Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Center Bias Does Not Account for the Advantage of Meaning Over Salience in Attentional Guidance During Scene Viewing

Studies assessing the relationship between high-level meaning and low-level image salience on real-world attention have shown that meaning better predicts eye movements than image salience. However, it is not yet clear whether the advantage of meaning over salience is a general phenomenon or whether it is related to center bias: the tendency for viewers to fixate scene centers. Previous meaning mapping studies have shown meaning predicts eye movements beyond center bias whereas saliency does not. However, these past findings were correlational or post hoc in nature. Therefore, to causally test whether meaning predicts eye movements beyond center bias, we used an established paradigm to reduce center bias in free viewing: moving the initial fixation position away from the center and delaying the first saccade. We compared the ability of meaning maps and image salience maps to account for the spatial distribution of fixations with reduced center bias. We found that meaning continued to explain both overall and early attention significantly better than image salience even when center bias was reduced by manipulation. In addition, although both meaning and image salience capture scene-specific information, image salience is driven by significantly greater scene-independent center bias in viewing than meaning. In total, the present findings indicate that the strong association of attention with meaning is not due to center bias.
Great Tit (Parus major) Uropygial Gland Microbiomes and Their Potential Defensive Roles

The uropygial gland (preen gland) of birds plays an important role in maintaining feather integrity and hygiene. Although a few studies have demonstrated potential defensive roles of bacteria residing within these glands, the diversity and functions of the uropygial gland microbiota are largely unknown. Therefore, we investigated the microbiota of great tit (Parus major) uropygial glands through both isolation of bacteria (culture-dependent) and 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing (culture-independent). Co-culture experiments of selected bacterial isolates with four known feather-degrading bacteria (Bacillus licheniformis, Kocuria rhizophila, Pseudomonas monteilii, and Dermacoccus nishinomiyaensis), two non-feather degrading feather bacteria, one common soil bacterial pathogen and two common fungal pathogens enabled us to evaluate the potential antimicrobial properties of these isolates. Our results show major differences between bacterial communities characterized using culture-dependent and -independent approaches. In the former, we were only able to isolate 12 bacterial genera (dominated by members of the Firmicutes and Actinobacteria), while amplicon sequencing identified 110 bacterial genera (dominated by Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, and Proteobacteria). Uropygial gland bacterial isolates belonging to the genera Bacillus and Kocuria were able to suppress the growth of four of the nine tested antagonists, attesting to potential defensive roles. However, these bacterial genera were infrequent in our MiSeq results suggesting that the isolated bacteria may not be obligate gland symbionts. Furthermore, bacterial functional predictions using 16S rRNA sequences also revealed the ability of uropygial gland bacteria to produce secondary metabolites with antimicrobial properties, such as terpenes. Our findings support that uropygial gland bacteria may play a role in feather health and that bacterial symbionts might act as defensive microbes. Future investigations of these bacterial communities, with targeted approaches (e.g., bacterial isolation and chemical analyses), are thus warranted to improve our understanding of the evolution and function of these host-microbe interactions.
Effects of the “Inspirational Lecture” in Combination With “Ordinary Antenatal Parental Classes” as Professional Support for Expectant Parents: A Pilot Study as a Randomized Controlled Trial

Background: Both expectant mothers and their partners describe weaknesses in ordinary parental preparatory professional support provided internationally and nationally within Sweden. Therefore, it is necessary to develop the parental preparatory professional support provided by midwives for expectant parents within Sweden. This study will evaluate the effects on expectant parents of receiving a combination of an “inspirational lecture” and “ordinary antenatal parental classes” compared with only “ordinary antenatal parental classes. ” Methods/Design: This block randomized controlled trial included an intervention as a pilot study, in which expectant parents were randomized for (1) the inspirational lecture and ordinary antenatal parental classes (intervention group [IG]) (n = 66) or (2) ordinary antenatal parental classes (control group [CG]) (n = 60). Data collection with repeated questionnaires was conducted in the first week and 6 months after birth. Statistical analyses were conducted for participant characteristics, differences between parents within IG and CG, effects of the intervention, intention to treat, and internal consistency of the included measurements. Results: The intervention showed a tendency to be gainful for one out of four outcomes related to birth experience, and parents' perceived quality of parental couple relationship consensus and sexuality and manageability. These results were more prominent for the partners. Parents within both the intervention and control groups reported decreased social support in the first 6 months after birth. Conclusion and Clinical Implications: Overall, the concept of the inspirational lecture in combination with ordinary antenatal parental classes as parental preparatory professional support seems to be a valuable care intervention. However, this study was a pilot study and the results should therefore be interpreted with caution. More research is needed since childbirth and transition to parenthood are complex processes in need of comprehension.
Real World Evidence on Second-Line Palliative Chemotherapy in Advanced Pancreatic Cancer

Background: The outcome and tolerability of palliative second line chemotherapy for advanced pancreatic cancer (APC) in real life patients are largely unknown. Prognostic parameters for risk stratification and treatment guidance are lacking. Materials and Methods: A population based multicenter retrospective cohort study was conducted, covering all APC patients who received palliative second-line chemotherapy between 2011 and 2018 at any cancer center in the South East Region of Sweden. Primary outcome was overall survival after second-line therapy (OS2). Time to treatment failure after second-line therapy (TTF2), hematological toxicity, and unplanned hospitalizations were key secondary outcomes. A number of baseline potentially prognostic parameters were assessed. Results: A total of 509 patients received first-line palliative chemotherapy, and of these 167 (33%) received at least one dose of second-line therapy and formed the final study population. Median OS2 was 5.2 months (95% CI = 4.7–5.7) and median TTF2 was 1.9 months (1.5–2.2). OS2 and TTF2 were similar regardless regimen, including comparison of the two most common regimens (fluoropyrimidine monotherapy vs. fluoropyrimidine/oxaliplatin doublet). Multivariate analysis revealed that normal plasma albumin (≥35) and serum CA-19-9 above median (>1,550) were independent predictors for OS2 (HR = 0.21, p < 0.001 and HR = 2.03, p = 0.009) and TTF2 (HR = 0.22, p < 0.001 and HR = 2.03, p = 0.01), while ECOG performance status >1 was predictive for TTF2 (HR = 2.05, p = 0.032). Grade 3–4 hematological toxicity was registered in 17 patients (10%). 50 (30%) had at least one event of hospitalization. Conclusion: The real world outcome of second line palliative chemotherapy for refractory APC remains dismal. Baseline plasma albumin, serum CA-19-9, and performance status emerge as key prognostic factors, and should be further studied as tools for individualized treatment decisions.
The Depleted Carbon Isotopic Signature of Nematodes and Harpacticoids and Their Place in Carbon Processing in Fish Farm Sediments

Fish farm-originating organic matter can modify the ecological processes in a benthic ecosystem. This was investigated in the sediments of the northern Adriatic Sea by measuring δ13C signature of nematodes, harpacticoids, and sedimentary organic matter, and by assessing pore water nutrients and bacterial composition. In a mesocosm experiment, 13C-labeled diatoms were added on top of sediment cores and 13C enrichment was measured as a proxy of diatom uptake by meiofauna. The δ13C signatures were depleted under fish farming cages compared to the reference site, as observed for sedimentary organic matter (−24.4‰ vs. −21.8‰), for nematodes (−22.5‰ vs. −17.7‰), and for harpacticoids (−25.3‰ vs. −20.8‰). The direct consumption of fish feed (−22.2‰) was not traced in meiofauna taxa. Nematodes from the farm site likely reflect a diet comprising sedimentary organic matter, as they were enriched by 2‰ relative to the sedimentary organic matter. The nematodes from the reference site were enriched by 4.2‰ relative to the sedimentary organic matter, which implies that they rely on more enriched food sources, like diatoms, which was confirmed by their uptake of 13C-labeled diatoms. The nematode assemblage incorporated more diatom 13C than harpacticoids, making them more important players in the carbon flux from diatoms to higher trophic levels at the reference site. Harpacticoids from the reference site were enriched by 1.1‰ compared to sedimentary organic matter, implying that this was their primary food source. Harpacticoids from the farm site were depleted by 0.9‰ relative to the sedimentary organic matter, indicating they were influenced by a very depleted food source like bacteria. Harpacticoids from both the cage and reference sites consumed 13C-labeled diatoms, which implies their diet might span a broad δ13C range, from bacteria to diatoms. Pore water nutrients with high dissolved inorganic carbon, phosphate, and ammonium concentration indicated an elevated microbial degradation of organic compounds under the fish farm. The denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis analysis showed a 70% similarity between sediment bacteria communities from the fish farm and reference site. The study demonstrated that fish farm-originating organic matter enters the meiofauna food chain, and that nematodes and harpacticoids use different food sources under the fish farm and at the reference site.
Demethylation of the NRF2 Promoter Protects Against Carcinogenesis Induced by Nano-SiO2

Nano silicon dioxide (Nano-SiO2) has been widely used in industries such as the field of biomedical engineering. Despite the existing evidence that Nano-SiO2 exposure could induce oxidative stress and inflammatory responses in multiple organ systems, the carcinogenicity of Nano-SiO2 exposure has rarely been investigated. Thus in this study, two types of human bronchial epithelial cell lines (16HBE and BEAS-2B) were selected as in vitro models to investigate the carcinogenicity of Nano-SiO2. Our results revealed that Nano-SiO2 induces a malignant cellular transformation in human bronchial epithelial cells according to the soft agar colony formation assay. The carcinogenesis induced by Nano-SiO2 was also confirmed in nude mice. By using immunofluorescence assay and high-performance capillary electrophoresis (HPCE), we observed a genome-wide DNA hypomethylation induced by Nano-SiO2. Besides the reduced enzyme activity of total DNMTs upon Nano-SiO2 treatment, altered expression of DNMTs and methyl-CpG binding proteins were observed. Besides, we found that the expression of NRF2 was activated by demethylation of CpG islands within the NRF2 promoter region and the overexpression of NRF2 could alleviate the carcinogenesis induced by Nano-SiO2. Taken together, our results suggested that Nano-SiO2 induces malignant cellular transformation with a global DNA hypomethylation, and the demethylation of NRF2 promoter activates the expression of NRF2, which plays an important role in protecting against the carcinogenesis induced by Nano-SiO2.
Identify the Risk Factors of COVID-19-Related Acute Kidney Injury: A Single-Center, Retrospective Cohort Study

Background: The kidney is a target organ that could be infected by SARS-CoV-2, and acute kidney injury (AKI) was associated with a higher risk of COVID-19 patients' in-hospital death. However, no published works discussed about the risk factors of COVID-19 related AKI. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study, recruiting COVID-19 inpatients from the Sino-French branch of Tongji Hospital. Demographic, clinical, treatment, and laboratory data were collected and compared. We used univariable and multivariable logistic regression methods to identify the risk factors of COVID-19-related AKI. Results: Of the 116 patients in our study, 12 (10.3%) were recognized as AKI, including 5 (4.3%) in-hospital AKI. Multivariable regression showed increasing odds of COVID-19-related AKI associated with COVID-19 clinical classification (OR = 8.155, 95% CI = 1.848–35.983, ref = non-critical, p = 0.06), procalcitonin more than 0.1 ng/mL (OR = 4.822, 95% CI = 1.095–21.228, p = 0.037), and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) <60 mL/min/1.73 m2 (OR = 13.451, 95% CI = 1.617–111.891, p = 0.016). Conclusions: COVID-19-related AKI was likely to be related to multiorgan failure rather than the kidney tropism of SARS-CoV-2. The potential risk factors of COVID-19 clinical classification, procalcitonin more than 0.1 ng/mL, and eGFR <60 mL/min/1.73 m2 could help clinicians to identify patients with kidney injury at an early stage.
Volumetric and Diffusion Abnormalities in Subcortical Nuclei of Older Adults With Cognitive Frailty

Background: Cognitive frailty (CF) is defined as the simultaneous presence of physical frailty and cognitive impairment among older adults without dementia. Previous studies have revealed that neuropathological changes may contribute to the degeneration of subcortical nuclei in the process of cognitive impairment. However, it is unclear in CF. The aim of this study is to investigate the changes in subcortical nuclei in older adults with CF and their relationship with cognitive decline and physical frailty. Methods: A total of 26 older adults with CF and 26 matched healthy subjects were enrolled. Cognitive function and physical frailty were assessed with the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) scale (Fuzhou version) and the Chinese version of the Edmonton Frailty Scale (EFS). Volumetric and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) parameters of subcortical nuclei were measured with structural and DTI brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and compared between groups. Partial correlation analysis was conducted between subcortical nuclei volumes, MoCA scores, and physical frailty indexes. Results: Significant volume reductions were found in five subcortical nuclei, including the bilateral thalami, left caudate, right pallidum, and accumbens area, in older adults with CF (P < 0.05), and the bilateral thalami was most obvious. Decreased fractional anisotropy and relative anisotropy values were observed only in the left thalamus in the CF group (P < 0.05). No group differences were found in apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values. The MoCA scores were positively correlated with the volumes of the bilateral thalami, right pallidum, and accumbens area (P < 0.05). Negative correlations were found between the physical frailty index and the volumes of the bilateral thalami, caudate, pallidum, and right accumbens area (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Microstructural changes occur in the subcortical nuclei of older adults with CF, and these changes are correlated with cognitive decline and physical frailty. Therefore, microstructural atrophy of the subcortical nuclei may be involved in the pathological progression of CF.
Properties and localization of the homoglutathione synthetase from Phaseolus coccineus leaves

The synthesis of homoglutathione (hGSH) by several plants of the tribe Phaseoleae is shown to be catalysed by a β-alanine-specific hGSH synthetase, Properties of the enzyme from Phaseolus coccineus L. cv. Preisgewinner were studied, using ammonium sulfate precipitates of primary leaf extracts. The hGSH synthetase showed a broad pH optimum at pH 8–9, an absolute requirement for Mg2+, a stimulation by K+, and a high affinity for γ-glutamylcysteine [Km(app.) 73 μM]. The enzyme exhibited a high specificity for β-alanine [Km(app.) 1.34 mM] compared to glycine [Km(app.) 98 mM]. Chloroplasts, isolated from the leaves of Phaseolus coccineus, contained about 17% of the hGSH synthetase activity in the leaf cells.
Expression and activity of 3‐hydroxy‐3‐methylglutaryl‐CoA synthase and reductase in the fat body of ovariectomized and allatectomized Blattella germanica

Abstract. 3‐Hydroxy‐3‐methylglutaryl‐CoA (HMG‐CoA) synthase and HMG‐CoA reductase show coordinated regulation in the fat body of Blattella germanica females. Since the profile of activity is parallel to the cycle of vitellogenin production, we postulated a link between the mevalonate pathway and vitellogenesis. Here we have studied both enzymes in females of B.germanica modified by ovariectomy (which leads to a saturable accumulation of vitellogenin) and allatectomy (which supresses vitellogenesis). Protein levels and enzymatic activity for both enzymes in ovariectomized specimens rose early in the first days of imaginal life and remained high until the end of the period studied, whereas controls showed cyclic profiles. In allatectomized specimens the same parameters were measured on day 4 of adult life and values were much lower with respect to controls. The parallelism between the patterns of HMG‐CoA synthase and reductase, and that of vitellogenin, suggests a functional relationship between the mevalonate pathway and the glycosylation of vitellogenin through dolichol intermediates.
Selection of Entomopathogenic Fungi for the Biological Control of Demotispa neivai (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) in Oil Palm Plantations in Colombia

Abstract Demotispa neivai (Bondar) is an economically important pest of oil palm, Elaeis guineensis Jacq. , plantations in Colombia. During our search for alternatives to conventional chemical insecticides for controlling D. neivai, we initially screened 50 isolates of various entomopathogenic fungi against adults and larvae. At a concentration of 1 × 107 conidia/ml, 28 of the isolates caused fungal-induced mortality. Isolates of Metarhizium anisopliae (Metchnikoff) Sorokin, designated CPMa1502 and CeMa9236, caused the greatest mortality in adults and larvae. These isolates were further evaluated for efficacy against natural infestations of D. neivai in oil palm fruit bunches by applying each isolate at a rate of 1 × 1013 conidia/ha. The CPMa1502 isolate caused a significantly (F = 39.22; df = 6, 8; P < 0.0001) higher larval mortality (87.7%) than that of the CeMa9236 isolate. Three concentrations (5 × 1012, 7.5 × 1012, and 1 × 1013 conidia/ha) of the CPMa1502 isolate were then compared in a field efficacy test, and no significant differences were observed among the treatments. CPMa1502 also was applied to commercial oil palm plantations in two tests at a rate of 1 × 1013 on a large plot with 23 palms and a rate of 5 × 1012 conidia/ha on a 511-palm plot. Larval mortality in these field tests was greater than 62%.
Differentiation of Cylicocyclus gyalocephaloides of Equus burchelli from Cylicocyclus insigne of Equus caballus (Strongyloidea: Nematoda)

Abstract Specimens of Cylicocyclus insigne (Boulenger, 1917) from Equus caballus and Cylicocyclus gyalocephaloides Ortlepp, 1938 from Equus burchelli were studied to determine whether they should be recognized as separate species. Both are relatively large species with broader than deep buccal capsules with thick, concave walls and a distinct basal external ring; a large esophageal funnel without a thick cuticular lining; and an excretory pore and cervical papillae at or near the junction of the esophagus and intestine. Although the specimens of C. gyalocephaloides are as long or longer than C. insigne, the former have a longer esophagus, males have shorter spicules and a longer gubernaculum, and females have a shorter vagina. In addition, the dorsal papillae of the genital cone of C. gyalocephaloides are more slender than those of C. insigne and bilateral spines present on the genital cones of C. insigne were not found on the available specimens of C. gyalocephaloides. It was concluded that sufficient morphological differences are present between C. insigne of E. caballus and C. gyalocephaloides of E. burchelli to recognize and distinguish both nematode species.
A survey of prepollex and prehallux variation in anuran limbs

This paper reviews skeletal variation of the prepollex and prehallux among anurans and analyses their ontogeny in neotropical species. Morphological diversity is related to the number and features of distal elements. In some groups, clear phylogenetic trends may be interpreted from prepollical and/or prehallical reduction. However, specialized patterns converge from similar habit or behaviour. Developmental data are considered for discussing homology hypotheses and also to interpret evolutionary changes of anuran prepollex and prehallux morphologies. There is an apparent invariance in the presence of these structures that suggests the prepollex and prehallux were integrated, conserved and evolved in the plan of anuran limbs.
Development of transgenic livestock with reduced myostatin expression using RNA interference.

RNA interference (RNAi) is a means of regulating gene expression by targeting mRNA in a sequence-specific manner for degradation or translational inhibition. Short hairpin RNAs (shRNAs) and siRNAs have been extensively employed for manipulating gene expression in a wide range of species. However, the great majority of this work has involved in vitro studies with cells grown in culture. Our goal for this project is to produce transgenic livestock in which myostatin, a negative regulator of muscle growth, has been targeted for silencing by RNAi. In theory, livestock in which myostatin has been silenced should exhibit increased muscle growth and development. To that end, we designed shRNAs to target the bovine myostatin mRNA sequence. The shRNAs were cloned into a lentiviral vector that contains a cytomegalovirus promoter controlling green fluorescent protein and shRNA expression as well as neomycin resistance. Infective lentivirus was made in HEK293T cells through co-transfection of the lentiviral vector, a packaging plasmid, and a plasmid expressing the VSVG pseudotype. Bovine fetal fibroblasts were transduced, selected using Geneticin®, and nuclear transfer was utilized to produce cloned transgenic embryos. There were 186 fusion attempts resulting in 160 fused embryos (fusion rate = 86%). Of these, 54 reached the blastocyst stage (34%) and 10 embryos were transferred into 5 recipient females (2 embryos per recipient). At 40 days, ultrasound revealed 1 confirmed pregnancy. Current plans are to harvest this fetus at 90 days and analyze it for evidence of myostatin knockdown. The production of transgenic animals exhibiting myostatin knockdown through lentiviral-mediated RNAi will demonstrate the utility of RNAi in the study of gene function in large animal models without the need for homologous recombination techniques, which are currently inefficient in species other than mice.