Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A subset of pediatric-type thalamic gliomas share a distinct DNA methylation profile, H3K27me3 loss and frequent alteration of EGFR.

BACKGROUND Malignant astrocytic gliomas in children show a remarkable biological and clinical diversity. Small in-frame insertions or missense mutations in the EGFR gene have recently been identified in a distinct subset of pediatric-type bithalamic gliomas with a unique DNA methylation pattern. METHODS Here, we investigated an epigenetically homogeneous cohort of malignant gliomas (n=58) distinct from other subtypes and enriched for pediatric cases and thalamic location, in comparison with this recently identified subtype of pediatric bithalamic gliomas. RESULTS EGFR gene amplification was detected in 16/58 (27%) tumors, and missense mutations or small in-frame insertions in EGFR were found in 20/30 tumors with available sequencing data (67%; five of them co-occurring with EGFR amplification). Additionally, eight of the 30 tumors (27%) harbored an H3.1 or H3.3 K27M mutation (six of them with a concomitant EGFR alteration). All tumors tested showed loss of H3K27me3 staining, with evidence of EZHIP overexpression in the H3 wildtype cases. Although some tumors indeed showed a bithalamic growth pattern, a significant proportion of tumors occurred in the unilateral thalamus or in other (predominantly midline) locations. CONCLUSIONS Our findings present a distinct molecular class of pediatric-type malignant gliomas largely overlapping with the recently reported bithalamic gliomas characterized by EGFR alteration, but additionally showing a broader spectrum of EGFR alterations and tumor localization. Global H3K27me3 loss in this group appears to be mediated by either H3 K27 mutation or EZHIP overexpression. EGFR inhibition may represent a potential therapeutic strategy in these highly aggressive gliomas.
Effect of parity on reproductive performance sows of different breeds

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of parity on reproductive performance by sows of different breeds. The sows were raised on three farms, and had seven or more litters of not fewer than seven piglets. A total of 1511 litters from various parities of Lithuanian White (N =721), Large White (N = 162) and Landrace (N = 628) sows were contained in the data that were used in this study. Multiparous sows had larger litters than primiparous sows. Piglet survival rate declined from parity 7. An increase in litter size was observed until parity 5 in Large White and until parity 6 in improved Lithuanian White (P <0.05). In comparison with parity 1, Landrace sows up to parity 5 showed not only increased prolificacy, but also increased number and litter weight of piglets at 21 days old, and the number and litter weight of weaned piglets (P <0.01). The current findings indicate that sows of these breeds can be used effectively in breeding herds until parity 5 and parity 6.Keywords: Landrace, Large White, Lithuanian White, litter size
Advances in intramyocardial hemorrhage of perfused acute myocardial infarction by cardiovascular magnetic resonance

The mortality of the patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is greatly decreased by prompt revascularization. However, a substantial proportion of patients with AMI suffer from dysfunction of myocardial reperfusion, which affects long-term prognosis. Severe microvascular injury can cause intramyocardial hemorrhage (IMH), manifested as capillary endothelial cell connection damage and extravasation of erythrocytes. IMH further aggravates myocardial damage, enlarging myocardial infarct size, and provides incremental information to left ventricular remodeling and long-term major cardiovascular events. Cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) can achieve in vivo evaluation of IMH, using the paramagnetic effects of iron containing metabolites produced by erythrocyte lysis. This review aims to introduce the advances in IMH by cardiovascular magnetic resonance. DOI: 10.11855/j.issn. 0577-7402.2020. 08.12
Effectiveness of positive psychology interventions: a systematic review and meta-analysis

ABSTRACT A meta-analysis of positive psychology intervention (PPIs) studies was conducted. PPIs were defined as interventions in which the goal of wellbeing enhancement was achieved through pathways consistent with positive psychology theory. Data were extracted from 347 studies involving over 72,000 participants from clinical and non-clinical child and adult populations in 41 countries. The effect of PPIs with an average of ten sessions over six weeks offered in multiple formats and contexts was evaluated. At post-test, PPIs had a significant small to medium effect on wellbeing (g = 0.39), strengths (g = 0.46), QoL (g = 0.48), depression (g = −0.39), anxiety (g = −0.62), and stress (g = −0.58). Gains were maintained at three months follow-up. Individuals in non-western countries with clinical problems, who engaged in longer individual or group therapy programs containing multiple PPIs benefited most. This meta-analysis shows that PPIs have an extensive evidence base supporting their effectiveness.
The Determination of Inhibition Effect of Extracts of Thymbra sintenisii Bornm. et Aznav. Subsp on Angiotensin Converting Enzyme

Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE, peptidyldipeptidase A, EC 3.4.15.1) has got a significant role in the arrangement of blood pressure. ACE inhibitors usually play a part in the therapies of hypertension. Hypertension is an significant cardiovascular risk factor. The main purpose of the treatment is to reduce the incidence of hypertension. In this study, the inhibition effect of butanol and water extracts of Thymbra sintenisii Bornm. et Aznav. Subsp on angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) activity in human plasma was investigated. ACE activity was calculated at 345 nm spectrophotometrically. Extracts of Thymbra sintenisii Bornm. et Aznav. subsp plant with water and butanol were made. The effectiveness of these extracts on ACE activity was researched. Water and butanol extracts of Thymbra sintenisii indicated inhibition impact on ACE. IC50 values for water and butanol extracts of Thymbra sintenisii was measured to be 1.696 mg mL-1 and 0.395 mg mL-1 respectively. Inhibition type for water and butanol extracts of Thymbra sintenisii from Lineweaver-Burk chart was defined to be non-competitive inhibition. Synthetic ACE inhibitors are utilized in the therapy of hypertension. On the other hand, synthetic ACE inhibitors exhibit a large number of adverse effects. Therefore, ACE inhibitors have been newly researched from native herbs. These conclusions demonstrate that water and butanol extracts of Thymbra sintenisii plant may have an ACE inhibition capacity.
Modeling multivariate profiles using Gaussian process-controlled B-splines

Abstract Due to the increasing presence of profile data in manufacturing, profile monitoring has become one of the most popular research directions in statistical process control. The core of profile monitoring is how to model the profile data. Most of the current methods deal with univariate profile modeling where only within-profile correlation is considered. In this article, a linear mixed-effect model framework is adopted for dealing with multivariate profiles, having both within- and between-profile correlations. For better flexibility yet reduced computational cost, we propose to construct the random component of the linear mixed effects model using B-splines, whose control points are governed by a multivariate Gaussian process. Extensive simulations have been conducted to compare the model with classic models. In the case study, the proposed model is applied to the transmittance profiles from the low-emittance glasses.
Effect of eWOM stimuli and eWOM response on perceived service quality and online recommendation

ABSTRACT In congruence with the remarkable trend of consumer’s adoption of online hotel booking services, this study applies the Stimulus-Organism-Response (S-O-R) framework to analyse the direct triadic effect of electronic Word-of-Mouth (eWOM) stimuli including valence, volume, and image review on customer’s perceived service quality. Consequent effects of perceived service quality on the online recommendation intention of the customer are measured along with moderating effects of the hotel's eWOM response. In a single integrated framework, we conceptualised and examined the effects of stimuli (volume, valence and image-based view) on the organism (perceived service quality) and its subsequent effect on customer’s response in the form of recommendation intention. The results from the multiple regression analysis (with interaction effect) indicated the significant role of the eWOM stimuli in forming perceived service quality. As a novel contribution, this study identifies that eWOM response moderates the effect of eWOM stimulus on perceived service quality and online recommendation. Managerial implications are discussed.
Opening the Pandora Box: DNA-barcoding evidence limitations of morphology to identify Spanish mosquitoes

Cryptic speciation is frequent in the medically important mosquitoes. While most findings have been reported in tropical regions, it is an unexplored topic in countries where mosquito-borne diseases are not endemic, like Spain. The occurrence of recent outbreaks in Europe has increased the awareness on the native and invasive mosquito fauna present in the continent. Therefore, the central question of this study is whether the typological approach is sufficient to identify Spanish mosquitoes. To address this problem, we confronted the results of the morphological identification of 62 adult specimens collected from four different regions of Spain (La Rioja, Navarra, Castellón and the Island of Majorca) with the results obtained through DNA-barcoding. We conducted a comprehensive phylogenetic analysis of the COI gene region and compared this with the results of four species delimitation algorithms (ABGD initial partition, ABGD P=0.46%, bPTP and TCS). We report strong evidence for cryptic speciation in Anopheles algeriensis and Aedes vexans and reproductive isolation of the rock pool mosquito Aedes mariae. In addition, we report that the character present in the wings is not efficient to distinguish species Culiseta annulata from Culiseta subochrea, which distribution in the country may be different than previously described.
A Convolution Method to Assess Subgrid‐Scale Interactions Between Flow and Patchy Vegetation in Biogeomorphic Models

Interactions between water flow and patchy vegetation are governing the functioning of many ecosystems. Yet, numerical models that simulate those interactions explicitly at the submeter patch scale to predict geomorphological and ecological consequences at the landscape scale (order of km2) are still very computationally demanding. Here, we present a novel and efficient convolution technique to incorporate biogeomorphic feedbacks in numerical models across multiple spatial scales (from less than 1 m2 to several km2). This new methodology allows for spatially refining coarse‐resolution hydrodynamic simulations of flow velocities (order of m) around fine‐resolution patchy vegetation patterns (order of 10 cm). Although flow perturbations around each vegetation grid cell are not simulated with the same level of accuracy as with more expensive finer‐resolution models, we show that our approach enables spatial refinement of coarse‐resolution hydrodynamic models by resolving efficiently subgrid‐scale flow velocity patterns within and around vegetation patches (mean error, spatial variability, and spatial correlation improved by, respectively, 13%, 66%, and 49% on average in our test cases). We also provide evidence that our approach can substantially improve the representation of important biogeomorphic processes, such as subgrid‐scale effects on net sedimentation rate and habitable surface area for vegetation (respectively 66% and 39% better on average). Finally, we estimate that replacing a fine‐resolution model by a coarser‐resolution model associated with the convolution method could reduce the computational time of real‐life fluctuating flow simulations by several orders of magnitude. This marks an important step forward toward more computationally efficient multiscale biogeomorphic modeling.
A Compact Wideband Dielectric Loaded H-plane Sectoral Ridged SIW Horn Antenna

In this paper a compact and wideband ridged substrate integrated waveguide (RSIW) horn antenna is proposed. Unlike the previous works, the ridge structure in the proposed antenna is tapered only along the width allowing the antenna to be designed on just two-layer dielectric substrate. The tapered ridge is created by simple, different diameter size vias just in one layer. The antenna designed has dimension of 14 × 33 × 3 mm3 (1.4λo × 3.3λo × 0.3λo, where λo is the free space wavelength at 30 GHz) and a has a bandwidth of 41.32% covering 24 - 36.5 GHz with the reflection coefficient, S11, under -10 dB. The antenna is simulated through two software packages CST and HFSS and results are compared.
Reduced Sensitivity of Campomanesia adamantium (Cambess.) O. Berg Seeds to Desiccation: Effects of Polyethylene Glycol and Abscisic Acid

The Campomanesia adamantium is a threatened species from Brazil Savannah which seeds are desiccation-sensitive and do not withstand storage. This study aimed to reduce the sensitivity of Campomanesia adamantium seeds to desiccation using polyethylene glycol (PEG) and abscisic acid (ABA). Initially, seeds were subjected to PEG (0, -1.48, and -2.04 MPa) with or without ABA (100 μM) during 120 h, followed fast drying (silica gel) or slow drying (laboratory environment), at 20%, 15%, and 10% moisture content. In the second experiment, the seeds were PEG treated (-1.48 MPa) which provided the best results in the first experiment; the seeds were then subjected to different incubation times in PEG (30, 60, 90, or 120 h) and ABA (0, 10ˉ3, 10ˉ4, and 10ˉ5 μM), following the seeds were fast dried at 15% moisture content. The slow drying should be avoided, even in seeds previously subjected to osmotic conditioning with or without ABA. Seeds submitted to PEG treatment (-1.48 MPa/120h) without ABA and PEG (-1.48 MPa) with 10ˉ3 or 10ˉ4 μM of ABA (90 h), followed by fast drying at 15% moisture content showed reduction of desiccation sensitivity and high germination and vigor when compared to the other treatments.
Constructed Wetlands as Sustainable Technology for the Treatment and Reuse of the First-Flush Stormwater in Agriculture—A Case Study in Sicily (Italy)

This paper describes a case study that was carried out on a Sicilian company (Italy) dealing with separate waste collection and recycling of glass. The aims of this study were to evaluate the overall efficiency of a vertical subsurface flow system (VSSFs) constructed wetland (CW) operating for the treatment of first-flush stormwater and the effects of treated wastewater on the morphological and aesthetic characteristics of ornamental pepper and rosemary plants. The system had a total surface area of 46.80 m2 and was planted with common reed and giant reed. Wastewater samples were taken from October 2018 to July 2019 at the CW inlet and outlet for chemical-physical and microbiological characterization of the wastewater. Two separate experimental fields of rosemary and ornamental pepper were set up in another Sicilian location. Three sources of irrigation water, two accessions of rosemary and two varieties of ornamental pepper were tested in a split-plot design for a two-factor experiment. The results showed very high organic pollutant removal (BOD5 75–83%, COD 65–69%) and a good efficiency of nutrients (TN 60–66%) and trace metals (especially for Cu and Zn) removal. Escherichia coli concentration levels were always lower than 100 CFU 100 mL−1 during the test period. Irrigation water and plant habitus had significant effects on all the morphological and aesthetic characteristics of the plants. For both the crops, plants irrigated with freshwater and treated wastewater had greater growth and showed a better general appearance in comparison with plants irrigated with wastewater. The higher trace metal levels in the wastewater produced adverse effects on plant growth and reduced the visual quality of the plants. Our results suggest the suitability of a VSSFs constructed wetland for the treatment of first-flush stormwater and the reuse of treated wastewater for irrigation purposes, in accordance with legislation requirements concerning wastewater quality.
Motivação no serviço público: análise de uma secretária de saúde da Região Médio Alto Uruguai do RS

O presente estudo buscou compreender os fatores que envolvem a motivacao dos servidores no trabalho em servicos de saude publica municipal, analisando os pontos positivos existentes no ambiente do trabalho, identificando os fatores que motivam os servidores da secretaria de saude a desenvolverem suas tarefas e, por fim, sugerindo formas de motivacao no ambiente de trabalho. Dessa forma, o presente estudo buscou responder ao seguinte questionamento: Qual a percepcao dos servidores publicos em relacao as questoes de motivacao e satisfacao no setor de saude publica? A metodologia adotada caracteriza-se como quantitativa descritiva realizada por meio de um estudo de caso com levantamento de dados via questionario com 113 servidores alocados na Secretaria Municipal de Saude do municipio de Frederico Westphalen/RS. A realizacao deste estudo justificou-se pela importância de recursos humanos em uma organizacao para eficacia da realizacao de seus objetivos. Os resultados apontam que os servidores se encontram com indice de desmotivacao elevado, nao estao satisfeitos com o relacionamento interpessoal entre colegas, nem com o ambiente de trabalho, dois fatores que sao fundamentais para uma convivencia agradavel no ambiente de trabalho. Portanto, o estudo conclui que o poder publico municipal pode considerar a percepcao dos servidores a respeito dos aspectos abordados, buscando criar alternativas para que os mesmos possam desenvolver suas atividades de forma motivada, resultando em eficacia para a populacao em geral.
Revisiting the roles of replicase complex proteins in tobamovirus replication and suppression of RNA silencing

Tobamoviral replicase possesses an RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RDR) domain and is translated from genomic (g)RNA via a stop codon readthrough mechanism at a one-to-ten ratio relative to a shorter protein lacking the RDR domain. The two proteins share methyltransferase and helicase domains and form a heterodimer implicated in gRNA replication. The shorter protein is also implicated in suppressing RNA silencing based antiviral defenses. Using a stop codon mutant of Oilseed rape mosaic tobamovirus (ORMV), we demonstrate that the readthrough replicase (p182) is sufficient for gRNA replication and for subgenomic RNA transcription during systemic infection in Nicotiana benthamiana and Arabidopsis thaliana. However, the mutant virus displays milder symptoms and does not interfere with HEN1-mediated methylation of viral short interfering (si)RNAs or plant small (s)RNAs. The mutant virus tends to revert the stop codon, thereby restoring expression of the shorter protein (p125), even in the absence of plant Dicer-like activities that generate viral siRNAs. Plant RDR activities that generate endogenous siRNA precursors do not prevent replication or movement of the mutant virus, and double-stranded precursors of viral siRNAs representing the entire virus genome are likely synthesized by p182. Transgenic expression of p125 partially recapitulates the ORMV disease symptoms associated with overaccumulation of plant sRNAs. Taken together, the readthrough replicase p182 is sufficient for viral replication and transcription but not for silencing suppression. By contrast, the shorter p125 protein suppresses silencing, provokes severe disease symptoms, causes overaccumulation of unmethylated viral and plant sRNAs but it is not an essential component of the viral replicase complex.
Effect of heat treatments on the microstructure and mechanical properties of Zn-15 wt% Al alloy

The effect of heat treatment on the micro-structural and mechanical properties of Zn-15wt%Al alloys was investigated systematically in this work. After being annealed below 275 °C, granular α particles were distributed homogeneously in the η phase matrix, while a lamellar microstructure along with isolated η grains was observed when the alloys were annealed above 275 °C, followed by an air cooling (AC) treatment. A subsequent tensile test showed that the strength of alloys always increased with the annealing temperature. However, when the alloys were annealed above 275 °C, followed by a water-quenched (WQ) treatment, their strength firstly decreased with the aging time and then became unchanged. It was revealed by an in situ investigation that the γ′ phase retained from quenching decomposed gradually into an equiaxed microstructure during aging, leading to a reduction in the strength. Transmission electron microscopic (TEM) studies showed that dislocations were rarely inspected after a severely plastic deformation in the WQ-treated alloys, indicating that grain boundary sliding and rotation would be a dominant deformation mechanism. However, for the AC-treated alloys, dislocation tangles were easily found in lamellas due to the severe plastic deformations, demonstrating that in addition to grain boundary sliding and rotation, dislocation slip was another important deformation mechanism. A strength model, incorporating phase transformation dynamics with the law of mixtures, was established for the WQ-treated alloys annealed above 275 °C. Meanwhile, the number of α particles in the γ′ phase was assumed to be a key parameter for understanding the evolution of mechanical properties of Zn-15wt%Al alloys during the heat treatments. The more α particles in a unit volume of the γ′ phase, the easier plastic deformation the alloys is prone to, a lower strength and a larger elongation of the alloys will be.
Model selection for estimation of causal parameters

A popular technique for selecting and tuning machine learning estimators is cross-validation. Cross-validation evaluates overall model fit, usually in terms of predictive accuracy. This may lead to models that exhibit good overall predictive accuracy, but can be suboptimal for estimating causal quantities such as the average treatment effect. We propose a model selection procedure that estimates the mean-squared error of a one-dimensional estimator. The procedure relies on knowing an asymptotically unbiased estimator of the parameter of interest. Under regularity conditions, we show that the proposed criterion has asymptotically equal or lower variance than competing procedures based on sample splitting. In the literature, model selection is often used to choose among models for nuisance parameters but the identification strategy is usually fixed across models. Here, we use model selection to select among estimators that correspond to different estimands. More specifically, we use model selection to shrink between methods such as augmented inverse probability weighting, regression adjustment, the instrumental variables approach, and difference-in-means. The performance of the approach for estimation and inference for average treatment effects is evaluated on simulated data sets, including experimental data, instrumental variables settings, and observational data with selection on observables.