Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The role of ?v integrins in human skin tissue homeostasis, wound healing and squamous cell carcinoma

Integrins play crucial roles in epithelial adhesion, proliferation, wound healing and cancer. In the epidermis, the roles of many integrin subunits are incompletely defined and mechanistic details regarding their functions are lacking. We performed a multiplexed shRNA screen to define roles for each subunit in human organotypic skin. This screen identified the integrin αv class of heterodimers as essential for generation of human skin tissue. We demonstrate that integrin αv loss drives a keratinocyte G1-S cell cycle checkpoint block. Surprisingly, αv integrins are not localized within keratinocyte focal adhesions and instead maintain proliferation by controlling c-myc translation through FAK, p38 and p90RSK signaling pathways. These phenotypes depend only on αv’s binding partners β5 and β6, but not β1 or β8. Utilizing inducible genetic depletion of integrin αv, or blocking antibodies targeting αv heterodimers, we show that αv integrins are required for de novo tissue generation, but dispensable for epidermal maintenance. In an in vivo human xenograft skin model, we use blocking antibodies to show that integrin αv is required for epidermal proliferation during wound healing, but is dispensable for normal epidermal homeostasis. In organotypic human neoplasias driven by Cdk4 R24C and oncogenic H-Ras G12V, we show that integrin αv is necessary for neoplastic tissue thickness and invasion through the basement membrane. This is dependent on expression of both binding partners β5 and β6. Blocking antibodies targeting αv heterodimers reduce tumor burden and proliferation in an inducible, orthotopic xenograft cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma tumor model. In conclusion, we demonstrate, for the first time, essential roles for αv integrins in human cutaneous wound re-epithelialization and tumorigenesis. We further determine a novel focal adhesionindependent signaling mechanism for αv’s involvement in cell cycle progression. Degree Type Dissertation Degree Name Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Graduate Group Cell & Molecular Biology First Advisor Todd W. Ridky
Shear wave elastography accurately detects chronic changes in renal histopathology

Renal biopsy is the gold standard for the histological characterization of chronic kidney disease (CKD), of which renal fibrosis is a dominant component, affecting its stiffness. The aim of this study was to investigate the correlation between kidney stiffness obtained by shear wave elastography (SWE) and renal histological fibrosis.
CHARACTERIZATION OF THE ESTROUS CYCLE OF THE Myocastor coypus (COYPU) BY MEANS OF EXFOLIATIVE COLPOCYTOLOGY

The aim of this work was to contribute with new information about the estrous cycle of the Myocastor coypus. Firstly, making a characterization of the cellular types and, secondly, quantifying the changes in the cellular standards that occur at different stages of the cycle, applying the colpocytological indices used for other species. Vaginal smears were taken daily at the same hour in 36 females with an age of 8.3 ± 0.8 months and a weight of 4.6 ± 0.4 kg. Samples were taken with Pasteur pipets. Their analyses were made in fresh and after staining with Harris's hematoxylin and Shorr's stain. The colpocytological samples were ana- lyzed to get qualitative and quantitative data. The duration of the estrous cycle was of 35.5 ± 10.8 days, with a range of 20 to 60 days. In the smears, 3 cellular types divided into 7 subtypes could be differentiated: 1- superficial cells, with vesicular nucleus, with pyknotic nucleus, or without nucleus; 2- intermediate cells, deep or superficial; 3- deep cells, parabasal or basal. In all the smears the abundance of polymorphonuclear leukocytes was outstanding. Cornification and eosinophilia indices proved to be good indicators of estrus. The cariopyknotic index was not an indicator of estrus, since it was higher in proestrus and metaestrus.
Endoscopic Sphenopalatine Ganglion Block Efficacy in the Management of Periorbital Edema and Ecchymosis After Septorhinoplasty.

AIM This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of sphenopalatine ganglion block (SPGB) on postoperative edema and ecchymosis for the patients undergoing septorhinoplasty (SRP). METHODS In the study, a total number of 55 participant patients (40% male and 60% female, aged between 18 and 42 years) undergoing hump resection and osteotomies were allocated into 2 groups. The SPGB (+) group consisted of 27 patients who underwent SPGB, while the SPGB (-) group consisted of 28 patients who underwent SRP without SPGB. On the first, third, and seventh postoperative days (POD1, POD3, POD7), the score marks of periorbital edema and ecchymosis of the patients were evaluated. Additionally, postoperative upper eyelid edema and upper eyelid ecchymosis as well as lower eyelid edema, and lower eyelid ecchymosis on POD1, POD3, POD7 were evaluated. A comparison with regard to intraoperative bleeding, surgical field, and operation time between the 2 groups was also conducted. RESULTS Upper eyelid edema, upper eyelid ecchymosis, lower eyelid edema, lower eyelid ecchymosis on POD 1, 3, 7 were found to be significantly lower in SPGB (+) group in comparison to SPGB (-) group (P < 0.001). Intraoperative blood loss and surgical field were found to be significantly lower in SPGB group (+) than in SPGB (-) group (P < 0.00). The operation time was not found statistically significant between the 2 groups (P = 0.212). CONCLUSION Sphenopalatine ganglion block is a safe and effective way of reducing postoperative edema and ecchymosis after SRP. Besides, it provides a better surgical field and reduced bleeding intraoperatively.
Interaction Interferences: Implications of Last-Instant System State Changes

We study interaction interferences, situations where an unexpected change occurs in an interface immediately before the user performs an action, causing the corresponding input to be misinterpreted by the system. For example, a user tries to select an item in a list, but the list is automatically updated immediately before the click, causing the wrong item to be selected. First, we formally define interaction interferences and discuss their causes from behavioral and system-design perspectives. Then, we report the results of a survey examining users' perceptions of the frequency, frustration, and severity of interaction interferences. We also report a controlled experiment, based on state-of-the-art experimental protocols from neuroscience, that explores the minimum time interval, before clicking, below which participants could not refrain from completing their action. Finally, we discuss our findings and their implications for system design, paving the way for future work.
Changes in thyroid hormone levels in chicken embryos exposed to extremely low frequency electromagnetic field Einfluss von elektromagnetischen Feldern mit sehr geringer Frequenz auf den Spiegel der Schilddrüsenhormone bei Hühnerembryonen

Earlier studies have shown that weak, extremely low frequency (ELF) electromagnetic fields (EMF) can affect the embryonic development of mammals (ZUSMAN et al., 1990; PAFKOVA et al., 1994) and chicks (CAMERON et al., 1993; PAFKOVA et al. 1994; UBEDA et al., 1994; TOMAN et al. 2002; LIS and NIEDZIOLKA, 2004). It has been reported that the exposure of the embryonic chickens to EMF increases the rate of morphological abnormalities of the embryos (DELGADO et al. 1982; JUUTILAINEN et al., 1987; BERMAN et al., 1990; UBEDA et al., 1994; FARRELL et al., 1997), decreases chickens’ hatchability (TOMAN et al., 2002) and elevates their mortality (NIEDZIOLKA and JANOWSKI, 1996; BRENT, 1999; VETERANY et al., 2001). Moreover, the earlier data from our laboratory revealed that weak electromagnetic fields of electromagnetic component of up to 35 V/m (50 Hz) and magnetic component of up to 1380 nT (50 Hz) that can be found in some house incubators stimulate the hatching of the chick embryos. The stimulation was reflected in the shorter incubation period and higher passive immunity of the chicks (NIEDZIOLKA and JANOWSKI, 1996). Several lines of evidence indicate that the morphological changes following electromagnetic field exposure are accompanied by some endocrine changes. Recently, it has been demonstrated that ELF-EMF evokes morphological changes in rat thyroid gland (MATAVULJ et al., 1999), affects its endocrine function and decreases the blood plasma thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3) concentrations (RAJKOVIC et al., 2001, 2003). Although chicken embryogenesis is the most useful and sensitive model for EMF investigations (PAFKOVA et al., 1994; BRENT, 1999), in the available literature there are no studies showing the influence of ELF-EMF on the function of the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis in the chick embryo. Therefore, the present study was undertaken to answer the question whether the exposure of the embryonic chick to ELF-EMF may change the activity of the thyroid gland and affect blood plasma levels of thyroid hormones. It is well-known that thyroid hormones play crucial role during chicken embryogenesis and affect time of hatching and the length of incubation (KING and MAY, 1984; SCANES et al., 1987; IQBAL
Integration of Fertilizer Nitrogen, Farmyard Manure and Multi-strain Microorganisms for Sustainable Production of Rice-Wheat System

Use of high rates of commercial nitrogen (N) fertilizers over the years has resulted in adverse effects on soil and environment health. Integrated use of fertilizer N and organic N sources is expected to reduce the N losses and improve N use efficiency. The present field experiment was conducted for two years to evaluate the effects of commercially available multi-strain inoculant ‘Fertimine’ and farmyard manure (FYM) applied at variable rates of fertilizer N on the nutrition of rice-wheat system. Four treatment combinations of FYM (15 t ha-1, fresh weight) and fertimine were applied to main-plots and four N levels to sub-plots in factorial split-plot design. In the absence of fertimine and FYM, significant increase in rice yield was observed up to 120 kg N ha-1 during first season and 80 kg N ha-1 during second season. The application of FYM and fertimine significantly increased mean grain yield of rice by 12 and 5 per cent over no FYM and fertimine, respectively. Significant interaction effect of fertimine and fertilizer N observed on rice grain yield suggested that fertimine significantly increased the rice yield at low rates of fertilizer N. While fertilizer N and FYM caused significant increase in the total uptake of N, P and K in rice, fertimine showed significant increase in total P uptake only. The FYM applied to rice showed significant residual effect on the yield and total N, P and K uptake in the subsequent wheat. Application of FYM significantly improved the soil chemical and biological properties after two cycles of rice-wheat rotation.
Lifetime stress and war exposure timing may predict methylation changes at NR3C1 based on a pilot study in a warrior cohort in a small‐scale society in Kenya

Candidate gene methylation studies of NR3C1 have identified associations with psychosocial adversity, including war trauma. This pilot study (sample sizes from 22 to 45 for primary analyses) examined NR3C1 methylation in a group of Kenyan pastoralist young men in relation to culturally relevant traumatic experiences, including participation in coalitional lethal gun violence.
The effect of spraying of wheat straw extracts and some Herbicides on controlling some weed species

This study was designed to investigate the effect of spraying wheat straw aqueous extracts with two common used herbicides for controling broad and narrow leaf weed plants in wheat fields in the region. The study consisted of five treatments; wheat straw aqueous extract; grass weeds herbicide clodinafop-propargyl (Topik); broad leaf herbicide tribenuron-methyl (Granstar); zero control (no herbicides were applied) and zero – weed ( Wheat pure stand) treatments, chlorophyll a, b and total chlorophyll were indicated for all treatments after 48 hours from herbicide application. Results illustrated significant differences between all treatments, minimum wheat yield was recorded in zero control plots then plots that was treated with wheat straw aqueous extracts, Broad leaf weed herbicide (Granstar), narrow leaf weeds herbicide (Topic) and maximum yield was recorded with zero weed treatments. This study elucidate the potentiality of using wheat aqueous extracts for controlling some weed plants due to its obvious effect on reducing the weed plants height and the levels of chlorophyll a, b and total chlorophyll in treated wheat plants
Cross–cultural Validity of the Reactive–Proactive Aggression Questionnaire Among Adults Across Five Countries

This study aims to test psychometric properties and factor invariance of the Reactive–Proactive Aggression Questionnaire (RPQ) for adults across five countries: Serbia (N = 409), Mauritius (N = 400), the United States (N = 389), the Netherlands (N = 372), and China (N = 325). The results supported the two–factor structure across country samples, with a marginal model fit in Mauritius. Results also supported the congruent factor structure of Reactive Aggression scale across countries, while the Proactive Aggression scale can be considered as equal across samples from Serbia, the United States, and China, but not from Mauritius and the Netherland. Among items from the Proactive Aggression scale, those referring to open aggression aimed at obtaining social status and dominance, frightening or harming others, obtained the highest loadings across all samples and could be considered as the good representatives of adult proactive aggression. This is the first study in which cross-cultural validation of the RPQ among adults has been tested and results suggested that there are some cultural differences in expression of proactive aggression.
Causes of variation in prey profitability and its consequences for the intake rate of the Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus

Prey species have different morphological and behavioural adaptations to escape their predators. In this paper we review how these prey defenses affect prey profitability and intake rate for one predator, the Oystercatcher. Four rules govern profitability. First, within each species large prey are more profitable than small prey, because flesh content increases more steeply with prey size than handling time. Second, soft-bodied prey, such as worms and leatherjackets, which can be swallowed whole, are much more profitable than armoured prey, such as bivalves, which Oystercatchers have to open before the flesh can be extracted from the shell. Third, heavily armoured surface-dwelling prey, like Mussels and Cockles, are the least profitable prey of all, even if the armour is bypassed through stabbing the bill between the valves. Fourth, within the burying prey species, the profitability of prey decreases with depth. Hence burying bivalve species that bury in winter at larger depth than in summer, are in winter, if not our of reach of the bill, anyway less profitable. Despite the large differences between the profitabilities of the various prey species, the intake rates do not differ much when the prey species are com pared, presumably because prey with a low profitability are only exploited if the search time is relatively short, i.e. if the density of harvestable prey is high. On the other hand, within each species, the intake rate goes up if larger, more profitable prey are taken. Thus, if the birds have to feed on smaller prey specimens, they fail to fully compensate for the low profitability by an increase in the rate at which these prey are found. Although the profitability of prey differs seasonally due to the variation in the prey condition, only a small seasonal variation in the intake rate was found. Because burying bivalves and soft-bodied worms bury deeper and are less active in winter, Oystercatchers necessarily rely on bivalves living at, or just beneath, the surface at that time of year.
The Effects of Bidder Factors on Online Bidding Strategies: A Motivation-Opportunity-Ability (MOA) Model

Abstract The use and popularity of online auctions is growing all over the world. Bidding strategies are important because they are related to an auction's final price and ultimately its revenue. This study investigates the bidding strategies adopted by online bidders and the factors of the bidders, including bidding motivations, time availability, bidding experience, and risk aversion. We use the data from China to test the model and identify three bidding strategies in single-unit auctions: agent bidding, snipe bidding, and ratchet bidding. By running logistic regression, we find that hedonic motivations, utilitarian motivations, time availability, bidding experience, and risk preference all influence online bidding strategies. We also conduct pairwise comparisons of bidding strategies based on these factors and a simulation experiment to compare the benefits brought by different bidding strategies. We conclude by discussing the implications for both research and practice.
The Chlamydia effector CT622/TaiP targets a nonautophagy related function of ATG16L1

Significance Some intracellular bacteria develop inside a vacuole, which expands during the infection process. We show, here, that the protein ATG16L1 restricts the expansion of the Chlamydia trachomatis vacuole. ATG16L1 is well known for its role in autophagy, a process that contributes to the elimination of intracellular microbes. However, the restriction exerted by ATG16L1 on vacuole expansion relies on a different ATG16L1 function. We demonstrate that the bacteria secrete an effector protein that prevents ATG16L1 binding to TMEM59 and allows rerouting of vesicular traffic to the vacuole. The discovery that one bacterial effector evolved to target ATG16L1’s engagement in intracellular traffic emphasizes the importance this secondary activity of ATG16L1 for maintaining host cell homeostasis. The obligate intracellular bacteria Chlamydia trachomatis, the causative agent of trachoma and sexually transmitted diseases, multiply in a vacuolar compartment, the inclusion. From this niche, they secrete “effector” proteins, that modify cellular activities to enable bacterial survival and proliferation. Here, we show that the host autophagy-related protein 16-1 (ATG16L1) restricts inclusion growth and that this effect is counteracted by the secretion of the bacterial effector CT622/TaiP (translocated ATG16L1 interacting protein). ATG16L1 is mostly known for its role in the lipidation of the human homologs of ATG8 (i.e., LC3 and homologs) on double membranes during autophagy as well as on single membranes during LC3-associated phagocytosis and other LC3-lipidation events. Unexpectedly, the LC3-lipidation-related functions of ATG16L1 are not required for restricting inclusion development. We show that the carboxyl-terminal domain of TaiP exposes a mimic of an eukaryotic ATG16L1-binding motif that binds to ATG16L1’s WD40 domain. By doing so, TaiP prevents ATG16L1 interaction with the integral membrane protein TMEM59 and allows the rerouting of Rab6-positive compartments toward the inclusion. The discovery that one bacterial effector evolved to target ATG16L1’s engagement in intracellular traffic rather than in LC3 lipidation brings this “secondary” activity of ATG16L1 in full light and emphasizes its importance for maintaining host cell homeostasis.
Sex differences in underweight and body mass index in Chinese early de novo patients with Parkinson's disease

There have been studies investigating sex differences in clinical manifestation of Parkinson's disease (PD). However, sex differences in underweight and body mass index (BMI) in de novo PD patients lacked systematic study. We aimed to compare sex differences in clinical features and related factors of underweight and BMI in Chinese de novo PD patients.
Admission hyperglycaemia as a predictor of mortality in patients hospitalized with COVID-19 regardless of diabetes status: data from the Spanish SEMI-COVID-19 Registry

Abstract Background Hyperglycaemia has emerged as an important risk factor for death in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between blood glucose (BG) levels and in-hospital mortality in non-critically patients hospitalized with COVID-19. Methods This is a retrospective multi-centre study involving patients hospitalized in Spain. Patients were categorized into three groups according to admission BG levels: <140 mg/dL, 140–180 mg/dL and >180 mg/dL. The primary endpoint was all-cause in-hospital mortality. Results Of the 11,312 patients, only 2128 (18.9%) had diabetes and 2289 (20.4%) died during hospitalization. The in-hospital mortality rates were 15.7% (<140 mg/dL), 33.7% (140–180 mg) and 41.1% (>180 mg/dL), p<. 001. The cumulative probability of mortality was significantly higher in patients with hyperglycaemia compared to patients with normoglycaemia (log rank, p<.001), independently of pre-existing diabetes. Hyperglycaemia (after adjusting for age, diabetes, hypertension and other confounding factors) was an independent risk factor of mortality (BG >180 mg/dL: HR 1.50; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.31–1.73) (BG 140–180 mg/dL; HR 1.48; 95%CI: 1.29–1.70). Hyperglycaemia was also associated with requirement for mechanical ventilation, intensive care unit (ICU) admission and mortality. Conclusions Admission hyperglycaemia is a strong predictor of all-cause mortality in non-critically hospitalized COVID-19 patients regardless of prior history of diabetes. KEY MESSAGE Admission hyperglycaemia is a stronger and independent risk factor for mortality in COVID-19. Screening for hyperglycaemia, in patients without diabetes, and early treatment of hyperglycaemia should be mandatory in the management of patients hospitalized with COVID-19. Admission hyperglycaemia should not be overlooked in all patients regardless prior history of diabetes.