Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Digital Analysis of Cranial Sutures Computed Tomography Data in Adolescents

Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text Abstract To investigate the degree of fusion in sutures of the skull, the authors analyzed cranial computed tomography (CT) data using digital technologies to obtain the density values of coronal, sagittal, and lambdoid sutures in Chinese Han adolescents. The authors selected 80 patients who had undergone maxillofacial surgery. They were divided by age into a 9- to 12-year-old group and a 13 to 15-year-old group. The grayscale value of the cranial CT suture was segmented and measured using Mimics 20.0 software. The Mimics software measurement data were imported into SPSS 21.0 for data comparison and analysis. The mean grayscale value of coronal sutures was 1203.25 and the standard deviation was 220.48, while the mean grayscale value of sagittal sutures was 1113.76 and the standard deviation was 197.83. The mean grayscale value of lambdoid sutures was 1106.37, and the standard deviation was 200.01. The grayscale values of coronal sutures were higher than those of sagittal sutures or lambdoid sutures. Further paired sample t tests were performed on the 3 types of cranial sutures. The differences between coronal and sagittal sutures and between coronal and lambdoid sutures were both substantial with statistical significance. Nevertheless, the difference between sagittal and lambdoid sutures was not significant. Further, an independent sample t-test, showed the grayscale values of coronal, sagittal and lambdoid sutures in the 9–12-year)ear-old group were significantly lower than those in the 13 to 15-year-old group (P < 0.001). Through digital technologies, the research findings are more precise and accurate, which is of great significance to research on maxillofacial and associated anatomy.
Identification of a Proanthocyanidin from Litchi Chinensis Sonn. Root with Anti-Tyrosinase and Antioxidant Activity

This work follows an ethnobotanical study that took place in the island of Mayotte (France), which pointed out the potential properties of Litchi chinensis Sonn. roots when used to enhance skin health and appearance. Through in vitro testing of a crude methanolic extract, high anti-tyrosinase (skin whitening effect) and antioxidant activities (skin soothing effect) could be measured. HPLC successive bio-guided fractionation steps allowed the purification of one of the compounds responsible for the biological activities. The isolated compound was characterized by UV, IR, MS and 2D-NMR, revealing, for the first time in Litchi chinensis Sonn. roots, an A-type proanthocyanidin and thus revealing a consensus among the traditional use shown by the ethnobotanical study, in vitro biological activities and chemical characterization.
Internet‐based therapy versus face‐to‐face therapy for alcohol use disorder, a randomized controlled non‐inferiority trial

Abstract Background and aims Most people with alcohol use disorder (AUD) are never treated. Internet‐based interventions are effective in reducing alcohol consumption and could help to overcome some of the barriers to people not seeking or receiving treatment. The aim of the current study was to compare internet‐delivered and face‐to‐face treatment among adult users with AUD. Design Randomized controlled non‐inferiority trial with a parallel design, comparing internet‐delivered cognitive–behavioural therapy (ICBT) (n = 150) with face‐to‐face CBT (n = 151), at 3‐ and 6‐month follow‐ups. Setting A specialized clinic for people with AUD in Stockholm, Sweden. Participants were recruited between 8 December 2015 and 5 January 2018. Participants A total of 301 patients [mean age 50 years, standard deviation (SD) = 12.3] with AUD, of whom 115 (38%) were female and 186 (62%) were male. Intervention and comparator Participants were randomized in blocks of 20 at a ratio of 1 : 1 to five modules of therapist‐guided ICBT or to five modules of face‐to‐face CBT, delivered over a 3‐month period. The same treatment material and the same therapists were used in both groups. Measurements The primary outcome was standard drinks of alcohol consumed during the previous week at 6‐month follow‐up, analysed according to intention‐to‐treat. The pre‐specified non‐inferiority limit was five standard drinks of alcohol and d = 0.32 for secondary outcomes. Results The difference in alcohol consumption between the internet and the face‐to‐face group was non‐inferior in the intention‐to‐treat analysis of data from the 6‐month follow‐up [internet = 12.33 and face‐to‐face = 11.43, difference = 0.89, 95% confidence interval (CI) = −1.10 to 2.88]. The secondary outcome, Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test score, failed to show non‐inferiority of internet compared with face‐to‐face in the intention‐to‐treat analysis at 6‐month follow‐up (internet = 12.26 and face‐to‐face = 11.57, d = 0.11, 95% CI = –0.11 to 0.34). Conclusions Internet‐delivered treatment was non‐inferior to face‐to‐face treatment in reducing alcohol consumption among help‐seeking patients with alcohol use disorder but failed to show non‐inferiority on some secondary outcomes.
Small droplet emission in exhaled breath during different breathing manoeuvres: Implications for clinical lung function testing during COVID‐19

1Department of Respiratory Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK 2Institute for Lung Health, NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, Glenfield Hospital, Leicester, UK 3Unit of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden 4Atmospheric science, Department of Chemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden ^Joint first author, *Joint senior author
Frequent Visits to an Outdoor Range and Lower Areas of an Aviary System Is Related to Curiosity in Commercial Free-Range Laying Hens

Simple Summary Individual hens’ preferences to spend time at particular locations within free-range aviary housing system may be influenced by personality and behavioral characteristics such as curiosity or fear. We monitored hens’ location for their production life on a commercial free-range farm: time spent in the outdoor range, upper feeder, lower feeder, and nest box tier. At the end of lay, we conducted a series of validated behavioral tests to assess fearfulness and exploration. We hypothesized that if temperament encouraged preferences for particular areas, we would find relationships with early life behavior. Conversely, relationships with choice of space and whole production life ranging would indicate environmental influences on temperament. Whilst we could not determine causation, more time spent on the range and lower feeder tier was associated with increased curiosity but only when considering whole-life not early-life ranging. We found little evidence that fearfulness or individual coping styles was associated with time spent at a specific housing location in early or whole life. Body weight prior to range access was the strongest predictor of more time spent at the lower and less on upper feeder tier. We provide evidence that preference for more complex environments such as range may increase hen curiosity. Abstract Individual hen preferences to spend time at particular locations within a free-range aviary system and relationships with temperament is relatively unknown. Hens (n = 769) from three commercial flocks were monitored with Radio Frequency Identification technology to determine time spent on the range, upper and lower aviary tiers, and nest boxes. Prior depopulation, novel arena (NA) and novel object (NO) tests assessed exploration and fearfulness. During early life; more time on the lower tier was associated with more lines crossed in the NA test (p < 0.05). No other evidence suggested preference during early life was related to fear or curiosity. More time on the range and lower tier were associated with heavier pre-ranging body weight and gain (p = 0.0001). Over the hens’ whole life; time spent on range and lower tier was associated with approaching the NO (p < 0.01). More time spent on the upper tier was associated with less time near the NO and fewer lines crossed in NA (p < 0.01). The relationships during early and whole life use of space and some potential indicators of fearfulness were inconsistent and therefore, no strong, valid, and reliable indicators of hen fearfulness such as freezing were identified.
Comparison of age and growth of two types of Hilsa ilisha in Bangladesh waters

The age and growth of two types of Hilsa ilisha from the rivers Padma and Meghna were examined by means of otolith readings. The relationship between body length and otolith size was found to be linear for both the types A and B, and significantly different between types. In the case of type A hyaline zones appeared during June and July while in type B it was in January and February, i. e. , during their respective spawning season. Back-calculated mean lengths ranged from 158.8 to 417.5mm and 142.8 to 398.3mm at the age of 1 to 5 years of types A and B, respectively. A marked difference in the growth by weight was also observed in the two types. Bertalanffy's growth equation fitted well to length at age and were; Lt=642(1-exp(-0.1907(t+0.4929))) for type A and Lt=680(1-exp(-0.1608(t+0.4689))) for type B.
Integrating Phenotypic Search and Phosphoproteomic Profiling of Active Kinases for Optimization of Drug Mixtures for RCC Treatment

Simple Summary Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) cancer is among the ten most common malignancies, and frequently presents as metastatic disease (mRCC). For these patients, systemic treatment is in order, but mRCC is often highly heterogeneous, and resistant to conventional therapies, or acquires resistance over time. Application of a combination of targeted therapeutic agents can tackle these problems, however, experimental optimization is not feasible given the enormous number of possible drug- and dose-combinations. We used a phenotypic approach, the streamlined-feedback system control (s-FSC) technique, which does not use a priori information on the mechanism of action of drugs. Using a number of searches, this method selects for optimized drug combinations (ODC) given at low doses (ED5-25), that can act synergistically. This way, we selected effective ODC for different RCC cell lines. Analysis of kinase activity was performed to provide mechanistic insight into the ODC action, and to further improve the found drug combinations. Abstract Combined application of multiple therapeutic agents presents the possibility of enhanced efficacy and reduced development of resistance. Definition of the most appropriate combination for any given disease phenotype is challenged by the vast number of theoretically possible combinations of drugs and doses, making extensive empirical testing a virtually impossible task. We have used the streamlined-feedback system control (s-FSC) technique, a phenotypic approach, which converges to optimized drug combinations (ODC) within a few experimental steps. Phosphoproteomics analysis coupled to kinase activity analysis using the novel INKA (integrative inferred kinase activity) pipeline was performed to evaluate ODC mechanisms in a panel of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) cell lines. We identified different ODC with up to 95% effectivity for each RCC cell line, with low doses (ED5–25) of individual drugs. Global phosphoproteomics analysis demonstrated inhibition of relevant kinases, and targeting remaining active kinases with additional compounds improved efficacy. In addition, we identified a common RCC ODC, based on kinase activity data, to be effective in all RCC cell lines under study. Combining s-FSC with a phosphoproteomic profiling approach provides valuable insight in targetable kinase activity and allows for the identification of superior drug combinations for the treatment of RCC.
Sulforhodamine B and exogenous surfactant effects on alveolar surface tension under acute respiratory distress syndrome conditions.

In the acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), alveolar surface tension, T, may be elevated. Elevated T should increase ventilation-induced lung injury. Exogenous surfactant therapy, intended to lower T, has not reduced mortality. Sulforhodamine B (SRB) might, alternatively, be employed to lower T. We test whether substances suspected of elevating T in ARDS raise T in the lungs and test the abilities of exogenous surfactant and SRB to reduce T. In isolated rat lungs, we micropuncture a surface alveolus and instill a solution of a purported T-raising substance: control saline, cell debris, secretory phospholipase A2 (sPLA2), acid or mucins. We test each substance alone; with albumin, to model proteinaceous edema liquid; with albumin and exogenous surfactant; or with albumin and SRB. We determine T in situ in the lungs by combining servo-nulling pressure measurement with confocal microscopy, and applying the Laplace relation. With control saline, albumin does not alter T, additional surfactant raises T and additional SRB lowers T. The experimental substances, without or with albumin, raise T. Excepting under aspiration conditions, addition of surfactant or SRB lowers T. Exogenous surfactant activity is concentration and ventilation dependent. Sulforhodamine B, which could be delivered intravascularly, holds promise as an alternative therapeutic.
Comparing racing performance following arthroscopic surgery of metacarpophalangeal/metatarsophalangeal and carpal joints in Thoroughbred racehorses rehabilitated using conventional and underwater treadmill therapies

Background Rehabilitation of horses using underwater treadmill therapy has been shown to improve joint range of motion, joint mobility, stride length and proprioceptive parameters with experimental studies. However, studies investigating the prognosis and return to function following rehabilitation are lacking. Methods A retrospective study of Thoroughbred racehorses treated with arthroscopic surgery for osteochondral fragments of the metacarpophalangeal (MCP) or metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joints or carpal joints undergoing conventional rehabilitation or underwater treadmill assisted rehabilitation at the same facility were included. The objective of the current study was to investigate if underwater treadmill assisted rehabilitation following arthroscopy in the Thoroughbred racehorse was positively associated with returning to racing, time to return to racing and postoperative racing performance including Beyer Speed Figures. Results Surgery was performed on 165 horses on 174 surgical occasions; 70 (40.2 per cent) underwent underwater treadmill rehabilitation, with the remainder undergoing conventional rehabilitation. The time to return to racing was a median of 227 (IQR 185–281) days and 239 (IQR 205–303) days for underwater treadmill and conventional rehabilitation, respectively (P=0.16). Of the horses that raced presurgery, 83 per cent (58/70) of underwater treadmill rehabilitated horses and 61 per cent (63/104) of horses undergoing conventional rehabilitation returned to racing following surgery (P=0.02). Conclusion Underwater treadmill rehabilitation is superior in returning a Thoroughbred racehorse to racing following arthroscopic surgery of the carpus and/or MCP/MTP joints.
Combining current focusing and steering in a cochlear implant processing strategy

Abstract Objective To evaluate the benefit of combined current focusing and steering to speech recognition in noise with cochlear implants (CIs). Design Combined current focusing and steering was implemented using focused partial tripolar (pTP) mode with two current steering ranges. The two pTPsteering strategies were compared to a monopolar (MP) strategy without current focusing or steering and a pTP strategy with only current focusing using the Hearing in Noise Test. The strategies differed only in stimulation mode. Study sample Ten post-lingually deafened adult CI users participated in this study. Results Compared to the MP strategy, both pTPsteering strategies produced significantly better speech reception thresholds, while the pTP strategy did not. Subjects with better baseline MP performance had less improvements with the pTPsteering strategies. All four strategies were experimental low-rate strategies and none of them outperformed subjects’ clinical strategies. Conclusions Speech recognition in noise was better with the pTPsteering strategies than with the MP strategy, but the effect of pTP-mode current steering on spectral resolution is yet to be tested.
The Product of Matrix Metalloproteinase Cleavage of Doxorubicin Conjugate for Anticancer Drug Delivery: Calorimetric, Spectroscopic, and Molecular Dynamics Studies on Peptide–Doxorubicin Binding to DNA

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are extracellular matrix degradation factors, promoting cancer progression. Hence, they could provide an enzyme-assisted delivery of doxorubicin (DOX) in cancer treatment. In the current study, the intercalation process of DOX and tetrapeptide–DOX, the product of the MMPs’ cleavage of carrier-linked DOX, into dsDNA was investigated using stationary and time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy, UV-Vis spectrophotometry and isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC). The molecular dynamics (MD) simulations on the same tetrapeptide–DOX…DNA and DOX…DNA systems were also performed. The undertaken studies indicate that DOX and tetrapeptide–DOX can effectively bond with dsDNA through the intercalation mode; however, tetrapeptide–DOX forms less stable complexes than free DOX. Moreover, the obtained results demonstrate that the differences in DNA affinity of both forms of DOX can be attributed to different intercalation modes. Tetrapeptide–DOX shows a preference to intercalate into DNA through the major groove, whereas DOX does it through the minor one. In summary, we can conclude that the tetrapeptide–DOX intercalation to DNA is significant and that even the lack of non-specific proteases releasing DOX from the tetrapeptide conjugate, the presence of which is suggested by the literature for the efficient release of DOX, should not prevent the cytostatic action of the anthracycline.
Proximate Composition of Pseudotolithus elongatus Subjected to Different Processing Techniques

The changes that occur on proximate composition of some common fish processing methods used in Nigeria were studied in order to determine the nutritional content of the processed products. Traditional (smoke drying and sun drying) and modern (electrical oven drying) methods of processing were used to process Pseudotholithus elongatus and the results were compared with the fresh sample to determine the changes that occur during processing. The results for the fresh sample of P. elongatus were 79.50%, 1.50%, 0.8% and 18.2% for moisture, ash, lipid and protein. For the processed products, the moisture content for smoke-dried, sun-dried, salt sun-dried and oven-dried fish were 27.00%, 21.83%, 19.50% and 20.17% . Oven dried had the highest protein content (69.87%) while salt sun-dried d had the lowest (54.90%). Lipid content was highest in sun-dried (6.6%) and lowest in smoke-dried (4.6%). Correlation between smoke-dried and sun-dried were r 2 = 0.99, smoke-dried and oven-dried were r 2 = 0.98 and smoke-dried and salt sun-dried were r 2 = 0.98. There was no correlation between the fresh and the processed P.elongatus. The present findings revealed that processing affect the nutritional composition of fish.
A bioassay to determine the limiting minerals for seeds from nutrient-deprived Senecio vulgaris plants

(1) The aims of this experiment were to determine which nutrient elements are most limiting to growth in newly-germinated seedlings of Senecio vulgaris dependent on their seed reserves, and how seedling nutrient-requirements are affected by the nutrient status of the parent plants. (2) Seeds were collected from plants which had been grown on a range of concentrations of Hoagland's full nutrient solution (20-100%). Seeds were also collected from plants growing in the field. (3) The seedlings were grown for three weeks in seven nutrient solutions, each of which had one macro-nutrient missing. These solutions lacked respectively nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron or sulphur. A control solution (containing a full nutrient supply) was also set up. (4) The final mean dry weight of the seedlings in each treatment was taken as a measure of their ability to rely on their internal supplies of each specific nutrient in the initial stages of growth. (5) Overall, the parental nutrient treatments had no significant effect on the seedling mineral requirements. (6) The most limiting elements in the seeds from the glasshouse parents were calcium and nitrogen and the least limiting were sulphur and iron. Phosphorus, potassium and magnesium were intermediate. Without nitrogen a seedling attained a dry weight of only three to five times that of the embryo; without sulphur it attained twenty-two to thirty-nine times the embryo weight. (7) Seedlings of the field-grown parents differed from those of the glasshouse parents in being generally larger and notably less limited by calcium and phosphorus. (8) The results indicate that the seedlings are more dependent on an external supply of certain mineral nutrients than others in the initial stages of growth. The balance of nutrients stored in the seeds of Senecio vulgaris is not related in any simple way to the apparent nutrient requirements of the seedlings.
Trace metal accumulation efficiency of selected Macroflora associated with the Poovar Estuary (Thiruvananthapuram) Kerala, India

Trace metal contamination is a matter of global concern today and phytoremediation can clean up the contaminated environment. The objective of the study is to examine the metal accumulation efficiency of selected macroflora associated with Poovar estuary. Cyperus tenuispica Steudel, Bacopa monnieri (L.) Pennell, Mariscus javanicus (Houtt.) Merr. & Metc. and Acanthus ilicifolius L. were collected from Poovar estuary and subjected for various elemental analyses such as copper, zinc, cadmium, chromium and lead. The study revealed that all the macrophytes under study were efficient accumulators of all these metals and could be used as bioindicators for metal pollution. Study warrants the analyses of more elements in these species, which could bring the potentiality of the plants as bioindicator for metal pollution.
Effect of temperature on anthocyanin accumulation in apple fruit as affected by cultivar, stage of fruit ripening and bagging

SummaryNon-bagged and bagged apples of cvs Jonathan, Fuji, Jonagold and Tsugaru were harvested at different stages of ripening and irradiated with light at 15, 20 and 25°C. The changes in anthocyanin accumulation during ripening varied with temperature, cultivar and bagging or otherwise. In ‘Jonathan’, the optimum temperature for anthocyanin accumulation increased clearly from 15°C to 25°C in non-bagged and from 20°C to 25°C in bagged fruit as it ripened. In ‘Fuji’ and ‘Jonagold’, 20 and 15°C, respectively, were always the optimum for anthocyanin synthesis in non-bagged and bagged apples. In non-bagged and bagged ‘Tsugaru’, the optimum temperaturfe increased from 15°C to 20°C with ripening.