Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Porcine fibrin sealant combined with autologous chondrocytes successfully promotes full‐thickness cartilage regeneration in a rabbit model

Xenogeneic porcine fibrin sealant (PFS), derived from porcine blood, was used as a scaffold for cartilage tissue engineering. PFS has a porous microstructure, biocompatibility and degradation, and it provides a perfect extracellular matrix environment for the adhesion and proliferation of chondrocytes. Recently, PFS in combination with autologous chondrocytes (ACs) were used to study the microstructure of PFS scaffolds and promotion effect on the proliferation and migration of ACs. In this study, we investigated the effects of PFS in combination with ACs on the healing of cartilage defects in rabbits. A full‐thickness cartilage defect was made in the femoral trochlear in rabbits, subsequently, three surgical procedures were used to repair the defect, namely: the defect was treated with microfracture (MF group); the defect was filled with PFS alone (PFS group) or in combination with ACs (PFS + ACs group); the unrepaired cartilage defects served as the control group (CD group). Three and 6 months after the operation, the reparative effect was evaluated using medical imaging, gross scoring, pathological staining, biomechanical testing and biochemical examination. The PFS group showed a limited effect on defect repair, this result was significantly worse than the MF group. The best reparative effect was observed in the PFS + ACs group. These results hinted that PFS in combination with autologous chondrocytes has broad prospects for clinical applications in cartilage tissue engineering.
Cathodoluminescence properties and trace element signature of hydrothermal quartz: A fingerprint of growth dynamics

Abstract Relationships between cathodoluminescence spectra and trace element contents of hydrothermal α-quartz including hydrogen species are characterized for crystals from Gigerwald (Switzerland) and Rohdenhaus (West Germany) grown under highly different physico-chemical conditions and related to growth fabrics visualized by classical cathodoluminescence microscopy. Distinct emission bands at 395, 448, 503, 569, and 648 nm determine the spectral characteristics of cathodoluminescence images. Aluminum, Li, and H are the most important trace elements as determined by LA-ICP-MS and IR spectroscopy, reaching up to 6000 μmol/mol Al3+, 3300 μmol/mol Li+, and 5000 μmol/mol H+. Germanium, B, and Na are present at less than a few μmol/mol concentrations. A large amount of H is present in structurally bound water. AlOH-defects are also common, whereas LiOH- and SiOH-defects play only a minor role. Fast grown zones contain Li+ and H+ concentrations too low to compensate the charge deficit if all measured Al substitutes for Si4+ in the quartz structure. This indicates the occurrence of intrinsic defects such as oxygen deficiency centers, which are assumed to affect the luminescence properties. Lithium abundances correspond to [AlO4|Li]-defects, correlated to the unstable intensity at 395 nm, but the correlation is different for both localities. This is inconsistent with a simple causal relationship between Al-Li-centers and the emission at 395 nm. Conversion of [AlO4|Li]-defects to [AlO4]0-defects by natural irradiation is a possible explanation for this discrepancy. The increase of the intensity at 648 nm is not proportional to SiOH concentration as suggested in the literature, indicating that other precursor defects such as peroxy-linkages are more important. The decay of the intensity at 395 nm is much more rapid than the increase at 648 nm, excluding a coupling between these processes. Trace element incorporation in slowly grown hydrothermal quartz crystals is a direct function of fluid chemistry and temperature for a specific growth sector. Because quartz grows during extended periods of hydrothermal activity, changes in trace element inventory as visualized by cathodoluminescence may identify significant changes in growth conditions, which likely remain unrecognized during sample characterization with conventional microscopy.
Long-read genome assembly and genetic architecture of fruit shape in the bottle gourd.

The bottle gourd (Lagenaria siceraria, Cucurbitaceae) is an important horticultural crop exhibiting tremendous diversity in fruit shape. The genetic architecture of fruit shape variation in this species remains unknown. We assembled a long-read-based, high-quality reference genome (ZAAS_Lsic_2.0) with a contig N50 value over 390-fold greater than the existing reference genomes. We then focused on dissection of fruit shape using a one-step geometric morphometrics (GM)-based functional mapping approach. We identified 11 quantitative trait loci (QTLs) responsible for fruit shape (fsQTLs), reconstructed their visible effects, and revealed syntenic relationships of bottle gourd fsQTLs with 12 fsQTLs previously reported in cucumber, melon or watermelon. Homologs of several well-known and newly identified fruit shape genes, including SUN, OFP, AP2 and auxin transporters, were comapped with bottle gourd QTLs.
Validation of the Fear of COVID-19 Scale in a Sample of Pakistan’s University Students and Future Directions

This study determined the psychometric validation of the English version of the Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCV-19S). Findings demonstrated robust psychometric properties for the FCV-19S. CFA results showed that the FCV-19S was a good model fit to the data in a sample of 608 university students. The FCV-19S also showed good concurrent validity, as it was significantly and positively related to the Preventive Behaviors related to COVID-19 Scale and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale as well as significantly and negatively related to the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale. The scale also showed good internal consistency reliability. Further, the association of age with FCV-19S indicated that younger students experienced greater fear of COVID-19. The analyses of mean differences revealed that women as compared to men, bachelor’s and master’s students as compared to post-master’s students, and unemployed students as compared to employed students experienced greater fear of the outbreak. Also, those suffering from severe anxiety experienced greater fear of COVID-19 followed by those suffering from moderate, mild, and minimal anxiety. Moreover, knowing someone suffering from the coronavirus, being afraid that someone close might contract the virus, and believing that the current COVID-19 situation adversely affects academic performance were linked to higher levels of fear of the pandemic. Practice implications, limitations, and avenues for future research are also discussed.
Efficient Green Protocols for Preparation of Highly Functionalized β-Cyclodextrin-Grafted Silica

The modification and characterization of porous particles and matrices using cyclodextrins (CD) have attracted a large amount of interest in recent years. In fact, CDs are at the heart of this study that aims to graft β-CD onto silica particles by means of efficient protocols and nonconventional energy sources. In particular, the use of microwave irradiation, benign reaction media, and a solvent-free planetary ball mill has provided a high degree of grafting. The inclusive properties of β-CD-grafted silica were tested with phenolphthalein and its sorption capacity with methyl orange, and both tests confirmed the efficiency of the grafting protocols. Samples were extensively characterized by TGA, elemental analysis, IR, BET, and HRTEM. The green protocols herein reported can facilitate access to functionalized silica and pave the way for its use in novel applications.
Prevalence of high-risk HPV genotypes in sub-Saharan Africa according to HIV status: a 20-year systematic review

OBJECTIVES This review assessed the rate of high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) infection among women living in sub-Saharan Africa. It also determined the prevalence of high-risk HPV (hrHPV) among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) seropositive (HIV+) and seronegative (HIV-) women in sub-Saharan Africa, pre-2010 and post-2010. METHODS In this systematic review, Google Scholar, PubMed Central, and Embase were searched to identify cohort and case-control studies that investigated the relationship between HIV and HPV infection. The database searches yielded 17 studies published between 1999 and 2018. RESULTS In the general population, the prevalence of any HPV/multiple HPV infections was higher among HIV+ (53.6/22.6%) than among HIV- women (26.5/7.3%) with odds ratios of 3.22 and 3.71, respectively (95% confidence interval, 3.00 to 3.42 and 2.39 to 5.75, p<0.001). The prevalent HPV genotypes among HIV+ and HIV- women diagnosed with invasive cervical cancer (ICC) were HPV-16/18 and HPV-45. The prevalence of HPV-16, HPV-18, and HPV-45 was lower in 1999-2010 (3.8, 1.7, and 0.8%, respectively) than in 2011-2018 (19.1, 6.0, and 3.6%, respectively). Among women diagnosed with ICC, HIV+ women had a higher prevalence of HPV-56, HPV-31, and HPV-51 (7.3, 5.3, and 3.3%, respectively) than HIV- women (1.3, 2.2, and 0.4%, p<0.001, p=0.050, and p=0.013, respectively). CONCLUSIONS The prevalence of HPV infection, multiple HPV infections, and non-vaccine HPV types were higher among HIV+ women than among HIV- women in sub-Saharan Africa. Although HIV infection influences the distribution of HPV types, this study suggests that cervical cancer incidence in sub-Saharan Africa is primarily driven by the prevalence of vaccine hrHPVs, especially HPV-16 and HPV-18.
The role of teriflunomide in Multiple Sclerosis patient: an observational study

ABSTRACT Teriflunomide is a drug with immunosuppressive and selective immunomodulatory action, characterized by anti-inflammatory and antiproliferative properties. Several clinical studies have demonstrated the efficacy and safety of this drug in Multiple Sclerosis, estimating a significant improvement in cognitive performance. The aim of our study is to evaluate the effects of teriflunomide by analysing the correlation between brain atrophy and the general cognitive profile and evaluating long-term changes. The effect of teriflunomide was studied in 30 patients with multiple sclerosis and 30 control subjects. Patients underwent a full cognitive profile assessment using the Brief Repeatable Battery of Neuropsychological Tests and a neuroimaging examination with a 3.0 T working scanner. Our results suggested that treatment with teriflunomide could potentially not only slow down the accumulation of microstructural tissue damage in Grey Matter and With Matter, but also better preserve the cognitive profile, particularly by highlighting the benefits in the memory domain. Thanks to drug therapy, brain volume in our patients has remained constant, leading to improvements in memory, indicating teriflunomide as a neuroprotective potential and further strengthening the evidence of a link between loss of brain volume and cognitive impairment.
Dithiocarbamate derivatives inhibit α‐glucosidase through an apparent allosteric site on the enzyme

Dithiocarbamate derivatives possess diverse biological activities. This work further expands their activity profile by identifying seven benzylamine‐containing dithiocarbamate derivatives with piperazine and piperidine substitutions at the main moiety, and five piperazine‐containing dithiocarbamates with various substitutions at the piperazine moiety as new inhibitors of α‐glucosidase. Compounds bearing the benzylamine moiety exhibited more potent inhibition of the enzyme than the piperazine derivatives. Majority of the compounds non‐competitively inhibited α‐glucosidase that led to the identification of a new allosteric site on the enzyme with the help of molecular dynamics and docking studies. These studies suggest that the compounds regulate inhibition of the enzyme by binding to an allosteric site that is located in the vicinity of the active site. This is the first report on the allosteric inhibition of α‐glucosidase by dithiocarbamate derivatives that provides insights into the mechanism of inhibition of the enzyme at molecular level. Moreover, it also explores new avenues for drug development of α‐glucosidase inhibitors as antidiabetic drugs.
Morphological and genetic diversification of Russula floriformis, sp. nov., along the Isthmus of Panama

ABSTRACT Species of Russula are ubiquitous members of ectomycorrhizal fungal communities in tropical ecosystems. However, an important part of the total tropical diversity of this genus and its biogeographic patterns is unknown due to the lack of studies on Russula in tropical ecosystems. We combined molecular, morphological, ecological, and biogeographic data to elaborate concepts for two new subspecies of R. floriformis (subsection Substriatinae). Russula floriformis subsp. floriformis and R. floriformis subsp. symphoniae are described as new from montane forest dominated by Quercus and/or Oreomunnea (Fagales) from Colombia and Panama, respectively. Phylogenies were constructed using nuc rDNA internal transcribed spacer region ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 (ITS), D1–D2 domains of nuc 28S rDNA (28S), and partial regions of the second largest subunit of RNA polymerase II (rpb2) and translation elongation factor 1-alpha (tef1). Similar environmental conditions, similar morphology, and an ITS sequence similarity higher than 99% with only three different positions indicate that these two subspecies are closely related. Detailed observations of microscopic structures and analyses of further DNA loci, however, revealed morphological and molecular characteristics that allow distinguishing the two subspecies of R. floriformis. Spatial distribution and phylogenetic proximity of the two Russula subspecies and their ectomycorrhizal hosts, i.e., species of Quercus, suggest that their diversification is a result of comigration, adaptation, and geographic isolation along the Isthmus of Panama during the Pliocene and Pleistocene.
Online study of health professionals about their vaccination attitudes and behavior in the COVID-19 era: addressing participation bias

ABSTRACT Online surveys of health professionals have become increasingly popular during the COVID-19 crisis because of their ease, speed of implementation, and low cost. This article leverages an online survey of general practitioners’ (GPs’) attitudes toward the soon-to-be-available COVID-19 vaccines, implemented in October–November 2020 (before the COVID-19 vaccines were authorized in France), to study the evolution of the distribution of their demographic and professional characteristics and opinions about these vaccines, as the survey fieldwork progressed, as reminders were sent out to encourage them to participate. Focusing on the analysis of the potential determinants of COVID-19 vaccine acceptance, we also tested if factors related to survey participation biased the association estimates. Our results show that online surveys of health professionals may be subject to significant selection bias that can have a significant impact on estimates of the prevalence of some of these professionals’ behavioral, opinion, or attitude variables. Our results also highlight the effectiveness of reminder strategies in reaching hard-to-reach professionals and reducing these biases. Finally, they indicate that weighting for nonparticipation remains indispensable and that methods exist for testing (and correcting) selection biases.
Adaptation to a novel host and performance trade‐off in host‐generalist and host‐specific insect ectoparasites

We investigated the performance trade‐offs of fleas (Siphonaptera) while adapting to a novel host using two host generalists (Xenopsylla conformis and Xenopsylla ramesis) and one host specialist (Parapulex chephrenis) maintained on their principal hosts (Meriones crassus for Xenopsylla and Acomys cahirinus for P. chephrenis). We asked whether, over generations, (i) a host generalist may become a specialist by evolving the ability to exploit a novel host and losing the ability to exploit an original host and (ii) a host specialist can become a generalist by evolving the ability to exploit a novel host without losing the ability to exploit an original host. We established an experimental line of each species on a novel host (Acomys russatus for Xenopsylla and M. crassus for P. chephrenis) and maintained this line on this host during 23 generations. We compared reproductive performance of progenitors of each line and their descendants when they exploited either original or novel host in terms of egg number and size, hatching success, offspring production, and offspring size. We found changes in performance over generations in female offspring size only. Xenopsylla conformis demonstrated a tendency to become a host specialist (increased performance on the novel host with a concomitant decreased performance on the original host), whereas P. chephrenis demonstrated a tendency to become a host generalist (increased performance on the novel host without a concomitant decreased performance on the original host). We conclude that the probability of generalist to specialist transition, and vice versa, is context‐dependent and varies between species.
Aberrant microRNA expression in B lymphocytes from patients with primary warm autoimmune haemolytic anaemia

Abstract Objective To screen and analyze the micro-Ribonucleic Acid (miRNA) expression profile in B lymphocytes from patients with autoimmune haemolytic anaemia (AIHA) using high-throughput sequencing. Methods Twelve patients with warm autoimmune haemolytic anaemia (wAIHA) and twelve healthy controls (HCs) were enrolled. CD19+ B lymphocytes were isolated and purified using magnetic activated cell sorting (MACS). RNA was subsequently extracted from these cells and a small RNA library was created. The miRNA expression profile was analyzed using Beijing Genomics Institute Sequencing 500 (BGISEQ-500), and stem-loop real-time quantitative PCR (stem-loop qRT-PCR) was used to verify the sequencing results. Downstream target genes of the differentially expressed miRNAs were predicted using miRanda and TargetScan online software, and GO functional enrichment and pathway enrichment analyses were performed on these genes. Results Compared with HCs, 178 upregulated and 143 downregulated miRNAs were identified in wAIHA patients, and stem-loop qRT-PCR of four randomly selected differentially expressed miRNAs verified the sequencing results. Ninety-five significantly enriched GO terms and eighty-five significantly enriched pathways were identified. Genes targeted by differentially expressed miRNAs were found to be mainly involved in the regulation of signal transduction, metabolic processes, immune reactions, and neoplastic disease development. Conclusion The expression of miRNAs in B lymphocytes from patients with primary wAIHA was deregulated, and this phenomenon may be involved in the pathogenesis of wAIHA.
Maternal obesity and metabolic disorders associate with congenital heart defects in the offspring: A systematic review

Background Congenital heart defects (CHDs) are the most common congenital malformations. The aetiology of CHDs is complex. Large cohort studies and systematic reviews and meta-analyses based on these have reported an association between higher risk of CHDs in the offspring and individual maternal metabolic disorders such as obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and preeclampsia, all conditions that can be related to insulin resistance or hyperglycaemia. However, the clinical reality is that these conditions often occur simultaneously. The aim of this review is, in consequence, both to evaluate the existing evidence on the association between maternal metabolic disorders, defined as obesity, diabetes, hypertension, preeclampsia, dyslipidaemia and CHDs in the offspring, as well as the significance of combinations, such as metabolic syndrome, as risk factors. Methods A systematic literature search of papers published between January 1, 1990 and January 14, 2021 was conducted using PubMed and Embase. Studies were eligible if they were published in English and were case-control or cohort studies. The exposures of interest were maternal overweight or obesity, hypertension, preeclampsia, diabetes, dyslipidaemia, and/or metabolic syndrome, and the outcome of interest was CHDs in the offspring. Furthermore, the studies were included according to a quality assessment score. Results Of the 2,250 identified studies, 32 qualified for inclusion. All but one study investigated only the individual metabolic disorders. Some disorders (obesity, gestational diabetes, and hypertension) increased risk of CHDs marginally whereas pre-gestational diabetes and early-onset preeclampsia were strongly associated with CHDs, without consistent differences between CHD subtypes. A single study suggested a possible additive effect of maternal obesity and gestational diabetes. Conclusions Future studies of the role of aberrations of the glucose-insulin homeostasis in the common aetiology and mechanisms of metabolic disorders, present during pregnancy, and their association, both as single conditions and–particularly–in combination, with CHDs are needed.
Non-Adiabatic Multitubular Fixed-Bed Catalytic Reactor Model Coupled with Shell-Side Coolant CFD Model

An overall fixed-bed reactor model that combines a one-dimensional plug flow reactor model with a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model of the shell-side coolant fluid over a series of individual reactor tubes is presented. The model chemistry is the partial oxidation of o-xylene to phthalic anhydride, a well-studied system for reactor performance. The model is used to investigate the effect of variation in cooling temperature on overall reactor performance: temperature profiles at the wall and centerline and o-xylene conversion. Non-isothermal shell-side cooling temperature profiles are calculated using computational fluid dynamics and heat flux profiles along the reactor tube length. This analysis demonstrates that, with faster coolant flow rates, the coupled fixed-bed reactor and CFD model process outputs approach the nominal case. Alternative shell-side baffle configurations are examined. The calculated coolant velocity profiles, though different between evaluated configurations, result in similar .
Interfractional robustness of scanning carbon ion radiotherapy for prostate cancer: An analysis based on dose distribution from daily in‐room CT images

Abstract Purpose We analyzed interfractional robustness of scanning carbon ion radiotherapy (CIRT) for prostate cancer based on the dose distribution using daily in‐room computed tomography (CT) images. Materials and Methods We analyzed 11 consecutive patients treated with scanning CIRT for localized prostate cancer in our hospital between December 2015 and January 2016. In‐room CT images were taken under treatment conditions in every treatment session. The dose distribution on each in‐room CT image was recalculated, while retaining the pencil beam arrangement of the initial treatment plan. Then, the dose–volume histogram (DVH) parameters including the percentage of the clinical target volume (CTV) with 95% and 90% of the prescribed dose area (V95% of CTV, V90% of CTV) and V80% of rectum were calculated. The acceptance criteria for the CTV and rectum were set at V95% of CTV ≥95%, V90% of CTV ≥98%, and V80% of rectum < 10 ml. Results V95% of CTV, V90% of CTV, and V80% of rectum for the reproduced plans were 98.8 ± 3.49%, 99.5 ± 2.15%, and 4.39 ± 3.96 ml, respectively. Acceptance of V95% of CTV, V90% of CTV, and V80% of rectum was obtained in 123 (94%), 125 (95%) and 117 sessions (89%), respectively. Acceptance of the mean dose of V95% of CTV, V90% of CTV, and V80% of rectum for each patient was obtained in 10 (91%), 10 (91%), and 11 patients (100%), respectively. Conclusions We demonstrated acceptable interfractional robustness based on the dose distribution in scanning CIRT for prostate cancer.