Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Floral Nectar Spurs and Diversification

Key innovations are thought to be especially important adaptations that confer the ability to utilize resources in a novel manner and may therefore allow taxa to diversify. Here I review the data indicating that the evolution of floral nectar spurs represents a key innovation in Aquilegia and many additional groups. Aquilegia has apparently radiated recently and this radiation is closely associated with the evolution of nectar spurs. Numerous studies support the hypothesis that nectar spur morphology is important in plant reproduction and may provide a prezygotic reproductive isolating mechanism via differential pollinator visitation. The evolution of nectar spurs is highly correlated with increased species diversity across multiple independent lineages and thus provides strong support for the key innovation hypothesis. Previous studies have suggested that the evolution of nectar spurs may have been due to a simple genetic change in Aquilegia. I review these data and point out several cautions to this conclusion. Finally, I suggest that future research to determine the genetic basis for the development of nectar spurs will lead to especially interesting insights to the evolutionary origin of morphological novelties.
Effects of sucrose concentration on the accumulation of anthocyanins in grape (Vitis vinifera) cell suspension

A cell suspension of Vitis vinifera L. cv. Gamay Fredaux var. teinturier composed of 50% pigmented cells was grown in Gamborg B5 medium supplemented with (per litre) 250 mg casein hydrolysate, 0.1 mg α-naphthalenacetic acid, 0.2 mg kinetin, and either 20, 30, 50, or 60 g sucrose. In the presence of 20 and 30 g sucrose/L, growth of cells was characterized by a typical sigmoid pattern and maximum cell density was obtained in 30 g sucrose/L. In both media, the anthocyanin content of pigmented cells did not change significantly throughout the growth cycle. In the presence of 50 g sucrose/L, cell growth was characterized by an extended lag phase. During this period, there was a significant (P < 0.05) accumulation of anthocyanins in the pigmented cells. Browning of the medium and premature cell death was observed in medium with 60 g sucrose/L. Microscopic observation of the suspension revealed the occurrence of anthocyanoplasts, especially in anthocyanin-containing cells cultured in 50 g sucrose/L. In some inst.
Depression as a predictor of hypoglycemia worry in parents of youth with recent‐onset type 1 diabetes

During the recent‐onset period of type 1 diabetes (T1D), parents may be at increased risk for depression, stress, and hypoglycemia fear; however, current studies have not examined the parental psychological experience and anxiety from hypoglycemia fear (ie, hypoglycemia worry) over time. This study examined the trajectory of parental hypoglycemia worry (Hypoglycemia Fear Survey‐Worry [HFS‐Worry]) in families of children with recent‐onset T1D and the effects of baseline parental depression on parents' trajectory of HFS‐Worry.
Expression of TGFβ1/β3 during early chick embryo development

We have used an antibody against a TGFβ peptide fragment to localize this growth factor in the early chick embryo from laying to the ten‐somite stage of development. Western blotting showed that the antibody reacted with both mammalian TGFβ1 and chicken TGFβ3. By immunocytochemistry we find that at the earliest developmental stage (stage X of Eyal‐Giladi and Kochav) immunoreactivity to this antibody is primarily located in the cells of the area opaca and marginal zone, as well as in the most peripheral edge cells of the blastoderm. The yolk is non‐reactive, except in a highly localized region subjacent to the edge cells. This pattern persists at stage XII, and at both stages individual isolated cells in the epiblast and hypoblast are also reactive. By the time to gastrulation, reactivity in the epiblast is polarized to the ventral extremity of the cells, and again some isolated cells in this layer are intensely immunoreactive. At this stage also, the endoderm cells, particularly those underlying the primitive streak, are positive, as are the mesoderm cells lateral to the streak. At somite stages, the neuroepithelium is not reactive but the ectoderm lateral to it is strongly positive. At the caudal primitive streak levels of early somite embryos, the ectoderm and endoderm are immunoreactive while the mesoderm loses the reactivity it showed at the early gastrulation stages. The neuroepithelial cells later show reactivity at their apical poles, and, as at the earlier stages, individual cells show intense labelling. These results indicate that TGFβ1 and/or TGFβ3 immunoreactivity is developmentally regulated from very early stages of morphogenesis in the chick, and together with data from earlier functional studies, suggest that this factor has roles in embryonic axis formation and in blastoderm expansion. © 1994 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Spontaneous Local Calcium Transients Regulate Oligodendrocyte Development in Culture through Store-Operated Ca2+ Entry and Release

Abstract Oligodendrocytes (OLs) insulate axonal fibers for fast conduction of nerve impulses by wrapping axons of the CNS with compact myelin membranes. Differentiating OLs undergo drastic chances in cell morphology. Bipolar oligodendroglial precursor cells (OPCs) transform into highly ramified multipolar OLs, which then expand myelin membranes that enwrap axons. While significant progress has been made in understanding the molecular and genetic mechanisms underlying CNS myelination and its disruption in diseases, the cellular mechanisms that regulate OL differentiation are not fully understood. Here, we report that developing rat OLs in culture exhibit spontaneous Ca2+ local transients (sCaLTs) in their process arbors in the absence of neurons. Importantly, we find that the frequency of sCaLTs markedly increases as OLs undergo extensive process outgrowth and branching. We further show that sCaLTs are primarily generated through a combination of Ca2+ influx through store-operated Ca2+ entry (SOCE) and Ca2+ release from internal Ca2+ stores. Inhibition of sCaLTs impairs the elaboration and branching of OL processes, as well as substantially reduces the formation of large myelin sheets in culture. Together, our findings identify an important role for spontaneous local Ca2+ signaling in OL development.
Influence of sequential inoculum of Starmerella bacillaris and Saccharomyces cerevisiae on flavonoid composition of monovarietal Sangiovese wines

The selection of Starmerella bacillaris strains to be used with Saccharomyces cerevisiae as mixed cultures has been recently suggested in order to produce wines containing lower ethanol and higher glycerol concentrations and to promote fructose degradation due to their fructophilic character. However, studies about effects of such mixed starter cultures on phenolic compounds, which are responsible for the colour and health‐enhancing properties in red wines, are currently lacking. Therefore, in this work, the influence of sequential inoculated fermentation (SIF) with Starm. bacillaris and S. cerevisiae on phenolic content of monovarietal Sangiovese wine was evaluated by fermentations at laboratory scale. Axenic fermentations (AXFs) with S. cerevisiae were performed as control. S. cerevisiae attained higher cell densities in AXF compared with SIF. The experimental wines obtained by SIF showed significant lower ethanol and higher glycerol concentrations, whereas no significant difference was detected in colour intensity. The total phenol index reached significantly lower values in SIF. Furthermore, the wines produced by SIF contained higher concentrations of vitisin A that has a greater colour stability than the anthocyanin monomer. Finally, a lower content of both free anthocyanins and flavan‐3‐ols, key compounds for wine quality possessing also health‐enhancing properties, was found in wines obtained by SIF. On the contrary, no significant difference was detected on flavonol concentration between SIF and AXF. This study highlighted that the use of sequential inoculum of Starm. bacillaris and S. cerevisiae can contribute to increasing the colour stability of red wines, even if at the expense of compounds with health properties.
Vitamin D Status and Its Determinants in a Paediatric Population in Norway

Recommendations for sufficient vitamin D intake in children were recently revised in Norway. However, optimal levels of vitamin D are still debated and knowledge on supplementation and vitamin D levels in healthy children in Norway is scarce. Therefore, we measured the plasma-concentration of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) in children and adolescents attending the outpatient paediatric clinics in Innlandet Hospital Trust, Norway during two consecutive years (2015–2017). We recruited 301 children and adolescents aged 5 months to 18 years (mean 7.8, SD 4.4 years) for the study and obtained sample material for 25(OH)D measurements from 295 (98%). Information on diet, vitamin D supplementation, sun exposure, ethnicity, parental education and general health was collected by questionnaire. 25(OH)D levels were analysed and determinants for 25(OH)D were estimated by linear regression. 1.0% of the children had deficient levels (25(OH)D < 25 nmol/L) and 21.0% had insufficient levels (25–50 nmol/L). 25(OH)D levels ranging from 50 to 75 nmol/L were found among 38.3%, while 39.7% had levels above 75 nmol/L. The mean 25(OH)D level was 70.0 nmol/L (SD 23.4, range 17–142 nmol/L) with a significant seasonal variation with lowest levels in mid-winter and highest in late summer. In addition to seasonal variation independent determinants for 25(OH)D-levels were age of the child, parental ethnicity, vitamin D supplementation and soda consumption. Along with parental ethnicity other than Nordic, age was the strongest determinant of 25(OH)D, with adolescents having the lowest levels.
Complex leaf‐gathering skills of mountain gorillas (Gorilla g. beringei): Variability and standardization

The skills that mountain gorillas use to deal with the stings, tiny hooks, and spines protecting common plant leaves in their diet were examined for variation within and between animals. Many elements of uni‐ and bimanual performance were identified, often involving delicate precision and coordination, and varying idiosyncratically, erch individual having a different set of preferred elements. Many of these elements are functionally equivalent, and all but one weaned animals showed full processing capability; the history of the one exception suggests that early experience with the task may be important. Gorillas' idiosyncrasy in manual skill elements is entirely consistent with trial‐and‐error learning at this level. By contrast, each individual uses very few techniques (structured sequences of elements) for most processing, and these techniques are the same across the population. Where animals deviate from this generalization, they largely employ the simpler technique normally used for undefended leaves. Lateralization increases from start to finish, consistent with a logical structure in which each stage has a laterality bias and each stage is sequentially dependent on the last. Variations from their commonest, techniques occur in all animals (on average, about nine variant techniques were recorded from each animal). The repertoire of techniques increases significantly with age, whereas the repertoire of elements does not. This points to an initial reliance on a single logical structuring that is well established by weaning (about 3.5 years), with subsequent development of the ability to vary the technique used so as to take advantage of variations in the environment. Standardization of logical organization, despite variability between different animals in individual elements and behavioral laterality, suggests that the logical ordering of elements and the interrelationships of processing stages is copied by program‐level imitation. © 1993 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Evidence of the Role of Omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids in Brain Glucose Metabolism

In mammals, brain function, particularly neuronal activity, has high energy needs. When glucose is supplemented by alternative oxidative substrates under different physiological conditions, these fuels do not fully replace the functions fulfilled by glucose. Thus, it is of major importance that the brain is almost continuously supplied with glucose from the circulation. Numerous studies describe the decrease in brain glucose metabolism during healthy or pathological ageing, but little is known about the mechanisms that cause such impairment. Although it appears difficult to determine the exact role of brain glucose hypometabolism during healthy ageing or during age-related neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease, uninterrupted glucose supply to the brain is still of major importance for proper brain function. Interestingly, a body of evidence suggests that dietary n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) might play significant roles in brain glucose regulation. Thus, the goal of the present review is to summarize this evidence and address the role of n-3 PUFAs in brain energy metabolism. Taken together, these data suggest that ensuring an adequate dietary supply of n-3 PUFAs could constitute an essential aspect of a promising strategy to promote optimal brain function during both healthy and pathological ageing.
Use of lamplit roads by foraging bats in southern England

Roads illuminated by white streetlamps attracted three times more foraging bats (mostly Pipistrellus pipistrellus) than did roads lit by orange streetlamps or unlit roads (3.2, 1.2 and 0.7 bat passes/km, respectively). More insects flew around white lamps than around orange lamps (mean 0.67 and 0.083 insects per lamp, respectively). The mean number of bat passes recorded in any 1-km section of road was positively correlated to the number of white streetlamps along the section, and also, independently, to the amount of trees and hedgerows. Bat activity was not related to the number of houses along the road, ambient temperature or cloud cover. The attractive effect of the lamps on the bats was diminished in windy weather.
Traumatic brain injuries induced pituitary dysfunction: a call for algorithms

Traumatic brain injury affects many people each year, resulting in a serious burden of devastating health consequences. Motor-vehicle and work-related accidents, falls, assaults, as well as sport activities are the most common causes of traumatic brain injuries. Consequently, they may lead to permanent or transient pituitary insufficiency that causes adverse changes in body composition, worrisome metabolic function, reduced bone density, and a significant decrease in one’s quality of life. The prevalence of post-traumatic hypopituitarism is difficult to determine, and the exact mechanisms lying behind it remain unclear. Several probable hypotheses have been suggested. The diagnosis of pituitary dysfunction is very challenging both due to the common occurrence of brain injuries, the subtle character of clinical manifestations, the variable course of the disease, as well as the lack of proper diagnostic algorithms. Insufficiency of somatotropic axis is the most common abnormality, followed by presence of hypogonadism, hypothyroidism, hypocortisolism, and diabetes insipidus. The purpose of this review is to summarize the current state of knowledge about post-traumatic hypopituitarism. Moreover, based on available data and on our own clinical experience, we suggest an algorithm for the evaluation of post-traumatic hypopituitarism. In addition, well-designed studies are needed to further investigate the pathophysiology, epidemiology, and timing of pituitary dysfunction after a traumatic brain injury with the purpose of establishing appropriate standards of care.
Hepatic effects of low-dose rate radiation in natural mouse populations (Apodemus uralensis and Apodemus agrarius): comparative interspecific analysis

Abstract Hypothesis: Natural mouse populations in radioactive contamination zone provide adequate information about dose loads and biological effects for ‘non-human biota’. The comparative analysis of the responses of different species of mice allows us to reveal the possible variation in the effects of low-dose rate radiation relative to the ecological-physiological and functional-metabolic features of the species. Materials and methods: Objects of study – two sympatric rodent species [pygmy wood mouse (Apodemus uralensis Pallas, 1811) and striped field mouse (Apodemus agrarius Pallas, 1771)] caught on the territory of the East-Ural radioactive trace (EURT). The EURT zone is consequence the Kyshtym accident in South Urals in 1957. Nowadays, the main dose-forming radionuclide is β-emitting 90Sr. The individual dose rate of impacted mice caused by internal exposure to 90Sr varied from 0.021 to 0.152 mGy/day. The baseline functional-metabolic characteristics of the liver were researched: protein-, lipid-, and glycogen-synthesizing processes; glycolysis; aerobic synthesis of ATP; lipid peroxidation; and the H2O2-scavenging enzymatic status; and the functional activity of the genome. Results: The hepatic shifts for impacted populations are amplified with increasing dose rate of irradiation, regardless of which species is considered. But, the response of closely related species of rodents to irradiation is different both in the vector and the level (in A. agrarius sample was 2 time higher than that for A. uralensis). Conclusion: The radiation-induced hepatic shifts in A. uralensis from the EURT area correspond to the chronic response under stressful environmental conditions. The impacted population of A. agrarius can be considered the more reactive species to the radiation burden, demonstrating an acute effect. The interspecies contrast in the radiation response is associated with the original interspecies differences (background rodents’ samples in 28 km from the impact study site), and also the degree of residency of the species in the impact plots.
Parents' satisfaction with paediatric dental treatment under sedation: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND Patient-reported outcomes are under-investigated in the field of paediatric dental sedation. AIM Evaluate the satisfaction of parents/guardians with their children's dental sedation, compare it to the dentist's satisfaction, and identify associated factors. DESIGN This study was performed with parents/guardians of young children treated under sedation and dentists. Participants' satisfaction was measured using the visual analogue scale (0-100). Child's behaviour was classified using the Ohio State Behavioral Rating Scale. Other information was collected during interviews and from patient charts. The Spearman's, Mann-Whitney, and Kruskal-Wallis tests were performed (p < 0.05). RESULTS A total of 167 parents/guardians and ten dentists participated in the study. Protective stabilisation and atraumatic restorative treatment (ART) were used in 69.9% and 51.5% appointments, respectively. The parents/guardians (median: 91 [25-75 percentile: 75-96]) and dentists (76 [23-98]) were satisfied. Parental/guardian satisfaction was higher than dentist satisfaction (p ≤ 0.001). Parental/guardian satisfaction was positively correlated with quiet child behaviour (r = 0.347, p ≤ 0.001) and was associated with the non-use of protective stabilisation (p ≤ 0.001), no previous toothache (p=0.019), and the use of ART (p = 0.018). CONCLUSION The participants were satisfied with treatment under sedation. Parents/guardians were more satisfied, especially, when the child had cooperative behaviour.
Case Study

Recently, attention has focused on cancer incidence and mortality among workers in the semiconductor manufacturing industry. (1–4) It is well known that the semiconductor manufacturing industry is in flux as a result of the development of new manufacturing and process technologies that use diverse and complicated indispensable compounds. Because of these frequent changes there are unknown risk factors, such as various by-products in the working environment. The typical semiconductor manufacturing steps include oxidation, photolithography, dry etching, wet clean, metallization, chemical vapor deposition, ion implantation, and chemical mechanical polishing. (5,6) Chemical vapor deposition (CVD) is a process used to deposit a thin layer of material on the wafer surface by chemical reaction. The dielectric silicon dioxide (SiO2) CVD process using tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) and ozone (O3) as precursor materials in sub-atmospheric and atmospheric pressures is a very promising candidate because of its high reactivity and process properties, such as gap-filling capacity and damage-free process. (7,8) However, it is feared that by-product powder will be generated within the equipment chamber and released into the workplace, resulting in worker exposure during preventive maintenance tasks. In addition, if the powder generated consists of nanoparticles less than 100 nm, the potentially negative effects on worker health would increase. (9–14) Therefore, an investigation of the physical characteristics of the powder (such as particle size, surface area, shape, and crystal structure) is particularly important. (10,13) However, detailed identification (such as chemical composition, shape, size, and crystal structure) of the powder formed during the semiconductor manufacturing process has not yet been achieved. This study aims to elucidate physical characteristics of the powder by-product from the CVD process using TEOS and O3 as source materials and to reduce unknown risk factors in the work environment of the semiconductor manufacturing industry.
Effect of Poly(vinyl alcohol) on Nanoencapsulation of Budesonide in Chitosan Nanoparticles via Ionic Gelation and Its Improved Bioavailability

Chitosan (CS) is a polymer extensively used in drug delivery formulations mainly due to its biocompatibility and low toxicity. In the present study, chitosan was used for nanoencapsulation of a budesonide (BUD) drug via the well-established ionic gelation technique and a slight modification of it, using also poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) as a surfactant. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) micrographs revealed that spherical nanoparticles were successfully prepared with average sizes range between 363 and 543 nm, as were measured by dynamic light scattering (DLS), while zeta potential verified their positive charged surface. X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns revealed that BUD was encapsulated in crystalline state in nanoparticles but with a lower degree of crystallinity than the neat drug, which was also proven by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and melting peak measurements. This could be attributed to interactions that take place between BUD and CS, which were revealed by FTIR and by an extended computational study. An in vitro release study of budesonide showed a slight enhancement in the BUD dissolution profile, compared to the neat drug. However, drug release was substantially increased by introducing PVA during the nanoencapsulation procedure, which is attributed to the higher amorphization of BUD on these nanoparticles. The release curves were analyzed using a diffusion model that allows estimation of BUD diffusivity in the nanoparticles.