Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
TCMP‐2 affects tomato flowering and interacts with BBX16, a homolog of the arabidopsis B‐box MiP1b

Abstract Flowering and fruiting are processes subject to complex control by environmental and endogenous signals. Endogenous signals comprise, besides classical phytohormones, also signaling peptides and miniproteins. Tomato cystine‐knot miniproteins (TCMPs), which belong to a Solanaceous‐specific group of Cys‐rich protein family, have been recently involved in fruit development. TCMP‐1 and TCMP‐2 display a highly modulated expression pattern during flower and fruit development. A previous study reported that a change in the ratio of the two TCMPs affects the timing of fruit production. In this work, to investigate TCMP‐2 mode of action, we searched for its interacting partners. One of the interactors identified by a yeast two hybrid screen, was the B‐box domain‐containing protein 16 (SlBBX16), whose closest homolog is the Arabidopsis microProtein 1b implicated in flowering time control. We demonstrated the possibility for the two proteins to interact in vivo in tobacco epidermal cells. Arabidopsis plants ectopically overexpressing the TCMP‐2 exhibited an increased level of FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT) mRNA and anticipated flowering. Similarly, in previously generated transgenic tomato plants with increased TCMP‐2 expression in flower buds, we observed an augmented expression of SINGLE‐FLOWER TRUSS gene, the tomato ortholog of FT, whereas the expression of the antiflorigen SELF‐PRUNING was unchanged. Consistently, these transgenic plants showed alterations in the flowering pattern, with an accelerated termination of the sympodial units. Overall, our study reveals a novel function for TCMP‐2 as regulatory factor that might integrate, thanks to its capacity to interact with SlBBX16, into the signaling pathways that control flowering, and converge toward florigen regulation.
Dietary Total Antioxidant Capacity and Its Association with Renal Function and Progression of Chronic Kidney Disease in Older Adults: a Report from a Developing Country

While evidence exists for an association between the dietary total antioxidant capacity (DTAC), mortality, metabolic syndrome, and cardiovascular diseases, data about DTAC and renal function, and progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD) are scarce. This study aimed to determine the associations between DTAC, renal function, and progression of CKD in older adults. The present cross-sectional study consisted of 226 older adults aged ≥ 60 years old from five districts of Tehran, Iran. DTAC was estimated using the oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) method. Dietary intake, socio-demographic data, medical history, and anthropometric measurements were collected using a validated questionnaire. The estimated glomerular ﬁltration rate (eGFR) was assessed from serum creatinine. Albumin to creatinine ratio (ACR) was calculated by dividing albumin concentration by creatinine concentration and reported as mg/g. The DTAC ranged from 112.8 to 2,553.9. Analyses indicated that DTAC was not associated with eGFR (p = 0.35) and ACR (p = 0.91) even after controlling for confounding variables. Additionally, in logistic regression, no association between eGFR < 60 mL/min/1.73 m2 (p = 0.32) and ACR ≥ 30 mg/g (p = 0.32) with DTAC was observed, which was independent of confounding variables. We observed that more compliance with DTAC is not associated with renal function and CKD progression. Further studies are needed to confirm the findings of the present study in larger samples on different populations.
Flash Pyrolysis Products From Beech Wood

Flash pyrolysis products from beech wood obtained in an original pyrolysis apparatus were analyzed. The analytical procedure is described, and the composition of pyrolytic oil presented with more than 50 compounds. Comparison of pyrolytic products of cellulose, hemicellulose, and wood indicates the origin of each product.
Resolving the Taxonomic Identity of Prunus maritima VAR. Gravesii (Rosaceae) Through Genotyping Analyses Using Microsatellite Loci

Abstract Graves' Beach Plum (Prunus maritima var. gravesii) has been notable for its unique morphological form since a single individual was first discovered on Esker Point in Groton, Connecticut and formally described in 1897. This original clone is now extinct in the wild and is presently kept in cultivation on the University of Connecticut campus, with no additional wild plants discovered in 120 years. It was distinguished morphologically based primarily on its distinctive orbicular leaves, which differ from the ovate leaves found in P. maritima var. maritima. Prior studies have shown few morphological differences between P. maritima var. gravesii and P. maritima var. maritima and full reproductive compatibility has been experimentally observed between the two taxa. However, the few unique characteristics of P. maritima var. gravesii merit further investigation to determine if it has unique molecular differences relative to var. maritima that might lead to the prioritization of conservation and possible reintroduction efforts. Twelve polymorphic microsatellite markers were used to evaluate the genetic composition of 40 P. maritima var. maritima plants from three regional populations (Milford, Connecticut, Waterford, Connecticut, and Weekapaug, Rhode Island) and one additional individual from the type locality of P. maritima var. gravesii. High levels of allelic diversity and heterozygosity were observed among the forty-one samples. Additionally, low levels of genetic differentiation were observed among populations sampled, suggesting regular gene flow occurs among populations. Of the 12 loci studied, P. maritima var. gravesii possessed only one private allele existing in the heterozygotic condition, sharing all other alleles across loci with the P. maritima var. maritima samples. Further evaluations of genetic structure, including principal coordinates analysis and population assignment analysis, revealed the genotypic identity of P. maritima var. gravesii placed it within populations of P. maritima var. maritima and not as a discrete taxon. Therefore, we propose that the current variety classification be changed, and P. maritima var. gravesii should now be considered a naturally occurring but exceptionally rare morphological variant of the widespread P. maritima var. maritima, as P. maritima forma gravesii.
Apathy in Parkinson disease

The main objective of the study by Scott et al.1 was to explore the possible coexistence of apathy and impulse control disorders in a convenience sample of 887 patients with Parkinson disease (PD). Definitions are important in this neurologic study, as these behavioral entities are more often discussed in psychiatric journals than those devoted to neurology. The impulse control disorders referenced in this study were generally compulsive rather than impulsive disorders in the purest sense. As such, the clinical issues of concern focused largely on repetitive and difficult-to-stop behaviors rather than “out of the blue” impulsive surges. The behaviors reported are typical of those included under this designation within neurologic studies, but in the strictest sense they are more aligned with obsessive-compulsive behaviors than true impulsivity. In the same way, apathy has been variably defined, both as a symptom and as a syndrome. In this study, it was defined by a score on a validated scale.2 The symptoms of apathy are diminished motivation, interest, or emotional experience.2 The apathetic syndrome requires the addition of a variety of abnormalities associated with decreased goal-directed behavior and the social consequences of these behavioral anomalies.2,3 The authors merge these strict distinctions for this study, but as the field expands further, they may need to be separated for clearer precision.
Ideal Cardiovascular Health in Racially and Ethnically Diverse People with Serious Mental Illness

Abstract:Cardiovascular disease is a primary contributor to premature death among people with serious mental illness (SMI). This study used baseline data (N=314) from an effectiveness trial testing a healthy lifestyle intervention for racial/ethnically diverse participants with overweight/obesity and SMI living in supportive housing. We examined the prevalence and correlates of a modified version of the American Heart Association (AHA) metric of ideal cardiovascular health (ICVH). Five AHA ICVH metrics (smoking, body mass index, diet, physical activity, and blood pressure) were used to create a composite ICVH score. The mean ICVH score was 3.15 (range 0–8). Multivariate analysis indicated that higher ICVH scores were associated with lifetime cancer diagnosis and better cardiorespiratory fitness. Lower scores were associated with female gender, racial/ethnic minority status, and antipsychotic use, suggesting that these subgroups of people with SMI may benefit from targeted screening and interventions to improve their cardiovascular health.
A Histological Assessment of the Effects of Elevated Temperature and Nitrogen on the Symbiodinium of Palythoa Toxica (Walsh and Bowers 1971)

Coral reefs around the world are suffering mass bleaching events caused by a combination of stressors, including rising ocean temperatures, acidity, pollution, increased suspended sediments, and increasing nitrogen levels. Corals harbor a complex microbial ecosystem consisting of bacteria, and algal symbionts known as Symbiodinium. This study examines the effects of elevated temperature, a known cause of bleaching, and elevated nitrogen, an increasingly important potential stressor for reefs, on the Symbiodinium of a zoanthid coral, Palythoa toxica. A total of 65 polyps were subjected to 5 different water treatments of 2 levels of elevated nitrogen, and 2 levels of elevated temperature in populations of 12. Samples were removed every four days and at the experiment’s termination. The samples were fixed for histological examination. Symbiodinium size was analyzed using Feret diameter. The results of this experiment confirm the effect of elevated temperature as a bleaching mechanism for P. toxica and provide evidence that elevated nitrate is a potential bleaching trigger in prolonged exposure. Furthermore, there is evidence that combined elevated nitrate and temperature compound bleaching mechanisms, with the highest amount of bleaching occurring in the most stressed treatments. When exposed to low levels of nitrate and low levels of temperature elevation, there is a trend of Symbiodinium Feret diameter increase. With time, however, there is an eventual collapse of the system, resulting in Symbiodinium Feret diameter decrease and an increase of algal mass potentially from cell lysis within bleached Symbiodinium colonies remaining between tentacles and within the coelenteron.
Residential Proximity to Major Roadways and Prevalent Hypertension Among Older Women and Men: Results From the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey

Background and Objectives: Prior studies suggested that residential proximity to major roadways was associated with increased risks of cardiovascular diseases in developed countries, for which one explanation is that road proximity could heighten the risks of hypertension. However, the association of residential distance to major roadways with hypertension is still unclear in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) with levels of air pollution and socioeconomic development distinctively different from developed countries. Methods: We derived data from the eighth wave of the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey, a nationwide prospective cohort. The present study included 12,881 individuals older than 65 years (mean age, 85.2 ± 11.7 years) with 55.8% of them being female. We ascertained the residential proximity to major roadways based on self-reports and hypertension was defined as systolic blood pressure ≥140 mm Hg or diastolic blood pressure ≥90 mm Hg. We then used logistic regression to examine the association between residential distance to major roadways and hypertension. Results: The odds ratios (ORs) of hypertension for participants living 50 to 100, 101 to 200, and ≥200 meters from major roads were 1.17 [95% confidence interval (95% CI) = 1.02–1.33], 1.21 (95% CI = 1.05–1.41), and 1.22 (95% CI = 1.10–1.34), respectively, compared to those living within 50 m (Pfor trend < 0.001). Significant effects of modifications from socioeconomic status and accessibility to health care resources were observed (Ps for interaction < 0.05). Compared to living within 50 m from a major roadway, the ORs of hypertension for living ≥50 m were higher in manual/agricultural workers, low-education groups, participants without household ventilation, and participants lacking in health education and health care resources. We observed considerable variations across geographic regions with the association in question attenuating in Eastern China but remaining significant in other regions. Conclusion: Residential proximity to major roadways was associated with lower odds of hypertension among older adults in China. The utility of residential proximity to major roadways as a marker of increased risks of hypertension and cardiovascular diseases may need to be revisited in LMICs.
The Role of Mental Health issues in Faculty-Led Short-Term Study Abroad

Abstract:Mental health issues in faculty-led short-term study abroad (FLSTSA) courses are becoming increasingly prevalent. To date, little is known about the role mental health issues play in study abroad courses, including the implications for student affairs practice. This study examines the role of mental health issues in faculty-led short-term study abroad courses, from the perspective of the faculty instructors. Findings from this study provide a nuanced understanding of how student mental health issues shape study abroad experiences for the student experiencing mental health issues abroad, other students, and the faculty instructors.
A Novel, Broad-Acting Peptide Inhibitor of Double-Stranded DNA Virus Gene Expression and Replication

Viral infections are a global disease burden with only a limited number of antiviral agents available. Due to newly emerging viral pathogens and increasing occurrence of drug resistance, there is a continuous need for additional therapeutic options, preferably with extended target range. In the present study, we describe a novel antiviral peptide with broad activity against several double-stranded DNA viruses. The 22-mer peptide TAT-I24 potently neutralized viruses such as herpes simplex viruses, adenovirus type 5, cytomegalovirus, vaccinia virus, and simian virus 40 in cell culture models, while being less active against RNA viruses. The peptide TAT-I24 therefore represents a novel and promising drug candidate for use against double-stranded DNA viruses.
Reflections on the Importance of Community-Partnered Research Strategies for Health Equity in the Era of COVID-19

Abstract:Objective. In the face of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) physical distancing mandates, community-engaged research (CER) faces new vulnerabilities in the equitable inclusion of communities within research partnerships aiming to address these very inequities. Methods. We convened a series of virtual meetings with our CER partnership to discuss the current state of activities and to identify considerations for remote community engagement. We outlined and expanded recommendations through iterative, partnered discussions to inform protections against new CER susceptibilities. Results. This article presents CER recommendations in translational COVID-19 research for health equity, including increasing accessibility for remote engagement, promoting opportunities for bi-directional knowledge exchange, committing to a community-centered workforce, and leveraging novel opportunities within community-academic partnerships. Conclusion. Researchers conducting CER face an opportunity to reimagine community engagement remotely for partnered resilience to ensure the voices of the most affected are appropriately and inclusively integrated into all aspects of decision-making within the COVID-19 research, practice, and policymaking continuum.
Predictors of Mortality in Traumatic Intracranial Hemorrhage: A National Trauma Data Bank Study

Background/Objective: Traumatic intracranial hemorrhage (tICH) accounts for significant trauma morbidity and mortality. Several studies have developed prognostic models for tICH outcomes, but previous models face limitations, including poor generalizability and limited accuracy. The objective was to develop a prognostic model and determine predictors of mortality using the largest trauma database in the U.S., applying rigorous analytical methodology with true hold-out-set model validation. Methods: We identified 248,536 patients in the National Trauma Data Bank (NTDB) from 2012 to 2016 with a diagnosis code associated with tICH. For each admission, we collected demographic information, systolic blood pressure, blood alcohol level (BAL), Glasgow Coma Score (GCS), Injury Severity Score (ISS), presence of epidural/subdural/subarachnoid/intraparenchymal hemorrhage, comorbidities, complications, trauma center level, and trauma center region. Our final study population was 212,666 patients following exclusion of records with missing data. The dependent variable was patient death. Linear support vector machine (SVM) classification was carried out with recursive feature selection. Model performance was assessed using holdout 10-fold cross-validation. Results: Cross-validation demonstrated a mean accuracy of 0.792 (95% CI 0.783–0.799). Accuracy, precision, recall, and AUC were 0.827, 0.309, 0.750, and 0.791, respectively. In the final model, high ISS, advanced age, subdural hemorrhage, and subarachnoid hemorrhage were associated with increased mortality, while high GCS verbal and motor subscores, current smoker, BAL beyond the legal limit, and level 1 trauma center were associated with decreased mortality. Conclusions: A linear SVM model was developed for tICH, with nine features selected as predictors of mortality. These findings are applicable to multiple hemorrhage subtypes and may benefit the triage of high risk patients upon admission. While many studies have attempted to create models to predict mortality in TBI, we sought to confirm those predictors using modern modeling approaches, machine learning, and true hold-out test sets, using the largest available TBI database in the U.S. We find that while the predictors we identify are consistent with prior reports, overall prediction accuracy is somewhat lower than prior reports when assessed more rigorously.
The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire Predicts Concurrent Mental Health Difficulties in a Transdiagnostic Sample of Struggling Learners

Children and adolescents with developmental problems are at increased risk of experiencing mental health problems. The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) is widely used as a screener for detecting mental health difficulties in these populations, but its use thus far has been restricted to groups of children with diagnosed disorders (e.g., ADHD). Transdiagnostic approaches, which focus on symptoms and soften or remove the boundaries between traditional categorical disorders, are increasingly adopted in research and practice. The aim of this study was to assess the potential of the SDQ to detect concurrent mental health problems in a transdiagnostic sample of children. The sample were referred by health and educational professionals for difficulties related to learning (N = 389). Some had one diagnosis, others had multiple, but many had no diagnoses. Parent-rated SDQ scores were significantly positively correlated with parent ratings of mental health difficulties on the Revised Child Anxiety and Depression Scale (RCADS). Ratings on the SDQ Emotion subscale significantly predicted the likelihood of having concurrent clinical anxiety and depression scores. Ratings on the Hyperactivity subscale predicted concurrent anxiety levels. These findings suggest the SDQ could be a valuable screening tool for identifying existing mental health difficulties in children recognized as struggling, as it can be in typically developing children and those with specific diagnoses.
Maximum Expected Information Approach for Improving Efficiency of Categorical Loudness Scaling

Categorical loudness scaling (CLS) measures provide useful information about an individual’s loudness perception across the dynamic range of hearing. A probability model of CLS categories has previously been described as a multi-category psychometric function (MCPF). In the study, a representative “catalog” of potential listener MCPFs was used in conjunction with maximum-likelihood estimation to derive CLS functions for participants with normal hearing and with hearing loss. The approach of estimating MCPFs for each listener has the potential to improve the accuracy of the CLS measurements, particularly when a relatively low number of data points are available. The present study extends the MCPF approach by using Bayesian inference to select stimulus parameters that are predicted to yield maximum expected information (MEI) during data collection. The accuracy and reliability of the MCPF-MEI approach were compared to the standardized CLS measurement procedure (ISO 16832:2006, 2006). A non-adaptive, fixed-level, paradigm served as a “gold-standard” for this comparison. The test time required to obtain measurements in the standard procedure is a major barrier to its clinical uptake. Test time was reduced from approximately 15 min to approximately 3 min with the MEI-adaptive procedure. Results indicated that the test–retest reliability and accuracy of the MCPF-MEI adaptive procedures were similar to the standardized CLS procedure. Computer simulations suggest that the reliability and accuracy of the MEI procedure were limited by intrinsic uncertainty of the listeners represented in the MCPF catalog. In other words, the MCPF provided insufficient predictive power to significantly improve adaptive-tracking efficiency under practical conditions. Concurrent optimization of both the MCPF catalog and the MEI-adaptive procedure have the potential to produce better results. Regardless of the adaptive-tracking method used in the CLS procedure, the MCPF catalog remains clinically useful for enabling maximum-likelihood determination of loudness categories.
Applying the Contact Theory in Inclusive Education: A Systematic Review on the Impact of Contact and Information on the Social Participation of Students With Disabilities

The social participation of students with disabilities in general education is lagging behind and negative peer attitudes are often mentioned as the main barrier. Contact Theory can serve as a rationale for interventions that aim to promote positive attitudes and thereby also the social participation of students with disabilities. This review aims to elucidate to what extent the intervention components contact and information are related to both the attitudes of typically developing peers and the social participation of students with disabilities. The results indicate that interventions combining contact and information are associated with more positive attitudes and one theme of social participation (i.e., interactions). It was, surprisingly, not possible to study the mediating role of peer attitudes as no studies addressed this. In sum, Contact Theory can be validated in primary inclusive education regarding typically developing students' attitudes, but only partially regarding the social participation of students with disabilities.