Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Epigenome‐wide analysis uncovers a blood‐based DNA methylation biomarker of lifetime cannabis use

Cannabis use is highly prevalent and is associated with adverse and beneficial effects. To better understand the full spectrum of health consequences, biomarkers that accurately classify cannabis use are needed. DNA methylation (DNAm) is an excellent candidate, yet no blood‐based epigenome‐wide association studies (EWAS) in humans exist. We conducted an EWAS of lifetime cannabis use (ever vs. never) using blood‐based DNAm data from a case–cohort study within Sister Study, a prospective cohort of women at risk of developing breast cancer (Discovery N = 1,730 [855 ever users]; Replication N = 853 [392 ever users]). We identified and replicated an association with lifetime cannabis use at cg15973234 (CEMIP): combined p = 3.3 × 10−8. We found no overlap between published blood‐based cis‐meQTLs of cg15973234 and reported lifetime cannabis use‐associated single nucleotide polymorphism (SNPs; p < .05), suggesting that the observed DNAm difference was driven by cannabis exposure. We also developed a multi‐CpG classifier of lifetime cannabis use using penalized regression of top EWAS CpGs. The resulting 50‐CpG classifier produced an area under the curve (AUC) = 0.74 (95% CI [0.72, 0.76], p = 2.00 × 10−5) in the discovery sample and AUC = 0.54 ([0.51, 0.57], p = 2.87 × 10−2) in the replication sample. Our EWAS findings provide evidence that blood‐based DNAm is associated with lifetime cannabis use.
Low Price Foot Pressure Distribution Screening Technique: Optical Podoscope with Accurate Foot Print Segmentation using Hidden Markov Random Field Model

Background: Foot pressure assessment systems are widely used to diagnose foot pathologies. The human foot plays an important role in maintaining the biomechanical function of the lower extremities which includes the provision of balance and stabilization of the body during gait. Objective: There are different types of assessment tools with different capabilities which are discussed in detail in this paper. In this project, we introduce a new camera-based pressure distribution estimation system which can give a numerical estimation in addition to giving a visual illustration of pressure distribution of the sole. Material and Methods: In this analytical study we proposed an accurate Foot Print segmentation using hidden Markov Random Field model. In the first step, an image is captured from the traditional Podoscope device. Then, the HMRF-EM image segmentation scheme applies to extract the contacting part of the sole to the ground. Finally, based on a simple calibration method, per mm2, pressure estimates to give an accurate pressure distribution measure. Results: A significant and usable estimation of foot pressure has been introduced in this article. The main drawback of introduced systems is the low resolution of sensors which is solved using a high resolution camera as a sensor. Another problem is the patchy edge extracted by the systems which is automatically solved in the proposed device using an accurate image segmentation algorithm. Conclusion: We introduced a camera-based plantar pressure assessment tool which uses HMRF-EM-based method has been explained in more detail which gives a brilliant sole segmentation from the captured images.
Investigation of the protective effect of nesfatin‐1 on testicular ischaemia‐reperfusion damage: An experimental study

This study aimed to determine oxidative stress in the tissue after testicular torsion biochemically and histopathologically and to examine the effects of Nesfatin‐1 treatment on this injury. Thirty‐two rats were randomly divided into four groups: sham, torsion + detorsion (4 hr torsion followed by 1 hr detorsion), ischaemia/reperfusion + saline (I/R + S) and I/R + nesfatin‐1. I/R + S group a single‐dose saline treatment was administered intraperitoneally at the two‐hundred‐tenth minute of torsion (ischaemia; 10 cc/kg). Similarly, I/R + nesfatin‐1 group a single dose of nesfatin‐1 treatment was administered intraperitoneally at the two‐hundred‐tenth minute of ischaemia (10 µg/kg). Myeloperoxidase, total oxidant status and oxidative stress index values were significantly increased in the I/R and I/R + S group compared to the sham group. Superoxide dismutase was significantly decreased in the I/R + S group compared to the sham group. No significant difference was found between the I/R + nesfatin‐1 group and the other I/R groups (I/R and I/R + S) in terms of biochemical parameters. The mean diameter of the seminiferous tubule decreased in the I/R groups. However, the mean diameter of the seminiferous tubules was not significantly different between the I/R + S group and the I/R + nesfatin‐1 group. Thus, the administration of nesfatin‐1 after ischaemia did not reduce testicular‐oxidative stress.
Strawberry pollination by Bombus lucorum and Apis mellifera in greenhouses

Bumble bees and honey bees are important pollinators, but bumble bees are more efficient than honey bees for pollinating fruits and vegetables in greenhouses, which is mainly due to the different activity patterns in pollination between bumble bees and honey bees.The behaviour and activity patterns of Bombus lucorum and Apis mellifera for pollinating strawberry in greenhouse were comparatively studied. The results showed that their behaviour on the flowers was quite similar, but activity patterns were different. B. lucorum visited flowers at 8:00-8:05 earlier than A. mellifera at 9:25-9:40, and ended at 15:55-16:05 later than A. mellifera at 15:20-15:30. B. lucorum began visiting flowers at lower temperature (12-13℃) than A. mellifera did (15℃); moreover A. mellifera did not visit flowers in the early morning or cloudy day. The diurnal activity time of individual B. lucorum (271.43±4.48 s) was significantly longer than that of A. mellifera (180.00±2.64 s). The foraging time of B. lucorum was 105.71±1.16 s, significantly longer than that of A. mellifera (76.43±3.83 s). B. lucorum spent 3.81±0.42 s on shuttling between flowers, significantly shorter than that of A. mellifera (6.0±0.48) s. B. lucorum visited more flowers per minute (8.44±0.44) than A. mellifera did (2.38±0.15). A. mellifera bees were not particularly selective between strawberry flower with different ages, and they visited 34% young flowers per day. In contrast, B. lucorum strongly selected young flowers, and up to 55% of the flowers visited were young (P0.05); B. lucorum visited 75% young flowers at 9:00-12:00, whereas A. mellifera visited 31% young flowers at the same time. B. lucorum bees moved around more than did A. mellifera, and they frequently visited only one or two flowers in a patch and then flew some distance along the rows or between rows, with a mean “row length" per visit sequence of 5.2 m. In contrast, the mean “row length" for all A. mellifera visit sequences was just 1.1 m. It was so concluded that B. lucorum bumble bees are more efficient pollinators for greenhouse strawberry than A. mellifera honey bees.
The effect of smoking on latent tuberculosis infection susceptibility in high risk individuals in Iran

ABSTRACT Tuberculosis has been declared as a global emergency. Latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) is a state in which host immunity cannot completely eradicate Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Cigarette smoke increases the risk of respiratory infections, such a TB, as it has adverse effects on respiratory immune function. In this cross-sectional study, which was performed from 2016 to 2017, 31 patients with newly diagnosed lung cancer, 63 Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), 46 with problems in respiratory system, and 40 healthy subjects were studied. Demographic data of all subjects were recorded via a questionnaire. IGRAs (Interferon-γ release assays) were used to determine LTBI. We showed that smoking has significant odds ratio for COPD patients (OR: 4.58, 95% CI: 1.93–10.87). Also, the concordance of smoking with COPD (OR: 22, 95% CI: 2.7–179.2), lung cancer (OR: 10, 95% CI: 1.03–97), and other respiratory diseases (OR: 4.54, 95% CI: 1.93–10.87) is a significant risk factor for the presence of LTBI whereas the existence of LTBI in the study groups did not show any significant odds ratio. This study is the first to analyze the relationship between smoking in patients with respiratory diseases and LTBI susceptibility in Iran by IGRAs, which proposes cigarette smoking as a powerful risk factor for LTBI.
Use of overnight pulse oximetry and a type 3 sleep study to titrate hypoglossal nerve stimulation therapy.

ABSTRACT This is a case series of three patients with moderate-severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) who were positive airway pressure (PAP)-intolerant and underwent implantation of the hypoglossal nerve stimulator (HNS). All patients recorded baseline overnight pulse oximetry without HNS and at least one night at each HNS setting as they up-titrated the device at home. Due to the impact of the novel coronavirus on sleep laboratories, all patients proceeded directly to type 3 sleep studies performed at a single setting determined by a combination of subjective improvement and pulse oximetry data.
Local shape volume alterations in subcortical structures of suicide attempters with major depressive disorder

Suicide is among the most important global health concerns; accordingly, an increasing number of studies have shown the risks for suicide attempt(s) in terms of brain morphometric features and their clinical correlates. However, brain studies addressing suicidal vulnerability have been more focused on demonstrating impairments in cortical structures than in the subcortical structures. Using local shape volumes (LSV) analysis, we investigated subcortical structures with their clinical correlates in depressed patients who attempted suicide. Then we compared them with depressed patients without a suicidal history and age‐ and sex‐matched healthy controls (HCs; i.e., 47 suicide attempters with depression, 47 non‐suicide attempters with depression, and 109 HCs). Significant volumetric differences were found between suicidal and nonsuicidal depressed patients in several vertices: 16 in the left amygdala; 201 in the left hippocampus; 1,057 in the left putamen; and 140 in the left pallidum; 1 in the right pallidum; and 6 in the bilateral thalamus. These findings indicated subcortical alterations in LSV in components of the limbic–cortical–striatal–pallidal–thalamic circuits. Moreover, our results demonstrated that the basal ganglia was correlated with perceived stress levels, and the thalamus was correlated with suicidal ideation. We suggest that suicidality in major depressive disorder may involve subcortical volume alterations.
Salinity has little effect on photosynthetic and respiratory responses to seasonal temperature changes in black mangrove (Avicennia germinans) seedlings.

Temperature and salinity are important regulators of mangrove range limits and productivity, but the physiological responses of mangroves to the interactive effects of temperature and salinity remain uncertain. We tested the hypothesis that salinity alters photosynthetic responses to seasonal changes in temperature and vapor pressure deficit (D), as well as thermal acclimation of leaf respiration in black mangrove (Avicennia germinans). To test this hypothesis, we grew seedlings of A. germinans in an outdoor experiment for ~ 12 months under four treatments spanning 0 to 55 ppt porewater salinity. We repeatedly measured seedling growth and in situ rates of leaf net photosynthesis (Asat) and stomatal conductance to water vapor (gs) at prevailing leaf temperatures, along with estimated rates of Rubisco carboxylation (Vcmax) and electron transport for RuBP regeneration (Jmax), and measured rates of leaf respiration at 25°C (Rarea25). We developed empirical models describing the seasonal response of leaf-gas exchange and photosynthetic capacity to leaf temperature and D, and the response of Rarea25 to changes in mean daily air temperature. We tested the effect of salinity on model parameters. Over time, salinity had weak or inconsistent effects on Asat,gs, and Rarea25. Salinity also had little effect on the biochemical parameters of photosynthesis (Vcmax, Jmax) and individual measurements of Asat, gs, Vcmax, and Jmax showed a similar response to seasonal changes in temperature and D across all salinity treatments. Individual measurements of Rarea25 showed a similar inverse relationship with mean daily air temperature across all salinity treatments. We conclude that photosynthetic responses to seasonal changes in temperature and D, as well as seasonal temperature acclimation of leaf R, are largely consistent across a range of salinities in A. germinans. These results might simplify predictions of photosynthetic and respiratory responses to temperature in young mangroves.
Cell-Type-Specific Gene Inactivation and In Situ Restoration via Recombinase-Based Flipping of Targeted Genomic Region

Conditional gene inactivation and restoration are powerful tools for studying gene functions in the nervous system and for modeling neuropsychiatric diseases. The combination of the two is necessary to interrogate specific cell types within defined developmental stages. However, very few methods and animal models have been developed for such purpose. Here we present a versatile method for conditional gene inactivation and in situ restoration through reversibly inverting a critical part of its endogenous genomic sequence by Cre- and Flp-mediated recombinations. Using this method, we generated a mouse model to manipulate Mecp2, an X-linked dosage-sensitive gene whose mutations cause Rett syndrome. Combined with multiple Cre- and Flp-expressing drivers and viral tools, we achieved efficient and reliable Mecp2 inactivation and restoration in the germline and several neuronal cell types, and demonstrated phenotypic reversal and prevention on cellular and behavioral levels in male mice. This study not only provides valuable tools and critical insights for Mecp2 and Rett syndrome, but also offers a generally applicable strategy to decipher other neurologic disorders. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Studying neurodevelopment and modeling neurologic disorders rely on genetic tools, such as conditional gene regulation. We developed a new method to combine conditional gene inactivation and restoration on a single allele without disturbing endogenous expression pattern or dosage. We applied it to manipulate Mecp2, a gene residing on X chromosome whose malfunction leads to neurologic disease, including Rett syndrome. Our results demonstrated the efficiency, specificity, and versatility of this new method, provided valuable tools and critical insights for Mecp2 function and Rett syndrome research, and offered a generally applicable strategy to investigate other genes and genetic disorders.
Both unmedicated and medicated individuals with schizophrenia show impairments across a wide array of cognitive and reinforcement learning tasks

Abstract Background Schizophrenia is a disorder characterized by pervasive deficits in cognitive functioning. However, few well-powered studies have examined the degree to which cognitive performance is impaired even among individuals with schizophrenia not currently on antipsychotic medications using a wide range of cognitive and reinforcement learning measures derived from cognitive neuroscience. Such research is particularly needed in the domain of reinforcement learning, given the central role of dopamine in reinforcement learning, and the potential impact of antipsychotic medications on dopamine function. Methods The present study sought to fill this gap by examining healthy controls (N = 75), unmedicated (N = 48) and medicated (N = 148) individuals with schizophrenia. Participants were recruited across five sites as part of the CNTRaCS Consortium to complete tasks assessing processing speed, cognitive control, working memory, verbal learning, relational encoding and retrieval, visual integration and reinforcement learning. Results Individuals with schizophrenia who were not taking antipsychotic medications, as well as those taking antipsychotic medications, showed pervasive deficits across cognitive domains including reinforcement learning, processing speed, cognitive control, working memory, verbal learning and relational encoding and retrieval. Further, we found that chlorpromazine equivalency rates were significantly related to processing speed and working memory, while there were no significant relationships between anticholinergic load and performance on other tasks. Conclusions These findings add to a body of literature suggesting that cognitive deficits are an enduring aspect of schizophrenia, present in those off antipsychotic medications as well as those taking antipsychotic medications.
Linguistic Delight Promotes Eating Right: Figurative Language Increases Perceived Enjoyment and Encourages Healthier Food Choices

ABSTRACT The link between poor diet and poor health is well-known. Nevertheless, 90% of Americans are not meeting current dietary guidelines, avoiding nutrient dense foods like vegetables, and opting for high-calorie foods. One of the reasons for this behavior is that healthy options are often considered less enjoyable, compared with less healthy options. Addressing this issue, the current work tests the effectiveness of a novel approach to encourage consumption of healthier options. We explore the effectiveness of using figurative language (e.g., rhyme, metaphor) in naming food items on preference for these items. Research shows that figurative language induces pleasure and perceived enjoyment. Relying on this research, we propose that naming food figuratively will increase anticipated enjoyment with that food, as well as preference for that food. We tested this prediction in a large-scale field experiment at a university dining hall. We found that giving vegetable dishes figurative names (Tree of Life) significantly increased preference for those dishes, compared with literal names (Steamed Broccoli). A follow-up online experiment provided additional evidence in support of this assertion, demonstrating a preference for low-calorie menu options when they were named figuratively, and higher anticipated enjoyment with these options. The findings support the use of figurative language in naming healthy food dishes to influence food choice. The results also provide a psychological explanation for the effectiveness of figurative language in health communication.
Functional characterization of a starch synthesis-related gene AmAGP in Amorphophallus muelleri

ABSTRACT Amorphophallus has attracted tremendous interest because of its high contents of glucomannan and starch. Very few genes regulating glucomannan and starch were reported in Amorphophallus. In this study, an ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase (AGP) gene that plays a significant role in plant starch synthesis was cloned from Amorphophallus muelleri. It was shown that it encoded a predicted protein containing a conserved plant ADP-Glucose-PP repeat domain and seven potential ligand-binding sites. The real-time quantitative PCR showed that AmAGP was most abundant in tubers, and it was positively correlated with starch content. Additionally, its influencers about temperature and exogenous plant hormone were also discussed, showing that AmAGP expressed highly in tubers under treatments using 25°C and IAA. Furthermore, starch content was closely related to AmAGP expression level, suggesting that AmAGP was involved in the regulation of starch synthesis in A. muelleri. Therefore, identifying the sequence of AmAGP and its expression pattern during tuber enlarging and the changes of its transcript levels in response to temperature and plant hormones would contribute to a better understanding of starch synthesis, and also providing a reference information for future preferable breeding for obtaining more starch or more glucomannan in Amorphophallus.
Timing the Implementation of Cultural Practices for Spissistilus festinus (Hemiptera: Membracidae) in California Vineyards Using a Stage-Structured Degree-Day Model

Abstract The three-cornered alfalfa hopper, Spissistilus festinus (Say), was shown to transmit Grapevine red blotch virus (GRBV), the causative agent for Grapevine red blotch disease, in a greenhouse study on grapes. GRBV is a major concern of wine grape growers due to its economic impact on wine quality. Plants in the family Fabaceae are preferred hosts of S. festinus and are commonly planted as cover crops or present in a vineyard's native vegetation. In late winter, during grapevine dormancy, S. festinus migrate into vineyards to feed and reproduce on these cover crop and weed hosts. Tilling vineyard floor vegetation provides growers an opportunity to disrupt the life cycle of early instars that are relatively immobile, reducing the S. festinus first-generation population. Nymphal presence is difficult to detect. First through third instars were not detected in sweep net samples in a 2-yr weekly sampling study, whereas fourth and fifth instars were first found on the same sample date as emerging adults. A degree-day model was developed and successfully predicted when early S. festinus instars are present in the vineyard to aid in exploiting the time period when S. festinus is most susceptible to cultural control measures.
Influence of n-3 fatty acid supplementation on inflammatory and oxidative stress markers in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is defined as a reproductive endocrine disease that results in a low-grade inflammatory and pro-oxidant state. Dietary factors, including n-3 fatty acids, may have a key role in improving metabolic disorders in PCOS patients. The present study aimed to investigate the influence of n-3 fatty acid supplementation on inflammatory and oxidative stress (OS) markers in patients with PCOS. A systematic literature search of Medline/PubMed, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Scopus and Lilacs, until November 2019, was conducted. Randomised clinical trials that reported inflammatory and OS markers as endpoints in women with PCOS receiving n-3 fatty acid supplementation were included. The pooled estimates of the weighted mean differences (WMD) and the standard mean differences (SMD) were calculated. Random effects models were adopted to measure the pooled outcomes. Among the 323 studies retrieved, ten fulfilled the inclusion criteria for a meta-analysis. We founded a significant decrease in high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) (SMD –0·29 (95 % CI –0·56, –0·02) mg/l) and an increase in adiponectin (WMD 1·42 (95 % CI 1·09, 1·76) ng/ml) concentrations in the intervention group when compared with the placebo group. No statistically significant results were found in the meta-analysis for visfatin, nitric oxide, GSH or malondialdehyde levels or total antioxidant capacity. The data suggest that supplementation of n-3 fatty acids could reduce the inflammatory state in women with PCOS, through a decrease in hs-CRP and an increase in adiponectin levels.
A new hydrophilic biodegradable ureteral stent restrain encrustation both in vitro and in vivo

Ureteral stents have been widely used as biomedical devices to treat some urological diseases for several decades. However, the encrustation complications hamper the long-time clinical use of the ureteral stents. In this work, a new type of biodegradable material for the ureteral stents, methoxypoly(ethylene glycol)-block-poly(L-lactide-ran-Ɛ-caprolactone) (mPEG-PLACL), is evaluated to overcome this problem. The results show that the hydrophilicity and degradation rate in artificial urine of mPEG-PLACL are both significantly increased. It is worth noting that the mPEG-PLACL shows a lower amount of encrustation after immersing the stents in the dynamic urinary extracorporeal circulation (DUEC) model for 7 days. In addition, 71% Ca and 92% Mg are inhibited in vivo by quantitative analysis. Pathological analysis exhibit that the mPEG-PLACL cause less diffuse mucosal hyperplasia after 7 weeks of implantation. All the results indicate that this new type of biodegradable material had an excellent potential for the ureteral stents in the future.