Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Ecosystem nutrient responses to chronic nittogen inputs at Fernow Experimental Forest, West Virginia

Among the current environmental concerns for forests of the eastern United States is nitrogen (N) saturation, a result of excessive inputs of N associated with acidic deposition. We studied nutrient responses on N-treated and untreated watersheds of the Fernow Experimental Forest, West Virginia, to test for evidence of N saturation on the treated watershed. The watersheds were WS7 (23-year-old even-aged control), WS4 (mature mixed-aged control), and WS3 (23-year-old even-aged treatment). WS3 has received aerial applications of (NH4)2S04 from 1989 to the present (a total of 4 years for the study period) at 3X ambient inputs of N and S (54 and 61 kg·ha-1·year-1, respectively). Base-flow stream samples were collected weekly from each watershed and analyzed for NO3- and Ca 2+. Mineral soil was incubated in situ, placed in bags, and buried about every 30 days during the growing season in each of seven sample plots within each watershed. Moist samples of soil from the bags were analyzed for extractable NH4+ and NO3- . In addition, forest floor material and leaves of an herbaceous species (Viola rotundifolia Michx.) from each plot were analyzed for N and other nutrients. Viola rotundifolia was present on all 21 plots and used as an additional indicator of N availability and soil fertility. Foliage tissue was sampled from overstory tree species (Liriodendron tulipifera L., Prunus serotina Ehrh., Betula lenta L., and Acer rubrum L.) from WS3 and WS7 and analyzed for nutrient content. Results from the 1993 growing season showed few, if any, differences among watersheds for ( 1) N content and C/N ratio of the mineral soil and forest floor and (2) relative proportion of NH4+ and NO3- produced in the buried bags. Nitrification rates were equally high in soils of all watersheds; N concentrations were significantly higher in foliage tissue of overstory tree species and of V. rotundifolia in the treatment versus control watersheds; plant tissue Ca was significantly lower for the treatment watershed than for the control watersheds. Our results support the conclusions of earlier studies that high amounts of ambient N deposition have brought about N saturation on untreated watersheds at the Fernow Experimental Forest. This is suggested by minimal differences among watersheds in N mineralization and nitrification and soil and forest floor N. However, aggravated N saturation on our treated watershed can be seen in differences in plant tissue nutrients among watersheds and streamflow data, indicating increased losses of N03- with accompanying losses of Ca2+ in response to further N additions to a N-saturated system.
Cervical cancer screening for individuals at average risk: 2020 guideline update from the American Cancer Society

The American Cancer Society (ACS) recommends that individuals with a cervix initiate cervical cancer screening at age 25 years and undergo primary human papillomavirus (HPV) testing every 5 years through age 65 years (preferred); if primary HPV testing is not available, then individuals aged 25 to 65 years should be screened with cotesting (HPV testing in combination with cytology) every 5 years or cytology alone every 3 years (acceptable) (strong recommendation). The ACS recommends that individuals aged >65 years who have no history of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 2 or more severe disease within the past 25 years, and who have documented adequate negative prior screening in the prior 10 years, discontinue all cervical cancer screening (qualified recommendation). These new screening recommendations differ in 4 important respects compared with the 2012 recommendations: 1) The preferred screening strategy is primary HPV testing every 5 years, with cotesting and cytology alone acceptable where access to US Food and Drug Administration‐approved primary HPV testing is not yet available; 2) the recommended age to start screening is 25 years rather than 21 years; 3) primary HPV testing, as well as cotesting or cytology alone when primary testing is not available, is recommended starting at age 25 years rather than age 30 years; and 4) the guideline is transitional, ie, options for screening with cotesting or cytology alone are provided but should be phased out once full access to primary HPV testing for cervical cancer screening is available without barriers. Evidence related to other relevant issues was reviewed, and no changes were made to recommendations for screening intervals, age or criteria for screening cessation, screening based on vaccination status, or screening after hysterectomy. Follow‐up for individuals who screen positive for HPV and/or cytology should be in accordance with the 2019 American Society for Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology risk‐based management consensus guidelines for abnormal cervical cancer screening tests and cancer precursors.
Influence of electroporation on matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) pattern activity in malignant glioma cells propagated ex vivo

Cells exposed to short and intense electric pulses become permeable to a number of various ionic molecules. This phenomenon was termed electroporation or electropermeabilization and is widely used for in vitro drug delivery into cells and gene transfection. The present work is a trial to study the effect of single exponential pulsed electric field (PEF) using intensity range 0.3 to 5.7 KV /cm and 1 m sec duration on human malignant glioma cells (U251MG). Under electrical conditions maintaining cell viability, no permeabilization can be detected for macromolecules such as DNA for pulse durations shorter than 1m sec. The aim of this study was to find optimum values of field strengths: First, to maintain cell viability for gene transfection and electrochemotherapy for further investigations. The above range of field strengths was used because a strong increase in the electric field intensity may increase transport of macromolecules, but as it may induce a loss in cell viability, indicated by the morphological observations in this study; it is associated with a decrease in plasmid expression. Second, to investigate the influence of PEF on metastatic biomolecules secreted in the cultured media such as matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). MMPs enzyme activity was reduced at electric field intensities (0.3 1.15 KV/cm) by a factor of (25 100%). It is recommended to use the field intensity 0.85 KV/cm to put the glioma cells under biochemical stress during the electroporation protocol using single exponential pulse and 1 ms duration.
A mutation associated with stress resistance in mice is associated with human grip strength and mortality

ABSTRACT Hand grip strength (GS) is a valid and reliable predictor of future morbidity and mortality and is considered a useful indicator of aging. In this paper, we use results from the genetic analysis in animal studies to evaluate associations for GS, frailty, and subsequent mortality among humans. Specifically, we use data from the Health and Retirement Survey (HRS) to investigate the association between three polymorphisms in a candidate frailty gene (Tiam1) and GS. Results suggest that the A allele in rs724561 significantly reduces GS among older adults in the US (b = −0.340; p < .006) and is significantly associated with self-reported weakness (b = 0.221; p = .036). This same polymorphism was weakly associated (one-tailed) with an increased risk of mortality (b = 1.091; p < .093) and adjustments for GS rendered this association statistically non-significant (b = 1.048; p < .361). Overall, our results provide tentative evidence that the Tiam1 gene may be associated with frailty development, but we encourage further studies.
Sarcopenia and low muscle radiodensity associate with impaired FEV1 in allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients

Quantification of skeletal muscle using computed tomography (CT) is accessible using cancer patients' standard oncologic images. Reduced muscle mass may be related to reduced respiratory muscle strength; however, the impact of this on lung functional parameters is not characterized in adult allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplant (alloHCT) recipients.
A New Look at Cohort Trend and Underlying Mechanisms in Cognitive Functioning.

OBJECTIVES The prevalence of dementia in the United States seems to have declined over the last few decades. We investigate trends and their underlying mechanisms in cognitive functioning (CF) across seven decades of birth cohorts from the Greatest Generation to Baby Boomers. METHOD Data come from 30,191 participants of the 1996-2014 Health and Retirement Study. CF is measured as a summary score on a 35-point cognitive battery of items. We use generalized linear models to examine the trends in CF and explanatory variables across birth cohorts. Then Karlson-Holm-Breen decomposition method is used to evaluate the contribution of each explanatory variable to the trend of CF. RESULTS CF has been improving from the Greatest Generation to Late Children of Depression and War Babies, but then significantly declines since the Early-Baby Boomers and continues into Mid-Baby Boomers. This pattern is observed universally across genders, race/ethnicities, education groups, occupations, income and wealth quartiles. The worsening CF among Baby Boomers does not originate from childhood conditions, adult education, or occupation. It can be attributed to lower household wealth, lower likelihood of marriage, higher levels of loneliness, depression and psychiatric problems, and more cardiovascular risk factors (e.g., obesity, physical inactivity, hypertension, stroke, diabetes, and heart disease). DISCUSSION The worsening CF among Baby Boomers may potentially reverse past favorable trends in dementia as they reach older ages and cognitive impairment becomes more common if no effective interventions and policy responses are in place.
Variation in coral photosynthesis, respiration and growth characteristics in contrasting light microhabitats: an analogue to plants in forest gaps and understoreys?

1.The often complex architecture of coral reefs forms a diversity of light microhabitats. Analogous to patterns in forest plants, light variation may drive strategies for efficient light utilization and metabolism in corals. 2.We investigated the spatial distribution of light regimes in a spur-and-groove reef environment and examine the photophysiology of the coral Montipora monasteriata (Forskal 1775), a species with a wide habitat distribution. Specifically, we examined the variation in tissue and skeletal thickness, and photosynthetic and metabolic responses among contrasting light microhabitats. 3.Daily irradiances reaching corals in caves and under overhangs were 1–5 and 30–40% of those in open habitats at similar depth (3–5 m), respectively. Daily rates of net photosynthesis of corals in cave habitats approximated zero, suggesting more than two orders of magnitude variation in scope for growth across habitats. 4.Three mechanisms of photoadaptation or acclimation were observed in cave and overhang habitats: (1) a 20–50% thinner tissue layer and 40–60% thinner skeletal plates, maximizing light interception per unit mass; (2) a two- to threefold higher photosynthetic efficiency per unit biomass; and (3) low rates of dark respiration. 5.Specimens from open and cave habitats displayed a high capacity to acclimate to downshifts or upshifts in irradiance, respectively. However, specimens in caves displayed limited acclimation to further irradiance reduction, indicating that these live near their irradiance limit. 6.Analogous to patterns for some plant species in forest gaps, the morphological plasticity and physiological flexibility of M. monasteriata enable it to occupy light habitats that vary by more than two orders of magnitude.
Preparation and characterization of cyclodextrin nanosponges for bortezomib delivery

ABSTRACT Background Bortezomib (BTZ) as an anticancer drug has been used through the injection pathway. Research design and methods Two types of Cyclodextrin nanosponges (CDNSs) were synthesized and studied by DLS, TEM, FTIR, and DSC instruments for BTZ delivery. Both carriers were analyzed for loading efficiencies and in-vitro release. Cell studies and intestinal permeability of selected CDNS were determined using MTT and SPIP method, respectively. Results Both types of CDNSs, encapsulated BTZ in their nano-porous structure, but better loading was shown in CDNS 1:4. FTIR and DSC results proved considerable encapsulation of BTZ into CDNSs. The slow and prolonged release profile was observed for CDNS 1:4 in comparison with CDNS 1:2. Based on in-vitro results, BTZ-CDNS 1:4 was chosen as a selected nanosystem for further analysis. This nontoxic carrier revealed considerable uptake (93.9% in 3 h) against the MCF-7 cell line but indicated higher IC50 in comparison with the plain drug. This carrier also could improve the rat intestinal permeability of BTZ almost 5.8 times. Conclusion CDNS 1:4 has the ability to be introduced as a nontoxic carrier for BTZ delivery with its high loading, controlled release manner, high cellular uptake, and permeability improvement characteristics.
Clinical aspects of abdominal actinomycosis: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND Abdominal actinomycosis (AA) is a rare infection. The aim of this study was to summarize the evidence available on AA. METHODS A systematic review was conducted. Data sources included Trip Database, BIREME, SciELO, Cochrane Library, WoS, MEDLINE, EMBASE, SCOPUS, IBECS and LILACS. Eligibility criteria included: studies related to surgically treated AA, in adult population, without language and sex restriction, published between 1966 and 2019. The following variables were analysed: publication year, age, sex, geographical origin, location of lesions, clinical manifestations, risk factors, species isolated and treatments used. RESULTS A total of 1505 studies were initially identified. After scrutinizing titles and abstracts, and checking duplications, 221 articles including 406 subjects with AA were included. All were case reports or series. Mean age of subjects was 49.2 years and 56.2% were female. The highest proportion of articles was published between 2015 and 2019 (18.7%). Publications were predominantly from the USA (12.2%). Structures usually involved were abdominal wall, colon and appendix. The most common presentation was abdominal mass (39.2%). In 42.1% of patients, an associated factor was found, highlighting intrauterine devices (14.3%). The microbiology studies highlighted Actinomyces israelli. Morbidity, recurrence and verified mortality were 18.2%, 1.0% and 2.2%, respectively. Penicillin was the most used antibiotic. CONCLUSION Evidence about AA is scarce and dispersed within a reduced range of articles and cases.
Methane yield from dry and lactating cows diets in the Po Plain (Italy) using an in vitro gas production technique

The aim of the study was to measure total gas and methane (CH4) production from 30 total mixed rations (TMRs) fed to dry and lactating cows in 20 commercial dairies in the Po Plain (Italy). Samples were analysed for chemical composition, in situ 48 h fibre digestibility (NDFD) and in vitro gas production (GP) and CH4 concentration at 24 h of incubation. NDFD of TMRs from dry and lactating cows was identical (52.1%; P=0.995). The TMRs fed to dry and lactating cows differed for GP (43.0 and 54.4 mL/200 mg DM, respectively; P<0.001) and CH4 (7.24 and 8.85 mL/200 mg DM, respectively; P=0.001), but not for CH4 as percentage of GP (24.3 and 23.7%, respectively; P=0.286). The data were analysed dividing the TMRs into quartiles depending on starch:ADF ratio; the average ratios of the groups 1, 2, 3 and 4 were 37, 77, 116 and 138, respectively. Increasing starch:ADF ratio determined a higher GP: 42.2, 51.4, 55.1 and 56.2 mL/200 mg DM for groups 1, 2, 3 and 4, respectively (P<0.001), whilst CH4 (ml/200 mg DM) was lower (P<0.001) for group 1 (7.12) in comparison with the others (8.82 on average). Acetate (% on total VFA) decreased for increasing starch:ADF ratio (P=0.009), whereas butyrate tended to increase (from 8.11 to 9.23% on total VFA; P=0.069) and the acetate:propionate ratio to decrease (from 3.35 to 3.09; P=0.082). The lack of a higher CH4 concentration in GP from diets richer in fibre might be attributed mainly to the relatively short time of incubation.
Toward a clinical model for patient spiritual journeys in supportive and palliative care: Testing a concept of human spirituality and associated recursive states

Abstract Objective In 2015, a Chaplaincy Research Consortium generated a model of human spirituality in the palliative care context to further chaplaincy research. This article investigates the clinical fit of (a) the model's fundamental premise of universal human spirituality and (b) its 4 proposed stage descriptors (Discovery, Dialogue, Struggle, and Arrival). Method First, we collected qualitative data from an interdisciplinary palliative care focus group. Participants (n = 5) shared responses to the statement “the human spirit has essential commonalities across [ … ] groups and [ … ] attributes. ” Participants also shared vignettes of spiritual care, and 48 vignettes illustrating patients’ spiritual journeys were subsequently taken from the transcript of that group. Second, we invited different mixed discipline palliative care professionals (n = 9) to individually card sort these vignettes to the model's 4 stage descriptors; we conducted pattern analysis on the results. We then administered a third step, convening six physicians to complete the card sort again, this time allowing designation of cards to one or two of the 4 stage descriptors. Results Focus group participants were supportive of the model's all-encompassing definition of spirituality. The concept of “connectedness” was a shared focus for all participants, connectedness and spirituality appearing almost synonymous. Pattern analysis of assigned 48 vignettes to the 4 stages showed stronger consensus around Discovery and Arrival than Struggle and Dialogue. Results of the additional card sort suggested Struggle and Dialogue involve oscillation and are harder to think of as a steady state as distinct from processes associated with Discovery or Arrival. Significance of results “Connectedness” is a productive concept for modeling human spiritual experience near the end of life. As one healthcare professional said: “this connectedness piece is [ … ] what I always look for … ” Although further work is needed to understand struggle and dialogue elements in peoples’ spiritual journeys, discovery and arrival shared consensus among participants.
Effects of social and nonsocial reward on executive function in preschoolers

Executive function, a set of higher order cognitive skills underlying goal‐directed behaviors, develops rapidly during preschool years. Reward increases executive function engagement in adolescents and adults. However, there is still a scarcity of data on how reward affects executive function in young children. The present study examines whether different incentive types contribute differently to executive function performance and neural activity in children.
Optical Character Recognition Using Active Contour Segmentation

Document analysis of images snapped by camera is a growing challenge. These photos are often poor-quality compound images, composed of various objects and text; this makes automatic analysis complicated. OCR is one of the image processing techniques which is used to perform automatic identification of texts. Existing image processing techniques need to manage many parameters in order to clearly recognize the text in such pictures. Segmentation is regarded one of these essential parameters. This paper discusses the accuracy of segmentation process and its effect over the recognition process. According to the proposed method, the images were firstly filtered using the wiener filter then the active contour algorithm could be applied in the segmentation process. The Tesseract OCR Engine was selected in order to evaluate the performance and identification accuracy of the proposed method. The results showed that a more accurate segmentation process shall lead to a more accurate recognition results. The rate of recognition accuracy was 0.95 for the proposed algorithm compared with 0.85 for the Tesseract OCR Engine.
An ErbB2 splice variant lacking exon 16 drives lung carcinoma

Significance Lung cancers are frequently driven by well-characterized mutations in proto-oncogenes, including ERBB2. Evidence from other cancers demonstrates that ERBB2 is also activated by alternative splicing that causes skipping of exon 16. Here, we find evidence for increased ERBB2 alternative splicing in a subset of lung cancers and a range of other solid tumors, including deletions and previously undescribed mutations promoting exon 16 skipping. We show that the ERBB2 isoform lacking exon 16 transforms lung epithelial cells in vitro and in vivo, arguing that alternative splicing of ERBB2 is a mechanism promoting lung carcinogenesis. These findings extend our knowledge of lung cancer biology and may lead to improved patient stratification to facilitate future use of ERBB2-targeted therapies. Lung cancer causes more deaths annually than any other malignancy. A subset of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is driven by amplification and overexpression or activating mutation of the receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) ERBB2. In some contexts, notably breast cancer, alternative splicing of ERBB2 causes skipping of exon 16, leading to the expression of an oncogenic ERBB2 isoform (ERBB2ΔEx16) that forms constitutively active homodimers. However, the broader implications of ERBB2 alternative splicing in human cancers have not been explored. Here, we have used genomic and transcriptomic analysis to identify elevated ERBB2ΔEx16 expression in a subset of NSCLC cases, as well as splicing site mutations facilitating exon 16 skipping and deletions of exon 16 in a subset of these lung tumors and in a number of other carcinomas. Supporting the potential of ERBB2ΔEx16 as a lung cancer driver, its expression transformed immortalized lung epithelial cells while a transgenic model featuring inducible ERBB2ΔEx16 specifically in the lung epithelium rapidly developed lung adenocarcinomas following transgene induction. Collectively, these observations indicate that ERBB2ΔEx16 is a lung cancer oncogene with potential clinical importance for a proportion of patients.
Production of Paralytic Shellfish Toxins (PSTs) in Toxic Alexandrium catenella is Intertwined with Photosynthesis and Energy Production

To investigate the mechanism for the production of paralytic shellfish toxins (PST) in toxic dinoflagellates, with a 2D-gel based approach, we had made two sets of proteomic comparisons: (a) between a toxic Alexandrium catenella (AC-T) and a phylogenetically closely related non-toxic strain (AC-N), (b) between toxic AC-T grown in a medium with 10% normal amount of phosphate (AC-T-10%P) known to induce higher toxicity and AC-T grown in normal medium. We found that photosynthesis and energy production related proteins were up-regulated in AC-T when compared to AC-N. However, the same group of proteins was down-regulated in AC-T-10%P when compared to normal AC-T. Examining the relationship of photosynthesis and toxin content of AC-T upon continuous photoperiod experiment revealed that while growth and associated toxin content increased after 8 days of continuous light, toxin content maintained constant when cells were shifted from continuous light to continuous dark for 3 days. This emphasized the cruciality of light availability on toxin biosynthesis in AC-T, while another light-independent mechanism may be responsible for higher toxicity in AC-T-10%P compared to normal AC-T. Taken all together, it is believed that the interplay between “illumination”, “photosynthesis”, “phosphate availability”, and “toxin production” is much more complicated than what we had previously anticipated.