Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Rensch’s Rule Crosses the Line: Convergent Allometry of Sexual Size Dimorphism in Hummingbirds and Flower Mites

Hummingbirds demonstrate the full scope of Rensch’s rule (females larger than males in small species, males larger than females in large species). The phoretic flower mites that hummingbirds compete with for nectar show the same pattern. An analysis of phylogenetically independent contrasts for 154 hummingbird and 37 mite species confirmed that both small (female‐larger) and large (male‐larger) species contribute to this result. I propose a common cause for this convergent pattern of sexual size dimorphism, with support from ecological and behavioral data for both groups. When morphology or behavior constrains each species to a limited range of resource densities, natural selection tends to diversify body size among species. If mating is promiscuous or polygynous, sexual selection favors larger males when resources are sufficient. But if male reproductive behavior is energetically costly, smaller males may have an advantage when resources are limiting, producing a pattern of allometry for sexual size dimorphism that conforms with Rensch’s rule. Stabilizing selection on female size, if it occurs, amplifies this pattern. When the resource‐density spectrum is broad enough, both female‐larger and male‐larger size dimorphism should occur within the same clade.
Electrospinning and characterization of polyamide 66 nanofibers with different molecular weights

Polyamide 66 (PA66) nanofibers of different molecular weights were obtained by electrospinning of formic acid solutions. An ionic salt, NaCl, was also added to the solutions to increase the conductivity. PA66 concentrations between 15-17 wt. (%)/v and electrical fields between 2.0 and 2.5 kV/cm were the best conditions to produce the smallest nanofibers; however, the addition of NaCl increased the fibers average diameters.The characterization of the fibers was done by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), wide angle X rays diffraction (WAXD) and Fourier Transformed Infrared (FTIR). As the molecular weight decreased, the nanofibers average diameters also decreased; however, critical number average and weight average molecular weights were necessary for electrospinning. As the amounts of carboxyl terminal groups (CTG) increased, the nanofibers average diameters decreased; however, above CTG's critical values of 8.7 x 10-5 mol.g-1 no electrospinning was possible. The addition of ionic salt increased the electrical conductivity of the solutions and increased the nanofibers' average diameters. By DSC, residual solvent in all the electrospun mats was found; two melting endotherms, one between 248 and 258 °C and the other one between 258 and 267 °C, depending on the sample were also observed. These endotherms were attributed to the melting, re-crystallization and re-melting of the PA66 α-phase. The nanofibers had low % of crystallinity compared to a textile fiber. By WAXS and FTIR, confirmation of the presence of α-phase crystals, of small dimensions and highly imperfect and of a very small amount of β and γ-phases crystals in the nanofibers structure was obtained.
Gender differences in autonomic functions associated with blood pressure regulation.

Functions of carotid and aortic baroreflex control of heart rate (HR), cardiopulmonary baroreflex control of vascular resistance, adrenoreceptor responsiveness, indexes of baseline vagal and sympathetic tone, circulating blood volume, and venous compliance were compared in men and women to test the hypothesis that lower orthostatic tolerance in women would be associated with lower responsiveness of specific mechanisms of blood pressure regulation. HR, stroke volume (SV), cardiac output (Q˙), mean arterial blood pressure (MAP), central venous pressure, forearm (FVR) and leg (LVR) vascular resistance, catecholamines, and changes in leg volume (%ΔLV) were measured during various protocols of lower body negative pressure (LBNP), carotid stimulation, and infusions of adrenoreceptor agonists in 7 females and 10 males matched for age and fitness. LBNP tolerance for the women (797 ± 63 mmHg/min) was 35% lower ( P = 0.002) than 1,235 ± 101 mmHg/min for the men. At presyncope, SV,Q˙, MAP, and %ΔLV were lower ( P < 0.05) in females compared with males, whereas HR, FVR, and total peripheral resistance were similar in both groups. Lower LBNP tolerance in females was associated with reduced HR response to carotid baroreceptor stimulation, lower baseline cardiac vagal activity, greater decline inQ˙ induced by LBNP, increased β1-adrenoreceptor responsiveness, greater vasoconstriction under equal LBNP, lower levels of circulating NE at presyncope, and lower relative blood volume. The results of this investigation support the hypothesis that women have less responsiveness in mechanisms that underlie blood pressure regulation under orthostatic challenge.
Absence of compensatory vasodilation with perfusion pressure challenge in exercise: evidence for and implications of the noncompensator phenotype.

Compromising oxygen delivery (O2D) during exercise requires compensatory vasodilatory and/or pressor responses to protect O2D:demand matching. The purpose of the study was to determine whether compensatory vasodilation is absent in some healthy young individuals in the face of a sudden reduction in exercising forearm perfusion pressure and whether this affects the exercise pressor response. Twenty-one healthy young men (21.6 ± 2.0 yr) completed rhythmic forearm exercise at a work rate equivalent to 70% of their own maximal exercise vasodilation. During steady-state exercise, the exercising arm was rapidly adjusted from below to above heart level, resulting in a reduction in forearm perfusion pressure of -30.7 ± 0.9 mmHg. Forearm blood flow (ml/min; brachial artery Doppler and echo ultrasound), mean arterial blood pressure (mmHg; finger photoplethysmography), and exercising forearm venous effluent (antecubital vein catheter) measurements revealed distinct compensatory vasodilatory differences. Thirteen individuals responded with compensatory vasodilation (509 ± 128 vs. 632 ± 136 ml·min-1·100 mmHg-1; P < 0.001), while eight individuals did not (663 ± 165 vs. 667 ± 167 ml·min-1·100 mmHg-1; P = 0.6). Compensatory pressor responses between groups were not different (5.5 ± 5.5 and 9.7 ± 9.5 mmHg; P = 0.2). Forearm blood flow, O2D, and oxygen consumption were all protected in compensators (all P > 0.05) but not in noncompensators, who therefore suffered compromises to exercise performance (6 ± 14 vs. -36 ± 29 N; P = 0.004). Phenotypic differences were not explained by potassium or nitric oxide bioavailability. In conclusion, both compensator and noncompensator vasodilator phenotype responses to a sudden compromise to exercising muscle blood flow are evident. Interindividual differences in the mechanisms governing O2D:demand matching should be considered as factors influencing exercise tolerance. NEW & NOTEWORTHY In healthy young individuals, compromising submaximally exercising muscle perfusion appears to evoke compensatory vasodilation to defend oxygen delivery. Here we report the absence of compensatory vasodilation in 8 of 21 such individuals, despite their vasodilatory capacity and increases in perfusion with increasing exercise intensity being indistinguishable from compensators. The absence of compensation impaired exercise tolerance. These findings suggest that interindividual differences in oxygen delivery:demand matching efficacy affect exercise tolerance and depend on the nature of a delivery:demand matching challenge.
The Association of Aging With Von Willebrand Factor Levels and Bleeding Risk in Type 1 Von Willebrand Disease

Little is known about aging in von Willebrand disease (VWD). It is uncertain whether VWD patients experience an age-related increase in von Willebrand factor (VWF) levels, and if so, it is unknown whether normalization of VWF levels with aging ameliorates bleeding risk. We aimed to determine the association of age with VWF levels and bleeding risk in patients with type 1 VWD. This is a retrospective chart review of patients with type 1 VWD presenting to the Hemophilia Clinic of Western Pennsylvania for regularly scheduled clinic visits. Data collected included VWF antigen level and condensed molecular and clinical markers for the diagnosis and management of Type 1 (MCMDM-1) VWD bleeding assessment tool (BAT) bleeding score based on bleeding symptoms during the previous 3 years. Thirty-nine patients participated in the study, and 32 were female. The average age of participants was 41.8 ± 18.0 years. The mean VWF antigen level was 0.83 ± 0.37 IU/mL, and the mean bleeding score was 2.51 ± 2.90. The bleeding score was inversely associated with age, β = −0.080 (SE = 0.023), P < . 01. There was a nonsignificant association between VWF antigen levels and age. To our knowledge, this is the first report showing an association between aging and decreased bleeding symptoms in patients with type 1 VWD. Determining whether or not bleeding risk is reduced in older patients with type 1 VWD is essential for optimal clinical management. Moreover, VWF concentrate is costly, and unwarranted use represents a significant waste of health-care dollars. These findings warrant further investigation.
Physical Analysis of the Compression of Filament Assemblies

This paper presents experimental results on filament assembly compression showing the influence of porosity on the compacting pressure necessary for attaining the desired packing density. At the same time, a physical description of the compacting phenomenon is given. On the basis of these observations, a theoretical approach is developed to explain the volume decrease of a mass of filaments under compression.
Cyclic stretch regulates autocrine IGF-I in vascular smooth muscle cells: implications in vascular hyperplasia.

Vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) subjected to acute or chronic stretch display enhanced growth rates in vitro and in vivo. Clinical examples of vascular hyperplasia (e.g., systolic hypertension and postinjury restenosis) suggest that local insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) expression is enhanced. Therefore, we investigated the role of in vitro cyclic stretch on rat VSMC IGF-I secretion and cellular growth. In serum-free medium, cyclic stretch (1 Hz at 120% resting length for 48 h) stimulated thymidine incorporation ∼40% above that seen in nonstretched cells. Graded stretch magnitude (100-125% resting length) yielded graded increases in VSMC growth. Exogenous IGF-I increased growth of serum-starved, nonstretched VSMC in a dose-dependent manner, with maximal growth seen with 10-7 M. IGF-I secretion from stretched cells was 20- to 30-fold greater than from those cells cultured in a static environment. Stretch-induced increases in growth were completely blocked on addition of anti-IGF-I and partially blocked with platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) antibodies and with a tyrosine kinase inhibitor (tyrphostin-1). Finally, blockade of stretch-activated cation channels with GdCl3 profoundly inhibited stretch-induced growth. We conclude that stretch increases VSMC IGF-I secretion and that such autocrine IGF-I is required for stretch-induced growth. PDGF and stretch-sensitive cation channels are likely additional components of a complex pathway that regulates stretch-induced VSMC seen in systolic hypertension and postinjury restenosis.
Phosphorylation of occludin correlates with occludin localization and function at the tight junction.

Multiple forms of occludin were found in Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells. In the absence of cell-to-cell contacts, achieved by incubating cells in low-calcium growth medium, a cluster of lower-molecular-weight (LMW) occludin bands (∼65,000-68,000) was present in both MDCK I and II cells. On formation of tight junctions, achieved by changing the low-calcium growth medium to normal-calcium growth medium, a cluster of higher-molecular-weight (HMW) bands (∼72,000-75,000 for MDCK I cells and ∼70,000-73,000 for MDCK II cells) was also expressed. The HMW occludin bands could be eliminated by phosphatase treatment. Therefore, the HMW forms of occludin appeared to be the hyperphosphorylated product of the LMW forms. These HMW forms were Triton X-100 insoluble, which correlated with their localization at the tight junctions. Furthermore, depletion of tight junction-localized occludin by an occludin extracellular domian peptide (20) correlated with a decrease in the HMW forms of occludin. In conclusion, phosphorylation of occludin may be a mechanism by which occludin localization and function are regulated.
Importance of balancing follow-up time and impact of oral-anticoagulant users’ selection when evaluating medication adherence in atrial fibrillation patients treated with rivaroxaban and apixaban

Abstract Objective: Studies comparing medications adherence have become common yet they often do not account for differences in relative follow-up. Patient selection criteria may impact validity and comparability of these studies as well. Methods: Adults with non-valvular atrial fibrillation, ≥1 rivaroxaban or apixaban dispensing (index date), and ≥1 year of pre-index eligibility were selected from IMS Health Real World Data Adjudicated Claims (IMS RWD Adjudicated Claims) and Truven Health MarketScan Research (Truven MarketScan) databases. Adherence was evaluated using proportion of days covered (PDC) ≥ 0.8 for treatment cohorts: (1) unmatched, with different follow-up, (2) propensity-score matched with similar follow-up, (3) matched, with similar follow-up and ≥2 rivaroxaban or apixaban dispensings, and (4) matched, with similar follow-up and chronic medication users only. Robustness was verified with PDC ≥0.9. Results: In the IMS RWD Adjudicated Claims database, rivaroxaban users had a longer mean follow-up than apixaban users (408 versus 254 days, respectively; p < .01). While crude comparisons demonstrated lower adherence rates for rivaroxaban than apixaban (−12.4 percentage points [pp]; p < .05), these difference attenuated after matching and (1) balancing follow-up (−2.2 pp; p < .05), (2) excluding single-time medication users (0.2 pp; p > .05), and reversed after (3) excluding non-chronic medication users (5.0 pp; p < .05). Results obtained were consistent when these analyses were repeated within the Truven MarketScan databases and when using a PDC ≥0.9. Conclusion: Medication adherence comparisons need to account for differences in follow-up. Selection of chronic medication users may impact comparative adherence advantage between medications.
Qualitative exploration of young adult RYO smokers' practices

Background Although roll-your-own (RYO) tobacco often elicits negative connotations of a lower class product, uptake and use by young adult smokers has grown because RYO is more cost-effective than tailor-made (TM) cigarettes. We explored the practices and beliefs young adults develop to distance themselves from unattractive stereotypes of RYO smokers. Methods We conducted 20 in-depth interviews with New Zealand young adult RYO users aged between 18 and 30 years, and used thematic analysis to interpret the transcripts. Results We identified three themes: establishing the superiority of RYO tobacco; creating and enacting usage rituals, and ritual disruption. Participants regarded RYO tobacco as more natural and better-tasting; they used it to control their tobacco use and facilitate interactions with others. Many described rolling rituals where they used specific artefacts and microbehaviours to construct cigarettes they saw as personal and artisanal. Several, though not all, disliked unattractively coloured papers as these disrupted the value their rituals created. Conclusions Young adults imbue RYO tobacco with positive attributes, many of which centre on rolling rituals or draw on widely held misperceptions of RYO tobacco as less harmful. Excise tax increases could counter perceptions of RYO as more cost-effective while mandating that dissuasively coloured paper could disrupt reduced-harm connotations. However, evidence that erroneous harm beliefs are widespread and entrenched may justify restricting or eliminating the key artefact—the product itself.
Diversity of Ca2+-mobilizing mechanisms Focus on "cGMP-mediated Ca2+ release from IP3-insensitive Ca2+ stores in smooth muscle".

the current article in focus by Murthy and Makhlouf (Ref. [19][1]; see p. C1199 in this issue) reports and discusses in some detail cGMP-mediated Ca2+ release in smooth muscle cells isolated from the circular layer of the rabbit stomach. The authors note that 8-bromo-cGMP, nitric oxide (NO), and
Cognitive and action control for goal-directed reaching in a humanoid robot

Human-level performance in robotic systems remains elusive. Therefore, an important complementary approach to developing intelligent systems is to use design principles of the brain. One major design element is the combination of multiple behavioral control systems. Although hierarchical architectures have been used in robotics, they have not closely mimicked those of the primate brain (including humans). We are developing a model of cognitive and action control in the human brain that captures key findings from the cognitive neuroscience literature. Here, we focus on the classic detour problem that requires reaching around barriers. We demonstrate model performance in both simulation and with a humanoid robot and show with the simulations that all levels in the model contribute to successful reaching, provided that the agent's environment poses problems of varying complexity.
Recurrent fusion RNA DUS4L-BCAP29 in non-cancer human tissues and cells

Traditional gene fusions are involved in the development of various neoplasia. DUS4L-BCAP29, a chimeric fusion RNA, has been reported to be a cancer-fusion in prostate and gastric cancer, in addition to playing a tumorigenic role. Here, we showed that the DUS4L-BCAP29 fusion transcript exists in a variety of normal tissues. It is also present in non-cancer epithelial, as well as in fibroblast cell lines. Quantitatively, the fusion transcript has a comparable expression in non-cancerous, gastric and prostate cell lines and tissues as in the cancer cell lines and tissues. The loss-of-function approach as previously reported is not sufficient to prove the functionality of the fusion. On the other hand, the gain-of-function approach showed that overexpression of DUS4L-BCAP29 promotes cell growth and motility, even in non-cancer cells. Finally, we provide further evidence that the fusion transcript is a product of cis-splicing between adjacent genes. In summary, we believe that in contrast to traditional gene fusions, DUS4L-BCAP29 cannot be used as a cancer biomarker. Instead, it is a fusion transcript that exists in normal physiology and that its pro-growth effect is not unique to cancer cells.
Changes in medication use in a cohort of patients with advanced cancer: The international multicentre prospective European Palliative Care Cancer Symptom study

Background: Information on medication use in the last months of life is limited. Aim: To describe which medications are prescribed and deprescribed in advanced cancer patients receiving palliative care in relation to time before death and to explore associations with demographic variables. Design: Prospective study, using case report forms for monthly data collection. Medication included cancer treatment and 19 therapeutic groups, grouped into four categories for: (1) cancer therapy, (2) specific cancer-related symptom relief, (3) other symptom relief and (4) long-term prevention. Data were analysed retrospectively using death as the index date. We compared medication use at 5, 4, 3, 2 and 1 month(s) before death by constructing five cross-sectional subsamples with medication use during that month. Paired analyses were done on a subsample of patients with at least two assessments before death. Setting/participants: We studied the medication use of 720 patients (mean age 67, 56% male) in 30 cancer centres representing 12 countries. Results: From 5 to 1 month(s) before death, cancer therapy decreased (55%–24%), most medications for symptom relief increased, for example, opioids (62%–81%) and sedatives (35%–46%), but medication for long-term prevention decreased (38%–27%). The prevalence of chemotherapy was 15.5% in the last month of life, with 9% of new courses started in the last 2 months. With higher age, chemotherapy and opioid use decreased. Conclusion: Medications for symptom relief increased in almost all medication groups. Deprescribing was found in heart medication/anti-hypertensives and cancer therapy, although use of the latter remained relatively high.
Study on Thermal Conductivity of the Doped GSGG Laser Crystals

The thermal conductivity from 273K to 393K of Cr:GSGG、Nd,Cr:GSGG and Nd: GSGG laser crystals were measured by instantaneous measuring method.And the temperature field model of the experimental sample was established.It could deduce that the thermal conductivity of the laser crystals decline with the temperature increasing,which basically coincidence with the experimental results.The fitting equations was presented via fitted the curves.And the reasons why doped Cr~(3+) ions with high concentration could reduce the thermal conductivity of the laser crystals,the GSGG laser crystals co-doped with Nd~(3+),Cr~(3+) ions and single doped with Nd~(3+) ions have the similar thermal conductivity were explained in theory.
The potential of function-led virtual environments for ecologically valid measures of executive function in experimental and clinical neuropsychology

The assessment of executive functions is an integral task of neuropsychological assessment. Traditional measures of executive function are often based on hypothetical constructs that may have little relevance to real-world behaviours. In fact, some traditional tests utilised today were not originally developed for clinical use. Recently, researchers have been arguing for a new generation of “function-led” neuropsychological assessments that are developed from directly observable everyday behaviours. Although virtual environments (VEs) have been presented as potential aides in enhancing ecological validity, many were modelled on construct-driven approaches found in traditional assessments. In the current paper, we review construct-driven and function-led VE-based neuropsychological assessments of executive functions. Overall, function-led VEs best represent the sorts of tasks needed for enhanced ecological validity and prediction of real-world functioning.