Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Relationships among the corpus luteum, follicles and conceptus in sheep

This study aimed to investigate the intra‐ and interovarian relationships among the corpus luteum (CL), the largest follicle (LF) and follicular population in non‐pregnant and between the conceptus and ovarian structures in pregnant ewes. In experiment 1, the follicular and luteal structures were examined in 538 reproductive systems of non‐pregnant Awassi ewes. The follicular population was categorised into small (SF), medium (MF) and large (LF) groups. Inter‐relationships between CL and follicular population and between LF and subordinate follicles were determined. In experiment 2, the location and number of conceptuses were identified and correlated with the ovarian structures in 58 reproductive systems of pregnant ewes. Effects of pregnancy status, stage of pregnancy, pregnancy side and conceptual number on follicular population were determined. The results showed that the right ovary was more active than the left ovary. CL had intraovarian positive effect on the number of medium and large follicles. LF had no local suppressive effect on the subordinate follicles. Side and stage of pregnancy and the conceptual number did not affect the follicular population. Accordingly, it can be concluded that the LF has no local suppressive effect on the subordinate follicles. The CL has intraovarian positive effect on the follicular population. Follicular population does not show remarkable changes during the first term of pregnancy. The present study probably provides information which may help in the understanding of the ovarian dynamics during pregnancy in sheep.
Effect of vitamin D supplementation during pregnancy on mid-to-late gestational blood pressure in a randomized controlled trial in Bangladesh

Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text Objective: To examine the dose-dependent effect of maternal vitamin D during pregnancy on blood pressure from mid-to-late gestation within the context of a randomized, placebo-controlled trial of vitamin D supplementation in Bangladesh (n = 1298). Methods: Healthy women without hypertension were enrolled at 17–24 weeks gestation and randomized to one of four vitamin D doses during pregnancy: placebo, 4200, 16 800 or 28 000 IU/week. This substudy examined 1257 women with blood pressure measured at enrollment with at least one other timepoint (measurements included at 24 weeks, 30 weeks, and weekly from 36 weeks until delivery). Effects of vitamin D on SBP or DBP were analyzed using mixed-effects models. Results: Vitamin D did not have an effect on SBP or DBP at 24 or 30 weeks; blood pressure was higher at 36 weeks for the highest dose versus placebo [mean difference (95% CI) mmHg: SBP = 2.3 (0.9–3.7); DBP = 1.9 (0.7–3.0)]. The differences in changes in SBP and DBP between vitamin D groups and placebo across intervals were small (P > 0.10), but the difference for 28 000 IU/week versus placebo was the highest from 30 to 36 weeks [SBP 0.2 (−0.1 to 0.5) and DBP 0.2 (−0.0 to 0.4) mmHg]. Conclusion: Vitamin D supplementation starting mid-pregnancy did not affect SBP or DBP until late gestation, and then only at the highest dose. These results do not support the clinical use of vitamin D in pregnancy to lower maternal blood pressure.
Epigenomic and Transcriptomic Dynamics During Human Heart Organogenesis

Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text. Rationale: There is growing evidence that common variants and rare sequence alterations in regulatory sequences can result in birth defects or predisposition to disease. Congenital heart defects are the most common birth defect and have a clear genetic component, yet only a third of cases can be attributed to structural variation in the genome or a mutation in a gene. The remaining unknown cases could be caused by alterations in regulatory sequences. Objective: Identify regulatory sequences and gene expression networks that are active during organogenesis of the human heart. Determine whether these sites and networks are enriched for disease-relevant genes and associated genetic variation. Methods and Results: We characterized ChromHMM (chromatin state) and gene expression dynamics during human heart organogenesis. We profiled 7 histone modifications in embryonic hearts from each of 9 distinct Carnegie stages (13–14, 16–21, and 23), annotated chromatin states, and compared these maps to over 100 human tissues and cell types. We also generated RNA-sequencing data, performed differential expression, and constructed weighted gene coexpression networks. We identified 177 412 heart enhancers; 12 395 had not been previously annotated as strong enhancers. We identified 92% of all functionally validated heart-positive enhancers (n=281; 7.5× enrichment; P<2.2×10−16). Integration of these data demonstrated novel heart enhancers are enriched near genes expressed more strongly in cardiac tissue and are enriched for variants associated with ECG measures and atrial fibrillation. Our gene expression network analysis identified gene modules strongly enriched for heart-related functions, regulatory control by heart-specific enhancers, and putative disease genes. Conclusions: Well-connected hub genes with heart-specific expression targeted by embryonic heart-specific enhancers are likely disease candidates. Our functional annotations will allow for better interpretation of whole genome sequencing data in the large number of patients affected by congenital heart defects.
Association of dengue disease severity and blood group: A systematic review and meta‐analysis

Dengue disease encompasses various clinical manifestations including dengue fever (DF) and dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF). In this article, we aimed to systematically review and analyze the association between different blood groups and severity of dengue. We searched nine databases for eligible papers reporting prevalence, distribution, and frequency of blood group type among dengue patients. Network meta‐analysis using R software was used to analyze the data. Of a total of 63 reports screened, we included 10 studies with total sample size 1977 patients (1382 DF and 595 DHF). Blood group O was found to have the worst outcome with the highest risk of developing DF (P‐score = 0.01) followed by group B (P‐score = 0.34), group A (P‐score = 0.64), and group AB (P‐score = 1), respectively. Blood group O also had the worst outcome with highest risk of developing DHF (P‐score = 0.1) followed by group B (P‐score = 0.29), group A (P‐score = 0.61), and group AB (P‐score = 1), respectively. There was a significant increase (P‐value <.001) in the overall odds risk of dengue infection among patients with Rhesus‐positive blood groups [OR = 540.03; (95% CI = 151.48‐1925.18)]. However, there was no significant difference in the odds risk of DF when compared to DHF according to Rhesus status (P‐value = .954). This study identified the O blood group as a potential risk factor in predicting clinical severity in dengue patients which may be helpful in evaluating patients for their likely need for critical care.
Sclerostin Regulation, Microarchitecture, and Advanced Glycation End‐Products in the Bone of Elderly Women With Type 2 Diabetes

Increased circulating sclerostin and accumulation of advanced glycation end‐products (AGEs) are two potential mechanisms underlying low bone turnover and increased fracture risk in type 2 diabetes (T2D). Whether the expression of the sclerostin‐encoding SOST gene is altered in T2D, and whether it is associated with AGEs accumulation or regulation of other bone formation‐related genes is unknown. We hypothesized that AGEs accumulate and SOST gene expression is upregulated in bones from subjects with T2D, leading to downregulation of bone forming genes (RUNX2 and osteocalcin) and impaired bone microarchitecture and strength. We obtained bone tissue from femoral heads of 19 T2D postmenopausal women (mean glycated hemoglobin [HbA1c] 6.5%) and 73 age‐ and BMI‐comparable nondiabetic women undergoing hip replacement surgery. Despite similar bone mineral density (BMD) and biomechanical properties, we found a significantly higher SOST (p = .006) and a parallel lower RUNX2 (p = .025) expression in T2D compared with non‐diabetic subjects. Osteocalcin gene expression did not differ between T2D and non‐diabetic subjects, as well as circulating osteocalcin and sclerostin levels. We found a 1.5‐fold increase in total bone AGEs content in T2D compared with non‐diabetic women (364.8 ± 78.2 versus 209.9 ± 34.4 μg quinine/g collagen, respectively; p < .001). AGEs bone content correlated with worse bone microarchitecture, including lower volumetric BMD (r = −0.633; p = .02), BV/TV (r = −0.59; p = .033) and increased trabecular separation/spacing (r = 0.624; p = .023). In conclusion, our data show that even in patients with good glycemic control, T2D affects the expression of genes controlling bone formation (SOST and RUNX2). We also found that accumulation of AGEs is associated with impaired bone microarchitecture. We provide novel insights that may help understand the mechanisms underlying bone fragility in T2D. © 2020 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR).
Emergency Visits for Thunderstorm-Related Respiratory Illnesses Among Older Adults.

Department of Economics, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR (EZ); Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital (CW), Department of Health Care Policy, Harvard Medical School (CW, ABJ), Boston, MA; Department of Finance, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL (NHM, DM, JR); National Bureau of Economic Research, Cambridge, MA (NHM, DM, JR, ABJ); Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA (ABJ), Boston, MA.
COVID-19 in India: transmission dynamics, epidemiological characteristics, testing, recovery and effect of weather

Abstract The spread of COVID-19 is recent in India, which has within 4 months caused over 190 000 infections, as of 1 June 2020, despite four stringent lockdowns. With the current rate of the disease transmission in India, which is home to over 1.35 billion people, the infection spread is predicted to be worse than the USA in the upcoming months. To date, there is a major lack of understanding of the transmission dynamics and epidemiological characteristics of the disease in India, inhibiting effective measures to control the pandemic. We collected all the available data of the individual patients, cases and a range of parameters such as population distribution, testing and healthcare facilities, and weather, across all Indian states till May 2020. Numerical analysis was conducted to determine the effect of each parameter on the COVID-19 situation in India. A significant amount of local transmission in India initiated with travellers returning from abroad. Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Delhi are currently the top three infected states in India with doubling time of 14.5 days. The average recovery rate across Indian states is 42%, with a mortality rate below 3%. The rest 55% are currently active cases. In total, 88% of the patients experienced symptoms of high fever, 68% suffered from dry cough and 7.1% patients were asymptomatic. In total, 66.8% patients were males, 73% were in the age group of 20–59 years and over 83% recovered in 11–25 days. Approximately 3.4 million people were tested between 1 April and 25 May 2020, out of which 4% were detected COVID-19-positive. Given the current doubling time of infections, several states may face a major shortage of public beds and healthcare facilities soon. Weather has minimal effect on the infection spread in most Indian states. The study results will help policymakers to predict the trends of the disease spread in the upcoming months and devise better control measures.
Anti-amyloid-β protein agents for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease: an update on emerging drugs

ABSTRACT Introduction Currently available Alzheimer’s disease (AD) therapeutics are only symptomatic, targeting cholinergic and glutamatergic neurotransmissions. Several putative disease-modifying drugs in late-stage clinical development target amyloid-β (Aβ) peptide and tau protein, the principal neurophatological hallmarks of the disease. Areas covered Phase III randomized clinical trials of anti-Aβ drugs for AD treatment were searched in US and EU clinical trial registries and principal biomedical databases until May 2020. Expert opinion At present, compounds in Phase III clinical development for AD include four anti-Ab monoclonal antibodies (solanezumab, gantenerumab, aducanumab, BAN2401), the combination of cromolyn sodium and ibuprofen (ALZT-OP1), and two small molecules (levetiracetam, GV-971). These drugs are mainly being tested in subjects during early AD phases or at preclinical stage of familial AD or even in asymptomatic subjects at high risk of developing AD. The actual results support the hypothesis that elevated Aβ represents an early stage in the AD continuum and demonstrate the feasibility of enrolling these high-risk participants in secondary prevention trials to slow cognitive decline during the AD preclinical stages. However, a series of clinical failures may question further development of Aβ-targeting drugs and the findings from current ongoing Phase III trials will hopefully give light to this critical issue.
Challenges and Prospects of the Criminal Justice System in Handling Child Victims and Alleged Offenders in Ethiopia

The current study aims to explore the challenges and prospects of the criminal justice system in handling child victims and alleged offenders in Bahir Dar metropolitan city, North West Ethiopia. A qualitative research design was adopted to achieve this goal. Primary data was collected through semi-structured interviews conducted with victimized children (n = 25) and in-depth interviews conducted with key informants (n = 15). Data were analyzed using inductive thematic analysis. The general emergent theme— encumbrance and motivation reflected the challenges and opportunities of the criminal justice system in handling child victims and alleged offenders, respectively. The results from the study revealed that the absence of child-friendly police stations, limited overall assessments and psychosocial supports for child victims, slow, tardy and insensitive justice process, and legal system gaps were critical issues at the initial police contact, investigation, and trial stages of the criminal justice system. It appears from this study that the wellbeing and support needs of victims and witnesses are not yet being adequately addressed. In this study, a major challenge identified was the deficit of law enforcement in the criminal justice system as to the detection and investigation of a crime involving child victims. On the other hand, the initiatives to introduce child protection units and child-friendly police stations, provision of support and assistance, and awareness-raising about child-friendly practices among the criminal justice system are the major prospects that have been taken place within the criminal justice system.
Hashimoto's thyroiditis as a risk factor for thyroid cancer

Purpose of review To summarize the recent developments in considering Hashimoto's thyroiditis as a risk factor for thyroid cancer. Recent findings Modern approaches to understanding the co-occurrence of Hashimoto's thyroiditis and thyroid cancer have consistently found increased prevalence of both conditions, separately as well as of their coexistence. The inflammatory process in Hashimoto's thyroiditis is understood as a potential risk factor for thyroid cancer development. This has also provided a better understanding of the limitations in the current diagnostic and follow-up armamentarium for both conditions, resulting in international guidelines from the clinical and scientific societies. Other recent developments call for a paradigm shift in guidelines on thyroid carcinomas when lymphocytic infiltration is present, which potentially should always be considered the case at least in areas of sufficient iodine intake. Summary The literature of Hashimoto's thyroiditis as a risk factor for thyroid cancer is reviewed over the last year to highlight new developments in the understanding of their association and future clinical implications.
Quantitative analyses of the correlation between dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI and intravoxel incoherent motion DWI in thyroid nodules.

This study investigated the correlation between dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) and intravoxel incoherent motion diffusion-weighted imaging (IVIM DWI) to differentiate thyroid nodules. Quantitative DCE-MRI parameters, including the transfer constant (K trans), rate constant (K ep) and volume fraction of the extracellular extravascular space (V e), were calculated. The diffusion coefficient (D), pseudo-diffusion coefficient (D* ), and perfusion fraction (f) were derived from biexponential fitting of IVIM DWI. A total of 38 nodules, including 22 malignant and 16 benign nodules, were analyzed. The K trans, K ep and V e for benign lesions were 1.32 ± 0.76 min-1, 6.44 ± 1.44 min-1, and 2.02 ± 0.89 min-1, respectively, and for malignant lesions, the values were 0.84 ± 0.30 min-1, 5.43 ± 1.38 min-1, and 1.71 ± 0.83 min-1, respectively (P = 0.027, 0.036, and 0.257, respectively). The D, f, and D* for benign lesions were 1.51 ± 0.52 mm2/s, 26.63 ± 8.75%, and 15.84 ± 8.71 mm2/s, respectively, and for malignant lesions, the values were 0.68 ± 0.17 mm2/s, 31.63 ± 10.72%, and 11.10 ± 4.21 mm2/s, respectively (P [< 0.0001, 0.135, 0.058], respectively). No significant correlations were found between IVIM DWI and DCE-MRI quantitative parameters (all P > 0.05). In benign nodules, a moderate inverse correlation was found between D and K ep (r = -0.54, P = 0.031). IVIM DWI shows no significant correlation with perfusion parameters derived from DCE-MRI; however, IVIM DWI combined with quantitative DCE-MRI may be a useful imaging tool for the assessment of thyroid nodules in clinical studies.
Valeur alimentaire de Tetraselmis striata et T. chui pour les larves de Crassostrea gigas

L'utilisation de micro algues concentrees et conservees est une des voies envisagees pour ameliorer les procedures en ec1oserie-nurserie de mollusques et en diminuer les couts de production. Car elles presentent de bonnes aptitudes a la conservation, les Prasinophycees s'averent de bons candidats potentiels. Dans le present travail, la valeur alimentaire de Tetraselmis chui et T. striata, en tant qu'algue fraiche ou conservee, a ete recherchee sur des larves umbonees de Crassostrea gigas. Au cours d'une premiere experience, T. striata s'est averee etre la microalgue autorisant le meilleur developpement larvaire, mais ces resultats n'ont pu etre reproduits ulterieurement tant sur l'algue fraiche que conservee. Utilisees comme seule source nutritionnelle, T. chui et T. striata ne presentent pas une qualite alimentaire suffisante pour autoriser une bonne croissance des larves d'huitre japonaise. Cependant, l'utilisation de T. striata, sous sa forme concentree et conservee, a permis de substituer, en regime bispecifique, 50% d'une mlcroalgue de tres bonne valeur nutritionnelle comme Chaetoceros calcitrans forma pumilum sans influencer negativement les performances de developpement larvaire.
Will colleges survive the storm of declining enrollments? A computational model

The approaching decline in the U.S. college-age population, sometimes referred to as a “demographic storm,” has been identified as an existential threat to the future of American colleges and universities. This article conducts a model-driven analysis of three plausible college-level responses to declining applications. It draws on systems theory to conceptualize a tuition-dependent college as a complex service system and to develop a system dynamics model that captures key causal interrelationships and multiple feedback effects between faculty, facilities, tuition revenue, financials, reputation, and outcomes. Simulations with the college model suggest that common solutions such as reducing faculty or adding campus facilities may improve the college’s short-term financial position, but they are insufficient to ensure its long-term viability. This model contributes to the research literature on the economics of higher education, and model-driven academic management and strategy. It also provides useful implications and insights that can inform policy-makers and college leaders.
Affective responses to high-intensity interval training with continuous and respite music

ABSTRACT Music has been shown to enhance affective responses to continuous exercise, but the most effective application of music during interval exercise is poorly understood. This study examined two contrasting applications of music designed to assuage the decline in pleasure often experienced during high-intensity interval training (HIIT). In a repeated measures crossover design, 18 recreationally active participants (10 men and 8 women; M age = 25.1 ± 5.1 years; M BMI = 23.08 ± 2.01 kg/m 2; M VO2max = 38.82 ± 10.73 ml/kg/min) completed three HIIT sessions (10 x 60 s efforts at 100% Wmax, separated by 75 s recovery) on a cycle ergometer. Participants completed two experimental conditions: respite music (applied only during the recovery periods), continuous music (applied throughout the entire HIIT session); and a no-music control condition. Results indicated that music did not influence affective valence during the work bouts or recovery periods of the HIIT sessions (ps >.05), but that listening to music continuously elicited greater post-task enjoyment (p =.032, d = 0.66) and remembered pleasure (p =.044, d = 0.5). This study is the first to investigate the application of music during a practical HIIT protocol and to compare the effects of respite versus continuous music during interval exercise.