Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Constitutive expression of transcription factor SirZ blocks pathogenicity in Leptosphaeria maculans independently of sirodesmin production

Sirodesmin, the major secondary metabolite produced by the plant pathogenic fungus Leptosphaeria maculans in vitro, has been linked to disease on Brassica species since the 1970s, and yet its role has remained ambiguous. Re-examination of gene expression data revealed that all previously described genes and two newly identified genes within the sir gene cluster in the genome are down-regulated during the crucial early establishment stages of blackleg disease on Brassica napus. To test if this is a strategy employed by the fungus to avoid damage to and then detection by the host plant during the L. maculans asymptomatic biotrophic phase, sirodesmin was produced constitutively by overexpressing the sirZ gene encoding the transcription factor that coordinates the regulation of the other genes in the sir cluster. The sirZ over-expression strains had a major reduction in pathogenicity. Mutation of the over-expression construct restored pathogenicity. However, mutation of two genes, sirP and sirG, required for specific steps in the sirodesmin biosynthesis pathway, in the sirZ over-expression background resulted in strains that were unable to synthesize sirodesmin, yet were still non-pathogenic. Elucidating the basis for this pathogenicity defect or finding ways to overexpress sirZ during disease may provide new strategies for the control of blackleg disease.
Teaching the Science of Human Flourishing, Unlocking Connection, Positivity, and Resilience for the Greater Good

Background Human flourishing is a long sought-after aspiration historically considered and espoused through religious, philosophical, and creative avenues. Only recently has western science began to investigate the meaning, underlying foundations of, and effective strategies for promoting flourishing in life. Objective Here, we present a framework for teaching the science and practice of human flourishing grounded in connection, positivity, and resilience (CPR) based on a synthesis of theoretical frameworks and observations and input from a global sample of learners enrolled in an online course. Methods The CPR framework is distilled from empirical research in psychology and neuroscience and an applied pedagogy of flourishing delivered through a massive open online course (MOOC) that has reached over 650,000 people worldwide. Results Building knowledge and skills tied to three pillars of CPR: connection, positivity, and resilience intrinsically and measurably reinforces the experiences and behaviors that foster flourishing, mainly through prosocial human connection. Conclusion Human flourishing is malleable and the CPR framework is a promising method for teaching people the key ideas, spaces of opportunity for change, and behaviors, activities, exercises, and practices that strengthen flourishing in life.
Ginseng for the Management of Cancer-Related Fatigue: An Integrative Review

Background Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) is one of the most prevalent, debilitating symptoms affecting a majority of patients with cancer worldwide. It can lead to poor compliance with anticancer therapy and discontinuation of treatment. Current management strategies for CRF center around activity and exercise; however, these strategies can be challenging for many patients undergoing active treatment. Ginseng has been shown to improve CRF and may provide benefit for patients suffering from CRF. Methods A systematic review was completed by searching PubMed and Scopus databases. Results 115 search results were reduced to a final sample of five articles after applying inclusion and exclusion criteria. Published results suggest that 2,000 mg of American ginseng once daily improves symptoms of CRF. Minimal side effects or drug interactions are observed. Additional research is needed to further evaluate the role of ginseng for CRF. Conclusion There are data to support the use of American ginseng to treat CRF. Large-scale randomized controlled trials are needed to validate these findings and determine optimal dosage and duration of therapy.
Towards distortion-free imaging of the eye

The high power of the eye and optical components used to image it result in “static” distortion, remaining constant across acquired retinal images. In addition, raster-based systems sample points or lines of the image over time, suffering from “dynamic” distortion due to the constant motion of the eye. We recently described an algorithm which corrects for the latter problem but is entirely blind to the former. Here, we describe a new procedure termed “DIOS” (Dewarp Image by Oblique Shift) to remove static distortion of arbitrary type. Much like the dynamic correction method, it relies on locating the same tissue in multiple frames acquired as the eye moves through different gaze positions. Here, the resultant maps of pixel displacement are used to form a sparse system of simultaneous linear equations whose solution gives the common warp seen by all frames. We show that the method successfully handles torsional movement of the eye. We also show that the output of the previously described dynamic correction procedure may be used as input for this new procedure, recovering an image of the tissue that is, in principle, a faithful replica free of any type of distortion. The method could be extended beyond ocular imaging, to any kind of imaging system in which the image can move or be made to move across the detector.
Characterization of the complete mitochondrial genome of Lysmata vittata (Decapoda: Hippolytidae)

Abstract Lysmata vittata is widely distributed in the Indian and Pacific oceans. In this study, we sequenced the mitochondrial genome of L. vittata using Illumina HiSeq. The complete mitochondrial genome of L. vittata was 20,837 bp in length, including 13 protein-coding genes, 22 transfer RNA genes, and two ribosomal RNA genes. The contents of the four bases in the mitochondrial DNA were A (31.68%), T (32.36%), C (21.65%), and G (14.31%). Phylogenetic analysis of 41 shrimp showed that L. vittata was clustered with other Hippolytidae shrimp.
Prevalence of asymptomatic or “silent” myocardial ischemia in diabetic patients: Protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis

Introduction Myocardial ischemia (MI) is a top ranked cause of death among diabetic patients, yet it is mostly asymptomatic or “silent”. There is a need for summary epidemiologic measures on this highly lethal and unnoticeable complication of diabetes. The proposed systematic review and meta-analysis aims to estimate of the global prevalence of silent MI among diabetic patients. Methods and analysis This protocol was prepared according to the preferred reporting items for systematic review and meta-analysis protocols (PRISMA-P) statement. The systematic review will include all observational studies published until March 23, 2021 and reporting on the prevalence of silent MI in diabetic patients. Electronic sources including MEDLINE(PubMed), Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science will be searched for potentially eligible studies, restricted to only studies published in English. Two investigators will select studies and use a pre-pilot tested form to extract data. Further, they will independently perform a qualitative assessment of the risk of bias and overall quality of the selected studies, followed by a quantitative assessment using funnel plots and Egger’s tests. The heterogeneity between studies will be assessed with the Cochrane’s Q statistic, and the I2 statistic will measure the percentage of variation across studies that is due to their heterogeneity rather than chance; it will decide if a meta-analysis can be conducted. In case a meta-analysis cannot be conducted, a descriptive analysis will be performed. Otherwise, study-specific estimates will be pooled using either a fixed-effects or a random-effects model depending on the value of the I2 statistic. Subgroup and random effects meta-regression analyses will be used to further investigate the potential sources of heterogeneity. Finally, sensitivity analyses will be performed to measure the impact of low-quality studies on the results of the meta-analysis, and power calculations will determine the probability that we will detect a true effect if it does exist. Strengths and limitations of this study The intended review will provide an up-to-date summary of the global prevalence of silent MI in diabetic patients. We will conduct a thorough literature search for eligible studies, and we will use robust meta-analysis tools to provide reliable estimates of the global prevalence of silent MI in diabetic patients. Two major limitations could be: the predominance of clinical trials that might limit the generalizability of the findings, given that the strict inclusion criteria of these studies might have excluded other patients; the risk of type 1 error emanating from the high number of subgroup and sensitivity analyses. PROSPERO registration number CRD42019138136.
Twiddler’s syndrome after implantation of baroreflex activation therapy: a case report

Abstract Background Twiddler’s syndrome is a rare complication after implantation of cardiac pacemakers or cardioverter-defibrillators that usually occurs within the first year after the procedure. However, it has not yet been described following implantation of baroreflex activation therapy (BAT). Case summary A 61-year-old female patient was referred to the cardiology outpatient clinic due to uncontrolled arterial hypertension despite maximal doses of several established drugs. Therefore, right-sided BAT implantation was successfully performed in February 2017 with good clinical response. Because of sustained neck pain at the site of stimulator, surgical revision was performed in November 2019 including a switch of the lead to the contralateral position. Approximately 1 month later, Twiddler’s syndrome was identified on the basis of recurrent pain at the generator site necessitating pocket-revision, however, the lead was only untwisted but not replaced. A few weeks afterwards, unfortunately, lead revision was indispensable due to lead fracture. Discussion This case presents the uncommon phenomenon of Twiddler’s syndrome after BAT implantation. In addition, the commonly twisted lead should always be replaced as well during surgical pocket-revision in order to ensure proper long-term function.
P300-mediated NEDD4 acetylation drives ebolavirus VP40 egress by enhancing NEDD4 ligase activity

The final stage of Ebola virus (EBOV) replication is budding from host cells, where the matrix protein VP40 is essential for driving this process. Many post-translational modifications such as ubiquitination are involved in VP40 egress, but acetylation has not been studied yet. Here, we characterize NEDD4 is acetylated at a conserved Lys667 mediated by the acetyltransferase P300 which drives VP40 egress process. Importantly, P300-mediated NEDD4 acetylation promotes NEDD4-VP40 interaction which enhances NEDD4 E3 ligase activity and is essential for the activation of VP40 ubiquitination and subsequent egress. Finally, we find that Zaire ebolavirus production is dramatically reduced in P300 knockout cell lines, suggesting that P300-mediated NEDD4 acetylation may have a physiological effect on Ebola virus life cycle. Thus, our study identifies an acetylation-dependent regulatory mechanism that governs VP40 ubiquitination and provides insights into how acetylation controls EBOV VP40 egress.
Surface Characterization of Ga2O3-TiO2 and V2O5/Ga2O3-TiO2 Catalysts

The techniques of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, FT-infrared, and O2 chemisorption were employed to characterize a specially obtained Ga2O3−TiO2 mixed oxide and V2O5/Ga2O3−TiO2 catalyst calcined at different temperatures from 773 to 1073 K. The Ga2O3−TiO2 (1:5 mole ratio based on the oxides) mixed oxide was synthesized by a homogeneous coprecipitation method with in situ generated ammonium hydroxide, and a nominal 4 wt % V2O5 was impregnated over the calcined support (773 K) by adopting a wet impregnation technique. A commercial TiO2 (anatase) sample was also used in this study for comparison purposes. The characterization results suggest that the Ga2O3−TiO2 mixed oxide, calcined at 773 K, primarily consists of a mixture of TiO2 anatase and α-Ga2O3. In the case of the V2O5/Ga2O3−TiO2 catalyst, the impregnated V2O5 is in a highly dispersed state on the surface of the mixed oxide. Under the influence of thermal treatments from 773 to 1073 K, the dispersed vanadium oxide promotes the tr.
Toward the Electrochemical Valorization of Glycerol: Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopic and Chromatographic Studies

Glycerol electrooxidation reaction has been investigated by electrochemical, spectroelectrochemical, and chromatographic methods on palladium–nickel and palladium–silver nanoparticules supported on carbon Vulcan XC 72R. These materials, prepared by the so-called “Bromide Anion Exchange” method, exhibited high activity toward the glycerol electrooxidation in alkaline medium showing furthermore an important shift of the onset potential toward low potential values. Electrolysis coupled with high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and in situ Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIRS) measurements have been used to determine the various compounds generated in the oxidative conversion of this three hydroxyl groups carbon molecule. Some products with high added value such as glycerate and tartronate have been identified. In situ FTIRS results have furthermore shown the pH decrease in the thin layer near the electrode. These results will positively serve as guidelines for future works on the potential.
Etched and doped Co9S8/graphene hybrid for oxygen electrocatalysis

Highly efficient electrocatalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) have been regarded as the core elements in a wide range of renewable energy technologies. Surface engineering of the electrocatalysts is one of the most popular strategies to improve their catalytic activity. Herein, we, for the first time, designed an advanced bi-functional electrocatalyst for the ORR and OER by simultaneously etching and doping a cobalt sulfides–graphene hybrid with NH3-plasma. The graphene supported Co9S8 nanoparticles were prepared (denoted as Co9S8/G) first, followed by the NH3-plasma treatment, which could not only lead to nitrogen doping into both Co9S8 and graphene, but also partially etch the surface of both Co9S8 and graphene. The heteroatom doping could efficiently tune the electronic properties of Co9S8 and graphene, and the surface etching could expose more active sites for electrocatalysis, which can contribute significantly to the enhanced electrocatalytic performance for ORR and OER. The electrochemical results revealed that the etched and N-doped Co9S8/G shows excellent ORR activity, which is close to that of the commercial Pt/C catalyst, and great OER activity. The strategy developed here provides a novel and efficient approach to prepare hybrid bi-functional electrocatalysts for ORR and OER.
Feasibility of shortening intravenous antibiotic therapy for bronchiectasis based on bacterial load: a proof-of-concept randomised controlled trial

Background There is a lack of evidence to guide the duration of intravenous antibiotics for bronchiectasis exacerbations. Aims The aim of this study was to assess whether it is feasible, based on bacterial load, to shorten intravenous antibiotics during exacerbations and whether 14 days of treatment is superior. Methods We recruited participants requiring intravenous antibiotics for exacerbations. Participants were randomised into two groups: to receive antibiotics for 14 days (14-day group) or to have a shorter duration of treatment based on bacterial load (bacterial load-guided group (BLGG)). Bacterial load was checked on days 0, 7, 10, 14 and 21. If the bacterial load was <106 CFU·mL−1 on day 7 or day 10 in the BLGG, antibiotics were stopped the following day. Results A total of 47 participants were in the 14-day group and 43 were in the BLGG. 88% of participants in the BLGG were able to stop antibiotics by day 8 and potentially 81% of participants in the 14-day group could have stopped antibiotics at day 8. There was a nonsignificant trend for increased clinical improvement by day 21 in the 14-day group compared to the BLGG. However, overall group data showed the median (interquartile range) time to next exacerbation was 27.5 days (12.5–60 days) in the 14-day group and 60 days (18–110 days) in the in BLGG (p=0.0034). In a Cox proportional hazard model, participants in the 14-day group were more likely to experience exacerbations (HR 1.80, 95% CI 1.16–2.80, p=0.009) than those in the BLGG, and those with mild bronchiectasis were less likely to experience exacerbations than patients with more severe bronchiectasis (HR 0.359, 95% CI 0.13–0.99, p=0.048). Conclusions Bacterial load-guided therapy is feasible in most exacerbations requiring intravenous antibiotics. There was a nonsignificant trend for increased clinical improvement by day 21 with 14 days of antibiotics compared with bacterial load-guided therapy but paradoxically there was a prolonged time to next exacerbation in the BLGG. In bronchiectasis, bacterial load-guided therapy is feasible in most exacerbations requiring intravenous antibiotic therapy https://bit.ly/33VIQuR
Gene Deletion and Sleep Depletion: Exploring the Relationship Between Sleep and Affect in 22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome

Abstract 22q11.2 deletion syndrome (22q11DS) is a neurodevelopmental disorder caused by a microdeletion on the long arm of chromosome 22. Sleep problems have been reported in this population, and psychiatric disorders and affect dysregulation are common to the behavioral phenotype of 22q11DS. Sleep and affect have been consistently linked across multiple studies, yet despite this very little research has investigated sleep problems in 22q11DS, or the link between sleep and affect in this population. The Experience Sampling Method was used to track daily reports of sleep quality and affect in a total of 29 individuals with 22q11DS and 21 control subjects. Measurements were recorded during a 6-day period using an electronic device that prompted daily response with audio cues. Participants with 22q11DS were found to experience a longer sleep onset latency and a greater amount, and duration, of night wakings compared with control subjects. Despite this, no significant between-group difference was found for subjective sleep quality. 22q11DS participants reported more experiences of negative affect and less positive affect than control subjects. A bidirectional relationship was found between sleep measures and affect. Sleep problems can cause a wide range of negative health effects, and individuals with 22q11DS are particularly vulnerable to deficits of sleep. To ensure high standards of care, healthcare providers should be aware of the possibility and impact of sleep problems in this population.
Mixing vaccines may boost immune responses.

aced with short supplies of COVID-19 vaccines and unforeseen side effects, some countries have adopted an unproven strategy: switching shots midstream. Most authorized vaccines require two doses administered weeks or months apart, but Canada and several European countries are now recommending a different vaccine for the second dose in some patients. Early data suggest the approach, born of necessity, may actually be beneficial. In three recent studies, researchers have found that following one dose of the vaccine made by AstraZeneca with a dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine produces strong immune responses, as measured by blood tests. Two of the studies even suggest the mixed vaccine response will be at least as protective as two doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech product, one of the most effective COVID-19 vaccines. Only a few of the potential vaccine combinations have been tested. But if mixing vaccines proves safe and effective, it could speed the effort to protect billions of people. “This possibility opens new perspectives for many countries,” says Cristóbal BeldaIniesta, a clinical research specialist at the Carlos III Health Institute. Governments, for example, could immediately distribute new doses without worrying about setting aside second shots of specific vaccines to give people weeks or months later. Europe and Canada have an added incentive. Millions of people there received an initial dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine before governments recommended younger age groups avoid it because of the risk of a rare clotting disorder. They were left wondering what to do next: Get a second dose or switch to a different vaccine? In a Spanish study that Belda-Iniesta helped lead, 448 people who received a dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine 8 weeks after an initial AstraZeneca dose had few side effects and a robust antibody response 2 weeks after the second shot. All 129 blood samples tested could neutralize a noncoronavirus expressing spike, the SARSCoV-2 surface protein key to infecting cells, he and colleagues reported last month on The Lancet’s preprint site. Similarly, Leif Erik Sander, an infectious disease expert at the Charité University Hospital in Berlin, and colleagues found that 61 health care workers given the two vaccines in the same order, but 10 to 12 weeks apart, produced spike antibodies at levels comparable to a control group that received two doses of Pfizer-BioNTech at the standard 3-week interval, and had no increase in side effects. Even more encouraging, their T cells, which can boost the antibody response and also help rid the body of already infected cells, responded slightly better to spike than fully vaccinated Pfizer-BioNTech recipients. A team conducting a smaller study in Ulm, Germany, had comparable results. Both groups have posted preprints on the medRxiv server.
Spinal microglial β‐endorphin signaling mediates IL‐10 and exenatide‐induced inhibition of synaptic plasticity in neuropathic pain

This study aimed to investigate the regulation of pain hypersensitivity induced by the spinal synaptic transmission mechanisms underlying interleukin (IL)‐10 and glucagon‐like peptide 1 receptor (GLP‐1R) agonist exenatide‐induced pain anti‐hypersensitivity in neuropathic rats through spinal nerve ligations.
Impact of Sex on COVID-19 Media Exposure, Anxiety, Perceived Risk, and Severity in Middle-Aged and Older Adults

Objectives To examine associations between COVID-19 media exposure and anxiety/perceived risk/severity and investigate their dependency on sex in middle-aged/older adults. Methods Adults aged 50+ years completed online surveys: Coronavirus Anxiety Scale, COVID-19 media exposure, COVID-19 media dependency for health information, and COVID-19 perceived risk and severity. Multiple regressions examined independent and interactive (with sex) associations between COVID-19 media exposure/dependency and COVID-19 anxiety/perceived risk and severity. Analyses controlled for age, education, race, total medical conditions, and COVID-19 status. Results Higher COVID-19 media exposure was associated with higher COVID-19 anxiety among men (not women) and higher perceived risk/severity in both sexes. Higher COVID-19 media dependency was associated with higher COVID-19 anxiety and perceived risk/severity in both sexes. Conclusion In middle-aged/older adults, the use/dependency of media for COVID-19 information may be linked to negative psychological health and increased COVID-19 perceived risk and severity. Men may be at increased risk of anxiety related to media exposure.