Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Structural Origin of Circularly Polarized Iridescence in Jeweled Beetles

Bright Shiny Beetles The beautiful iridescent colors found on the wings of butterflies and on the bodies of beetles have attracted the attention of brilliant minds over the past centuries, starting with Newton, who understood that these colors must involve “thin film structures. ” In 1911 Michelson described the metallic appearance of these beetles, and in the late 1960s Neville and Caveney discussed the optical properties in the context of cholesteric liquid crystals. Sharma et al. (p. 449; see the Perspective by Vukusic) examined the metallic green beetle Chrysina gloriosa, which selectively reflects left circularly polarized light when illuminated with unpolarized light. The underlying cellular structure of the beetle exoskeleton is organized primarily in a hexagonal pattern, with variations in the pentagonal and heptagonal arrangements depending on the local curvature. Thus, the ordering of the cells in concentric, nested arcs is indeed analogous to the ordering of the molecules in a cholesteric (or chiral nematic) liquid crystal. The cellular ordering in the exoskeleton of a beetle is analogous to the molecular ordering in cholesteric liquid crystals. The iridescent metallic green beetle, Chrysina gloriosa, which selectively reflects left circularly polarized light, possesses an exoskeleton decorated by hexagonal cells (~10 μm) that coexist with pentagons and heptagons. The fraction of hexagons decreases with an increase in curvature. In bright field microscopy, each cell contains a bright yellow core, placed in a greenish cell with yellowish border, but the core disappears in dark field. With use of confocal microscopy, we observe that these cells consist of nearly concentric nested arcs that lie on the surface of a shallow cone. We infer that the patterns are structurally and optically analogous to the focal conic domains formed spontaneously on the free surface of a cholesteric liquid crystal. These textures provide the basis for the morphogenesis as well as key insights for emulating the intricate optical response of the exoskeleton of scarab beetles.
Quality of life impairment, disability and economic burden associated with chronic daily headache, focusing on chronic migraine with or without medication overuse: A systematic review

Objective : To evaluate the evidence for quality of life (QoL) impairment, disability, healthcare resource use and economic burden associated with chronic daily headache (CDH), focusing on chronic migraine (CM) with or without medication overuse. Methods : A systematic review and qualitative synthesis of studies of patients/subjects with CDH that included CM, occurring on at least 15 days per month. Main findings: Thirty-four studies were included for review (25 studies of patients and nine of subjects from the general population). CDH and CDH with medication overuse headache (MOH) were consistently associated with a lower QoL compared to control or episodic headache (EH) and CDH without MOH. CDH was consistently associated with greater disability and productivity loss, more consultations, more or longer hospitalizations and higher direct costs than EH. Data were not amenable to statistical pooling. Principal conclusions : The findings of this review underline the detriment to QoL and the disabling nature of CDH, and in particular CM and CDH with MOH, and negative impact on workplace productivity compared to other types of headache.
Genome-Wide Demethylation of Arabidopsis Endosperm

Dynamic Imprinting Gene imprinting—the silencing of either a maternally derived or paternally derived gene allele—is controlled in large part by DNA methylation. In plants, imprinting occurs in the endosperm, which nourishes the embryonic plant. Gehring et al. (p. 1447) and Hsieh et al. (p. 1451) analyzed the dynamics of DNA methylation in the endosperm and embryo of Arabidopsis and found extensive demethylation in the endosperm, suggesting that many imprinted genes are likely to exist. Gehring et al. characterized five imprinted genes in detail. Four of the 10 known imprinted genes are related homeodomain transcription factors. Furthermore, 5′ sequences demethylated in several of the genes were found to be derived from transposable elements, which supports the idea that imprinting arose as a by-product of silencing invading DNA. The endosperm genome of Arabidopsis shows extensive gene imprinting. Parent-of-origin-specific (imprinted) gene expression is regulated in Arabidopsis thaliana endosperm by cytosine demethylation of the maternal genome mediated by the DNA glycosylase DEMETER, but the extent of the methylation changes is not known. Here, we show that virtually the entire endosperm genome is demethylated, coupled with extensive local non-CG hypermethylation of small interfering RNA–targeted sequences. Mutation of DEMETER partially restores endosperm CG methylation to levels found in other tissues, indicating that CG demethylation is specific to maternal sequences. Endosperm demethylation is accompanied by CHH hypermethylation of embryo transposable elements. Our findings demonstrate extensive reconfiguration of the endosperm methylation landscape that likely reinforces transposon silencing in the embryo.
Evaluation of object segmentation to improve moving vehicle detection in aerial videos

Moving objects play a key role for gaining scene understanding in aerial surveillance tasks. The detection of moving vehicles can be challenging due to high object distance, simultaneous object and camera motion, shadows, or weak contrast. In scenarios where vehicles are driving on busy urban streets, this is even more challenging due to possible merged detections. In this paper, a video processing chain is proposed for moving vehicle detection and segmentation. The fundament for detecting motion which is independent of the camera motion is tracking of local image features such as Harris corners. Independently moving features are clustered. Since motion clusters are prone to merge similarly moving objects, we evaluate various object segmentation approaches based on contour extraction, blob extraction, or machine learning to handle such effects. We propose to use a local sliding window approach with Integral Channel Features (ICF) and AdaBoost classifier.
High cervical spinal cord stimulation for chronic cluster headache

Background: Cluster headache (CH) is the most painful and debilitating primary headache syndrome. Conventional treatment combines acute and prophylactic drugs. Also with maximal therapy a substantial proportion of patients do not experience a meaningful prevention or pain relief. Recent case series and early trials have suggested that occipital nerve stimulation can be very effective in the management of intractable CH. Methods: Seven patients with medically intractable chronic cluster headache were implanted with high cervical epidural electrodes. After a median test phase of 10 days (range 4–19 days) an impulse generator was implanted subcutaneously. Mean follow up was 23 months (median 12 months, range 3–78 months). Results: All patients showed significant treatment effects. In all patients, improvement occurred immediately after electrode implantation. The mean attack frequency decreased, as well as the mean duration and intensity of attacks. Also, depression, anxiety, and pain-related impairment scores decreased and medication intake was markedly reduced. Conclusions: In this prospective series, high cervical spinal cord stimulation shows an effect size equal or larger than occipital nerve stimulation with immediate onset after surgery and may serve as a valuable additional treatment option of intractable cluster headache in the future.
Extending Healthy Life Span—From Yeast to Humans

Eat Less, Live Long Studies in several model organisms have shown that dietary restriction without malnutrition, or manipulation of nutrient-sensing pathways through mutations or drugs, can increase life span and reduce age-related disease. Fontana et al. (p. 321) review the ways in which nutrient-sensing pathways are central to aging. Studies of yeast, worms, rodents, and primates show that these pathways are conserved during evolution. Although data on the effects of dietary restriction in primates are very limited, in humans, the protective effects of dietary restriction against cancer, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes must be judged against potentially negative long-term effects. More work is needed to determine whether dietary restriction and the modulation of anti-aging pathways through drugs can extend life span and reduce pathologies in humans. When the food intake of organisms such as yeast and rodents is reduced (dietary restriction), they live longer than organisms fed a normal diet. A similar effect is seen when the activity of nutrient-sensing pathways is reduced by mutations or chemical inhibitors. In rodents, both dietary restriction and decreased nutrient-sensing pathway activity can lower the incidence of age-related loss of function and disease, including tumors and neurodegeneration. Dietary restriction also increases life span and protects against diabetes, cancer, and cardiovascular disease in rhesus monkeys, and in humans it causes changes that protect against these age-related pathologies. Tumors and diabetes are also uncommon in humans with mutations in the growth hormone receptor, and natural genetic variants in nutrient-sensing pathways are associated with increased human life span. Dietary restriction and reduced activity of nutrient-sensing pathways may thus slow aging by similar mechanisms, which have been conserved during evolution. We discuss these findings and their potential application to prevention of age-related disease and promotion of healthy aging in humans, and the challenge of possible negative side effects.
IL-21R on T Cells Is Critical for Sustained Functionality and Control of Chronic Viral Infection

Controlling Chronic Viral Infections Chronic viral infections such as HIV and hepatitis B and C viruses are major public health concerns. T cell—mediated immune responses are critical for controlling viral infections. In contrast to acute infections, chronic viral infections are characterized by “exhausted” cytotoxic CD8+ T cells, cells which exhibit reduced proliferative capacity, cytokine secretion, and cytotoxicity. Treatments that reverse exhaustion result in increased viral control. Despite their exhaustion, these CD8+ T cells eventually help to control chronic infections by killing virally infected cells, and require CD4+ T cell help to do so. How do CD4+ T cells provide help to CD8+ T cells during chronic infection (see the Perspective by Johnson and Jameson)? Elsaesser et al. (p. 1569, published online 7 May), Yi et al. (p. 1572, published online 14 May), and Fröhlich et al. (p. 1576, published online 28 May) now show that the cytokine, interleukin-21 (IL-21), known to be critical for the differentiation of certain CD4+ T cell effector subsets, is an essential factor produced by CD4+ T cells that helps CD8+ T cells to control chronic lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus infection in mice. Acute and chronic infections resulted in differing amounts of IL-21 production by virus-specific CD4+ T cells. CD8+ T cells required IL-21 directly, and when CD8+ T cells were unable to signal through IL-21 or IL-21 was not available, they were reduced in number, exhibited a more exhausted phenotype, and were not able to control the virus. In contrast, the absence of IL-21–dependent signaling did not affect primary CD8+ T cell responses to acute infection or responses to a viral rechallenge, suggesting that differentiation of memory CD8+ T cells is independent of IL-21. Thymus cells of the immune system require the cytokine interleukin-21 to control chronic viral infections. Chronic viral infection is often associated with the dysfunction of virus-specific T cells. Our studies using Il21r-deficient (Il21r–/–) mice now suggest that interleukin-21 (IL-21) is critical for the long-term maintenance and functionality of CD8+ T cells and the control of chronic lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus infection in mice. Cell-autonomous IL-21 receptor (IL-21R)–dependent signaling by CD8+ T cells was required for sustained cell proliferation and cytokine production during chronic infection. Il21r–/– mice showed normal CD8+ T cell expansion, effector function, memory homeostasis, and recall responses during acute and after resolved infection with several other nonpersistent viruses. These data suggest that IL-21R signaling is required for the maintenance of polyfunctional T cells during chronic viral infections and have implications for understanding the immune response to other persisting antigens, such as tumors.
Soil Microbial Communities and Restoration Ecology: Facilitators or Followers?

Microorganisms have critical roles in the functioning of soil in nutrient cycling, structural formation, and plant interactions, both positive and negative. These roles are important in reestablishing function and biodiversity in ecosystem restoration. Measurement of the community indicates the status of the system in relation to restoration targets and the effectiveness of management interventions, and manipulation of the community shows promise in the enhancement of the rate of recovery of degraded systems.
Ecological Restoration in the Light of Ecological History

Ecological history plays many roles in ecological restoration, most notably as a tool to identify and characterize appropriate targets for restoration efforts. However, ecological history also reveals deep human imprints on many ecological systems and indicates that secular climate change has kept many targets moving at centennial to millennial time scales. Past and ongoing environmental changes ensure that many historical restoration targets will be unsustainable in the coming decades. Ecological restoration efforts should aim to conserve and restore historical ecosystems where viable, while simultaneously preparing to design or steer emerging novel ecosystems to ensure maintenance of ecological goods and services.
Aquaporin-4 antibodies are not present in patients with idiopathic intracranial hypertension

Objectives: We aimed to investigate anti-aquaporin-4 (AQP-4) water channel antibodies, affecting cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) secretion and absorption, in idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) patients. Methods: Patients fulfilling the modified Dandy’s diagnostic criteria for IIH were included and their clinical features and CSF findings were reviewed. Their serum samples and control groups were investigated by immunofluorescence and a cell-based assay for anti-AQP-4 antibodies and by immunohistochemistry for IgG binding patterns. Results: Twenty-nine patients diagnosed with IIH were investigated. We could not detect any anti-AQP-4 antibodies in our series. However, we identified different serum IgG binding patterns in 11 IIH patients. Conclusion: There is only one report investigating the anti-AQP4 antibodies in IIH. Our study with a larger sample confirmed the results of this report and indicated that AQP4 antibodies did not have a primary role in IIH pathogenesis, but provided some support for the contribution of inflammatory mechanisms in IIH.
Psychobiology of Atopic Dermatitis

This article tries to understand atopic dermatitis from an anthropological point of view as a dysfunctional development in the infant’s ontogenesis. The basic thesis is that an innate hypersensitivity of the infant may be associated with difficulties in maternal affectionate care, to which the infant reacts in a defensive way. Endocrine and immunological reactions, that in principle lead to a defensive ‘skin armor’, are part of this defense.
Comment on “Floral Iridescence, Produced by Diffractive Optics, Acts As a Cue for Animal Pollinators”

Whitney et al. (Reports, 2 January 2009, p. 130) investigated the mechanism of iridescence in hibiscus and tulip flowers and suggested that bumblebees are able to use this iridescence as a pollination cue. However, their study failed to isolate iridescence from other coincident visual cues, leaving open questions regarding the importance of iridescent stimuli in foraging-based associative learning in bumblebees.
Evolution of the Turtle Body Plan by the Folding and Creation of New Muscle Connections

Shelling Turtles In almost all vertebrates, the shoulder girdle (scapula) lies outside the ribs. The turtle is unique in that the carapace, the dorsal part of the shell, which is formed from the ribs, encapsulates the scapula. To understand the origin of the turtle-specific body plan, Nagashima et al. (p. 193; see the cover; see the Perspective by Rieppel) compared chicken, mouse, and the Chinese soft shelled-turtle, Pelodiscus sinensis. Modern embryos were studied via whole-mount immunostaining, three-dimensional reconstructions, and with markers for early skeletal precursors and compared with previously reported fossils. Initially, embryos of the three animals share a common developmental pattern, one that is likely to have been shared with their last common ancestor. This pattern, however, is modified in the turtle by a specific folding of its body wall during embryogenesis. This folding preserves some of the connectivity between skeletal and muscle elements but also produces new connections. The turtle body plan, unique among amniotes, is based on the folding of an ancestral pattern during embryogenesis. The turtle shell offers a fascinating case study of vertebrate evolution, based on the modification of a common body plan. The carapace is formed from ribs, which encapsulate the scapula; this stands in contrast to the typical amniote body plan and serves as a key to understanding turtle evolution. Comparative analyses of musculoskeletal development between the Chinese soft-shelled turtle and other amniotes revealed that initial turtle development conforms to the amniote pattern; however, during embryogenesis, lateral rib growth results in a shift of elements. In addition, some limb muscles establish new turtle-specific attachments associated with carapace formation. We propose that the evolutionary origin of the turtle body plan results from heterotopy based on folding and novel connectivities.
Migraine with aura associated with unilateral cortical increase in vascular permeability

Background: Few studies to date have captured perfusion and vascular permeability changes during a migraineur’s aura. This may be important information to the clinician in the context of the differential diagnosis of migraine with aura versus acute stroke. Summary: We report a case in which magnetic resonance perfusion during a migraine aura showed unilateral hypoperfusion differentially affecting gray and white matter and was associated with a hemispheric increase in permeability. Conclusions: Imaging in this case suggests that migraine aura is associated with oligemia below the threshold for infarction. Increased vascular permeability may be a critical mechanism contributing to perfusion changes observed in migraine with aura.
Tiger Moth Jams Bat Sonar

Moths Battling Bats Many night-flying insects hear the sonar sounds of attacking bats and take evasive action. Among moths, evasive flight is often accompanied by the production of ultrasonic sounds. Three functions of these sounds have been proposed: to startle the bat, to warn of distastefulness, or to “jam” the bat's sonar system. Corcoran et al. (p. 325) studied a species of tiger moth (Bertholdia trigona) that emits a particularly dense series of ultrasonic clicks and the interception behavior of big brown bats (Eptesicus fuscus) presented with silenced or sound-producing tethered moths. If the moth sounds evoke startle, naïve bats should initially break off their attacks, but then the bats should habituate to the sounds and complete subsequent attacks. In contrast, if the moth sounds have a warning effect, naïve bats should initially complete their attacks on sound-emitting moths, discover that the moths are distasteful, and refuse to capture them in future trials. Most of the bats in the tests reliably caught the silenced moths but avoided completing attacks on sound-producing moths, with no evidence of increasing or decreasing probability of capture from the first to the last trial, which suggests that the moths effectively jammed the bats' sonar. Bertholdia trigona thwarts the attacks of bats by generating bursts of ultrasound that interfere with the bats’ sonar system. In response to sonar-guided attacking bats, some tiger moths make ultrasonic clicks of their own. The lepidopteran sounds have previously been shown to alert bats to some moths’ toxic chemistry and also to startle bats unaccustomed to sonic prey. The moth sounds could also interfere with, or “jam,” bat sonar, but evidence for such jamming has been inconclusive. Using ultrasonic recording and high-speed infrared videography of bat-moth interactions, we show that the palatable tiger moth Bertholdia trigona defends against attacking big brown bats (Eptesicus fuscus) using ultrasonic clicks that jam bat sonar. Sonar jamming extends the defensive repertoire available to prey in the long-standing evolutionary arms race between bats and insects.
Clinical relevance of dynamic changes in renal function in patients admitted for acute heart failure

Purpose: At least one third of the patients admitted for acute heart failure (AHF) develop cardiorenal syndrome (CRS) and this is associated with worse outcomes. However, some patients admitted with worsened renal function actually improve after treatment of the AHF. We call this reverse cardiorenal syndrome (R-CRS). Limited information is available about the outcomes of this syndrome. Our aim is to describe the characteristics and prognosis of the patients admitted for AHF who develop R-CRS upon admission. Methods: In a retrospective study, we examined the epidemiology, in-hospital mortality, hospital length of stay and complications in adults admitted for AHF between May 2009 and December 2011 who developed CRS and R-CRS. We defined R-CRS as an improvement ≥0.3 mg/dl and CRS as a deterioration ≥ 0.3 mg/dl of serum creatinine from baseline levels. Results: 669 patients met the eligibility criteria, with 28% experiencing CRS and 9.4% R-CRS. Those patients who developed R-CRS had worse left ventricular ejection fraction (32% ± 12% vs. 40% ±17%, p≤ 0.05) than patients with stable renal function. Right ventricular dysfunction was more frequent among these patients compared to those with stable renal function (82% vs. 47%, p≤0.05 respectively). Patients with R-CRS had lower admission blood pressure (113±20mmHg vs. 120±19mmHg, p≤ 0.05), higher serum creatinine at admission (2±1.2 vs. 1.2±0.5, p≤ 0.05) and lower levels at discharge (1.3±0.5 vs. 1.2±0.5, p≤ 0.05) as compared to those without changes in their serum levels. The mean of hospitalization in those patients who neither improved nor worsened renal failure was 7 days compared to patients who had a dynamic change in serum creatinine levels regardless the direction, 16 days for R-CRS and 14 days for CRS p≤ 0.05. Those who developed CRS and R-CRS required more inotropes than patients who did not experience any change in their serum creatinine levels (38% vs. 22% vs. 7% p≤0.05, respectively). Both R-CRS and CRS were associated with an increased in-hospital mortality in contrast to creatinine stable patients (6.3% vs. 2.9% p≤0.05 and 13.4% vs. 2.9% p≤0.05, respectively) Conclusions: R-CRS is associated with significantly worsened prognosis and survival. These findings may suggest pre-admission worsened renal failure in patients with advanced congestive heart failure. Therefore, resolution of venous congestion may be the mechanism for these improvements in renal function with treatment.