Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Gross spinal anatomy and limb use in living and fossil reptiles

The spinal quotient (S.Q.) is an osteologically defined estimate of the enlargement of the spinal cord at limb levels over that at interlimb levels. It is an efficient predictor of limb use in living reptiles and birds and may be used to predict limb function in fossil vertebrates. Among living reptiles, this ratio of limb to interlimb innervation is greatest in arboreal genera, followed by terrestrial sprawlers, aquatic forms, and undulatory forms. Birds show a wide range of brachial S.Q. values that are roughly commensurate with flight ability. S.Q. values for the manipulative forelimbs of some dinosaurs fall well above those of locomotory limbs. Dinosaur hind-limb values are either well within ranges predicted by living reptiles and birds (most taxa), or highly inflated (stegosaurs, sauropods). This inflation may be the result of presence of a glycogen body similar to that of birds. In no case does the lumbosacral S.Q. support the presence of a “sacral brain. ”
Reservoir population dynamics and pathogen epidemiology drive pathogen genetic diversity, spillover, and emergence

When several factors align, pathogens that normally infect wildlife can spill over into the human population. If pathogen transmission within the human population is self-sustaining, or rapidly evolves to be self sustaining, novel human pathogens can emerge. Although many factors influence the likelihood of spillover and emergence, the rate of contact between humans and wildlife is critical. Thus, for those pathogens inhabiting wildlife reservoirs with pronounced seasonal fluctuations in population density, it is broadly recognized that spillover risk also varies with season. What remains unknown, however, is the extent to which seasonal fluctuations in reservoir populations influence the evolutionary dynamics of pathogens in ways that affect the likelihood of emergence. Here, we use mathematical models and stochastic simulations to show that seasonal fluctuations in reservoir population densities lead to seasonal increases in genetic variation within pathogen populations and thus influence the waiting time for mutations capable of sustained human-to-human transmission. These seasonal increases in genetic variation also lead to elevated risk of emergence at predictable times of year.
Molecular characterization of two type I acyl-CoA: diacylglycerol acyltransferase genes in maize

ABSTRACT Type I acyl-CoA: diacylglycerol acyltransferase (DGAT1) is a rate-limiting enzyme that catalyses the final step of the Kennedy pathway in triacylglycerol biosynthesis. In this study, two genes encoding type I diacylglycerol acyltransferase, ZmDGAT1a and ZmDGAT1b, were cloned from a high-oil maize inbred line and confirmed by Southern blotting. The complete coding sequences were obtained. Comparison between genomic DNA and coding sequences revealed that both ZmDGAT1a and ZmDGAT1b comprised 16 exons and 15 introns with a coding region of 1485 and 1488 bp, respectively. ZmDGAT1a and ZmDGAT1b shared similar molecular mass, isoelectric point, and transmembrane domains. ZmDGAT1b was expressed in all sampled tissues that were examined by using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). In contrast, ZmDGAT1a expression was limited to the silks, tassels, and seeds of different ages. This suggests that the two genes do not have a complementary relationship. The ZmDGAT1a and ZmDGAT1b proteins were subsequently found to be localized in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). The data provides an important basis for further studies of the functions of DGAT1 genes and for genetic modification of the oil content and composition of corn seeds.
Predictors of Depression in Caucasian Patients with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis in Romania

Depression remains an underdiagnosed comorbidity which significantly decreases the quality of life in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients. We aimed to investigate the prevalence of depression in a cohort of ALS patients with more than one year of disease evolution. A total of 50 ALS patients were evaluated with the Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI-II) and cognition, using the Mini-Cog Standardized Instrument (MCSI). The clinical disability was evaluated using the ALS Functional Rating Scale (ALSFRS). The prevalence of depression was 42.8%. A lower BDI-II score was significantly correlated with a higher education level, the spouse as a caregiver, spiritual devotion, and employment status (p < 0.05). A multiple linear regression analysis between the BDI-II score as the dependent variable and various independent variables such as spirituality, caregiver status, educational level, and occupational status revealed that only the type of caregiver (spouse or parent/child) significantly affected the BDI-II total score (p = 0.006). The functional disability significantly correlated with loss of appetite and loss of libido (p < 0.001). A high education, spiritual devotion, high ALSFRS, and the presence of the spouse as the caregiver were associated with the absence of depression.
Glucose-Dependent Insulinotropic Polypeptide (GIP) Reduces Bone Resorption in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes

Abstract Context In healthy individuals, glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) enhances insulin secretion and reduces bone resorption by up to 25% estimated by absolute placebo-corrected changes in carboxy-terminal type 1 collagen crosslinks (CTX) during GIP and glucose administration. In patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D), GIP’s insulinotropic effect is impaired and effects on bone may be reduced. Objective To investigate GIP’s effect on bone biomarkers in patients with T2D. Design Randomized, double-blinded, crossover study investigating 6 interventions. Patients Twelve male patients with T2D. Interventions A primed continuous 90-minute GIP infusion (2 pmol/kg/min) or matching placebo (saline) administered at 3 plasma glucose (PG) levels (i.e., paired days with “insulin-induced hypoglycemia” (PG lowered to 3 mmol/L), “fasting hyperglycemia” (mean PG ~8 mmol/L), or “aggravated hyperglycemia” (mean PG ~12 mmol/L). Main Outcome Measures Bone biomarkers: CTX, procollagen type 1 N-terminal propeptide (P1NP) and PTH. Results On days with insulin-induced hypoglycemia, CTX was suppressed by up to 40 ± 15% during GIP administration compared with 12 ± 11% during placebo infusion (P < 0.0001). On days with fasting hyperglycemia, CTX was suppressed by up to 36 ± 15% during GIP administration, compared with 0 ± 9% during placebo infusion (P < 0.0001). On days with aggravated hyperglycemia, CTX was suppressed by up to 47 ± 23% during GIP administration compared with 10 ± 9% during placebo infusion (P = 0.0005). At all glycemic levels, P1NP and PTH concentrations were similar between paired days after 90 minutes. Conclusions Short-term GIP infusions reduce bone resorption by more than one-third (estimated by absolute placebo-corrected CTX reductions) in patients with T2DM, suggesting preserved bone effects of GIP in these patients. Précis Short-term GIP infusions reduce the bone resorption marker CTX by one-third in patients with type 2 diabetes independent of glycemic levels.
Centromeric Transcription: A Conserved Swiss-Army Knife

In most species, the centromere is comprised of repetitive DNA sequences, which rapidly evolve. Paradoxically, centromeres fulfill an essential function during mitosis, as they are the chromosomal sites wherein, through the kinetochore, the mitotic spindles bind. It is now generally accepted that centromeres are transcribed, and that such transcription is associated with a broad range of functions. More than a decade of work on this topic has shown that centromeric transcripts are found across the eukaryotic tree and associate with heterochromatin formation, chromatin structure, kinetochore structure, centromeric protein loading, and inner centromere signaling. In this review, we discuss the conservation of small and long non-coding centromeric RNAs, their associations with various centromeric functions, and their potential roles in disease.
Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter-2 Inhibitors at Discharge from Cardiology Hospitalization Department: Decoding A New Clinical Scenario

Sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT-2 inhibitors) are new glucose-lowering drugs (GLDs) with demonstrated cardiovascular benefits in patients with heart disease and type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). However, their safety and efficacy when prescribed at hospital discharge are unexplored. This prospective, observational, longitudinal cohort study included 104 consecutive T2DM patients discharged from the cardiology department between April 2018 and February 2019. Patients were classified based on SGLT-2 inhibitor prescription and adjusted by propensity-score matching. The safety outcomes included discontinuation of GLDs; worsening renal function; and renal, hepatic, or metabolic hospitalization. The efficacy outcomes were death from any cause, cardiovascular death, cardiovascular readmission, and combined clinical outcome (cardiovascular death or readmission). The results showed that, the incidence rates of safety outcomes were similar in the SGLT-2 inhibitor or non-SGLT-2 inhibitor groups. Regarding efficacy, the SGLT-2 inhibitors group resulted in a lower rate of combined clinical outcomes (18% vs. 42%; hazard ratio (HR), 0.35; p = 0.02), any cause death (0% vs. 24%; HR, 0.79; p = 0.001) and cardiovascular death (0% vs. 17%; HR, 0.83; p = 0.005). No significant differences were found in cardiovascular readmissions. SGLT-2 inhibitor prescription at hospital discharge in patients with heart disease and T2DM was safe, well tolerated, and associated with a reduction in all-cause and cardiovascular deaths.
Ischemic Stroke Risk Associated with Mitochondrial Haplogroup F in the Asian Population

Mitochondrial dysfunction is involved in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis, the primary risk factor for ischemic stroke. This study aims to explore the role of mitochondrial genomic variations in ischemic stroke, and to uncover the nuclear genes involved in this relationship. Eight hundred and thirty Taiwanese patients with a history of ischemic stroke and 966 normal controls were genotyped for their mitochondrial haplogroup (Mthapg). Cytoplasmic hybrid cells (cybrids) harboring different Mthapgs were used to observe functional differences under hypoxia-ischemia. RNA sequencing (RNASeq) was conducted to identify the particularly elevated mRNA. The patient study identified an association between Mthapg F1 and risk of ischemic stroke (OR 1.72:1.27–2.34, p = 0.001). The cellular study further demonstrated an impeded induction of hypoxic inducible factor 1α in the Mthapg F1 cybrid after hypoxia-ischemia. Additionally, the study demonstrated that Mthapg F cybrids were associated with an altered mitochondrial function, including decreased oxygen consumption, higher mitochondrial ROS production, and lower mitochondrial membrane potential. Mthapg F cybrids were also noted to be prone to inflammation, with increased expression of several inflammatory cytokines and elevated matrix metalloproteinase 9. The RNASeq identified significantly elevated expressions of angiopoietin-like 4 in Mthapg F1 cybrids after hypoxia-ischemia. Our study demonstrates an association between Mthapg F and susceptibility to ischemic stroke.
Effect of Chlorhexidine on durability of two self-etch adhesive systems

Background Despite of the rapid development in the field of dental adhesives, the issue of reduction in dentin bond durability has still not been resolved. The activity of dentinal endogenous enzymes such as MMPs is one of the most important causes of failure in resin composite restorations. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of Chlorhexidine on micro-tensile bond strength of two types of commercially available self-etch adhesives. Material and Methods Twenty four sound and freshly extracted molars were selected. Four standardized flat mid-coronal dentinal disks were prepared from each tooth. The specimens were randomly assigned to 6 groups (n=16). Groups A(control group) and B were treated with Clearfill SE Bond based on the manufacturer’s instructions. Groups C and D were treated with 2% Chlorhexidine 60 seconds before applying Clearfill SE Bond. Groups E and F were treated with Peak Universal Bond according to the manufacturer’s instructions. All groups were stored in distilled water in room temperature. Microtensile bond strength in groups A, C, and E were tested 24 hours after preparation, while microtensile bond strength in groups B, D, and F were tested after 3 months storage and 3000 thermal cycles(5-55 °C). Statistical analysis was performed with SPSS 20 and µTBS test results were analyzed using the Two-way ANOVA test. Results µTBS was not significantly different between groups A, C, and E after 24 hours (P>0.5). There was no significant difference between groups B (Clearfill SE Bond + Aging) and D (Clearfill SE Bond + 2% CHX + Aging). The Peak Universal µTBS significantly decreased after the aging procedure (P<0.001). Conclusions Based on the findings of this study, pretreatment with 2% CHX had no negative effect on the Clearfill SE Bond µTBS. However the µTBS of 0.2% CHX contained Peak Universal adhesive decreased significantly after aging. Key words:Self-etch adhesives, Micro-tensile bond strength, chlorhexidine, bond durability.
Unenhanced magnetic resonance angiography as an accurate alternative in the preoperative assessment of potential living kidney donors with contraindications to computed tomography angiography and to contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance angiography

Objective To evaluate the accuracy of steady-state free precession (SSFP) unenhanced magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) at 1.5 T for the identification of multiple renal arteries, using computed tomography angiography (CTA) as the reference standard. Materials and Methods This was a prospective study involving 39 patients (26 males; mean age, 62.6 years) who underwent CTA and unenhanced MRA to evaluate the proximal and middle segments of the renal arteries. The analysis was performed in two phases: the quality of unenhanced MRA images was classified as diagnostic or nondiagnostic for the presence of multiple renal arteries by two independent readers; two other independent readers then evaluated the images previously classified as being of diagnostic quality. The sensitivity, specificity, and overall accuracy of unenhanced MRA were calculated, CTA being used as the reference standard. The kappa statistic was used in order to calculate interobserver agreement. Results The image quality of unenhanced MRA was considered diagnostic in 70-90% of the extrarenal arterial segments. The CTA examination revealed 19 multiple renal arteries (8 on the right and 11 on the left). The accuracy of unenhanced MRA for the identification of multiple renal arteries was greater than 90%, with a sensitivity of 72.7-100% and a specificity of 96.3-100%. Conclusion Unenhanced MRA provides high quality imaging of the extrarenal segments of renal arteries. This method may be used as an alternative for the evaluation of the renal arteries, given that it has an accuracy comparable to that of CTA.
Ultrasonic Synthesis and Characterization of 2D and 3D Metal–Organic Frameworks and Their Application in the Oxidative Amidation Reaction

Ultrasound irradiation as an environmentally friendly and inexpensive method successfully applied for the synthesis of two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) metal–organic frameworks (MOFs). Sonochemically synthesized AM-Co1 and AM-Co2 powder has been employed as a green heterogeneous catalyst for the oxidative amidation reaction. The results show that AM-Co1 with a two-dimensional (2D) structure can act as an excellent catalyst for this reaction under ultrasonic irradiation compared to AM-Co2 with a three-dimensional (3D) structure. According to green principles, we used water as a green solvent and air as an oxidant for the oxidative amidation reaction. A wide variety of aldehydes and amines have been used for the synthesis of amides in good to excellent yields (75–90%). Also, the MOF catalyst could be recovered and reused several times without loss of activity.
Resistance to Neoadjuvant Treatment in Breast Cancer: Clinicopathological and Molecular Predictors

Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy (NAC) in Breast Cancer (BC) has proved useful for the reduction in tumor burden prior to surgery, allowing for a more extensive breast preservation and the eradication of subjacent micrometastases. However, the impact on prognosis is highly dependent on the establishment of Pathological Complete Response (pCR), in particular for Triple Negative (TN) and Hormonal Receptor negative/Human Epidermal growth factor Receptor 2 positive (HR−/HER2+) subtypes. Several pCR predictors, such as PAM50, Integrative Cluster (IntClust), mutations in PI3KCA, or the Trastuzumab Risk model (TRAR), are useful molecular tools for estimating response to treatment and are prognostic. Major evolution events during BC NAC that feature the Residual Disease (RD) are the loss of HR and HER2, which are prognostic of bad outcome, and stemness and immune depletion-related gene expression aberrations. This dynamic nature of the determinants of response to BC NAC, together with the extensive heterogeneity of BC, raises the need to discern the individual and subtype-specific determinants of resistance. Moreover, refining the current approaches for a comprehensive monitoring of tumor evolution during treatment, RD, and eventual recurrences is essential for identifying new actionable alterations and the integral best management of the disease.
Extrusion Characteristics of Thin Walled Tubes for Catheters Using Thermoplastic Elastomer

As the market for minimally invasive surgery has grown, the demand for high-precision and high-performance catheters has increased. Catheters for the diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular or cerebrovascular disease mainly use a braided wire tube with a polymer inner liner and outer jacket to improve the pushability and trackability. The outer jacket should have an accurate inner and outer diameter and while maintaining a wall thickness of 150 µm or less. In this study, we designed and manufactured a tip and die capable of extruding an outer jacket with a wall thickness of 150 µm or less using a medical thermoplastic elastomer for manufacturing 8Fr (2.64 mm diameter) thin-walled tubes. The ovality and inner/outer diameters of the tube were studied according to changes in the screw speed (mass flow rate), puller speed, air pressure applied to the lumen, and distance between the quench and head, which are the main variables of microextrusion processes. The screw speed (mass flow rate), puller speed, and air pressure affected the inner/outer diameter of the tube, with screw speed and puller speed having the largest influence on diameter. The air pressure and distance between quench and head had the greatest influence on ovality. The results show the effect of different processing parameters on the characteristics of the extruded tube, which will help to establish a stable extrusion process for the manufacture of outer jackets for braided catheter shafts.
Esophageal Pathophysiologic Changes and Adenocarcinoma After Bariatric Surgery: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

INTRODUCTION: To assess the effects of sleeve gastrectomy (SG) and Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) on acid reflux and esophageal motor function and to evaluate the observation of esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) after bariatric surgery. METHODS: We searched 5 databases for adults who underwent SG or RYGB and had esophageal pH test and/or esophageal manometry before and after surgery. A separate systemic search of observational studies and a retrospective review at 3 institutions of adults who developed EAC after these surgeries were conducted. Outcomes were changes in manometric and pH parameters and EAC cases after SG and RYGB. RESULTS: A total of 27 nonrandomized studies (SG: 612 patients; RYGB: 470 patients) were included. After SG, lower esophageal sphincter pressure and esophageal body amplitude were decreased and the risk of ineffective esophageal motility was increased. Total and recumbent acid exposure times were increased. After RYGB, an increased risk of ineffective esophageal motility was observed. Total, upright, and recumbent acid exposure times were decreased. The total reflux episodes remained unchanged but with increased nonacid reflux and decreased acid reflux events. Including our largest series, 31 EAC cases have been reported to date after SG and RYGB. DISCUSSION: This systematic review demonstrates increased acid reflux after SG and decreased acid reflux after RYGB. An observed increased nonacid reflux after RYGB might contribute to failure of gastroesophageal reflux disease improvement. This refluxate might be noxious to the esophagus, warranting further studies. RYGB might not entirely preserve esophageal function as previously believed.
A Novel Stick-Slip Nanopositioning Stage Integrated with a Flexure Hinge-Based Friction Force Adjusting Structure

The piezoelectrically-actuated stick-slip nanopositioning stage (PASSNS) has been applied extensively, and many designs of PASSNSs have been developed. The friction force between the stick-slip surfaces plays a critical role in successful movement of the stage, which influences the load capacity, dynamic performance, and positioning accuracy of the PASSNS. Toward solving the influence problems of friction force, this paper presents a novel stick-slip nanopositioning stage where the flexure hinge-based friction force adjusting unit was employed. Numerical analysis was conducted to estimate the static performance of the stage, a dynamic model was established, and simulation analysis was performed to study the dynamic performance of the stage. Further, a prototype was manufactured and a series of experiments were carried out to test the performance of the stage. The results show that the maximum forward and backward movement speeds of the stage are 1 and 0.7 mm/s, respectively, and the minimum forward and backward step displacements are approximately 11 and 12 nm, respectively. Compared to the step displacement under no working load, the forward and backward step displacements only increase by 6% and 8% with a working load of 20 g, respectively. And the load capacity of the PASSNS in the vertical direction is about 72 g. The experimental results confirm the feasibility of the proposed stage, and high accuracy, high speed, and good robustness to varying loads were achieved. These results demonstrate the great potential of the developed stage in many nanopositioning applications.
Dietary Oat Bran Reduces Systemic Inflammation in Mice Subjected to Pelvic Irradiation

Patients undergoing radiotherapy to treat pelvic-organ cancer are commonly advised to follow a restricted fiber diet. However, reducing dietary fiber may promote gastrointestinal inflammation, eventually leading to deteriorated intestinal health. The goal of this study was to evaluate the influence of dietary fiber on radiation-induced inflammation. C57BL/6J male mice were fed a High-oat bran diet (15% fiber) or a No-fiber diet (0% fiber) and were either irradiated (32 Gy delivered in four fractions) to the colorectal region or only sedated (controls). The dietary intervention started at 2 weeks before irradiation and lasted for 1, 6, and 18 weeks after irradiation, at which time points mice were sacrificed and their serum samples were assayed for 23 cytokines and chemokines. Our analyses show that irradiation increased the serum cytokine levels at all the time points analyzed. The No-fiber irradiated mice had significantly higher levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines than the High-oat irradiated mice at all time points. The results indicate that a fiber-rich oat bran diet reduces the intensity of radiation-induced inflammation, both at an early and late stage. Based on the results, it seems that the advice to follow a low-fiber diet during radiotherapy may increase the risk of decreased intestinal health in cancer survivors.