Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Retinal and Renal Microvasculature in Relation to Central Hemodynamics in 11‐Year‐Old Children Born Preterm or At Term

Background Prematurity disrupts the perinatal maturation of the microvasculature and macrovasculature and confers high risk of vascular dysfunction later in life. No previous studies have investigated the crosstalk between the microvasculature and macrovasculature in childhood. Methods and Results In a case‐control study, we enrolled 55 children aged 11 years weighing <1000 g at birth and 71 matched controls (October 2014–November 2015). We derived central blood pressure (BP) wave by applanation tonometry and calculated the forward/backward pulse waves by an automated pressure–based wave separation algorithm. We measured the renal resistive index by pulsed wave Doppler and the central retinal arteriolar equivalent by computer‐assisted program software. Compared with controls, patients had higher central systolic BP (101.5 versus 95.2 mm Hg, P<0.001) and backward wave amplitude (15.5 versus 14.2 mm Hg, P=0.029), and smaller central retinal arteriolar equivalent (163.2 versus 175.4 µm, P<0.001). In multivariable analyses, central retinal arteriolar equivalent was smaller with higher values (+1 SD) of central systolic BP (−2.94 µm; 95% CI, −5.18 to −0.70 µm [P=0.011]) and forward (−2.57 µm; CI, −4.81 to −0.32 µm [P=0.026]) and backward (−3.20 µm; CI, −5.47 to −0.94 µm [P=0.006]) wave amplitudes. Greater renal resistive index was associated with higher backward wave amplitude (0.92 mm Hg, P=0.036). Conclusions In childhood, prematurity compared with term birth is associated with higher central systolic BP and forward/backward wave amplitudes. Higher renal resistive index likely moves reflection points closer to the heart, thereby explaining the inverse association of central retinal arteriolar equivalent with central systolic BP and backward wave amplitude. These observations highlight the crosstalk between the microcirculation and macrocirculation in children. Registration URL: http://www.clinicaltrials. gov. Unique Identifier: NCT02147457.
The Evolution of the Selfing Rate in Functionally Hermaphrodite Plants and Animals

Selfing, the fusion of male and female gametes from a single genetic individual or colony, is possible in many plants and also in hermaphrodite animals. We review the occurrence of selfing and mechanisms for its avoidance, in functionally hermaphrodite animal and plants. We discuss means by which selfing can be detected and briefly review techniques for estimation of selfing frequencies in natural populations. Although many functionally hcmaphrodite species are probably almost complete outcrossers or inbreeders, mixed mating systems are also found in both plant and animal populations. We review theories for the advantages and disadvantages of selfing, and for the maintenance of mixed mating systems, together
Which Zebrafish Strains Are More Suitable to Perform Behavioral Studies? A Comprehensive Comparison by Phenomic Approach

Wild-type (WT) zebrafish are commonly used in behavioral tests, however, the term WT corresponds to many different strains, such as AB, Tübingen long fin (TL), and Wild Indian Karyotype (WIK). Since these strains are widely used, there has to be at least one study to demonstrate the behavioral differences between them. In our study, six zebrafish strains were used, which are AB, absolute, TL, golden, pet store-purchased (PET), and WIK zebrafishes. The behavior of these fishes was tested in a set of behavioral tests, including novel tank, mirror-biting, predator avoidance, social interaction, and shoaling tests. From the results, the differences were observed for all behavioral tests, and each strain displayed particular behavior depending on the tests. In addition, from the heatmap and PCA (principal component analysis) results, two major clusters were displayed, separating the AB and TL zebrafishes with other strains in another cluster. Furthermore, after the coefficient of variation of each strain in every behavioral test was calculated, the AB and TL zebrafishes were found to possess a low percentage of the coefficient of variation, highlighting the strong reproducibility and the robustness of the behaviors tested in both fishes. Each zebrafish strain tested in this experiment showed specifically different behaviors from each other, thus, strain-specific zebrafish behavior should be considered when designing experiments using zebrafish behavior.
Fourier domain mode-locked opto-electronic oscillator with a diode-tuned bandpass filter.

We report what we believe to be the first Fourier domain mode-locked (FDML) opto-electronic oscillator (OEO) without using a tunable signal source to implement, such as a tunable laser or a tunable microwave source as described in the previous reports. We designed and fabricated a tunable microwave filter with individually packaged microwave components, in which a low cost diode-tuned phase shifter was used to rapidly tune the filter center frequency. We successfully realized Fourier domain mode-locking of an OEO using the diode-tuned filter and obtained linearly chirped microwave signals around 9 GHz with a chirp rate of 36 MHz/µs and a frequency tuning range of 0.4 GHz, which can be extended to 142 MHz/µs and 1.56 GHz, respectively, with a filter circuit using chip sized components. We found, for the first time to the best of authors' knowledge, that the phase noise of FDML OEO's delayed self-heterodyne signal is an excellent indicator for mode-locking frequency optimization, which had a "U" shape dependence on the detuning of the mode-locking frequency with a locking range of over 40 Hz. We also investigated harmonic mode-locking of the FDML up to 5th harmonics and achieved a chirp rate of 180 MHz/µs using the tunable filter of individually packaged components. Compared with the previous FDML OEO's implemented with tunable signal sources, our diode tuned FDML OEO has the advantages of low cost, compact size, excellent frequency tuning linearity, easy implemention and immunity to laser frequency drift and noise for achieving better frequency repeatability and lower phase noise.
Deconstructing the Direct Reciprocal Hippocampal-Anterior Thalamic Pathways for Spatial Learning

The hippocampus is essential for normal memory but does not act in isolation. The anterior thalamic nuclei may represent one vital partner. Using DREADDs, the behavioral consequences of transiently disrupting anterior thalamic function were examined, followed by inactivation of the dorsal subiculum. Next, the anterograde transport of an adeno-associated virus expressing DREADDs was paired with localized intracerebral infusions of a ligand to target specific input pathways. In this way, the direct projections from the anterior thalamic nuclei to the dorsal hippocampal formation were inhibited, followed by separate inhibition of the dorsal subiculum projections to the anterior thalamic nuclei. To assay spatial working memory, all animals performed a reinforced T-maze alternation task, then a more challenging version that nullifies intramaze cues. Across all four experiments, deficits emerged on the spatial alternation task that precluded the use of intramaze cues. Inhibiting dorsal subiculum projections to the anterior thalamic nuclei produced the severest spatial working memory deficit. This deficit revealed the key contribution of dorsal subiculum projections to the anteromedial and anteroventral thalamic nuclei for the processing of allocentric information, projections not associated with head-direction information. The overall pattern of results provides consistent causal evidence of the two-way functional significance of direct hippocampal-anterior thalamic interactions for spatial processing. At the same time, these findings are consistent with hypotheses that these same, reciprocal interactions underlie the common core symptoms of temporal lobe and diencephalic anterograde amnesia. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT It has long been conjectured that the anterior thalamic nuclei might be key partners with the hippocampal formation and that, respectively, they are principally responsible for diencephalic and temporal lobe amnesia. However, direct causal evidence for this functional relationship is lacking. Here, we examined the behavioral consequences of transiently silencing the direct reciprocal interconnections between these two brain regions on tests of spatial learning. Disrupting information flow from the hippocampal formation to the anterior thalamic nuclei and vice versa impaired performance on tests of spatial learning. By revealing the conjoint importance of hippocampal-anterior thalamic pathways, these findings help explain why pathology in either the medial diencephalon or the medial temporal lobes can result in profound anterograde amnesic syndromes.
Cheatgrass (Bromus Tectorum L.)--An Ecologic Intruder in Southern Idaho

Cheatgrass brome 1 (Bronnis tectorun) has proved to be a prolific immigrant. Arriving from Europe about 50 years ago, it has spread throughout practically all the arid West and has become a major member of the plant cover on vast areas. Plant collections are first recorded for Pennsylvania in 1861, Washington in 1893, Utah in 1894. Colorado in 1895, and Wyoming in 1900 (Warg, '38). By 1914 it had appeared in practically every state in the Union (U. S. Forest Service, '14). Presumably collections were made soon after appearance, but unfortunately, collection notes generally give no clue as to abundance even at the point of collection. Cheatgrass appeared in southern Idaho about 1900. Since then it has become a dominant species on approximately 4 million acres where it constitutes from 75 to 95 per cent of the herbage production. On another 2 million acres covered with sagebrush (Artetviisia tridentata Nutt. and related species), cheatgrass is the principal herbaceous species and in large parts almost the only one. On another 10 to 15 millions acres it forms part of the cover, from a mere trace to 20 or 25 per cent of the herbaceous species. On these ranges, principally the vast expanses of the Snake River Plains, it merely awaits the opportunity to take possession. Almost every year recurrent fire and other forms of misuse destroy sagebrush and native grass and allow cheatgrass to add many thousands of
Point-of-Care Diagnostics in Coagulation Management

This review provides a comprehensive and up-to-date overview of point-of-care (POC) devices most commonly used for coagulation analyses in the acute settings. Fast and reliable assessment of hemostasis is essential for the management of trauma and other bleeding patients. Routine coagulation assays are not designed to visualize the process of clot formation, and their results are obtained only after 30–90 m due to the requirements of sample preparation and the analytical process. POC devices such as viscoelastic coagulation tests, platelet function tests, blood gas analysis and other coagulometers provide new options for the assessment of hemostasis, and are important tools for an individualized, goal-directed, and factor-based substitution therapy. We give a detailed overview of the related tests, their characteristics and clinical implications. This review emphasizes the evident advantages of the speed and predictive power of POC clot measurement in the context of a goal-directed and algorithm-based therapy to improve the patient’s outcome. Interpretation of viscoelastic tests is facilitated by a new visualization technology.
Handheld multispectral imager for quantitative skin assessment in low-resource settings

Abstract. Significance: Spatial frequency domain imaging (SFDI) is a quantitative imaging method to measure absorption and scattering of tissue, from which several chromophore concentrations (e.g., oxy-/deoxy-/meth-hemoglobin, melanin, and carotenoids) can be calculated. Employing a method to extract additional spectral bands from RGB components (that we named cross-channels), we designed a handheld SFDI device to account for these pigments, using low-cost, consumer-grade components for its implementation and characterization. Aim: With only three broad spectral bands (red, green, blue, or RGB), consumer-grade devices are often too limited. We present a methodology to increase the number of spectral bands in SFDI devices that use RGB components without hardware modification. Approach: We developed a compact low-cost RGB spectral imager using a color CMOS camera and LED-based mini projector. The components’ spectral properties were characterized and additional cross-channel bands were calculated. An alternative characterization procedure was also developed that makes use of low-cost equipment, and its results were compared. The device performance was evaluated by measurements on tissue-simulating optical phantoms and in-vivo tissue. The measurements were compared with another quantitative spectroscopy method: spatial frequency domain spectroscopy (SFDS). Results: Out of six possible cross-channel bands, two were evaluated to be suitable for our application and were fully characterized (520 ± 20 nm; 556 ± 18 nm). The other four cross-channels presented a too low signal-to-noise ratio for this implementation. In estimating the optical properties of optical phantoms, the SFDI data have a strong linear correlation with the SFDS data (R2 = 0.987, RMSE = 0.006 for μa, R2 = 0.994, RMSE = 0.078 for μs′). Conclusions: We extracted two additional spectral bands from a commercial RGB system at no cost. There was good agreement between our device and the research-grade SFDS system. The alternative characterization procedure we have presented allowed us to measure the spectral features of the system with an accuracy comparable to standard laboratory equipment.
A Systematic Review of IoT Solutions for Smart Farming

The world population growth is increasing the demand for food production. Furthermore, the reduction of the workforce in rural areas and the increase in production costs are challenges for food production nowadays. Smart farming is a farm management concept that may use Internet of Things (IoT) to overcome the current challenges of food production. This work uses the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews (PRISMA) methodology to systematically review the existing literature on smart farming with IoT. The review aims to identify the main devices, platforms, network protocols, processing data technologies and the applicability of smart farming with IoT to agriculture. The review shows an evolution in the way data is processed in recent years. Traditional approaches mostly used data in a reactive manner. In more recent approaches, however, new technological developments allowed the use of data to prevent crop problems and to improve the accuracy of crop diagnosis.
Eyes as optical alarm systems in fan worms and ark clams

Eye structure and optics were investigated in two sabellid polychaetes ( Sabella melanostigma, Dasychone conspersa ) and three arcacean bivalves ( Arca zebra, Barbatia cancellaria, Anadara notabilis ). The polychaetes have numerous compound eyes arranged in pairs along the branchial tentacles. Each ommatidium is composed of three cells: one receptor cell forming a ciliary receptive segment, and two pigment cells forming an extracellular lens (crystalline cone). The ark clams Area and Barbatia possess large numbers of compound eyes arranged along the mantle edge. The ommatidia of these eyes are composed of one or two ciliary receptor cells surrounded by several layers of pigment cells. There are no lenses in the ommatidia of the clam eyes. All three species of ark clam also have many pigment-cup eyes on the mantle edge. The cup eyes lack lenses, and the cavity of the cup is filled with rhabdomeric microvilli from the receptor cells. The crystalline cones in the sabellid compound eyes are powerful lenses that reduce the field of view of the receptor cells to slightly more than 10°. The lensless ommatidia of Barbatia have much larger fields of view (« 30°). This difference correlates with a behavioural response to much finer moving stripes in the fan worms. A comparison of compound eyes and cup eyes in Barbatia reveals a poor resolution in both, but a much higher sensitivity is estimated for the cup eyes. The tentacular eyes of fan worms and the mantle eyes of ark clams trigger protective responses: retraction into the tube and shell closure, respectively. The responses are triggered by visual motion and the eyes work as burglar alarms rather than imaging eyes. For this purpose, the compound eyes may seem to occur in affluent numbers: 240 eyes with a total of 12 000 ommatidia in Sabella and 300 eyes with a total of 39 000 ommatidia in Barbatia . The number of ommatidia that simultaneously monitors any direction in space is, on average, 43 in Sabella and 755 in Barbatia . The large number of eyes is explained as a visual strategy which provides a robust alarm system designed to reliably detect predators without causing false alarms. The literature on tentacular eyes of fan worms and mantle eyes of bivalves is reviewed, and the evolutionary origin of these independently-acquired visual organs is discussed. I suggest the possibility that hyperpolarizing photoreceptor cells (shadow detectors) evolved from chemoreceptors that were inhibited by light.
Antibody Supervised Training of a Deep Learning Based Algorithm for Leukocyte Segmentation in Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma

The quantity of leukocytes in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) potentially have prognostic and treatment predictive value. Here, we propose a novel method for training a convolutional neural network (CNN) algorithm for segmenting leukocytes in PTCs. Tissue samples from two retrospective PTC cohort were obtained and representative tissue slides from twelve patients were stained with hematoxylin and eosin (HE) and digitized. Then, the HE slides were destained and restained immunohistochemically (IHC) with antibodies to the pan-leukocyte anti CD45 antigen and scanned again. The two stain-pairs of all representative tissue slides were registered, and image tiles of regions of interests were exported. The image tiles were processed and the 3,3′-diaminobenzidine (DAB) stained areas representing anti CD45 expression were turned into binary masks. These binary masks were applied as annotations on the HE image tiles and used in the training of a CNN algorithm. Ten whole slide images (WSIs) were used for training using a five-fold cross-validation and the remaining two slides were used as an independent test set for the trained model. For visual evaluation, the algorithm was run on all twelve WSIs, and in total 238,144 tiles sized 500 × 500 pixels were analyzed. The trained CNN algorithm had an intersection over union of 0.82 for detection of leukocytes in the HE image tiles when comparing the prediction masks to the ground truth anti CD45 mask. We conclude that this method for generating antibody supervised annotations using the destain-restain IHC guided annotations resulted in high accuracy segmentations of leukocytes in HE tissue images.
Skeletal Muscle Tissue Engineering: Biomaterials-Based Strategies for the Treatment of Volumetric Muscle Loss

Millions of Americans suffer from skeletal muscle injuries annually that can result in volumetric muscle loss (VML), where extensive musculoskeletal damage and tissue loss result in permanent functional deficits. In the case of small-scale injury skeletal muscle is capable of endogenous regeneration through activation of resident satellite cells (SCs). However, this is greatly reduced in VML injuries, which remove native biophysical and biochemical signaling cues and hinder the damaged tissue’s ability to direct regeneration. The current clinical treatment for VML is autologous tissue transfer, but graft failure and scar tissue formation leave patients with limited functional recovery. Tissue engineering of instructive biomaterial scaffolds offers a promising approach for treating VML injuries. Herein, we review the strategic engineering of biophysical and biochemical cues in current scaffold designs that aid in restoring function to these preclinical VML injuries. We also discuss the successes and limitations of the three main biomaterial-based strategies to treat VML injuries: acellular scaffolds, cell-delivery scaffolds, and in vitro tissue engineered constructs. Finally, we examine several innovative approaches to enhancing the design of the next generation of engineered scaffolds to improve the functional regeneration of skeletal muscle following VML injuries.
DNA Barcoding: A Reliable Method for the Identification of Thrips Species (Thysanoptera, Thripidae) Collected on Sticky Traps in Onion Fields

Simple Summary Thrips species (Insecta, Thysanoptera) identification using traditional approach is not an easy. In the present study, DNA barcoding was used to support the thrips species characterization of a wide collection sampled in onion fields. Our findings confirmed the selected method as a simple and accurate approach identifying major thrips species, characterizing successfully nearly 86% of the samples collected in nine main species. The results here reported underlined the role of genetic markers as a valuable and useful method for species identification, especially when the morphological approach is unsure or even impossible. Abstract Several thrips species (Insecta, Thysanoptera) are globally known as important crop pests and vectors of viral diseases, but their identification is difficult because of their small body size and inconspicuous morphological differences. Sequencing variation in the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) region has been proven to be useful for the identification of species of many groups of insect pests. Here, DNA barcoding has been used to identify thrips species collected with the use of sticky traps placed in an open onion field. A total of 238 thrips specimens were analyzed, 151 of which could be identified to species and 27 to genera belonging to the family Thripidae. Fifty-one specimens could not be assigned to any genus, with the closest BLAST match in the GenBank queries being below 98%, whilst six specimens were not recognized as Thysanoptera. The results indicate that, although there are a few pest thrips species not yet barcoded, most of the species that may cause damage to crops in Europe are represented in GenBank and other databases, enabling correct identification. Additionally, DNA barcoding can be considered a valuable alternative to the classic morphology method for identification of major thrips species.
Structure-Based Virtual Screening, Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of Potential FAK-FAT Domain Inhibitors for Treatment of Metastatic Cancer

Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) is a tyrosine kinase that is overexpressed and activated in several advanced-stage solid cancers. In cancer cells, FAK promotes the progression and metastasis of tumours. In this study, we used structure-based virtual screening to filter a library of more than 210K compounds against the focal adhesion targeting FAK-focal adhesion targeting (FAT) domain to identify 25 virtual hit compounds which were screened in the invasive breast cancer line (MDA-MB-231). Most notably, compound I showed low micromolar antiproliferative activity, as well as antimigratory activity. Moreover, examination in a model of triple negative breast cancer (TNBC), revealed that, despite not effecting FAK phosphorylation, compound I significantly impairs proliferation whilst impairing focal adhesion growth and turnover leading to reduced migration. Further optimisation and synthesis of analogues of the lead compound I using a four-step synthetic procedure was performed, and analogues were assessed for their antiproliferative activity against three breast cancer (MDA-MB-231, T47D, BT474) cell lines and one pancreatic cancer (MIAPaCa2) cell line. Compound 5f was identified as a promising lead compound with IC50 values in the range of 4.59–5.28 μM in MDA-MB-231, T47D, BT474, and MIAPaCa2. Molecular modelling and pharmacokinetic studies provided more insight into the therapeutic features of this new series.