Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Sex-Specific Causes and Consequences of White Matter Damage in a Middle-Aged Cohort

Objective To evaluate potential sex-specific effects of multiple cardiovascular risk factors on white matter pathology in normal aging men and women, as well as potential sex-differences in the association of white matter pathology and cognitive functions. Methods We analyzed cross-sectional data of 581 participants (median age: 53 years, 54% women) of the population-based cohort of the BiDirect Study who completed clinical examinations, five neuropsychological tests, and an 3T MRI examination. White matter pathology was determined by the extent of white matter hyperintensities (WMH) on FLAIR images as well as the magnitude of global fractional anisotropy (FA) based on diffusion tensor imaging. Main effects, interaction as well as sex-stratified generalized linear regression models were used to evaluate the moderating effect of sex on the association of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, smoking, and obesity with WMH and FA, respectively. Associations of imaging markers with cognitive test results were determined with linear regression models. Results Hypertension showed stronger associations with more extensive WMH and less FA in women compared to men. Current smoking was associated with more severe WMH in women only. Adjusted for age and education, WMH were not significantly associated with cognitive tests, but higher FA was associated with better performance in motor function in both sexes and with executive functions in men, even after adjustment for cardiovascular risk factors. Conclusion We observed a stronger association of hypertension and smoking with white matter damage in women, suggesting a higher susceptibility for vascular pathology in women. However, there was no association of WMH with cognition, and FA was associated with executive function tests only in men, suggesting a higher cognitive reserve in women.
Monitoring Acclimatization and Training Responses Over 17–21 Days at 1,800 m in Elite Cross-Country Skiers and Biathletes

Objective To monitor the daily variations and time course of changes in selected variables during a 17–21-day altitude training camp at 1,800 m in a group of elite cross-country skiers (9 women, 12 men) and biathletes (7 women, 4 men). Methods Among other variables, resting peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO2rest), resting heart rate (HRrest) and urine specific gravity (USG) were monitored daily at altitude, while illness symptoms were monitored weekly. Before and after the camp, body composition (i.e., lean and fat mass) and body mass were assessed in all athletes, while roller-skiing speed at a blood lactate concentration of 4 mmol·L−1 (Speed@4mmol) was assessed in the biathletes only. Results Neither SpO2rest, HRrest nor USG changed systematically during the camp (p > 0.05), although some daily time points differed from day one for the latter two variables (p < 0.05). In addition, body composition and body mass were unchanged from before to after the camp (p > 0.05). Eleven out of 15 illness episodes were reported within 4 days of the outbound or homebound flight. The five biathletes who remained free of illness increased their Speed@4mmol by ~ 4% from before to after the camp (p = 0.031). Conclusions The present results show that measures typically recommended to monitor acclimatization and responses to altitude in athletes (e.g., SpO2rest and HRrest) did not change systematically over time. Further research is needed to explore the utility of these and other measures in elite endurance athletes at altitudes typical of competition environments.
A New Method for Microplastics Identification in Copepods

This study investigates several methods to identify microplastics (MPs) of small size ranges (<10 µm) in the copepod Eurytemora affinis collected in the Seine estuary (France) and identified using epifluorescence microscopy and Raman microspectroscopy. In order to calibrate the methodology, copepods obtained from cultures were used. Firstly, we labelled three types of MPs (i.e., Polystyrene, Polyethylene, and Polylactic acid) with Nile Red and confirmed their ingestion by E. affinis with epifluorescence microscopy. Considering the convenient detection of Nile Red labelled MPs using epifluorescence observation, we tried to pair this method with Raman microspectroscopy. For this, we developed an enzymatic digestion method consisting of copepods digestion using Proteinase K followed by sonication in order to fragment their cuticle. The lysate was then vacuum filtered on black polycarbonate membrane filters that were the most appropriate for epifluorescence microscopy. Potential MPs were dyed with Nile Red directly on the filter, which allowed a relatively rapid visual detection. However, results showed that black polycarbonate membrane filters induced a significant background fluorescence during Raman identification of MPs and hence particles smaller than 10 µm could not be characterized. In this case, we were not able to link staining method with micro-Raman for the size range of MPs targeted in this study. Thus, aluminum oxide filters were tested, and staining method was replaced by a classical observation with stereomicroscopic magnifier to delimit areas of observation for Raman microscopic identification. Aluminum oxide filters induced less fluorescence, allowing the detection of MPs (as small as 1 µm diameter) on copepods from laboratory cultures exposed with MPs. We applied this method on copepods collected in the natural environment. Within a pool of 20 copepods of three replicates, we identified 17 MPs (average of 0.28 MPs/copepod) composed of eight different polymer types and six colors. These MPs corresponded to 59% of fibres with 14.1 ± 9.4 µm diameter and 391.6 ± 600.4 µm length along with 41% of fragments with an average diameter of 13.2 µm ± 9.5 µm. This study reports a novel approach to detect the presence of small particles of MPs ingested by copepods in the natural environment.
Shared and Cell-Type-Specific Gene Expression Patterns Associated With Autism Revealed by Integrative Regularized Non-Negative Matrix Factorization

Human brain-related disorders, such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD), are often characterized by cell heterogeneity, as the cell atlas of brains consists of diverse cell types. There are commonality and specificity in gene expression among different cell types of brains; hence, there may also be commonality and specificity in dysregulated gene expression affected by ASD among brain cells. Moreover, as genes interact together, it is important to identify shared and cell-type-specific ASD-related gene modules for studying the cell heterogeneity of ASD. To this end, we propose integrative regularized non-negative matrix factorization (iRNMF) by imposing a new regularization based on integrative non-negative matrix factorization. Using iRNMF, we analyze gene expression data of multiple cell types of the human brain to obtain shared and cell-type-specific gene modules. Based on ASD risk genes, we identify shared and cell-type-specific ASD-associated gene modules. By analyzing these gene modules, we study the commonality and specificity among different cell types in dysregulated gene expression affected by ASD. The shared ASD-associated gene modules are mostly relevant to the functioning of synapses, while in different cell types, different kinds of gene functions may be specifically dysregulated in ASD, such as inhibitory extracellular ligand-gated ion channel activity in GABAergic interneurons and excitatory postsynaptic potential and ionotropic glutamate receptor signaling pathway in glutamatergic neurons. Our results provide new insights into the molecular mechanism and pathogenesis of ASD. The identification of shared and cell-type-specific ASD-related gene modules can facilitate the development of more targeted biomarkers and treatments for ASD.
Exploring the Interpersonal Level of Music Performance Anxiety: Online Listener’s Accuracy in Detecting Performer Anxiety

Music performance anxiety (MPA) affects musicians at various stages of a performance, from its preparation until the aftermath of its delivery. Given the commonality and potentially grave consequences of MPA, it is understandable that much attention has been paid to the musician experiencing it. Consequently, we have learned a great deal about the intrapersonal level of MPA: how to measure it, treatments, experimental manipulations, and subjective experiences. However, MPA may also manifest at an interpersonal level by influencing how the performance is perceived. Yet, this has not yet been measured. This exploratory online study focuses on the listener’s perception of anxiety and compares it to the musician’s actual experienced anxiety. Forty-eight participants rated the amount of perceived anxiety of a pianist performing two pieces of contrasting difficulty in online-recital and practice conditions. Participants were presented with two stimulus modality conditions of the performance: audiovisual and audio-only. The listener’s perception of anxiety and its similarity to the musician’s experienced anxiety varies depending on variables such as the piece performed, the stimulus modality, as well as interactions between these variables and the listener’s musical background. We discuss the implications for performance and future research on the interpersonal level of MPA.
Eating Time as a Genetic Indicator of Methane Emissions and Feed Efficiency in Australian Maternal Composite Sheep

Previous studies have shown reduced enteric methane emissions (ME) and residual feed intake (RFI) through the application of genomic selection in ruminants. The objective of this study was to evaluate feeding behaviour traits as genetic indicators for ME and RFI in Australian Maternal Composite ewes using data from an automated feed intake facility. The feeding behaviour traits evaluated were the amount of time spent eating per day (eating time; ETD; min/day) and per visit (eating time per event; ETE; min/event), daily number of events (DNE), event feed intake (EFI; g/event) and eating rate (ER; g/min). Genotypes and phenotypes of 445 ewes at three different ages (post-weaning, hogget, and adult) were used to estimate the heritability of ME, RFI, and the feeding behaviour traits using univariate genomic best linear unbiased prediction models. Multivariate models were used to estimate the correlations between these traits and within each trait at different ages. The response to selection was evaluated for ME and RFI with direct selection models and indirect models with ETE as an indicator trait, as this behaviour trait was a promising indicator based on heritability and genetic correlations. Heritabilities were between 0.12 and 0.18 for ME and RFI, and between 0.29 and 0.47 for the eating behaviour traits. In our data, selecting for more efficient animals (low RFI) would lead to higher methane emissions per day and per kg of dry matter intake. Selecting for more ETE also improves feed efficiency but results in more methane per day and per kg dry matter intake. Based on our results, ETE could be evaluated as an indicator trait for ME and RFI under an index approach that allows simultaneous selection for improvement in emissions and feed efficiency. Selecting for ETE may have a tremendous impact on the industry, as it may be easier and cheaper to obtain than feed intake and ME data. As the data were collected using individual feeding units, the findings on this research should be validated under grazing conditions.
Composition and Potential Functions of Bacterial Communities Associated With Aurelia Polyps

Jellyfish and their associated microbes form an ecological unit called the holobiont. Changes in the composition of dominant microbial assemblages may influence the environmental resilience and function of the holobionts. Differentiating the microbial communities from diverse jellyfish is essential for characterizing the functional contributions of microorganisms but has not been fully explored. In this study, based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing, we investigated the composition of microbial communities associated with two Aurelia polyp species (Aurelia coerulea and Aurelia solida) obtained from seven locations, which were maintained under the same environmental conditions. Sequence analysis showed that the genera Sphingomonas, Phyllobacterium, and Ralstonia were the most abundant members of the Aurelia-associated microbial communities and dominated the core microbiome of the Aurelia polyps in this study. Functional prediction revealed that chemoheterotrophy and aerobic chemoheterotrophy, based on the FAPROTAX dataset, were the primary functions of the associated microbes of Aurelia polyps. In addition, the comparison of microbial communities from different Aurelia polyp populations revealed interspecific instead of intraspecific variation, indicating a correlation between the composition of the symbiotic microbiota and genetic background of Aurelia polyps.
Effects of Exogenous Transferrin on the Regulation of Iron Metabolism and Erythropoiesis in Iron Deficiency With or Without Anemia

Erythropoietic response is controlled not only by erythropoietin but also by iron. In addition to its role in iron delivery, transferrin also functions as a signaling molecule, with effects on both iron homeostasis and erythropoiesis. We investigated hematologic parameters, iron status and expression of key proteins, including the hepatic iron regulatory protein hepcidin and the suppressive erythroid factor Erfe, in mice subject to dietary iron deficiency with and without anemia. The acute effect of iron on these parameters was investigated by administration of exogenous iron-loaded transferrin (holoTf) in each of the mouse models. Serum iron in mice with iron deficiency (ID) is modestly lower with hematologic parameters maintained by utilization of iron stores in mice with ID. As expected, erythropoietin expression and concentration, along with marrow Erfe are unaffected in ID mice. Administration of holoTf restores serum iron and Tf saturation levels to those observed in control mice and results in an increase in hepcidin compared to ID mice not treated with holoTf. The expression of the Bmp signaling molecule Bmp6 is not significantly increased following Tf treatment in ID mice. Thus, the expression level of the gene encoding hepcidin, Hamp1, is increased relative to Bmp6 expression in ID mice following treatment with holoTf, leading us to speculate that Tf saturation may influence Bmp sensitivity. In mice with iron deficiency anemia (IDA), decreased hematologic parameters were accompanied by pronounced decreases in serum and tissue iron concentrations, and an increase in serum erythropoietin. In the absence of exogenous holoTf, the greater serum erythropoietin was not reflected by an increase in marrow Erfe expression. HoloTf administration did not acutely change serum Epo in IDA mice. Marrow Erfe expression was, however, markedly increased in IDA mice following holoTf, plausibly accounting for the lack of an increase in Hamp1 following holoTf treatment in the IDA mice. The increase in Erfe despite no change in erythropoietin suggests that Tf acts to increase erythropoietin sensitivity. These observations underscore the importance of Tf in modulating the erythropoietic response in recovery from iron deficiency anemia, with implications for other stress erythropoiesis conditions.
Haematococcus pluvialis Microalgae Extract Inhibits Proliferation, Invasion, and Induces Apoptosis in Breast Cancer Cells

Breast cancer (BC) is the most common malignant cancer in females worldwide. Drug resistance, toxicity, and the failure of current therapies to completely cure BC has challenged conventional medicine. Consequently, complementary alternative medicine has become popular due to its safety and efficacy. Haematococcus pluvialis (H. pulvialis) is a green microalga living in fresh water, and its crude extract is rich of bioactives, including carotenoids, known to inhibit cancer cell growth. In the present study, we investigated the effects of a methanol crude extract called “T1” of H. pulvialis on cell growth and migration/invasion of the BC cell line MDA-MB-231 in comparison to the fibroblast control cells. TI significantly suppressed BC cell growth, inhibited migration and invasion and induced apoptosis. Interestingly, apoptosis was mediated by a significant loss of mutant p53 protein, and increased Bax/Bcl2 ratio. Our findings support our hypothesis that T1 exerts its anti-cancer effects by inhibiting BC invasion and inducing apoptosis mediated, at least, via the p53/Bax/Bcl2 pathway. Ongoing experiments aim to identify the molecular mechanisms underpinning T1-inhibited BC cell invasion using pre-designed metastasis gene-based array method.
Electroencephalographic Measurement on Post-stroke Sensory Deficiency in Response to Non-painful Cold Stimulation

Background Reduced elementary somatosensation is common after stroke. However, the measurement of elementary sensation is frequently overlooked in traditional clinical assessments, and has not been evaluated objectively at the cortical level. This study designed a new configuration for the measurement of post-stroke elementary thermal sensation by non-painful cold stimulation (NPCS). The post-stroke cortical responses were then investigated during elementary NPCS on sensory deficiency via electroencephalography (EEG) when compared with unimpaired persons. Method Twelve individuals with chronic stroke and fifteen unimpaired controls were recruited. A 64-channel EEG system was used to investigate the post-stroke cortical responses objectively during the NPCS. A subjective questionnaire of cold sensory intensity was also administered via a numeric visual analog scale (VAS). Three water samples with different temperatures (i.e., 25, 10, and 0°C) were applied to the skin surface of the ventral forearm for 3 s via glass beaker, with a randomized sequence on either the left or right forearm of a participant. EEG relative spectral power (RSP) and topography were used to evaluate the neural responses toward NPCS with respect to the independent factors of stimulation side and temperature. Results For unimpaired controls, NPCS initiated significant RSP variations, mainly located in the theta band with the highest discriminative resolution on the different temperatures (P < 0.001). For stroke participants, the distribution of significant RSP spread across all EEG frequency bands and the temperature discrimination was lower than that observed in unimpaired participants (P < 0.05). EEG topography showed that the NPCS could activate extensive and bilateral sensory cortical areas after stroke. Significant group differences on RSP intensities were obtained in each EEG band (P < 0.05). Meanwhile, significant asymmetry cortical responses in RSP toward different upper limbs were observed during the NPCS in both unimpaired controls and participants with stroke (P < 0.05). No difference was found between the groups in the VAS ratings of the different temperatures (P > 0.05). Conclusion The post-stroke cortical responses during NPCS on sensory deficiency were characterized by the wide distribution of representative RSP bands, lowered resolution toward different temperatures, and extensive activated sensory cortical areas.
A Review of Erucic Acid Production in Brassicaceae Oilseeds: Progress and Prospects for the Genetic Engineering of High and Low-Erucic Acid Rapeseeds (Brassica napus)

Erucic acid (C22:1, ω-9, EA) is a very-long-chain monounsaturated fatty acid (FA) that is an important oleochemical product with a wide range of uses in metallurgy, machinery, rubber, the chemical industry, and other fields because of its hydrophobicity and water resistance. EA is not easily digested and absorbed in the human body, and high-EA rapeseed (HEAR) oil often contains glucosinolates. Both glucosinolates and EA are detrimental to health and can lead to disease, which has resulted in strict guidelines by regulatory bodies on maximum EA contents in oils. Increasingly, researchers have attempted to enhance the EA content in Brassicaceae oilseeds to serve industrial applications while conversely reducing the EA content to ensure food safety. For the production of both LEAR and HEAR, biotechnology is likely to play a fundamental role. Elucidating the metabolic pathways of EA can help inform the improvement of Brassicaceae oilseeds through transgenic technology. In this paper, we introduce the industrial applications of HEAR oil and health benefits of low-EA rapeseed (LEAR) oil first, following which we review the biosynthetic pathways of EA, introduce the EA resources from plants, and focus on research related to the genetic engineering of EA in Brassicaceae oilseeds. In addition, the effects of the environment on EA production are addressed, and the safe cultivation of HEAR and LEAR is discussed. This paper supports further research into improving FAs in Brassicaceae oilseeds through transgenic technologies and molecular breeding techniques, thereby advancing the commercialization of transgenic products for better application in various fields.
Optical Coherence Tomography: An Eye Into the Coronary Artery

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is slowly but surely gaining a foothold in the hands of interventional cardiologists. Intraluminal and transmural contents of the coronary arteries are no longer elusive to the cardiologist's probing eye. Although the graduation of an interventionalist in imaging techniques right from naked eye angiographies to ultrasound-based coronary sonographies to the modern light-based OCT has been slow, with the increasing regularity of complex coronary cases in practice, such a transition is inevitable. Although intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) due to its robust clinical data has been the preferred imaging modality in recent years, OCT provides a distinct upgrade over it in many imaging and procedural aspects. Better image resolution, accurate estimation of the calcified lesion, and better evaluation of acute and chronic stent failure are the distinct advantages of OCT over IVUS. Despite the obvious imaging advantages of OCT, its clinical impact remains subdued. However, upcoming newer trials and data have been encouraging for expanding the use of OCT to wider indications in clinical utility. During percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), OCT provides the detailed information (dissection, tissue prolapse, thrombi, and incomplete stent apposition) required for optimal stent deployment, which is the key to successfully reducing the major adverse cardiovascular event (MACE) and stent-related morbidities. The increasing use of OCT in complex bifurcation stenting involving the left main (LM) is being studied. Also, the traditional pitfalls of OCT, such as additional contrast load for image acquisition and stenting involving the ostial and proximal LM, have also been overcome recently. In this review, we discuss the interpretation of OCT images and its clinical impact on the outcome of procedures along with current barriers to its use and newer paradigms in which OCT is starting to become a promising tool for the interventionalist and what can be expected for the immediate future in the imaging world.