Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Growth, pathogenicity and infection behaviour, and genetic diversity of Rhexocercosporidium panicis isolates from ginseng roots in British Columbia

Abstract Ginseng roots with reddish-brown to black surface discolourations were collected from eight farms in British Columbia during 2005–2007. Affected tissues predominantly yielded colonies of Fusarium spp. and Rhexocercosporidium panacis when plated onto half-strength PDA. Percentage recovery of these fungi was influenced by root age, with Fusarium species recovered mostly from 1–2-year-old roots and R. panacis from 3- and 4-year-old roots. Roots sampled in July 2007 yielded a higher frequency of Fusarium while those sampled during March and September 2007 yielded a higher frequency of R. panacis. Isolates of R. panacis ranged in pathogenicity from non-pathogenic (29% of total) to weakly aggressive (causing lesions only in the presence of wounds) (54%) to highly aggressive (17%), and infected both ginseng and carrot roots, causing a surface blackening. The optimal temperature range for growth of 10 isolates of R. panacis in culture was 15–20 °C. A nested PCR protocol confirmed the presence of R. panacis in symptomatic ginseng roots as well as in about 20% of non-symptomatic roots. The fungus was also detected by nested PCR in flowers, green and red berries, and non-stratified and stratified seeds. Field applications of propiconazole reduced the frequency of detection by PCR of R. panacis from ginseng berries. Phylogenetic analysis confirmed that most of the isolates recovered in this study were R. panacis, although a few isolates clustered in a separate group.
Reporting Standards for a Bland–Altman Agreement Analysis: A Review of Methodological Reviews

The Bland–Altman Limits of Agreement is a popular and widespread means of analyzing the agreement of two methods, instruments, or raters in quantitative outcomes. An agreement analysis could be reported as a stand-alone research article but it is more often conducted as a minor quality assurance project in a subgroup of patients, as a part of a larger diagnostic accuracy study, clinical trial, or epidemiological survey. Consequently, such an analysis is often limited to brief descriptions in the main report. Therefore, in several medical fields, it has been recommended to report specific items related to the Bland–Altman analysis. The present study aimed to identify the most comprehensive and appropriate list of items for such an analysis. Seven proposals were identified from a MEDLINE/PubMed search, three of which were derived by reviewing anesthesia journals. Broad consensus was seen for the a priori establishment of acceptability benchmarks, estimation of repeatability of measurements, description of the data structure, visual assessment of the normality and homogeneity assumption, and plotting and numerically reporting both bias and the Bland–Altman Limits of Agreement, including respective 95% confidence intervals. Abu-Arafeh et al. provided the most comprehensive and prudent list, identifying 13 key items for reporting (Br. J. Anaesth. 2016, 117, 569–575). An exemplification with interrater data from a local study accentuated the straightforwardness of transparent reporting of the Bland–Altman analysis. The 13 key items should be applied by researchers, journal editors, and reviewers in the future, to increase the quality of reporting Bland–Altman agreement analyses.
Effects of rosuvastatin and zoledronic acid in combination on the recovery of senile osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture following percutaneous vertebroplasty

Objectives This study analyzed the effects of rosuvastatin and zoledronic acid in combination on patient recovery following percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) that was performed to treat senile osteoporotic vertebral compression. Methods Senile patients with osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture (n = 120) were included in this retrospective study, and they were classified into two groups. Those in the control group (n = 60) were treated with PVP + caltrate and those in the observation group (n = 60) received this treatment with combined zoledronic acid and rosuvastatin. Between-group comparisons were made at both pre- and post-treatment regarding bone density, type I procollagen peptide (CTX) and bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (BAP) levels, visual analog scale (VAS) score, Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) score, and adjacent centrum refracture. Results Bone density was higher and BAP and CTX levels as well as ODI and VAS scores were lower at post-treatment in the observation group compared with the control group. The refracture rate in the observation group was lower compared with the control group. Conclusion Treatment with a combination of rosuvastatin and zoledronic acid following PVP can improve the condition of senile osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture and patient’s functional status, and it can also alleviate pain.
Low‐dose tyrosine kinase inhibitors before treatment discontinuation do not impair treatment‐free remission in chronic myeloid leukemia patients: Results of a retrospective study

Long‐term treatment‐free remission (TFR) represents a new goal for chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). In clinical practice, tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) dose reductions can be considered a means of preventing adverse effects and improving quality of life. We hypothesized that administration of low‐dose TKIs before treatment discontinuation does not impair TFR in patients with CML who have a deep molecular response (DMR, ≥MR4).
Self-Powered Sensors and Systems Based on Nanogenerators

Sensor networks are essential for the development of the Internet of Things and the smart city. A general sensor, especially a mobile sensor, has to be driven by a power unit. When considering the high mobility, wide distribution and wireless operation of the sensors, their sustainable operation remains a critical challenge owing to the limited lifetime of an energy storage unit. In 2006, Wang proposed the concept of self-powered sensors/system, which harvests ambient energy to continuously drive a sensor without the use of an external power source. Based on the piezoelectric nanogenerator (PENG) and triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG), extensive studies have focused on self-powered sensors. TENG and PENG, as effective mechanical-to-electricity energy conversion technologies, have been used not only as power sources but also as active sensing devices in many application fields, including physical sensors, wearable devices, biomedical and health care, human–machine interface, chemical and environmental monitoring, smart traffic, smart cities, robotics, and fiber and fabric sensors. In this review, we systematically summarize the progress made by TENG and PENG in those application fields. A perspective will be given about the future of self-powered sensors.
Long-Distance Dispersal of a Rescued Wolf From the Northern Apennines to the Western Alps

Abstract By using Global Positioning System technology, we documented the long-distance dispersal of a wolf (Canis lupus) from the northern Apennines in Italy to the western Alps in France. This is the first report of long-distance dispersal of wolves in the human-dominated landscapes of southern Europe, providing conclusive evidence that the expanding wolf population in the Alps originates from the Apennine source population through natural recolonization. By crossing 4 major 4-lane highways, agricultural areas, and several regional and provincial jurisdictions, the dispersal trajectory of wolf M15 revealed a single, narrow linkage connecting the Apennine and the Alpine wolf populations. This connectivity should be ensured to allow a moderate gene flow between the 2 populations and counteract potential bottleneck effects and reduced genetic variability of the Alpine wolf population. The case we report provides an example of how hard data can be effective in mitigating public controversies originating from the natural expansion and recolonization processes of large carnivore populations. In addition, by highlighting the connectivity between these 2 transboundary wolf populations, we suggest that documenting long-distance dispersal is particularly critical to support population-based, transboundary management programs.
Disturbed nighttime sleep in children and adults with rhythmic movement disorder.

STUDY OBJECTIVES Rhythmic movements during sleep are frequent and often considered as benign in children. Disabling forms are diagnosed as rhythmic movement disorder and may persist in adulthood. Whether rhythmic movements severely impact sleep architecture in patients with rhythmic movement disorder remain unclear. We performed a case-control study to characterize the clinical and polysomnographic patterns of children and adults with a diagnosis of rhythmic movement disorder in comparison to controls, and to assess the associations between the rhythmic movements and the sleep architecture. METHODS All consecutive patients (n=50; 27 children, 35 males) with rhythmic movement disorder from a single sleep clinic (from 2006 to 2019) underwent a comprehensive clinical evaluation and a polysomnographic recording in comparison to 75 controls (42 children, 53 males). RESULTS Eighty-two percent of children and adult patients had a complaint of disturbed nighttime sleep. Comorbid neurodevelopmental, affective or sleep disorders were found in 92% of patients. While rhythmic movement sequences defined by videopolysomnographic criteria were observed in 82.0% of patients (in wakefulness and in all sleep stages), no similar sequences were observed in controls. Patients had altered sleep continuity, with low sleep efficiency, increased wake time after sleep onset, and frequent periodic leg movements and apnea events. The severity of rhythmic movements was associated with disrupted nightime sleep, even after controlling for comorbid motor and respiratory events. CONCLUSIONS Rhythmic movement disorder is a rare, highly comorbid and disabling condition both in children and adults with frequent disturbed nighttime sleep that may contribute to the burden of the disease.
Discovery of a Natural Product That Binds to the Mycobacterium tuberculosis Protein Rv1466 Using Native Mass Spectrometry

Elucidation of the mechanism of action of compounds with cellular bioactivity is important for progressing compounds into future drug development. In recent years, phenotype-based drug discovery has become the dominant approach to drug discovery over target-based drug discovery, which relies on the knowledge of a specific drug target of a disease. Still, when targeting an infectious disease via a high throughput phenotypic assay it is highly advantageous to identifying the compound’s cellular activity. A fraction derived from the plant Polyalthia sp. showed activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis at 62.5 μge/μL. A known compound, altholactone, was identified from this fraction that showed activity towards M. tuberculosis at an minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 64 μM. Retrospective analysis of a target-based screen against a TB proteome panel using native mass spectrometry established that the active fraction was bound to the mycobacterial protein Rv1466 with an estimated pseudo-Kd of 42.0 ± 6.1 µM. Our findings established Rv1466 as the potential molecular target of altholactone, which is responsible for the observed in vivo toxicity towards M. tuberculosis.
MAT2A as Key Regulator and Therapeutic Target in MLLr Leukemogenesis

Epigenetic dysregulation plays a pivotal role in mixed-lineage leukemia (MLL) pathogenesis, therefore serving as a suitable therapeutic target. S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) is the universal methyl donor in human cells and is synthesized by methionine adenosyltransferase 2A (MAT2A), which is deregulated in different cancer types. Here, we used our human CRISPR/Cas9-MLL-rearranged (CRISPR/Cas9-MLLr) leukemia model, faithfully mimicking MLLr patients’ pathology with indefinite growth potential in vitro, to evaluate the unknown role of MAT2A. Comparable to publicly available patient data, we detected MAT2A to be significantly overexpressed in our CRISPR/Cas9-MLLr model compared to healthy controls. By using non-MLLr and MLLr cell lines and our model, we detected an MLLr-specific enhanced response to PF-9366, a new MAT2A inhibitor, and small interfering (si) RNA-mediated knockdown of MAT2A, by alteration of the proliferation, viability, differentiation, apoptosis, cell cycling, and histone methylation. Moreover, the combinational treatment of PF-9366 with chemotherapy or targeted therapies against the SAM-dependent methyltransferases, disruptor of telomeric silencing 1 like (DOT1L) and protein arginine methyltransferase 5 (PRMT5), revealed even more pronounced effects. In summary, we uncovered MAT2A as a key regulator in MLL leukemogenesis and its inhibition led to significant anti-leukemic effects. Therefore, our study paves the avenue for clinical application of PF-9366 to improve the treatment of poor prognosis MLLr leukemia.
Assessment of the fishing impact on the silver eel stock in the Baltic using survival analysis

Restoration of the depleted stock of the European eel (Anguilla anguilla (L.)) requires anthropogenic impacts to be quantified, reduced, and controlled. In this article, we assess the impact of the silver eel fishery on the Baltic Coast in Sweden, applying survival analysis to 60 years of mark–recapture experiments, involving 8000 recaptures out of 18 000 releases. The hazard of being recaptured (overall 46%) varies along the coast and declined substantially over the decades. But, most notably, the hazard for the individual diminishes strongly after the first kilometres en route. This individualized hazard disqualifies the more traditional mark–recapture methodology, which assumes random recaptures. We advocate the general use of survival analysis for conventional mark–recapture data. The result of our analysis indicates that the impact of the fishery just prior the 2009 fishing restrictions was in the order of 10%—in itself well within sustainability limits, though only but one of the factors contributin.
Stability and complexity in microcosm communities

Summary 1 Theory predicts that communities comprising many species connected randomly by strong interactions are unlikely to exhibit stable, feasible equilibria (i.e. positive equilibria to which all species will return following perturbation), making the observed complexity of natural communities very surprising. This prediction has never been tested experimentally in speciose communities. 2 We tested this prediction using long-term data from experimental communities of bacteria, protists and small metazoans in laboratory microcosms. Initial communities varied in species richness ( S ), composition and connectance ( C ; the fraction of possible interspecific interactions that are actually realized). 3 Many initial communities lost species to extinction (unstable and/or infeasible communities), but population densities and species compositions subsequently stabilized. 4 We used logistic regression to describe the probability that an initial community would be stable and feasible as a function of complexity [( SC ) 1/2 ]. Probability of a stable, feasible equilibrium declined with complexity, as predicted by theory. 5 We also found that communities converged in connectance over time, so that at the end of the experiment connectance was independent of species richness. Monte Carlo simulations indicated that this result was highly improbable if extinctions occurred at random with respect to connectedness. Connectance is also independent of species richness in well-resolved natural food webs, a pattern usually ascribed to phylogenetic and/or physiological constraints on diet breadth. However, such constraints cannot explain our results. Trophic interactions causing non-random extinctions may provide a novel explanation for patterns in the connectance and species richness of whole food webs.
Polydnavirus gene provides accurate identification of species in the genus Hyposoter (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae)

Accurate identification of species of parasitoid Hymenoptera often requires the analysis of multiple genetic and non‐genetic traits. Here, we investigate the potential for nuclear polydnavirus (PDV) gene loci to provide species‐level discrimination in the parasitoid wasp genus Hyposoter (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae). A region of one PDV gene, Cys‐d9.2, was sequenced from nine species of wasps and an additional two PDV genes, Cys‐d9.1 and Rep‐c18.2, were sequenced from multiple specimens of one species of wasp. A Bayesian phylogenetic analysis of the Cys‐d9.2 sequences resulted in accurate identification of species and no intraspecific variation was observed in this gene, Cys‐d9.1 or Rep‐c18.2. Further statistical analyses showed that Cys‐d9.2 has a high prevalence of non‐synonymous nucleotide substitutions. Our results support the use of Cys‐d9.2 as an additional genetic locus for species delimitation in Hyposoter, highlighting the value of PDV gene information to taxonomists studying the ichneumonid subfamily, Campopleginae.
The Catalase Content of Cheese

Summary Cheese of the Emmental or Swiss type is in general characterized by a high catalase content as compared with cheese of the Cheddar type. The greater hydrogen peroxide decomposing power of Swiss cheese is due to its characteristic bacterial flora. A high catalase-producing organism which usually occurs in large numbers in Swiss cheese, has been isolated; and inoculation experiments have shown that it increases the catalase content of cheese when added to the milk previous to manufacture.
Simuliidae (Diptera: Culicomorpha) of Rarotonga, Cook Islands, South Pacific

Abstract Two new simuliids from Rarotonga, Cook Islands are described. Simulium (Inseliellum) teruamanga sp. n. is fully characterised and is cytologically related to Marquesas Islands simuliids. For S. (I.) mataverense sp. n. , only a single larva and pupal exuviae are known. The larva has been karyotyped and is cytologically related to Tahitian simuliids. Mouthparts of the female S. teruamanga are rudimentary, suggesting they are non-blood feeding. Little is known of the biology of either species, but larvae of S. teruamanga are commonly found between leaves in leaf packs on the upstream side of rocks.
Host Plant Influence on Movement Patterns and Subsequent Distribution of the Polyphagous Herbivore Lygus rugulipennis (Heteroptera: Miridae)

Abstract We studied movement patterns of nymphs of a highly polyphagous herbivore, Lygus rugulipennis Poppius (Heteroptera: Miridae) on two host plants, wheat (Triticum aestivum) and scentless mayweed (Tripleurospermum inodorum Schultz). We used the observed movement patterns to model redistribution of nymphs with an individual based movement model and with a diffusion approximation of random walk, and we tested the predictions of the models by following redistribution of nymphs on small arenas in the laboratory. The nymphs were clearly more mobile on wheat than on T. inodorum, and on the arenas most of nymphs were found on T. inodorum after the period of redistribution. Both the simulation model and the diffusion approximation of random walk predicted the distribution well. The ability of the models to predict equilibrium distribution of L. rugulipennis nymphs in heterogeneous space, even though they were parameterized with data collected in homogenous vegetation, suggests that the observed distribution of individuals may have been caused by the host plant induced differences in movement patterns. The high speed of redistribution predicted by the models suggests that no tactic behavior, e.g., orientation toward T. inodorum, is needed for locating preferred hosts in a heterogeneous vegetation composed of small patches.
Antioxidant Properties of Catechins and Green Tea Extracts in Model Food Emulsions

Extraction of green tea with hot water provided an extract that was highly effective as an antioxidant for an oil-in-water emulsion at pH 5.5 during prolonged storage (40 days). Other components besides epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) and epicatechin gallate (ECG) made important contributions to the antioxidant activity of the extract in an oil-in-water emulsion, since ECG, when pure, had no significant antioxidant activity (p > 0.05) and EGCG was completely oxidized within 15 days. Myricetin had a greater antioxidant effect in this system than EGCG or ECG at a concentration of 10-4 M in the absence of ferric ions, but all three flavonoids exhibited prooxidant effects in the presence of ferric ions. Keywords: Antioxidants; epigallocatechin gallate; epicatechin gallate; green tea; emulsions
Nutrient fluxes via leaching from coarse woody debris in a Fagus sylvatica forest in the Solling Mountains, Germany

To evaluate the importance of nutrient fluxes via leaching from coarse woody debris (CWD) in an area with high atmospheric nitrogen (N) inputs, throughfall and CWD leachate from logs at different stages of decomposition were investigated over a period of 14 and 27 months, respectively, in a 160-year-old European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) forest in northwestern Germany. Water samples, collected from 30 zero-tension lysimeters installed in pairs along 15 logs and from 27 neighboring raingauges, were chemically analyzed in the laboratory. Generally, as CWD decay advanced, the ratio of leachate to throughfall decreased, and the amount of dissolved nutrients in the leachate increased. With the exception of ammonium (NH4+) and dissolved inorganic carbon, the element concentrations in the CWD leachate were significantly higher than those in the throughfall. The concentrations of NH4+ and nitrate (NO3–) in the CWD leachate, which were very high compared with values from North American studies, were caused by the.
Validating Possible Effects of Eutrophication Using PCB Concentrations in Bivalves and Sediment of the US Musselwatch and Benthic Surveillance Programs

Abstract In order to examine the possible interactions of eutrophication and hydrophobic organic contaminants, data for polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) concentrations (CPCB) in three species of bivalves and in sediments were examined. These were correlated to total organic carbon content of sediments (TOCsed), which was assumed to represent the trophic status of the sampling sites. Almost all CPCB) on dry weight basis in the bivalves and in sediments were examined. There were correlated to total organic carbon content of sediments (TOCsed), Which was assumed to represent the trophic status of the sampling sites. Almost all CPCB on dry weight basis in the bivalves and in the sediments were positively linearly correlated to TOCsed. Regarding the sediments, this simply reflects the high affinity of these compounds for TOC, but for the bivalves the correlation wan not explained. In the bivalves, the difference in PCB homologue concentration was positively linearly correlated to TOCsed. To understand these field data, a box model was used to simulate the fate of PCB in oligotrophic, mesotrophic, eutrophic, and hypertrophic marine environments. The calculated results qualitatively predicted the change in CPCB for the sediment correctly. For increased trophic status of the water compartment, on a scale from oligo- to hypertrophic, the model predicted decreasing fugacities for the PCBs, and thus could not support the observation of increased bivalve CPCB seen in the field data study. It was suggested that the PCB pattern change in the bivalves could be influenced by algae-growth dynamics in the watercolumn. This would selectively intensify the washout of the ligher chlorinated homologues from the water and, thereby, decrease their concentrations in the bivalves.