Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
En Plaque Meningioma Presenting as a Cutaneous Nodule

Meningiomas are the most common central nervous system tumor and can be found anywhere in the neuraxis. In rare cases, they may extend beyond the cranial vault, while cases without evidence of intracranial mass existence have also been reported. Here, we report the case of a 64-year-old male patient with a history of craniectomy for parasagittal meningioma, who presented at the emergency department with onset of focal seizures. The patient underwent nonenhanced brain computed tomography scan which was indicative of recurrence of the mass. The patient was scheduled for craniotomy and excision of the mass. He also expressed his desire to have a scalp nodule removed concomitantly. Thickening of the meninges underlying the nodule was observed but without indication of a space-occupying lesion. Both histological examinations were suggestive of Grade II, atypical meningiomas. A case of a subcutaneous meningioma in a patient with a history of surgically excised parasagittal meningioma is presented. Radiologic evidence of dural proliferation underlying the mass was suggestive of an en plaque meningioma secondary to iatrogenic dissemination of tumor cells.
Biology of Mastrus ridibundus (Gravenhorst), a potential biological control agent for area‐wide management of Cydia pomonella (Linneaus) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae)

The codling moth Cydia pomonella (Linnaeus) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) is a serious pest of pome fruit crops. A natural enemy of codling moth, the larval ectoparasitoid Mastrus ridibundus (Gravenhorst) (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) has been imported into South America from the USA but little is known about the biology and ecology of the wasp, knowledge that is needed to design an efficient strategy of release and establishment. Experiments were carried out to assess important traits of the biology of the parasitoid in relation to its possible use as a biocontrol agent for codling moth. When M. ridibundus females were offered larvae ranging in weight from 37 to 78 mg, they oviposited more eggs on heavier hosts. In another study, the adult wasps were offered honey, diluted honey (10%) or pollen in paired choice tests and both males and females preferred honey over the other two foods. Females preferred 10% honey over pollen, while the males showed the opposite preference. Honey‐fed females lived longer than starved females. Adults died rapidly at 35°C, while they lived 20 days at 25°C and 12–17 days at 15°C. Female wasps had on average 25 ± 14 and 18 ± 11 progeny at 15 and 25°C, respectively, but they did not had progeny at 35°C. The development time (egg to adult emergence) was on average 44 ± 7 and 24 ± 2 days at 15 and 25°C respectively. Immature insects did not reach the adult stage at 35°C.
The Effects of HMD Attributes, Different Display and Scene Characteristics on Human Visual Perception of Region Warping Distortions

— The Address Recalculation Pipeline (ARP) is a graphics display architecture that was designed to reduce user head rotational latency in immersive Head Mounted Display (HMD) virtual reality. A demand driven rendering technique known as priority rendering was devised for use in conjunction with the ARP system to reduce the overall rendering load. Region warping was devised along with several other techniques to facilitate priority rendering. Region warping however causes slight distortions to appear in the graphics. While this technique might improve system performance, immersive virtual reality systems have humans as integral parts of the system, hence the underlying issue of how humans might perceive and react to the system cannot be neglected. This paper addresses this important issue from a human visual perception perspective. In this paper, we present the results of three experiments that examine a number of factors that might contribute to a user’s perception of distortions caused by region warping. In particular, these experiments investigate whether HMD display attributes, anti-aliasing and virtual environments with different scene complexities might affect user’s visual perception of region warping distortions.
A Visuomotor Model Enhances Human Position Sense

Integrating information from multiple sources reduces uncertainty. Besides sensory input, animals have access to another source of information about their body and the environment, i.e., their own motor commands, which alter the body and environment in a predictable way. Does this predictability reduce perceptual uncertainty, i.e., variance? Participants moved their unseen arm and reported movement endpoint locations. In two conditions, a predictive model of visuomotor contingencies could either be fully formed, and used for this estimation, or remained incomplete. This was achieved through context trials that provided visual endpoint feedback at a predictable vs. unpredictable latency, while carrying identical spatial information. In two experiments, we found that endpoint estimation was less variable when a full, spatiotemporal, model could be formed. Higher perceptual precision was paralleled by enhanced movement accuracy. We conclude that a visuomotor model provides a separate source of information, additional to sensory input, which enhances human position sense.
Multi-site co-mutations and 5’UTR CpG immunity escape drive the evolution of SARS-CoV-2

The SARS-CoV-2 infected cases and the caused mortalities have been surging since the COVID-19 pandemic. Viral mutations emerge during the virus circulating in the population, which is shaping the viral infectivity and pathogenicity. Here we extensively analyzed 6698 SARS-CoV-2 whole genome sequences with specific sample collection dates in NCBI database. We found that four mutations, i.e., 5’UTR_c-241-t, NSP3_c-3037-t, NSP12_c-14408-t, and S_a-23403-g, became the dominant variants and each of them represented nearly 100% of all virus sequences since the middle May, 2020. Notably, we found that co-occurrence rates of three significant multi-site co-mutational patterns, i.e., (i) S_a-23403-g, NSP12_c-14408-t, 5’UTR_c-241-t, NSP3_c-3037-t, and ORF3a_c-25563-t; (ii) ORF8_t-28144-c, NSP4_c-8782-t, NSP14_c-18060-t, NSP13_a-17858-g, and NSP13_c-17747-t; and (iii) N_g-28881-a, N_g-28882-a, and N_g-28883-c, reached 66%, 90%, and nearly 100% of recent sequences, respectively. Moreover, we found significant decrease of CpG dinucleotide at positions 241(c)-242(g) in the 5’UTR during the evolution, which was verified as a potential target of human zinc finger antiviral protein (ZAP). The four dominant mutations, three significant multi-site co-mutations, and the potential escape mutation of ZAP-target in 5’UTR region contribute to the rapid evolution of SARS-CoV-2 virus in the population, thus shaping the viral infectivity and pathogenicity. This study provides valuable clues and frameworks to dissect the viral replication and virus-host interactions for designing effective therapeutics. One Sentence Summary Four dominant mutations, three significant multi-site co-mutations, and 5’UTR CpG escape contribute to the rapid evolution of SARS-CoV-2 virus.
Bayesian stock assessment: a review and example application using the logistic model

Bayesian statistical methods have recently been combined with conventional methods for fisheries stock assessment (e.g. catch-age analysis) to provide a conceptually elegant approach for providing fishery management advice under uncertainty. Uncertainties in the advice provided can be conveyed using posterior probability distributions (or “posteriors”) for the potential outcomes of each policy option. Posteriors can be estimated using data (e.g. catch-age data and relative abundance indices) for the fish population of interest and prior probability distributions for population model parameters (e.g. stock-recruit function parameters) based on data from similar fish populations. Despite growing interest, Bayesian methods remain accessible to relatively few. To increase the accessibility of these methods, the conceptual basis for Bayesian statistical estimation is reviewed and set in the context of fisheries stock assessment. The use of Bayesian methods is illustrated by fitting a logistic model to relative abundance indices for Namibian hake (Merlucius capensis and M. paradoxus) and presenting a decision analysis of alternative harvest policy options. Some alternative approaches are outlined for constructing prior and posterior probability distributions and some recent applications in fisheries. Some of the problems that can be encountered while implementing Bayesian methods are also discussed.
What’s the temperature in tropical caves?

Hourly temperature was measured for approximately one year at 17 stations in three caves in Quintana Roo, Mexico. Thirteen of these stations were in the extensive twilight zones of all three caves. All seventeen stations showed seasonality in temperature with a 3 °C drop during the Nortes season. Two of the caves, Muévelo Sabrosito and Muévelo Rico, showed greater variability during the winter months while in Rio Secreto variability was greatest during the rainy season. Río Secreto is less open to the surface than the other two. All sites also showed a daily temperature cycle, although it was very faint in some Rio Secreto sites. While temperature variability is diminished relative to surface variation, its temporal pattern is worthy of further study.
Non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation boosts mood recovery after effort exertion

Mood plays an important role in our life which is illustrated by the disruptive impact of aberrant mood states in depression. Although vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) has been shown to improve symptoms of depression, the exact mechanism is still elusive, and it is an open question whether non-invasive VNS could be used to swiftly and robustly improve mood. Here, we investigated the effect of left- and right-sided transcutaneous auricular VNS (taVNS) versus a sham control condition on mood after exertion of physical and cognitive effort in 82 healthy participants (randomized cross-over design). Using linear mixed-effects and hierarchical Bayesian analyses of mood ratings, we found that 90 min of either left-sided or right-sided taVNS improved positive mood (b = 5.11, 95% credible interval, CI [1.39, 9.01], 9.6% improvement relative to the mood intercept, BF10= 7.69, pLME = .017), yet only during the post stimulation phase. Moreover, lower baseline scores of positive mood were associated with greater taVNS-induced improvements in motivation (r = −.42, 95% CI [−.58, −.21], BF10 = 249). We conclude that taVNS boosts mood after a prolonged period of effort exertion with concurrent stimulation and that acute motivational effects of taVNS are partly dependent on initial mood states. Collectively, our results show that taVNS may help quickly improve affect after a mood challenge, potentially by modulating interoceptive signals contributing to reappraisal of effortful behavior. This suggests that taVNS could be a useful add-on to current behavioral therapies.
Visual mode switching learned through experience

When the environment changes, vision adapts to maintain accurate perception. For repeatedly encountered environments, learning to switch immediately to prior adaptive states would be beneficial, but past work remains inconclusive. We tested if the visual system can learn such visual mode switching for a strongly tinted environment, where adaptation causes the dominant hue to fade over time. Eleven observers wore red glasses for five one-hour periods per day, for five days. Color adaptation was measured by asking observers to identify “unique yellow”, appearing neither reddish nor greenish. As expected, the world appeared less and less reddish during the one-hour periods of glasses wear. Critically, across days the world also appeared significantly less reddish immediately after donning the glasses. This indicates that the visual system learned to shift rapidly to a partially adapted state, switching modes to stabilize color vision. Mode switching likely provides a general strategy to optimize perceptual processes.
Theoretical analysis predicts an optimal therapeutic strategy in distinct parkinsonian landscapes of the striatum

Parkinson’s disease (PD) results from a loss of dopaminergic neurons. The age of disease onset, its progression and symptoms vary significantly between patients, pointing to a complex relationship between neuron loss and PD etiology. Yet, our understanding of the clinical variability remains incomplete. Here, we use biophysical modelling to investigate the dopaminergic landscape in the healthy and denervated striatum. Based on currently proposed mechanisms causing PD, we model three distinct denervation patterns, and show notable differences in the dopaminergic network as denervation progresses. We find local and global differences in the activity of two types of striatal neurons as a function of the denervation pattern. Finally, we identify the optimal cellular strategy for maintaining normal dopamine signaling when neurons degenerate within our model. Our results derive a conceptual framework in which the clinical variability of PD is rooted in distinct denervation patterns and forms testable predictions for future PD research.
Pelvic pain and early IUD discontinuation: a prospective cohort study

Background: The aim of the study is to assess if pelvic pain is a risk factor for intrauterine device (IUD) discontinuation within one year of placement.Methods: This is a prospective cohort study of women who had IUDs inserted at a family planning office for the primary intent of contraception. Baseline pelvic pain characteristics were assessed using a validated pelvic pain questionnaire. Women were contacted at 1 year to assess IUD continuation.Results: From February 1, 2014 to August 11, 2015 authors enrolled a sample of 179 women. Of the 179 enrolled,163 participants completed the questionnaire, 98 reported a history of baseline pelvic pain and 65 reported no history of baseline pelvic pain. 20 participants were lost to follow-up. 86 women in the pelvic pain and 57 in the no pelvic pain group were included in the final analysis. Discontinuation rates at one year follow up were 25.6% (22) and 35.1% (20) respectively. There was no significant difference in those with and without pelvic pain discontinuing IUDs at one year (p = 0.22). Conclusions: Baseline generalized pelvic pain may not be a risk factor for IUD discontinuation within one year of placement.
Exome-wide association studies in general and long-lived populations identify genetic variants related to human age

Aging is characterized by degeneration in cellular and organismal functions leading to increased disease susceptibility and death. Although our understanding of aging biology in model systems has increased dramatically, large-scale sequencing studies to understand human aging are now just beginning. We applied exome sequencing and association analyses (ExWAS) to identify age-related variants on 58,470 participants of the DiscovEHR cohort. Linear Mixed Model regression analyses of age at last encounter revealed variants in genes known to be linked with clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential, which are associated with myelodysplastic syndromes, as top signals in our analysis, suggestive of age-related somatic mutation accumulation in hematopoietic cells despite patients lacking clinical diagnoses. In addition to APOE, we identified rare DISP2 rs183775254 (p = 7.40×10−10) and ZYG11A rs74227999 (p = 2.50×10−08) variants that were negatively associated with age in either both sexes combined and females, respectively, which were replicated with directional consistency in two independent cohorts. Epigenetic mapping showed these variants are located within cell-type-specific enhancers, suggestive of important transcriptional regulatory functions. To discover variants associated with extreme age, we performed exome-sequencing on persons of Ashkenazi Jewish descent ascertained for extensive lifespans. Case-Control analyses in 525 Ashkenazi Jews cases (Males ≥ 92 years, Females ≥ 95years) were compared to 482 controls. Our results showed variants in APOE (rs429358, rs6857), and TMTC2 (rs7976168) passed Bonferroni-adjusted p-value, as well as several nominally-associated population-specific variants. Collectively, our Age-ExWAS, the largest performed to date, confirmed and identified previously unreported candidate variants associated with human age.
The different functions of exercise, supplementary resveratrol, and the combination of exercise and supplementary resveratrol in young and old SAMP8 mice liver

The senescence-accelerated mouse prone 8 (SAMP8) has about half the normal lifespan of a rodent. Therefore, we determined whether the different age degrees has rapid physiological senescence with the same interaction function and mechanism of exercise and supplementary resveratrol intake by SAMP8 mice liver. Histological of aging related liver disease was examined SAMP8 mice by hematoxylin-eosin and Masson’s trichrome staining. Apoptosis was determined by TUNEL staining. The mechanism proteins expression of p-PI3K/PI3K, p-Akt/Akt, Bad, cytochrome c, Bcl 2, ERK1, IL-6, STAT3, MEK5, p-ERK5/ERK5, FGF2, and MMP2/9 were examined by western blot. Results showed that the 3- and 6-month-old SAMP8 mice liver, the senescence-accelerated liver cross-sections observed adipocytes, collagen, and apoptosis cells appear, but lower occurs by exercise, supplementary resveratrol, and their combination. Combination exercise and supplementary resveratrol at the 6-month-old SAMP8 mice has significant increase ratio by p-PI3K/PI3K compared to 3-month-old SAMP8 mice liver (p<0.01), and compared with without treatment SAMP8 mice liver. Exercise, supplementary resveratrol intake, and combined of exercise and resveratrol has facilitated p-Akt/Akt ratio increases, and ERK1/Bcl2 increases, but Bad/Cytochrome c decreases at the 6-month-old SAMP8 by western blot. IL-6/STAT3/MEK5 and p-ERK5/ERK5 ratio have good functions at 6-month-old SAMP8 mice better than 3-month-old SAMP8. FGF2/MMP2 decreases and MMP9 increases observed at the 3-month-old SAMP8 by exercise, supplementary resveratrol, and combination. Indeed, we suggest supplementary resveratrol can help exercise therapy ageing related liver diseases.
Evaluation of Chemical Composition and In vitro Digestibility of Appennine Pasture Plants Using Yak (Bos grunniens) Rumen Fluid or Faecal Extract as Inoculum Source

Pastures of the Apennines of Central Italy contribute to feed resources of high altitude (above 1,300 m sea level) grazing systems. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of faecal extract from the yak (Bos grunnienes) as an alternative microbial inoculum to rumen fluid for estimation of digestibility of several forage species. Forage samples produced at high altitude were tested in this study: four legumes (Lathyrus sativus L., Lotus corniculatus L., Onobrychis viciaefolia L. and Trifolium pratense L.), three forbs (Achillea millefolium L., Potentilla reptans L. and Teucrium flavum L.) and one grass (Brachipodyum pinnatum L.) were incubated with yak rumen fluid or faecal extract. A large variability in chemical composition was observed among the species collected. Rumen liquor and faecal samples were collected from adult healthy yak. The Daisy II incubator was used to evaluate the nutrient digestibility of forages using rumen liquor as control and faecal extract as alternative microbial inoculum sources. Filter bags containing samples of browse species were added to the four digestion vessels along with their respective inoculum and then incubated for 48 h and dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM), crude protein (CP), neutral and detergent fiber (NDF) digestibility was determined. There was a significant relationship between estimates, indicating that faecal liquor has the potential to be used instead of rumen fluid for estimation of in vitro digestibility of plants. It is concluded that the Daisy II incubator results are appropriate for the determination of
Microcirculation of the Ocular Fundus

Publisher Summary The eye fundus in higher mammals is supplied by two distinct vascular systems, namely the retinal and the uveal systems. Both systems are derived from the ophthalmic artery (OA), a branch of the internal carotid. The uveal system includes the anterior uvea, which comprises the iris and the ciliary body, and the choroid. The retina has a dual blood supply, the inner two-thirds being nourished by branches from the central retinal artery (CRA), whilst the outer third is nourished by the choroidal circulation. Quantitative information on blood velocity and flow in the normal human eye under physiological conditions has been obtained from the various ocular vascular systems using a number of different techniques. In the human eye, two vascular systems are present which differ anatomically and physiologically: the retinal vessels, which supply the neural region of the retina and the prelaminar portion of the ON and the uveal or ciliary blood vessels, which supply the rest of the eye. The rate of blood flow in the intraocular tissues is determined by the ocular perfusion pressure (OPP) and the vascular resistance (R). R depends upon the blood viscosity, length, and diameter of the blood vessels. The diameter of the resistance vessels is modulated by the interaction of multiple control mechanisms affecting the smooth muscle and vascular pericytes: myogenic, metabolic, neurogenic, humoral, and endothelium-derived factors. The determinants of ocular blood flow include systemic, local, neural, endothelial, endocrine, and paracrine factors.
Video Consultation Consumer Home-based Assessment Tool (VC-CHAT)

1 School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Kensington, NSW, Australia 2 School of Psychology, University of New South Wales, Kensington, NSW, Australia 3 Discipline of Psychiatry, The University of Sydney School of Medicine, Sydney, NSW, Australia 4 Western NSW Local Health District, Dubbo, NSW, Australia 5 Western Sydney University, Penrith, NSW, Australia 6 Discipline of Psychiatry, Westmead Hospital, Westmead, NSW, Australia 7 Sydney Health Ethics, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
Carotid Body and Metabolic Syndrome: Mechanisms and Potential Therapeutic Targets

The carotid body (CB) is responsible for the peripheral chemoreflex by sensing blood gases and pH. The CB also appears to act as a peripheral sensor of metabolites and hormones, regulating the metabolism. CB malfunction induces aberrant chemosensory responses that culminate in the tonic overactivation of the sympathetic nervous system. The sympatho-excitation evoked by CB may contribute to the pathogenesis of metabolic syndrome, inducing systemic hypertension, insulin resistance and sleep-disordered breathing. Several molecular pathways are involved in the modulation of CB activity, and their pharmacological manipulation may lead to overall benefits for cardiometabolic diseases. In this review, we will discuss the role of the CB in the regulation of metabolism and in the pathogenesis of the metabolic dysfunction induced by CB overactivity. We will also explore the potential pharmacological targets in the CB for the treatment of metabolic syndrome.