Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Outcomes of 3‐day discharge after elective cardiac surgery

Shorter length of stay (LOS) is a welcome consequence of optimized perioperative care. However, accelerated hospital discharge may have unintended consequences. Before implementing an institutional enhanced recovery after surgery protocol, we evaluated the safety of shorter LOS and compared outcomes of patients with shorter LOS (LOS ≤ 3 days) to those with longer LOS (LOS > 3 days).
An Integrated Perspective on Spatio-Temporal Attention and Infant Language Acquisition

Efficiency in the early ability to switch attention toward competing visual stimuli (spatial attention) may be linked to future ability to detect rapid acoustic changes in linguistic stimuli (temporal attention). To test this hypothesis, we compared individual performances in the same cohort of Italian-learning infants in two separate tasks: (i) an overlap task, measuring disengagement efficiency for visual stimuli at 4 months (Experiment 1), and (ii) an auditory discrimination task for trochaic syllabic sequences at 7 months (Experiment 2). Our results indicate that an infant’s efficiency in processing competing information in the visual field (i.e., visuospatial attention; Exp. 1) correlates with the subsequent ability to orient temporal attention toward relevant acoustic changes in the speech signal (i.e., temporal attention; Exp. 2). These results point out the involvement of domain-general attentional processes (not specific to language or the sensorial domain) playing a pivotal role in the development of early language skills in infancy.
Amino Acid Transporter LAT1 (SLC7A5) Mediates MeHg-Induced Oxidative Stress Defense in the Human Placental Cell Line HTR-8/SVneo

The placental barrier can protect the fetus from contact with harmful substances. The potent neurotoxin methylmercury (MeHg), however, is very efficiently transported across the placenta. Our previous data suggested that L-type amino acid transporter (LAT)1 is involved in placental MeHg uptake, accepting MeHg-L-cysteine conjugates as substrate due to structural similarity to methionine. The aim of the present study was to investigate the antioxidant defense of placental cells to MeHg exposure and the role of LAT1 in this response. When trophoblast-derived HTR-8/SVneo cells were LAT1 depleted by siRNA-mediated knockdown, they accumulated less MeHg. However, they were more susceptible to MeHg-induced toxicity. This was evidenced in decreased cell viability at a usually noncytotoxic concentration of 0.03 µM MeHg (~6 µg/L). Treatment with ≥0.3 µM MeHg increased cytotoxicity, apoptosis rate, and oxidative stress of HTR-8/SVneo cells. These effects were enhanced under LAT1 knockdown. Reduced cell number was seen when MeHg-exposed cells were cultured in medium low in cysteine, a constituent of the tripeptide glutathione (GSH). Because LAT1-deficient HTR-8/SVneo cells have lower GSH levels than control cells (independent of MeHg treatment), we conclude that LAT1 is essential for de novo synthesis of GSH, required to counteract oxidative stress. Genetic predisposition to decreased LAT1 function combined with MeHg exposure could increase the risk of placental damage.
Novel Use of PLGA Microspheres to Create an Animal Model of Glaucoma with Progressive Neuroretinal Degeneration

Progressive degeneration of neuroretinal tissue with maintained elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) to simulate chronic glaucoma was produced by intracameral injections of poly (lactic-co-glycolic) acid (PLGA) microspheres (Ms) in rat eyes. The right eye of 39 rats received different sizes of PLGA-Ms (2 µL suspension; 10% w/v): 14 with 38–20 µm Ms (Ms38/20 model) and 25 with 20–10 µm particles (Ms20/10 model). This novel glaucoma animal model was compared to the episcleral vein sclerosis (EPI) model (25 eyes). Injections were performed at baseline, two, four and six weeks. Clinical signs, IOP, retina and optic nerve thicknesses (using in vivo optical coherence tomography; OCT), and histological studies were performed. An IOP increment was observed in all three groups, however, the values obtained from the PLGA-Ms injection resulted lower with a better preservation of the ocular surface. In fact, the injection of Ms20/10 created a gentler, more progressive, and more sustained increase in IOP. This IOP alteration was correlated with a significant decrease in most OCT parameters and in histological ganglion-cell count for the three conditions throughout the eight-week follow-up. In all cases, progressive degeneration of the retina, retinal ganglion cells and optic nerve, simulating chronic glaucoma, was detected by OCT and corroborated by histological study. Results showed an alternative glaucoma model to the well-known episcleral vein model, which was simpler to perform, more reproducible and easier to monitor in vivo.
Decision-Making in Implantology—A Cross-Sectional Vignette-Based Study to Determine Clinical Treatment Routines for the Edentulous Atrophic Mandible

This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the influence of possible factors in the patient history on decision making in the therapy for a severely atrophied edentulous mandible. A vignette-based survey among 250 maxillofacial and oral surgeons was conducted. Determinants that could influence the therapy decision were patient age, smoking, fear of surgery, and radiotherapy in the head and neck area (the implant region is not in the direct radiation area). To achieve a suitable implant site, the options offered to the surgeons were bone split, bone block, augmentation with bone substitute material, and bone resection. There also was the option of rejecting any therapy. The response rate was 47%. Patient age, radiotherapy, and fear of surgery did not influence the approval of a therapy. Smoking was associated with a significantly lower endorsement of a treatment. Resection was preferred by a large majority to all other forms of therapy, regardless of the four determinants. Surgeons tend to refrain from bone block transplants in older patients. In summary, it can be said that, of the four determinants, only smoking influenced treatment refusal. Bone resection is the preferred therapy independent of all determinants.
Fracture properties of potato crisps

Summary The Weibull modulus of potato crisps is about 4, comparable with ceramic materials, with a characteristic strength of about 1.5 MPa. This combination of brittleness and weakness gives crispness. The critical stress intensity factor (KIC) and the energy of fracture (R) are around 0.12 MPa and 45 J m–2, respectively. There was no significant difference between the material values obtained for the fracture properties of crisps of a range of subjective ‘crispness’ as measured by a trained organoleptic panel. Crispness is ranked by the structural bending strength. Centrally loaded plate tests give qualitative evaluation of crispness. Both these tests could be used in quality control, with advantage over organoleptic tests such as cost, the time required, objectivity, consistency of results, the relation of the measured parameters to standard materials tests and the relatively small amount of material that is needed by comparison.
Vérification expérimentale de la formule de Gassmann dans les calcaires poreux

Dans cet article, nous presentons une verification experimentale, originale et convaincante, de la formule de Gassmann. Cette derniere permet de calculer l'effet du fluide saturant l'espace poreux d'une roche, sur les vitesses sismiques. La methode utilisee pour cette verification consiste en la mesure precise de la variation de vitesse de propagation des ondes ultrasonores P et S, lors de la substitution de liquides de module d'incompressibilite variable, dans six roches calcaires et dans une lave permeable. On peut ainsi montrer l'existence d'une relation experimentale lineaire entre le module d'incompressibilite de la roche (Ksat) et le module d'incompressibilite du liquide saturant (Kfl). Nous montrons que cette relation lineaire constitue une simplification de la formule de Gassmann tout a fait acceptable, quantitativement, pour les roches poreuses. L'ordonnee a l'origine de cette relation lineaire est egale au module d'incompressibilite de la roche seche (Kdry) et sa pente est directement liee au coefficient b de Biot. On dispose donc d'un moyen de controle quantitatif par l'estimation du module d'incompressibilite du mineral formant la roche (Kgrain). Dans le cas de la calcite, constituant les echantillons de calcaire, la valeur de ce parametre est bien connue. Sur un echantillon de calcaire, nous avons aussi pratique des substitutions de fluide en systeme diphasique (eau plus liquide non miscible a l'eau). Dans ce cas, la formule est encore verifiee lorsque l'on prend pour valeur de la compressibilite du fluide (1/Kfl), la moyenne des compressibilites des fluides presents, ponderees par leur fraction volumique.
Synthesis of biodegradable polymers from renewable resources

The vast majority of commodity materials are obtained from fossil fuels. However, many studies predict that all fossil resources will be depleted within a few centuries. Biomass represents an abundant carbon-neutral renewable resource for the production of materials. Using biomass for the production of new polymers can have both economic and environmental benefits. This review focuses on the use of biomass for the synthesis of biodegradable polymers.
Recent Progress on Exosomes in RNA Virus Infection

Recent research indicates that most tissue and cell types can secrete and release membrane-enclosed small vesicles, known as exosomes, whose content reflects the physiological/pathological state of the cells from which they originate. These exosomes participate in the communication and cell-to-cell transfer of biologically active proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids. Studies of RNA viruses have demonstrated that exosomes release regulatory factors from infected cells and deliver other functional host genetic elements to neighboring cells, and these functions are involved in the infection process and modulate the cellular responses. This review provides an overview of the biogenesis, composition, and some of the most striking functions of exosome secretion and identifies physiological/pathological areas in need of further research. While initial indications suggest that exosome-mediated pathways operate in vivo, the exosome mechanisms involved in the related effects still need to be clarified. The current review focuses on the role of exosomes in RNA virus infections, with an emphasis on the potential contributions of exosomes to pathogenesis.
Validation of a 22-Gene Genomic Classifier in Patients With Recurrent Prostate Cancer

Key Points Question Can a genomic biomarker estimate the risk of prostate cancer clinical end points in men who received salvage radiation for rising prostate-specific antigen levels after surgery? Findings In this ancillary study of 352 men randomized to placebo or hormone therapy in the NRG/RTOG 9601 clinical trial of salvage radiation, the Decipher genomic classifier was independently associated with the risk of metastasis, prostate cancer–specific mortality, and overall survival. Meaning These findings suggest that the Decipher genomic classifier is a promising biomarker to risk stratify men to better enable hormone therapy treatment decisions for biochemical recurrence of their prostate cancer after surgery.
Impact of different therapies on the survival of patients with stage I–IIA cervical cancer with intermediate risk factors

Background The aim of this study was to determine the effects of different therapies on patients with cervical cancer (CC) with intermediate risk factors. Methods Clinicopathological data of 596 patients diagnosed with stage I–IIA CC at the Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital of Fudan University between January 2013 and November 2015 were retrospectively reviewed. Of the patients, 500 patients received adjuvant therapy including chemotherapy (CT), radiotherapy (RT), and sequential chemotherapy and radiotherapy (CT + RT). Patients who displayed at least one intermediate risk factor number were screened. Results The median follow-up was 62 months. The 5-year progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) of the entire cohort were 90.4% and 90.9%, respectively. Univariate analysis showed that tumor stage, tumor size, pathological type, lymphovascular space invasion, and numbers of medium risk factors were not risk factors for early-stage CC. Compared with the control group, patients who received CT, RT, or CT + RT showed improved PFS and OS (P<0.05). The RT group had lower PFS and OS than the CT and CT + RT groups (P<0.05). Among the 318 patients with a single intermediate risk factor, 297 patients received CT, RT, and CT + RT benefit from adjuvant therapy (P<0.05). Of the 253 patients with high-risk factors, 220 patients received CT, RT and CT + RT get improved PFS and OS (P<0.05). Conclusions Patients who received adjuvant therapy had better postoperative outcomes than those who did not receive adjuvant therapy. Patients had CT alone or CT combined with RT had better efficacy than those had RT alone.
Impact of Adjuvant Chemotherapy on Survival of Patients with Advanced Residual Disease at Radical Cystectomy following Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background: Cisplatin-based neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) followed by radical cystectomy (RC) with pelvic lymph-node dissection is the standard treatment for cT2-4a cN0 cM0 muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC). Despite the significant improvement of primary-tumor downstaging with NAC, up to 50% of patients are eventually found to have advanced residual disease (pT3–T4 and/or histopathologically confirmed nodal metastases (pN+)) at RC. Currently, there is no established standard of care in such cases. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to assess differences in survival rates between patients with pT3–T4 and/or pN+ MIBC who received NAC and surgery followed by adjuvant chemotherapy (AC), and patients without AC. Materials and Methods: A systematic search was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA statement using the Medline, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases. The last search was performed on 12 November 2020. The primary end point was overall survival (OS) and the secondary end point was disease-specific survival (DSS). Results: We identified 2124 articles, of which 6 were selected for qualitative and quantitative analyses. Of a total of 3096 participants in the included articles, 2355 (76.1%) were in the surveillance group and 741 (23.9%) received AC. The use of AC was associated with significantly better OS (hazard ratio (HR) 0.84, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.75–0.94; p = 0.002) and DSS (HR 0.56, 95% CI 0.32–0.99; p = 0.05). Contrary to the main analysis, in the subgroup analysis including only patients with pN+, AC was not significantly associated with better OS compared to the surveillance group (HR 0.89, 95% CI 0.58–1.35; p = 0.58). Conclusions: The administration of AC in patients with MIBC and pT3–T4 residual disease after NAC might have a positive impact on OS and DSS. However, this may not apply to N+ patients.
Plant drought tolerance provided through genome editing of the trehalase gene

ABSTRACT Drought is one of the main abiotic factors that affect agricultural productivity, jeopardizing food security. Modern biotechnology is a useful tool for the generation of stress-tolerant crops, but its release and field-testing involves complex regulatory frameworks. However, gene editing technology mediated by the CRISPR/Cas9 system is a suitable strategy for plant breeding, which can lead to precise and specific modifications in the plant genome. The aim of the present work is to produce drought-tolerant plant varieties by modifying the trehalase gene. Furthermore, a new vector platform was developed to edit monocot and dicot genomes, by modifying vectors adding a streptomycin resistance marker for use with the hypervirulent Agrobacterium tumefaciens AGL1 strain. The gRNA design was based on the trehalase sequence in several species of the genus Selaginella that show drought tolerance. Arabidopsis thaliana carrying editions in the trehalase substrate-binding domain showed a higher tolerance to drought stress. In addition, a transient transformation system for gene editing in maize leaves was characterized.
The Deep Roots of Addiction: A Comparative Perspective

Addiction is a debilitating condition that extracts enormous social and economic tolls. Despite several decades of research, our knowledge of its etiology, preventive measures, and treatments is limited. A relatively recent research field with the potential to provide a more holistic understanding, and subsequently treatments, takes a phylogenetic view of addiction. This perspective is based on deep homologies at the genetic, proteomic, and behavioral levels, which are shared across all metazoan life; particularly those organisms faced with plant secondary metabolites as defensive compounds against insect herbivory. These addictive alkaloids, such as nicotine, cocaine, or cathinone, are commonly referred to as “human drugs of abuse” even though humans had little to no role in the co-evolutionary processes that determined their initial emergence or continued selection. This commentary discusses the overwhelming homologies of addictive alkaloid effects on neural systems across a wide range of taxa, as we aim to develop a broader comparative view of the “addicted brain. ” Taking nicotine as an example, homologous physiological responses to this compound identify common underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms that advocate for the adoption of a phylogenetic view of addiction.
Expansion of T regulatory lymphocytes by murine bone marrow dendritic cells previously stimulated with Anisakis simplex larval antigens.

BACKGROUND Anisakis simplex antigens present immunomodulatory properties by the induction of tolerogenic dendritic cells (DCs) in mice. OBJECTIVES To study the capacity of DCs stimulated with A. simplex excretory-secretory (ES) or crude extract (CE) to generate Tregs. To investigate in vitro effects of antigens on the metabolic activity of splenocytes induced by LPS or CpG. METHODS Phenotypic and functional characterization of T cells co-cultured with A. simplex-pulsed DCs was performed by flow cytometry. Lymphocyte mitochondrial respiratory activity was estimated by the Alamar Blue® Assay. FINDINGS In C57BL/6J, CD4+CD25-Foxp3+ and CD8+CD25-Foxp3+ populations increased by CE-stimulated-DCs. In BALB/c, CE-stimulated-DCs caused the expansion of CD4+CD25+Foxp3+IL-10+ and CD8+CD25+Foxp3+IL-10+. IFN-γ expression raised in BALB/c CD4+CD25+ and CD4+CD25- for CE and ES, respectively. ES-stimulated-DCs increased CD4+CD25+ Foxp3+ and CD8+CD25- Foxp3+ expression in T cells. The association of ES or CE with LPS produced the increase in splenocyte activity in C57BL/6J. The association of CE with CpG decreased the proliferation caused by CpG in C57BL/6J. MAIN CONCLUSIONS A. simplex increase the frequency of Tregs, which in turn produce IL-10 and IFN-γ. The host genetic base is essential in the development of anti-Anisakis immune responses (Th2, Th1, Treg).
RESISTOME AND COMPARATIVE GENOMICS OF CLINICAL ISOLATES OF DIARRHEAGENIC Escherichia coli FROM LIMA, PERU

In order to describe the genomic characteristics related to antimicrobial resistance and comparative genomics of diarrheagenic Escherichia coli (DEC), 14 DEC isolates from the strain collection of the Instituto Nacional de Salud (INS) were subjected to genome sequencing. We used bioinformatic procedures to analyze the obtained sequences in order to look for microbial resistance genes and genetic regions related to pathotypes and phylogroups. Several antimicrobial resistance determinants were detected, but the production of beta-lactamases and mutations associated to quinolone resistance were the most relevant. Additionally, we observed isolates of the same pathotype grouped in different phylogroups. The comparative genomics analysis showed a greater number of orthologous genes in isolates from the same pathotype and phylogroup. In conclusion, DEC isolates from Lima, Peru, showed resistance to multiple drugs; likewise, molecular and phylogenetic diversity was observed in several pathotypes and phylogroups.
Sialic Acid Receptors: The Key to Solving the Enigma of Zoonotic Virus Spillover

Emerging viral diseases are a major threat to global health, and nearly two-thirds of emerging human infectious diseases are zoonotic. Most of the human epidemics and pandemics were caused by the spillover of viruses from wild mammals. Viruses that infect humans and a wide range of animals have historically caused devastating epidemics and pandemics. An in-depth understanding of the mechanisms of viral emergence and zoonotic spillover is still lacking. Receptors are major determinants of host susceptibility to viruses. Animal species sharing host cell receptors that support the binding of multiple viruses can play a key role in virus spillover and the emergence of novel viruses and their variants. Sialic acids (SAs), which are linked to glycoproteins and ganglioside serve as receptors for several human and animal viruses. In particular, influenza and coronaviruses, which represent two of the most important zoonotic threats, use SAs as cellular entry receptors. This is a comprehensive review of our current knowledge of SA receptor distribution among animal species and the range of viruses that use SAs as receptors. SA receptor tropism and the predicted natural susceptibility to viruses can inform targeted surveillance of domestic and wild animals to prevent the future emergence of zoonotic viruses.
The Counterintuitive Relationship between Telomerase Activity and Childhood Emotional Abuse: Culture and Complexity

BACKGROUND: A burgeoning literature has found relationships between telomere length, telomerase activity, and human health and longevity. Although some research links a history of childhood adversity with shortened telomere length, our review found no prior research on the relationship between child maltreatment history and telomerase activity in adulthood. We hypothesized a negative relationship between child maltreatment and telomerase activity and hypothesized that the association would be moderated by sex. METHODS: These relationships were tested on a sample of 262 Hong Kong Chinese adults (200 females versus 62 males) with mild to moderate depression. RESULTS: Counterintuitively, emotional abuse was positively associated with telomerase activity, while other maltreatment types were non-significant. The positive relationship between emotional abuse and telomerase activity was significantly moderated by the sex of the participant. CONCLUSIONS: We advance two possible explanations for this finding (1) a culturally informed resilience explanation and (2) a homeostatic complexity explanation. The two explanations are not mutually exclusive. This trial is registered under Hong Kong Clinical Trial Register number HKCTR-1929. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: Emotional abuse was significantly positively associated with telomerase activity. There are at least two non-mutually exclusive explanations for the findings. Simply put, either (1) in the cultural context of Hong Kong emotional abuse was not a risk factor, and/or (2) the conceptualization of telomerase activity as a straightforward indicator of longevity is overly simplistic. The first story we might term a “resilience explanation” while the second we might call a “homeostatic complexity” story.