Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus: epidemiology and antimicrobial susceptibility experiences from the University Hospital ‘Luigi Vanvitelli’ of Naples

ABSTRACT Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is one of the important pathogens worldwide showing resistance to several widely used antibiotics. This has made the treatment of MRSA infections harder, especially due to their prevalence in the hospital setting. We evaluated the antibiotic susceptibility patterns of healthcare-associated MRSA infections with a focus on Vancomycin Intermediate S. Aureus (VISA) and macrolide-licosamide-streptogramin B (MLSB) phenotypes. A total of 417 Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) cases were isolated between January 2017 and December 2018, through several clinical specimens collected from the University Hospital ‘Luigi Vanvitelli’ of Naples. We identified bacterial strains using Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization-Time of Flight (MALDI-TOF) and antimicrobial susceptibility using Phoenix BD (Becton Dickinson, NJ, USA). Out of the total 417 S. aureus cases, 140 were MRSA (33.6%) and of these, 50% were soft tissue infections. All MRSA and Methicillin sensible S.aureus MSSA isolates were susceptible to linezolid and daptomycin. Two MRSA cases exhibited intermediate resistance to vancomycin and were of constitutive MLSB phenotype. Among the MRSA strains, 11.4% were constitutive and 43.6% were inducible MLSB phenotypes and 8.6% were macrolide-streptogramin B phenotype. This study characterized the epidemiological status, antibiotic resistance patterns, and current prevalent phenotypes of healthcare-associated MRSA. This knowledge can aid clinicians in improving the antimicrobial stewardship program by adapting appropriate guidelines for the proper use of MRSA antibacterial agents.
Bridging sensory and language theories of dyslexia: Toward a multifactorial model

Abstract Competing theories of dyslexia posit that reading difficulties arise from impaired visual, auditory, phonological, or statistical learning mechanisms. Importantly, many theories posit that dyslexia reflects a cascade of impairments emanating from a single “core deficit”. Here we report two studies evaluating core deficit and multifactorial models. In Study 1, we use publicly available data from the Healthy Brain Network to test the accuracy of phonological processing measures for predicting dyslexia diagnosis and find that over 30% of cases are misclassified (sensitivity = 66.7%; specificity = 68.2%). In Study 2, we collect a battery of psychophysical measures of visual motion processing and standardized measures of phonological processing in 106 school‐aged children to investigate whether dyslexia is best conceptualized under a core‐deficit model, or as a disorder with heterogenous origins. Specifically, by capitalizing on the drift diffusion model to analyze performance on a visual motion discrimination experiment, we show that deficits in visual motion processing, perceptual decision‐making, and phonological processing manifest largely independently. Based on statistical models of how variance in reading skill is parceled across measures of visual processing, phonological processing, and decision‐making, our results challenge the notion that a unifying deficit characterizes dyslexia. Instead, these findings indicate a model where reading skill is explained by several distinct, additive predictors, or risk factors, of reading (dis)ability.
Analysis of the color matching of universal resin composites in anterior restorations.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate color matching of universal composite restorations performed in anterior teeth using two evaluation methods. MATERIALS AND METHODS Sixty class III preparations were made on denture central incisors with different shades (A1-A3) and restored with multishade (Tetric Evoceram, Filtek Universal, and TPH Spectra Universal) and single-shade (Omnichroma) universal composites (n = 5). For photographic analysis, a digital photograph of each specimen was taken under standardized set-up. Color measurements were taken in the center of the restoration, and in the tooth surface 1.0 mm adjacent from the tooth/restoration margin. CIELab coordinates were recorded and color difference analysis (ΔE) was made using the CIEDE-2000 formula. For visual analysis, calibrated observers performed visual scoring of color matching and differences were graded as 0:excellent match; 1:very good match; 2:not so good match; 3:obvious mismatch; 4:huge mismatch. All data were statistically analyzed using a linear mixed model analysis with a confidence interval of 95%. RESULTS For photographic analysis, Omnichroma showed the highest ΔE compared to the other composites for all shades (P < .05), without difference among experimental groups regarding tooth shade. For visual analysis, Omnichroma showed the highest scores (P < .05) for all teeth shades, without differences between the other groups. Furthermore, there were no differences between visual scores for different shades of a same resin composite group. CONCLUSIONS Multishade universal composites presented higher color matching than the single shade universal composite. There were no differences of color matching for different tooth shades for all composites. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE Universal composites with increased color matching may be helpful to simplify anterior restorations, minimizing clinical errors.
BIOCHEMICAL AND PHYSIOLOGICAL RESPONSES OF THAI JASMINE RICE (ORYZA SATIVA L. SSP. INDICA CV. KDML105) TO SALT STRESS

The aim of this research was to investigate glycinebetaine (Glybet) accumulation in rice seedlings via the activity of betaine aldehyde dehydrogenase (BADH) and to characterize the physiological responses of Glybet-accumulated seedlings to salt stress. The BADH activity of Thai jasmine rice seedlings cultured photoautotrophically showed a progressive elevation during the first four days after growth under salt-stress condition (342 mM NaCl), but gradually decreased thereafter (days 6-8). This increase in BADH activity was accompanied by an accumulation of Glybet. In contrast, the BADH activity and Glybet content of control seedlings (0 mM NaCl) remained at a low and constant level during the same 8-day interval. Significant reductions in the concentrations of chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, total chlorophyll and total carotenoid of salt-stressed seedling were observed with increasing exposure time to salt-stressed conditions. The decrease in total chlorophyll concentrations of salt-stressed seedlings was positively related to reductions in the net photosynthetic rate (r = 0.89), and dry weight (r = 0.89). The dry weight of in-vitro salt-stressed seedling was positively related to their survival percentage (r = 0.94). The survival percentage of salt-stressed seedlings was significantly decreased with increasing exposure time to the salt-stressed conditions. The Glybet accumulation in salt-stressed rice seedlings is consistent with a defense response to salt-stressed conditions. These results suggest that assaying BADH activity and/or Glybet accumulation may be further used in screening for salt-tolerant varieties of indica rice.
The Long-Term Outcomes of Intensive Combined Therapy of Adult Patients with Localised Synovial Sarcoma

Introduction: Synovial sarcoma (SaSy) is a high-grade, malignant soft tissue sarcoma (STS) accounting for 5–9% of STS. The aim of this study was to analyse outcomes of patients with localised SaSy treated in a single institution with a uniform neo- and adjuvant-combined therapy protocol. Methods: 171 patients with stage II/III SaSy were treated between 1997 and 2014. Chemotherapy consisted of 4 cycles of ifosfamide 12 g/m2 and two cycles of a doxorubicin-based regimen 75 mg/m2. With the exception of patients who underwent amputation, all patients received neoadjuvant radiotherapy. Results: Median age was 33 years (range 17–69). Tumours larger than 5 cm in size were found in 70% of patients. The 5-year overall survival (OS), local relapse-free survival (LRFS) and metastasis-free survival (MFS) rates were 75%, 80% and 60%, respectively. In multivariate Cox’s regression, age > 35 years, male sex, larger tumour size and histology other than monophasic were associated with worse OS. Conclusions: In adult patients with localised SaSy, long-term survival can be achieved in a significant proportion of cases with intensive combined therapy. The multivariate analysis identified age, sex, disease stage and histology subtype as independent prognostic factors of OS.
Older people’s perceived autonomy in residential care: An integrative review

Autonomy has been recognised as a key principle in healthcare, but we still need to develop a consistent understanding of older people’s perceived autonomy in residential care. This study aimed to identify, describe and synthesise previous studies on the perceived autonomy of older people in residential care. Ethical approval was not required, as this was a review of published literature. We carried out an integrative review to synthesise previous knowledge published in peer-review journals in English up to September 2019. Electronic and manual searches were conducted using the CINAHL, Philosopher’s Index, PubMed, SocINDEX, Scopus and Web of Science databases. The data were analysed using the constant comparison method. The review identified 46 studies. Perceived autonomy referred to the opportunities that older people had to make their own choices about their daily life in residential care, and achieving autonomy promoted both health and quality of life. Autonomy was linked to older people’s individual capacities, including their level of independence, physical and mental competence, personal characteristics, and whether relatives shared and supported their perceived autonomy. Professionals could facilitate or hinder older peoples’ autonomy in a number of ways, including providing opportunities for autonomy, how daily care needs and activities were managed, and controlling older people’s choices. Professionals’ characteristics, such as education and attitudes, and the older people’s living environments were also associated with their perceived autonomy and included organisational characteristics and physical and social care facilitators. Older people’s perceived autonomy promoted health and quality of life in residential care. However, their autonomy was associated with a number of protective and restrictive individual and environmental factors, which influenced whether autonomy was achieved.
Mini-laparoscopic pyeloplasty to treat UPJO in infants

Abstract Purpose The aim of this study was to investigate the safety and clinical efficacy of mini-laparoscopic pyeloplasty in treating ureteropelvic junction obstruction (UPJO) in infants. Material and methods We retrospectively analysed the clinical data of 66 infants with UPJO from January 2013 to August 2018 at our hospital. They were divided into the laparoscopic surgery group (group A) and the open surgery group (group B), depending on the surgical method. Results The bleeding volume, analgesia duration, postoperative hospitalization duration, and incision length in group A were significantly less than those in group B (p < .05). The incidence of incision dehiscence was 0% in group A and 11.7% in group B (p = .045). At the postoperative follow-up, the incidence of anastomotic stenosis was 6.2% in group A and 5.9% in group B (p = .719). The anteroposterior diameter and glomerular filtration rate were significantly improved at the one-year follow-up, but there was no significant difference between the groups (p > .05). Conclusions Mini-laparoscopic pyeloplasty to treat UPJO in infants has the same early clinical efficacy and safety as open surgery, and this procedure has the advantages of fewer incisions, less pain, quicker recovery, and better cosmetic outcomes.
An E3 ubiquitin ligase, cullin‐4 regulates retinal differentiation in Drosophila eye

During organogenesis, cell proliferation is followed by the differentiation of specific cell types to form an organ. Any aberration in differentiation can result in developmental defects, which can result in a partial to a near‐complete loss of an organ. We employ the Drosophila eye model to understand the genetic and molecular mechanisms involved in the process of differentiation. In a forward genetic screen, we identified, cullin‐4 (cul‐4), which encodes an E3 ubiquitin ligase, to play an important role in retinal differentiation. During development, cul‐4 is known to be involved in protein degradation, regulation of genomic stability, and regulation of cell cycle. Previously, we have reported that cul‐4 regulates cell death during eye development by downregulating Wingless (Wg)/Wnt signaling pathway. We found that loss‐of‐function of cul‐4 results in a reduced eye phenotype, which can be due to onset of cell death. However, we found that loss‐of‐function of cul‐4 also affects retinal development by downregulating retinal determination (RD) gene expression. Early markers of retinal differentiation are dysregulated in cul‐4 loss of function conditions, indicating that cul‐4 is necessary for differentiation. Furthermore, loss‐of‐function of cul‐4 ectopically induces expression of negative regulators of eye development like Wg and Homothorax (Hth). During eye development, Wg is known to block the progression of a synchronous wave of differentiation referred to as Morphogenetic furrow (MF). In cul‐4 loss‐of‐function background, expression of dpp‐lacZ, a MF marker, is significantly downregulated. Our data suggest a new role of cul‐4 in retinal differentiation. These studies may have significant bearings on our understanding of early eye development.
Seasonal foraging responses of beavers to sodium-enhanced foods: an experimental assessment with field feeding trials

Salt drive is a seasonal phenomenon common to several classes of wild herbivores. Coincident with shifts of nutrient quality when plants resume growth in the spring, sodium is secondarily lost as surplus potassium is excreted. The beaver (Castor canadensis) is an herbivore whose dietary niche closely follows that of other herbivores that are subject to salt drive, but no published studies to date have assessed the likelihood of its occurrence. To quantify if beavers experience seasonal salt drive, we designed a field experiment to measure the foraging responses of beavers to sodium-enhanced foods. We used sodium-treated (salted) and control (no salt) food items (aspen [Populus tremuloides] and pine [Pinus spp.] sticks) during monthly feeding trials at beaver-occupied wetlands. If conventional ontogeny of salt drive was operant, we expected to observe greater utility of sodium-treated food items by beavers in May and June. Further, if water lilies (Nymphaea spp. and Nuphar spp.) supply beavers with sodium to meet dietary requirements as is widely speculated, we expected foraging responses to sodium-treated food items at wetlands where water lilies were absent to be greater than at wetlands where water lily was present. Aspen was selected by beavers in significantly greater amounts than pine. There was no difference between the mean percent consumed of salted and control aspen sticks by beavers at lily and non-lily wetlands, and no differences in temporal consumption associated with salted or control pine sticks at either wetland type. Salted pine was consumed in greater amounts than unsalted pine. We propose that the gastrointestinal or renal physiology of beavers may preclude solute loss, thereby preventing salt drive.
Annotated check list of host plants for Afrotropical fruit flies Diptera Tephritidae of the genus Ceratitis

Le present article fournit des donnees sur les plantes hotes de toutes les especes afrotropicales du genre Ceratitis MCLEAY (Diptera, Tephritidae). Les donnees sont basees sur des specimens de museums, sur de recents travaux de collecte et sur la litterature existante. Elles sont groupees selon les especes de mouches des fruits et les especes de plantes hotes, et classees selon le degre de confiance pouvant leur etre attribue. Lorsque necessaire, des precisions particulieres sont apportees pour certaines donnees individuelles. (Resume d'auteur)
Customizable 3D-Printed (Co-)Cultivation Systems for In Vitro Study of Angiogenesis

Due to the ever-increasing resolution of 3D printing technology, additive manufacturing is now even used to produce complex devices for laboratory applications. Personalized experimental devices or entire cultivation systems of almost unlimited complexity can potentially be manufactured within hours from start to finish—an enormous potential for experimental parallelization in a highly controllable environment. This study presents customized 3D-printed co-cultivation systems, which qualify for angiogenesis studies. In these systems, endothelial and mesenchymal stem cells (AD-MSC) were indirectly co-cultivated—that is, both cell types were physically separated through a rigid, 3D-printed barrier in the middle, while still sharing the same cell culture medium that allows for the exchange of signalling molecules. Biochemical-based cytotoxicity assays initially confirmed that the 3D printing material does not exert any negative effects on cells. Since the material also enables phase contrast and fluorescence microscopy, the behaviour of cells could be observed over the entire cultivation via both. Microscopic observations and subsequent quantitative analysis revealed that endothelial cells form tubular-like structures as angiogenic feature when indirectly co-cultured alongside AD-MSCs in the 3D-printed co-cultivation system. In addition, further 3D-printed devices are also introduced that address different issues and aspire to help in varying experimental setups. Our results mark an important step forward for the integration of customized 3D-printed systems as self-contained test systems or equipment in biomedical applications.
Cytotoxicity Produced by Silicate Nanoplatelets: Study of Cell Death Mechanisms

Nano-silicate platelets (NSP), an exfoliated product from natural clays, have been validated for biosafety and as an effective supplement to alleviate mycotoxicosis. Since NSP induced noticeable cell death, we therefore investigated further the mechanism of cytotoxicity caused by NSP. Exposure to NSP impaired membrane integrity and caused cell death in a dose-dependent manner. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation other than of NADH oxidase origin, and subcellular interactions by internalized NSP also contributed to NSP-induced cell death. NSP persistently provoked receptor-interacting protein 1 Ser/Thr (RIP1) kinase and caspase 6 and 3/7 activation without altering caspase 8 activity and induced evident chromatolysis of necrosis in the later stage. These events proceeded along with increased ER stress and mitochondrial permeability, to final Cyt-C (Cytochrome C) release and AIF (apoptosis inducing factor) translocation, a hallmark of cell necroptosis. Fluorescent probing further manifested NSP traffic, mostly adherence on the cell surfaces, or via internalization, being compartmentalized in the nuclei, cytosols, and mitochondria. Pharmacological approaches with specific inhibitors suggested that endocytosis and particularly RIP1 kinase provocation mediate NSP-induced cell death independent of caspase activation. In conclusion, the necroptotic process contributes to most of the cell death induced by NSP due to membrane interactions/impaired integrity, ROS generation, and subcellular interactions by internalized NSP.
Comparative Brain Imaging Reveals Analogous and Divergent Patterns of Species and Face Sensitivity in Humans and Dogs

Conspecific-preference in social perception is evident for multiple sensory modalities and in many species. There is also a dedicated neural network for face processing in primates. However, the evolutionary origin and the relative role of neural species sensitivity and face sensitivity in visuo-social processing are largely unknown. Conspecific-preference in social perception is evident for multiple sensory modalities and in many species. There is also a dedicated neural network for face processing in primates. However, the evolutionary origin and the relative role of neural species sensitivity and face sensitivity in visuo-social processing are largely unknown. In this comparative study, species sensitivity and face sensitivity to identical visual stimuli (videos of human and dog faces and occiputs) were examined using functional magnetic resonance imaging in dogs (n = 20; 45% female) and humans (n = 30; 50% female). In dogs, the bilateral mid suprasylvian gyrus showed conspecific-preference, no regions exhibited face-preference, and the majority of the visually-responsive cortex showed greater conspecific-preference than face-preference. In humans, conspecific-preferring regions (the right amygdala/hippocampus and the posterior superior temporal sulcus) also showed face-preference, and much of the visually-responsive cortex showed greater face-preference than conspecific-preference. Multivariate pattern analyses (MVPAs) identified species-sensitive regions in both species, but face-sensitive regions only in humans. Across-species representational similarity analyses (RSAs) revealed stronger correspondence between dog and human response patterns for distinguishing conspecific from heterospecific faces than other contrasts. Results unveil functional analogies in dog and human visuo-social processing of conspecificity but suggest that cortical specialization for face perception may not be ubiquitous across mammals. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT To explore the evolutionary origins of human face-preference and its relationship to conspecific-preference, we conducted the first comparative and noninvasive visual neuroimaging study of a non-primate and a primate species, dogs and humans. Conspecific-preferring brain regions were observed in both species, but face-preferring brain regions were observed only in humans. In dogs, an overwhelming majority of visually-responsive cortex exhibited greater conspecific-preference than face-preference, whereas in humans, much of the visually-responsive cortex showed greater face-preference than conspecific-preference. Together, these findings unveil functional analogies and differences in the organizing principles of visuo-social processing across two phylogenetically distant mammal species.
Moose mortality in eastern interior Alaska

We investigated causes of mortality and the physical condition of moose (Alces alces gigas) in a multiple-predator system in eastern interior Alaska, USA, from 1998 to 2000. We identified the sources of mortality of calf and cow moose and collected fecundity and fitness data to obtain information on range quality and carrying capacity. Radiocollars were placed on 30 cow moose in 1998 and on 62 moose calves in 1998 (n = 29) and 1999 (n = 33). Estimates of fecundity and fitness parameters indicated that reproductive potential for moose was high, with a twinning rate of 63%, a pregnancy rate of 89%, and above-average body sizes of female and neonate moose. We inferred that range quality may not be a significant limiting factor for this population. We documented low neonate survival through the first 14 weeks of life (28%). Predation was responsible for 92% of known calf mortality; black bears (Ursus americanus; 45%) and grizzly bears (Ursus arctos; 39%) were the major causes of mortality. Despite low population densities in this region, grizzly bears were an important predator on neonates as well as adult female moose. Mean annual calf and adult female moose survival (20% and 88%, respectively) were similar to rates reported in other low-density moose populations in North America. We also estimated from 7 to 12% of the population was harvested annually by humans, and of that, illegal cow harvest constituted at least 33%. Our data suggest that low calf survival, adult mortality from wolf (Canis lupus) and grizzly bear predation, illegal cow harvest, and low predator harvest, all act in concert to maintain this moose population at a low density.