Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
First Report of Soybean Rust Caused by Phakopsora pachyrhizi in the Continental United States.

Asian soybean rust, caused by Phakopsora pachyrhizi Sydow, has been known to occur in the eastern hemisphere for nearly a century. More recently, it was reported from Hawaii in 1994, eastern and southern Africa from 1996-1998, Nigeria in 2001, and Brazil and Paraguay in 2002. Aerobiological models suggested that urediniospores of the pathogen would be disseminated on wind currents to the continental United States in association with tropical storms if the disease became established north of the equator during hurricane season (U.S. Soybean Rust Detection and Aerobiological Modeling online publication at www.aphis.usda.gov/ppq/ ep/soybean_rust/ ). Since soybean rust was observed at approximately 5°N latitude in South America before several hurricanes impacted the continental United States in September 2004, it seems likely that the introduction was associated with at least one of these tropical storms, especially hurricane Ivan. Symptoms of the disease were first observed on soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr. ) in the continental United States on November 6, 2004 in a field near Baton Rouge, LA. Typical pustules and urediniospores on infected leaves were readily apparent when viewed with a dissecting microscope. Urediniospores were obovoid to broadly ellipsoidal, hyaline to pale yellowish brown with a minutely echinulate thin wall, and measured 18 to 37 × 15 to 24 μm. Paraphyses were cylindric to clavate and slightly thickened at the apex, colorless to pale yellowish brown, and 25-50 × 6-14 μm in size. This morphology is typical of Phakopsora pachyrhizi and P. meibomiae, a less aggressive, western hemisphere species (2). DNA was extracted from leaves containing sori using the Qiagen DNeasy Plant Mini kit. P. pachyrhizi was detected using a real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) protocol (1) that differentiates between P. pachyrhizi and P. meibomiae performed in a Cepheid thermocycler with appropriate positive and negative controls. The PCR master mix was modified to include OmniMix beads (Cepheid). The field diagnosis of P. pachyrhizi was confirmed officially by the USDA/APHIS on November 10, 2004, and this was followed on November 11, 2004 by a wide-ranging survey of soybean and kudzu (Pueraria sp.) in soybean production areas in southern and central Louisiana. Collections from this survey also were assayed as described above, and six soybean specimens from five sites were confirmed positive. The disease was not found on kudzu samples. To our knowledge, this is the first report of P. pachyrhizi in the continental United States. Voucher specimens have been placed in the USDA National Fungus Collection. References: (1) R. D. Frederick et al. Phytopathology 92:217, 2002. (2) Y. Ono et al. Mycol. Res. 96:825, 1992.
Neural activity to positive expressions predicts daily experience of schizophrenia-spectrum symptoms in adults with high social anhedonia.

Social anhedonia (SA), the diminished pleasure from social relationships, is a prominent characteristic of the vulnerability and manifestation of schizophrenia disorder. However, SA can develop for multiple reasons and little is known about its neural basis; these 2 issues hinder the utility and sensitivity of SA as a marker of schizophrenia pathology. This study investigated whether lateral prefrontal cortex (LPFC) deficits in social reward processing are associated with both SA and other schizophrenia-spectrum symptoms. During functional MRI (fMRI), a community sample of healthy adults (N = 30) with high and low SA viewed positive, negative, and neutral facial expressions. Afterward, participants completed an online daily diary in which they rated schizophrenia-spectrum symptoms and occurrence of interpersonal conflict each day for 21 days. Compared with low SA, high SA participants had less ventral (V)LPFC activity to positive versus neutral expressions. In addition, participants with a combination of high SA and low VLPFC activity to positive versus neutral expressions had worse daily diary ratings of schizophrenia-spectrum symptoms, including worse cognition, paranoia, motivation/productivity, and vigor/positive affect (i.e., psychomotor activation). Finally, among high SA participants, VLPFC activity predicted the daily relationship between distress from interpersonal conflict and symptom-severity; specifically, high SA participants with low VLPFC activity had worse paranoia on days of high conflict distress. These findings indicate that VLPFC deficits in positive emotion are associated with both SA and other schizophrenia-spectrum symptoms and that understanding the interaction of SA, VLPFC function, and social stress could facilitate the use of SA in the prevention and treatment of schizophrenia.
Commentary on: Depression, antidepressant use, and risk of venous thromboembolism: systematic review and meta-analysis of published observational evidence

We read with interest the recently published article “Depression, antidepressant use, and risk of venous thromboembolism: systematic review and meta-analysis of published observational evidence” by Kunutsor and colleagues [1]. The article was the first meta-analysis of the association between antidepressants and risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) and provided a basis to consider as our research group continued an ongoing metaanalysis of a similar topic. However, while trying to replicate the results of their study, we found some discrepancies in the main results that influence the conclusions made from the data. The authors stated that the inverse variance weighted method was used to combine summary measures with random-effects models to account for between-study heterogeneity in methods. They showed the subtotal RR (95% confidence interval) was 1.12 (1.02, 1.23) for SSRI and risk of VTE – a statistically significant finding for the risk of VTE associated with SSRIs. However, during replication for which we utilized the same articles and applied a random-effects model, the observed estimate was not significant (RR 1.13, 95% CI 0.92, 1.40). We further found that when we utilized a fixed-effects model, we replicated Kunutsor et al.’s primary results that were reported to be from a random-effects model. Thus, we believe that the authors’ incorrectly reported the results from a fixed-effect model whereas they indicated the use of a random-effect model in the methods. Use of fixed effects models requires the strong assumption that the observed treatment effects vary only because of sampling of patients who were exposed to the exact same study conditions [2]. However, especially when summarizing observational studies, variation in effect estimates are oftentimes created by differences in research designs, measurement of outcomes and exposure, duration of follow-up, methods to adjust for confounding, or study inand exclusion criteria, as is the case in the meta-analysis at hand. As the I of the four included studies in the articles was 58.43%, the heterogeneity can be considered large and further suggests the possibility of heterogeneity in effects secondary to differences in studies and not sampling error and thus the need for random-effects specification [3]. In this example, the random-effects model produces a null result whereas the fixed-effects, i.e. the results reported in error in the Kunutsor et al. article, change the interpretation of the meta-analysis, which could have broad clinical implications if not corrected. Therefore, based on a re-analysis of these four studies using a random-effects model, the data suggest that SSRIs may not be associated with an increased risk of VTE and there may be no concern for their therapeutic use related to VTE as an adverse event. It should be noted that further research is needed to refute subtle increases in risk as confidence intervals are wide.
Women with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome Exhibit Reduced Baroreflex Sensitivity That May Be Associated with Increased Body Fat

Background Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) women have a high prevalence of obesity and alterations in cardiovascular autonomic control, mainly modifications in heart rate variability (HRV) autonomic modulation. However, there are few studies about other autonomic control parameters, such as blood pressure variability (BPV) and baroreflex sensitivity (BRS). In addition, there are still doubts about the obesity real contribution in altering autonomic control in these women. Objective To investigate BPV and BRS autonomic modulation alterations in PCOS women, as well as, to evaluate whether these alterations are due PCOS or increased body fat. Methods We studied 30 eutrophic volunteers [body mass index (BMI) < 25 kg/m2] without PCOS (control group) and 60 volunteers with PCOS divided into: eutrophic (BMI < 25 kg/m2, N = 30) and obese women (BMI > 30 kg/m2, N = 30). All volunteers were submitted to anthropometric evaluation, hemodynamic and cardiorespiratory parameters record at rest and during physical exercise, analysis of HRV, BPV and spontaneous BRS. The differences in p less than 5% (p < 0.05) were considered statistically significant. Results Related to eutrophics groups, there were no differences in autonomic parameters evaluated. The comparison between the PCOS groups showed that both PCOS groups did not differ in the BPV analysis. Although, the obese PCOS group presented lower values of spontaneous BRS and HRV, in low frequency and high frequency oscillations in absolute units. Conclusion Our results suggest that obesity did little to alter HRV in women with PCOS, but it may influence the spontaneous BRS.
Genetic interactions between Ror2 and Wnt9a, Ror1 and Wnt9a and Ror2 and Ror1: Phenotypic analysis of the limb skeleton and palate in compound mutants

Mutations in the human receptor tyrosine kinase ROR2 are associated with Robinow syndrome (RRS) and brachydactyly type B1. Amongst others, the shortened limb phenotype associated with RRS is recapitulated in Ror2−/− mutant mice. In contrast, Ror1−/− mutant mice are viable and show no limb phenotype. Ror1−/−;Ror2−/− double mutants are embryonic lethal, whereas double mutants containing a hypomorphic Ror1 allele (Ror1hyp) survive up to birth and display a more severe shortened limb phenotype. Both orphan receptors have been shown to act as possible Wnt coreceptors and to mediate the Wnt5a signal. Here, we analyzed genetic interactions between the Wnt ligand, Wnt9a, and Ror2 or Ror1, as Wnt9a has also been implicated in skeletal development. Wnt9a−/− single mutants display a mild shortening of the long bones, whereas these are severely shortened in Ror2−/− mutants. Ror2−/−;Wnt9a−/− double mutants displayed even more severely shortened long bones, and intermediate phenotypes were observed in compound Ror2;Wnt9a mutants. Long bones were also shorter in Ror1hyp/hyp;Wnt9a−/− double mutants. In addition, Ror1hyp/hyp;Wnt9a−/− double mutants displayed a secondary palate cleft phenotype, which was not present in the respective single mutants. Interestingly, 50% of compound mutant pups heterozygous for Ror2 and homozygous mutant for Ror1 also developed a secondary palate cleft phenotype.
Extremely high-gain source-gated transistors

Significance The advent of thin-film electronics and the development of new materials, such as oxide semiconductors, bring great opportunities for new device designs and applications. A source-gated transistor (SGT) is created by combining two fundamental building blocks of electronics: a thin-film transistor and a Schottky diode. By developing a methodology to manipulate the source barrier profile, an extremely high gain of 29,000 is achieved, previously unthinkable with a single component. The SGT design overcomes several major bottlenecks to using oxide semiconductors in large-scale applications and broadens the range of channel materials beyond standard semiconductors. These advantages combined with an analytical theory confirmed by simulations and experiments demonstrate the potential of SGTs to be a fundamental component for thin-film electronics. Despite being a fundamental electronic component for over 70 years, it is still possible to develop different transistor designs, including the addition of a diode-like Schottky source electrode to thin-film transistors. The discovery of a dependence of the source barrier height on the semiconductor thickness and derivation of an analytical theory allow us to propose a design rule to achieve extremely high voltage gain, one of the most important figures of merit for a transistor. Using an oxide semiconductor, an intrinsic gain of 29,000 was obtained, which is orders of magnitude higher than a conventional Si transistor. These same devices demonstrate almost total immunity to negative bias illumination temperature stress, the foremost bottleneck to using oxide semiconductors in major applications, such as display drivers. Furthermore, devices fabricated with channel lengths down to 360 nm display no obvious short-channel effects, another critical factor for high-density integrated circuits and display applications. Finally, although the channel material of conventional transistors must be a semiconductor, by demonstrating a high-performance transistor with a semimetal-like indium tin oxide channel, the range and versatility of materials have been significantly broadened.
Changes in wheelchair biomechanics within the first 120 minutes of practice: spatiotemporal parameters, handrim forces, motor force, rolling resistance and fore-aft stability

Abstract Purpose: During manual wheelchair (MWC) skill acquisition, users adapt their propulsion technique through changes in biomechanical parameters. This evolution is assumed to be driven towards a more efficient behavior. However, when no specific training protocol is provided to users, little is known about how they spontaneously adapt during overground MWC locomotion. For that purpose, we investigated this biomechanical spontaneous adaptation within the initial phase of low-intensity uninstructed training. Materials and methods: Eighteen novice able-bodied subjects were enrolled to perform 120 min of uninstructed practice with a field MWC, distributed over 4 weeks. Subjects were tested during the very first minutes of the program, and after completion of the entire training protocol. Spatiotemporal parameters, handrim forces, motor force, rolling resistance and fore-aft stability were investigated using an instrumented field wheelchair. Results: Participants rapidly increased linear velocity of the MWC, thanks to a higher propulsive force. This was achieved thanks to higher handrim forces, combined with an improved fraction of effective force for startup but not for propulsion. Despite changes in mechanical actions exerted by the user on the MWC, rolling resistance remained constant but the stability index was noticeably altered. Conclusion: Even if no indication is given, novice MWC users rapidly change their propulsion technique and increase their linear speed. Such improvements in MWC mobility are allowed by a mastering of the whole range of stability offered by the MWC, which raises the issue of safety on the MWC. Implications for rehabilitation The learning process of manual wheelchair locomotion induces adaptations for novice users, who change their propulsion technique to improve their mobility. Several wheelchair biomechanical parameters change during the learning process, especially wheelchair speed, handrim forces, motor force, rolling resistance and fore-aft stability. Fore-aft stability on the wheelchair rapidly reached the tipping limits for users. Technical solutions that preserve stability but do not hinder mobility have to beimplemented, for instance by adding anti-tipping wheels rather than moving the seat forwards with respect to the rear wheels axle.
Allocentric Versus Egocentric Neglect in Stroke Patients: A Pilot Study Investigating the Assessment of Neglect Subtypes and Their Impacts on Functional Outcome Using Eye Tracking

Abstract Objective: Few studies have investigated the assessment and functional impact of egocentric and allocentric neglect among stroke patients. This pilot study aimed to determine (1) whether allocentric and egocentric neglect could be dissociated among a sample of stroke patients using eye tracking; (2) the specific patterns of attention associated with each subtype; and (3) the nature of the relationship between neglect subtype and functional outcome. Method: Twenty acute stroke patients were administered neuropsychological assessment batteries, a pencil-and-paper Apples Test to measure neglect subtype, and an adaptation of the Apples Test with an eye tracking measure. To test clinical discriminability, twenty age- and education-matched control participants were administered the eye tracking measure of neglect. Results: The eye tracking measure identified a greater number of individuals as having egocentric and/or allocentric neglect than the pencil-and-paper Apples Test. Classification of neglect subtype based on eye tracking performance was a significant predictor of functional outcome beyond that accounted for by the neuropsychological test performance and Apples Test neglect classification. Preliminary evidence suggests that patients with no neglect symptoms had superior functional outcomes compared with patients with neglect. Patients with combined egocentric and allocentric neglect had poorer functional outcomes than those with either subtype. Functional outcomes of patients with either allocentric or egocentric neglect did not differ significantly. The applications of our findings, to improve neglect detection, are discussed. Conclusion: Results highlight the potential clinical utility of eye tracking for the assessment and identification of neglect subtype among stroke patients to predict functional outcomes. (JINS, 2019, 25, 479–489)
Assessment of maternal GBS colonization and early-onset neonatal disease rate for term deliveries: a decade perspective

Abstract Objective To assess the maternal group B streptococcal (GBS) colonization rate and neonatal early-onset GBS (EOGBS) disease in term deliveries, a decade apart. Methods This was a retrospective computerized study between 2005 and 2016. A universal GBS culture-based approach gradually replaced the GBS risk-oriented screening. A vaginal-rectal culture taken at 35–37 weeks was recorded at admission for delivery. Results We identified 149,910 term deliveries during the study period. GBS status was recorded in 53,879 (35.9%) cases. The GBS screening rate constantly increased from 20% in 2005 to 47.5% in 2016. GBS colonization rates significantly decreased, from 50.3% in 2005 to 31.7% in 2016, P<0.001. Overall, EOGBS disease was diagnosed in 37 term neonates (0.25 per 1000 live births.). The rate of EOGBS in neonates decreased dramatically from 0.361 per 1000 deliveries between 2005 and 2009 to 0.19 per 1000 deliveries between 2010 and 2016 (P<0.05). During the latter period, over 35% of the deliveries were screened for GBS. Remarkably, 64.9% of the EOGBS originated in the non-screened population. Conclusion The universal screening policy was associated with a significant decrease in neonatal EOGBS and therefore should be adopted. Further national surveillance studies should be performed in order to validate this approach.
A Multi-Study Coordinated Meta-Analysis of Pulmonary Function and Cognition in Aging.

BACKGROUND Substantial research is dedicated to understanding the aging-related dynamics among individual differences in level, change, and variation across physical and cognitive abilities. Evaluating replicability and synthesizing these findings has been limited by differences in measurements and samples, and by study design and statistical analyses confounding between-person differences with within-person changes. In this paper, we conducted a coordinated analysis and summary meta-analysis of new results on the aging-related dynamics linking pulmonary function and cognitive performance. METHODS We performed coordinated analysis of bivariate growth models in data from 20,586 participants across eight longitudinal studies to examine individual differences in baseline level, rate of change, and occasion-specific variability in pulmonary and cognitive functioning. Results were summarized using meta-analysis. RESULTS We found consistent but weak baseline and longitudinal associations in levels of pulmonary and cognitive functioning, but no associations in occasion-specific variability. CONCLUSIONS Results provide limited evidence for a consistent link between simultaneous changes in pulmonary and cognitive function in a normal aging population. Further research is required to understand patterns of onset of decline and differences in rates of change within and across physical and cognitive functioning domains, both within-individuals and across countries and birth cohorts. Coordinated analysis provides an efficient and rigorous approach for replicating and comparing results across independent longitudinal studies.
Metabolomics and Their Ability to Distinguish Thyroid Disorders: A Retrospective Pilot Study

Abstract Early diagnosis of thyroid disorders is key to further treatment. We assessed the ability of a high-throughput proton NMR metabolomic profile to distinguish disease type amongst of Graves’ disease (n=87), Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (n=17), toxic goiter (n=11), and autoimmune thyroiditis [i. e. , subacute thyroiditis (n=4), postpartum thyroiditis (n=1)]. This observational study was conducted investigating patients presenting with a thyroid disorder at a Swiss hospital endocrine referral center and an associated endocrine outpatient clinic. The main outcome was diagnosis of thyroid disorder based on classical parameters. Blood draws took place as close as possible to treatment initiation. We performed one-way ANOVA and partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) as multivariate classification and feature ranking method. One-way ANOVA analysis yielded following significantly different metabolites, triglycerides in small VLDL, triglycerides in very small VLDL, and triglycerides in large LDL (FDR=0.04). There was no distinct separation of any of the 4 diagnoses by PLS-DA. We did not find a metabolomic biomarker combination capable of predicting diagnosis. Preanalytical issues might have influenced our results. We strongly suggest replicating our work in another cohort.
Proposal of Parashewanella gen. nov. to accommodate Parashewanella curva sp. nov. and Parashewanella spongiae comb. nov. in the Shewanellaceae.

A Gram-stain-negative, non-spore-forming, motile, aerobic, curved rod shaped bacterium, designed strain C51T, was isolated from coral (genus Porites) sampled at Weizhou Island, China. The optimal growth occurred in 2-3 % NaCl (w/v), at 25 °C and pH 8. Phylogenetic analyses based on the 16S rRNA gene, the gyrB gene and the Up-to-date Bacterial Core Gene set (92 genes) indicated that strain C51T forms a stable cluster with Shewanella spongiae KCTC 22492T, and had 94 % 16S rRNA gene similarity to its closest type strain S. spongiae KCTC 22492T. The only detected respiratory quinone was Q-8 and it could not produce menaquinone. The genome DNA G+C content was 40.1 mol%. The major cellular fatty acids were iso-C11:0 3-OH, iso-C15:0, C16:0, C16:1ω7c/ω6c, C18:0 and iso-C13:0 3-OH. The major polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol, three unidentified aminolipids and three unidentified polar lipids. Its low genome DNA G+C content, lack of an aminolipid and a difference in its substrate oxidation ability indicated that strain C51T should represent a new species. Furthermore, its distinct phylogeny, Shewanella-specific FISH probe SHEW227 mismatch, lower cellular G+C content and inability to produce menaquinones indicated that the C51T clade should represent a new genus in the Shewanellaceae, for which the name Parashewanella gen. nov. is proposed, the type species is Parashewanella spongiae comb. nov., and another species is Parashewanella curva sp. nov. The type strains of Parashewanella spongiae and Parashewanella curva are HJ039T (=KCTC 22492T=KCCM 42304T=JCM 13830T) and C51T (=MCCC 1K03463T=KCTC 62318T), respectively.