Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Serotype and genetic diversity of human rhinovirus strains that circulated in Kenya in 2008

Human rhinoviruses (HRVs) are a well‐established cause of the common cold and recent studies indicated that they may be associated with severe acute respiratory illnesses (SARIs) like pneumonia, asthma, and bronchiolitis. Despite global studies on the genetic diversity of the virus, the serotype diversity of these viruses across diverse geographic regions in Kenya has not been characterized.
Sperm-binding to the perivitelline membrane of chicken egg yolk as a functional test for sperm evaluation in dogs

During fertilization, spermatozoa interact with the zona pellucida (ZP) through the binding between the acrosome and proteins 2 and 3 (ZP2 and ZP3). The perivitelline membrane of chicken egg yolk is homologous to the mammalian ZP3, which allows the binding of sperm of several species. The aim of this study was to standardize and evaluate the efficiency of sperm-binding to the perivitelline membrane of chicken eggs as a functional method for canine semen evaluation. For this purpose, nine post-thaw sperm samples were used, which were divided into two aliquots: the first was kept in water bath at 37oC (live sample) and the second was submitted to cold shock to induce cellular damage (dead sample). The two aliquots were mixed on five proportions, corresponding to 0%, 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% of viable cells, and the binding test was performed by analyzing the number of spermatozoa bonded to the perivitelline membrane by means of computerized assessment of sperm motility (CASA) or conventional microscopy. Additionally, samples were submitted to sperm motility analysis, evaluation of plasmatic and acrosomal membrane integrity, and sperm mitochondrial activity. The sperm-binding test to the perivitelline membrane of chicken egg yolk was considered a feasible sperm analysis test for both fertilizing capacity and overall sperm attributes evaluation, mainly when the analysis is performed by a conventional microscope, which expands its practicality to the majority of canine reproduction laboratories.
Utilizing buprenorphine–naloxone to treat illicit and prescription-opioid dependence

Objectives To review current evidence on buprenorphine–naloxone (bup/nx) for the treatment of opioid-use disorders, with a focus on strategies for clinical management and office-based patient care. Quality of evidence Medline and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews were searched. Consensus reports, guidelines published, and other authoritative sources were also included in this review. Apart from expert guidelines, data included in this review constitute level 1 evidence. Findings Bup/nx is a partial μ-opioid agonist combined with the opioid antagonist naloxone in a 4:1 ratio. It has a lower abuse potential, carries less stigma, and allows for more flexibility than methadone. Bup/nx is indicated for both inpatient and ambulatory medically assisted withdrawal (acute detoxification) and long-term substitution treatment (maintenance) of patients who have a mild-to-moderate physical dependence. A stepwise long-term substitution treatment with regular monitoring and follow-up assessment is usually preferred, as it has better outcomes in reducing illicit opioid use, minimizing concomitant risks such as human immunodeficiency virus and hepatitis C transmission, retaining patients in treatment and improving global functioning. Conclusion Bup/nx is safe and effective for opioid detoxification and substitution treatment. Its unique pharmaceutical properties make it particularly suitable for office-based maintenance treatment of opioid-use disorder.
STUDY OF MESENCHYMAL STEM CELL PROLIFERATION AND BONE DIFFERENTIATION ON COMPOSITE SCAFFOLDS OF PLLA AND NANO HYDROXYAPATITE WITH DIFFERENT MORPHOLOGIES

Objective: Nowadays, bone constructs elaborated according to tissue engineering principles are being regarded as an ideal choice for the reconstruction of segmental bone defects. In this study, proliferation and bone differentiation of marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) were compared in different composite scaffolds containing varying morphologies of nano hydroxyapatite (nHAP). Materials and Methods: Needle nHAP/PLLA (poly (L-lactide acid)), spherical nHAP/ PLLA and rod nHAP/PLLA scaffolds were prepared and 3D cultures of passaged-3 rat MSCs were established using the scaffolds. The loading of the cells onto the scaffold internal spaces was confirmed with microscopy and their proliferation was determined by MTT assay. To compare the osteogenic differentiation of the cells on the scaffold surfaces, osteogenic 3D cultures were established and kept for 21 days. At the end of this period culture mineralization and relative bone-related gene expression were quantified using the alizarin red quantification assay and semi quantitative RT-PCR analysis respectively. ANOVA was used to compare the data. Results: According to the MTT assays, cells adhered to all the studied scaffold surfaces tended to proliferate. In this respect the microenvironment provided by the needle nHAP/ PLLA appeared much better than that of either the spherical or rod nHAP/PLLA scaffolds (P<0.05). Similarly, mineralization was observed to be heavier for the needle nHAP/PLLA scaffold compared to the two other composite scaffolds. In addition, the relative expression of coll I, osteocalcin, runx2 and ALP genes all appeared to be significantly higher in the cells cultivated on needle nHAP/PLLA scaffolds versus their spherical and rod counterparts. Conclusion: Overall, needle nHAP/PLLA scaffolds appear to provide the most appropriate matrix for producing bone construct using MSCs.
2 Farming for Ecosystem Services

Row-crop agriculture is one of the most extensive and closely coupled natural– human systems and has extraordinary implications for human welfare and environmental well-being. The continued intensification of row-crop agriculture provides food for billions and, for at least the past 50 years, has slowed (but not stopped) the expansion of cropping onto lands valued for conservation and other environmental services. Nevertheless, intensification has also caused direct harm to the environment: The escape of reactive nitrogen and phosphorus from intensively managed fields pollutes surface and coastal waters and contaminates groundwater, pesticides kill nontarget organisms important to ecological communities and ecosystems sometimes far away, soil loss threatens waterways and long-term cropland fertility, accelerated carbon and nitrogen cycling contribute to climate destabilization, and irrigation depletes limited water resources. The search for practices that attenuate, avoid, or even reverse these harms has produced a rich scientific literature and sporadic efforts to legislate solutions. That these harms persist and, indeed, are growing in the face of increased global demands for food and fuel underscores the challenge of identifying solutions that work in ways that are attractive to farmers and responsive to global markets. On one hand are farmers’ needs for practices that ensure a sustained income in the face of market
Chapter 2 Somatic Versus Zygotic Embryogenesis : Learning from Seeds

Plant embryogenesis is a fascinating developmental program that is very successfully established in nature in seeds. In case of in vitro somatic embryogenesis this process is subjected to several limitations such as asynchronous differentiation and further development of somatic embryos, malformations and disturbed polarity, precocious germination, lack of maturity, early loss of embryogenic potential, and strong genotypic differences in the regeneration efficiency. Several studies have shown the similarity of somatic and zygotic embryos in terms of morphological, histological, biochemical, and physiological aspects. However, pronounced differences have also been reported and refer to much higher stress levels, less accumulation of storage compounds and a missing distinction of differentiation and germination by a quiescent phase in somatic embryos. Here, an overview on recent literature describing both embryogenesis pathways, comparing somatic and zygotic embryos and analyzing the role of the endosperm is presented. By taking zygotic embryos as the reference and learning from the situation in seeds, somatic embryogenesis can be improved and optimized in order to make use of the enormous potential this regeneration pathway offers for plant propagation and breeding.
Concise Review: Signaling Control of Early Fate Decisions Around the Human Pluripotent Stem Cell State

Human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) present a fascinating and powerful system for generating specialized cell types of the human body. Culture and directed differentiation of these cells however requires an understanding of the pluripotent ground state and of how cell lineage decisions in this system are made. In this review, we highlight both these aspects in light of recent findings and technical progress. Hence, advances in culturing the human preimplantation embryo beyond the implantation barrier and in analyzing it at the single‐cell level shed new light on the hESC tissue of origin. We argue that these findings have important implications for our view of hESC identity and we critically discuss recent efforts in converting these cells to a more primitive state. With an emphasis on the roles played by major signaling pathways, we furthermore attempt to infer key principles underlying cell fate control in hESCs from recently published work. This integrated model combines defined signaling pathway manipulation with the regulation of core hESC genes, to aid in controlling cell lineage allocation in a rational manner. Stem Cells 2017;35:277–283
Addressing the gap: a blueprint for studying bimanual hand preference in infants

Between 4 and 7 months of age, infants begin to manipulate objects using role-differentiated bimanual manipulation (RDBM) where one hand stabilizes an object while the other hand manipulates the object (Rochat, 1989; Kimmerle et al., 1995, 2010). Because RDBM constrains the roles of the hands, it elicits a measurable asymmetry where the manipulating hand is considered to be the preferred hand for RDBM actions (i.e., RDBM hand preference). Initially, infants display partially differentiated roles for each hand, which is driven in part by the affordances of the object (Ramsay et al., 1979; Fagard and Jacquet, 1989; Fagard and Peze, 1997; Fagard, 1998; Fagard and Marks, 2000). Children exhibit increasing role differentiation with age (Vauclair and Imbault, 2009; Birtles et al., 2011; Cochet et al., 2011; Cochet, 2012). Only 50% of infants’ bimanual actions were characterized as fully differentiated at 12–13 months (Ramsay and Weber, 1986). At 18 months, children used a fully differentiated strategy on 71% of target RDBM actions; this figure increased to 94% by 24 months (Nelson et al., 2013). Early emerging RDBM skills (11–13 months) involve object removal and insertion, while later RDBM skills (18–24 months) include additional actions such as unscrewing and unzipping (e.g., Kimmerle et al., 2010; Nelson et al., 2013).
Genetics Association of Long Noncoding RNAs Polymorphisms With Ankylosing Spondylitis , Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada Disease , and Behcet ’ s Disease

Yingying Yue, Jun Zhang, Lu Yang, Shengyun Liu, Jian Qi, Qingfeng Cao, Chunjiang Zhou, Yao Wang, Aize Kijlstra, Peizeng Yang, and Shengping Hou The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Chongqing Eye Institute, Chongqing, China Department of Rheumatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China University Eye Clinic Maastricht, Maastricht, The Netherlands The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
Cyber-Insurance Revisited

Cyber-insurance is considered as appropriate means to absorb financial losses caused by computer security breaches. Since insurance markets at the same time create incentives to construct more secure systems, they are regarded as particularly desirable tools. However, this paper argues that the typical market structure in IT businesses may thwart the formation of a proper insurance market for cyber-risks: The worldwide dominance of a few system platforms leads to correlated losses, which require premium surcharges and are thus hard to insure. This paper refers to an indemnity insurance model to evaluate the conditions under which coverage for cyber-risks can be granted despite monocultures of installed platforms. Different premiums for users of dominant and alternative platforms are also addressed. Acting as a counterweight to the market leader’s strong economies of scale, a cost advantage for users of less widespread platforms could foster a more balanced market structure.
Superionic state in double-layer capacitors with nanoporous electrodes

In recent experiments (Chmiola et al 2006 Science 313 1760; Largeot et al 2008 J. Am. Chem. Soc. 130 2730) an anomalous increase of the capacitance with a decrease of the pore size of a carbon-based porous electric double-layer capacitor has been observed. We explain this effect by image forces which exponentially screen out the electrostatic interactions of ions in the interior of a pore. Packing of ions of the same sign becomes easier and is mainly limited by steric interactions. We call this state ‘superionic’ and suggest a simple model to describe it. The model reveals the possibility of a voltage-induced first order transition between a cation(anion)-deficient phase and a cation(anion)-rich phase which manifests itself in a jump of capacitance as a function of voltage.
Pre- and post-prostatectomy variables associated with pelvic post-operative radiotherapy in prostate cancer patients: a national registry-based study

Abstract Background: In patients with prostate cancer (PCa), the lack of clear guidelines on the use of radiotherapy after radical prostatectomy (RP) invites unwanted variation of this treatment. We describe the hazard ratios and probabilities related to the use of post-RP radiotherapy. Material and methods: Data were collected from the Cancer Registry of Norway and nine radiotherapy units. All patients were diagnosed with a non-metastatic PCa from January 2004 through June 2011. Adjuvant radiotherapy was defined as pelvic radiotherapy initiated <5 months after RP at a PSA <0.2 ng/ml. All other pelvic radiotherapy series were categorized as salvage radiotherapy, and, combined with adjuvant radiotherapy they were termed post-RP radiotherapy. Results: Of 6840 prostatectomized patients, 1170 (17%) had undergone post-RP radiotherapy, mainly as salvage radiotherapy. The number of adjuvant radiotherapy series almost tripled from 2009. Based on pre-prostatectomy variables (PSA, Gleason score, and clinical risk group) and findings in the prostatectomy specimens (status of resection margins, pathological tumor category and Gleason’s score), the probability of post-RP radiotherapy ranged respectively from 14% to 73%, and from 4% to 83%. Conclusions: In our study, post-RP radiotherapy was applied in approximately one in six patients. Based on the combination of PCa-specific variables routinely available at the time of diagnosis, a patient’s probability of post-RP radiotherapy can be determined before decision of primary treatment strategy, followed by probability determination based on histopathological variables emerging from the prostatectomy specimen.
Serum Levels of Vaspin and Its Correlation with Nitric Oxide in Type 2 Diabetic Patients with Nephropathy.

BACKGROUND Diabetic Nephropathy (DN), a serious and prevalent complication of diabetes, has been rapidly raising worldwide. Vaspin, as an adipokine with anti-diabetic effects, is predominantly released from visceral adipose tissue. Moreover, vaspin has the stimulatory effect on nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability through the activation of NO synthase. OBJECTIVE The aim of the present study was to investigate the serum levels of vaspin and their correlation with NO metabolite in diabetic patients with normal renal function and renal insufficiency. METHODS Volunteers patients with non-nephropathy Type 2 Diabetic Mellitus (T2DM) as control (n=40, age= 56.95±6.11 years) and patients with diabetic nephropathy (DN) (n=40, age=57.85±5.63 years) as case group were enrolled in this study, and serum samples were collected for the measurement of vaspin levels by ELISA technique. Also, serum levels of NO metabolites were calorimetrically assessed. RESULTS We found that vaspin levels significantly decreased in diabetic patients with nephropathic condition as compared with diabetic patients with normal renal function (p <0.04). In addition, serum levels of NO metabolites were significantly higher in diabetic patients with nephropathy in comparison with non-nephropathic diabetics (p<0.001). When patients with DN were studied, vaspin levels positively correlated with NO metabolites and Homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) levels. CONCLUSION This study showed that low serum vaspin levels may be a risk factor for nephropathy in type II diabetic patients and increased levels of NO may be a defensive mechanism in the DN.
Poor nutritional habits are predictors of poor outcome in very old hospitalized patients.

BACKGROUND Malnutrition is prevalent in elderly populations. Recommended methods of nutritional screening are often too complicated and time-consuming for routine application in frail, very old, hospitalized patients. OBJECTIVE Our aims were to identify risk factors for development of malnutrition in very old hospitalized patients and to evaluate the total Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) score and MNA subscores as predictors of in-hospital and long-term mortality. DESIGN A prospective cohort study of patients aged > or =75 y was conducted in a geriatric hospital. Assessment included demographic, clinical, and laboratory data and cognitive, functional, and nutritional status. Follow-up was conducted for < or =2.7 y. RESULTS Of the 414 patients studied, only 73 (17.6%) were well-nourished. Low serum albumin and phosphorus concentrations, dementia, and cerebrovascular accident (CVA) were significant risk factors for malnutrition. Survival was significantly lower in malnourished patients and patients at risk of malnutrition than in well-nourished patients (P < 0.0001). Low MNA-3 subscores (dietary habits) were significantly correlated with laboratory indexes of malnutrition and were significantly lower in patients with infections, malignancy, pressure ulcers, dementia, recent orthopedic surgery, and CVA. Multivariate analysis showed that a low MNA-3 score was an independent predictor of mortality; scores <7.5 increased the risk of death 2.05-fold. CONCLUSIONS The prevalence of malnutrition was high in elderly hospitalized patients. Dietary habits were significant predictors of poor hospitalization outcome. A questionnaire on dietary habits can serve as a useful tool in assessing nutritional status and prognosis in elderly patients.
Subjective Global Nutritional Assessment for children.

BACKGROUND Subjective Global Assessment (SGA), a method of nutritional assessment based on clinical judgment, has been widely used to assess the nutritional status of adults for both clinical and research purposes. OBJECTIVE Foreseeing benefits of its use in children, we chose to adapt SGA and test its validity and reproducibility in the pediatric population. DESIGN We prospectively evaluated the preoperative nutritional status of 175 children (aged 31 d to 17.9 y) having major thoracic or abdominal surgery with the use of Subjective Global Nutritional Assessment (SGNA) and commonly used objective measurements. Each child underwent nutritional assessment by 2 independent assessors, one performing measurements of anthropometrics and handgrip strength and one performing SGNA. To test interrater reproducibility, 78 children had SGNA performed by a third assessor. Occurrence of nutrition-associated complications was documented for 30 d postoperatively. RESULTS SGNA successfully divided children into 3 groups (well nourished, moderately malnourished, severely malnourished) with different mean values for various anthropometric and biochemical measures (P < 0.05). Malnourished children had higher rates of infectious complications than did well-nourished children (P = 0.042). Postoperative length of stay was longer for malnourished children (8.2 +/- 10 d) than for well-nourished children (5.3 +/- 5.4 d) (P = 0.002). No objective nutritional measures showed association with outcomes, with the exception of serum albumin, which was not clinically predictive because mean concentrations were in the normal range irrespective of the presence or absence of complications. CONCLUSION SGNA is a valid tool for assessing nutritional status in children and identifying those at higher risk of nutrition-associated complications and prolonged hospitalizations.
Localization of peripherin/rds in the disk membranes of cone and rod photoreceptors: relationship to disk membrane morphogenesis and retinal degeneration

The outer segments of vertebrate rod photoreceptor cells consist of an ordered stack of membrane disks, which, except for a few nascent disks at the base of the outer segment, is surrounded by a separate plasma membrane. Previous studies indicate that the protein, peripherin or peripherin/rds, is localized along the rim of mature disks of rod outer segments. A mutation in the gene for this protein has been reported to be responsible for retinal degeneration in the rds mouse. In the present study, we have shown by immunogold labeling of rat and ground squirrel retinas that peripherin/rds is present in the disk rims of cone outer segments as well as rod outer segments. Additionally, in the basal regions of rod and cone outer segments, where disk morphogenesis occurs, we have found that the distribution of peripherin/rds is restricted to a region that is adjacent to the cilium. Extension of its distribution from the cilium coincides with the formation of the disk rim. These results support the model of disk membrane morphogenesis that predicts rim formation to be a second stage of growth, after the first stage in which the ciliary plasma membrane evaginates to form open nascent disks. The results also indicate how the proteins of the outer segment plasma membrane and the disk membranes are sorted into their separate domains: different sets of proteins may be incorporated into membrane outgrowths during different growth stages of disk morphogenesis. Finally, the presence of peripherin/rds protein in both cone and rod outer segment disks, together with the phenotype of the rds mouse, which is characterized by the failure of both rod and cone outer segment formation, suggest that the same rds gene is expressed in both types of photoreceptor cells.