Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Angel sharks (Squatinidae): A review of biological knowledge and exploitation.

Angel sharks (Squatina spp.) are distributed in warm temperate to tropical waters around the world. Many species occur in shelf seas and exhibit seasonal inshore-offshore migrations, moving inshore to give birth. Consequently, there can be high spatial overlap between angel shark populations with fisheries and other human activities. Their dorso-ventrally flattened body shape, large size (most species attain >100 cm total length, LT ) and demersal nature means that they may be taken in a variety of demersal fishing gears from birth. Available data indicate that angel sharks typically have a biennial reproductive cycle, with litter sizes generally <20 and the young born at ca. 20-30 cm. The biological characteristics of angel sharks render them susceptible to overexploitation, as exemplified by the decline of Squatina squatina from many parts of its former range in the North-east Atlantic and Mediterranean Sea. Currently, half of the 22 recognised extant species of angel shark are classed as Threatened on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List (with a further three classified as Data Deficient). Given the biological vulnerability of angel sharks, and that many species are data-limited, the current paper provides a review of available biological information and fisheries data pertaining to this family. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Non-Invasive Sheep Biometrics Obtained by Computer Vision Algorithms and Machine Learning Modeling Using Integrated Visible/Infrared Thermal Cameras

Live sheep export has become a public concern. This study aimed to test a non-contact biometric system based on artificial intelligence to assess heat stress of sheep to be potentially used as automated animal welfare assessment in farms and while in transport. Skin temperature (°C) from head features were extracted from infrared thermal videos (IRTV) using automated tracking algorithms. Two parameter engineering procedures from RGB videos were performed to assess Heart Rate (HR) in beats per minute (BPM) and respiration rate (RR) in breaths per minute (BrPM): (i) using changes in luminosity of the green (G) channel and (ii) changes in the green to red (a) from the CIELAB color scale. A supervised machine learning (ML) classification model was developed using raw RR parameters as inputs to classify cutoff frequencies for low, medium, and high respiration rate (Model 1). A supervised ML regression model was developed using raw HR and RR parameters from Model 1 (Model 2). Results showed that Models 1 and 2 were highly accurate in the estimation of RR frequency level with 96% overall accuracy (Model 1), and HR and RR with R = 0.94 and slope = 0.76 (Model 2) without statistical signs of overfitting
Effective Removal of Cyanide and Heavy Metals from an Industrial Electroplating Stream Using Calcium Alginate Hydrogels

A real electroplating wastewater, containing 51,190 mg/L of free cyanide (CNf), 4899 mg/L of Ni and 1904 mg/L of Cu, was treated with calcium alginate hydrogel beads (CAB), pure or impregnated with biodegraded grape marc (EBGM) or activated carbon (EAC) in order to reduce the elevated load of toxic pollutants below the regulatory limits. It was evaluated the effect of increasing the amount of bioadsorbent as well as the influence of two successive adsorption cycles in the removal efficiency of pollutants. The most favourable sorption conditions onto CAB provided removal percentages of 85.02% for CNf and between 93.40–98.21% for heavy metals regarding the raw wastewater. The adsorption capacity of each pollutant onto CAB was considerably increased during the first 30 min of contact time, but after achieving the equilibrium, the following sorption capacities were obtained: 1177, 107.3, 39.5 and 1.52 mg/g for CNf, Ni, Cu and Zn, respectively. The kinetic adsorption of pollutants onto the CAB was adjusted to different kinetic models, observing that kinetic data agreed with the pseudo-second-order model. The information about intraparticle diffusion mechanisms in the bioadsorption process was also interpreted.
Viral protein engagement of GBF1 induces host cell vulnerability through synthetic lethality

Viruses co-opt host proteins to carry out their lifecycle. Repurposed host proteins may thus become functionally compromised; a situation analogous to a loss-of-function mutation. We term such host proteins viral-induced hypomorphs. Cells bearing cancer driver loss-of-function mutations have successfully been targeted with drugs perturbing proteins encoded by the synthetic lethal partners of cancer-specific mutations. Synthetic lethal interactions of viral-induced hypomorphs have the potential to be similarly targeted for the development of host-based antiviral therapeutics. Here, we use GBF1, which supports the infection of many RNA viruses, as a proof-of-concept. GBF1 becomes a hypomorph upon interaction with the poliovirus protein 3A. Screening for synthetic lethal partners of GBF1 revealed ARF1 as the top hit, disruption of which, selectively killed cells that synthesize poliovirus 3A. Thus, viral protein interactions can induce hypomorphs that render host cells vulnerable to perturbations that leave uninfected cells intact. Exploiting viral-induced vulnerabilities could lead to broad-spectrum antivirals for many viruses, including SARS-CoV-2. Summary Using a viral-induced hypomorph of GBF1, Navare et al., demonstrate that the principle of synthetic lethality is a mechanism to selectively kill virus-infected cells.
Percutaneous abdomino-pelvic abscess drainage in complicated Crohn’s disease

Crohn’s disease (CD) is a chronic, relapsing in lammatory disorder of the gastrointestinal tract characterized by a transmural in lammation of the bowel wall leading to complications including perforation, istula and abdominopelvic abscess onset. This latter event is present in a percentage of CD patients ranging between 20% 30% [1-6]. In the past, patients with an abdominopelvic abscess were treated with surgical drainage followed by bowel resection. Currently, percutaneous abscess drainage (PAD) is considered the standard therapy for abdominopelvic infected luid collections due to its signi icant reduction of morbidity and mortality compared to surgical procedures [1,7-14].
A Study on Determinants of Dividend Policy: Empirical Evidence from FMCG Sector in India

The objective of this paper is to analyse the determinants of dividend policy (DP) of FMCG sector in India. FMCG companies included in CNX FMCG the sectoral index for NSE are 15. Only 12 companies have been taken for the study. The period of study has been considered for 10 years i.e. from 2003-04 to 2012-13.The present paper is an attempt to empirically analyze the determinants of DP of FMCG Sector in India. For this purpose, various factors affecting DP such as dividend payout ratio (DPR), debt equity ratio (DER), earnings (ERN), corporate tax (CT), earnings per share (EPS) and firm size(FS) are considered for analysis. The empirical evidence from the study reveals that DPR, DER,ERN,CT has significant impact on EPS and also good predictors of dividend payout in FMCG sector.Ordinary least square models(OLS) are used to estimate the impact of DER, DPR, ERN, FS, EPS and on the DP. The DP of overall FMCG sector is strongly influenced by DPR, DER, EPS, and CT, which reveals that the DP of FMCG sector is significantly influenced by the selected financial variables during the period of the study.The overall regression analysis shows that the determinants of DP is significantly and positively influenced by the DPR, DER and EPS
Sedentary Patterns Are Associated with Bone Mineral Density and Physical Function in Older Adults: Cross-Sectional and Prospective Data

Aging causes some unfavorable morphological and functional changes, such as the decline in bone mineral density (BMD) and physical function. Moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and sedentary time seem to be related with these alterations, but the impact of distinct patterns remains unclear. The aim of this study was to cross-sectionally and prospectively assess the association between objectively measured MVPA and sedentary patterns (bouts and breaks) with BMD and physical function in older adults. The study considered 151 Brazilians (aged ≥ 60 years), out of which 68 participants completed 2-year follow-up measurements. MVPA and sedentary patterns were measured by means of accelerometry, BMD—(total proximal femur and lumbar spine (L1-L4)) by means of dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), and physical function—by means of physical tests. In older women, sedentary bouts >60 min were inversely associated with handgrip strength (β = −2.03, 95% CI: from −3.43 to −0.63). The prospective analyses showed that changes in sedentary bouts (20 to 30 min and >60 min) were inversely associated with changes in the lumbar spine’s BMD (β = −0.01, 95% CI: from −0.01 to −0.00 and β = −0.03, 95% CI: from −0.06 to −0.01) and the lumbar spine’s T-score (β = −0.06, 95% CI: from −0.10 to −0.01 and β = −0.27, 95% CI: from −0.49 to −0.04), respectively. In older women, sedentary patterns are cross-sectionally associated with handgrip strength and prospectively associated with BMD independent of MVPA.
Chemical Characterization, Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Properties of Goji Berries Cultivated in Serbia

Since the fruits of Lycium L. species (Fructus lycii, goji berries) are promoted as a “superfood” with plenty of health benefits, there is extensive research interest in their nutritional and phytochemical composition. In the present study, the nutritional value, minerals, fatty acid composition, and bioactive compounds of L. barbarum L. , red, yellow, and black goji berry (L. ruthenicum Murray.) cultivated in Serbia were investigated. Antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of their methanol extracts were assessed. Red goji berry had the highest content of fats, dietary fiber, iron, total carotenoids, and 2-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl-l-ascorbic acid (AA-2βG). The yellow goji berry extract showed the highest level of flavonoids and the most prominent antimicrobial (especially against Gram-negative bacteria) properties. The highest total phenolic content and the most potent antioxidant activity were observed for the extract of black goji berry. Therefore, all goji berries could be a valuable source of bioactive compounds in the food and pharmaceutical industry.
Lipoteichoic acid polymer length is determined by competition between free starter units

Significance Carbohydrate polymers are found in all domains of life, and their biological activities can change depending on their length. Gram-positive bacteria decorate their cell membrane with lipoteichoic acids (LTAs), which are important for essential processes such as cell division, osmotic stability, and antimicrobial resistance. The length of LTA polymers affects fitness, pathogenicity, and susceptibility to beta-lactams. Using in vitro reconstitution, we have identified a unique mechanism that controls polymer length. In addition to providing fundamental mechanistic insight into carbohydrate polymerases, our results provide a platform for studying this conserved cell envelope enzyme and should facilitate the development of antibiotics targeting it. Carbohydrate polymers exhibit incredible chemical and structural diversity, yet are produced by polymerases without a template to guide length and composition. As the length of carbohydrate polymers is critical for their biological functions, understanding the mechanisms that determine polymer length is an important area of investigation. Most Gram-positive bacteria produce anionic glycopolymers called lipoteichoic acids (LTA) that are synthesized by lipoteichoic acid synthase (LtaS) on a diglucosyl-diacylglycerol (Glc2DAG) starter unit embedded in the extracellular leaflet of the cell membrane. LtaS can use phosphatidylglycerol (PG) as an alternative starter unit, but PG-anchored LTA polymers are significantly longer, and cells that make these abnormally long polymers exhibit major defects in cell growth and division. To determine how LTA polymer length is controlled, we reconstituted Staphylococcus aureus LtaS in vitro. We show that polymer length is an intrinsic property of LtaS that is directly regulated by the identity and concentration of lipid starter units. Polymerization is processive, and the overall reaction rate is substantially faster for the preferred Glc2DAG starter unit, yet the use of Glc2DAG leads to shorter polymers. We propose a simple mechanism to explain this surprising result: free starter units terminate polymerization by displacing the lipid anchor of the growing polymer from its binding site on the enzyme. Because LtaS is conserved across most Gram-positive bacteria and is important for survival, this reconstituted system should be useful for characterizing inhibitors of this key cell envelope enzyme.
Vitiligo and anxiety: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background Vitiligo is an acquired depigmenting skin disease which is often accompanied by mental distress. There are numerous studies dedicated to local and global prevalence of depression in patients with vitiligo but anxiety has not been recognized as a major mental problem within named population. We aimed to evaluate the prevalence of anxiety among patients with vitiligo from different countries and to compare it with patients suffering from eczema, psoriasis, and acne. Methods In November 2019, we conducted a systematic search for observational studies that examined the prevalence of anxiety in vitiligo patients. Fifteen studies comprising 1176 patients with vitiligo were included to our systematic review. Results The general prevalence of anxiety among vitiligo patients was equal to 35.8%. Statistically significant difference in anxiety rates was found among female and male patients (47.32% vs 42.4%) (P = 0.03), but the clinical relevance of this issue remains arguable. In addition, the pooled odds ratio among vitiligo and non-vitiligo patients did not indicate a statistical significance among patients coming from different continents. Conclusions The pooled prevalence of anxiety among vitiligo patients worldwide was comparable to other severe skin disorders. This finding accentuates the necessity of anxiety awareness in management of patients with skin diseases.
Influenza Vaccination Hesitancy among Healthcare Workers in South Al Batinah Governorate in Oman: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Seasonal influenza infections are a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Healthcare workers (HCWs) are an important target group for vaccination against influenza due to their increased risk of infection and their potential to transmit the infection to their patients, families and communities. The aim of this study was to assess the potential hesitancy and its associated factors towards influenza vaccination amongst HCWs in the South Al Batinah governorate in Oman. Methods: A cross-sectional survey of 390 HCWs with direct or indirect patient contact was conducted in May and June 2019 using a self-administered questionnaire. Associations between HCW characteristics and vaccination status were examined using bivariate and multivariate analyses to identify the likelihood of vaccination against seasonal influenza among HCWs. Results: Overall, 60% of HCWs were vaccinated in the 2018/2019 season; vaccine uptake among nurses was 52% and uptake was higher among women. Self-protection and protection of the community were the most cited reasons for vaccine acceptance, with side effects being the main reason for hesitancy. Vaccinated respondents had a higher mean knowledge score (7.18; standard deviation SD: 2.14) than unvaccinated respondents (6.30; SD: 2.2). Odds of vaccination were highest among respondents who believed influenza vaccine should be mandatory for HCWs (Odds ratio (OR): 2.04 [1.30–3.18]), those working in the general medicine, emergency medicine, or intensive care units (OR: 1.92 [1.20–3.10]), nurses and doctors (OR: 1.75 [1.09–2.79]) and those who believe that HCWs should receive an influenza vaccine (OR: 1.35 [1.07–2.77]). Conclusions: The study provides valuable insights into the enablers and barriers of influenza vaccination practices among HCWs and may inform interventions to increase acceptance of vaccination.
The microbial rare biosphere: current concepts, methods and ecological principles.

Our ability to describe the highly diverse pool of low abundance populations present in natural microbial communities is increasing at an unprecedented pace. Yet we currently lack an integrative view of the key taxa, functions, and metabolic activity which make-up this communal pool, usually referred to as the 'rare biosphere', across the domains of life. In this context, this review examines the microbial rare biosphere in its broader sense, providing an historical perspective on representative studies which enabled to bridge the concept from macroecology to microbial ecology. It then addresses our current knowledge of the prokaryotic rare biosphere, and covers emerging insights into the ecology, taxonomy, and evolution of low abundance microeukaryotic, viral and host-associated communities. We also review recent methodological advances and provide a synthetic overview on how the rare biosphere fits into different conceptual models used to explain microbial community assembly mechanisms, composition, and function.
Relationships among bedding materials, bedding bacterial composition and lameness in dairy cows

Objective Bedding materials directly contact hooves of dairy cows and they may serve as environmental sources of lameness-associated pathogen. However, the specific composition of bacteria hidden in bedding materials is still not clear. The aim of this study was to determine the effect bedding material and its bacterial composition has on lameness of Holstein heifers. Methods Forty-eight Holstein heifers with similar body weights were randomly assigned into three groups including sand bedding (SB), concrete floor (CF), and compost bedding (CB). Hock injuries severity and gait performance of dairy cows were scored individually once a week. Blood samples were collected at the end of the experiment and bedding material samples were collected once a week for Illumina sequencing. Results The CF increased visible hock injuries severity and serum biomarkers of joint damage in comparison to SB and CB groups. Besides, Illumina sequencing and analysis showed that the bacterial community of CB samples had higher similarity to that of SB samples than CF samples. Bacteria in three bedding materials were dominated by gastrointestinal bacteria and organic matter-degrading bacteria, such as Actinobacteria, Firmicutes, and norank JG30-KF-cM45. Lameness-associated Spirochaetaceae and Treponeme were only detected in SB and CB samples with a very low relative abundance (0% to 0.08%). Conclusion The bacterial communities differed among bedding materials. However, the treponemes pathogens involved in the pathogenesis of lameness may not be a part of microbiota in bedding materials of dairy cows.
Moral “foundations” as the product of motivated social cognition: Empathy and other psychological underpinnings of ideological divergence in “individualizing” and “binding” concerns

According to moral foundations theory, there are five distinct sources of moral intuition on which political liberals and conservatives differ. The present research program seeks to contextualize this taxonomy within the broader research literature on political ideology as motivated social cognition, including the observation that conservative judgments often serve system-justifying functions. In two studies, a combination of regression and path modeling techniques were used to explore the motivational underpinnings of ideological differences in moral intuitions. Consistent with our integrative model, the “binding” foundations (in-group loyalty, respect for authority, and purity) were associated with epistemic and existential needs to reduce uncertainty and threat and system justification tendencies, whereas the so-called “individualizing” foundations (fairness and avoidance of harm) were generally unrelated to epistemic and existential motives and were instead linked to empathic motivation. Taken as a whole, these results are consistent with the position taken by Hatemi, Crabtree, and Smith that moral “foundations” are themselves the product of motivated social cognition.
Venous Thromboembolism Risk With JAK Inhibitors: A Meta‐Analysis

JAK inhibitor therapies are effective treatment options for immune‐mediated inflammatory diseases (IMIDs), but their use has been limited by venous thromboembolism (VTE) risk warnings from licensing authorities. We undertook this study to evaluate the VTE risk of JAK inhibitors in patients with IMIDs.
When and how do hospital nurses cope with daily stressors? A multilevel study

Background During their workday, nurses face a variety of stressors that are dealt with using different coping strategies. One criticism of the contextual models of work stress is that they fail to focus on individual responses like coping with stress. Neverthless, little is know about the momentary determinants of coping in nurses. Objectives To identify the momentary predictors of problem-focused approaching coping and emotion-focused approaching coping, as well as those for seeking social support and refusal coping strategies, during the working day in nurses. Design This study uses descriptive, correlational, two-level design with repeated measures. Settings Wards of two University hospitals. Participants A random cohort of 113 nurses was studied. Methods An ecological momentary assessment was made of demand, control, effort, reward, nursing task, coping, mood and fatigue, and of coping style by questionnaire. Multilevel two-level statistical analyses were performed in order to identify both within person and between person relationships. Results Different momentary types of coping were associated with different tasks. The problem-focused coping could be explained by the direct care and medication tasks, demand, planning coping style, mood, and negatively by acceptation coping style. Emotion-focused coping could be explained by documentation and medication tasks (negatively), mood, demand, distraction, and disengagement coping styles. Seeking social support coping could be explained by the task of communication, mood, fatigue (negatively), and seeking emotional support as a coping style. Refusal coping could be explained by mood, and the coping style of focusing and venting emotions. Refusal coping is not specific to any task. Conclusions The choice of the coping strategy depends on the task, of their appraisal and on the different styles of coping.