Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Plant family identity distinguishes patterns of carbon and nitrogen stable isotope abundance and nitrogen concentration in mycoheterotrophic plants associated with ectomycorrhizal fungi.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS Mycoheterotrophy entails plants meeting all or a portion of their carbon (C) demands via symbiotic interactions with root-inhabiting mycorrhizal fungi. Ecophysiological traits of mycoheterotrophs, such as their C stable isotope abundances, strongly correlate with the degree of species' dependency on fungal C gains relative to C gains via photosynthesis. Less explored is the relationship between plant evolutionary history and mycoheterotrophic plant ecophysiology. We hypothesized that the C and nitrogen (N) stable isotope compositions, and N concentrations of fully and partially mycoheterotrophic species differentiate them from autotrophs, and that plant family identity would be an additional and significant explanatory factor for differences in these traits among species. We focused on mycoheterotrophic species that associate with ectomycorrhizal fungi from plant families Ericaceae and Orchidaceae. METHODS Published and unpublished data were compiled on the N concentrations, C and N stable isotope abundances (δ(13)C and δ(15)N) of fully (n = 18) and partially (n = 22) mycoheterotrophic species from each plant family as well as corresponding autotrophic reference species (n = 156). These data were used to calculate site-independent C and N stable isotope enrichment factors (ε). Then we tested for differences in N concentration, (13)C and (15)N enrichment among plant families and trophic strategies. KEY RESULTS We found that in addition to differentiating partially and fully mycoheterotrophic species from each other and from autotrophs, C and N stable isotope enrichment also differentiates plant species based on familial identity. Differences in N concentrations clustered at the plant family level rather than the degree of dependency on mycoheterotrophy. CONCLUSIONS We posit that differences in stable isotope composition and N concentrations are related to plant family-specific physiological interactions with fungi and their environments.
Using Cerebral White Matter for Estimation of Nondisplaceable Binding of 5-HT1A Receptors in Temporal Lobe Epilepsy

The estimation of nondisplaceable binding from cerebellar white matter, rather than from whole cerebellum, was proposed for the PET tracer carbonyl-11C-WAY-100635 (N-{2-[4-(2-methoxyphenyl)-1-piperazinyl]ethyl}-N-(2-pyridyl)cyclohexanecarboxamidel]) because of the heterogeneity of total ligand binding in this region. For the 5-hydroxytryptamine receptor 1A (5-HT1A) antagonist 18F-N-{2-[4-(2-methoxyphenyl)piperazin-1-yl]ethyl}-N-2-pyridyl)trans-4-fluorocyclohexanecarboxamide (18F-FCWAY), the estimation of nondisplaceable binding from cerebellum (VND) may be additionally biased by spillover of 18F-fluoride activity from skull. We aimed to assess the effect of using cerebral white matter as reference region on detection of group differences in 5-HT1A binding with PET and 18F-FCWAY. Methods: In 22 temporal lobe epilepsy patients (TLE) and 10 healthy controls, 18F-FCWAY distribution volume in cerebral white matter (VWM) was computed using an extrapolation method as part of a partial-volume correction (PVC) algorithm. To assess the feasibility of applying this method to clinical studies in which PVC is not performed, VWM was also calculated by placing circular, 6-mm-diameter regions of interest (ROIs) in the centrum semiovalis on parametric images. Binding potentials were BPF = (VT – VND)/fP and BPF-WM = (VT – VWM)/fP, where VT is total distribution volume and fP = 18F-FCWAY plasma free fraction. Statistical analysis was performed using t tests and linear regression. Results: In the whole group, VWM was 14% ± 19% lower than VND (P < 0.05). VWM/fP was significantly (P < 0.05) lower in patients than in controls. All significant (P < 0.05) reductions of 5-HT1A receptor availability in TLE patients detected by BPF were also detected using BPF-WM. Significant (P < 0.05) reductions of 5-HT1A specific binding were detected by BPF-WM, but not BPF, in ipsilateral inferior temporal cortex, contralateral fusiform gyrus, and contralateral amygdala. However, effect sizes were similar for BPF-WM and BPF. The value of VWM calculated with the ROI approach did not significantly (P > 0.05) differ from that calculated with the extrapolation approach (0.67 ± 0.32 mL/mL and 0.72 ± 0.34 mL/mL, respectively). Conclusion: Cerebral white matter can be used for the quantification of nondisplaceable binding of 5-HT1A without loss of statistical power for detection of regional group differences. The ROI approach is a good compromise between computational complexity and sensitivity to spillover of activity, and it appears suitable to studies in which PVC is not performed. For 18F-FCWAY, this approach has the advantage of avoiding spillover of 18F-fluoride activity onto the reference region.
Comment on Jackson et al. Insulitis in Autoantibody-Positive Pancreatic Donor With History of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus. Diabetes Care 2017;40:723–725

We read with interest the article by Jackson et al. (1) illustrating mild insulitis in the pancreas of a 28-year-old lean Hispanic female with recent gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) who died of anoxic encephalopathy of unknown etiology 32 days after cesarean delivery. She was positive for GAD antibody (GADA) and islet cell antibody, while autoantibodies against insulin, IA-2, and zinc transporter 8 (ZnT8A) were negative. This observation, as well as earlier studies (2), raises a possible role of …
Recurrence of Renal Cell Cancer After Renal Transplantation in a Multicenter French Cohort

Background Renal cancer accounts for 3% of adult malignancies; renal cell carcinoma (RCC) represents 80% of all renal cancers, and is characterized by late recurrences. Recurrences after kidney transplantation are associated with a high mortality rate. We aimed to determine if recurrences are linked to tumor characteristics and to delays between diagnosis and transplantation. Methods We retrospectively analyzed data from French kidney-transplanted patients with medical histories of pretransplant renal cancer, focusing on the most common histological subtypes: clear cell and papillary cancers. Characteristics of the tumors, patients, and kidney transplantations were documented, and posttransplant patient survival was analyzed. Results Of 143 patients, 13 experienced cancer recurrence after kidney transplantation. The mean delay in recurrence was 3 ± 2.3 years posttransplantation, and the cumulative incidences of recurrence were 7.7% at 5 years and 14.9% at 10 years. The risk of recurrence was higher in patients with clear cell RCC (13% vs 0%, P = 0.015). There was no correlation between posttransplant recurrence and the interval before transplantation. Factors associated with a higher risk of cancer recurrence were histological clear cell RCC (P = 0.025), tumor stage pT2 (P = 0.002), and Fuhrman grade IV (P < 0.001). Recurrences were associated with a high mortality rate; 76.9% of patients with recurrences had died by the end of the follow-up period. Conclusions Recurrences of clear cell RCC are not uncommon after kidney transplantation and are associated with very poor prognoses. These results should be considered before listing patients with a history of renal cancer for transplantation.
Effect of Resistance Training on Blood Pressure and Autonomic Responses in Treated Hypertensives

Abstract Trevizani, GA, Seixas, MB, Benchimol-Barbosa, PR, Vianna, JM, da Silva, LP, and Nadal, J. Effect of resistance training on blood pressure and autonomic responses in treated hypertensives. J Strength Cond Res 32(5): 1462–1470, 2018—This study evaluated the effect of resistance training (RT) on heart rate variability (HRV) and on blood pressure (BP) responses to acute and short-term exposure in treated hypertensive (HT) subjects. Twenty-one men participated in the study, 8 HT under drug treatment regimen and achieving adequate BP control before inclusion and 13 normotensive (NT). The RT protocol consisted of 12 sessions with eight exercises (leg extension, leg press, leg curl, bench press, seated row, triceps push-down, seated calf flexion, and seated arm curl) performed for two sets of 15–20 repetitions with 50% of one repetition maximum with 2-minute rest intervals in between sets, 3×/week. Heartbeat measurements were taken before and after RT, and BP was measured at the beginning and at the end of each session after 10-minute rest. The repeated measures analysis of variance (effect: group vs. training) evaluated BP and HRV responses. Effect size (ES) calculation measured the magnitude of the RT effect on these variables. There was a statistically significant reduction in postexercise systolic BP in both groups (p = 0.040), without significant change in resting BP along RT (p = 0.159). Regarding HRV, it was observed a reduced sympathetic-vagal balance (training interaction vs. group: p = 0.058, ES = −0.83) in HT subjects. Resistance training promotes a significant acute reduction of BP in the HT and NT groups and provides a slight benefit of cardiac autonomic balance in the HT.
Diagnosis and management of stage I/II melanoma.

OBJECTIVES To describe the clinical features and histologic subtypes of cutaneous melanoma; to review the diagnosis, clinical, and pathologic staging of melanoma and the associated prognostic factors; and to review the treatment and management of AJCC stage I and II melanoma. DATA SOURCES Scientific and review articles, textbooks, and clinical practice. CONCLUSIONS Management of melanoma depends on accurate diagnosis, staging, and interpretation of prognostic factors. The treatment of choice for stage I and II melanoma is surgery, ranging from simple excision to lymph node dissection. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE Familiarity with the clinical features of melanoma assists nurses in the screening and early detection of melanoma. Knowledge of AJCC staging guides education regarding treatment and lifelong surveillance.
An Evaluation of Java Code Coverage Testing Tools

coverage metric is considered as the most important metric used in analysis of software projects for testing. Code coverage analysis also helps in the testing process by finding areas of a program not exercised by a set of test cases, creating additional test cases to increase coverage, and determine the quantitative measure of the code, which is an indirect measure of quality. There are a large number of automated tools to find the coverage of test cases in Java. Choosing an appropriate tool for the application to be tested may be a complicated process. To make it ease we propose an approach for measuring characteristics of these testing tools in order to evaluate them systematically and to select the appropriate one. Keywordscoverage metrics, testing tools, test case, test suite
Severe Obstetric Morbidity in the United States: 1998–2005

OBJECTIVE: To examine trends in the rates of severe obstetric complications and the potential contribution of changes in delivery mode and maternal characteristics to these trends. METHODS: We performed a cross-sectional study of severe obstetric complications identified from the 1998–2005 Nationwide Inpatient Sample of the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project. Logistic regression was used to examine the effect of changes in delivery mode and maternal characteristics on rates of severe obstetric complications. RESULTS: The prevalence of delivery hospitalizations (per 1,000) complicated by at least one severe obstetric complication increased from 0.64% (n=48,645) in 1998–1999 to 0.81% (n=68,433) in 2004–2005. Rates of complications that increased significantly during the study period included renal failure by 21% (from 0.23 to 0.28), pulmonary embolism by 52% (0.12 to 0.18), adult respiratory distress syndrome by 26% (0.36 to 0.45), shock by 24% (0.15 to 0.19), blood transfusion by 92% (2.38 to 4.58), and ventilation by 21 % (0.47 to 0.57). In logistic regression models, adjustment for maternal age had no effect on the increased risk for these complications in 2004–2005 relative to 1998–1999. However, after adjustment for mode of delivery, the increased risks for these complications in 2004–2005 relative to 1998–1999 were no longer significant, with the exception of pulmonary embolism (odds ratio 1.30) and blood transfusion (odds ratio 1.72). Further adjustment for payer, multiple births, and select comorbidities had little effect. CONCLUSION: Rates of severe obstetric complications increased from 1998–1999 to 2004–2005. For many of these complications, these increases were associated with the increasing rate of cesarean delivery. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III
Contribution of Nonneutralizing Vaccine-Elicited Antibody Activities to Improved Protective Efficacy in Rhesus Macaques Immunized with Tat/Env Compared with Multigenic Vaccines1

Previously, chronic-phase protection against SHIV89.6P challenge was significantly greater in macaques primed with replicating adenovirus type 5 host range mutant (Ad5hr) recombinants encoding HIVtat and env and boosted with Tat and Env protein compared with macaques primed with multigenic adenovirus recombinants (HIVtat, HIVenv, SIVgag, SIVnef) and boosted with Tat, Env, and Nef proteins. The greater protection was correlated with Tat- and Env-binding Abs. Because the macaques lacked SHIV89.6P-neutralizing activity prechallenge, we investigated whether Ab-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) and Ab-dependent cell-mediated viral inhibition (ADCVI) might exert a protective effect. We clearly show that Tat can serve as an ADCC target, although the Tat-specific activity elicited did not correlate with better protection. However, Env-specific ADCC activity was consistently higher in the Tat/Env group, with sustained cell killing postchallenge exhibited at higher levels (p < 0.00001) for a longer duration (p = 0.0002) compared with the multigenic group. ADCVI was similarly higher in the Tat/Env group and significantly correlated with reduced acute-phase viremia at wk 2 and 4 postchallenge (p = 0.046 and 0.011, respectively). Viral-specific IgG and IgA Abs in mucosal secretions were elicited but did not influence the outcome of the i.v. SHIV89.6P challenge. The higher ADCC and ADCVI activities seen in the Tat/Env group provide a plausible mechanism responsible for the greater chronic-phase protection. Because Tat is known to enhance cell-mediated immunity to coadministered Ags, further studies should explore its impact on Ab induction so that it may be optimally incorporated into HIV vaccine regimens.
Defining and Detecting Malaria Epidemics in the Highlands of Western Kenya

Epidemic detection algorithms are being increasingly recommended for malaria surveillance in sub-Saharan Africa. We present the results of applying three simple epidemic detection techniques to routinely collected longitudinal pediatric malaria admissions data from three health facilities in the highlands of western Kenya in the late 1980s and 1990s. The algorithms tested were chosen because they could be feasibly implemented at the health facility level in sub-Saharan Africa. Assumptions of these techniques about the normal distribution of admissions data and the confidence intervals used to define normal years were also investigated. All techniques identified two “epidemic” years in one of the sites. The untransformed Cullen method with standard confidence intervals detected the two “epidemic” years in the remaining two sites but also triggered many false alarms. The performance of these methods is discussed and comments made about their appropriateness for the highlands of western Kenya
Urinary kidney injury molecule 1 (KIM-1) and interleukin 18 (IL-18) as risk markers for heart failure in older adults: the Health, Aging, and Body Composition (Health ABC) Study.

BACKGROUND Kidney damage and reduced kidney function are potent risk factors for heart failure, but existing studies are limited to assessing albuminuria or estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). We evaluated the associations of levels of urinary biomarkers of kidney tubular injury (interleukin 18 [IL-18] and kidney injury molecule 1 [KIM-1]) with future risk of heart failure. STUDY DESIGN Retrospective cohort study. SETTING & PARTICIPANTS 2,917 participants without heart failure in the Health, Aging, and Body Composition (Health ABC) cohort. PREDICTORS Ratios of urine KIM-1, IL-18, and albumin to creatinine (KIM-1:Cr, IL-18:Cr, and ACR, respectively). OUTCOMES Incident heart failure over a median follow-up of 12 years. RESULTS Median values of each marker at baseline were 812 (IQR, 497-1,235)pg/mg for KIM-1:Cr, 31 (IQR, 19-56)pg/mg for IL-18:Cr, and 8 (IQR, 5-19) mg/g for ACR. 596 persons developed heart failure during follow-up. The top quartile of KIM-1:Cr was associated with risk of incident heart failure after adjustment for baseline eGFR, heart failure risk factors, and ACR (HR, 1.32; 95% CI, 1.02-1.70) in adjusted multivariate proportional hazards models. The top quartile of IL-18:Cr also was associated with heart failure in a model adjusted for risk factors and eGFR (HR, 1.35; 95% CI, 1.05-1.73), but was attenuated by adjustment for ACR (HR, 1.15; 95% CI, 0.89-1.48). The top quartile of ACR had a stronger adjusted association with heart failure (HR, 1.96; 95% CI, 1.53-2.51). LIMITATIONS Generalizability to other populations is uncertain. CONCLUSIONS Higher urine KIM-1 concentrations were associated independently with incident heart failure risk, although the associations of higher ACR were of stronger magnitude.
Cutting Edge: Experimentally Induced Immune Activation in Natural Hosts of Simian Immunodeficiency Virus Induces Significant Increases in Viral Replication and CD4+ T Cell Depletion1

Chronically SIVagm-infected African green monkeys (AGMs) have a remarkably stable nonpathogenic disease course, with levels of immune activation in chronic SIVagm infection similar to those observed in uninfected monkeys and with stable viral loads for long periods of time. In vivo administration of LPS or an IL-2/diphtheria toxin fusion protein (Ontak) to chronically SIVagm-infected AGMs triggered increases in immune activation and subsequently of viral replication and depletion of intestinal CD4+ T cells. Our study indicates that circulating microbial products can increase viral replication by inducing immune activation and increasing the number of viral target cells, thus demonstrating that immune activation and T cell proliferation are key factors in AIDS pathogenesis.
Multidimensional approach to non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis: the FACED score

Bronchiectasis is a multidimensional disease and, therefore, its severity or prognosis cannot be adequately quantified by analysing one single variable. The objective of the present study was to develop a multidimensional score that classifies the severity of bronchiectasis according to its prognosis. This is an observational multicentre study including 819 patients diagnosed with non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis using high-resolution computed tomography. 397 subjects were selected at random to construct the score while the remaining 422 were used for its validation. The outcome was 5-year all-cause mortality after radiological diagnosis. A logistic regression analysis was used to select the variables included in the final score. The final seven-point score incorporated five dichotomised variables: forced expiratory volume in 1 s % predicted (F, cut-off 50%, maximum value 2 points); age (A, cut-off 70 years, maximum value 2 points); presence of chronic colonisation by Pseudomonas aeruginosa (C, dichotomic, maximum value 1 point); radiological extension (E, number of lobes affected, cut-off two lobes, maximum value 1 point); and dyspnoea (D, cut-off grade II on the Medical Research Council scale, maximum value 1 point) to construct the FACED score. The validation cohort confirmed the score’s validity. We conclude that this easy-to-use multidimensional grading system proved capable of accurately classifying the severity of bronchiectasis according to its prognosis. An easy-to-use multidimensional grading system accurately classifies bronchiectasis severity according to prognosis http://ow.ly/tW3xx
MEIOTIC RECOMBINATION, CROSS‐REACTIVITY, AND PERSISTENCE IN PLASMODIUM FALCIPARUM

Abstract. — We incorporate a representation of Plasmodium falciparum recombination within a discrete‐event model of malaria transmission. We simulate the introduction of a new parasite genotype into a human population in which another genotype has reached equilibrium prevalence and compare the emergence and persistence of the novel recombinant forms under differing cross‐reactivity relationships between the genotypes. Cross‐reactivity between the parental (initial and introduced) genotypes reduces the frequency of appearance of recombinants within three years of introduction from 100% to 14%, and delays their appearance by more than a year, on average. Cross‐reactivity between parental and recombinant genotypes reduces the frequency of appearance to 36% and increases the probability of recombinant extinction following appearance from 0% to 83%. When a recombinant is cross‐reactive with its parental types, its probability of extinction is influenced by cross‐reactivity between the parental types in the opposite manner; that is, its probability of extinction after appearance decreases. Frequencies of P. falciparum outcrossing are mediated by frequencies of mixed‐genotype infections in the host population, which are in turn mediated by the structure of cross‐reactivity between parasite genotypes. The three leading hypotheses about how meiosis relates to oocyst production lead to quantitative, but no qualitative, differences in these results.
Clinical predictors of recurrent stenosis and need for re-intervention in the cephalic arch in patients with brachiocephalic AV fistulas

Introduction Cephalic arch stenosis is one of the most common reasons for repeated endovascular intervention and eventual abandonment of access in hemodialysis patients. There is no prediction model to identify risk factors for recurrent cephalic arch stenosis. We have developed a mathematical model to predict the need for reintervention in brachiocephalic (BC) fistulas with recurrent cephalic arch stenosis. Methods Single-center retrospective analysis of 143 patients with a BC fistula referred to the vascular clinic for access dysfunction who underwent cephalic arch angioplasty were included for the analysis. Twelve-month post-index angioplasty data were analyzed using parametric, non-parametric and multiple regression models using SPSS software. Results The mean need for re-intervention in 1 year since first index visit was 2.46 ± 1.404. Statistically significant correlation (p≤0.001) for re-intervention was observed with the severity of stenosis at index visit, access flow, vessel wall diameter proximal to the stenosis, average venous pressure >50% of the delivered blood flow rate and prolonged bleeding for >30 minutes as a reason for referral. Three equations have been derived for calculating the need for re-intervention based on the diameter of the vessel wall proximal to the stenosis. Conclusions Risk stratification of BC fistulas utilizing the above parameters could enable clinicians to identify accesses that are at risk for multiple re-interventions. Early identification of accesses that are at high risk for re-interventions at the cephalic arch might prolong access survival and reduce the cost for intervention by utilizing alternate strategies.