Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The macroecology of extra‐pair paternity in birds

Extra‐pair paternity (EPP) is a key aspect of the mating behaviour of birds and its frequency varies widely among populations and species. Several hypotheses predict patterns of geographical variation in the occurrence and frequency of EPP, but a global‐scale study on variation in this trait is still lacking. We collected data on EPP from 663 populations of 401 avian species and explored the geographical variation in the frequency of EPP among populations, species and species assemblages. We modelled the variation in the frequency of EPP within the species’ breeding range accounting for the specific ecological context of each population, and used the model predictions to compute frequencies of EPP at the level of species assemblages. A global map of assemblage‐level EPP rates shows clear differences between zoogeographical realms, with the highest EPP values in the Nearctic realm. Our results show that the frequency of EPP (1) decreases with latitude and increases with the distance from the breeding range boundary within the species’ breeding range, (2) is negatively associated with generation length and pair‐bond duration among species, and (3) decreases with latitude at assemblage level. The latitudinal decline of EPP is consistent across zoogeographical realms.
Multi-institutional TSA-amplified Multiplexed Immunofluorescence Reproducibility Evaluation (MITRE) Study

Background Emerging data suggest predictive biomarkers based on the spatial arrangement of cells or coexpression patterns in tissue sections will play an important role in precision immuno-oncology. Multiplexed immunofluorescence (mIF) is ideally suited to such assessments. Standardization and validation of an end-to-end workflow that supports multisite trials and clinical laboratory processes are vital. Six institutions collaborated to: (1) optimize an automated six-plex assay focused on the PD-1/PD-L1 axis, (2) assess intersite and intrasite reproducibility of staining using a locked down image analysis algorithm to measure tumor cell and immune cell (IC) subset densities, %PD-L1 expression on tumor cells (TCs) and ICs, and PD-1/PD-L1 proximity assessments. Methods A six-plex mIF panel (PD-L1, PD-1, CD8, CD68, FOXP3, and CK) was rigorously optimized as determined by quantitative equivalence to immunohistochemistry (IHC) chromogenic assays. Serial sections from tonsil and breast carcinoma and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) tissue microarrays (TMAs), TSA-Opal fluorescent detection reagents, and antibodies were distributed to the six sites equipped with a Leica Bond Rx autostainer and a Vectra Polaris multispectral imaging platform. Tissue sections were stained and imaged at each site and delivered to a single site for analysis. Intersite and intrasite reproducibility were assessed by linear fits to plots of cell densities, including %PDL1 expression by TCs and ICs in the breast and NSCLC TMAs. Results Comparison of the percent positive cells for each marker between mIF and IHC revealed that enhanced amplification in the mIF assay was required to detect low-level expression of PD-1, PD-L1, FoxP3 and CD68. Following optimization, an average equivalence of 90% was achieved between mIF and IHC across all six assay markers. Intersite and intrasite cell density assessments showed an average concordance of R2=0.75 (slope=0.92) and R2=0.88 (slope=0.93) for breast carcinoma, respectively, and an average concordance of R2=0.72 (slope=0.86) and R2=0.81 (slope=0.68) for NSCLC. Intersite concordance for %PD-L1+ICs had an average R2 value of 0.88 and slope of 0.92. Assessments of PD-1/PD-L1 proximity also showed strong concordance (R2=0.82; slope=0.75). Conclusions Assay optimization yielded highly sensitive, reproducible mIF characterization of the PD-1/PD-L1 axis across multiple sites. High concordance was observed across sites for measures of density of specific IC subsets, measures of coexpression and proximity with single-cell resolution.
Earthquake Threat! Understanding the Intention to Prepare for the Big One

Knowledge about how hazard‐threatened individuals perceive risks and what influences their intentions to prepare is crucial for effective disaster management. We investigated (a) whether residents of objectively higher‐risk earthquake areas within a city perceive greater risk, have stronger intentions to prepare, and report more preparation than residents of objectively lower‐risk areas, (b) 10 antecedent factors as predictors of the intention to prepare for an earthquake, and (c) whether risk perception mediates the relations between nine antecedent factors and the intention to prepare. Notably, residents of high‐risk areas did not express stronger intentions to prepare or report more preparations than did residents of low‐risk areas, despite perceiving significantly greater risk. Risk perception mediated the relation between antecedent fatalism and the intention to prepare. Among the policy implications is a clear need for greater education of residents in high‐risk earthquake areas.
Ultrasound Assessment of Sarcopenia in Patients With Sarcoidosis

Sarcoidosis can cause sarcopenia like other chronic diseases. Ultrasonography is a simple method, which has been used frequently in recent years. We aimed to evaluate the sarcoidosis patients with ultrasonography for sarcopenia and to compare the results of ultrasonography with the accepted standard method, bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA).
Which is the best combination of surgery for hepatocellular carcinoma with hepatic/portal vein thrombosis in China: a network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

PURPOSE To assess the efficacy and safety of different perioperative regimens using network meta-analysis for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with hepatic/portal vein thrombosis. The interested modalities included neoadjuvant three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3D-CRT), post-operative intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT). post-operative transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) and surgery alone. METHODS PubMed and Cochrane Library electronic databases were systematically searched for eligible studies published up to November 2020. Data related to treatment efficacy including overall survival (OS), and disease-free survival (DFS) were extracted and compared using a Bayesian approach. Adverse events (AEs) were assessed and compared. RESULTS Four studies published between 2005 and 2020 involving a total of 422 patients were enrolled in this network meta-analysis. The comparison showed that surgery with IMRT ranked relatively higher in prolonging OS in advanced HCC patients, followed by neoadjuvant 3DCRT and surgery plus TACE. Postoperative IMRT appeared better choice in terms of DFS. The rate of AEs did not significantly differ. CONCLUSION Adjuvant IMRT showed more favorable treatment responses compared with other regimens in HCC patients with hepatic/portal vein thrombosis.
Sex-specific cut-off values for soluble suppression of tumorigenicity 2 (ST2) biomarker increase its cardiovascular prognostic value in the community

Abstract Background Suppression of tumorigenicity 2 (ST2) has important cardiovascular prognostic value in community patients; however, previous analyses have utilized non-sex specific cut-off values. We assessed whether sex-specific ST2 cut-off values would improve the prognostic utility of ST2 in the asymptomatic community. Methods A total of 2042 participants underwent clinical assessment and echocardiographic evaluation. Baseline measurements of high sensitivity troponin, natriuretic peptides and ST2 were obtained in 1681 individuals. ST2, cardiac biomarkers and associated co-morbidities were evaluated by sex-specific ST2 quartile analysis. ST2 concentrations were also analysed as dichotomous variables defined as being above the sex-specific cut-off for each the outcomes of heart failure (HF), major adverse cardiac event (MACE) and mortality. Results Median ST2 concentration was 29.4 ng/mL in male subjects and 24.1 ng/mL in female subjects. Higher ST2 concentrations were associated with incident HF (p<0.001; preserved ejection fraction (EF) p<0.001, reduced EF p=0.23), MACE (p=0.003) and mortality (p<0.001) across sex-specific quartiles. Event-based, hazard ratio (HR) analysis revealed sex-specific ST2 cut-offs were significantly more predictive of incident HF, MACE and mortality compared to non-sex-specific analysis even following adjustment for cardiac co-morbidities and traditional biomarkers. Conclusions These data suggest that sex-specific cut-offs, greater than non-sex specific cut-offs, significantly impact the prognostic value of the biomarker ST2 in the asymptomatic community cohort. Clinical Significance Suppression of tumorigenicity 2 (ST2) is a biomarker which has known associations with heart failure (HF), major adverse cardiac events (MACEs) and mortality in the general population. Recent data support the concept of sex-specific cut off values and individualized approaches based on sex to predict cardiovascular disease. Given the difference in pathobiology between the sexes, the fact that such approaches improve risk stratification is understandable. Thus, when sex-specific treatments are developed, this may similarly lead to improved outcomes. The use of sex-specific ST2 cut-off values significantly improved the prognostic value in predicting HF, MACE, and mortality in an asymptomatic community. This prognostication was particularly strong for HF with preserved ejection fraction and remained clinically significant following adjustment for cardiac co-morbidities and other traditional cardiac biomarkers (NTproBNP and hscTnI).
Elevating Social and Behavior Change as an Essential Component of Family Planning Programs

Abstract The global family planning community has made significant progress towards enabling 120 million more women and girls to use contraceptives by 2020, though we enter the decade ahead with a long road yet to travel. While investment in strong health systems and supply chains is still needed, the supply‐driven approach dominant in family planning fails to address the individual, relational, and social barriers faced by women and couples in achieving their reproductive intentions and desired family size. Overcoming these barriers will require a better understanding of behavioral drivers and the social environment in which family planning decisions are made, and an increased investment in the proven, yet underutilized, approach of social and behavior change (SBC). We make the case that a more intentional focus on the science of human behavior in family planning can help advance the achievement of global, regional, and national goals while also calling for strategic and sustained investment that reflects the critical importance and proven impact of SBC approaches.
Associations between Hamstring Fatigue and Sprint Kinematics during a Simulated Football (Soccer) Match

ABSTRACT Purpose Neuromuscular fatigue is considered to be important in the etiology of hamstring strain injuries in football. Fatigue is assumed to lead to decreases in hamstring contractile strength and changes in sprinting kinematics, which would increase hamstring strain injury risk. Therefore, the aim was to examine the effects of football-specific fatigue on hamstring maximal voluntary torque (MVT) and rate of torque development (RTD), in relation to alterations in sprinting kinematics. Methods Ten amateur football players executed a 90-min running-based football match simulation. Before and after every 15 min of simulated play, MVT and RTD of the hamstrings were obtained in addition to the performance and lower body kinematics during a 20-m maximal sprint. Linear mixed models and repeated measurement correlations were used to assess changes over time and common within participant associations between hamstring contractile properties and peak knee extension during the final part of the swing phase, peak hip flexion, peak combined knee extension and hip flexion, and peak joint angular velocities, respectively. Results Hamstring MVT and sprint performance were significantly reduced by 7.5% and 14.3% at the end of the football match simulation. Unexpectedly, there were no indications for reductions in RTD when MVT decrease was considered. Decreases in hamstring MVT were significantly correlated to decreases in peak knee angle (R = 0.342) and to increases in the peak combined angle (R = −0.251). Conclusions During a football match simulation, maximal voluntary isometric hamstring torque declines. This decline is related to greater peak knee extension and peak combined angle during sprint running, which indicates a reduced capacity of the hamstrings to decelerate the lower leg during sprint running with fatigue.
Training Load, Heart Rate Variability, Direct Current Potential and Elite Long Jump Performance Prior and during the 2016 Olympic Games.

The primary objective of this investigation was to investigate the relationships between training load (TL), heart rate variability (HRV) and direct current potential (DC) with elite long jump performance prior to and during the 2016 Olympics Games. Sessional ratings of perceived exertion (sRPE), training duration, HRV and DC were collected from four elite athletes (26.4 ± 1.4 years, height 1.83 ± 0.05 m, weight 68.9 ± 5.0 kg) for a 16-week period in qualification for and competition at the 2016 Olympic Games. Acute and chronic TL, training stress balance and differential load were calculated with three different smoothing methods. These TL measures along with HRV and DC were examined for their relationship to intra-athlete performance using repeated measure correlations and linear mixed models. Successful compared to unsuccessful intra-athlete performances were characterised by a higher chronic TL (p < 0.01, f2 = 0.31) but only when TL was exponentially smoothed. There were also negative correlations between HRV and performance (r = -0.55, p < 0.01) and HRV was significantly lower for more successful performances (p < 0.01, f2 = 0.19). Exponentially smoothed chronic TL was significantly higher and HRV was significantly lower for successful intra-athlete performances prior and during the 2016 Olympics Games in an elite group of long jump athletes. Monitoring sRPE and HRV measures and manipulating TL prior to competition seems worthwhile for elite long jump athletes.
Toxicity and Risk Assessment of Zinc and Aluminum Mixtures to Ceriodaphnia silvestrii (Crustacea: Cladocera)

Despite the co‐occurrence of metals in aquatic environments, their joint effects are generally not considered during risk assessments. Data on the combined effects of zinc (Zn) and aluminum (Al) on aquatic animals are extremely scarce in the literature, although these metals are commonly used in domestic and industrial activities. In the present study, we investigated the effects of mixtures of Zn and Al on the cladoceran Ceriodaphnia silvestrii. We evaluated immobility (at 48 h) and ingestion rates (at 24 h). We also performed chronic toxicity tests for single metals. The environmental risks of these substances for tropical freshwaters were estimated from the risk quotient (measured environmental concentration/predicted no‐effect concentration). In immobility tests, our results showed a 48‐h median effect concentration (EC50) of 0.22 mg Zn L−1 and 0.52 mg Al L−1, and we observed synergistic effects of Zn and Al, following the independent action model. The ingestion rates of C. silvestrii were inhibited at 0.1, 0.4, and 0.5 mg Al L−1, and they were increased at 0.08 mg Zn L−1; we observed antagonistic effects in all treatments combined with 0.5 mg Al L−1. In terms of chronic toxicity, a 7‐d EC50 occurred at 0.11 mg Zn L−1 and 0.37 mg Al L−1. The risk assessment suggests a potential risk of these metals at environmentally relevant concentrations, especially when in a mixture. Therefore, we recommend mixture toxicity tests during risk assessments to ensure that zooplankton are protected. Environ Toxicol Chem 2021;40:2912–2922. © 2021 SETAC
Rapid Hygiene Assay Sensitive to Cumulative Adenylate Homologues Exhibits Equal or Higher Frequencies of Soil Contamination Detection than Assay Limited to ATP Detection.

Based upon regulatory and food industry-driven food safety standards, there is a need for rapid, accurate methods for assessing sanitary conditions. A commonly utilized assay is based on the assessment of the biochemical molecule, adenosine triphosphate (ATP). A more recent assay (AXP) targets the cumulative presence of ATP and its dephosphorylated homologues, adenosine diphosphate (ADP) and adenosine monophosphate (AMP). Yet, there is little information that compares the practical performance of these two assays. This work examined these two assay types with a comparative study in a Grade A dairy foods processing plant and a licensed and inspected meat processing facility. A total of 1,920 concomitant analyses were conducted with main variables of assay type, processing facility type and hygiene zone category. Statistical process control methodology was used to calculate 95% confidence control limits (CL); data beyond those limits were considered contamination events. Results demonstrated that, overall, the AXP assay detected contamination events approximately two times more often than the ATP-only based assay. This increase in the rate of contamination event detection was especially more prevalent in the meat processing facility where, across all hygienic zones, there were 38 vs. 85 contaminations events detected for the ATP and AXP assays, respectively. Across hygiene zones, the AXP data displayed either an equal or increased incidence of soil detection compared to data from the ATP assay. This study provides applied evidence that assays solely dependent on ATP concentrations are less able to detect soil contaminants under conditions that favor ATP dephosphorylation reactions.
Wet desulfurization of flue gas and mass transfer mechanism in water-sparged aerocyclone

Wet desulfurization of flue gas was investigated with Ca(OH)2 slurry as absorbent in a watersparged aerocyclone(WSA),new and high efficiency gas-liquid mass transfer equipment.The results show that the removal efficiency of SO2 increases with the inlet gas velocity,first increases linearly with liquid jet velocity uL,and then remains almost constant when uL is equal to or greater than 0.29m·s-1.The removal efficiency of SO2 decreases as SO2 concentration in the flue gas increases,and presents a maximum value with the increase of liquid reflux ratio and Ca(OH)2concentration in the absorbent slurry.The removal efficiency of SO2 can reach 88.9%—97.7% under the following conditions:flue gas flow rate of 24—72m3·h-1,absorbent recirculation flow rate of 0.4—0.8m3·h-1,Ca(OH)2concentration in absorbent of 7500g·m-3,and SO2 concentration in flue gas of 1891—6373mg·m-3.No fouling and blocking were found in the WSA because of the self-cleaning ability of the cyclone gas and liquid jet. The mass transfer mechanism in the WSA was also investigated.The results show that the overall volumetric mass transfer coefficient KG aand the interfacial area aincrease with the increase of inlet gas velocity uG,the overall mass transfer coefficient KG increases with uG slowly.KG aand KG increase quickly with liquid jet velocity uL when uL ≤0.26m·s-1 and then increase slowly,and aincreases almost linearly with the increase of uL.As Ca(OH) 2 concentration cL increases,KG aand KG increase first and then decrease.The empirical formulae fit the experimental data well and could be used to predict the mass transfer characteristics for wet desulfurization in WSA.Under the experimental conditions,the mass transfer in wet desulfurization in the WSA is controlled by both gas film and liquid film,mainly by liquid film.
Photocatalysis of Ag-Loaded TiO2 Nanotube Arrays Formed by Atomic Layer Deposition

Anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) film was used as a template to fabricate TiO2 nanotubes. TiO2 was deposited into the AAO pores by atomic layer deposition (ALD) at 100 °C. After the top layer of TiO2 and the AAO template were removed, an ordered array of TiO2 nanotubes remained on the substrate. The tube thickness increased with the cycle number of ALD. The UV–vis absorption spectra of the samples exhibited a red shift as the thickness increased or after annealing. The photocatalytic activity increased with the increase in the wall thickness of TiO2 nanotubes. With deposition of Ag nanoparticles on the tubes, the nanoparticles could act as an electron trapper to slow the electron–hole recombination rate, and thus enhance the efficiency of photodecomposition of methyl orange.
Extending Riemannian Brain-Computer Interface to Functional Connectivity Estimators

—This abstract describes a novel approach for handling brain-computer interfaces (BCI), that could be used for robotic applications. State-of-the-art approaches rely on the classiﬁcation of covariance matrices in the manifold of symmetric positive-deﬁnite matrices. Functional connectivity estimators have demonstrated their reliability and are good candidates to improve the classiﬁcation accuracy of covariance-based methods. This abstract explores possible application of functional connectivity in Riemannian BCI.
Emerging Roles and Therapeutic Interventions of Aerobic Glycolysis in Glioma

: Glioma is the most common type of intracranial malignant tumor, with a great recurrence rate due to its in ﬁ ltrative growth, treatment resistance, intra- and intertumoral genetic heterogeneity. Recently, accumulating studies have illustrated that activated aerobic glycolysis participated in various cellular and clinical activities of glioma, thus in ﬂ uencing the ef ﬁ cacy of radiotherapy and chemotherapy. However, the glycolytic process is too complicated and ambiguous to serve as a novel therapy for glioma. In this review, we generalized the implication of key enzymes, glucose transporters (GLUTs), signalings and transcription factors in the glycolytic process of glioma. In addition, we summarized therapeutic interventions via the above aspects and discussed promising clinical applications for glioma.
Separation and Purification of Lentinan by Preparative High Speed Counter Current Chromatography

High speed counter current chromatography(HSCCC) had been applied for the separation of lentinan.The HSCCC run was carried out with a two-phase solvent system composed of polyethylene glycol 1000(PEG1000)-dipotassium hydrogen phosphate-monopotassium phosphate-water(0.5:1.25:1.25:7.0,m/m) by eluting the lower aqueous phase at 1.5 mL/min at 500 r/min.Under the optimized conditions,One-step HSCCC procedure yielded 95 mg of LenⅠ and 45 mg of LenⅡ. By Sephadex G-100 column chromatography,LenⅡ was identified to be homogenous,and the molecular weight was 293 kDa according to the method of gel-filtration.The IR sepectrum of LenⅡ showed polysaccharide a character.