Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Clinicopathological Impact of Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor Gene Expression and Different Molecular Prognostic Biomarkers in Egyptian Acute Myeloid Leukemia Patients

Background: Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is characterized by clonal expansion of myeloid precursors with diminished capacity for differentiation. It develops as the consequence of a series of genetic changes in a hematopoietic precursor cell. Purpose This study aimed to investigate the correlation between GM-CSF gene expression and different molecular prognostic markers such as FLT3-ITD, NPM1 mutation A and CEBPA gene expression in 100 Egyptian AML patients. As well as, correlation with the response to induction therapy, DFS andOS in these patients. Methodology: Quantitative assessment of GM-CSF gene expression was performed by qRT-PCR. Additional prognostic molecular markers were determined as FLT3-ITD and NPM1 mutation A together with quantitative assessment of CEBPA gene expression by qRT-PCR. Results: Patients with high GM-CSF expression levels had better OS and DFS with p value 0.004 and 0.02, respectively. However, no statistically significant difference between low andhigh GM-CSF gene expression was found regarding the response to therapy (p value= 0.08). Most patients with low CEBPA expression had resistant disease together with poor OS and DFS (P value = <0.001 for each). Our results showed that patients with high CEBPA gene expression whether GM-CSF gene expression was high or low had significant higher complete remission rates (p value = 0.1 for each). However, low GM-CSF gene expression andlow CEBPA gene expression showed poor response to treatment. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that molecular diagnostic biomarkers for AML are an essential tool that improves prognostication andhence better patients’ management.
Parents’ perceptions and concerns about physical activity participation among adolescents with autism spectrum disorder

The parents of adolescents with autism spectrum disorder have a vital and proactive role in encouraging healthy physical activity habits, and they possess important knowledge about the adolescents’ needs when it comes to enhancing participation in physical activity. But promoting healthy physical activity habits in adolescents can be difficult. The purpose of this study was thus to describe parents’ perceptions of their adolescent child’s participation in physical activity and to describe the parental role in promoting such participation. Twenty-eight parents of adolescents aged 12–16 years with autism spectrum disorder were interviewed. The interviews were analyzed using an inductive content analysis approach. The parents described how challenging participation in physical activities could be for their adolescents. Despite this, they wanted to see their children participate more in physical activity but found the promotion of physical activity to be an overwhelming task that was difficult to cope with on their own. The results reveal a need for support and collaborative efforts among different actors to give these issues increased priority in order to promote the adolescents’ physical activity participation. Lay abstract What is already known about the topic? The parents of adolescents with autism spectrum disorder have a vital and proactive role in encouraging healthy physical activity habits. But promoting healthy physical activity habits in adolescents can be difficult. The purpose of this study was thus to describe the parental perceptions of their adolescent child’s participation in physical activity and to describe the parental role in promoting such participation. Twenty-eight parents of adolescents aged 12–16 years with autism spectrum disorder were interviewed. What this paper adds? The parents described how challenging participation in physical activities could be for their adolescents. Despite this, they wanted to see their children participate more in physical activity but found the promotion of physical activity to be an overwhelming task that was difficult to cope with on their own. Implications for practice, research, or policy. The results reveal a need for support and collaborative efforts among different actors to give these issues increased priority in order to promote the adolescents’ physical activity participation.
Assessing the information content of calls of Litoria chloris: quality signalling versus individual recognition

Abstract. In many species, male animals produce costly signals to attract females. Intersexual indicator theories propose that these signals are indicative of male quality, whereas individual recognition models are based on the idea that male signals are used primarily to allow for individual discrimination. These two types of models make differing predictions about the nature of male signals. In particular, these models’ predictions differ in the information about a male’s quality that will be included in his signal, the frequency distributions of male signals in a population, and the ways in which the different traits that make up a signal will covary. Calls from the Australian frog Litoria chloris were tested for consistency with the predictions of intersexual indicator models and individual recognition models. The calls were found to contain minimal information on male quality, and the covariance between different signal traits was consistent with the individual recognition models. However, the frequency distributions of male signal traits agreed with intersexual indicator models. In addition, this study found evidence that the information content of calls may instead mediate intrasexual interactions, although more research is required to determine if this is the case.
Assessing the user experience and usability of the PRECIOUS system: a randomized controlled trial in obese patients

ABSTRACT Objective To assess users’ usability, satisfaction, acceptance and effectiveness of the PRECIOUS system to promote behavior change toward healthier lifestyles. Design: Thirty-one adult patients with BMI>30 (M = 44.23, SD = 5.91) were recruited and randomized into three conditions for a longitudinal study (3 months length): 1) Control group (TAU + biofeedback + follow-ups); 2) PRECIOUS only (app + biofeedback + follow-ups); 3) PRECIOUS + MI (app + biofeedback + motivational interviewing follow-ups). Main Outcome Measures: Usability, satisfaction, acceptance and effectiveness of PRECIOUS, and stages of change (S-Weight questionnaire). Results: The system was described as easy to use, flexible, fairly satisfying and good as a preventive health system. Participants rated biofeedback and the Physical Activity module as the most satisfying features. However, participants were unsatisfied with the Diet module. All additional features received acceptable scores in terms of satisfaction. Despite this, the PRECIOUS only group reported that they would probably recommend the system to others because it meets its purposes quite well. Conclusion: PRECIOUS was found a usable and acceptable solution, although improving several features in the Diet module in successive versions of the app would promote sustained use and satisfaction among users, possibly increasing its effectiveness in promoting healthier lifestyles. Abbreviations: ADA American Diabetes Association; BG2: BodyGuard2; BMI: Body Mass Index; CBT: Cognitive-behavioral therapy; EMA: Ecological Momentary Assessment; eHealth: Electronic health; mHealth: Mobile health; MI: Motivational interviewing; NCD: Non-communicable diseases; PA: Physical activity; PRECIOUS: PREventive Care Infrastructure based On Ubiquitous Sensing
Characterisation of cDNAs for ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase small subunit genes in different species of Avena (Poaceae)

ABSTRACT We report the cloning and sequencing of 14 rbcS cDNAs in six species of Avena (Poaceae) with different genome and ploidy levels. The nucleotide sequences 504 bp long were aligned with the published sequences of cultivated hexaploid oat, wheat, barley, rye, rice and corn and subjected to cladistic and phenetic analyses. The parsimonious analysis generated a tree with a topology very similar to the phenogram generated by the Neighbor-Joining analysis based on the Jukes and Cantor distances. Within the monophyletic assemblage of the tribe Aveneae, consistent clades composed of rbcS clones belonging to different species are recognized. It is suggested that they correspond to orthologous genes belonging to different subfamilies, and that the “within-species˚d homogenisation may have occurred at a slow rate with respect to species evolution. In the monophyletic group of Pooideae, the topologies place barley rbcS sequences closer to wheat and rye than to oat sequences. This grouping agrees with most taxonomic and phylogenetic views.
Microbial tropicalization driven by a strengthening western ocean boundary current

Western boundary currents (WBCs) redistribute heat and oligotrophic seawater from the tropics to temperate latitudes, with several displaying substantial climate change‐driven intensification over the last century. Strengthening WBCs have been implicated in the poleward range expansion of marine macroflora and fauna, however, the impacts on the structure and function of temperate microbial communities are largely unknown. Here we show that the major subtropical WBC of the South Pacific Ocean, the East Australian Current (EAC), transports microbial assemblages that maintain tropical and oligotrophic (k‐strategist) signatures, to seasonally displace more copiotrophic (r‐strategist) temperate microbial populations within temperate latitudes of the Tasman Sea. We identified specific characteristics of EAC microbial assemblages compared with non‐EAC assemblages, including strain transitions within the SAR11 clade, enrichment of Prochlorococcus, predicted smaller genome sizes and shifts in the importance of several functional genes, including those associated with cyanobacterial photosynthesis, secondary metabolism and fatty acid and lipid transport. At a temperate time‐series site in the Tasman Sea, we observed significant reductions in standing stocks of total carbon and chlorophyll a, and a shift towards smaller phytoplankton and carnivorous copepods, associated with the seasonal impact of the EAC microbial assemblage. In light of the substantial shifts in microbial assemblage structure and function associated with the EAC, we conclude that climate‐driven expansions of WBCs will expand the range of tropical oligotrophic microbes, and potentially profoundly impact the trophic status of temperate waters.
Application of IS900 nested-PCR for detection of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis directly from faecal specimens.

Summary Doosti, A. & S. Moshkelani, 2010. Application of IS900 nested-PCR for detection of Mycobacterium avium subsp . paratuberculosis directly from faecal specimens. Bulg. J. Vet. Med. , 13, No 2, 92 −97. Mycobacterium paratuberculosis (MAP) is known to cause a chronic inflammation of intestine in cattle, called Johne's disease. The symptoms are very similar to Crohn's disease in humans. The feasibility of coupling a nested-PCR was investigated as a mean to improve turnaround time and detect MAP in the presence of contaminants. The aim of this study was to use nested-PCR as an accurate and rapid method to detect MAP in bovine faeces. Faecal samples from 120 dairy cattle were collected and the extracted DNA was evaluated by PCR test for the MAP-specific IS900 gene. Of the 120 specimens, 96 were identified positive by direct microscopy, whereas 4 were positive by single PCR. Nested-PCR showed a detection rate of 70.8% (68 out of 96 samples) as compared to direct microscopy. Nested PCR also identified many positive samples that were not detected by either Ziehl Neelsen staining or single PCR. The results show that IS900 nested-PCR assay may be applied to detect M. paratuberculosis directly from faecal sample of dairy cows and therefore could be a valuable diagnostic or screening test for herds with Johne’s disease.
Anti-Migration and Invasion Effects of Astaxanthin against A172 Human Glioblastoma Cell Line

Objectives: The study was to investigate anti-migration and invasion effects of astaxanthin (ATX), a natural carotenoid derivative distributed in marine environments, against A172 human glioblastoma cells. Materials and Methods: Cell viability after ATX treatment was measured by MTT assays. Tumor cell migration and invasion were observed by scratch and Boyden chamber assays, respectively. Expression of MMP-2 and activity of MMP-9 were observed by immunoblotting and gelatin zymography, respectively. Results: ATX up to 150 µM was not toxic to A172 cells at 48 h post-treatment. In contrast, ATX at 50 and 100 µM significantly decreased migration and invasion of A172 cells at 24 and 48 h post-treatment. Metastatic-reducing effect of ATX is associated with the reduction of MMP-2 and MMP-9 expressions in a dose-dependent manner. Conclusion: This finding indicated that ATX has anti-migration and invasion effects against human glioblastoma cells and might be applicable for the protection against metastasis of glioblastoma.
Does polymorphisms in PPAR and APOE genes modify associations between fatty acid desaturase (FADS), n-3 long-chain PUFA and cardiometabolic markers in 8–11-year-old Danish children?

Abstract n-3 Long-chain PUFA (LCPUFA) can improve cardiometabolic blood markers, but studies in children are limited. SNP in the FADS genes, which encode fatty acid desaturases, influence endogenous LCPUFA production. Moreover, SNP in genes that encode PPAR and apoE may modulate the effects of n-3 LCPUFA. We explored whether FADS polymorphisms were associated with blood cholesterol and TAG, insulin and glucose and whether polymorphisms in PPAR and APOE modified associations between FADS or n-3 LCPUFA status and the cardiometabolic blood markers. We measured fasting cholesterol and TAG, insulin, glucose and n-3 LCPUFA in 757 Danish 8–11-year-old children and genotyped SNP in FADS (rs1535 and rs174448), PPARG2 (rs1801282), PPARA (rs1800206) and APOE (rs7412+rs429358). Carriage of two FADS rs174448 major alleles was associated with lower TAG (P = 0·027) and higher HDL-cholesterol (P = 0·047). Blood n-3 LCPUFA was inversely associated with TAG and insulin in PPARG2 minor allele carriers and positively with LDL-cholesterol in major allele homozygotes (Pn-3 LCPUFA × rs180182 < 0·01). Associations between n-3 LCPUFA and cardiometabolic markers were not modified by APOE genotype (Pn-3 LCPUFA × APOE > 0·11), but interaction between FADS rs1535 and APOE showed that rs1535 major allele homozygotes who also carried APOE2 had higher HDL-cholesterol than all other genotype combinations (Prs1535 × APOE = 0·019, pairwise-P < 0·05). This indicates that FADS genotypes, which increase endogenous LCPUFA production, may beneficially affect children’s cardiometabolic profile in a partly APOE-dependent manner. Also, the degree to which children benefit from higher n-3 LCPUFA intake may depend on their PPARG2 genotype.
Reproductive success in fragmented habitats: do compatibility systems and pollination specialization matter?

Abstract This paper explores whether plant breeding system and pollination specialization influence the reproductive response of plants to habitat fragmentation. It is meaningful for conservation to predict a plant species' extinction risk. We found 25 studies in the literature assessing the effects of habitat fragmentation on either pollination or reproductive success of 46 plant species to answer the following questions: 1. Are pollination and reproductive success of self-incompatible species more likely to decline with habitat fragmentation than the pollination and reproductive success of self-compatible species? Although most of the species showed statistically significant negative effects, the pollination and reproduction of self-incompatible species were as likely to decline with fragmentation as those of self-compatible species. 2. Are pollination and reproductive success of specialist plants more affected than the pollination and reproduction of generalist plants? Comparisons of fragmentation-related changes in pollination and reproductive success between specialists and generalists do not support the hypothesis that specialization in pollination increases the risk of plant extinction. 3. Can self-incompatible species offset their expected higher vulnerability to fragmentation by being, on average, more pollination generalist than self-compatible species? In a larger data set on 260 species, we did not find significant differences in either the mean number or frequency distribution of numbers of flower-visiting species or orders between self-compatible and self-incompatible species. Our review suggests that no generalizations can be made on susceptibility to fragmentation based on compatibility system and pollination specialization.
Recurrent intracerebral hemorrhages due to central nervous system vasculitis: A neuropsychological case report

Abstract Objective Primary angiitis of the central nervous system (PACNS) is a rare and devastating form of vasculitis that destroys the vessels of the brain and spinal cord, resulting in progressive and debilitating neurologic symptoms. The objective of the present study was to detail the diagnostic process of a case of a patient with PACNS who suffered from six intracerebral hemorrhages (ICHs). Method The patient was an African American woman with a history of recurrent ICHs of unclear etiology who received serial neuropsychological evaluations over the course of a 5-year period. Two comprehensive neuropsychological evaluations are included, as well as an overview of her clinical course, including differential diagnostic considerations and treatment planning. Results Neuropsychological assessment revealed marked deficits in visuospatial abilities and processing speed associated with her underlying neuropathology. Integrated review of her medical records indicated a probable diagnosis of PACNS as the likely etiology of her recurrent ICHs. Conclusions This study demonstrates the importance of differential diagnosis of low base-rate conditions, functional neuroanatomy and neurobehavioral phenomenology, serial assessment, and cognitive reserve in clinical neuropsychological practice.
Tracking carbon from the atmosphere to the rhizosphere

Turnover rates of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi may influence storage of soil organic carbon (SOC). We examined the longevity of AM hyphae in monoxenic cultures; and we also used C-13 incorporation into signature fatty acids to study C dynamics in a mycorrhizal symbiosis involving Glomus intraradices and Plantago lanceolata. C-13 enrichment of signature fatty acids showed rapid transfer of plant assimilates to AM fungi and a gradual release of C from roots to rhizosphere bacteria, but at a much slower rate. Furthermore, most C assimilated by AM fungi remained 32 days after labelling. These findings indicate that C-13 labelled fatty acids can be used to track C flux from the atmosphere to the rhizosphere and that retention of C in AM fungal mycelium may contribute significantly to SOC. (Less)
Introductory Chapter: Timeliness of Advantages of Bayesian Networks

As a child, I was raised as a Lutheran, with an earnest interest and concern for scripture. I became notorious for asking my Sunday school teachers imponderable and impolitic questions. Upon encountering Genesis 3:11–13 around age 6, I noticed that God confronts Adam in the Garden of Eden and asks, “Have you eaten from the tree? ” Adam prevaricates: “The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit from the tree. ” God inquires of Eve about this. She answers, “The serpent tricked me. ” My youngster mind recognized this pattern of dialog as very much akin to my own defensive dissembling with my parents when I had been the cause of some accident or had done something wrong. I very much wanted to know why Adam’s and Eve’s reasoning was insufficient.
Availability of phosphate for phytoplankton and bacteria and of glucose for bacteria at different pCO2 levels in a mesocosm study

Abstract. Availability of phosphate for phytoplankton and bacteria and of glucose for bacteria at different pCO2 levels were studied in a mesocosm experiment (PeECE III). Using nutrient-depleted SW Norwegian fjord waters, three different levels of pCO2 (350 μatm: 1×CO2; 700 μatm: 2×CO2; 1050 μatm: 3×CO2) were set up, and nitrate and phosphate were added at the start of the experiment in order to induce a phytoplankton bloom. Despite similar responses of total particulate P concentration and phosphate turnover time at the three different pCO2 levels, the size distribution of particulate P and 33PO4 uptake suggested that phosphate transferred to the >10 μm fraction was greater in the 3×CO2 mesocosm during the first 6–10 days when phosphate concentration was high. During the period of phosphate depletion (after Day 12), specific phosphate affinity and specific alkaline phosphatase activity (APA) suggested a P-deficiency (i.e. suboptimal phosphate supply) rather than a P-limitation for the phytoplankton and bacterial community at the three different pCO2 levels. Specific phosphate affinity and specific APA tended to be higher in the 3×CO2 than in the 2×CO2 and 1×CO2 mesocosms during the phosphate depletion period, although no statistical differences were found. Glucose turnover time was correlated significantly and negatively with bacterial abundance and production but not with the bulk DOC concentration. This suggests that even though constituting a small fraction of the bulk DOC, glucose was an important component of labile DOC for bacteria. Specific glucose affinity of bacteria behaved similarly at the three different pCO2 levels with measured specific glucose affinities being consistently much lower than the theoretical maximum predicted from the diffusion-limited model. This suggests that bacterial growth was not severely limited by the glucose availability. Hence, it seems that the lower availability of inorganic nutrients after the phytoplankton bloom reduced the bacterial capacity to consume labile DOC in the upper mixed layer of the stratified mesocosms.
Management of Orthostatic Hypotension in Parkinson’s Disease

Orthostatic hypotension (OH) is a common non-motor feature of Parkinson’s disease that may cause unexplained falls, syncope, lightheadedness, cognitive impairment, dyspnea, fatigue, blurred vision, shoulder, neck, or low-back pain upon standing. Blood pressure (BP) measurements supine and after 3 minutes upon standing screen for OH at bedside. The medical history and cardiovascular autonomic function tests ultimately distinguish neurogenic OH, which is due to impaired sympathetic nerve activity, from non-neurogenic causes of OH, such as hypovolemia and BP lowering drugs. The correction of non-neurogenic causes and exacerbating factors, lifestyle changes and non-pharmacological measures are the cornerstone of OH treatment. If these measures fail, pharmacological interventions (sympathomimetic agents and/or fludrocortisone) should be introduced stepwise depending on the severity of symptoms. About 50% of patients with neurogenic OH also suffer from supine and nocturnal hypertension, which should be monitored for with in-office, home and 24 h-ambulatory BP measurements. Behavioral measures help prevent supine hypertension, which is eventually treated with non-pharmacological measures and bedtime administration of short-acting anti-hypertensive drugs in severe cases. If left untreated, OH impacts on activity of daily living and increases the risk of syncope and falls. Supine hypertension is asymptomatic, but often limits an effective treatment of OH, increases the risk of hypertensive emergencies and, combined with OH, facilitates end-organ damage. A timely management of both OH and supine hypertension ameliorates quality of life and prevents short and long-term complications in patients with Parkinson’s disease.