Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
mRBPome capture identifies the RNA-binding protein TRIM71, an essential regulator of spermatogonial differentiation

ABSTRACT Continual spermatogenesis relies on the actions of an undifferentiated spermatogonial population that is composed of stem cells and progenitors. Here, using mouse models, we explored the role of RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) in regulation of the biological activities of this population. Proteins bound to polyadenylated RNAs in primary cultures of undifferentiated spermatogonia were captured with oligo (dT)-conjugated beads after UV-crosslinking and profiled by proteomics (termed mRBPome capture), yielding a putative repertoire of 473 RBPs. From this database, the RBP TRIM71 was identified and found to be expressed by stem and progenitor spermatogonia in prepubertal and adult mouse testes. Tissue-specific deletion of TRIM71 in the male germline led to reduction of the undifferentiated spermatogonial population and a block in transition to the differentiating state. Collectively, these findings demonstrate a key role of the RBP system in regulation of the spermatogenic lineage and may provide clues about the influence of RBPs on the biology of progenitor cell populations in other lineages. Highlighted Article: mRBPome capture reveals that the RNA-binding protein TRIM71 is expressed by mouse undifferentiated spermatogonial, and conditional knockout of Trim71 uncovers a key role in regulation of spermatogonial differentiation.
Predictors of Premature Rupture of Membranes among Pregnant Women in Rural Uganda: A Cross-Sectional Study at a Tertiary Teaching Hospital

Background Premature rupture of membranes (PROM) is a common condition in developed and developing countries and poses a serious threat to the maternal and fetal well-being if not properly managed. This study delineated the prevalence and predictors of PROM in the western part of Uganda so as to guide specific preventive measures. Methods A cross-sectional study design was conducted in the months of September 2019 to November 2019. A total of 334 pregnant women above 28 weeks of gestation admitted at the maternity ward of KIU-TH were consecutively enrolled. Interviewer-administered questionnaires were used to obtain the data. Descriptive statistics followed by binary logistic regression were conducted. All data analyses were conducted using STATA 14.2. Results Of the 334 pregnant women enrolled, the prevalence of PROM was found to be 13.8%. The significant independent predictors associated with lower odds of PROM were no history of urinary tract infection (UTI) in the month preceding enrollment into the study (aOR = 0.5, 95% CI: 0.22-0.69, p = 0.038) and gestational age of 37 weeks or more (aOR = 0.3, 95% CI: 0.14-0.71, p = 0.038) and gestational age of 37 weeks or more (aOR = 0.3, 95% CI: 0.14-0.71, p = 0.038) and gestational age of 37 weeks or more (aOR = 0.3, 95% CI: 0.14-0.71, Conclusions Majorly urinary tract infections, low gestational age, and abortions influence premature rupture of membranes among women. There is a great need for continuous screening and prompt treatment of pregnant women for UTI especially those with history of 3 or more abortions at less than 34 weeks of gestation.
Growth and Exploitation Rates of Four Cyprinids Fish in Al-Diwaniya River, Iraq

The growth, mortality and exploitation rates of cyprinids fish, Carasobarbus luteus, Arabibarbus grypus, Mesopotamichthys sharpeyi, Luciobarbus xanthopterus and Leuciscus vorax in Al-Diwaniya River, middle of Iraq were assessed from November 2016 to October 2017. Sampling was carried out by using four types of fishing gears. The relative abundance of these species were 10.1, 6.4, 6.3, 5.6 and 5.1% of the total catch, respectively. Growth patterns were allometric according to the length-weight relationships for all species. Asymptotic lengths(L∞) were 35, 58, 61, 73 and 56 cm for C. luteus, L. vorax, A. grypus, L. xanthopterus and M. sharpeyi, respectively. The lowest value of the growth performance index(Φ) was 2.53 for C. luteus and the highest one was 3.13 for A. grypus. Analysis of mortality using length-based cohort analysis gave fishing mortality rates greatly higher than the natural mortality rates for all species. It could be concluded that all studied fish populations in the river were under heavy fishing pressure. Therefore, it is necessary to impose fishing (exploitation) regulation by activating the national law of fishing, exploiting and protecting aquatic resources.
Effect of Arginine on Chaperone-Like Activity of HspB6 and Monomeric 14-3-3ζ

The effect of protein chaperones HspB6 and the monomeric form of the protein 14-3-3ζ (14-3-3ζm) on a test system based on thermal aggregation of UV-irradiated glycogen phosphorylase b (UV-Phb) at 37 °C and a constant ionic strength (0.15 M) was studied using dynamic light scattering. A significant increase in the anti-aggregation activity of HspB6 and 14-3-3ζm was demonstrated in the presence of 0.1 M arginine (Arg). To compare the effects of these chaperones on UV-Phb aggregation, the values of initial stoichiometry of the chaperone–target protein complex (S0) were used. The analysis of the S0 values shows that in the presence of Arg fewer chaperone subunits are needed to completely prevent aggregation of the UV-Phb subunit. The changes in the structures of HspB6 and 14-3-3ζm induced by binding of Arg were evaluated by the fluorescence spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry. It was suggested that Arg caused conformational changes in chaperone molecules, which led to a decrease in the thermal stability of protein chaperones and their destabilization.
A Successful Pregnancy with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a degenerative motor neurone disease that is rarely seen in the obstetric population. We present a 32-year-old patient who presented in her fourth pregnancy with a background history of ALS. There was complete involvement of the upper and lower motor neurone system and bulbar system without involvement of the sensory system. At 34 weeks of gestation, she had a full course of steroids and an elective caesarian section under general anaesthesia due to extreme restricted mobility and difficulty of breathing. A multidisciplinary team managed the pregnancy, and both maternal and fetal outcomes were good.
Immunomodulatory Effects of Lycium barbarum Polysaccharide Extract and Its Uptake Behaviors at the Cellular Level

Lycium barbarum L. is a widely used functional food and medicinal herb in Asian countries. L. barbarium polysaccharides (LBP) are considered as one of the major medicinal components of L. barbarium fruit and exhibits a wide range of biological activities. Here, we investigated the immunomodulatory effects of LBP and its uptake behaviors at the cellular level. LBP was prepared by water extraction and ethanol precipitation, and divided into two fractions based on the molecular weight distribution by ultrafiltration (LBP > 10 kDa and LBP < 10 kDa). The physicochemical properties of LBP and LBP fractions were well characterized. The LBP > 10 kDa fraction greatly enhanced the viability of macrophages RAW264.7 cells and induced cell polarization, but had weak effects to other tested tumor cell lines and normal cell line. This fraction could regulate the production of NO, TNF-α, IL-6 and ROS in RAW264.7 cells, suggesting both pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory effects. The dye-labeled LBP could be internalized into all tested cell lines and accumulated in lysosomes. The internalization of LBP in RAW264.7 cells is mainly through the clathrin-mediated endocytosis pathway. The Caco-2 intestinal transport experiment demonstrated that the dye labeled LBP could be transported through the Caco-2 cell monolayer (mimic intestinal epithelium) through clathrin-mediated endocytosis. These results demonstrate the immunomodulatory effects of LBP and its effective uptake by macrophages and intestine.
An Investigation into the Management of Adherence to Antiretroviral Treatment : A Case Study of Murchison District Hospital

The Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome constitute one of the major diseases that affect society since the first known cases in the early 1980’s. Recent statistics have indicated that South Africa has the largest and highest profile HIV/AIDS epidemic in the world with an estimated 5.7 million of its 48.3 million citizens being infected with HIV. As antiretroviral medicines become increasingly available and affordable for the treatment of eligible patients, more attention is rightly being focused on issues related to the rational use of these medicines, with one of them being adherence. One of the major challenges surrounding the management of ART programmes is the adherence of patients to their ART as non adherence of patients to their ART not only has a host of negative consequences for the patient but also a number of significant effects on the organisation and the management thereof.
Tree of Life Synagogue Shooting in Pittsburgh: Preparedness, Prehospital Care, and Lessons Learned

On Saturday, October 27, 2018, a man with anti-Semitic motivations entered Tree of Life synagogue in the Squirrel Hill section of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; he had an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle and three handguns, opening fire upon worshippers. Eventually 11 civilians died at the scene and eight people sustained non-fatal injuries, including five police officers. Each person injured but alive at the scene received care at one of three local level-one trauma centers. The injured had wounds often seen in war-settings, with the signature of high velocity weaponry. We describe the scene response, specific elements of our hospital plans, the overall out-of-hospital preparedness in Pittsburgh, and the lessons learned.
Socio-emotional determinants of depressive symptoms in adolescents and adults with autism spectrum disorder: A systematic review

Co-occurring problems with mood and anxiety among adolescents and adults on the autism spectrum are highly prevalent and contribute to poor outcomes and diminished quality of life. The current study’s principal aim was to evaluate variation in the presentation of depression symptomatology among adolescents and adults with autism spectrum disorder, specifically to determine if social motivation may be implicated in an autism spectrum disorder–specific subtype of depression. A systematic review was conducted, with an initial search conducted in February 2018 and a search update conducted in November 2019, yielding 48 articles which met inclusion criteria. Results support other recent work indicating that symptoms of depression are highly prevalent among adolescents and adults with autism spectrum disorder. Coding of study variables related to core autism spectrum disorder symptoms provided initial evidence for the proposition of a conceptual model implicating social motivation in the etiology of depression among a subset of individuals with autism spectrum disorder. Lay abstract Many adolescents and adults with autism spectrum disorder experience difficulty with symptoms of depression. These symptoms can contribute to poor quality of life and lack of independence for adolescents and adults. To better understand these symptoms, we conducted a review of articles that examined the presentation of depression specific to autism spectrum disorder. Our goals in conducting this study were (1) to examine whether depression may be associated with symptoms that are common among people with autism spectrum disorder, such as loneliness or poor social motivation; (2) to determine whether people with autism spectrum disorder experience depression in a different way than the general population; and (3) to add to other recent studies that have examined how common depression is in autism spectrum disorder and how it is typically measured. Our study reviewed 48 papers on this topic. Results showed that a substantial proportion of people with autism spectrum disorder experience significant symptoms of depression. We related our results to social factors commonly studied in this field (i.e. social motivation) and proposed a new model for the development of depression in this population.
Targeting glycosphingolipid metabolism as a potential therapeutic approach for treating disease in female MRL/lpr lupus mice

Glycosphingolipids (GSLs) hexosylceramides and lactosylceramides are elevated in lupus mice and human patients with nephritis. Whereas other renal diseases characterized by increased GSL levels are thought to be a result of upregulated GSL synthesis, our results suggest elevated hexosylceramides and lactosylceramides in lupus nephritis is a result of increased catabolism of ganglioside GM3 due to significantly increased neuraminidase (NEU) activity. Thus, we hypothesized GM3 would be decreased in lupus nephritis kidneys and blocking NEU activity would reduce GSLs and improve disease in lupus mice. Female MRL/lpr lupus mice were treated with water or the NEU inhibitor oseltamivir phosphate at the onset of proteinuria to block GSL catabolism. Age-matched (non-nephritic) female MRL/MpJ lupus mice served as controls. Renal GM3 levels were significantly higher in the nephritic MRL/lpr water-treated mice compared to non-nephritic MRL/MpJ mice, despite significantly increased renal NEU activity. Blocking GSL catabolism increased, rather than decreased, renal and urine GSL levels and disease was not significantly impacted. A pilot study treating MRL/lpr females with GlcCer synthase inhibitor Genz-667161 to block GSL synthesis resulted in a strong significant negative correlation between Genz-667161 dose and renal GSL hexosylceramide and GM3 levels. Splenomegaly was negatively correlated and serum IgG levels were marginally correlated with increasing Genz-667161 dose. These results suggest accumulation of renal GM3 may be due to dysregulation of one or more of the GSL ganglioside pathways and inhibiting GSL synthesis, but not catabolism, may be a therapeutic approach for treating lupus nephritis.
Exact distribution of divergence times from fossil ages and tree topologies

Being given a phylogenetic tree of both extant and extinct taxa in which the fossil ages are the only temporal information (namely, in which divergence times are considered unknown), we provide a method to compute the exact probability distribution of any divergence time of the tree with regard to any speciation (cladogenesis), extinction and fossilization rates under the Fossilized-Birth-Death model. We use this new method to obtain a probability distribution for the age of Amniota (the synapsid/sauropsid or bird/mammal divergence), one of the most-frequently used dating constraints. Our results suggest an older age (between about 322 and 340 Ma) than has been assumed by most studies that have used this constraint (which typically assumed a best estimate around 310-315 Ma) and provide, for the first time, a method to compute the shape of the probability density for this divergence time.
Potato consumption is associated with total and cause-specific mortality: a population-based cohort study and pooling of prospective studies with 98,569 participants

Introduction The long-term effect of potato consumption on mortality and cardiovascular (CV) and cardiometabolic risk factors is still largely unknown. Using the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES) 1999–2010, we evaluted the long-term impact of potato intake on total and cause-specific (cardiovascular disease (CVD), cerebrovascular disease and cancer) mortality, and the results were next validated in a systematic review and meta-analysis of cohort studies investigating pooled associations of potato consumption with all-cause and cause-specific death. Material and methods Vital status up to December 31, 2011 was ascertained in NHANES. Cox proportional hazards were applied to determine the hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) of mortality for each quartile of the potato intake, with the lowest quartile (Q1 – with the lowest intake) used as a reference. In the meta-analysis we used adjusted Cox regression to determine the risk ratio (RR) and 95% CI, as well as random effects models and generic inverse variance methods to synthesize quantitative and pooled data, followed by a leave-one-out method for sensitivity analysis. Results Among 24,856 participants included, 3433 deaths occurred during the mean follow-up of 6.4 years. In multivariate adjusted models, total (42%), CVD (65%), cerebrovascular (26%) and cancer (52%) mortality risk was greater in individuals with higher potato consumption than those with the lowest intake (p < 0.001 for all comparisons). However, this link disappeared after adjustment for confounding factors. Results from pooling current prospective studies revealed a non-significant association between total (RR = 1.25, 0.98–1.60, p = 0.066), CVD (RR = 0.99, 0.90–1.08, p = 0.845) and stroke mortality (RR = 0.94, 0.85–1.03, p = 0.214) with potato consumption. Individuals with a higher potato intake had a less favorable profile of cardiometabolic factors, including greater waist circumference (97.2 vs. 99.5 cm, p < 0.001) and a less favorable profile of systolic and diastolic blood pressure, levels of triglycerides (TG), high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) and TG/HDL-C ratio (p < 0.001 for all comparisons). Conclusions Our results revealed no significant effects of potato intake on long-term mortality rates, whereas higher potato consumption was adversely related to cardiometabolic risk factors. These findings should be taken into consideration for public health strategies, establishing the position for potatoes in the food pyramid.
Reliability, validity, interpretability and responsiveness of the DEMMI mobility index for Brazilian older hospitalized patients

Aim To translate and adapt cross-culturally the De Morton Mobility Index from English to Brazilian Portuguese. Furthermore, to test the content validity, reliability, construct validity, interpretability and responsiveness for older hospitalized patients. Methods After we carried out the translation and the cross-cultural adaptation of the De Morton Mobility Index and its administration instructions according to international guidelines, the content validity of De Morton Mobility Index was tested by experienced physiotherapists. In the sequence, the reliability, construct validity, interpretability and responsiveness were tested in a test-retest design with 93 older patients hospitalized in ward for clinical reasons. The reliability was tested by Cronbach's alpha coefficient (internal consistency), standard error measurement (agreement), and interclass correlation coefficients (intra and inter-examiner reliability). The construct validity was tested by Pearson's correlation between the De Morton Mobility Index score and the number of steps. Interpretability was analyzed by determining the minimum detectable change and the floor and ceiling effects (frequency of maximum and minimum scoring). Responsiveness was analyzed by effect size. Results The Brazilian version of the De Morton Mobility Index was made and adapted. The internal consistency (α = 0.89), reliability intra-(ICC = 0.94) and inter-examiners (ICC = 0.82), agreement were all adequate. The De Morton Mobility Index is validity when correlated with number of steps (r = 0.46). Floor or ceiling effects (<15%) were not observed and the responsiveness was high (ES = 3.65). Conclusion The De Morton Mobility Index has shown adequate reliability, validity, interpretability and responsiveness for the evaluation of the mobility of older hospitalized patients.
Genome Sequence Analysis of Auricularia heimuer Combined with Genetic Linkage Map

Auricularia heimuer is one of the most popular edible fungi in China. In this study, the whole genome of A. heimuer was sequenced on the Illumina HiSeq X system and compared with other mushrooms genomes. As a wood-rotting fungus, a total of 509 carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes) were annotated in order to explore its potential capabilities on wood degradation. The glycoside hydrolases (GH) family genes in the A. heimuer genome were more abundant than the genes in the other 11 mushrooms genomes. The A. heimuer genome contained 102 genes encoding class III, IV, and V ethanol dehydrogenases. Evolutionary analysis based on 562 orthologous single-copy genes from 15 mushrooms showed that Auricularia formed an early independent branch of Agaricomycetes. The mating-type locus of A. heimuer was located on linkage group 8 by genetic linkage analysis. By combining the genome sequence analysis with the genetic linkage map, the mating-type locus of A. heimuer was located on scaffold45 and consisted of two subunits, α and β. Each subunit consisted of a pair of homeodomain mating-type protein genes HD1 and HD2. The mapping revealed conserved synteny at the whole mating-type loci and mirror symmetry relations near the β subunit between A. heimuer and Exidia glandulosa. This study proposed the potential for the bioethanol production by consolidated bioprocessing of A. heimuer. It will promote understanding of the lignocellulose degradation system and facilitate more efficient conversion of the agricultural wastes used for mushroom cultivation. It also will advance the research on the fruiting body development and evolution of A. heimuer.
Exposure to Analogous Harmdoing Increases Acknowledgment of Ingroup Transgressions in Intergroup Conflicts

A major barrier to the resolution of intergroup conflicts is the reluctance to acknowledge transgressions committed by one’s ingroup toward the outgroup. Existing research demonstrates that individuals are generally motivated to justify ingroup conduct and avoid experiencing guilt and shame about ingroup harmdoing. The current work explores the use of an analogy-based intervention to attenuate motivated reasoning in evaluations of ingroup harmdoing. Overall, across six studies, we find support for our hypothesis that considering a case of harmdoing in a removed context increases acknowledgment of an analogous case of ingroup harmdoing. We further explore why, and under what conditions, the analogy is effective in leading to increased acknowledgment of an ingroup transgression. We find that the effect of the analogy is mediated by the endorsement of moral principles specific to the domain of the transgression, suggesting that the mechanism involves a cognitive process of analogical reasoning.