Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Distribution of Deep-Sea Sponge Aggregations in an Area of Multisectoral Activities and Changing Oceanic Conditions

Discovery and understanding of fragile deep-sea habitats like sponge aggregations, are being outpaced by anthropogenic resource exploitation. Sustainable ocean development in the Faroe-Shetland Channel Nature Conservation Marine Protected Area (FSC NCMPA; northeast Atlantic), which harbours sponge aggregations, now requires adaptive management in the face of encroachment of multisectorial activities in this area (e.g. fishing, oil and gas, shipping) and climate change. We examined sponge morphotype composition, richness, diversity, density and body-size distribution inside and outside the FSC NCMPA, and the role of environmental variability and human impact in these sponge aggregations. Analyses were based on the examination of 465 high resolution images from 13 towed-camera transects. A catalogue for regional sponge morphotypes was also developed and applied for these analyses. Analysis revealed that morphotype composition did not differ between inside and outside the FSC NCMPA but richness, diversity and densities of massive/spherical/papillate and flabellate/caliculate sponges were higher inside than outside the boundary. The sponge aggregations occurred within a narrow zone between 450 and 530 m depth, within relatively warm and saline water masses. Furthermore, multiple size cohorts of sponges were recorded inside the FSC NCMPA, in contrast to the single cohort outside. Distance-based linear modelling showed that demersal fisheries, substratum, salinity and temperature explained a statistically-significant amount of variation (48%, p<0.001) of sponge density across the study area. Findings on density and size cohorts suggest that the FSC NCMPA boundary currently encloses the most vulnerable area, which also demonstrates normal ecosystem functions (e.g. recruitment). However, sponges were constrained to a narrow environmental niche shaped by fisheries and interactions of FSC NCMPA water masses with the slope that in turn likely determine, food supply to the sponge aggregations. Our study illustrated the vulnerability of the FSC NCMPA sponge aggregations to fisheries and changes to water mass properties over time. The morphotype catalogue and suite of indicators (i.e. density and body-size distribution) allow for baseline and future assessments of anthropogenic and climate change impacts on sponge aggregations’ environmental status in the FSC NCMPA, thus guiding management as sectoral encroachment continues in this area.
Epidemiology of heart failure and trends in diagnostic work-up: a retrospective, population-based cohort study in Sweden

Purpose The purpose of this study was to examine the trends in heart failure (HF) epidemiology and diagnostic work-up in Sweden. Methods Adults with incident HF (≥2 ICD-10 diagnostic codes) were identified from linked national health registers (cohort 1, 2005–2013) and electronic medical records (cohort 2, 2010–2015; primary/secondary care patients from Uppsala and Västerbotten). Trends in annual HF incidence rate and prevalence, risk of all-cause and cardiovascular disease (CVD)-related 1-year mortality and use of diagnostic tests 6 months before and after first HF diagnosis (cohort 2) were assessed. Results Baseline demographic and clinical characteristics were similar for cohort 1 (N=174,537) and 2 (N=8,702), with mean ages of 77.4 and 76.6 years, respectively; almost 30% of patients were aged ≥85 years. From 2010 to 2014, age-adjusted annual incidence rate of HF/1,000 inhabitants decreased (from 3.20 to 2.91, cohort 1; from 4.34 to 3.33, cohort 2), while age-adjusted prevalence increased (from 1.61% to 1.72% and from 2.15% to 2.18%, respectively). Age-adjusted 1-year all-cause and CVD-related mortality was higher in men than in women among patients in cohort 1 (all-cause mortality hazard ratio [HR] men vs women 1.07 [95% CI 1.06–1.09] and CVD-related mortality subdistribution HR for men vs women 1.04 [95% CI 1.02–1.07], respectively). While 83.5% of patients underwent N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide testing, only 36.4% of patients had an echocardiogram at the time of diagnosis, although this increased overtime. In the national prevalent HF population (patients with a diagnosis in 1997–2004 who survived into the analysis period; N=273,999), death from ischemic heart disease and myocardial infarction declined between 2005 and 2013, while death from HF and atrial fibrillation/flutter increased (P<0.0001 for trends over time). Conclusion The annual incidence rate of HF declined over time, while prevalence of HF has increased, suggesting that patients with HF were surviving longer over time. Our study confirms that previously reported epidemiological trends persist and remain to ensure proper diagnostic evaluation and management of patients with HF.
Sex-Interacting mRNA- and miRNA-eQTLs and Their Implications in Gene Expression Regulation and Disease

Despite sex being an important epidemiological and physiological factor, not much is known about how sex works to interact with genotypes to result in different phenotypes. Both messenger RNA (mRNA) and microRNA (miRNA) may be differentially expressed between the sexes in different physiological conditions, and both may be differentially regulated between males and females. Using whole transcriptome data on lymphoblastoid cell lines from 338 samples of European origin, we tried to uncover genes differentially expressed between the two sexes and sex-interacting expression quantitative trait loci (ss-eQTLs). Two miRNAs were found to be differentially expressed between the two sexes, both of which were found to be functionally implicated in breast cancer. Using two stage linear regression analysis, 21 mRNA ss-eQTL and 3 miRNA ss-eQTLs were discovered. We replicated two of the mRNA ss-eQTLs (p < 0.1) using a separate dataset of gene expression data derived from monocytes. Three mRNA ss-eQTLs are in high linkage disequilibrium with variants also found to be associated with sexually dimorphic traits. Taken together, we believe the ss-eQTLs presented will assist researchers in uncovering the basis of sex-biased gene expression regulation, and ultimately help us understand the genetic basis of differences in phenotypes between sexes.
A Phylogenetic Study of Monalysin Family of Proteobacterial Pore-Forming Toxins

In order to thoroughly comprehend the working of a protein to make use of its features in wet lab analysis, a rigorous phylogenetic study is crucial to clarify its origins and better understand its mechanism of working. In this study, the pore-forming proteins belonging to the Monalysin family have been clustered with other families of Proteobacterial pore-forming toxins. The focus of this study has been divided into three stages, each one employing a different parameter to be used as the basis to form the dataset for the phylogenetic tree - multiple alignment, pair-wise alignment with a threshold score, and finally motif analysis. The resultant data was analysed and interpreted; and clear relatedness between the Monalysin, Aerolysin, Cytohemolysin and Channel-Forming Leukocidin Cytotoxin (Ctx) Family, with respect to their binary sequence alignment as well as the presence of the common pore-forming motif, ETX_MTX2 (with the exception of Cytohemolysin), which is found to be characteristic to the Monalysin family, was detected. The phylogenetic trees showed significant variation in their form, clearly illustrating the importance of the criteria used to select the pool of proteins, and depicting the patterns of evolution that led to the development of the characteristic features of the Monalysin family of pore-forming toxins. The results of this study can be made use of in the development of strategic, targeted biological control mechanisms to combat problems faced in various sectors, like agriculture.
A complete characterization of the ordering of path-complete methods

We study criteria allowing to compare the conservativeness of stability certificates for switching systems. The stability certificates under consideration are Path-Complete Lyapunov functions (PCLFs), which are multiple Lyapunov functions with an underlying combinatorial structure. Several criteria exist to compare these certificates and we focus here on the recently introduced concept of simulation. This criterion, which is borrowed from automata theory, relies only on the combinatorial structures that underlie the PCLFs. We show that the concept of simulation provides a complete characterization of the ordering relation between PCLFs, independently of the algebraic properties of the dynamical system studied and the template of Lyapunov functions used. We summarize the state of the art on the comparison of PCLFs and raise future research directions.
Fostering Workplace Innovation through CSR and Authentic Leadership: Evidence from SME Sector

The cut-throat situation of competitiveness in almost every business sector, followed by globalization, shortened product life cycles, and rapid technological changes have raised the importance of innovation to overrun the rivals. Scholars have established that appropriate leadership style is a key enabler for organizational success. However, it is not clear in existing literature how the concept of authentic leadership is related to innovative work behavior (IWB). Likewise, the role of corporate social responsibility (CSR) to induce IWB is also vague in current literature. Thus, the basic purpose of the current study was to test the relationship of CSR and IWB with the mediating effect of authentic leadership. The proposed model was tested in the small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) sector of China. The data were collected through a questionnaire that was distributed among different respondents of the current survey. The data were obtained from a dyad of supervisor and subordinate serving in different SMEs in Wuhan city of China. The study used the structural equation modeling (SEM) technique to validate different hypotheses. The empirical results confirm that CSR positively relates to IWB while authentic leadership partially mediates this relationship. The findings of the current survey will be helpful for policymakers to recognize employees as a source of innovation through CSR and authentic leadership.
On the Kirchhoff Index and the Number of Spanning Trees of Linear Phenylenes Chain

Abstract Let denote a molecular graph of linear phenylene, containing n hexagons and squares. In this paper, according to the decomposition theorem of Laplacian polynomial, we obtain that the Laplacian spectrum of consists of the Laplacian spectrum of path and eigenvalues of a symmentric tridiagonal matrix of order 4n. By applying the relationship between the roots and coefficients of the characteristic polynomial of the above matrix, explicit closed formula of Kirchhoff index and the number of spanning trees of are derived in terms of the Laplacian spectrum.
RPCValet: NI-Driven Tail-Aware Balancing of µs-Scale RPCs

Modern online services come with stringent quality requirements in terms of response time tail latency. Because of their decomposition into fine-grained communicating software layers, a single user request fans out into a plethora of short, μs-scale RPCs, aggravating the need for faster inter-server communication. In reaction to that need, we are witnessing a technological transition characterized by the emergence of hardware-terminated user-level protocols (e.g., InfiniBand/RDMA) and new architectures with fully integrated Network Interfaces (NIs). Such architectures offer a unique opportunity for a new NI-driven approach to balancing RPCs among the cores of manycore server CPUs, yielding major tail latency improvements for μs-scale RPCs. We introduce RPCValet, an NI-driven RPC load-balancing design for architectures with hardware-terminated protocols and integrated NIs, that delivers near-optimal tail latency. RPCValet's RPC dispatch decisions emulate the theoretically optimal single-queue system, without incurring synchronization overheads currently associated with single-queue implementations. Our design improves throughput under tight tail latency goals by up to 1.4x, and reduces tail latency before saturation by up to 4x for RPCs with μs-scale service times, as compared to current systems with hardware support for RPC load distribution. RPCValet performs within 15% of the theoretically optimal single-queue system.
Legacy of Past Mining Activity Affecting the Present Distribution of Dissolved and Particulate Mercury and Methylmercury in an Estuarine Environment (Nalón River, Northern Spain)

At the Nalón River estuary (Asturias, Northern Spain), the occurrence of Hg is due to historical mining activity which has resulted in environmental issues of great concern. Although several studies have investigated the sediment compartment regarding Hg contamination, no information is currently available on the fate of Hg and MeHg in the water column. Considering different hydrodynamic/seasonal conditions, water samples were collected along the estuary to evaluate Hg and MeHg distribution and partitioning behaviour between solid and aqueous phases. The complementary effect of the river discharge and tidal currents contributed to the prevalence of the dissolved (4.02 ± 1.33 ng L−1) or particulate (8.37 ± 4.20 ng L−1) Hg under different conditions of discharge in summer and autumn, respectively. Conversely, particulate MeHg prevailed when the river flow was low, especially at the estuary mouth (25.8 ± 19.1 pg L−1) and most likely due to the resuspension of fine particles promoted by a stronger tidal current. In comparison with the total Hg concentration, extremely low amounts of dissolved and particulate MeHg were observed, and strong interactions between MeHg and organic carbon highlighted a negligible risk of increased mobility and potential bioaccumulation of MeHg.
Psychosocial Interventions for People Who Self-Harm: Methodological Issues Involved in Trials to Evaluate Effectiveness

We have assessed the methodological quality of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of interventions to prevent self-harm repetition and suicide. Trials were identified in two systematic reviews of RCTs of psychosocial treatments following a recent (within six months) episode of self-harm indexed in any of five electronic databases (CCDANCTR-Studies and References, CENTRAL, Medline, Embase, and PsycINFO) between 1 January, 1998 and 29 April, 2015. A total of 66 trials were included, 55 in adults and 11 in children and adolescents. While evidence for efficacy of some approaches has grown, there were few trials from low-to-middle income countries, little information on interventions for males, information on the control condition was often limited, data on suicides were often not reported, and, while trials have increased in size in recent years, most have included too few participants to detect clinically significant results. There are major limitations in many trials of interventions for individuals who self-harm. Improved methodology, especially with regard to study size, provision of details of control therapy, and evaluation of key outcomes, would enhance the evidence base for clinicians and service users.
Enzymatic association in the diets of laying hens raised in an alternative cage-free system

Abstract: The objective of this work was to evaluate the use of enzyme combinations in diets, with different nutritional uplift matrices, for hens raised in an alternative cage-free system. The experiment was carried out with 800 Isa Brown laying hens aged 24-30 weeks, distributed in a 2x2 factorial arrangement, with two combinations of enzymes (phytase and xylanase) and two nutritional matrices (conventional and overvalued uplifts). The treatments were: T1, phytase (450 FTU per kilogram) + xylanase (12,000 BXU per kilogram), using matrix I (100 Kcal kg-1 apparent metabolizable energy, 0.16% calcium, 0.15% available phosphorus, 0.03 sodium, and 0.02% digestible lysine); T2, phytase (1,500 FTU per kilogram) and matrix I; T3, phytase (450 FTU per kilogram) + xylanase (12,000 BXU per kilogram), using matrix II (120 Kcal kg-1 apparent metabolizable energy, 0.22% calcium, 0.20% available phosphorus, 0.04% sodium, and 0.05% digestible lysine); and T4, phytase (1,500 FTU per kilogram) and matrix II. Productive performance variables and external and internal egg quality were analyzed. The use of phytase or of the phytase + xylanase combination, independently of the nutritional matrix used, met the nutrient requirements of the animals and maintained their productive performance. However, the combination phytase + xylanase and the adoption of matrix I was more efficient.
Negotiating access to the Nigerian healthcare system: the experiences of HIV-positive men who have sex with men

Abstract Men who have sex with men in sub-Saharan Africa continue to have a disproportionately higher burden of HIV than their counterparts in the general population. In this qualitative study, barriers to participants accessing healthcare services in Nigeria, a country where same-sex relationships are criminalised and considered societally abhorrent, were explored. Four focus group discussions and 21 semi-structured interviews were conducted with HIV-positive men who have sex with men recruited from 3 NGOs in Abuja and Lagos, Nigeria in 2016. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed thematically using NVivo. The findings of this study revealed the numerous barriers these men encounter accessing general (government and private) healthcare facilities. Data were organised into two categories: barriers associated with the wider legal context in relation to HIV-positive men who have sex with men and those with service delivery. There were barriers reported in relation to accessing an emerging service, which had hitherto sought to address some barriers encountered in general healthcare facilities. Findings point to the importance of facilitating a more enabling social and political environment whereby men who have sex with men can freely access healthcare services, potentially through these facilities.
The effect of educational text message based on health belief model on osteoporosis preventive behaviors in women: a randomized controlled clinical trial

ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of educational text messages, based on the health belief model, on osteoporosis preventive behaviors among women aged 30–45 years. This trial was conducted on 121 women from November until September 2017 in Shabestar, Iran. The intervention group received a daily educational text message about osteoporosis for one month, and the control group received educational text messages on frequently occurring cancers in women. Two months after the training, data were collected using the osteoporosis health belief scale, a food frequency questionnaire and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. No significant differences were observed at baseline between the two groups, except for the perceived benefits construct. After the intervention, controlling for baseline score and adjusting for educational level, a statistically significant difference was observed between the two groups in HBM structures and nutrition performance, while no significant difference was observed in physical activity between the two groups. This study showed that educational text messages can be effective in increasing awareness, perceived susceptibility and severity, and nutritional behavior change related to risk of osteoporosis.
Long-term treatment with valganciclovir improves lentiviral suicide gene therapy of glioblastoma.

BACKGROUND Suicide gene therapy for malignant gliomas has shown encouraging results in the latest clinical trials. However, prodrug application was most often restricted to short-term treatment (14 days), especially when replication-defective vectors were used. We previously showed that a substantial fraction of Herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase (HSV-TK) transduced tumor cells survive ganciclovir (GCV) treatment in an orthotopic glioblastoma (GBM) xenograft model. Here we analyzed whether these TK+ tumor cells are still sensitive to prodrug treatment and whether prolonged prodrug treatment can enhance treatment efficacy. METHODS TK-GFP+ glioma cells were sorted from xenograft tumors recurring after suicide gene therapy, and their sensitivity to GCV was tested in vitro. GBM xenografts were treated with HSV-TK/GCV, HSV-TK/valganciclovir (valGCV) or HSV-TK/valGCV + erlotinib. Tumor growth was analyzed by MRI, and survival as well as morphological and molecular changes were assessed. RESULTS TK-GFP+ tumor cells from recurrent xenograft tumors retained sensitivity to GCV in vitro. Importantly, a prolonged period (3 months) of prodrug administration with valganciclovir (valGCV) resulted in a significant survival advantage compared to short-term (3 weeks) application of GCV. Recurrent tumors from the treatment groups were more invasive and less angiogenic compared to primary tumors and showed significant upregulation of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) expression. However, double treatment with the EGFR inhibitor erlotinib did not increase therapeutic efficacy. CONCLUSIONS Long-term treatment with valGCV should be considered as a replacement for short-term treatment with GCV in clinical trials of HSV-TK mediated suicide gene therapy.