Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Trophic roles of tadpoles in tropical Australian streams

Tadpoles can be abundant consumers in stream ecosystems, and may influence the structure and function of streams through their feeding activities and interactions with other organisms. To understand the contribution of tadpoles to stream functioning, and the potential impact of their loss, it is necessary to determine their diets and how they might influence food‐web structure. Using gut‐content analysis and stable‐isotope analysis of N and C, we determined the main food sources and trophic positions of tadpoles of five native frog species, invertebrates, and fish in upland and lowland Australian Wet Tropics streams. Omnivory was prevalent among the tadpoles and invertebrates. Tadpoles consumed different food according to availability and nutrient quality, but assimilated mainly biofilm and algae. Most tadpoles and invertebrates assimilated the same high‐quality foods. Food webs in upland riffles were simplified by local extinction of tadpoles, and were probably simplified in pools in the cooler months by seasonal decline in tadpole abundance. Food‐web complexity was increased in some pools by the presence of predatory fish and a greater number of basal sources. As tadpoles are important seasonal components in stream food webs, their local extinction can greatly alter food‐web structure and complexity and, possibly, processes such as leaf litter breakdown and sediment accumulation.
Archetypes of Gamification: Analysis of mHealth Apps

Background Nowadays, numerous health-related mobile apps implement gamification in an attempt to draw on the motivational potential of video games and thereby increase user engagement or foster certain health behaviors. However, research on effective gamification is still in its infancy and researchers increasingly recognize methodological shortcomings of existing studies. What we actually know about the phenomenon today stems from fragmented pieces of knowledge, and a variety of different perspectives. Existing research primarily draws on conceptual knowledge that is gained from research prototypes, and isolated from industry best practices. We still lack knowledge on how gamification has been successfully designed and implemented within the industry and whether certain gamification approaches have shown to be particularly suitable for certain health behaviors. Objective We address this lack of knowledge concerning best practices in the design and implementation of gamification for health-related mobile apps by identifying archetypes of gamification approaches that have emerged in pertinent health-related mobile apps and analyzing to what extent those gamification approaches are influenced by the underlying desired health-related outcomes. Methods A 3-step research approach is employed. As a first step, a database of 143 pertinent gamified health-related mobile apps from the Apple App Store and Google Play Store is set up. Second, the gamification approach of each app within the database is classified based on an established taxonomy for gamification in health-related apps. Finally, a 2-step cluster analysis is conducted in order to identify archetypes of the most dominant gamification approaches in pertinent gamified health-related mobile apps. Results Eight archetypes of gamification emerged from the analysis of health-related mobile apps: (1) competition and collaboration, (2) pursuing self-set goals without rewards, (3) episodical compliance tracking, (4) inherent gamification for external goals, (5) internal rewards for self-set goals, (6) continuous assistance through positive reinforcement, (7) positive and negative reinforcement without rewards, and (8) progressive gamification for health professionals. The results indicate a close relationship between the identified archetypes and the actual health behavior that is being targeted. Conclusions By unveiling salient best practices and discussing their relationship to targeted health behaviors, this study contributes to a more profound understanding of gamification in mobile health. The results can serve as a foundation for future research that advances the knowledge on how gamification may positively influence health behavior change and guide practitioners in the design and development of highly motivating and effective health-related mobile health apps.
Elevated fibrinogen and fibrin degradation product are associated with poor outcome in COVID-19 patients: A meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTION COVID-19 is a systemic infection with a significant impact on coagulation which manifests in thromboembolism. There is an unknown relationship of which coagulation profile parameter at presentation has an association with poor outcome in COVID-19. OBJECTIVE This meta-analysis aimed to determine the relationship between fibrinogen and FDP with poor outcome in COVID-19 patients. METHODS A systematic search of all observational studies or trials involving adult patients with COVID-19 that had any data fibrinogen or FDP on admission was carried out using the PubMed, Science Direct, Scopus, ProQuest, and MedRxiv databases. We assessed the methodological quality assessment using the NIH Quality Assessment Tool. We performed random-effects inverse-variance weighting analysis using mean difference (MD). RESULTS A total of 17 studies (1,654 patients) were included in this meta-analysis. It revealed a higher mean of fibrinogen levels on admission in patients with severe case compared to those with non-severe case (MD = 0.69, [95% CI: 0.44 to 0.94], p < 0.05; I2 = 72%, p < 0.05). Non-survivor group had a pooled higher mean difference of fibrinogen values on admission (MD = 0.48 [95% CI: 0.13 to 0.83], p < 0.05; I2 = 38%, p = 0.18). Higher FDP on admission was found in poor outcome (composite of severity, critically ill, and mortality) compared to good outcome (4 studies, MD = 4.84 [95% CI: 0.75 to 8.93], p < 0.05; I2 = 86%, p < 0.05). CONCLUSION Elevated fibrinogen and FDP level on admission were associated with an increase risk of poor outcome in COVID-19 patients.
Rhizogenic agrobacteria in hydroponic crops: epidemics, diagnostics and control

&NA; Rhizogenic Agrobacterium biovar 1, harbouring an Ri‐plasmid (root‐inducing plasmid), is the causative agent of hairy root disease (HRD) in the hydroponic cultivation of tomato, cucumber and aubergine. The disease is characterized by extensive root proliferation leading to strong vegetative growth and, in severe cases, substantial losses in marketable yield. Agrobacterium biovar 1 is a heterogeneous group of agrobacteria and includes at least 10 genomospecies, among which at least four (G1, G3, G8 and G9) have been associated with HRD in hydroponically grown vegetables. This review has synthesized the current knowledge on rhizogenic Agrobacterium biovar 1, including infection process, current taxonomic status, genetic and phenotypic diversity, detection methods and strategies for disease control. With regard to the latter, symptom reduction and prevention of infection through cultivation methods and chemical disinfection (e.g. by the use of chlorine‐based disinfectants and hydrogen peroxide) are discussed and biocontrol strategies are elaborated on. Recent research has led to the identification of a phylogenetically related clade of Paenibacillus strains that have antagonistic activity against rhizogenic Agrobacterium biovar 1 strains, holding great potential for HRD control. Finally, possible directions for future research are proposed.
Increase Helianthus annuus L. Tolerance and Accumulation of Cadmium In Vitro and it's Expression in Intact Plants

An experiment was carried out to study cadmium tolerance at the tissue culture and whole plant levels of Helianthus annuus. Callus was initiated and maintained on Murashige and Skoog medium (MS) supplemented with 0.2 mg.L -1 Kinetin (KIN), 0.4 mg.L -1 Naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) and 0.5 mg.L -1 2,4dichlorophenoxy acetic acid (2,4-D) using hypocotyls explants for callus induction. Different concentrations of cadmium were added directly to the culture medium as a contaminants. Selected tolerant cell lines were subjected to regeneration. The concentration of cadmium accumulated in callus tissues recorded 18 ppm at 2.0 mg.L -1 of Cd. The study included the effect of the cytokinin Benzyl adenine (BA) and the auxin NAA on the number of regenerated shoots percentage from tolerant callus to Cd. Results exhibited that 71% of callus tolerant to Cd, when the combination of 1.0 mg.L -1 BA and 0.5 mg.L -1 NAA was supplemented to the medium. The effect of NAA on rooting of shoots showed that the concentration 2.0 mg.L -1 of NAA gave rooting percentage mounted to 66%. The study also included measurement of plant height and fresh weight. Maximum Cd accumulation reached 12.2 ppm in the shoots. Tolerance to Cd seems to express in the plant shoots according to the current study. [DOI: 10.22401/JNUS.20.2.13]
Haplo-insufficiency of Tmem43 in cardiac myocytes activates the DNA damage response pathway leading to a Late-Onset Senescence-Associated pro-fibrotic cardiomyopathy.

AIMS Arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy (ACM) encompasses a genetically heterogeneous group of myocardial diseases whose manifestations are sudden cardiac death, cardiac arrhythmias, heart failure, and in a subset fibro-adipogenic infiltration of the myocardium. Mutations in the TMEM43 gene, encoding transmembrane protein 43 (TMEM43) are known to cause ACM. The purpose of the study was to gain insights into the molecular pathogenesis of ACM caused by TMEM43 haploinsufficiency. METHODS AND RESULTS The Tmem43 gene was specifically deleted in cardiac myocytes by crossing the Myh6-Cre and floxed Tmem43 mice. Myh6-Cre: Tmem43W/F mice showed an age-dependent phenotype characterized by an increased mortality, cardiac dilatation and dysfunction, myocardial fibrosis, adipogenesis, and apoptosis. Sequencing of cardiac myocyte transcripts prior to and after the onset of cardiac phenotype predicted early activation of the TP53 pathway. Increased TP53 activity was associated with increased levels of markers of DNA damage response (DDR), and a subset of senescence-associated secretary phenotype (SASP). Activation of DDR, TP53, SASP and their selected downstream effectors, including phospho-SMAD2 and phospho-SMAD3 were validated by alternative methods, including immunoblotting. Expression of SASP was associated with epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and age-dependent expression of myocardial fibrosis and apoptosis in the Myh6-Cre: Tmem43W/F mice. CONCLUSIONS TMEM43 haplo-insufficiency is associated with activation of the DDR and the TP53 pathways, which lead to increased expression of SASP and an age-dependent expression of a pro-fibrotic cardiomyopathy. Given that TMEM43 is a nuclear envelope protein and our previous data showing deficiency of another nuclear envelope protein, namely lamin A/C, activates the DDR/TP53 pathway, we surmise that DNA damage is a shared mechanism in the pathogenesis of cardiomyopathies caused by mutations involving nuclear envelope proteins. TRANSLATIONAL PERSPECTIVE The data indicate that the DNA damage response (DDR) to double stranded DNA breaks (DSBs) is activated in a mouse model of cardiomyopathy caused by haplo-insufficiency of the Tmem43 gene. The TMEM43 gene is a known cause of arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy in humans. The DDR activates the TP53 pathway and leads to expression of senescence associated secretary phenotype (SASP), such as TGFβ1, which induce a senescence-associated pro-fibrotic cardiomyopathy.These findings along with our previous data identify the DDR as a putative common mechanism in the pathogenesis of cardiomyopathies, and likely in the pathogenesis of over two dozen diseases, caused by mutations in the nuclear envelope proteins (envelopathies).
Identification two key residues at the intersection of domains of a thioether monooxygenase for improving its sulfoxidation performance

AcCHMO, a cyclohexanone monooxygenase from Acinetobacter calcoaceticus, is a typical Type I Baeyer–Villiger monooxygenase (BVMO). We previously obtained the AcCHMOM6 mutant, which oxidizes omeprazole sulfide (OPS) to the chiral sulfoxide drug esomeprazole. To further improve the catalytic efficiency of the AcCHMOM6 mutant, a focused mutagenesis strategy was adopted at the intersections of the FAD‐binding domain, NADPH‐binding domain, and α‐helical domain based on structural characteristics of AcCHMO. By using focused mutagenesis and subsequent global evolution two key residues (L55 and P497) at the intersections of the domains were identified. Mutant of L55Y improved catalytic efficiency significantly, whereas the P497S mutant alleviated substrate inhibition remarkably. AcCHMOM7 (L55Y/P497S) was obtained by combining the two mutations, which increased the specific activity from 18.5 (M6) to 108 U/g, and an increase in the Ki of the substrate OPS from 34 to 265 μM. The results indicate that catalytic performance can be elevated by modification of the sensitive sites at the intersection of the domains of AcCHMO. The results also provided some insights for the engineering of other Type I BVMOs or other multidomain proteins.
Anticholinergic drug use and risk of mortality for people with dementia in Northern Ireland

Abstract Objective Anticholinergic burden refers to the cumulative effect of medications which contain anticholinergic properties. We assessed how anticholinergic burden and different types of anticholinergic medications influence mortality rates among people with dementia in Northern Ireland. Our secondary aim was to determine what demographic characteristics predict the anticholinergic burden of people with dementia. Methods Data were extracted from the Enhanced Prescribing database for 25,418 people who were prescribed at least one dementia management medication between 2010 and 2016. Information was also extracted on the number of times each available anticholinergic drug was prescribed between 2010 and 2016, allowing the calculation of an overall anticholinergic burden. Cox proportional hazard models were used to determine how anticholinergic burden influenced mortality whilst multilevel model regression determined what demographic characteristics influence overall anticholinergic burden. Results Of the 25,418 people with dementia, only 15% (n = 3880) had no anticholinergic burden. Diazepam (42%) and risperidone (18%) were the two most commonly prescribed drugs. Unadjusted Cox proportional hazard models indicated that higher anticholinergic burden was associated with significantly higher mortality rates in comparison to people with dementia who had no anticholinergic burden (HR = 1.59: 95% CI = 1.07-2.36). In particular, urological (HR = 1.20: 95% CI = 1.05-1.38) and respiratory (HR = 1.17: 95% CI = 1.08-1.27) drugs significantly increased mortality rates. People with dementia living in areas with low levels of deprivation had significantly lower anticholinergic burden (HR=-.39: 95% CI=-.47:-30). Conclusions Reducing anticholinergic burden is essential for people with dementia. Further research should address the unfavourable prognosis of people living with dementia in highly deprived areas.
Arabidopsis AZG2 transports cytokinins in vivo and regulates lateral root emergence.

Cytokinin and auxin are key regulators of plant growth and development. During the last decade transport mechanisms have turned out to be the key for the control of local and long-distance hormone distributions. In contrast with auxin, cytokinin transport is poorly understood. Here, we show that Arabidopsis thaliana AZG2, a member of the AZG purine transporter family, acts as cytokinin transporter involved in root system architecture determination. Even though purines are substrates for both AZG1 and AZG2, we found distinct transport mechanisms. The expression of AZG2 is restricted to a small group of cells surrounding the lateral root (LR) primordia and induced by auxins. Compared to the wild-type (WT), mutants carrying loss-of-function alleles of AZG2 have higher LR density, suggesting that AZG2 is part of a regulatory pathway in LR emergence. Moreover, azg2 is partially insensitive to exogenous cytokinin, which is consistent with the observation that the cytokinin reporter TCSnpro :GFP showed lower fluorescence signal in the roots of azg2 compared to the WT. These results indicate a defective cytokinin signalling pathway in the region of LR primordia. The integration of AZG2 subcellular localization and cytokinin transport capacity data allowed us to propose a local cytokinin : auxin signalling model for the regulation of LR emergence.
The Speed of Development of Adolescent Brain Age Depends on Sex and Is Genetically Determined

Abstract Children and adolescents show high variability in brain development. Brain age—the estimated biological age of an individual brain—can be used to index developmental stage. In a longitudinal sample of adolescents (age 9–23 years), including monozygotic and dizygotic twins and their siblings, structural magnetic resonance imaging scans (N = 673) at 3 time points were acquired. Using brain morphology data of different types and at different spatial scales, brain age predictors were trained and validated. Differences in brain age between males and females were assessed and the heritability of individual variation in brain age gaps was calculated. On average, females were ahead of males by at most 1 year, but similar aging patterns were found for both sexes. The difference between brain age and chronological age was heritable, as was the change in brain age gap over time. In conclusion, females and males show similar developmental (“aging”) patterns but, on average, females pass through this development earlier. Reliable brain age predictors may be used to detect (extreme) deviations in developmental state of the brain early, possibly indicating aberrant development as a sign of risk of neurodevelopmental disorders.
DIETARY PROTEIN TO METABOLIZABLE ENERGY RATIO'S EFFECTS ON GROWTH AND NUTRIENT UTILIZATION OF PREPUBERTAL HOLSTEIN HEIFERS

Three experiments were conducted to evaluate the ratio of dietary protein to metabolizable energy on growth, efficiency of growth, and nutrient utilization of prepubertal Holstein heifers between 125 and 234 kg of body weight (BW). In the first experiment, sixty Holstein heifers (125 to 234 kg BW) were used to evaluate increasing dietary protein to metabolizable energy ratios (CP:ME) on feed efficiency, structural growth, and body condition score. Treatment rations contained a specific CP:ME ratio, 48.3, 59.1, 67.5, and 76.5 g of crude protein (CP) per Mcal of metabolizable energy (ME) with non-structural carbohydrate (NSC) to rumen degradable protein (RDP) ratios (NSC:RDP; g of NSC per g of RDP) of 4.15 for the 48.3 CP:ME ratio, 3.30 for the 59.1 CP:ME ratio, 2.75 for the 67.5 CP:ME ratio, and 2.32 for the 76.5 CP:ME ratio. Treatment rations were assigned to heifers in a complete randomized block design with treatment periods lasting 20 wk. Body weight was recorded weekly on two consecutive days and used to adjust dry matter intake (DMI), which averaged approximately 2.0% of BW, to achieve a desired 0.80 kg/d rate of gain. By design, average daily gain was not influenced while DMI showed an increasing quadratic effect with increasing CP:ME ratios. Feed efficiency improved linearly with increasing CP:ME ratios. A trend toward linear increases in wither and hip height growth occurred with increasing CP:ME ratios. Observed linear effects in feed efficiency and some structural growth measurements demonstrate positive results when feeding CP:ME ratios above 48.3 to Holstein
Role of Protein phosphatase V in Cell Cycle Control

The cell cycle mode is variant among different cell and tissue types and is remodeled during development. This change between modes is referred as cell cycle switch or remodeling. In Drosophila melanogaster, the canonical cell cycle contains G1, S, G2 and M phases. During early embryogenesis, the cell cycle mode changes from fast syncytial cycle with only S-M phases to an embryonic mode with introduction of a G2 phase. This mode switch is a prominent feature of the mid-blastula transition (MBT). However, it is unclear how the cell cycle remodeling is linked to the developmental program. In the first part “Isolation of new germline clone mutations with blastoderm defects”, I conducted an EMS-induced mutagenesis screen to identify novel genes, which are maternally required for Drosophila blastoderm formation. 26 candidate mutants with defects in preblastoderm, blastoderm, cellularization, gastrulation as well as cell cycle were successfully isolated on the third chromosome. By means of mapping and sequencing, novel genes and new function of known genes involved in blastoderm formation have been identified. In the second part “Role of Protein phosphatase V in Cell Cycle Control in Drosophila Blastoderm”, I characterized a novel mutation in Protein phosphatase V (PpV), the homologue of human Protein phosphatase 6 (PP6), from a genetic screen and analyzed its cell cycle function during the MBT. A G2 phase is introduced by the Tribbles and other zygotic factors induced degradation of phosphatase Cdc25/Twine in interphase 14, but the mechanisms how Cdc25/Twine protein levels are controlled and how the striking robustness of the cell cycle switch are ensured are not fully understood. I show that maternal PpV is critical in timing the cell cycle remodeling by maintaining the low Cdc25/Twine level in pre-MBT. Complementary to PpV, zygotic Tribbles is involved in the induced degradation of Cdc25/Twine during MBT by enhancing the decay rate. PpV may directly act on Cdc25/Twine, as we identified three additional phosphorylation sites of Twine in PpV mutants. Mutation of these PpV-dependent phosphorylation sites led to high proportion of extra embryonic nuclear cycle, similar to PpV mutants.
Wine Grape (Vitis vinifera L.) Response to Simulated Herbicide Drift

Chlorsulfuron, thifensulfuron, bromoxynil, 2,4-D, glyphosate, and a combination of 2,4-D plus glyphosate were applied on newly planted and established ‘Lemberger’ wine grape at 1/3, 1/10, 1/33, and 1/100 of the maximum labelled rate in wheat or fallow to simulate exposure to drifted herbicides. All herbicides produced symptoms on grape but the most severe symptoms were with 2,4-D and the least severe with bromoxynil. Newly planted grape was more sensitive to herbicides than established grape. Although established grape recovered from injury caused by all treatments except 2,4-D and the highest rate of chlorsulfuron and glyphosate, newly planted grape recovered only from lower rates of bromoxynil. All herbicides resulted in diagnostic symptoms, but other symptoms were very similar to those caused by other stresses.
MASS REARING OF THE GREATER WAX MOTH, Galleria mellonella L.

This study was conducted to investigate the suitability of three suggested artificial diets prepared for mass rearing of the greater wax moth, Galleria mellonella L. to meet with the higher demand for mass multiplication of entomopathogenic nematodes as well as many parasitoids for insect biological control purposes. The suggested diets were compared to the natural food (i.e. honey bee wax) under laboratory conditions. The effect of such feeding on some biological aspects of eggs, larvae, pupae and adults of G. mellonella was studied. Summarized results revealed diet D3 (4 parts scratched bee wax and 1 part bee collected clover pollen) proved the best followed by natural (control) feeding. The superiority of diet D3 was represented by: shortened larval duration, induced significantly larval survival (88.33%) and weight (186 mg/mature larva) and pupal weight, minimized pupal mortality (6.7%), induced female moth fecundity (1056.6 eggs per female) and egg fertility and hatchability (97.81%).