Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Stratigraphy and Chronology of Sodicho Rockshelter – A New Sedimentological Record of Past Environmental Changes and Human Settlement Phases in Southwestern Ethiopia

The preservation of archaeological remains and environmental information in a sediment accumulation can vary in caves and rockshelters, depending on external climatic conditions, and the circumstances within the shelter. Several sediment stratigraphies in the Horn of Africa are characterized by erosion layers, discordances and chronological gaps, that create uncertainties about the impact of climatic and environmental shifts on human settlements. Archaeological sites in Ethiopia that preserve information about human occupation during the Upper Pleistocene and Holocene often deal with major gaps during a period corresponding to MIS 2. In this study we present the first results of sedimentological, geochemical analyses and radiocarbon dating at Sodicho Rockshelter (1930 m above sea level) that provide evidence on high altitude settlement during this mentioned chronostratigraphic gap and subsequent time slices. This new archaeological site in the southwestern Ethiopian Highlands hosts a 2-m-long sediment record. So far, a stratigraphy has been excavated that dates back to ∼27 ka, including several settlement phases of Late Pleistocene and Holocene hunter-gatherers and providing information on environmental changes. A multiproxy approach was chosen to establish a first general stratigraphy of the site and to disentangle the sediment composition as well as site formation processes. The results suggest a variation of allochthonous and autochthonous geogenic deposits, and anthropogenic accumulation processes. With the help of radiocarbon dating, anthropogenic layers were dated covering the arid Last Glacial Maximum (LGM, ∼21 ± 2 ka). The occupation phases were interrupted in cause of environmental changes. The most prominent is the accumulation of reddish, archaeological sterile deposits that can be chronologically associated with the African Humid Period (AHP, ∼15–5 ka BP). Geochemical records point to dry spells within this humid phase, suggesting correlations with regional climate signals of lacustrine sediments. These sediment accumulations of past wet conditions are covered by alternating layers of Holocene volcanic fallout and sediments with preserved cultural material. Our study provides a preliminary impression of still poorly understood time periods of human occupation in the southwestern Ethiopian Highlands. The data obtained from Sodicho Rockshelter could validate the current state of knowledge and partially reduce the chronostratigraphic gap.
Alzheimer’s Disease Projection From Normal to Mild Dementia Reflected in Functional Network Connectivity: A Longitudinal Study

Background Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common age-related problem and progresses in different stages, including mild cognitive impairment (early stage), mild dementia (middle-stage), and severe dementia (late-stage). Recent studies showed changes in functional network connectivity obtained from resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) during the transition from healthy aging to AD. By assuming that the brain interaction is static during the scanning time, most prior studies are focused on static functional or functional network connectivity (sFNC). Dynamic functional network connectivity (dFNC) explores temporal patterns of functional connectivity and provides additional information to its static counterpart. Method We used longitudinal rs-fMRI from 1385 scans (from 910 subjects) at different stages of AD (from normal to very mild AD or vmAD). We used group-independent component analysis (group-ICA) and extracted 53 maximally independent components (ICs) for the whole brain. Next, we used a sliding-window approach to estimate dFNC from the extracted 53 ICs, then group them into 3 different brain states using a clustering method. Then, we estimated a hidden Markov model (HMM) and the occupancy rate (OCR) for each subject. Finally, we investigated the link between the clinical rate of each subject with state-specific FNC, OCR, and HMM. Results All states showed significant disruption during progression normal brain to vmAD one. Specifically, we found that subcortical network, auditory network, visual network, sensorimotor network, and cerebellar network connectivity decrease in vmAD compared with those of a healthy brain. We also found reorganized patterns (i.e., both increases and decreases) in the cognitive control network and default mode network connectivity by progression from normal to mild dementia. Similarly, we found a reorganized pattern of between-network connectivity when the brain transits from normal to mild dementia. However, the connectivity between visual and sensorimotor network connectivity decreases in vmAD compared with that of a healthy brain. Finally, we found a normal brain spends more time in a state with higher connectivity between visual and sensorimotor networks. Conclusion Our results showed the temporal and spatial pattern of whole-brain FNC differentiates AD form healthy control and suggested substantial disruptions across multiple dynamic states. In more detail, our results suggested that the sensory network is affected more than other brain network, and default mode network is one of the last brain networks get affected by AD In addition, abnormal patterns of whole-brain dFNC were identified in the early stage of AD, and some abnormalities were correlated with the clinical score.
GBP1 Facilitates Indoleamine 2,3-Dioxygenase Extracellular Secretion to Promote the Malignant Progression of Lung Cancer

IDO1-mediated immune escape can lead to the malignant progression of tumors. However, the precise mechanism of IDO1 remains unclear. This study showed that IDO1 can bind to GBP1 and increase the extracellular secretion of IDO1 with the assistance of GBP1, thereby promoting the malignant proliferation and metastasis of lung cancer. In vitro study showed that the high expression levels of IDO1 and GBP1 in lung cancer cells promoted cell invasion and migration. In vivo study revealed that knock-down of IDO1 and GBP1 inhibited tumor growth and metastasis. In addition, Astragaloside IV reduces the extracellular secretion of IDO1 by blocking the interaction of IDO1 and GBP1, thereby reducing T cell exhaustion and inhibiting tumor progression. These results suggest that blocking the extracellular secretion of IDO1 may prevent T cell exhaustion and thereby enhance the effect of PD-1 inhibitors on cancer treatment.
Secretory Vesicles Targeted to Plasma Membrane During Pollen Germination and Tube Growth

Pollen germination and pollen tube growth are important biological events in the sexual reproduction of higher plants, during which a large number of vesicle trafficking and membrane fusion events occur. When secretory vesicles are transported via the F-actin network in proximity to the apex of the pollen tube, the secretory vesicles are tethered and fused to the plasma membrane by tethering factors and SNARE proteins, respectively. The coupling and uncoupling between the vesicle membrane and plasma membrane are also regulated by dynamic cytoskeleton, proteins, and signaling molecules, including small G proteins, calcium, and PIP2. In this review, we focus on the current knowledge regarding secretory vesicle delivery, tethering, and fusion during pollen germination and tube growth and summarize the progress in research on how regulators and signaling molecules participate in the above processes.
Toxic Nightlife Relationships, Substance Abuse, and Mental Health: Is There a Link? A Qualitative Case Study of Two Patients

Introduction and Aims: This article explores the role of toxic close relationships in night life on substance use disorders and mental health conditions. We also contrast the quality and effects of social relationships when doing drugs with those produced by a mental health program that fosters quality relationships between patients. Design and Methods: This qualitative case study was carried out at a mental health day care center of a hospital in Malaga (Spain). The cases of two patients with severe mental disorders and a history of drug addiction were analyzed. Data were collected through in-depth interviews with every patient, semi-structured interviews about each patient with the psychologist of the medical team of the program, and medical documentation. The analysis involved a combination of inductive and deductive approaches. Results: The analysis of the data revealed, on the one hand, the influence of toxic relationships in nightlife, including violent sporadic sexual relationships, in the initiation and persistence of substance use that took part of the mental health disorder in these patients. On the other hand, the findings show that these participants' current involvement in a mental health program, which fosters quality relationships between patients, has brought emotional benefits to both of them. Discussion and Conclusion: This paper points out the relevance of considering quality of social relationships when examining substance use disorders and related mental health problems. Additionally, the findings indicate the importance of fostering quality peer relationships in mental health rehabilitation programs addressed to patients with histories of drug addiction to improve treatment outcome.
The Effects of Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy on Spastic Muscle of the Wrist Joint in Stroke Survivors: Evidence From Neuromechanical Analysis

Background: This study combined neuromechanical modeling analysis, muscle tone measurement from mechanical indentation and electrical impedance myography to assess the neural and peripheral contribution to spasticity post stroke at wrist joint. It also investigated the training effects and explored the underlying mechanism of radial extracorporeal shock wave (rESW) on spasticity. Methods: People with first occurrence of stroke were randomly allocated to rESW intervention or control group. The intervention group received one session of rESW therapy, followed by routine therapy which was the same frequency and intensity as the control group. Outcome measures were: (1) NeuroFlexor method measured neural component (NC), elastic component (EC) and viscosity component (VC), and (2) myotonometer measured muscle tone (F) and stiffness (S), (3) electrical impedance myography measured resistance (R), reactance (X) and phase angle (θ); (4) modified Asworth scale; (5) Fugl Meyer Upper limb scale. All outcome measures were recorded at baseline, immediately post rESW and at 1-week follow-up. The differences between the paretic and non-paretic side were assessed by t-test. The effectiveness of rESW treatment were analyzed by repeated-measures one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) at different time points. Results: Twenty-seven participants completed the study. NC, EC, and VC of the Neuroflexor method, F and S from myotonometer were all significantly higher on the paretic side than those from the non-paretic side. R, X, and θ from electrical impedance were significantly lower on the paretic side than the non-paretic side. Immediately after rESW intervention, VC, F, and S were significantly reduced, and X was significantly increased. The clinical scores showed improvements immediate post rESW and at 1-week follow-up. Conclusions: The observed changes in upper limb muscle properties adds further support to the theory that both the neural and peripheral components play a role in muscle spasticity. ESW intervention may be more effective in addressing the peripheral component of spasticity in terms of muscle mechanical properties changes. The clinical management of post stroke spasticity should take into consideration of both the neural and non-neural factors in order to identify optimal intervention regime.
A Semi-automated Organoid Screening Method Demonstrates Epigenetic Control of Intestinal Epithelial Differentiation

Intestinal organoids are an excellent model to study epithelial biology. Yet, the selection of analytical tools to accurately quantify heterogeneous organoid cultures remains limited. Here, we developed a semi-automated organoid screening method, which we applied to a library of highly specific chemical probes to identify epigenetic regulators of intestinal epithelial biology. The role of epigenetic modifiers in adult stem cell systems, such as the intestinal epithelium, is still undefined. Based on this resource dataset, we identified several targets that affected epithelial cell differentiation, including HDACs, EP300/CREBBP, LSD1, and type I PRMTs, which were verified by complementary methods. For example, we show that inhibiting type I PRMTs, which leads enhanced epithelial differentiation, blocks the growth of adenoma but not normal organoid cultures. Thus, epigenetic probes are powerful tools to study intestinal epithelial biology and may have therapeutic potential.
Assessment of Potential Risk Factors for the Development of Persistent Postural-Perceptual Dizziness: A Case-Control Pilot Study

Objectives: (1) To assess whether neuroticism, state anxiety, and body vigilance are higher in patients with persistent postural-perceptual dizziness (PPPD) compared to a recovered vestibular patient group and a non-dizzy patient group; (2) To gather pilot data on illness perceptions of patients with PPPD. Materials and Methods: 15 cases with PPPD and two control groups: (1) recovered vestibular patients (n = 12) and (2) non-dizzy patients (no previous vestibular insult, n = 12). Main outcome measures: Scores from the Big Five Inventory (BFI) of personality traits, Generalized Anxiety Disorder - 7 (GAD-7) scale, Body Vigilance Scale (BVS), Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI), modified Vertigo Symptom Scale (VSS) and Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire (BIPQ). Results: Compared to non-dizzy patients, PPPD cases had higher neuroticism (p = 0.02), higher introversion (p = 0.008), lower conscientiousness (p = 0.03) and higher anxiety (p = 0.02). There were no differences between PPPD cases and recovered vestibular patients in BFI and GAD-7. PPPD cases had higher body vigilance to dizziness than both control groups and their illness perceptions indicated higher levels of threat than recovered vestibular patients. Conclusion: PPPD patients showed statistically significant differences to non-dizzy patients, but not recovered vestibular controls in areas such as neuroticism and anxiety. Body vigilance was increased in PPPD patients when compared with both recovered vestibular and non-dizzy patient groups. PPPD patients also exhibited elements of negative illness perception suggesting that this may be the key element driving the development of PPPD. Large scale studies focusing on this area in the early stages following vestibular insult are needed.
Clinical Potential of Extracellular Vesicles in Type 2 Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a major public health disease which is increased in incidence and prevalence throughout the whole world. Insulin resistance (IR) in peripheral tissues and insufficient pancreatic β-cell mass and function have been recognized as primary mechanisms in the pathogenesis of T2D, while recently, systemic chronic inflammation resulting from obesity and a sedentary lifestyle has also gained considerable attention in T2D progression. Nowadays, accumulating evidence has revealed extracellular vesicles (EVs) as critical mediators promoting the pathogenesis of T2D. They can also be used in the diagnosis and treatment of T2D and its complications. In this review, we briefly introduce the basic concepts of EVs and their potential roles in the pathogenesis of T2D. Then, we discuss their diagnostic and therapeutic potentials in T2D and its complications, hoping to open new prospects for the management of T2D.
Corneal Biomechanical Properties in Varying Severities of Myopia

Purpose: To investigate corneal biomechanical response parameters in varying degrees of myopia and their correlation with corneal geometrical parameters and axial length. Methods: In this prospective cross-sectional study, 172 eyes of 172 subjects, the severity degree of myopia was categorized into mild, moderate, severe, and extreme myopia. Cycloplegic refraction, corneal tomography using Pentacam HR, corneal biomechanical assessment using Corvis ST and Ocular Response Analyser (ORA), and ocular biometry using IOLMaster 700 were performed for all subjects. A general linear model was used to compare biomechanical parameters in various degrees of myopia, while central corneal thickness (CCT) and biomechanically corrected intraocular pressure (bIOP) were considered as covariates. Multiple linear regression was used to investigate the relationship between corneal biomechanical parameters with spherical equivalent (SE), axial length (AXL), bIOP, mean keratometry (Mean KR), and CCT. Results: Corneal biomechanical parameters assessed by Corvis ST that showed significant differences among the groups were second applanation length (AL2, p = 0.035), highest concavity radius (HCR, p < 0.001), deformation amplitude (DA, p < 0.001), peak distance (PD, p = 0.022), integrated inverse radius (IR, p < 0.001) and DA ratio (DAR, p = 0.004), while there were no significant differences in the means of pressure-derived parameters of ORA between groups. Multiple regression analysis showed all parameters of Corvis ST have significant relationships with level of myopia (SE, AXL, Mean KR), except AL1 and AL2. Significant biomechanical parameters showed progressive reduction in corneal stiffness with increasing myopia (either with greater negative SE or greater AXL), independent of IOP and CCT. Also, corneal hysteresis (CH) or ability to dissipate energy from the ORA decreased with increasing level of myopia. Conclusions: Dynamic corneal response assessed by Corvis ST shows evidence of biomechanical changes consistent with decreasing stiffness with increasing levels of myopia in multiple parameters. The strongest correlations were with highest concavity parameters where the sclera influence is maximal.
Large-Scale High-Resolution Coastal Mangrove Forests Mapping Across West Africa With Machine Learning Ensemble and Satellite Big Data

Coastal mangrove forests provide important ecosystem goods and services, including carbon sequestration, biodiversity conservation, and hazard mitigation. However, they are being destroyed at an alarming rate by human activities. To characterize mangrove forest changes, evaluate their impacts, and support relevant protection and restoration decision making, accurate and up-to-date mangrove extent mapping at large spatial scales is essential. Available large-scale mangrove extent data products use a single machine learning method commonly with 30 m Landsat imagery, and significant inconsistencies remain among these data products. With huge amounts of satellite data involved and the heterogeneity of land surface characteristics across large geographic areas, finding the most suitable method for large-scale high-resolution mangrove mapping is a challenge. The objective of this study is to evaluate the performance of a machine learning ensemble for mangrove forest mapping at 20 m spatial resolution across West Africa using Sentinel-2 (optical) and Sentinel-1 (radar) imagery. The machine learning ensemble integrates three commonly used machine learning methods in land cover and land use mapping, including Random Forest (RF), Gradient Boosting Machine (GBM), and Neural Network (NN). The cloud-based big geospatial data processing platform Google Earth Engine (GEE) was used for pre-processing Sentinel-2 and Sentinel-1 data. Extensive validation has demonstrated that the machine learning ensemble can generate mangrove extent maps at high accuracies for all study regions in West Africa (92%–99% Producer’s Accuracy, 98%–100% User’s Accuracy, 95%–99% Overall Accuracy). This is the first-time that mangrove extent has been mapped at a 20 m spatial resolution across West Africa. The machine learning ensemble has the potential to be applied to other regions of the world and is therefore capable of producing high-resolution mangrove extent maps at global scales periodically.
Nephropathogenic Infectious Bronchitis Virus Infection Altered the Metabolome Profile and Immune Function of the Bursa of Fabricius in Chicken

Infectious bronchitis is a highly contagious, acute viral respiratory disease of chickens, regardless of the strain, and its infection may lead to considerable economic losses to the poultry industry. New nephropathogenic infectious bronchitis virus (NIBV) strains have increasingly emerged in recent years; hence, evaluating their infection-influenced immune function changes and the alteration of metabolite profiling is important. Initially, chickens were randomly distributed into two groups: the control group (Con) and the disease group (Dis). Here, the partial cytokines were examined, and the metabolome alterations of the bursa of Fabricius (BF) in NIBV infections in chickens were profiled by gas chromatography time-of-flight/mass spectrometry (GC-TOF/MS). The results revealed that the NIBV infection promotes the mRNA expression of inflammatory cytokines. Metabolic profile analysis indicated that clustering differed between the two groups and there were 75 significantly different metabolites detected between the two groups, suggesting that the host metabolism was significantly changed by NIBV infection. Notably, the following 12 metabolites were identified as the potential biomarkers: 3-phenyllactic acid, 2-deoxytetronic acid, aminomalonic acid, malonamide 5, uric acid, arachidonic acid, 2-methylglutaric acid, linoleic acid, ethanolamine, stearic acid, N-alpha-acetyl-l-ornithine, and O-acetylserine. Furthermore, the results of the correlation analysis showed that a strong correlation existed between metabolic biomarkers and inflammatory cytokines. Our results describe an immune and metabolic profile for the BF of chickens when infected with NIBV and provide new biomarkers of NIBV infection as potential targets and indicators of indicating therapeutic efficacy.
Direct Bullying and Cyberbullying: Experimental Study of Bystanders’ Motivation to Defend Victims and the Role of Anxiety and Identification With the Bully

School bullying among young adolescents is a globally pervasive problem, but is less common when bystanders are motivated to defend victims. Thus, the focus of this experimental study is on motivation to defend victims of bullying. Methods: A total of 388 students (M age = 12.22 years, 49.7% girls) from two Turkish public schools (5th–8th grade) participated in a vignette experiment. Students were randomized to one of two vignettes (direct vs. cyberbullying). Self-report measures of motivation to defend, trait anxiety, depression, and identification with the victim or bully were used. Results: Participants reported more autonomous motivation in the cyberbullying condition, while those who witnessed direct bullying reported higher anxiety and depression. Results also revealed that this type of condition was associated with anxiety and depression, while anxiety was associated with autonomous motivation to defend. Finally, participants in the direct bullying condition were more likely to identify with the bully. Conclusion: Findings advance our understanding of when and why adolescents are motivated to help victims of bullying because they give a richer picture of what they assess when deciding whether or not they should intervene.