the presence of different biopolymers in the biofilm matrix, including extracellular DNA, RNA and proteins. Moreover, YrInv and YrIlm contributed to virulence in the Galleria mellonella infection model. Taken together, we propose that both IATs are possible targets for the development of novel diagnostic and preventative strategies to control enteric redmouth disease. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Effects of a highly controlled carbohydrate-reduced high-protein diet on markers of oxidatively generated nucleic acid modifications and inflammation in weight stable participants with type 2 diabetes; a randomized controlled trial

Abstract Carbohydrate-restricted diets are increasingly recognized as options for dietary management of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). We investigated the effects of a carbohydrate-reduced high-protein (CRHP) and a conventional diabetes (CD) diet on oxidative stress and inflammation in weight stable individuals with T2DM. We hypothesized that the CRHP diet would improve markers of oxidatively generated RNA and DNA modifications as well as inflammatory parameters. Thirty participants with T2DM were randomized to 6 weeks of CRHP or CD dietary treatment (30/50 energy percentage (E%) carbohydrate, 30/17E% protein, 40/33E% fat), followed by a cross-over to the opposite diet for a subsequent 6-week period. All meals were provided during the study and body weight was controlled. Diurnal urine samples were collected after 4 weeks on each diet and oxidatively generated RNA and DNA modifications were measured as 8-oxo-7,8-dihydroguanosine (8-oxoGuo) and 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2′-deoxyguanosine (8-oxodG), respectively. Fasting concentrations of soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, tumor necrosis factor alpha and interleukin-6 were measured before and after 6 weeks of interventions. Compared with the CD diet, the CRHP diet increased 24-hour urinary excretion of 8-oxoGuo by 9.3% (38.6 ± 12.6 vs. 35.3 ± 11.0 nmol/24 h, p = .03), whereas 8-oxodG did not differ between diets (24.0 ± 9.5 vs. 24.8 ± 11.1 nmol/24 h, p = .17). Changes in plasma inflammatory parameters did not differ between CRHP and CD diets, all p ≥ . 2. The clinical implications of increased RNA oxidation following a CRHP diet as well as long-term effects of carbohydrate-restriction on markers of oxidatively generated nucleic acid modifications should be a field of future study.
Expanding Clinical Phenotype of TRAPPC12-Related Childhood Encephalopathy: Two Cases and Review of Literature

Abstract Biallelic mutations in the TRAPPC12 gene are responsible for early-onset progressive encephalopathy with brain atrophy and spasticity (PEBAS). To date, three different allelic variants have been reported. Next-generation sequencing allowed discovery of unique alternations in this gene with different phenotypes. We report two patients carrying TRAPPC12 variants, one previously reported and one unknown mutation, with severe neurodevelopmental delay and brain atrophy. Standard clinical examination and cranial imaging studies were performed in these two unrelated patients. In addition, whole-exome sequencing was performed, followed by Sanger sequencing for verification. The first patient, a 2-year-old boy, was found to be homozygous for the previously reported c.1880C > T (p.Ala627Val) mutation. He presented with a phenotype including severe progressive cortical atrophy, moderate cerebellar atrophy, epilepsy, and microcephaly, very similar to the previously reported cases. The second case, a 9-year-old boy, carried a novel homozygous c.679T > G (p.Phe227Val) variant and presented with mild cortical atrophy, severe cerebellar atrophy, and neither clinically manifest epilepsy nor microcephaly, which were previously considered typical findings in PEBAS with TRAPPC12 mutations. Our findings suggest that clinical and brain imaging findings might be more variable than previously anticipated; however, a larger number of observations would benefit for broader phenotypic spectrum.