Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
How can noise alter neurophysiology in order to improve human behaviour? A combined tRNS and EEG study

Random noise has been shown to improve the detection of suboptimal signals in humans and machines. Based on that, transcranial random noise stimulation (tRNS) has aimed to improve human behaviour by targeting neuronal activity. To uncover the poorly understood mechanistic underpinnings of tRNS, we recorded electroencephalography data during arithmetic training while delivering active or sham tRNS above the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC). By successfully removing the tRNS artefact in the time and frequency domains, we examined the mechanisms that underlie its behavioural improvement. We found that active tRNS improved arithmetic performance and impacts specific ERPs components that are associated with attentional mechanisms. Furthermore, the tRNS effect was maximal in individuals with suboptimal arithmetic ability and neurophysiological measures of top-down control and excitation/inhibition ratio. These results providing a novel mechanistic explanation for the effect of tRNS on human behaviour and highlight how suboptimal task-specific behaviour and neurophysiology predicts its effect.
Predictive Modeling of Thoracic Radiotherapy Toxicity and the Potential Role of Serum Alpha-2-Macroglobulin

Background: To investigate the impact of alpha-2-macroglobulin (A2M), a suspected intrinsic radioprotectant, on radiation pneumonitis and esophagitis using multifactorial predictive models. Materials and Methods: Baseline A2M levels were obtained for 258 patients prior to thoracic radiotherapy (RT). Dose-volume characteristics were extracted from treatment plans. Spearman's correlation (Rs) test was used to correlate clinical and dosimetric variables with toxicities. Toxicity prediction models were built using least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) logistic regression on 1,000 bootstrapped datasets. Results: Grade ≥2 esophagitis and pneumonitis developed in 61 (23.6%) and 36 (14.0%) patients, respectively. The median A2M level was 191 mg/dL (range: 94–511). Never/former/current smoker status was 47 (18.2%)/179 (69.4%)/32 (12.4%). We found a significant negative univariate correlation between baseline A2M levels and esophagitis (Rs = −0.18/p = 0.003) and between A2M and smoking status (Rs = 0.13/p = 0.04). Further significant parameters for grade ≥2 esophagitis included age (Rs = −0.32/p < 0.0001), chemotherapy use (Rs = 0.56/p < 0.0001), dose per fraction (Rs = −0.57/p < 0.0001), total dose (Rs = 0.35/p < 0.0001), and several other dosimetric variables with Rs > 0.5 (p < 0.0001). The only significant non-dosimetric parameter for grade ≥2 pneumonitis was sex (Rs = −0.32/p = 0.037) with higher risk for women. For pneumonitis D15 (lung) (Rs = 0.19/p = 0.006) and D45 (heart) (Rs = 0.16/p = 0.016) had the highest correlation. LASSO models applied on the validation data were statistically significant and resulted in areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.84 (esophagitis) and 0.78 (pneumonitis). Multivariate predictive models did not require A2M to reach maximum predictive power. Conclusion: This is the first study showing a likely association of higher baseline A2M values with lower risk of radiation esophagitis and with smoking status. However, the baseline A2M level was not a significant risk factor for radiation pneumonitis.
Marine reserve benefits and recreational fishing yields: The winners and the losers

Marine reserves constitute effective tools for preserving fish stocks and associated human benefits. However, not all reserves perform equally, and predicting the response of marine communities to management actions in the long run is challenging. Our decadal-scale survey of recreational fishing yields at France’s 45-year old Cerbère-Banyuls marine reserve indicated significant protection benefits, with 40-50% higher fishing yields per unit effort in the partial-protection zone of the reserve (where fishing is permitted but at a lower level) than in surrounding non-reserve areas. Over the period 2005-2014, catch per unit effort (CPUE) showed a similar pattern of decline inside and outside the reserve while weight per unit effort (WPUE) increased by 131% inside and decreased by 60% outside. Different CPUE and WPUE trajectories among fish families indicated changing catch assemblages, with yields increasing for the family most valued by fisheries, Sparidae (the ecological winners). However, reserve benefits were restricted to off-shore fishermen (the social winners), as on-shore yields were ∼4 times lower and declining, even inside the reserve. Our study illustrates how surveys of recreational fishing yields can help evaluate the effectiveness of marine protected areas for key social and ecological protagonists. We show that, more than four decades after its establishment, fishing efficiencies at the historical Cerbère-Banyuls marine reserve are still changing, but benefits in terms of catch abundance, weight, and composition remain predominantly restricted to off-shore fishermen. Further regulations appear necessary to guarantee that conservation strategies equitably benefit societal groups.
High-resolution temporal transcript profiling during Arabidopsis thaliana gynoecium morphogenesis uncovers the chronology of gene regulatory network activity and reveals novel developmental regulators

The gynoecium is the most complex organ formed by the flowering plants. It encloses the ovules, provides a surface for pollen contact and self-incompatibility reactions, allows pollen tube growth and, post fertilization, and develops into the fruit. Consequently, the regulation of gynoecium morphogenesis is complex and appropriate timing of this process in part determines reproductive success. However, little is known about the global control of gynoecium development, even though many regulatory genes have been characterized. Here, we characterized dynamic gene expression changes using laser-microdissected gynoecium tissue from four developmental stages in Arabidopsis. We provide a high-resolution map of global expression dynamics during gynoecium morphogenesis and link these to the gynoecium interactome. We reveal groups of genes acting together early and others acting late in morphogenesis. Clustering of co-expressed genes enables comparisons between the leaf, shoot apex, and gynoecium transcriptomes allowing the dissection of common and distinct regulators. Furthermore, our results lead to the discovery of the LESSER FERTILITY1-4 (LEF1-4) genes, which, when mutated, lead to impaired gynoecium expansion, illustrating that global transcriptome analyses reveal yet unknown developmental regulators. Our data show that highly interacting proteins, such as SEPALLATA3, AGAMOUS, and TOPLESS are expressed more evenly during development, but switch interactors in time, whereas stage-specific proteins have only few interactors. Our analysis connects specific transcriptional regulator activities, protein interactions, and underlying metabolic processes towards the development of a dynamic network model for gynoecium development.
Hybrid capture-based sequencing enables unbiased recovery of SAR-CoV-2 genomes from fecal samples and characterization of the dynamics of intra-host variants

Background In response to the current COVID-19 pandemic, it is crucial to understand the origin, transmission, and evolution of SARS-CoV-2, which relies on close surveillance of genomic diversity in clinical samples. Although the mutation at the population level had been extensively investigated, how the mutations evolve at the individual level is largely unknown, partly due to the difficulty of obtaining unbiased genome coverage of SARS-CoV-2 directly from clinical samples. Methods Eighteen time series fecal samples were collected from nine COVID-19 patients during the convalescent phase. The nucleic acids of SARS-CoV-2 were enriched by the hybrid capture method with different rounds of hybridization. Results By examining the sequencing depth, genome coverage, and allele frequency change, we demonstrated the impeccable performance of the hybrid capture method in samples with Ct value < 34, as well as significant improvement comparing to direct metatranscriptomic sequencing in samples with lower viral loads. We identified 229 intra-host variants at 182 sites in 18 fecal samples. Among them, nineteen variants presented frequency changes > 0.3 within 1-5 days, reflecting highly dynamic intra-host viral populations. Meanwhile, we also found that the same mutation showed different frequency changes in different individuals, indicating a strong random drift. Moreover, the evolving of the viral genome demonstrated that the virus was still viable in the gastrointestinal tract during the convalescent period. Conclusions The hybrid capture method enables reliable analyses of inter- and intra-host variants of SARS-CoV-2 genome, which changed dramatically in the gastrointestinal tract; its clinical relevance warrants further investigation.
Evaluation of the Mini-Mental State Examination and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment for Predicting Post-stroke Cognitive Impairment During the Acute Phase in Chinese Minor Stroke Patients

Objective: To assess the value of the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) during acute phase in predicting post-stroke cognitive impairment (PSCI) at 3–6 months. Methods: We prospectively recruited 229 patients who had suffered their first-ever ischemic stroke. PSCI was determined in 104 of these patients by a comprehensive neuropsychological battery performed at 3–6 months. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was then performed to compare the discriminatory ability of the MMSE and MoCA. Also, we applied a decision tree generated by the classification and regression tree methodology. Results: In total, 66 patients had PSCI when evaluated 3–6 months after the onset of minor stroke. Logistic regression analysis revealed that education, body mass index (BMI), and baseline MoCA scores were independently associated with PSCI. ROC curve analysis showed that the ability to predict PSCI was similar when compared between baseline MoCA scores [area under curve (AUC), 0.821; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.743–0.898] and baseline MMSE scores (AUC, 0.809; 95% CI, 0.725–0.892, P = 0.75). Both MMSE and MoCA exhibited similar predictive values at their optimal cut-off points (MMSE ≤27; sensitivity, 0.682; specificity, 0.816; MoCA ≤21; sensitivity, 0.636; specificity, 0.895). Classification and regression tree-derived analysis yielded an AUC of 0.823 (sensitivity, 0.803; specificity, 0.842). Conclusion: When applied within 2 weeks of stroke, the MMSE and MoCA are both useful and have similar predictive value for PSCI 3–6 months after the onset of minor stroke.
Cortisol and haematological response in sea bream and trout subjected to the anaesthetics clove oil and 2‐phenoxyethanol

Clove oil has been tested for anaesthesia induction and recovery time as well as for haematology and stress indicators in the gilthead sea bream and rainbow trout. The former parameters were compared with those generated by 2-phenoxyethanol. The results showed only slight differences between both anaesthetics in terms of anaesthetic efficiency and physiological effects. In addition, clove oil does not block the cortisol response to stress, as happens with other anaesthetics.
Synaptic contributions to cochlear outer hair cell Ca2+ homeostasis

For normal cochlear function, outer hair cells (OHCs) require a precise regulation of intracellular Ca2+ levels. Influx of Ca2+ occurs both at the stereocillia tips and through the basolateral membrane. In this latter compartment, two different origins for Ca2+ influx have been poorly explored: voltage-gated Ca2+ channels (VGCC) at synapses with type II afferent neurons, and α9α10 cholinergic nicotinic receptors at synapses with medio-olivochlear complex (MOC) neurons. Using functional imaging in rodent OHCs, we report that these two Ca2+ entry sites are closely positioned, but present different regulation mechanisms. Ca2+ spread from MOC synapses is contained by cisternal Ca2+-ATPases. Considered a weak drive for transmitter release, we unexpectedly found that VGCC Ca2+ signals are comparable in size to those elicited by α9α10 and can be potentiated by ryanodine receptors. Finally, we showed that sorcin, a highly expressed gene product in OHCs with reported Ca2+ control function in cardiomy-ocytes, regulates basal Ca2+ levels and MOC synaptic activity in OHCs.
Nest Sites and Reproductive Success of a Restored Population of White-tailed Eagles in the Czech Republic

CONDICIONES DE ANIDACION DE LA POBLACION RESTABLECIDA DEL AGUILA Haliaeetus albicilla EN LA REPUBLICA CHECA (EUROPA CENTRAL) La poblacion del aguila Haliaeetus albicilla fue restablecida en los ultimos veinte anos en Bohemia del Sur (Republica Checa), principalmente en la region de la bacia del Třeboň. En 1998 y 1999 las aguilas anidaron predominantemente en arboles de la especie Pinus silvestris y Picea abies, a una altura de 18 a 35 metros en bosques con 80 a 115 anos de edad. Los sitios de anidacion estuvieron a una distancia de 50 a 2100 metros desde el agua. La distancia entre los nidos fue de 3.7 a 10.5 km; y la distancia promedio entre los nidos fue de 7.6 km. En 1998 siete volantones abandonaron seis nidos y en 1999 seis pichones fueron criados en seis nidos.
Appearance and Growth of Individual Leaves as Affected by Semidwarfism in Isogenic Lines of Wheat

Abstract Two experiments were carried out with three isogenic lines (standard height, semi-dwarf and double dwarf) of wheat under field conditions without water and nutritional stresses, with the objective of assessing the effects of Rht1 and Rht2 leaf alleles on leaf appearance and leaf blade area development. Possession of dwarfing genes did not affect phenological development, final number of leaves nor the rate of leaf appearance on the mainstem. The relationship between number of appeared leaves and thermal time could be described by a bi-linear model with an inflection point at the sixth-leaf stages independently of any particular ontogenic stage. Rht alleles caused significant reduction in the growth of leaves and stems, but did not affect internode diameter. Rht alleles were also associated with decreased individual leaf blade area, mainly through reductions in leaf blade length caused by reduced rates rather than durations of extension. The data presented confirm that Rht alleles affect internode growth more than leaf blade expansion; two hypotheses are discussed.
“NO LOAD” Resistance Training Promotes High Levels of Knee Extensor Muscles Activation—A Pilot Study

The present article aims to compare electromyographic (EMG) activity of the knee extensors during traditional resistance training (TRT) and no load resistance training with or without visual feedback (NL-VF and NL-NF). Sixteen healthy men (age: 25.2 ± 3.6) volunteered to participate in the study. Participants visited the laboratory on three occasions involving: (1) a 10 repetition maximum test (10 RM test), (2) familiarization and (3) performance of knee extensions using TRT, NL-VF and NL-NF in a random order, with 10 min of rest between them. TRT involved the performance of a set to momentary muscle failure using the 10 RM load. NL-NF involved the performance of 10 repetitions with no external load, but with the intention to maximally contract the muscles during the whole set. NL-VF involved the same procedure as NL-NF, but a monitor was positioned in front of the participants to provide visual feedback on the EMG activity. Peak and mean EMG activity were evaluated on the vastus medialis (VM), vastus lateralis (VL) and rectus femoris (RF). Results: there were no significant differences in VM and VL peak EMG activity among different situations. There was a significant difference for peak EMG activity for RF, where TRT resulted in higher values than NL-VF and NL-NF (p < 0.05). Higher values of mean EMG activity were found for VM, VL and RF during TRT in comparison with both NL-VF and NL-NF. Conclusions: resistance training with no external load produced high levels of peak muscle activation, independent of visual feedback, but mean activation was higher during TRT. These results suggest that training with no external load might be used as a strategy for stimulating the knee extensors when there is limited access to specialized equipment. Although the clinical applications of no load resistance training are promising, it is important to perform long-term studies to test if these acute results will reflect in muscle morphological and functional changes.
Experiences of Nursing Students during the Abrupt Change from Face-to-Face to e-Learning Education during the First Month of Confinement Due to COVID-19 in Spain

The current state of alarm due to the COVID-19 pandemic has led to the urgent change in the education of nursing students from traditional to distance learning. The objective of this study was to discover the learning experiences and the expectations about the changes in education, in light of the abrupt change from face-to-face to e-learning education, of nursing students enrolled in the Bachelor’s and Master’s degree of two public Spanish universities during the first month of confinement due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Qualitative study was conducted during the first month of the state of alarm in Spain (from 25 March–20 April 2020). Semi-structured interviews were given to students enrolled in every academic year of the Nursing Degree, and nurses who were enrolled in the Master’s programs at two public universities. A maximum variation sampling was performed, and an inductive thematic analysis was conducted. The study was reported according with COREQ checklist. Thirty-two students aged from 18 to 50 years old participated in the study. The interviews lasted from 17 to 51 min. Six major themes were defined: (1) practicing care; (2) uncertainty; (3) time; (4) teaching methodologies; (5) context of confinement and added difficulties; (6) face-to-face win. The imposition of e-learning sets limitations for older students, those who live in rural areas, with work and family responsibilities and with limited electronic resources. Online education goes beyond a continuation of the face-to-face classes. Work should be done about this for the next academic year as we face an uncertain future in the short-term control of COVID-19.
On the finite sample distribution of the likelihood ratio statistic for testing heterogeneity in meta‐analysis

In meta‐analysis, hypothesis testing is one of the commonly used approaches for assessing whether heterogeneity exists in effects between studies. The literature concluded that the Q‐statistic is clearly the best choice and criticized the performance of the likelihood ratio test in terms of the type I error control and power. However, all the criticism for the likelihood ratio test is based on the use of a mixture of two chi‐square distributions with 0 and 1 degrees of freedom, which is justified only asymptotically. In this study, we develop a novel method to derive the finite sample distribution of the likelihood ratio test and restricted likelihood ratio test statistics for testing the zero variance component in the random effects model for meta‐analysis. We also extend this result to the heterogeneity test when metaregression is applied. A numerical study shows that the proposed statistics have superior performance to the Q‐statistic, especially when the number of studies collected for meta‐analysis is small to moderate.
Assessing the impact of chlorpyrifos on growth, photosynthetic pigments and yield in Vigna radiata L. at different phenological stages

The application of an insecticide is a common practice in the cultivation of mungbean (Vigna radiata L.). It therefore seems important to test the changes that are occurring in this food crop under chlorpyrifos treatments in order to identify the extent to which it tolerates the insecticide application thereby making it an economical food crop. 20 day old seedlings were exposed to different concentrations ranging from 0 to 1.5 mM of chlorpyrifos through foliar spray in the field condition. The seedlings were uprooted for analyses and observed at the preflowering (5 days after treatment, DAT), flowering (10 DAT) and post-flowering (20 DAT) stages for various morphological parameters such as plant height, number of branches, leaves per plant, total leaf area, plant biomass and photosynthetic pigments namely Chlorophyll (Chl) a, Chl b, Total Chl, and Carotenoid (Car) content. Yield attributing characters like number of pods plant-1, number of seeds pod-1 and weight of 100 seeds were analyzed from both control and treated plants after physiological maturity. All the growth parameters, pigments’ activity and yield parameters increased at 0.3 mM insecticidal treatment, when compared with control. Further increase in insecticide level had a negative impact upon all parameters studied. The data suggests that the application of chlorpyrifos at lower concentration may be a useful tool to increase the seed quality as well as quantity in mungbean plant, apart from their insecticidal properties. Key words: Chlorophyll, insecticide, mungbean, stress.
Bioinformatics and Molecular Insights to Anti-Metastasis Activity of Triethylene Glycol Derivatives

The anti-metastatic and anti-angiogenic activities of triethylene glycol derivatives have been reported. In this study, we investigated their molecular mechanism(s) using bioinformatics and experimental tools. By molecular dynamics analysis, we found that (i) triethylene glycol dimethacrylate (TD-10) and tetraethylene glycol dimethacrylate (TD-11) can act as inhibitors of the catalytic domain of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP-2, MMP-7 and MMP-9) by binding to the S1’ pocket of MMP-2 and MMP-9 and the catalytic Zn ion binding site of MMP-7, and that (ii) TD-11 can cause local disruption of the secondary structure of vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) dimer and exhibit stable interaction at the binding interface of VEGFA receptor R1 complex. Cell-culture-based in vitro experiments showed anti-metastatic phenotypes as seen in migration and invasion assays in cancer cells by both TD-10 and TD-11. Underlying biochemical evidence revealed downregulation of VEGF and MMPs at the protein level; MMP-9 was also downregulated at the transcriptional level. By molecular analyses, we demonstrate that TD-10 and TD-11 target stress chaperone mortalin at the transcription and translational level, yielding decreased expression of vimentin, fibronectin and hnRNP-K, and increase in extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins (collagen IV and E-cadherin) endorsing reversal of epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) signaling.