Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Reduced Fusiform Gyrus Activation During Face Processing in Pediatric Brain Tumor Survivors

Abstract Objective: The neural mechanisms contributing to the social problems of pediatric brain tumor survivors (PBTS) are unknown. Face processing is important to social communication, social behavior, and peer acceptance. Research with other populations with social difficulties, namely autism spectrum disorder, suggests atypical brain activation in areas important for face processing. This case-controlled functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study compared brain activation during face processing in PBTS and typically developing (TD) youth. Methods: Participants included 36 age-, gender-, and IQ-matched youth (N = 18 per group). PBTS were at least 5 years from diagnosis and 2 years from the completion of tumor therapy. fMRI data were acquired during a face identity task and a control condition. Groups were compared on activation magnitude within the fusiform gyrus for the faces condition compared to the control condition. Correlational analyses evaluated associations between neuroimaging metrics and indices of social behavior for PBTS participants. Results: Both groups demonstrated face-specific activation within the social brain for the faces condition compared to the control condition. PBTS showed significantly decreased activation for faces in the medial portions of the fusiform gyrus bilaterally compared to TD youth, ps ≤ . 004. Higher peak activity in the left fusiform gyrus was associated with better socialization (r = .53, p < .05). Conclusions: This study offers initial evidence of atypical activation in a key face processing area in PBTS. Such atypical activation may underlie some of the social difficulties of PBTS. Social cognitive neuroscience methodologies may elucidate the neurobiological bases for PBTS social behavior.
Cytokine release syndrome after haploidentical hematopoietic stem cell transplantation with antithymocyte globulin: risk factors analysis and poor impact on outcomes for non-remisssion patients

ABSTRACT Introduction Cytokine release syndrome (CRS) is a common complication after T-replete HLA haploidentical hematopoietic cell transplantation (haplo-HCT) with PTCy. We aim to assess the incidence, severity, and impact of CRS on clinical outcomes of patients who received haplo-HCT using Beijing Protocol. Methods This was a single-enter retrospective analysis of 286 subjects who received haplo-HCT with Antithymocyte Globulin (ATG). Results We identified 147/268 (54.9%) patients who developed CRS, grade 1 CRS (32.5%) and grade ≥2 CRS (22.4%). Eight patients developed severe CRS. The incidence and severity of CRS did not show significant discrimination among patients who received different doses of ATG. By multivariable analysis, age and the disease status at transplantation were significantly associated with the occurrence of CRS (p =.000 and p = .021). In the univariate analysis for the severity of CRS, compared with CRS grade ≥2, patients with CRS grade 0-1 had higher 1-year overall survival (OS) (p = .009). The cumulative incidence of 100-day grades II-IV acute GVHD was 12.4%. The incidence did not show significant differences between patients with CRS or not. The devolvement of CRS is associated with worse OS, inferior disease-free survival, and higher nonrelapse mortality significantly. But the result appeared to be limited to patients in uncomplete remission status before transplantation. Discussion and Conclusions CRS is less frequent and milder with a protocol based on ATG. CRS can potentially affect the outcomes after haplo-HCT especially for patients in an uncomplete remission. Prospective clinical trials are needed to provide an appropriate scheme for CRS prophylaxis.
Ag+-selective poly(vinyl chloride) Membrane Electrode Based on [N,N- ethylenebis-(3-methoxy salicylaldimine)]

A solid state silver selective poly (vinyl chloride) (PVC) membrane electrode was developed by using recently synthesized [N, N-ethylenebis-(3-methoxy salicylaldimine)] as an active component of the membrane. The best sensitivity and selectivity for Ag+ ions were obtained for the electrode membrane containing ionophore-NPOE-PVC and KTpClTB in composition of 4:62:33:1 (w/w). The proposed electrode had a Nernstian response (56.0 mV/decade) to Ag+ within the concentration range 1.0 ×10-6 to 1.0×x10-1 mol L-1and with a detection limit of 8.3×10-7 mol L-1. The electrode worked well between pH 3.0 and 8.0 and had a fast response time of 15 s. The electrode was used along 3 months without any significant change in its sensitivity. Potentiometric performance of the electrode in partially non-aqueous medium (up to 10 % (v/v) alcohol) was found satisfactory. The electrode was successfully used in the potentiometric titration of silver ions with standard solution of potassium iodide, and in the direct determination of silver ion in spiked waste water and photographic film developing solutions.
PRODUCTION OF NIGERICIN AND NIPHIMYCIN BY SOIL ISOLATE STREPTOMYCES SP. MS1: ANTI-CANDIDA BIOASSAY GUIDED RESPONSE SURFACE METHODOLOGY FOR THE OPTIMIZED CULTURE MEDIUМ

Anti-Candida bioassay guided optimization of the culture medium was used in order to enhance the antifungal activity of the soil isolate MS1. Its morphological, physiological and biochemical characteristics, as well as 16S rDNA sequencing, assigned an MS1 isolate to genus Streptomyces. Optimization of the culture medium was achieved by experimental factorial design and response surface methodology. Maximal antifungal components production was obtained with starch, soybean meal and phosphates content of 40.52, 5.10 and 2.21 g/L, respectively. Chromatography and 1H and 13CNMR spectroscopy were employed for purification and structural characterization of antifungal antibiotics concurrently produced by this strain. These antibiotics were identified as polyether carboxylic antibiotic nigericin and guanidyl-polyol macrolide, niphimycin.
Heritability Analysis in Twins Indicates a Genetic Basis for Velopharyngeal Morphology

Objective The velopharyngeal mechanism is comprised of several muscular components that act in a coordinated manner to control airflow through the nose and mouth. Proper velopharyngeal function is essential for normal speech, swallowing, and breathing. The genetic basis of normal-range velopharyngeal morphology is poorly understood. The purpose of this study was to estimate the heritability of velopharyngeal dimensions. Method We measured five velopharyngeal variables (velar length, velar thickness, effective velar length, levator muscle length and pharyngeal depth) from MRIs of 155 monozygotic and 208 dizygotic twin pairs and then calculated heritability for these traits using a structural equation modeling approach. Results The heritability estimates were statistically significant (95% confidence intervals excluded zero) and ranged from 0.19 to 0.46. There was also evidence of significant genetic correlations between pairs of traits, pointing to the influence of common genetic effects. Conclusions These results indicate that genetic factors influence variation in clinically relevant velopharyngeal structures.
Quantifying senescence in bread wheat using multispectral imaging from an unmanned aerial vehicle and QTL mapping

Abstract Environmental stresses from climate change can alter source–sink relations during plant maturation, leading to premature senescence and decreased yields. Elucidating the genetic control of natural variations for senescence in wheat (Triticum aestivum) can be accelerated using recent developments in unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)-based imaging techniques. Here, we describe the use of UAVs to quantify senescence in wheat using vegetative indices (VIs) derived from multispectral images. We detected senescence with high heritability, as well as its impact on grain yield (GY), in a doubled-haploid population and parent cultivars at various growth time points (TPs) after anthesis in the field. Selecting for slow senescence using a combination of different UAV-based VIs was more effective than using a single ground-based vegetation index. We identified 28 quantitative trait loci (QTL) for vegetative growth, senescence, and GY using a 660K single-nucleotide polymorphism array. Seventeen of these new QTL for VIs from UAV-based multispectral imaging were mapped on chromosomes 2B, 3A, 3D, 5A, 5D, 5B, and 6D; these QTL have not been reported previously using conventional phenotyping methods. This integrated approach allowed us to identify an important, previously unreported, senescence-related locus on chromosome 5D that showed high phenotypic variation (up to 18.1%) for all UAV-based VIs at all TPs during grain filling. This QTL was validated for slow senescence by developing kompetitive allele-specific PCR markers in a natural population. Our results suggest that UAV-based high-throughput phenotyping is advantageous for temporal assessment of the genetics underlying for senescence in wheat.
Effect of atmospheric pressure plasma on surface modification of paper

A study of plasma treatment of clay-coated paper is presented. The wettability of the paper surface before and after the plasma treatment was determined by measuring the water contact angle and surface free energy. The appearance of the surface-functional groups was determined by using high-resolution X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, while changes in the surface morphology were monitored by scanning electron microscopy. Already after 0.25 s of the plasma treatment, the paper surface improved its wettability. The X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analyses showed a gradual increase of oxygen-rich functional groups on the surface while scanning electron microscopy analyses did not show a significant modification of the morphology and no alternation of the surface structure after the plasma treatment.
Can We Modify the Elevated Mortality Associated With Kidney Replacement Therapy Transitions With Integrated Care?

or a kidney transplant by 2025 in the United States. Home hemodialysis (HHD) (especially in the form of more frequent hemodialysis) has been associated with multiple clinical advantages such as regression of left ventricular hypertrophy, improvement in blood pressure, normalization of phosphate levels, and reduction in cardiovascularrelated hospitalization. As we embark on increasing the number of patients undertaking home dialysis, the quality assurance of initiating and existing home-based therapy will become increasingly important. Prior published data have demonstrated that transitions from earlier stages of chronic kidney disease to initiation of dialysis and between kidney replacement therapies (eg, peritoneal dialysis to in-center hemodialysis) are associated with higher morbidity and mortality. The quantification of risk associated with HHD transitions has been relatively scarce. To this aim, Semple et al aimed to address this data gap by examining the early (first 30 days and 30-90 days) and late (>90 days) mortality risk associated with HHD treatment failure necessitating return to in-center hemodialysis using the Australia and New Zealand Dialysis and Transplant Registry (ANZDATA). During the period from 2005 to 2015, 2,554 patients received HHD and 577 (23.5%) had treatment failure. Within this group of patients, 171 patients (29.6%) were able to resume HHD and 406 patients (70.4%) did not. HHD treatment failure was associated with an increase in mortality risk in the early (first 30 days), intermediate (30-90 days), and late (beyond 90 days) periods. Associated risk factors included age, late referral, smoking, cause of kidney failure, and presence of major comorbidities. Although no conclusion can be drawn about the mechanism underlying the increased risk of death, the present study highlights the heightened risk of HHD treatment failure and the underlying reasons for it. In essence, the elevated risk of death associated with HHD treatment failure may be related to the patients’ demographic profile and medical status, the process of care, or both. Indeed, recent data by Perl et al have demonstrated that HHD technique failure has increased in Canada, most likely on the basis of expansion of patient recruitment to include older patients with higher
Environmental performance and international trade in China: The role of renewable energy and eco‐innovation

Renewable energy and green innovation can enhance environmental performance by encouraging international trade, as anticipated by the current theoretical framework. This study investigates how renewable energy and eco‐innovation affect international trade and environmental performance using quarterly data series from 1981 to 2018 for China. The study applies a quantile‐based autoregressive distributed lag model. The results indicate that environmental innovation and renewable energy are consistent with environmental quality, while trade openness and urbanization contribute to environmental degradation by stimulating CO2 emissions. In addition, the quantile causality test showed a bidirectional causality between renewable energy and CO2 emissions, trade openness and CO2 emissions, and urbanization and CO2 emissions. Additionally, the findings lend theoretical support for the formulation of environmentally protective policies to better understand the role of renewable energy in stimulating international trade, which eventually enhances environmental performance. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2022;18:813–823. © 2021 SETAC
Genotype‐related respiratory progression in Duchenne muscular dystrophy—A multicenter international study

Mutations amenable to skipping of specific exons have been associated with different motor progression in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). Less is known about their association with long‐term respiratory function. In this study we investigated the features of respiratory progression in four DMD genotypes relevant in ongoing exon‐skipping therapeutic strategies.
Accurate and Precise Protocol to Estimate the Activity of Peroxiredoxin Enzyme.

Background Accurate estimation of Prx activity poses many complications and interferences. The present protocol is free of interference and provides an effective alternative for the assessment of peroxide with high sensitivity. The assay can be used in clinical pathology laboratories since it is simple, rapid, and inexpensive. The systematic reagent consisted of AFS/ASA which acted as a sensitive probe for peroxide. Methods Prx activity was estimated by incubating samples in suitable concentrations of 1,4-dithio-DL-threitol (DTT) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) or t-Butyl hydroperoxide (t-BOOH), as the substrates. The enzymatic reaction was inhibited after incubation with a working reagent containing ammonium ferrous sulfate (AFS) and aminosalicylic acid (ASA). Results Residual peroxide reacted with the working solution to form a brown-colored ferriaminosalicylate (FAS) complex with a maximum absorbance (λmax) of 425 nm. This protocol used sodium azide (NaN3) to eliminate catalase interference and avoided using high concentrations of strong acid to inhibit the Prx reaction. Conclusion We concluded that the new protocol produced the same efficacy as the reference method since a strong correlation coefficient of comparison (r> 0.99) was found between both the FAS and ferrithiocyanate method.
LETM1 (leucine zipper-EF-hand-containing transmembrane protein 1) silence reduces the proliferation, invasion, migration and angiogenesis in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma via KIF14 (kinesin family member 14)

ABSTRACT Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), a major form of esophageal cancer, is a serious threat to human health. This study was conducted to investigate the pathogenesis of ESCC and find effective therapies to improve it. Protein expression of transfected plasmids was detected by RT-qPCR and western blot. Co-immunoprecipitation assay was performed to verify the binding of LETM1 and KIF14. CCK-8, wound healing and transwell assays were used to assess the proliferation, invasion and migration of ESCC cells. Finally, the angiogenesis was assessed using tubule formation assay. The co-immunoprecipitation results showed that LETM1 could bind to KIF14. The cytological and protein results demonstrated that interference with LETM1 caused downregulation of KIF14 expression, which led to inhibition of proliferation, invasion, migration and angiogenesis in ESCC cells. Taken together, interfering with LETM1 to downregulate KIF14 may become a new target for ESCC treatment.
Metabolic positron emission tomography/CT response after induction chemotherapy and chemo(re)irradiation is associated with higher negative resection margin rate in patients with locally recurrent rectal cancer

Positron emission tomography (PET)/CT can be used to monitor the metabolic changes that occur after intensified treatment with induction chemotherapy and chemo(re)irradiation for locally recurrent rectal cancer (LRRC). This study aimed to analyse the correlation between the PET/CT response and final histopathological outcomes.
Growing Evidence of a Proven Mechanism Shows Vitamin K2 Can Impact Health Conditions Beyond Bone and Cardiovascular.

Vitamin K2 is a vital nutrient newly recognized for supporting bone and cardiovascular health, shown in observational and intervention trials, in healthy and patient populations, in adults and children. Even more recently, it has come to light that K2 status and the vitamin’s mechanism of action impact other health areas, including but not limited to brain health, healthy joints, neuropathy, and vision health. This evidence lends itself to the argument that correcting a widespread vitamin K2 deficiency can significantly improve global health. The first step in remedying that deficiency is establishing a vitamin K2-specific recommended daily intake.
Beneficial effects of a T. monococcum wheat cultivar on diabetes incidence evaluated in non-obese diabetic mice and after in vitro simulated gastroduodenal digestion

Abstract Wheat consumption can represent one of the nutritional factors involved in the onset of diabetes. We specifically investigated the potential diabetogenic effects of Hammurabi, a T. monococcum wheat cultivar, in non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice and analysed the levels of resistant starch in pasta manufactured with Hammurabi after in vitro gastroduodenal digestion. NOD mice were fed with Hammurabi, bread wheat or rice flour to evaluate diabetes incidence and insulitis score. An enzymatic method was applied to compare the content of resistant starch in Hammurabi pasta and durum wheat pasta (control). In NOD mice, the Hammurabi-based diet significantly delayed diabetes onset (p = 0.0042) and reduced insulitis score compared to rice or wheat-based diet. Furthermore, the resistant starch value following in vitro digestion of Hammurabi pasta was significantly higher (4.08%) than that of durum wheat pasta (2.28%). Taken together, these results highlighted the potential positive effects of the Hammurabi-based diet on diabetes incidence.
Nuclear organization of serotonergic neurons in the brainstems of a lar gibbon and a chimpanzee

In the current study, we detail, through the analysis of immunohistochemically stained sections, the morphology and nuclear parcellation of the serotonergic neurons present in the brainstem of a lar gibbon and a chimpanzee. In general, the neuronal morphology and nuclear organization of the serotonergic system in the brains of these two species of apes follow that observed in a range of Eutherian mammals and are specifically very similar to that observed in other species of primates. In both of the apes studied, the serotonergic nuclei could be readily divided into two distinct groups, a rostral and a caudal cluster, which are found from the level of the decussation of the superior cerebellar peduncle to the spinomedullary junction. The rostral cluster is comprised of the caudal linear, supralemniscal, and median raphe nuclei, as well as the six divisions of the dorsal raphe nuclear complex. The caudal cluster contains several distinct nuclei and nuclear subdivisions, including the raphe magnus nucleus and associated rostral and caudal ventrolateral (CVL) serotonergic groups, the raphe pallidus, and raphe obscurus nuclei. The one deviation in organization observed in comparison to other primate species is an expansion of both the number and distribution of neurons belonging to the lateral division of the dorsal raphe nucleus in the chimpanzee. It is unclear whether this expansion occurs in humans, thus at present, this expansion sets the chimpanzee apart from other primates studied to date.
Nuclear organization of catecholaminergic neurons in the brains of a lar gibbon and a chimpanzee

Using tyrosine hydroxylase immunohistochemistry, we describe the nuclear parcellation of the catecholaminergic system in the brains of a lar gibbon (Hylobates lar) and a chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes). The parcellation of catecholaminergic nuclei in the brains of both apes is virtually identical to that observed in humans and shows very strong similarities to that observed in mammals more generally, particularly other primates. Specific variations of this system in the apes studied include an unusual high‐density cluster of A10dc neurons, an enlarged retrorubral nucleus (A8), and an expanded distribution of the neurons forming the dorsolateral division of the locus coeruleus (A4). The additional A10dc neurons may improve dopaminergic modulation of the extended amygdala, the enlarged A8 nucleus may be related to the increased use of communicative facial expressions in the hominoids compared to other primates, while the expansion of the A4 nucleus appears to be related to accelerated evolution of the cerebellum in the hominoids compared to other primates. In addition, we report the presence of a compact division of the locus coeruleus proper (A6c), as seen in other primates, that is not present in other mammals apart from megachiropteran bats. The presence of this nucleus in primates and megachiropteran bats may reflect homology or homoplasy, depending on the evolutionary scenario adopted. The fact that the complement of homologous catecholaminergic nuclei is mostly consistent across mammals, including primates, is advantageous for the selection of model animals for the study of specific dysfunctions of the catecholaminergic system in humans.
RECENT ADVANCEMENT IN FORENSIC TOXIC DRUG ANALYSIS BY DESORPTION ELECTROSPRAY IONIZATION MASS SPECTROMETRY (DESI-MS)

Forensic toxicology is the analysis of biological samples to identify the presence of any harmful substances in the body. The three major sub disciplines in forensic toxicology are; human performance toxicology, post-mortem toxicology and forensic drug analysis. Hence, from the three major sub disciplines in forensic toxicology, forensic drug analysis is of major interest, as it involves in the identification of illicit and counterfeit pharmaceutical drugs in biological matrices.Thus, desorption electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (DESI-MS) is an emerging technique in rapid analysis of biological samples in forensic drug analysis, due to the increase in illicit and counterfeit drug users during the past decade. Although, this technique allows the direct analysis of samples from the surface at ambient pressure, development in the technique has been made to increase the sensitivity and specificity in analysing forensic drugs. Meanwhile, improvements in the extraction procedures prior to DESI-MS analysis, possibilities in analysing the drugs in raw urine sample from its native environment and reduction in the geometrical parameters have been the major developments made in DESI-MS. Also, advancement in DESI-MS enables direct analysis of drug tablets to identify the active pharmaceutical drugs present in the tablet and distinguishes between pharmaceutical drugs and counterfeit or fake drugs. This safety evaluation is important as several counterfeit drugs are prepared with illicit components and sold in the market and used to perform illegal activities. Therefore, the recent advancement in forensic toxic drug analysis by DESI-MS enables the law enforcement to pursue criminal charges against the suspect.