Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
EFFECT OF VARIABLE RECRUITMENT AND POST-RECRUITMENT HERBIVORY ON LOCAL ABUNDANCE OF A MARINE ALGA

For marine algae, the relative importance of recruitment and post-recruitment processes in determining population abundance is not well understood. We documented patterns of recruitment and post-recruitment mortality for a common, clonally reproducing subtidal red alga from southeastern Australia, Delisea pulchra, and used a combination of empirical analyses and population simulations to assess the relative importance of the two processes to local population abundance. Using a hierarchical sampling design consisting of two depths and two spatial scales (quadrats and sites) within each depth, we followed monthly cohorts from recruitment to adulthood (6 mo of age). Recruitment of D. pulchra varied significantly in space and time and was generally decoupled from local adult abun- dance. Mortality was consistently high, particularly in the deep sites where only 1 of 291 plants survived >5 mo, and in the shallow sites when high densities of grazing sea urchins were present. Both early (1 mo) and late (6 mo) post-recruitment mortality of monthly cohorts were density independent at both spatial scales examined. Despite this pattern of mortality, variation in recruitment explained a significant amount of the subsequent variation in adult abundance in only 3 out of 10 cohorts at both spatial scales. This result indicates that high density-independent mortality was often important in determining adult abundance for individual cohorts. However, cumulative (across cohorts) recruitment into sites and quadrats over the entire study period explained a significant amount of the variation in the total number of plants that survived to reproduce there. Simulation models based on the measured demography of D. pulchra examined how the relative importance of recruitment and survivorship to population growth changed under two categories of sea urchin density: low ( 80 urchins/M2). These two categories represented the densities of sea urchins above and below a transition point where the mortality of D. pulchra went from being relatively low (17-33%/mo) to very high (63%/mo). When the effects of high densities of sea urchins were simulated, they caused a 95% decline in the population abundance of D. pulchra, compared to only a 31% decline when there were low densities of urchins. Significantly, the relative importance of recruitment and survivorship varied with sea urchin density: when there were high densities of sea urchins, population growth was more sensitive to increases in recruitment, whereas when there were low densities of urchins, survivorship was more important. Our findings demonstrate that the local popu- lation abundance of D. pulchra is determined by a combination of recruitment and density- independent mortality following recruitment, but it appears that the relative importance of the two processes varies in time and space.
The parotid secretory protein BPIFA2 is a salivary surfactant that affects lipopolysaccharide action

What is the central question of this study? The salivary protein BPIFA2 binds lipopolysaccharide, but its physiological function is not known. This study uses a new knockout mouse model to explore the physiological role of BPIFA2 in the oral cavity and systemic physiology. What is the main finding and its importance? BPIFA2 is a crucial surfactant in mouse saliva. In its absence, saliva exhibits the surface tension of water. Depletion of BPIFA2 affects salivary and ingested lipopolysaccharide and leads to systemic sequelae that include increased insulin secretion and metabolomic changes. These results suggest that the lipopolysaccharide‐binding activity of BPIFA2 affects the activity of ingested lipopolysaccharide in the intestine and that BPIFA2 depletion causes mild metabolic endotoxaemia.
Association of prediagnostic vitamin D status with mortality among colorectal cancer patients differs by common, inherited vitamin D‐binding protein isoforms

Lower prediagnostic circulating 25‐hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D)—considered the best marker of total vitamin D exposure—is associated with higher mortality risk among colorectal cancer (CRC) patients. However, it is unknown whether this association differs by the vitamin D‐binding protein (GC) isoform Gc2 (encoded by GC rs4588*C>A, Thr436Lys), which may substantially affect vitamin D metabolism and modify associations of 25(OH)D with colorectal neoplasm risk. Prediagnostic 25(OH)D‐mortality associations according to Gc2 isoform were estimated using multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression among 1281 CRC cases (635 deaths, 483 from CRC) from two large prospective cohorts conducted in the United States (Cancer Prevention Study‐II) and Europe (European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition). 25(OH)D measurements were calibrated to a single assay, season standardized, and categorized using Institute of Medicine recommendations (deficient [<30], insufficient [30 ‐ <50], sufficient [≥50 nmol/L]). In the pooled analysis, multivariable‐adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) for CRC‐specific mortality associated with deficient relative to sufficient 25(OH)D concentrations were 2.24 (95% CI 1.44‐3.49) among cases with the Gc2 isoform, and 0.94 (95% CI 0.68‐1.22) among cases without Gc2 (Pinteraction = .0002). The corresponding HRs for all‐cause mortality were 1.80 (95% CI 1.24‐2.60) among those with Gc2, and 1.12 (95% CI 0.84‐1.51) among those without Gc2 (Pinteraction = .004). Our findings suggest that the association of prediagnostic vitamin D status with mortality among CRC patients may differ by functional GC isoforms, and patients who inherit the Gc2 isoform (GC rs4588*A) may particularly benefit from higher circulating 25(OH)D for improved CRC prognosis.
Tumor Necrosis Factor Induces Obliterative Pulmonary Vascular Disease in a Novel Model of Connective Tissue Disease–Associated Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension

Connective tissue disease (CTD)–associated pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is the second most common etiology of PAH and carries a poor prognosis. Recently, it has been shown that female human tumor necrosis factor (TNF)–transgenic (Tg) mice die of cardiopulmonary disease by 6 months of age. This study was undertaken to characterize this pathophysiology and assess its potential as a novel model of CTD‐PAH.
Cerebrospinal Fluid Biomarkers to Differentiate Idiopathic Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus from Subcortical Ischemic Vascular Disease.

BACKGROUND Idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH) remains a challenge to differentiate from subcortical ischemic vascular disease (SIVD). Despite major research efforts, the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarker profiles of the two diseases are still not known in detail. OBJECTIVE To determine if novel CSF biomarkers, neurofilament light (NFL) reflecting axonal damage, the synaptic protein neurogranin (NG), and the astroglial marker chitinase-3-like protein 1 (YKL-40), and the core Alzheimer's disease (AD) biomarkers, amyloid-β 42 (Aβ42), total tau (t-tau), phosphorylated tau (p-tau), can differentiate iNPH from SIVD. Patients with AD and healthy controls (HC) were included for comparison purposes. METHODS Patients with iNPH (n = 28), SIVD (n = 30), AD (n = 57), and HC (n = 33) were retrospectively included from the Danish Dementia Biobank. All patients with iNPH had effect of shunt surgery with a follow-up period of 4 to 69 months. CSF biomarkers were measured using immunoassays. RESULTS Lower levels of NFL, NG, Aβ42, and t-tau were found in patients with iNPH versus SIVD, while YKL-40 and p-tau were similar in the two diseases. NFL and Aβ42 were the most reliable biomarkers to differentiate iNPH from SIVD with an area under the curve (AUC) on 0.82 and 0.80, respectively. Combining NFL with Aβ42, t-tau, and p-tau resulted in an AUC of 0.90, which was equivalent to the diagnostic accuracy of all six biomarkers combined. CONCLUSION An addition of NFL to the CSF panel of Aβ42, t-tau, and p-tau may improve the differentiation of iNPH from SIVD.
Assessing the growth in clinical skills using a progress clinical skills examination

Background This study evaluates the generalizability of an eight-station progress clinical skills examination and assesses the growth in performance for six clinical skills domains among first- and second-year medical students over four time points during the academic year. Methods We conducted a generalizability study for longitudinal and cross-sectional comparisons and assessed growth in six clinical skill domains via repeated measures ANOVA over the first and second year of medical school. Results The generalizability of the examination domain scores was low but consistent with previous studies of data gathering and communication skills. Variations in case difficulty across administrations of the examination made it difficult to assess longitudinal growth. It was possible to compare students at different training levels and the interaction of training level and growth. Second-year students outperformed first-year students, but first-year students’ clinical skills performance grew faster than second-year students narrowing the gap in clinical skills over the students’ first year of medical school. Conclusions Case specificity limits the ability to assess longitudinal growth in clinical skills through progress testing. Providing students with early clinical skills training and authentic clinical experiences appears to result in the rapid growth of clinical skills during the first year of medical school.
Estudo comparativo de métodos de amostragem de comunidades de Costão

This study compares three sampling methodologies of rocky shore communities: visual estimation, point intercept quadrats and destructive sampling. Visual estimation was performed in two sizes of sampling device and, point intercept quadrats was done with different numbers of marked dots. The sampling took place on the rocky shore of Forno beach, Buzios, RJ, in two different algae belts; one whose the landscape is characterized by Amphiroa sp. , the other, Sargassum furcatum was the most conspicuous species. The data were analyzed by ANOVA and Kruskal-Wallis tests. Number of species, total percent cover, diversity and evenness indices were the variables used. The results shown that in general the methods compared were not statistically different one from the other in this community. There were significative differences between the methods when comparison was made between non-destructive and destructive sampling. However, smaller areas of sampling devices and fewer intercept points decreased the sampling power in respect of sampling species richness. All of the methods studied were considered similar in concern of total cover index and of diversity and evenness indices, with some exceptions. Present data are useful only for rocky communities with similar profiles. The choice of method must be made in regard of each situation.
Distribution of antioxidant components in roots of different red beets (Beta vulgaris L.) cultivars

The beetroot is typically on the table in winter in form of pickles or juice, but for its nutritional values it would deserve more common consumption. Its curative effect in great part is due to the several vitamins, minerals, and compounds with antioxidant activity. But the division of biological active compounds is very different in the parts of the root. Based on our results, we could compare the differences between the morphology and some inner contents (soluble solid content, colour, betacyanin, betaxanthin, and polyphenol contents, antioxidant activity, and some flavonoids) of two beetroot cultivars. The results of the morphological investigations showed that the ‘Cylindre’ cultivar had more favourable crop parameters than the ‘Alto F1’ cultivar. In the ‘Cylindre’ cultivar the polyphenol content and the antioxidant capacity were significantly higher than in the ‘Alto F1’ cultivar. By determination of the betanin contents of the investigated beetroots, our results showed both betacyanin and betaxanthin contents were higher in the ‘Cylindre’ cultivar. The chlorogenic acid, gallic acid, the cumaric acid have been identified based on the peaks of HPLC in the studied beetroot cultivars.
Myofibroblasts and increased angiogenesis contribute to periapical cystic injury containment and repair

Background Myofibroblasts (MF) and angiogenesis are important factors in the development and expansion of cystic lesions, where these cells secrete growth factors and proteases, stimulating angiogenesis, matrix deposition and cell migration, affecting the growth of these periapicopathies. The present study aimed to evaluate the immunohistochemical expression of CD34 and α-SMA in radicular cysts (RC) and residual radicular cysts (RRC), with the purpose of contributing to a better understanding of the expansion and progression of these periapical lesions. Material and Methods The present study os a descriptive, quantitative and comparative analysis of positive CD34 and α-SMA immunohistochemical expressions in 30 RC and 30 RRC specimens. α-SMA expression was evaluated in the fibrous capsule of the lesions, at 100x magnification below the epithelial lining. A total of 10 higher immunostaining fields were selected and subsequently, positive cells were quantified at 400x magnification, averaged per field. Regarding the angiogenic index, immuno-labeled microvessel counts for the anti-CD34 antibody were performed in 10 fields at 200x magnification. Results Statistically significant differences regarding α-SMA immunostaining were observed (p = 0.035), as well as a correlation between α-SMA versus CD34 (p = 0.004) in RRC. However, the angiogenic index obtained by immunostaining for CD34 indicated no statistical difference between lesions. Intense inflammatory infiltrates were predominant in RC, while mild and moderate degrees were more commonly observed in RRC (p <0.001). Intense inflammatory infiltrates were also more often noted in larger RRC (p = 0.041). Inflammatory infiltrates showed no significant correlation with α-SMA and CD34 immunostaining. Conclusions The results indicate that the significant correlation found between the presence of MF and the angiogenic index are related to the repair process in RRC. Key words:Myofibroblasts, angiogenesis, inflammatory odontogenic cysts.
The chemical basis of protein splicing

Protein splicing is a recently discovered mechanism for the post-translational processing of proteins. It involves the self-catalyzed excision of an intervening polypeptide, the intein, from an inactive enzyme precursor and the formation of an active enzyme by joining the flanking regions by a peptide bond. Protein splicing occurs at a catalytic center that resides entirely within the intein. The catalyzed reactions include rearrangement of a peptide bond adjacent to cysteine or serine to yield a peptide ester, intramolecular transesterification involving a second cysteine, serine, or threonine side chain to yield a branched protein, and cyclization of an asparagine residue coupled to peptide bond cleavage to effect intein excision. This review discusses the mechanisms of these reactions and of similar reactions that underlie other types of protein rearrangements as well as the current state of knowledge on how these reactions are catalyzed.
Pharynx gargle samples are suitable for SARS-CoV-2 diagnostic use and save personal protective equipment and swabs

tions to balloons, gloves, barium enema, and other latex devices should be taken. The gold standard in the diagnosis is skin-prick testing in patients with localized symptoms and latex-specific IgE antibody assessment in cases of systemic symptoms.5 However, the wear and/or use test and the patch test are the alternative diagnostic tests.4 The most effective approach for the management of latex allergy is personal and environmental avoidance by considering hypoallergic gloves.4 Recommendations for the prevention of allergic reactions to gloves are summarized in Fig. 1. Urticaria can be treated with antihistamines and the elimination of the antigen. H1,2 Blockers can be used before coming into contact with latex devices; however, latex avoidance is superior to this protocol.4 Plastic gloves, considered as hypoallergenic polyvinylchloride (PVC) gloves, are also used among HCWs. Contact allergic reaction to PVC has also been reported as a result of allergy to many additives used in these gloves, including carba mix, mercaptobenzothiazole (MBT), thiurammix, mixed dialkyl thioureas, and black rubber mix.5 Allergic contact dermatitis has been reported in numerous case reports. Lesions may also become generalized in some patients. A patch test can be used to confirm the diagnosis. Topical corticosteroids are considered as the best choice of treatment; however, patients should be advised to use other types of gloves,5 although allergic contact dermatitis may coexist with immediate hypersensitivity to Latex.5 Nitrile, neoprene, and polyurethane are also used in plastic gloves. Hand dermatitis has been reported with these types of materials. The patch test is recommended in suspicious cases. Application of topical and oral steroids can mitigate the symptoms but the benefits should be weighed against the risks of side effects.6 Glove-related hand urticaria should also be considered as a differential diagnosis; it is caused by dermographism upon the application of the glove. Pain, burning, and pruritus in the affected area, and systemic symptoms such as fever are not present in glove-related hand urticaria. Further, nitrile gloves are more likely to cause this phenomenon because they are rigid and less flexible.7 Some types of powder used in gloves have been associated with an increased risk of skin roughness due to altering glove pH.8 Glove powder has been reported to cause allergic reactions, and hand eczema has been reported to decrease significantly after using powder-free gloves.9 Thus, the use of powder-free gloves is recommended in the current pandemic situation. HCWs are also encouraged to wear double gloves when handling COVID-19 patients’ airways, blood, urine, and other body fluids. The outer glove should be the first equipment to be removed.2
Population dynamics of the helminth community from migrating blue-winged teal: loss of helminths without replacement on the wintering grounds

The main and interactive effects of host and seasonal factors on abundance of 22 common helminth species from fall and spring migratory blue-winged teal collected in the Texas Panhandle were examined. Although abundances of many common helminth species were greater in immature than adult birds just off the breeding grounds, fall-collected adults had higher abundances of most helminth species than did both juvenile and adult birds from the wintering grounds in Mexico. While total abundance of helminths declined on the wintering grounds to only 54% of that from fall-collected birds, overall species composition and abundances of some helminth species were equivalent in the host population throughout the year, regardless of changing geographic locality and migratory stress. The helminth fauna acquired in the northern latitude breeding grounds was not replaced by an ecologically equivalent fauna in the southern latitude wintering grounds. Only one species, Corynosoma constrictum, was lost without replacement d.
A recent review and a taxonomy for hard and soft tissue visualization‐based mixed reality

Mixed reality (MR) visualization is gaining popularity in image‐guided surgery (IGS) systems, especially for hard and soft tissue surgeries. However, a few MR systems are implemented in real time. Some factors are limiting MR technology and creating a difficulty in setting up and evaluating the MR system in real environments. Some of these factors include: the end users are not considered, the limitations in the operating room, and the medical images are not fully unified into the operating interventions.
Psychological and demographic characteristics of 368 patients with dissociative seizures: data from the CODES cohort

Abstract Background We examined demographic, clinical, and psychological characteristics of a large cohort (n = 368) of adults with dissociative seizures (DS) recruited to the CODES randomised controlled trial (RCT) and explored differences associated with age at onset of DS, gender, and DS semiology. Methods Prior to randomisation within the CODES RCT, we collected demographic and clinical data on 368 participants. We assessed psychiatric comorbidity using the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview (M.I.N.I.) and a screening measure of personality disorder and measured anxiety, depression, psychological distress, somatic symptom burden, emotional expression, functional impact of DS, avoidance behaviour, and quality of life. We undertook comparisons based on reported age at DS onset (<40 v. ⩾40), gender (male v. female), and DS semiology (predominantly hyperkinetic v. hypokinetic). Results Our cohort was predominantly female (72%) and characterised by high levels of socio-economic deprivation. Two-thirds had predominantly hyperkinetic DS. Of the total, 69% had ⩾1 comorbid M.I. N.I. diagnosis (median number = 2), with agoraphobia being the most common concurrent diagnosis. Clinical levels of distress were reported by 86% and characteristics associated with maladaptive personality traits by 60%. Moderate-to-severe functional impairment, high levels of somatic symptoms, and impaired quality of life were also reported. Women had a younger age at DS onset than men. Conclusions Our study highlights the burden of psychopathology and socio-economic deprivation in a large, heterogeneous cohort of patients with DS. The lack of clear differences based on gender, DS semiology and age at onset suggests these factors do not add substantially to the heterogeneity of the cohort.
Developmental Course of Inflorescence and Spikelet in Rice

Seed production in rice (Oryza sativa L.) largely depends on the number of flowers, which is in turn regulated by the inflorescence architecture. The developmental process of inflorescence and spikelet in grasses including rice differs considerably from that in other monocotyledonous and dicotyledonous species, and rice, an important crop plant, is often used as a model monocot plant. Nevertheless, the developmental course of wild-type rice has not yet been well characterized. Thus, detailed description of rice inflorescence and spikelet development would be valuable for characterizing mutant phenotypes and also for comparing rice with other grass species. In this study, we showed a number of landmark events in the developmental courses of inflorescence and spikelet, and divided their development into nine and eight stages, respectively. This staging system would be useful as a reference for developmental description.
School Wellness Environments: Perceptions Versus Realities

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Final Rule on School Wellness Policy requires schools to self-evaluate wellness policies and environments. To understand the utility of this information, this study evaluates the validity of school-reported wellness information against directly observed data. Wellness leaders at 10 Midwestern elementary schools completed a questionnaire spanning nine school wellness settings. School-reported information was compared against a direct observation protocol. Percent agreement and κ statistics were used to assess agreement between school reporters and direct observation. Overall percent agreement between reporters and direct observation was 77.1%. Agreement ranged from 67.3% (Lunchroom Environment) to 92.0% (School Wellness Policies) across the nine categories. κ results showed that 65.7% of the items demonstrated fair or better reporter agreement. The results provide preliminary support for the utility of schools’ self-reported wellness information. Facilitation of independent reporting on wellness environments by school leaders will contribute to broader applications for school wellness programming.