Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Disentangling the effects of size-dependent encounter and susceptibility to predation with an individual-based model for fish larvae

We investigated the effects of size-dependent encounter and susceptibility, the role of variation in the size distribution of predators, and the timing of prey-predator interaction during the larval phase in shaping the length frequency distribution of surviving fish larvae. These analyses based on general empirical size-dependent relationships may have broad implications in understanding larval fish cohort dynamics. We demonstrated that the formulations of encounter and susceptibility to predation counteract each other, an increased range of predator sizes reduces only slightly the evidence for size-selective mortality, and synchronous spawning and hatching events have the potential to yield strong size-selective mortality of a cohort of fish larvae. The important factors in generating size-selective mortality are either the timing of encounters between fish larvae and their predators or high mortality rates. We demonstrated a direct relationship between the potential of size-selective mortality and the overall mortality rate of the cohort. We suggest that it may be difficult to detect the effect of size-dependent processes in the field. A better understanding of the factors influencing encounter represents a critical element in extrapolating laboratory studies of predation to the field. Resume : Nous avons evalue les effets de rencontre et susceptibilite (tous deux specifiques aux tailles des proies et des predateurs), le role de la variation de taille des predateurs et l'effet du degre de synchronisme de l'interaction proie-predateur pendant le stage larvaire sur la distribution de tailles des larves de poissons. Ces analyses basees sur des relations empiriques generales pourraient avoir des consequences globales pour comprendre les dynamiques des cohortes de larves de poisson. Nous avons demontre que les fonctions de rencontre et de susceptibilite a la predation se neutralisent, qu'une augmentation de la gamme de tailles des predateurs ne reduit que tres peu la mortalite selective des larves et qu'une synchronisation du frai et de l'eclosion a le potentiel de generer une importante mortalite selective des tailles. Les facteurs importants pour generer une mortalite selective sont une synchronisation des rencontres entre les larves de poissons et leurs predateurs et un haut taux de mortalite. Nous demontrons une relation directe entre le potentiel selectif de mortalite et la mortalite totale de la cohorte des poissons larvaires. Nous suggerons qu'il peut etre difficile de detecter les effets de processus selectifs sur le terrain. Une comprehension plus exhaustive des facteurs influencants les taux de rencontres est un element cle pour l'extrapolation des etudes de predation en laboratoires sur le terrain.
Cardiovascular and cerebrovascular responses to cardio‐respiratory events in preterm infants during the transitional period

Non‐invasive simultaneous multiparametric monitoring allows the in vivo evaluation of cerebral and cardiovascular haemodynamic responses to different types of recurrent episodes of intermittent hypoxia and/or bradycardia, also defined as cardio‐respiratory events (CRE), in preterm neonates during postnatal transition. By decreasing left cardiac output, bradycardia further contributes to cerebral hypoxia during CRE. The presence of a haemodynamically significant patent ductus arteriosus results in a deeper impairment of cerebral oxygen status in response to CRE, whereas the brain‐sparing remodelling of the fetal circulation resulting from placental insufficiency is associated with more favourable haemodynamic responses to intermittent hypoxia. During transition, the haemodynamic impact of CRE is influenced not only by the event type, but also by specific clinical features; this highlights the importance of developing individualized approaches to reduce the hypoxic burden in this delicate phase.
Targeting Antigens to Different Receptors on Conventional Type 1 Dendritic Cells Impacts the Immune Response

Key Points Targeting different receptors on cDC1s impacts immune responses. Targeting Xcr1 induces Th1 polarization in vivo and in vitro. Targeting hemagglutinin to Xcr1 or Clec9A induces protection from influenza challenge. Targeting Ag to surface receptors on conventional type 1 dendritic cells can enhance induction of Ab and T cell responses. However, it is unclear to what extent the targeted receptor influences the resulting responses. In this study, we target Ag to Xcr1, Clec9A, or DEC-205, surface receptors that are expressed on conventional type 1 dendritic cells, and compare immune responses in BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice in vitro and in vivo after intradermal DNA vaccination. Targeting hemagglutinin from influenza A to Clec9A induced Ab responses with higher avidity that more efficiently neutralized influenza virus compared with Xcr1 and DEC-205 targeting. In contrast, targeting Xcr1 resulted in higher IFN-γ+CD8+ T cell responses in spleen and lung and stronger cytotoxicity. Both Clec9A and Xcr1 targeting induced Th1-polarized Ab responses, although the Th1 polarization of CD4+ T cells was more pronounced after Xcr1 targeting. Targeting DEC-205 resulted in poor Ab responses in BALB/c mice and a more mixed Th response. In an influenza challenge model, targeting either Xcr1 or Clec9A induced full and long-term protection against influenza infection, whereas only partial short-term protection was obtained when targeting DEC-205. In summary, the choice of targeting receptor, even on the same dendritic cell subpopulation, may strongly influence the resulting immune response, suggesting that different targeting strategies should be considered depending on the pathogen.
A natural hybrid between Dendrocalamus pendulus and Gigantochloa scortechinii (Poaceae: Bambusoideae: Bambuseae) in Peninsular Malaysia

A natural inter-generic bamboo hybrid between Dendrocalamus pendulus and Gigantochloa scortechinii is reported for Peninsular Malaysia. The hybrid has some morphological characteristics of each parent but also shows intermediacy between the parents. We demonstrate the hybridization using the partial Granule-Bound Starch Synthase (GBSS) I gene sequence. The nothogenus × Gigantocalamus K.M. Wong and nothospecies × Gigantocalamus malpenensis K.M. Wong are proposed for the hybrid. We suggest that chloroplast introgression could have occurred among the parental taxa or their ancestors and that the significance of introgressive hybridization in the complex taxonomic relationships of woody tropical bamboos in SE Asian Bambuseae has not been fully appreciated.
Titration of extra-PEEP against intrinsic-PEEP in severe asthma by electrical impedance tomography

Abstract Rationale: The use of extra-positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) at a level of 80% intrinsic-PEEP (iPEEP) to improve ventilation in severe asthma patients with control ventilation remains controversial. Electrical impedance tomography (EIT) may provide regional information for determining the optimal extra-PEEP to overcome gas trapping and distribution. Moreover, the experience of using EIT to determine extra-PEEP in severe asthma patients with controlled ventilation is limited. Patients concerns: A severe asthma patient had 12-cmH2O iPEEP using the end-expiratory airway occlusion method at Zero positive end-expiratory pressures (ZEEP). How to titrate the extra-PEEP to against iPEEP at bedside? Diagnoses and Interventions: An incremental PEEP titration was performed in the severe asthma patient with mechanical ventilation. An occult pendelluft phenomenon of the ventral and dorsal regions was found during the early and late expiration periods when the extra-PEEP was set to <6 cmH2O. If the extra-PEEP was elevated from 4 to 6 cmH2O, a decrease in the end-expiratory lung impedance (EELI) and a disappearance of the pendelluft phenomenon were observed during the PEEP titration. Moreover, there was broad disagreement as to the “best” extra-PEEP settings according to the various EIT parameters. The regional ventilation delay had the lowest extra-PEEP value (10 cmH2O), whereas the value was 12 cmH2O for the lung collapse/overdistension index and 14 cmH2O for global inhomogeneity. Outcomes: The extra-PEEP was set at 6 cmH2O, and the severe whistling sound was improved. The patient's condition further became better under the integrated therapy. Lessons: A broad literature review shows that this was the 3rd case of using EIT to titrate an extra-PEEP to against PEEPi. Importantly, the visualization of occult pendelluft and possible air release during incremental PEEP titration was documented for the first time during incremental PEEP titration in patients with severe asthma. Examining the presence of the occult pendelluft phenomenon and changes in the EELI by EIT might be an alternative means for determining an individual's extra-PEEP.
Evidence for age‐related differences in heat acclimatisation responsiveness

What is the central question of this study? Repeated heat exposure during the summer months can enhance heat loss in humans (seasonal heat acclimatisation), but does the magnitude of that enhancement differ between young and older adults when assessed during passive heat exposure? What is the main finding and its importance? While seasonal heat acclimatisation enhanced evaporative heat loss (i.e. sweating) in both young and older adults, those improvements led to a greater reduction in body heat storage in older adults. These outcomes indicate that heat acclimatisation may confer greater thermoregulatory benefits with increasing age.
IdentificationofNewZealand's terrestrialamphipods (Crustacea:Amphipoda:Talitridae)

A checklist and an illustrated key to the identification of the 28 described species and species groups of terrestrial amphipods (Crustacea: Amphipoda: Talitridae) of New Zealand are provided.Twenty-five species are endemic, belonging to six endemic genera( Kanikania ,Makawe ,Parorchestia ,Puhuruhuru ,TaraandWaematau ). Abrief history ofNewZealandterrestrialamphipodtaxonomyandanoverviewofthegroup'sdiversityare presented.Identificationmethodsandterminologyaredefined,withterrestrialamphipod morphology described and illustrated.The key is intended as a stand-alone identification guide,andisdesignedtoenableidentificationofindividualsofeithersexintheabsenceof specimensoftheoppositesex.
Disinfection susceptibilities of detached biofilm clusters compared to planktonic cells and biofilms in single species and dual species cultures

Although the detachment of cells from biofilms is of fundamental importance to the dissemination of organisms in both public health and clinical settings, the disinfection efficacies of commonly used biocides on detached biofilm particles has not been investigated. Therefore, the question arises whether cells in detached aggregates can be killed with disinfectant concentrations sufficient to inactivate planktonic cells. Burkholderia cepacia and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were grown in standardized laboratory reactors as single species and in co-culture. Cluster size distributions in chemostats and biofilm reactor effluent were measured. Chlorine susceptibility was assessed for planktonic cultures, attached biofilm, and particles and cells detached from the biofilm. Disinfection tolerance generally increased with a higher percentage of larger cell clusters in the chemostat and detached biofilm. Samples with a lower percentage of large clusters were more easily disinfected. Thus, disinfection tolerance depended on the cluster size distribution rather than sample type for chemostat and detached biofilm. Intact biofilms were more tolerant to chlorine independent of species. Homogenization of samples led to significantly increased susceptibility in all biofilm samples as well as detached clusters for single species B. cepacia, B. cepacia in co-culture, and P. aeruginosa in co-culture. The disinfection efficacy was also dependent on species composition; co-culture was advantageous to the survival of both species when grown as a biofilm or as clusters 24 detached from biofilm but surprisingly resulted in a lower disinfection tolerance when grown as a mixed planktonic culture.
The osmoregulatory/excretory organs of the glacier- dwelling eutardigrade Hypsibius klebelsbergi MIHEL…I…, 1959 (Tardigrada)

The glacier-dwelling eutardigrade Hypsibius klebelsbergi MIHEL…I…, 1959 is exclusively known from cryoconite holes, i.e., water-filled micro-caverns on the glacier surface. This highly specialized environment is characterized by near zero temperatures and an extreme low conductivity of the water in these holes. Especially low conductivity might require powerful organs of osmoregulation in this unique species. Therefore we examined these organs in H. klebelsbergi using light and electron microscopy. H. klebelsbergi possesses three large Malpighian tubules at the transition of the midgut to the hindgut. Each tubule consists of a three- lobed distal, a thin middle and a short proximal part. The latter opens at the junction of the midgut and rectum. The distal part consists of three cells, which are characterized by a large nucleus, a fair number of mitochondria, a basal labyrinth, interdigitating plasma membranes and an irregular surface. Apical spaces extend in the middle part, which largely lacks nuclei and probably is made of offshoots of the proximal part. Here basal infolding and mitochondria are sparse. Interwoven cell projections and microvilli give this part and the proximal part a vacuolated appearance. The "vacuoles", i.e. extracellular spaces, are confluent with the intestine. In the proximal part up to 12 nuclei are counted. A valve separates the posterior hindgut from the anterior hindgut. In the anterior region and the valve the epithelium is thickened, covered by a thin cuticle and possesses a fair number of mitochondria and basal infolding. Obviously the structure of the osmoregulatory/excretory organ does not reflect the special conditions under which H. klebelsbergi lives.
Xiaoaiping injection as adjunct therapy for patients with advanced esophageal carcinoma

Abstract Background: Esophageal carcinoma (EC) is one of the worst malignant digestive neoplasms with a strong tendency of invasion and metastasis. Despite the improvement of diagnostic and therapeutic methods in the past decades, the prognosis of EC remains unsatisfactory. Xiaoaiping injection (XAPI), a famous traditional Chinese herbal medicine, has been widely applied as a promising adjunctive drug for EC. However, the exact effects and safety of XAPI have yet to be systematically investigated. We aimed to summarize the efficacy and safety of XAPI for the treatment of advanced EC through the meta-analysis, in order to provide scientific reference for the design of future clinical trials. Methods: Relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were searched from Cochrane Library, PubMed, Google Scholar, Web of Science, Excerpt Medica Database, Medline, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Chinese Biomedical Literature Database, China Scientific Journal Database and Wanfang Database. Papers in English or Chinese published from January 2000 to May 2020 will be included without any restrictions. Study selection and data extraction will be performed independently by 2 investigators. The clinical outcomes including overall response rate, complete response rate, overall survival, Disease-free survival, quality of life, immune function and adverse events, were systematically evaluated. Review Manager 5.3 and Stata 14.0 were used for data analysis, and the quality of the studies was also evaluated. Results: The results of this study will be published in a peer-reviewed journal, and provide more evidence-based guidance in clinical practice. Conclusion: Our study will draw an objective conclusion of the effects of XAPI combined with conventional treatment for advanced EC and provide a helpful evidence for clinicians to formulate the best postoperative adjuvant treatment strategy for EC patients. INPLASY registration number: INPLASY202050094.
Single Molecule Protein Detection with Attomolar Sensitivity Using Droplet Digital Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay.

Many proteins are present at low concentrations in biological samples and therefore, techniques for ultra-sensitive protein detection are necessary. To overcome challenges with sensitivity, the digital enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was developed, which is 1000X more sensitive than conventional ELISA and allows sub-femtomolar protein detection. However, this sensitivity is still not sufficient to measure many proteins in various biological samples, thereby limiting our ability to detect and discover biomarkers. To overcome this limitation, we developed droplet digital ELISA, a simple approach for detecting low protein levels using digital ELISA and droplet microfluidics. Droplet digital ELISA achieves maximal sensitivity by improving the sampling efficiency and counting more target molecules. Droplet digital ELISA can detect proteins in the low attomolar range and is up to 25-fold more sensitive than digital ELISA using Single Molecule Arrays (Simoa), the current gold standard tool for ultra-sensitive protein detection. Using droplet digital ELISA, we measured the LINE1/ORF1 protein, a potential cancer biomarker that has not been previously measured in serum. Additionally, due to the simplicity of our device design, droplet digital ELISA is promising for point-of-care applications. Thus, droplet digital ELISA will facilitate discovery of biomarkers that have never been measured before for various clinical applications.
Conceptualizing Suicide Prevention in Firefighters Through the lens of the Interpersonal-Psychological Theory of Suicide: A Narrative Review

Abstract Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the United States and is a significant public health problem. Suicide has also become a major concern among career American firefighters with rates for suicidal ideation and attempts in firefighters two to three times higher than rates in the general population. Firefighter suicide and mental health are major issues facing fire service leaders, mental health professionals, and most recently suicide experts. Despite an increased focus on understanding suicide in the fire service, there is little empirical evidence on the effectiveness of prevention in this population. The juxtaposition of elevated suicide rates with a dearth of empirical prevention data specific to firefighters warrants new approaches and conceptualizations of suicide prevention in this population. Grounded in the framework of the interpersonal-psychological theory of suicide (IPTS), this narrative review integrates select relevant firefighter specific suicide risk/protective factors and multi-level intervention/prevention literature to provide a structured approach to identifying current suicide intervention/prevention efforts with promising transportability to firefighters. Several recommendations for future intervention research specific to firefighters are also proposed.
Psychometric Evaluation of the Chinese Version of Hypertension Self-care Profile

Supplemental digital content is available in the text. Background Valid and reliable assessment of the multidimensional self-care of patients with hypertension is important to tailor individualized care. The Hypertension Self-care Profile (HBP SCP), which comprises behavior, motivation, and self-efficacy scales, has been widely tested in various settings. Objective The aims of this study were to translate the HBP SCP into a Chinese version (HBP SCP-C) and evaluate its psychometric properties among Chinese adults with hypertension. Methods The HBP SCP was translated to Chinese using Cha's combined translation technique, and its content validity was examined by a panel of 7 experts. The psychometric properties of HBP SCP-C were tested in 200 Chinese patients with hypertension. Reliability tests included internal consistency and test-retest reliability. Exploratory factor analysis was performed to explore the structure of HBP SCP-C. Discriminative validity was examined by the known-group approach. Results The HBP SCP-C demonstrated satisfactory content validity. The 2-factor structures of the behavior (“health promotion” and “habit modification”) and self-efficacy (“intake management” and “health maintenance”) scales and 1-factor structure of the motivation scale were determined. The behavior, motivation, and self-efficacy scales had Cronbach α coefficients of 0.86, 0.94, and 0.93, respectively, and test-retest reliabilities were 0.82 to 0.98, 0.90 to 0.98, and 0.81 to 0.95, respectively. Significant differences between patients with or without comorbidities in behavior (t = 2.55, P = .011), motivation (t = 3.25, P = .001), and self-efficacy (t = 3.02, P = .003) supported the discriminative validity of HBP SCP-C. Conclusions The HBP SCP-C could be a reliable and valid instrument for evaluating hypertension self-care in Chinese patients.
Health Promoting Lifestyle and its Relationship with Self-Efficacy in Iranian Mastectomized Women

Introduction: Lifestyle modification has an important role in long-term health of breast cancer patients. As a result, this study aimed to identify the health-promoting lifestyle and its subdomains in mastectomized women and its relationship with self-efficacy. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study investigated 100 mastectomized women in Tabriz-Iran, 2018. The participants were selected using the convenience sampling method. Data was collected using a sociodemographic questionnaire, the Health Promoting Lifestyle Profile II (HPLP-II), and the General Self-Efficacy Scale by Sherer. The multivariate general linear model with adjusting the sociodemographic variables was used to determine the relationship of the health-promoting lifestyle with self-efficacy. Results: The mean±SD total score of the health-promoting behaviors was 135.5±16.7 from the obtainable score of 52 to 208. The highest and lowest mean scores were observed in the spiritual growth (25.4±4.3) and physical activity (15.2±4.4), respectively. The mean±SD self-efficacy score in this study was 57.3±7.4 from the obtainable score of 17 to 85. There was a significant positive correlation between the total score of the health-promoting lifestyle (r= 0.369; p<0.001) with self-efficacy. Results from the adjusted general linear model showed that the age, educational attainment of the spouse, and self-efficacy were the health-promoting lifestyle predictors. Conclusion: The findings of this study indicate the importance of self-efficacy and modifiable variables such as education in the engagement of mastectomized women in the health-promoting lifestyle. Regarding the positive relationship of self-efficacy with the health-promoting lifestyle, it seems that the interventional attempts to improve self-efficacy in these patients especially with considering the variables of age and spouse’s educational level can contribute to the improvement of the health-promoting lifestyle.