Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Plasma tau correlates with basal forebrain atrophy rates in people at risk for Alzheimer disease

Objective To investigate whether baseline concentrations of plasma total tau (t-tau) and neurofilament light (NfL) chain proteins are associated with annual percent change (APC) of the basal forebrain cholinergic system (BFCS) in cognitively intact older adults at risk for Alzheimer disease (AD). Methods This was a large-scale study of 276 cognitively intact older adults from the monocentric INSIGHT-preAD (Investigation of Alzheimer's Predictors in Subjective Memory Complainers) cohort. Participants underwent baseline assessment of plasma t-tau and NfL concentrations as well as baseline and 24-month follow-up MRI scans. Linear models with and without influential observations (calculated using the Cook distance) were carried out to investigate the effect of plasma NfL and t-tau concentrations, and their interaction effect with β-amyloid status and APOE genotype, on the APC of the whole BFCS and its anterior (Ch1/2) and posterior (Ch4) subdivisions separately. Results Higher plasma t-tau concentrations at baseline were associated with higher BFCS rate of atrophy (model without influencers: n = 251, F value = 4.6815; p value = 0.031). Subregional analyses showed similar results for both the APC of the Ch1/2 (model without influencers: n = 256, F value = 3.9535, p corrected = 0.047) and Ch4 BFCS sectors (model without influencers: n = 253, F value = 4.9090, p corrected = 0.047). Baseline NfL, β-amyloid load, and APOE ε4 carrier status did not affect APC of the BFCS. Conclusion Increased concentrations of baseline plasma t-tau may predict in vivo structural BFCS atrophy progression in older adults at risk for AD, independently of β-amyloid status and APOE genotype.
Rhizobacterium‐derived diacetyl modulates plant immunity in a phosphate‐dependent manner

Plants establish mutualistic associations with beneficial microbes while deploying the immune system to defend against pathogenic ones. Little is known about the interplay between mutualism and immunity and the mediator molecules enabling such crosstalk. Here, we show that plants respond differentially to a volatile bacterial compound through integral modulation of the immune system and the phosphate‐starvation response (PSR) system, resulting in either mutualism or immunity. We found that exposure of Arabidopsis thaliana to a known plant growth‐promoting rhizobacterium can unexpectedly have either beneficial or deleterious effects to plants. The beneficial‐to‐deleterious transition is dependent on availability of phosphate to the plants and is mediated by diacetyl, a bacterial volatile compound. Under phosphate‐sufficient conditions, diacetyl partially suppresses plant production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and enhances symbiont colonization without compromising disease resistance. Under phosphate‐deficient conditions, diacetyl enhances phytohormone‐mediated immunity and consequently causes plant hyper‐sensitivity to phosphate deficiency. Therefore, diacetyl affects the type of relation between plant hosts and certain rhizobacteria in a way that depends on the plant's phosphate‐starvation response system and phytohormone‐mediated immunity.
Introducing students to healthy aging within their own communities: An online applied research experience

ABSTRACT Engaging gerontology students in research that hits “close-to-home” can have lasting benefits for them and their communities both professionally and personally. Since 2016, cohorts of undergraduate/certificate students in an online applied research in aging course have explored healthy aging in their Massachusetts’ (MA) communities. The students utilized both primary and secondary data sources. First, they extracted data from the 2014–2015 healthy aging data report (HADR) community profiles of 367 MA communities. Then they conducted in-person interviews with a diverse set of stakeholders in their respective communities. The interviews were designed to examine the profiles, identify challenges and/or strengths, and highlight community resources and intervention strategies. Over three academic semesters, a total of 67 interviews were conducted in 13 communities. The top three health indicators of concern raised by the stakeholders, that the students learned about, were the high rates of Alzheimer’s disease or related dementias, congestive heart failure, and diabetes. Other non-health related challenges were transportation, affordable housing, wellness/prevention, and the built environment. The student reflections on their research experience highlight the value of providing opportunities to collect and analyze data, to learn about a substantive issue, and the needs of local older adults.
The Importance of Genetics Experts in Optimizing Genetic Test Orders Through Prospective and Retrospective Reviews.

OBJECTIVES To demonstrate the impact of genetics specialists on identifying test order errors and improving reimbursement for genetic testing. METHODS Forty-four cases in which whole exome sequencing (WES) was performed but not reimbursed were reviewed by a genetic counselor through simulated prospective and retrospective reviews. RESULTS Fifty-two percent of WES requests were ordered by nongenetics providers. Retrospective review revealed that 50% of cases were denied because of contractual constraints on billing. If review by a genetic counselor had occurred in real time, modifications or cancellations would have been recommended in 82% of the cases. CONCLUSIONS A laboratory stewardship program involving genetics experts identified test order errors and opportunities for improved reimbursement and cost savings. Significant variables affected reimbursement, including inpatient status, payer criteria, and ordering provider specialty.
Effect of complete feed block with tree leaves rich in hydrolysable and condensed tannins on nutrient utilization, rumen fermentation and growth performance of lambs.

Thirty lambs (Avishaan genotype, 10 weeks old, 14.0 ± 0.2 kg live weight) were randomly assigned into three equal treatment groups to study the effect of complete feed blocks (CFB; concentrate and roughage at 70:30 ratio) with three different tanniniferous tree leaves on intake and utilization of nutrients, rumen fermentation, microbial protein synthesis and growth performance. The treatments were T1 (Control), CFB1 with Vigna sinensis hay; T2, CFB2 with Acacia nilotica leaves rich in hydrolysable tannins (HT); and T3, CFB3 with Ziziphus nummularia leaves rich in condensed tannins (CT). The three CFBs were fed ad libitum to the respective groups of lambs for a period of 12 weeks. There was lower (p < .05) intake of dry matter (DM), total carbohydrates (TCHO) and fibre components in T2 compared with T1 and T3. However, the digestibility of nutrients except crude protein (CP) was higher in T2. Diet had no effect (p > .05) on the LW gain in lambs. Amongst the three groups, T3 showed enhanced N utilization with a comparable microbial protein synthesis, the lowest being in T2. The T2 group of lambs had higher propionate and lower non-glucogenic: glucogenic short-chain fatty acids ratio. It may be concluded that tanniniferous tree leaves at 30% of total mixed ration can meet the requirement of nutrients for desired post-weaning growth.
Automated Pre-Analytic Processing of Whole Saliva Using Magnet-Beating for Point-of-Care Protein Biomarker Analysis

Saliva offers many advantages for point-of-care (PoC) diagnostic applications due to non-invasive, easy, and cost-effective methods of collection. However, the complex matrix with its non-Newtonian behavior and high viscosity poses handling challenges. Several tedious and long pre-analytic steps, incompatible with PoC use, are required to liquefy and homogenize saliva samples before protein analysis can be performed. We apply magnet-beating to reduce hands-on time and to simplify sample preparation. A magnet in a chamber containing the whole saliva is actuated inside a centrifugal microfluidic cartridge by the interplay of centrifugal and magnetic forces. Rigorous mixing, which homogenizes the saliva sample, is then initiated. Consequently, fewer manual steps are required to introduce the whole saliva into the cartridge. After 4 min of magnet-beating, the processed sample can be used for protein analysis. The viscosity of whole saliva has been reduced from 10.4 to 2.3 mPa s. Immunoassay results after magnet-beating for three salivary periodontal markers (MMP-8, MMP-9, TIMP-1) showed a linear correlation with a slope of 0.99 when compared to results of reference method treated samples. Conclusively, magnet-beating has been shown to be a suitable method for the pre-analytic processing of whole saliva for fully automated PoC protein analysis.
β-Catenin Is Required for the cGAS/STING Signaling Pathway but Antagonized by the Herpes Simplex Virus 1 US3 Protein

Although increasing evidence has demonstrated that HSV-1 subverts host immune responses and establishes lifelong latent infection, the molecular mechanisms by which HSV-1 interrupts antiviral innate immunity, especially the cGAS/STING-mediated cellular DNA-sensing signaling pathway, have not been fully explored. Here, we show that β-catenin promotes cGAS/STING-mediated activation of the IFN pathway, which is important for cellular innate immune responses and intrinsic resistance to DNA virus infection. The protein kinase US3 antagonizes the production of IFN by targeting β-catenin via its kinase activity. The findings in this study reveal a novel mechanism for HSV-1 to evade host antiviral immunity and add new knowledge to help in understanding the interaction between the host and HSV-1 infection. ABSTRACT The cGAS/STING-mediated DNA-sensing signaling pathway is crucial for interferon (IFN) production and host antiviral responses. Herpes simplex virus I (HSV-1) is a DNA virus that has evolved multiple strategies to evade host immune responses. Here, we demonstrate that the highly conserved β-catenin protein in the Wnt signaling pathway is an important factor to enhance the transcription of type I interferon (IFN-I) in the cGAS/STING signaling pathway, and the production of IFN-I mediated by β-catenin was antagonized by HSV-1 US3 protein via its kinase activity. Infection by US3-deficienct HSV-1 and its kinase-dead variants failed to downregulate IFN-I and IFN-stimulated gene (ISG) production induced by β-catenin. Consistent with this, absence of β-catenin enhanced the replication of US3-deficienct HSV-1, but not wild-type HSV-1. The underlying mechanism was the interaction of US3 with β-catenin and its hyperphosphorylation of β-catenin at Thr556 to block its nuclear translocation. For the first time, HSV-1 US3 has been shown to inhibit IFN-I production through hyperphosphorylation of β-catenin and to subvert host antiviral innate immunity. IMPORTANCE Although increasing evidence has demonstrated that HSV-1 subverts host immune responses and establishes lifelong latent infection, the molecular mechanisms by which HSV-1 interrupts antiviral innate immunity, especially the cGAS/STING-mediated cellular DNA-sensing signaling pathway, have not been fully explored. Here, we show that β-catenin promotes cGAS/STING-mediated activation of the IFN pathway, which is important for cellular innate immune responses and intrinsic resistance to DNA virus infection. The protein kinase US3 antagonizes the production of IFN by targeting β-catenin via its kinase activity. The findings in this study reveal a novel mechanism for HSV-1 to evade host antiviral immunity and add new knowledge to help in understanding the interaction between the host and HSV-1 infection.
Substrate stoichiometry determines nitrogen fixation throughout succession in southern Chinese forests.

The traditional view holds that biological nitrogen (N) fixation often peaks in early- or mid-successional ecosystems and declines throughout succession based on the hypothesis that soil N richness and/or phosphorus (P) depletion become disadvantageous to N fixers. This view, however, fails to support the observation that N fixers can remain active in many old-growth forests despite the presence of N-rich and/or P-limiting soils. Here, we found unexpected increases in N fixation rates in the soil, forest floor, and moss throughout three successional forests and along six age-gradient forests in southern China. We further found that the variation in N fixation was controlled by substrate carbon(C) : N and C : (N : P) stoichiometry rather than by substrate N or P. Our findings highlight the utility of ecological stoichiometry in illuminating the mechanisms that couple forest succession and N cycling.
Criteria of effectiveness of students’ physical education system in higher educational establishments

Purpose: to work out criteria, permitting assessment of physical education in higher educational establishments. Material: theoretical analysis and generalization of scientific methodic literature and documents; method of experts’ assessments. As experts, 26 professors and associate Professors of higher educational establishments of different profile were invited (13 doctors of science and 13 candidates of science). Results: we have generalized the data about effectiveness criteria of physical education, present in program normative documents. We have presented criteria, permitting to quantitatively assess the correspondence of physical education, in higher educational establishments, results to its purposes and tasks. Conclusions: the most acceptable method of physical education quality control is regular monitoring of indicators of students’ physical condition. Individual target of every student shall be indicators of academic trainings’ quality. Analysis of optional lessons’ attendance is also very important indicators of quality of students’ physical condition.
Virucidal Activity of Gold Nanoparticles Synthesized by Green Chemistry Using Garlic Extract

Measles virus (MeV) is a paramyxovirus that infects humans, principally children. Despite the existence of an effective and safe vaccine, the number of cases of measles has increased due to lack of vaccination coverage. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that the number of cases worldwide multiplied fourfold between January and March 2019, to 112,000. Today, there is no treatment available for MeV. In recent years, it has been demonstrated that natural extracts (herbal or algal) with antiviral activity can also work as reducing agents that, in combination with nanotechnology, offer an innovative option to counteract viral infections. Here, we synthetized and evaluated the antiviral activity of gold nanoparticles using garlic extract (Allium sativa) as a reducing agent (AuNPs-As). These nanoparticles actively inhibited MeV replication in Vero cells at a 50% effective concentration (EC50) of 8.829 µg/mL, and the selectivity index (SI) obtained was 16.05. AuNPs-As likely inhibit viral infection by blocking viral particles directly, showing a potent virucidal effect. Gold nanoparticles may be useful as a promising strategy for treating and controlling the infection of MeV and other related enveloped viruses.
Quality Measures for Bayesian Network Classifier Design

The paper is dedicated to classification of documents into one of available classes. The role of a classifier is played by Bayesian network classifiers having the structure of an augmented Naive Bayes classifier. The focus is on quality measures enabling to compare different Bayesian networks and select the better one while searching a space of possible network structures. Experiments with several quality measures and several types of network structures were carried out using an English document collection.
On simulating cold-stunned sea turtle strandings on Cape Cod, Massachusetts

Kemp's ridley sea turtles were on the verge of extinction in the 1960s. While these sea turtles have slowly recovered, they are still critically endangered. In the last few years, the number of strandings on the beaches of Cape Cod, Massachusetts has increased by nearly an order of magnitude relative to preceding decades. This study uses a combination of ocean observations and a well-respected ocean model to investigate the causes and transport of cold-stunned sea turtles in Cape Cod Bay. After validating the model using satellite-tracked drifters and local temperature moorings, ocean currents were examined in Cape Cod Bay in an attempt to explain stranding locations as observed by volunteers and, for some years, backtracking was conducted to examine the potential source regions. The general finding of this study is that sub 10.5°C water temperatures in combination with persistently strong wind stress (>0.4 Pa), results in increased strandings along particular sections of the coast and are dependent on the wind direction. However, it is still uncertain where in the water column the majority of cold-stunned turtles reside and, if many of them are on the surface, considerable work will need to be done to incorporate the direct effects of wind and waves on the advective processes.
Association of MRI-defined lumbar paraspinal muscle mass and slip percentage in degenerative and isthmic spondylolisthesis

Abstract The objective of this study is to investigate the role of paraspinal muscles in the progression of different types of spondylolisthesis by examining the correlation between cross-sectional area (CSA) of lumbar paraspinal muscle and slip percentage (SP) in degenerative spondylolisthesis and isthmic spondylolisthesis. A multicenter retrospective analysis was carried out including 219 subjects diagnosed with lumbar spondylolisthesis. Using T2-weighted axial magnetic resonance imgaging, CSAs of the psoas major (PM), multifidus (MU), and erector spinae were measured and divided by L5 vertebral body (VB) CSA. SP was measured using sagittal T2-weighted images. Correlations between muscle CSA ratio and SP were calculated in each group. Regression analysis was performed to predict the influence of each muscle CSA/VB CSA ratio on SP. No significant correlation was found in the degenerative spondylolisthesis group between any of the muscle CSA ratios and SP. Both PM/VB ratio (r = −0.24, P = .021) and MU/VB ratio (r = −0.26, P = .012) were negatively correlated with SP in the isthmic spondylolisthesis group. MU had more influence on SP than PM in the isthmic spondylolisthesis group (regression coefficient MU/VB: −8.08, PM/VB: −4.34). Both PM and MU muscle CSA ratios were negatively correlated with SP in the isthmic group. MU had more influence on SP than PM. No muscles had any correlations with SP in the degenerative group. This discrepancy between the two groups suggests that exercise programs or interventions regarding the segmental stability of isthmic spondylolisthesis and degenerative spondylolisthesis should be distinguished in clinical practice. Clinical Research Information Service of Korea Centers for Disease control and Prevention, KCT0002588. Registered on 12 December 2017, https://cris.nih. go.kr/cris/search/search_result_st01. jsp? seq=10702
Traumatic brain injury hinders learning of road hazard awareness by repeated exposure to video-based hazards.

OBJECTIVE To better understand hazard awareness abilities among traumatic brain injury (TBI) survivors of which little is currently known. TBI survivors express degradation in driving abilities, particularly the proactive strategy in which indicators of potentially hazardous situations are sought and identified. The current study examined differences in hazard awareness learning between TBI survivors and noninjured control individuals matched for age and driving experience. METHOD Forty individuals equally divided among the 2 groups were assessed by exposure to repetitive video-based hazard scenarios, which have been shown to improve hazard awareness in noninjured individuals. Differences in participants' eye movements and behavioral response while watching video clips of genuine traffic scenes were recorded. RESULTS Although survivors of TBI demonstrated relatively intact hazard awareness abilities under baseline conditions, they failed to learn from repetitive presentation of the same hazardous situation (i.e., they did not improve hazard detection) and thus failed to adjust their scanning and behavioral reaction (e.g., time to reaction, adapt of scanning behavior). Differences were more prominent for hidden hazards. Our results show impoverished anticipation abilities in driving simulation tasks performed in the subacute recovery phase after TBI and that differences in materialized hazards awareness are distinguishable between TBI survivors and noninjured drivers of similar age and driving experience. CONCLUSIONS Our findings signal the need for further research to clarify the relationship between TBI and hazard awareness training that might be supportive of driving rehabilitation after TBI. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).
PatJAZ6 Acts as a Repressor Regulating JA-Induced Biosynthesis of Patchouli Alcohol in Pogostemon Cablin

The JASMONATE ZIM DOMAIN (JAZ) proteins act as negative regulators in the jasmonic acid (JA) signaling pathways of plants, and these proteins have been reported to play key roles in plant secondary metabolism mediated by JA. In this study, we firstly isolated one JAZ from P. cablin, PatJAZ6, which was characterized and revealed based on multiple alignments and a phylogenic tree analysis. The result of subcellular localization indicated that the PatJAZ6 protein was located in the nucleus of plant protoplasts. The expression level of PatJAZ6 was significantly induced by the methyl jasmonate (MeJA). Furthermore, by means of yeast two-hybrid screening, we identified two transcription factors that interact with the PatJAZ6, the PatMYC2b1 and PatMYC2b2. Virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) of PatJAZ6 caused a decrease in expression abundance, resulting in a significant increase in the accumulation of patchouli alcohol. Moreover, we overexpressed PatJAZ6 in P. cablin, which down-regulated the patchoulol synthase expression, and then suppressed the biosynthesis of patchouli alcohol. The results demonstrate that PatJAZ6 probably acts as a repressor in the regulation of patchouli alcohol biosynthesis, contributed to a model proposed for the potential JA signaling pathway in P. cablin.