Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Improvement of SARS‐CoV‐2 symptoms following Guselkumab injection in a psoriatic patient

We read with great interest the publication of Messina et al 1 reporting the first case of SARS-CoV2 infection in a young patient of 32-year-old suffering from psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis treated by Guselkumab, a monoclonal antibody that targets specifically the p19 subunit of Interleukin (IL)-232 . The patient contracted the SARS-CoV2 infection after a dinner with some friends but fortunately she developed very discrete symptoms including only mild fever and rhinorrhea. These findings support the potential role of IL-23p19 inhibitors to counteract the « cytokine storm » triggered by the SARS-CoV2 and which is potentially implicated in the severity of the symptoms 3 .
Contributions to the flora of the Red Lake Peatland, northern Minnesota, with special attention to Carex

The Red Lake Peatland, situated in N-central Minnesota, is the largest continuous mire in the northern portion of the contiguous United States. It consists of a mixture of ombrotrophic bogs and minerotrophic fens organized into a complex of highly distinctive landforms, including open bogs, wooded bogs, Sphagnum lawns, strings, flarks, fen-pools and wooded islands. The bogs are poor in species and occupy acid sites with water poor in mineral salts; the minerotrophic areas are floristically richer and can be divided into poorand rich-fen sites. Ditching and roadbuilding in certain portions of the peatland have produced drastic changes in the vegetation and landscape as a result of obstructed water tracks flooding upstream and drying out downstream. The peatland, which occupies a large area of gentle slope and poor drainage, has a flora that is relatively impoverished. In all, 331 plant taxa were recorded from the mire, including 195 vascular plants, 67 bryophytes and 69 lichen taxa. Members of the Cyperaceae account for 23 % of the vascular flora, and the largest genus in the mire is Carex with 29 species. Each landform feature is distinctive in its floristic composition, and the vascular and nonvascular taxa associated with the different physiographic features are discussed. This paper provides an account of Carex in the peatland and discusses the differential response by members of the genus to gradients of nutrition, shading and hydrology. Some carices grow best under acid conditions, thus frequenting ombrotrophic and poor-fen sites, whereas other species grow best in rich-fen sites. Carex species useful in separating areas of ombrotrophy from those of poor fen are indicated, as are those carices that serve as obligate rich-fen indicators. The floristic similarities between the Red Lake Peatland and 14 other peatlands in North America and northern Europe are discussed, and the ombrotrophic bog flora of the Red Lake Peatland is compared to the bog floras of the Hudson Bay lowlands and northern Fennoscandia.
Expression of the SARS-CoV-2 Entry Proteins, ACE2 and TMPRSS2, in Cells of the Olfactory Epithelium: Identification of Cell Types and Trends with Age

The COVID-19 pandemic revealed that there is a loss of smell in many patients, including in infected but otherwise asymptomatic individuals. The underlying mechanisms for the olfactory symptoms are unclear. Using a mouse model, we determined whether cells in the olfactory epithelium express the obligatory receptors for entry of the SARS-CoV-2 virus by using RNAseq, RT-PCR, in situ hybridization, Western blot, and immunocytochemistry. We show that the cell surface protein ACE2 and the protease TMPRSS2 are expressed in sustentacular cells of the olfactory epithelium but not, or much less, in most olfactory receptor neurons. These data suggest that sustentacular cells are involved in SARS-CoV-2 virus entry and impairment of the sense of smell in COVID-19 patients. We also show that expression of the entry proteins increases in animals of old age. This may explain, if true also in humans, why individuals of older age are more susceptible to the SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Feeding rates of macro- and microzooplankton on heterotrophic nanoflagellates

Thirteen metazooplankton and three ciliate species were examined for their ability to prey on heterotrophic nanoflagellates (HNF). Grazing losses of two species of HNF, Bodo saltans (kinetoplastid) and Spumella sp. (chrysomonad), were estimated in batch experiments by the disappearance of HNF in the presence or absence of predators. Nearly all species examined caused mortality of HNF, but to different extents. Individual clearance rates ranged from a few μl ind. -1 h -1 with ciliates and rotifers to a few mlind. -1 h -1 with daphnids. Weight-specific clearance rates revealed that oligotrichous ciliates were the most efficient feeders on HNF, whereas differences among the filter-feeding metazoans (rotifers, calanoid copepods, cladocerans) were relatively slight. Cyclopoid copepods had the lowest weight-specific clearance rates and can be assumed to be inefficient grazers on HNF. Clearance rates of filter-feeders increased significantly with body length. These rates resemble the allometric relationships of herbivorous zooplankton feeding on phytoplankton. Although four grazer species had higher feeding rates on the bodonid than on the chrysomonad flagellates, the overall clearance rate: body length relationship was independent of the HNF species.
Morfologia polínica de algumas espécies dos gêneros Neoregelia l.b. sm. e Nidularium Lem. (Bromeliaceae) do Estado de São Paulo, Brasil

E apresentado o estudo dos graos de polen das especies Neoregelia laevis (Mez) L.B. Sm. , Nidularium angustibracteatum Leme, N. billbergioides (Schult. f.) L.B. Sm. , N. burchellii (Baker) Mez, N. meeanum Leme, Wand. & Mollo, N. procerum Lindm. e N. seidelii L.B. Sm. & Reitz, visando contribuir um melhor posicionamento taxonomico da subfamilia Bromelioideae. Os graos de polen foram acetolisados, medidos, descritos e fotografados sob microscopia optica e, tambem, em microscopia eletronica de varredura. A morfologia polinica revelou graos de polen 2(3)-porados, exina semitectada, reticulada, raro foveolada, muros simplescolumelados a duplicolumelados. Com base nos dados polinicos quantitativos e qualitativos verificou-se a grande afinidade entre Neoregelia laevis e Nidularium burchellii, N. billbergioides e N. seidelii (subgenero Canistropis), e entre Nidularium procerum com Nidularium meeanum e N. angustibracteatum (subgenero Nidularium). Nidularium billbergioides apresentou muros duplicolumelados, destacando-se, nesse aspecto, das outras especies.
Potential genes and pathways along with immune cells infiltration in the progression of atherosclerosis identified via microarray gene expression dataset re-analysis

Objective Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory process characterized by the accumulation and formation of lipid-rich plaques within the layers of the arterial wall. Although numerous studies have reported the underlying pathogenesis, no data-based studies have been conducted to analyze the potential genes and immune cells infiltration in the different stages of atherosclerosis via bioinformatics analysis. Methods In this study, we downloaded GSE100927 and GSE28829 from NCBI-GEO database. Gene ontology and pathway enrichment were performed via the DAVID database. The protein interaction network was constructed via STRING. Enriched hub genes were analyzed by the Cytoscape software. The evaluation of the infiltrating immune cells in the dataset samples was performed by the CIBERSORT algorithm. Results We identified 114 common upregulated differentially expressed genes and 22 common downregulated differentially expressed genes. (adjust p value < 0.01 and log FC ≥ 1). A cluster of 10 genes including CYBA, SLC11A1, FCER1G, ITGAM, ITGB2, CD53, ITGAX, VAMP8, CLEC5A, and CD300A were found to be significant. Through the deconvolution algorithm CIBERSORT, we analyzed the significant alteration of immune cells infiltration in the progression of atherosclerosis with the threshold of the Wilcoxon test at p value <0.05. Conclusions These results may reveal the underlying correlations between genes and immune cells in atherosclerosis, which enable us to investigate the novel insights for the development of treatments and drugs.
Patients with high-risk DLBCL benefit from dose-dense immunochemotherapy combined with early systemic CNS prophylaxis.

Survival of patients with high-risk diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is suboptimal, and the risk of central nervous system (CNS) progression is relatively high. We conducted a phase 2 trial in 139 patients aged 18 to 64 years who had primary DLBCL with an age-adjusted International Prognostic Index (aaIPI) score of 2 to 3 or site-specific risk factors for CNS recurrence. The goal was to assess whether a dose-dense immunochemotherapy with early systemic CNS prophylaxis improves the outcome and reduces the incidence of CNS events. Treatment consisted of 2 courses of high-dose methotrexate in combination with biweekly rituximab (R), cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone (R-CHOP-14), followed by 4 courses of R-CHOP-14 with etoposide (R-CHOEP) and 1 course of high-dose cytarabine with R. In addition, liposomal cytarabine was administered intrathecally at courses 1, 3, and 5. Coprimary endpoints were failure-free survival and CNS progression rates. Thirty-six (26%) patients experienced treatment failure. Progression occurred in 23 (16%) patients, including three (2.2%) CNS events. At 5 years of median follow-up, failure-free survival, overall survival, and CNS progression rates were 74%, 83%, and 2.3%, respectively. Treatment reduced the risk of progression compared with our previous trial, in which systemic CNS prophylaxis was given after 6 courses of biweekly R-CHOEP (hazard ratio, 0.49; 95% CI, 0.31-0.77; P = .002) and overcame the adverse impact of an aaIPI score of 3 on survival. In addition, outcome of the patients with BCL2/MYC double-hit lymphomas was comparable to the patients without the rearrangements. The results are encouraging, with a low toxic death rate, low number of CNS events, and favorable survival rates. This trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials. gov as #NCT01325194.
Advances in CAR T Therapy for Hematologic Malignancies

The introduction of chimeric antigen receptor T‐cell (CAR T) therapy has resulted in a paradigm shift in the management of relapsed/refractory B‐cell malignancies. Patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia and non‐Hodgkin’s lymphoma who had exhausted all meaningful treatment options now have an opportunity for long‐term remission and possibly cure. CAR T is rapidly expanding into the treatment paradigm for multiple myeloma with approvals expected in the near future. CAR T for chronic lymphocytic leukemia may not be far behind, while CAR T studies in Hodgkin lymphoma and acute myeloid leukemia are ongoing. Such therapeutic success brings challenges in toxicity management related to cytokine release syndrome and immune effector cell–associated neurotoxicity syndrome. Our understanding of these unique syndromes is evolving, with predictive models and additional treatment strategies on the horizon. This review aims to summarize the progress of CAR T therapeutics within malignant hematology thus far and highlight ongoing advances in the field.
The Role of Temperature and Natural Selection in Relation to the Variations in the Size of the English Sparrow in the United States

The first introduced colonies of Passer domesticus which became established in the United States were smaller than the average at the present time. The wings of introduced males averaged 76.51 mm, whereas the average at the present is 77.60 mm. Large size is of survival value in extreme cold weather, whereas small size is of survival value in extreme warm weather. This has resulted in the development of a gradient in size in which the sparrows occurring in each of four progressively colder zones are progressively larger. This change has occurred through time. The increase in size occurred prior to 1908, whereas no change has occurred between 1908 and 1945. All conclusions from the data on size gradients is based on analysis of variance and coefficient correlations of high statistical significance. There is just as highly statistically significant variance among peripheral coastal populations as among the more continuous breeding populations in the central and eastern United States. No analysis was made of the cause of the variance in the former area.
Complex Timing of Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus Migration Due to Pre- and Post-Migratory Movements

We tracked three juvenile and 14 adult Marsh Harriers Circus aeruginosus from southern Sweden via satellite to investigate migration strategies. Four individuals were tracked for at least two years. All three juveniles and four of the adults made west-oriented pre-migratory movements well before the onset of autumn migration, and trans-Saharan migrants visited post-migratory stopover areas in tropical Africa. By these movements, the harriers presumably exploit short-term regional variation in food abundance. Autumn and spring migration occurred in a relatively narrow corridor, without distinct differences between sexes in timing, speed, distance, and duration of migration, except that females tended to migrate faster in spring than did males. Juveniles migrated shorter distances than adults, and migration speeds were lower. Spring migration was similar to autumn migration in terms of speed and duration. Juveniles did not cross the Sahara Desert and three birds, one female and two juveniles, wintered in Europe, which is in accordance with a recent increase in the number of (juvenile) Marsh Harriers wintering in northwestern Europe. All birds that crossed the Sahara wintered in tropical West Africa. Harriers showed site fidelity to breeding, wintering and stopover areas. The overall migration speed of Marsh Harriers was similar to that of Ospreys Pandion haliaetus and Honey Buzzards Pernis apivorus, two other trans-Saharan migrants. Ospreys use fly-and-forage migration to promote resulting speed, whereas Honey Buzzards are particularly apt to exploit thermal soaring. How Marsh Harriers balance foraging versus travelling to accomplish their rapid migration speeds remains to be resolved.
Pathogenicity of two Pratylenchus coffeae populations from Brazil on coffee plants

There is limited information on the influence of Pratylenchus coffeae on the growth and development of coffee plants, in spite of the widespread occurrence of this nematode in coffee plantations. In addition, populations of P. coffeae vary in morphological and molecular features, as well as reproductive fitness and pathological potential. The objective of the present study was to compare the pathogenicity of two Brazilian P. coffeae populations, K5 from Coffea arabica roots and M2 from Aglaonema sp. roots, in terms of their influence on the plant growth and photosynthesis of Arabian coffee (C. arabica). Five experiments were conducted in controlled conditions, and the results demonstrated that K5 is pathogenic on coffee, as it can reproduce and causes obvious damage on the plant. Moreover K5 proved to be very virulent on Arabian coffee, considering its effects on seedling mortality, plant growth and photosynthesis. By contrast, M2 was considered to be of low virulence, or even non-pathogenic, on coffee because it failed to reproduce. Thus, the results indicate that K5 and M2 may be distinct species, supporting the hypothesis of previous authors.
Morphology and Variation within the Bony Labyrinth of Zhelestids (Mammalia, Eutheria) and Other Therian Mammals

ABSTRACT The morphology of the labyrinth of zhelestids, a group of eutherian mammals from the Late Cretaceous, agrees with that of other extinct eutherians, including Kulbeckia kulbecke, Ukhaatherium gobiensis, and Zalambdalestes lechei. Features of the labyrinth of zhelestids include a cochlea with one and a half turns and a secondary common crus, which are plesiomorphic for eutherians. Although isolated petrosals likely represent multiple species because several species of zhelestids are recognized based on dental characters, the degree of variation within the entire zhelestid petrosal sample is comparable to that observed within single extant species of therian mammals. Planarities of individual semicircular canals were the most variable measurements. Coiling of the cochlea and arc radii of the semicircular canals do not vary significantly in the specimens examined. The morphology of the bony labyrinth does not suggest any phylogenetic affinities of zhelestids, but the anatomy described will be useful for future studies of the evolution and physiology of the ear of mammals.
Exosomes Derived From Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells as Treatment for Severe COVID-19.

This prospective, non-randomized, open-label, cohort study addresses the safety and efficacy of exosomes (ExoFlo™) derived from allogeneic bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells as treatment for severe COVID-19. During April 2020, ExoFlo was provided to 24 SARS-CoV-2 PCR positive patients at a single hospital center, all of whom met criteria for severe COVID-19 as well as moderate to severe Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS). Patients received a single 15 mL intravenous dose of ExoFlo and were evaluated for both safety and efficacy day 1-14 post-treatment. All safety endpoints were met with no adverse events observed within 72 hours of ExoFlo administration. A survival rate of 83% was observed. 17/24 (71%) of the patients recovered; 3/24 (13%) remained critically ill though stable; 4/24 (16%) expired for reasons unrelated to the treatment. Overall, after one treatment, patients' clinical status and oxygenation improved with an average PaO2/FiO2 ratio increase of 192% (p < 0.001). Laboratory values revealed significant improvements in absolute neutrophil count [mean reduction 32% [(p-value < 0.001)] and lymphopenia with average CD3+, CD4+ and CD8+ lymphocyte counts increasing by 46% (p < 0.05), 45% (p < 0.05), and 46% (p < 0.001), respectively. Likewise, acute phase reactants declined, with mean C-reactive protein (CRP), Ferritin, and D-dimer reduction of 77% (p < .001), 43% (p < .001), 42% (p <0.05), respectively. In conclusion, due to its safety profile, capacity to restore oxygenation, downregulate cytokine storm, and reconstitute immunity, ExoFlo is a promising therapeutic candidate for severe COVID-19. Future RCTs are needed to determine ExoFlo therapeutic potential.
Parasites of estuarine and oceanic flathead fishes (Family Platycephalidae) from northern New South Wales

Two cestodes, nine nematodes, five acanthocephalans, seven digeneans, two isopods and a copepod were recorded from approximately 200 flathead fishes, of seven species, from the north coast of New South Wales during 1977–79, from estuaries to depths of 300 m. Descriptions are given of two new species of nematodes (Raphidascaroides fisheri, sp. nov., and Spirocamallanus platycephali, sp. nov.) one new acanthocephalan (Rhadinorhynchus bicircumspinis, sp. nov.), female of an unknown Raorhynchus sp. , larvae of Raphidascaris or Raphidascaroides and Echinocephalus spp. and digeneans of Lecithochirium sp, and Cryptogonimidae. New host and/or locality records are given for female Philometra pellucida, a male Cucullanus armatus, digeneans Erilepturus platycephali, Erilepturus sp. Aponurus laguncula, Didymozoon brevicolle, Prosorhynchus tsengi, the copepod Pterochondria alatalongicollis, isopods Nerocila laticauda, Codonophilus imbricatus, and larval species of Aybelinia, Anisakis (I), Thynnascaris (III and IV): Serrasentis sagiftifer, Gorgorhynchus celebesensis, Corynosoma clavatum and a phyllobothrid cestode. Parasites were used as biological indicators of their hosts' habitat, feeding behaviour and trophic level; ecological specificity was important for parasite infection in flathead fishes. Macrohabitat distributions of hosts, as shown by diet and locality. was also important to parasite species; parasite faunas of estuarine P. fuscus and oceanic P. bassensis contrasted markedly. In P. bassensis, populations of all parasites except P. pellucida were overdispersed (clumped); host age seemed the most significant contributory factor. Some species of parasite, e.g. digeneans, were site-specific but others (most larval species) were distributed over large areas of the gut showing considerable overlap. The effects of P. pellucida upon its habitat (the gonads) were examined briefly, and some aspects of this worm's ecology were investigated.
Role of Baicalin and Liver X Receptor Alpha in the Formation of Cholesterol Gallstones in Mice

This study was aimed at investigating the effect of baicalin on experimental cholesterol gallstones in mice. The mouse gallstone model was induced by feeding with a lithogenic diet, and cholesterol stones were found in the gallbladder. The lithogenic diet caused elevation of triglycerides, cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein concentrations and descent of high-density lipoprotein concentration in serum. Hyperplasia and inflammatory infiltration were observed in the gallbladder wall of lithogenic diet-fed mice. We also found the increase of cholesterol content and the decrease of bile acid in bile. Real-time PCR and western blot results demonstrated that the expression levels of two enzymes (cholesterol 7α-hydroxylase (CYP7a1) and sterol 12α-hydroxylase (CYP8b1)) to catalyze the synthesis of bile acid from cholesterol were decreased and that two cholesterol transporters (ATP-binding cassette transporter G5/G8 (ABCG5/8)) were increased in the liver of lithogenic diet-fed mice. The lithogenic diet also led to enhanced activity of alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase in serum; increased concentrations of tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin- (IL-) 1β, IL-6, and malondialdehyde; and decreased superoxide dismutase activity in the liver, suggesting inflammatory and oxidative stress. In addition, liver X receptor alpha (LXRα) was increased in the liver. After gavage of baicalin, the lithogenic diet-induced gallstones, hyperlipidemia, gallbladder hyperplasia, inflammation, and oxidative stress in liver and cholesterol metabolism disorders were all alleviated to some degree. The expression of LXRα in the liver was inhibited by baicalin. In addition, the LXRα agonist T0901317 aggravated lithogenic diet-induced harmful symptoms in mice, including the increase of gallstone formation, hyperlipidemia, hepatic injury, inflammation, and oxidative stress. In conclusion, we demonstrated that baicalin played a protective role in a lithogenic diet-induced gallstone mouse model, which may be mediated by inhibition of LXRα activity. These findings may provide novel insights for prevention and therapy of gallstones in the clinic.