Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
CD47 as a Potential Target to Therapy for Infectious Diseases

The integrin associated protein (CD47) is a widely and moderately expressed glycoprotein in all healthy cells. Cancer cells are known to induce increased CD47 expression. Similar to cancer cells, all immune cells can upregulate their CD47 surface expression during infection. The CD47-SIRPa interaction induces an inhibitory effect on macrophages and dendritic cells (dendritic cells) while CD47-thrombospondin-signaling inhibits T cells. Therefore, the disruption of the CD47 interaction can mediate several biologic functions. Upon the blockade and knockout of CD47 reveals an immunosuppressive effect of CD47 during LCMV, influenza virus, HIV-1, mycobacterium tuberculosis, plasmodium and other bacterial pneumonia infections. In our recent study we shows that the blockade of CD47 using the anti-CD47 antibody increases the activation and effector function of macrophages, dendritic cells and T cells during viral infection. By enhancing both innate and adaptive immunity, CD47 blocking antibody promotes antiviral effect. Due to its broad mode of action, the immune-stimulatory effect derived from this antibody could be applicable in nonresolving and (re)emerging infections. The anti-CD47 antibody is currently under clinical trial for the treatment of cancer and could also have amenable therapeutic potential against infectious diseases. This review highlights the immunotherapeutic targeted role of CD47 in the infectious disease realm.
Effects of physical exercise on the autonomic nervous system in patients with coronary artery disease: a systematic review

ABSTRACT Background Imbalance in autonomic modulation can occur after a cardiac event, which can lead to deleterious consequences. Exercise has proven to be a therapy which affects this modulation and can be assessed through heart rate variability (HRV). Areas covered The objective of this systematic review was to investigate the effects of physical exercise on heart rate variability in individuals with coronary artery disease (CAD). The PubMed, PEDro, Scielo, Lilacs and Cochrane databases were systematically searched, for articles which performed supervised exercises in phase II of cardiac rehabilitation in patients with CAD. Expert opinion Given the differences between studies on interventions and population characteristics, it is difficult to justify similarities or divergences in terms of results. In addition to the variation in sample size, intervention duration, carrying out an additional program at home, and patients with different clinical presentations, it can be inferred that responses to exercise may vary for certain types/clinical profile of individuals with CAD. Thus, it is necessary to carry out more studies with greater methodological rigor, greater standardization of the variables studied and the evaluation forms, in order to increase the veracity of the results and the consequent clinical relevance and therapeutic application.
Relationship between the metabolic and lipid profile in follicular fluid of women undergoing in vitro fertilization

Among the follicular fluid (FF) components promoting the development of the oocyte are included glycoproteins, several fatty acids, and steroid hormones synthesized by the dominant follicle. For this, the analysis of the metabolites present in FF can determine the quality of the oocyte. FF composition is in part determined by local follicular metabolic processes and in part a plasma transudate. Since the causes of impaired fertility may be due to a metabolic imbalance, metabolomics is useful to identify low molecular weight metabolites. Oxidative stress is involved in human infertility and the use of metabolomics can be crucial to identify which other metabolites besides reactive oxygen species are involved in oxidative stress correlated to infertility. To obtain new information on the study of signaling molecules in FF, the knowledge of the lipid content will be important to improve information on the understanding of follicular development. The objective of this study is to identify (a) a metabolic profile and a lipid profile of FF in women undergoing in vitro fertilization and (b) to correlate the previous information obtained regarding adiponectin and oxidative stress with the metabolic and lipid profile obtained in the present study. As result, we found an increase in oxidative stress due to both an increase of androgens and an accumulation of lipids in the follicular environment and we suggest that this might be one of the causes of reduced fertility.
Growth of a Sitka Spruce Plantation: Analysis and Stochastic Description of the Development of the Branching Structure

(1) Three phases of canopy development were recognised during the first 15 years of a young plantation of Picea sitchensis: (i) an initial period before 'foliage overlap' (about 6 years), when the annual height increments of trees are small; (ii) accelerating annual height increments, from 'foliage overlap' to 'crown interlock' (about 11 years); (iii) stable mean annual height increment, and the establishment of a population hierarchy in height increment, following 'crown interlock'. (2) There are three component processes in the development of the branching structure of Sitka spruce: bud production, their dispersion, and subsequent extension. The factors which may control them are discussed and stochastic models are presented to describe them. Branch number production is reduced after 'foliage overlap' and subsequently varies consistently between trees but little with time. Branch dispersion is invariant throughout the forest development, the distribution around the main stem is regular, irrespective of numbers produced; the mean angle of branch production is consistent between years and its subsequent annual decline is regular. Branch extension seems to be resource limited and influenced during phase (ii) of canopy development by the number of branches produced on the tree and during phase (iii) by the position of the tree in the hierarchy which has developed.
EVOLUTION IN THE FLOWERS OF PEDICULARIS

Pedicutlaris, a genus of the Scrophulariaceae, is one of the largest genera of temperate flowering plants with somewhat around 600-800 species. The flowers of this genus show a range of diversity likely unequalled by any other genus, yet as a whole the genus is so thoroughly natural that attempts to subdivide it into subgeneric groupings are not even made. The extremely intricate pattern of evolution in this great complex of closely related species together with its vastly divergent trends of development indicates that this is a relatively young and extremely active genus, and its deployment into a multitude of endemic species is essentially a process of its geologic present. The species are mostly perennial herbs and are semi-parasitic on the roots of grasses. This genus on the whole is an alpine-montane one, with very few species extending to altitudes lower than 500 meters. Some species exist at the highest altitudes inhabited by flowering plants, as, for instance, altitudes above 5,000 meters in western China and the Himalayas. The majority of the species are found at altitudes of about 2,500 to 4,500 meters.
The Effect of Including Benchmark Prevalence Data of Common Imaging Findings in Spine Image Reports on Health Care Utilization Among Adults Undergoing Spine Imaging

Key Points Question What is the impact of including benchmark prevalence data of common findings in reports of spinal imaging ordered by primary care clinicians? Findings In this randomized clinical trial that included 250 401 adults, no overall decrease in subsequent spine-related health care utilization after the intervention was observed. However, there was a significant decrease in opioid prescriptions at 1 year in the intervention group compared with the control group. Meaning The findings of this study suggest that including epidemiological benchmarks on spinal imaging reports has little impact on subsequent spine-related utilization overall but may reduce subsequent opioid prescriptions.
Identifying healthcare experiences associated with perceptions of racial/ethnic discrimination among veterans with pain: A cross-sectional mixed methods survey

Background Healthcare experiences associated with perceived racial/ethnic discrimination among patients are poorly understood. Objective Identify domains of patient dissatisfaction associated with perceived racial/ethnic discrimination among patients with pain. Design Semi-structured telephone surveys completed in 2013–2015. Participants White, African American, and Latino participants who reported receiving pain management from 25 Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Centers. Main measures Surveys included open-ended questions about healthcare satisfaction/dissatisfaction and a measure of perceived racial/ethnic-based discrimination while seeking VA healthcare. Binary indicators for ten qualitative domains of dissatisfaction were derived from open-ended questions. We used multilevel models to identify dissatisfaction domains associated with perceived discrimination, adjusting for patient characteristics and site. Within domains associated with discrimination, we identified the most frequent codes and examined whether patients primarily referenced clinical or non-clinical staff in their experiences. Key results Overall, 622 participants (30.4% White, 37.8% African American, 31.8% Latino; 57.4% female; mean age = 53.4) reported a median discrimination score of 1.0 (IQR: 1.0–1.3) on a scale of 1 to 5; 233 (37.5%) perceived any racial/ethnic discrimination in healthcare. Individually, 7 of 10 qualitative domains were significantly associated with perceived discrimination: dissatisfaction with care quality, facilities, continuity of care, interactions with staff, staff demeanor, unresolved pain, and pharmacy services (ps<0.005). In combined models stratified by racial/ethnic group, 3 domains remained statistically significant: poor interactions for Latinos (adjOR = 5.24, 95% CI = 2.28–12.06), negative demeanor for African Americans (adjOR = 2.82, 95% CI = 1.45–5.50), and unresolved pain for Whites (adjOR = 6.23, 95% CI = 2.39–16.28). Clinical staff were referenced more often than non-clinical staff for all domains (interactions: 51% vs. 30%; demeanor: 46% vs. 15%; unresolved pain: 18% vs. 1%, respectively). Conclusion Negative interpersonal experiences and unresolved pain are strong correlates of perceived racial/ethnic discrimination among patients with pain. Future studies should test whether interventions targeting these domains reduce patient perceptions of racial/ethnic discrimination in healthcare.
Targeting COVID-19 in Parkinson's patients: Drugs repurposed.

The last couple of months have witnessed the world in a state of virtual standstill. The SARS-CoV-2 virus has overtaken globe to economic and social lockdown. Many patients with COVID-19 have compromised immunity, especially in an aged population suffering from Parkinson disease (PD). Alteration in dopaminergic neurons or deficiency of dopamine in PD patients is the most common symptoms affecting 1% population above the age of 60 years. The compromised immune system and inflammatory manifestation in PD patients make them an easy target. The most common under trial drugs for COVID-19 are Remdesivir, Favipiravir, Chloroquine and Hydroxychloroquine, Azithromycin along with adjunct drugs like Amantadine with some monoclonal antibodies. Presently, clinically US FDA approved drugs in PD includes Levodopa, catechol-O-methyl transferase (COMT) inhibitors, (Entacapone and Tolcapone), Dopamine agonists (Bromocriptine, Ropinirole, Pramipexole, and Rotigotine), Monoamine oxidase B (MAO-B) inhibitors (Selegiline and Rasagiline), Amantadine and Antimuscarinic drugs. The drugs have established mechanism of action on PD patients with known pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetic properties along with dose and adverse effects. Conclusion and relevance of this review focus on the drugs that can be tried for the PD patients with SAR CoV-2 infection, in particular, Amantadine approved by all developed countries a common drug possessing both antiviral properties by downregulation of CTSL, lysosomal pathway disturbance and change in pH necessary to uncoat the viral proteins and antiParkinson properties. The significant prognostic adverse effect of SARS-CoV-2 on PD and the present-day treatment options, clinical presentation and various mechanism is warrant need of the hour.
Sanctification or inhibition? Religious dualities and sexual satisfaction.

Religiosity can influence sexual satisfaction both positively and negatively. To test positive and negative mechanisms, we assessed how religiosity is indirectly associated with sexual satisfaction through sexual sanctification and inhibited sexual passion. We sampled individuals from Amazon's Mechanical Turk (N = 1,695, Study 1) and mixed-sex dyads from Bovitz Inc. (N = 481 dyads, Study 2). Religiosity consistently had a positive indirect association with sexual satisfaction through sexual sanctification; little evidence suggested religiosity had an indirect association with sexual satisfaction through inhibited sexual passion. When accounting for these mechanisms simultaneously, however, religiosity consistently had a negative direct association with sexual satisfaction, supporting the possibility of religious dualities. In the couple study, men's religiosity predicted their partner reporting higher sexual sanctification (for married couples), but women's religiosity did not predict partner sexual sanctification. Altogether, these results paint a complex picture for how religiosity might influence sexuality. Understanding the nuance of these results may help people maximize the potential benefits of their belief systems in sexual relationships. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).
Proteomics of the Honeydew from the Brown Planthopper and Green Rice Leafhopper Reveal They Are Rich in Proteins from Insects, Rice Plant and Bacteria

Simple Summary Plant sap-sucking insects can secrete saliva into the plant and excrete honeydew on the plant surface, which both interfere with the plant’s immune system. However, knowledge about the composition of insect honeydew and the roles it plays in plant defenses is limited. In the present study, a diversity of proteins in the honeydew of two major rice pests, the brown planthopper and green rice leafhopper, were identified by way of proteomic analysis. Results revealed that the honeydew contains some insect proteins that originate from the saliva and guts, proteins that originate from plant sap via the insect digestion system as well as many bacterial proteins from insect or plant symbionts and from plant surfaces. These abundant proteins from insects, microbes and plants in the honeydew might be elicitors, effectors or self-recognized molecules for plant defenses, which provide further insights into their roles in the multitrophic interactions of plants–insects–microbes. Abstract Honeydew is a watery fluid excreted by plant sap-feeding insects. It is a waste product for the insect hosts. However, it plays important roles for other organisms, such as serving as a nutritional source for beneficial insects and bacteria, as well as elicitors and effectors modulating plant responses. In this study, shotgun LC–MS/MS analyses were used to identify the proteins in the honeydew from two important rice hemipteran pests, the brown planthopper (Nilaparvata lugens, BPH) and green rice leafhopper (Nephotettix cincticeps, GRH). A total of 277 and 210 proteins annotated to insect proteins were identified in the BPH and GRH honeydews, respectively. These included saliva proteins that may have similar functions as the saliva proteins, such as calcium-binding proteins and apolipophorin, involved in rice plant defenses. Additionally, a total of 52 and 32 Oryza proteins were identified in the BPH and GRH honeydews, respectively, some of which are involved in the plant immune system, such as Pathogen-Related Protein 10, ascorbate peroxidase, thioredoxin and glutaredoxin. Coincidently, 570 and 494 bacteria proteins were identified from the BPH and GRH honeydews, respectively, which included several well-known proteins involved in the plant immune system: elongation factor Tu, flagellin, GroEL and cold-shock proteins. The results of our study indicate that the insect honeydew is a complex fluid cocktail that contains abundant proteins from insects, plants and microbes, which may be involved in the multitrophic interactions of plants–insects–microbes.
Prevalence of Molar–Incisor Hypomineralization and Caries in Eight-Year-Old Children in Croatia

The aim of this study was to detect molar–incisor hypomineralization (MIH) and caries prevalence in eight-year-old children with early mixed dentition in Eastern Croatia. There is a lack of data on MIH in Croatia. There were 729 children examined in total: 356 (48.83%) were female and 373 (51.16%) were male. The presence of MIH was found in 95 children, the prevalence of MIH was 13%, and the remaining 634 (87%) did not have any changes associated with MIH. The prevalence of caries overall in the population of examined children was 11.48%. In the group of children with MIH, the prevalence of caries was 24.14%, while in the group of children with no MIH, the prevalence of caries was 11.18%. Teeth had a Decayed, Missing, and Filled Teeth (DMFT) index of 1.2, the value of the SiC index was 1.4, and the decayed, missing, and filled teeth (dmft) index for deciduous teeth was 5.8. Children with MIH had a caries index of DMFT 2.1, and the value of the SiC index was 2.6. The index of caries for non-MIH children was DMFT 1.1 and the SiC index was 1.2. MIH prevalence in Croatia is more common in girls than in boys. MIH has a significant impact on children’s development and is a major factor in the occurrence of caries.
Spatial, climate and ploidy factors drive genomic diversity and resilience in the widespread grass Themeda triandra

Global climate change poses a significant threat to natural communities around the world, with many plant species showing signs of climate stress. Grassland ecosystems are not an exception, with climate change compounding contemporary pressures such as habitat loss and fragmentation. In this study, we assess the climate resilience of Themeda triandra, a foundational species and the most widespread plant in Australia, by assessing the relative contributions of spatial, environmental and ploidy factors to contemporary genomic variation. Reduced‐representation genome sequencing on 472 samples from 52 locations was used to test how the distribution of genomic variation, including ploidy polymorphism, supports adaptation to hotter and drier climates. We explicitly quantified isolation by distance (IBD) and isolation by environment (IBE) and predicted genomic vulnerability of populations to future climates based on expected deviation from current genomic composition. We found that a majority (54%) of genomic variation could be attributed to IBD, while an additional 22% (27% when including ploidy information) could be explained by two temperature and two precipitation climate variables demonstrating IBE. Ploidy polymorphisms were common within populations (31/52 populations), indicating that ploidy mixing is characteristic of T. triandra populations. Genomic vulnerabilities were found to be heterogeneously distributed throughout the landscape, and our analysis suggested that ploidy polymorphism, along with other factors linked to polyploidy, reduced vulnerability to future climates by 60% (0.25–0.10). Our data suggests that polyploidy may facilitate adaptation to hotter climates and highlight the importance of incorporating ploidy in adaptive management strategies to promote the resilience of this and other foundation species.
Theoretical Considerations on the Covariation of Plant Species Along Ecological Gradients with Regard to Multivariate Analysis

The objective of multivariate analysis (principal component analysis, cluster analysis and related methods) of vegetation data is to simplify and order the data so that the resulting model shows the relationships among the species and also reflects the relationships between vegetational and habitat variation. A distinction has to be made between a purely phytosociological ordering and an ecological ordering that reflects habitat relationships. The latter type is of most interest to the ecologist. A purely phytosociological ordering would be less difficult to obtain, but it would be only descriptive and would have little or no ecological value. Systems analysis appears to be the only really satisfactory approach to a solution of this problem. The methods are available but the system of relationships is often so complex that it is questionable whether the results will justify the efforts except in the simplest of vegetation types. Thus, it is to be expected that, in the foreseeable future, vegetation analysis by multivariate statistical methods will still serve a real purpose in advancing our insight into vegetation and habitat relationships. Until now, most multivariate methods used for the analysis of vegetation data were based on linearity or monotonicity of the relationships among species, and between species and environmental gradients. From gradient analysis (Whittaker 1956, 1967) and physiological research, the gradient response curves are known often to be bell-shaped and thus, in the test-space used for the analysis, the species relationship curves that are closely related to the environmental or time gradients become very complicated (van Groenewoud 1965; Noy-Meir & Austin 1970; Swan 1970; Austin & Noy-Meir 1971; Gauch & Whittaker 1972a, b). With the foregoing in mind, attempts have been made to improve the multivariate statistical analysis of vegetation data by studying hypothetical models and by comparing graphic models based on hypothetical data with real situations. To obtain an ecologically meaningful order, the choice of parameters expressing either relationships among species or similarities (or distances) among vegetation subsamples is of paramount importance. If the parameter based on phytosociological data does not reflect ecological relationships the subsequent analysis loses much value from an ecological viewpoint. Recently Swan (1970), Noy-Meir & Austin (1970), Austin & Noy-Meir (1971) and Gauch & Whittaker (1972a, b) published results of the multivariate analysis of hypothetical curvilinear distributions along single and multiple gradients. It was shown that the results were not rectilinearly or monotonically related to the original gradient. It