Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Lectotypification of Senecio praealtus var. borysthenicus (Asteraceae)

Abstract MOSYAKIN, S.L. , N.M. SHIYAN & I. HODÁLOVÁ (2019). Lectotypification of Senecio praealtus var. borysthenicus (Asteraceae). In English, English abstract. Candollea 74: 217–221. Senecio praealtus var. borysthenicus DC. (Asteraceae) was described based on specimens from Ukraine provided by Wilibald S.J.G. von Besser (1784–1842) and annotated by Antoni L. Andrzejowski (1785–1868) as “Senecio borysthenicus”. This taxon was previously recognized as Senecio borysthenicus (DC.) Andrz. ex Czern. and is currently accepted as Jacobaea borysthenica (DC.) B. Nord. & Greuter. A lectotype is designated for this name based on a specimen collected near the village of Kyslyakivka, Kherson Governorate (now Lymany, Mykolayiv Region, Ukraine), one of three original specimens studied by Augustin-Pyramus de Candolle (1778–1841) and deposited in G-DC. The authorship of Senecio borysthenicus and Senecio jacobaea var. borysthenicus is also discussed.
Comparison of the C-MAC video laryngoscope size 2 Macintosh blade with size 2 C-MAC D-Blade for laryngoscopy and endotracheal intubation in children with simulated cervical spine injury: A prospective randomized crossover study

Background and Aims: CMAC video laryngoscope size 2 D-Blade has been recently introduced for management of pediatric difficult airway. Our primary outcome was to compare glottic view, intubation time, and ease of intubation with the size 2 Macintosh versus D-Blade of C-MAC video laryngoscope in simulated cervical injury in children. Material and Methods: This randomized crossover study was conducted in a tertiary care hospital of Northern India. Forty children of 4–14 years of age were enrolled in this study. After induction of anesthesia, video laryngoscopy was performed either with size 2 CMAC Macintosh (group M) or D-Blade (group D) with manual in-line stabilization. After removal of the first blade, second video laryngoscopy was performed with the alternative blade. Endotracheal intubation was done with the second laryngoscopy. Best glottic view, time for best glottic view, and difficulty in blade insertion were recorded during both the video laryngoscopies. During second video laryngoscopy, difficulty of tube insertion and time for intubation were noted. Results: The glottic view grade was significantly better in group D compared with the group M (P = 0.0002). Insertion of D-Blade was more difficult than Macintosh blade (P = 0.0007). There was no statistical difference in terms of time for best glottic view in group M and group D (13.40 ± 4.90 vs 13.62 ± 5.60 s) and endotracheal tube insertion time (24.80 ± 7.90 vs 27.90 ± 10.90 s), respectively. Number of intubation attempts was similar in both the groups. Conclusions: Size 2 D-Blade of C-MAC video laryngoscope provided a better glottic view in children with simulated cervical spine injury as compared with CMAC Macintosh blade. Success of intubation, intubation time, and ease of intubation were comparable with both the blades.
Pressure-controlled ventilation could decrease intraoperative blood loss and improve airway pressure measures during lumbar discectomy in the prone position: A comparison with volume-controlled ventilation mode

Background and Aims: Prone positioning may induce alterations of hemodynamic and airway pressure parameters that may affect intraoperative (IO) blood loss. Pressure-controlled ventilation (PCV) may modify these alterations. To observe the relation between ventilation mode and hemodynamic, airway pressure changes, and blood loss during lumbar discectomy performed in the prone position. Material and Methods: Volume-controlled ventilation (VCV) patients were using tidal volume (TV) of 8–10 ml/Kg, but for pressure-controlled ventilation (PCV) patients peak inspiratory pressure (PIP) was adjusted to provide the same TV according to ideal body weight. Respiratory and hemodynamic parameters were recorded in supine (T1), on turning to prone (T2), and on returning to the supine position (T3). Primary outcome included amount of IO blood loss; Secondary outcome included need for blood transfusion, IO hemodynamics, and airway pressure changes. Results: IO blood loss and central venous pressure (CVP) were significantly higher with VCV than PCV patients. Heart rate and blood pressure were significantly reduced in the prone position with little impact of ventilation mode. Prone positioning resulted in significant increase of P-peak and non-significant decrease of P-mean pressure with VCV, while with PCV resulted in a significantly increased airway pressures. P-peak pressure was significantly lower with PCV in supine and prone positions than VCV. P-mean pressure was significantly lower in supine but significantly higher in the prone position with PCV than VCV. Conclusions: Prone positioning and VCV were associated with increased CVP and IO blood loss, while PCV could lessen these effects and significantly improve airway pressures.
Ammonia Induces a Myostatin-Mediated Atrophy in Mammalian Myotubes, but Induces Hypertrophy in Avian Myotubes

Ammonia, a byproduct of protein catabolism that is generally regarded as toxic, is processed by the liver for excretion. In diseases resulting in hepatic insufficiency, circulating ammonia levels increase dramatically, ensuing secondary disorders. Sarcopenia, or loss of muscle mass, is commonly associated with hyperammonemia. In mammalian models of cirrhosis, increased myostatin is consistent, contributes to muscle autophagy, and reduces satellite cell activation and differentiation, whereas, avian species show a positive myogenic response to ammonia. The objective of the study was to elucidate the effect of ammonia in chicken, mouse, and rat derived myotubes. Primary myoblasts were isolated from the pectoralis major (breast) and biceps femoris (thigh) of embryonic day 17 chicken embryos, and from the hindlimbs of 3-day-old rat pups. C2C12 cells were used for mouse myoblasts. Myotubes were exposed to 10mM ammonium acetate (AA) or 10mM sodium acetate (SA) for 24 hours to determine myogenic response to ammonia. Relative expression of myostatin mRNA, determined by quantitative real-time PCR, was significantly higher in mammalian myotubes compared to chicken myotubes (P < 0.001). Western blot analysis of myostatin protein confirmed a significant increase in ammonia treated rat myotubes, while chicken breast myotubes showed a significant decrease in myostatin (P < 0.05). Myotube diameter significantly increased in chicken breast and thigh cultures treated with ammonia, while diameter was significantly reduced in mouse and rat myotubes (P < 0.05). Intracellular glutamine is significantly higher in chicken thigh, but not breast, myotubes treated with AA compared to SA treated myotubes (P < 0.05). To investigate fiber type differences in ammonia metabolism, Western blot analysis of protein from AA and SA treated myotubes was examined for fast and slow myosin heavy chain isoforms. AA treatment resulted in a higher ratio of fast to slow isoforms of myosin heavy chain in both types of chicken myotubes, while fast isoforms were decreased in AA treated mouse and rat myotubes. These data demonstrate that chicken myotubes respond positively to ammonia while rodent myotubes respond negatively. Further, there is evidence that ammonia induces a fast fiber type shift in avian muscle, but a slow phenotype shift in mammalian muscle.
What Makes Lexical Tone Special: A Reverse Accessing Model for Tonal Speech Perception

Previous studies of tonal speech perception have generally suggested harder or later access to lexical tone than segmental information, but the mechanism underlying the lexical tone disadvantage is unclear. Using a speeded discrimination paradigm free of context information, we confirmed multiple lines of evidence for the lexical tone disadvantage as well as revealed a distinctive advantage of word and atonal syllable judgments over phoneme and lexical tone judgments. The results led us to propose a Reverse Accessing Model (RAM) for tonal speech perception. The RAM is an extension of the influential TRACE model, with two additional processing levels specialized for tonal speech: lexical tone and atonal syllable. Critically, information accessing is assumed to be in reverse order of information processing, and only information at the syllable level and up is maintained active for immediate use. We tested and confirmed the predictions of the RAM on discrimination of each type of phonological component under different stimulus conditions. The current results have thus demonstrated the capability of the RAM as a general framework for tonal speech perception to provide a united account for empirical observations as well as to generate testable predictions.
The Effects of Balloon Occlusion of the Aorta on Cerebral Blood Flow, Intracranial Pressure, and Brain Tissue Oxygen Tension in a Rodent Model of Penetrating Ballistic-Like Brain Injury

Trauma is among the leading causes of death in the United States. Technological advancements have led to the development of resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta (REBOA) which offers a pre-hospital option to non-compressible hemorrhage control. Due to the prevalence of concomitant traumatic brain injury (TBI), an understanding of the effects of REBOA on cerebral physiology is critical. To further this understanding, we employed a rat model of penetrating ballistic-like brain injury (PBBI). PBBI produced an injury pattern within the right frontal cortex and striatum that replicates the pathology from a penetrating ballistic round. Aortic occlusion was initiated 30 min post-PBBI and maintained continuously (cAO) or intermittently (iAO) for 30 min. Continuous measurements of mean arterial pressure (MAP), intracranial pressure (ICP), cerebral blood flow (CBF), and brain tissue oxygen tension (PbtO2) were recorded during, and for 60 min following occlusion. PBBI increased ICP and decreased CBF and PbtO2. The arterial balloon catheter effectively occluded the descending aorta which augmented MAP in the carotid artery. Despite this, CBF levels were not changed by aortic occlusion. iAO caused sustained adverse effects to ICP and PbtO2 while cAO demonstrated no adverse effects on either. Temporary increases in PbtO2 were observed during occlusion, along with restoration of sham levels of ICP for the remainder of the recordings. These results suggest that iAO may lead to prolonged cerebral hypertension following PBBI. Following cAO, ICP, and PbtO2 levels were temporarily improved. This information warrants further investigation using TBI-polytrauma model and provides foundational knowledge surrounding the non-hemorrhage applications of REBOA including neurogenic shock and stroke.
Viral-Infected Change of the Digestive Tract Microbiota Associated With Mucosal Immunity in Teleost Fish

The digestive tract is a unique series of organs that is inhabited by a range of commensal microbes while also exposed to an overwhelming load of dietary antigens. It is widely known that mammals have evolved complex and efficient immune strategies to protect the mucosa of the digestive tract. However, in the early vertebrates, the roles of mucosal immune defense and microbial communities in the different segments of the digestive tract are not well-understood. Here, we constructed a bath infection model with infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus (IHNV) in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). Importantly, following viral infection, we found that the IHNV distribution and the reactions of immune-related genes had similar trends that decreased across the digestive tract. Hematoxylin and eosin (H & E) and alcian blue (A & B) staining of the trout digestive tract showed that the pathological changes only occurred in the buccal and pharyngeal mucosal tissues. Moreover, the increased diversity of the microbial community was only detected in the buccal mucosa through 16S rRNA gene sequencing, suggesting that the magnitude of the immune response and microbial community changes are related to the IHNV load and the original microbial diversity. In addition, the loss of digestive tract dominant species and increased colonization of opportunistic bacteria were discovered in the buccal mucosal surface indicating that a secondary bacterial infection occurred in this mucosal tissue.
Relationship Between Dispositional Mindfulness and Living Condition and the Well-Being of First-Year University Students in Japan

The present study was conducted to examine how dispositional mindfulness and living conditions are related to well-being among first-year university students in Japan. Participants were 262 Japanese first-year students (156 females and 106 males; Mage = 18.77 years, SDage = 0.85). Dispositional mindfulness was measured using the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS), and living condition was operationalized as living at home or living alone after having left their home. Hierarchical multivariate regression analysis was used to analyze whether the factors of living condition and dispositional mindfulness had predictive effects on well-being. The results showed that dispositional mindfulness positively correlated with well-being in first-year university students; however, living condition had no significant correlation. On the other hand, the interaction between living condition and dispositional mindfulness significantly correlated with well-being. Simple slope analysis revealed that higher levels of dispositional mindfulness had a protective effect in the relationship between living condition and well-being. These results suggest that an intervention to promote dispositional mindfulness could be effective in protecting the well-being of first-year university students, especially for those who have left their home and are living alone. Further research will be necessary to examine, longitudinally, how mental health changes depending on the level of dispositional mindfulness of first-year university students.
Soil Microbial Networks Shift Across a High-Elevation Successional Gradient

While it is well established that microbial composition and diversity shift along environmental gradients, how interactions among microbes change is poorly understood. Here, we tested how community structure and species interactions among diverse groups of soil microbes (bacteria, fungi, non-fungal eukaryotes) change across a fundamental ecological gradient, succession. Our study system is a high-elevation alpine ecosystem that exhibits variability in successional stage due to topography and harsh environmental conditions. We used hierarchical Bayesian joint distribution modeling to remove the influence of environmental covariates on species distributions and generated interaction networks using the residual species-to-species variance-covariance matrix. We hypothesized that as ecological succession proceeds, diversity will increase, species composition will change, and soil microbial networks will become more complex. As expected, we found that diversity of most taxonomic groups increased over succession, and species composition changed considerably. Interestingly, and contrary to our hypothesis, interaction networks became less complex over succession (fewer interactions per taxon). Interactions between photosynthetic microbes and any other organism became less frequent over the gradient, whereas interactions between plants or soil microfauna and any other organism were more abundant in late succession. Results demonstrate that patterns in diversity and composition do not necessarily relate to patterns in network complexity and suggest that network analyses provide new insight into the ecology of highly diverse, microscopic communities.
Citrus Production Under Screen as a Strategy to Protect Grapefruit Trees From Huanglongbing Disease

Citrus production under enclosed structures can exclude the Asian citrus psyllid (ACP, Diaphorina citri) and eliminate the negative effects of citrus greening or huanglongbing (HLB) disease caused by Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus to the grapefruit (Citrus paradisi) fresh fruit industry. Physically impeding the insect vector from accessing trees is a logical method to have disease-free groves. Our objectives were to assess the ability of enclosed screenhouses to exclude the ACP, stop HLB inoculation and dissemination, and improve fruit yield of in-ground and container-grown 6-year-old “Ray Ruby” grapefruit at super-high planting densities relative to open-air trees. We built a large structure to allow commercial-scale trials and tested two production systems (screenhouse and open-air), two planting systems (in-ground and potted), and two rootstocks (“Sour Orange” [Citrus × aurantium] and “US-897” [Citrus reticulata × Poncirus trifoliate]). The experimental design was a randomized complete block design split-split-plot with four replications. Four passively ventilated 1,080-m2 completely enclosed screenhouses were constructed using a 50-mesh monofilament high-density polyethylene screen. The main support for each enclosed, covered structure consisted of pressure-treated, wooden utility poles. Trees were planted in Sept/2013 on a density of 1,957 trees/ha. Irrigation was performed on-demand using two 7.6-LPH drip emitters per tree, and fertigation was applied three times/week using 15N-2.6P-22.4K water-soluble fertilizer at 180 kg N/ha. Psyllids were monitored using sticky cards and detected inside the screenhouses post-Hurricane Irma, which damaged the screen structures in Sept/2017, leaving openings until repairs were completed in Apr/2018. Screen aging and a tropical storm in April/2019 caused another major screen opening fixed in Oct/2019. Despite the weather-related damages to the screens, only trees cultivated in open-air tested positive for Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus after 6 years. There was fast disease progression for all outside treatments, with 100% infection. Covered, in-ground trees exhibited the highest trunk diameter and canopy volume (P < 0.0001). Trees grown inside screenhouses exhibited higher fruit yield than outside trees, with the highest yield observed for in-ground trees on “US-897” (51,081 kg/ha) (P < 0.0001). Several open-air treatments particularly in containers did not produce any fruit. On the other hand, potted grapefruit trees cultivated inside the enclosures had the highest soluble solids content (P < 0.001). The screenhouses provided disease exclusion, increased fruit yield, and fruit quality, representing an alternative for growers interested in producing high-quality fruit for the fresh market. Production cost and economic viability still need to be evaluated for large-scale implementation.
High prevalence of itraconazole resistance among Candida parapsilosis isolated from Iran

Background and Purpose: Candida parapsilosis isolates usually have a low minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) against azoles. Although Candida parapsilosis isolates usually have low MICs against azoles, recent studies candida invasive infections due to azole resistant-C. parapsilosis isolates . Regarding this, the main aim of this study was to determine the susceptibility pattern of Iranian clinical C. parapsilosis against available azole antifungal drugs. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted on 105 previously-identified isolates of C. parapsilosis sensu stricto. For the purpose of the study, the isolates were subjected to antifungal susceptibility testing against fluconazole (FLZ), itraconazole (ITZ), voriconazole (VRZ), and two new azole drugs, namely luliconazole (LUZU) and lanoconazole (LZN). The broth microdilution reference method adopted in this study was according to the Clinical & Laboratory Standards Institute M27-A3 and M27-S4 documents. Results: According to the results, 89% (n=94) of C. parapsilosis isolates showed a MIC of ≥ 1 µg/ml, indicating resistance against ITZ. Multi-azole resistance was observed in 3.8% of the isolates. In addition, LUZU and LZN demonstrated the highest efficacy with the MIC50 values of 0.5 and 1 µg/ml, respectively. Conclusion: The majority of the isolates showed high MIC values against ITZ. This may have been associated with the long-term ITZ prophylaxis/therapy in patients infected with candidiasis. Hence, the adoption of an appropriate antifungal agent is a crucial step for starting the treatment.
Investigation of cgrA and cyp51A gene alternations in Aspergillus fumigatus strains exposed to kombucha fermented tea

Background and Purpose: Aspergillus fumigatus is one of the most common opportunistic fungus, which causes infection in immunocompromised and neutropenic patients. The current guidelines recommend voriconazole as the initial therapeutic and prophylactic agent for almost all cases, especially in patients with organ transplants, which leads to increased medication resistance in A. fumigatus. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the antifungal activity and effect of kombucha as a natural compound on A. fumigatus growth, as well as on the expression of cgrA and cyp51A genes. Materials and Methods: A panel of 15 A. fumigatus strains with two quality controls of CM237 and CM2627 as susceptible and resistant strains were obtained from Tehran Medical Mycology Laboratory, Tehran,Iran(TMML). Antifungal susceptibility testing assay was performed according to the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) M38-A2 document. Moreover, the mycelial dry weight of the fungus was calculated before and after being treated with kombucha. In addition, the quantitative changes in the expression of cgrA and cyp51A genes were analyzed by real-time polymerase chain reaction (real-time PCR) technique. Results: In the present study, the minimum inhibitory concentration ranges of kombucha were measured at 6,170 and 12,300 μg/mL for ten A. fumigatus azole-susceptible strains and 24,700 μg/mL for five A. fumigatus resistant strains. Moreover, changes in mycelial dry weight under kombucha treatment conditions underwent a significant reduction (P≤0.05). A coordinate down-regulation of expression in cgrA and cyp51A genes was observed in all azole-susceptible and -resistant A. fumigatus strains, after treating the fungus with different concentrations of kombucha (P≤0.05). Conclusion: According to the obtained results, kombucha as a natural antioxidant , can exert inhibitory effects against the growth and expression of some genes in A. fumigatusstrains.
Interferon-induced protein 44-like gene promoter is differentially methylated in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of systemic lupus erythematosus patients

Background: The objectives of this study were to compare the interferon-induced protein 44-like (IFI44L) promoter methylation level between systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients and healthy controls and to evaluate its diagnostic value in SLE. Materials and Methods: The IFI44L promoter methylation level was measured in 49 patients with SLE and 50 healthy controls. Quantitative analysis of promoter methylation IFI44L gene in genomic DNA samples extracted from peripheral blood mononuclear cells was examined in SLE patients and healthy controls. The level of DNA methylation was compared between SLE patients and healthy controls as well as within SLE patient groups based on the presence of renal involvement. Moreover, diagnostic values of IFI44L were calculated. Results: The IFI44L promoter methylation level in SLE patients was significantly lower than healthy controls (median, 43.8 vs. 57, respectively; P = 0.008). The level of IFI44L promoter methylation was not significantly different between SLE patients with renal involvement and SLE patients without renal involvement (84.6% vs. 92.7%, respectively; P = 0.774). The IFI44L promoter methylation level ≤94.3% was the best cutoff point with a sensitivity of 91.8% and a specificity of 38% to distinguish patients with SLE from healthy individuals. Conclusion: The level of IFI44L promoter methylation from whole peripheral blood in Iranian SLE patients was significantly lower than healthy controls. Furthermore, the DNA methylation level of IFI44L promoter was not associated with renal damage in patients with SLE.