Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Comparison of random‐effects meta‐analysis models for the relative risk in the case of rare events: A simulation study

Pooling the relative risk (RR) across studies investigating rare events, for example, adverse events, via meta‐analytical methods still presents a challenge to researchers. The main reason for this is the high probability of observing no events in treatment or control group or both, resulting in an undefined log RR (the basis of standard meta‐analysis). Other technical challenges ensue, for example, the violation of normality assumptions, or bias due to exclusion of studies and application of continuity corrections, leading to poor performance of standard approaches. In the present simulation study, we compared three recently proposed alternative models (random‐effects [RE] Poisson regression, RE zero‐inflated Poisson [ZIP] regression, binomial regression) to the standard methods in conjunction with different continuity corrections and to different versions of beta‐binomial regression. Based on our investigation of the models' performance in 162 different simulation settings informed by meta‐analyses from the Cochrane database and distinguished by different underlying true effects, degrees of between‐study heterogeneity, numbers of primary studies, group size ratios, and baseline risks, we recommend the use of the RE Poisson regression model. The beta‐binomial model recommended by Kuss (2015) also performed well. Decent performance was also exhibited by the ZIP models, but they also had considerable convergence issues. We stress that these recommendations are only valid for meta‐analyses with larger numbers of primary studies. All models are applied to data from two Cochrane reviews to illustrate differences between and issues of the models. Limitations as well as practical implications and recommendations are discussed; a flowchart summarizing recommendations is provided.
Diet of Australopithecus robustus at Swartkrans from stable carbon isotopic analysis

Abstract Dietary adaptations of early hominids are generally understood to have played a crucial role in hominid evolution. The dietary habits of Australopithecus robustus are of special interest because the robust masticatory apparatus and characteristic dental features point to a distinctive dietary niche. Suggestions have ranged anywhere between carnivory and specialist herbivory, but current consensus has focused mainly on small hard items within the context of a vegetarian diet, and more particularly, frugivory. Few studies have challenged this perspective, although the results of a recent Sr/Ca study of A. robustus at Swartkrans were found to be inconsistent with herbivory. Here we address the question of A. robustus diet using 13C/12C ratio analysis of structural carbonate in tooth enamel, which has been shown to retain biogenic isotopic composition over long periods, contra earlier arguments based on bone apatite. Results for A. robustus, compared with other fauna from Swartkrans, show a mixed diet including both C3 and C4 foods. Since the C4 contribution must derive from consumption of grass or grazing animals, the data do not support either a specialist frugivorous or graminivorous niche for A. robustus; rather, they suggest a more generalized or omnivorous diet.
Activity pattern and thermal biology of a day‐flying hawkmoth (Macroglossum stellatarum) under Mediterranean summer conditions

Abstract. 1 The daily activity pattern and aspects of the thermal biology are described for the day‐flying hawkmoth, Macroglossum stellatarum L. (Lepidoptera: Sphingidae), while foraging at a flowering population of Lavandula latifolia (Labiatae) under the dry‐hot summer conditions of a southeastern Spanish locality. 2 The average abundance of M.stellatarum remained fairly constant from sunrise to about 17.00 hours (GMT), and a distinct peak occurred in the evening (18.00—20.00 hours). 3 Foraging took place over a broad range of microclimatic conditions, as described by air temperature (Ta; range 19‐36°C) and solar radiation (IR; range 1–1025 Wm‐2). 4 The thoracic temperature (Tth) of insects remained within relatively narrow limits (39–46°C), with the highest values occurring around noon. Variation in Tth mainly reflected differences in Ta between foraging sites and times. Tth was nonlinearly related to Ta, the rate of increase of Tth with Ta decreasing with increasing Ta. 5 The unusual tolerance of high Tth exhibited by M.stellatarum, and its enhanced thermoregulatory capacity at high Ta, enable this species to withstand the severe environmental conditions faced during diurnal foraging in the Mediterranean summer.
Population variability in social brain morphology for social support, household size and friendship satisfaction

Abstract The social brain hypothesis proposes that the complexity of human brains has coevolved with increasing complexity of social interactions in primate societies. The present study explored the possible relationships between brain morphology and the richness of more intimate ‘inner’ and wider ‘outer’ social circles by integrating Bayesian hierarchical modeling with a large cohort sample from the UK Biobank resource (n = 10 000). In this way, we examined population volume effects in 36 regions of the ‘social brain’, ranging from lower sensory to higher associative cortices. We observed strong volume effects in the visual sensory network for the group of individuals with satisfying friendships. Further, the limbic network displayed several brain regions with substantial volume variations in individuals with a lack of social support. Our population neuroscience approach thus showed that distinct networks of the social brain show different patterns of volume variations linked to the examined social indices.
Methyl-compounds driven benthic carbon cycling in the sulfate-reducing sediments of South China Sea.

Methane is a potent greenhouse gas; methane production and consumption within seafloor sediments has generated intense interest. Anaerobic oxidation of methane (AOM) and methanogenesis (MOG) primarily occur at the depth of the sulfate-methane transition zone (SMTZ) or underlying sediment, respectively. Methanogenesis can also occur in the sulfate-reducing sediments through utilization of non-competitive methylated compounds, however the occurrence and importance of this process is not fully understood. Here, we combined a variety of data, including geochemical measurements, rate measurements, and molecular analyses to demonstrate the presence of a cryptic methane cycle in sulfate-reducing sediments from the continental shelf of the northern South China Sea (SCS). The abundance of methanogenic substrates as well as the high MOG rates from methylated compounds indicated that methylotrophic methanogenesis was the dominant methanogenic pathway; this conclusion was further supported by the presence of the methylotrophic genus Methanococcoides. High potential rates of AOM were observed in the sediments, indicating that methane produced in situ could be oxidized simultaneously by AOM, presumably by ANME-2a/b as indicated by 16S rRNA gene analysis. A significant correlation between the relative abundance of methanogens and methanotrophs was observed over sediment depth, indicating that methylotrophic methanogenesis could potentially fuel AOM in this environment. In addition, higher potential rates of AOM than sulfate reduction rates at in situ methane conditions were observed, making alternative electron acceptors important to support AOM in sulfate-reducing sediment. AOM rates were stimulated by addition of Fe/Mn oxides, suggesting AOM could be partially coupled to metal oxide reduction. These results suggest that methyl-compound-driven methane production drives a cryptic methane cycling and fuels AOM coupled to the reduction of sulfate and other electron acceptors. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Knockdown of Ubiquitin-Specific Protease 53 Enhances the Radiosensitivity of Human Cervical Squamous Cell Carcinoma by Regulating DNA Damage-Binding Protein 2

Background: Cervical cancer ranks fourth in incidence and mortality among women. Ubiquitin-specific protein 53 binds to damage-specific DNA binding protein 2 and affects the biological properties of colon cancer. Damage-specific DNA binding protein is involved in nucleotide excision repair, which can repair DNA damage. However, the mechanism by which ubiquitin-specific protein 53 regulates the radiosensitivity of cervical cancer through damage-specific DNA binding protein remains unclear. Methods: Tissue samples from 40 patients with cervical squamous cell carcinoma who received radiotherapy were examined by immunohistochemistry to detect the expression of ubiquitin-specific protein 53, and clinical data were collected for statistical analysis. The cell cycle was detected by flow cytometry in Siha cells transfected with Si-USP53 and exposed to 8 Gy irradiation. Cell viability was determined by the CCK8 method in cells transfected with Si-USP53 and exposed to 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, or 10 Gy. The expression of damage-specific DNA binding protein, cyclin-dependent kinase 1, and cell cycle checkpoint kinase 2 was detected in cells transfected with Si-USP53. Results: The expression of ubiquitin-specific protein 53 in the tissues of patients with cervical squamous cell carcinoma was correlated with the sensitivity to radiotherapy. Knockdown of ubiquitin-specific protein 53 in Siha cells downregulated damage-specific DNA binding protein and caused G2/M cell cycle arrest and decreased the survival rate of cells in response to radiation. Conclusion: Ubiquitin-specific protein 53–induced cell cycle arrest and affected the radiotherapy sensitivity of tumors through damage-specific DNA binding protein.
Swimming toward solutions: Using fish and frogs as models for understanding RASopathies

The RAS signaling pathway regulates cell growth, survival, and differentiation, and its inappropriate activation is associated with disease in humans. The RASopathies, a set of developmental syndromes, arise when the pathway is overactive during development. Patients share a core set of symptoms, including congenital heart disease, craniofacial anomalies, and neurocognitive delay. Due to the conserved nature of the pathway, animal models are highly informative for understanding disease etiology, and zebrafish and Xenopus are emerging as advantageous model systems. Here we discuss these aquatic models of RASopathies, which recapitulate many of the core symptoms observed in patients. Craniofacial structures become dysmorphic upon expression of disease‐associated mutations, resulting in wider heads. Heart defects manifest as delays in cardiac development and changes in heart size, and behavioral deficits are beginning to be explored. Furthermore, early convergence and extension defects cause elongation of developing embryos: this phenotype can be quantitatively assayed as a readout of mutation strength, raising interesting questions regarding the relationship between pathway activation and disease. Additionally, the observation that RAS signaling may be simultaneously hyperactive and attenuated suggests that downregulation of signaling may also contribute to etiology. We propose that models should be characterized using a standardized approach to allow easier comparison between models, and a better understanding of the interplay between mutation and disease presentation.
Emotional distancing in nursing: A concept analysis.

BACKGROUND Emotional distancing was introduced as a means of coping with emotional labor. It safeguards healthcare workers from difficult emotional interactions with patients. It also provides caregivers with an escape from emotional exhaustion, compassion fatigue, and burnout. AIM This paper aims at defining emotional distancing by identifying its critical attributes and empirical use. DESIGN/DATA SOURCE A literature search was performed using applicable medical and health databases not merely restricted to the medical or nursing fields to understand the concept's true nature. "Emotional distance," "emotional distant," "emotional distancing," "emotionally distance," "emotionally distant," "emotionally distancing," "emotions [MeSH Terms] distance," "emotions distant," and "emotions distancing" were utilized as keywords and controlled vocabulary. REVIEW METHODS Walker and Avant's method was utilized as a comprehensive review of the literature to clarify the meaning of emotional distancing. Antecedents, characteristics, and consequences of emotional distancing were obtained systematically. RESULTS Based on the analysis, emotional distancing is a self-controlled defensive strategy involving emotional separation from patients to maintain neutrality. CONCLUSION Emotional distancing can enable health-related workers to protect the mental health of nurses while also providing best nursing care to patients. This helps reduce emotional labor and maintain nurses' professionalism. Further research is needed to develop a specific tool that can identify the circumstances and how healthcare workers can implement this strategy in practice. Emotional distancing is an important term that requires conceptual analysis as a coping strategy to protect the mental health of nurses while also serving the best nursing care to patients.
Pluripotent stem cell‐derived retinal organoids for disease modeling and development of therapies

Retinal diseases constitute a genetically and phenotypically diverse group of clinical conditions leading to vision impairment or blindness with limited treatment options. Advances in reprogramming of somatic cells to induced pluripotent stem cells and generation of three‐dimensional organoids resembling the native retina offer promising tools to interrogate disease mechanisms and evaluate potential therapies for currently incurable retinal neurodegeneration. Next‐generation sequencing, single‐cell analysis, advanced electrophysiology, and high‐throughput screening approaches are expected to greatly expand the utility of stem cell‐derived retinal cells and organoids for developing personalized treatments. In this review, we discuss the current status and future potential of combining retinal organoids as human models with recent technologies to advance the development of gene, cell, and drug therapies for retinopathies.
Time Course of Wrist Hyper-Resistance in Relation to Upper Limb Motor Recovery Early Post Stroke

Background. Patients with an upper limb motor impairment are likely to develop wrist hyper-resistance during the first months post stroke. The time course of wrist hyper-resistance in terms of neural and biomechanical components, and their interaction with motor recovery, is poorly understood. Objective. To investigate the time course of neural and biomechanical components of wrist hyper-resistance in relation to upper limb motor recovery in the first 6 months post stroke. Methods. Neural (NC), biomechanical elastic (EC), and viscous (VC) components of wrist hyper-resistance (NeuroFlexor device), and upper limb motor recovery (Fugl-Meyer upper extremity scale [FM-UE]), were assessed in 17 patients within 3 weeks and at 5, 12, and 26 weeks post stroke. Patients were stratified according to the presence of voluntary finger extension (VFE) at baseline. Time course of wrist hyper-resistance components and assumed interaction effects were analyzed using linear mixed models. Results. On average, patients without VFE at baseline (n = 8) showed a significant increase in NC, EC, and VC, and an increase in FM-UE from 13 to 26 points within the first 6 months post stroke. A significant increase in NC within 5 weeks preceded a significant increase in EC between weeks 12 and 26. Patients with VFE at baseline (n = 9) showed, on average, no significant increase in components from baseline to 6 months whereas FM-UE scores improved from 38 to 60 points. Conclusion. Our findings suggest that the development of neural and biomechanical wrist hyper-resistance components in patients with severe baseline motor deficits is determined by lack of spontaneous neurobiological recovery early post stroke.
Studies in Heterobasidiomycetes, Part 31*). On the Anther Smuts of Silene vuigaris (Moench) Garcke

Microbotryum silenes-inflatae (DC) G. Deml & Oberw. and Microbotryum violaceoirregulare (Brandenburger & Schwinn) G. Deml & Oberw. , both parasitic in the anthers of Silene vulgaris (Moench) Garcke, are compared by their morphology, karyology, and some cultural characteristics. The infection of their hosts is similar in both species, but causes different sizes of the flowers and different color of the spore mass. The teliospore initials of that smuts are produced in dikaryotic sporogenous hyphae. During gelatinization of the hyphal coat, surface ornamentations on the teliospores are formed. Mature teliospores are monokaryotic, and presumably diploid, reticulate in Microbotryum silenes-inflatae and echinulate in M. violaceo-irregulare. Teliospores of both species germinate without a resting periode. Germination results in a commonly three-celled promycelium, which in M. silenes-inflatae separates from the producing teliospore, while in M. violaceo-irregulare it remains on the teliospore during basidiospore formation. The basidiospores are monokaryotic and propagate by budding. Monokaryotic strains were isolated and characterized by standard yeast identification tests and by some enzymatic activities on solid media. While no differences in the enzymatic activities can be found, the species differ in their utilization of carbon sources.
Weed control by metabolites produced from Diaporthe schini

ABSTRACT Weed control is a critical factor to ensure productivity and quality for food production. Chemical control is the main method used worldwide, but the demand for healthier food and the farmers’ health and environment concerns have led to an increase in the search for alternative control methods. In this way, the use of biomolecules produced by microorganisms that present phytotoxic activity against weeds, such as exopolysaccharides, is attracting attention. For this purpose, this work compared two techniques (solid-state and submerged fermentation) for bioherbicide production by Diaporthe schini. Physicochemical characterization of both fermented broth and evaluation of bioherbicidal effect in post-emergence of Amaranthus viridis, Bidens pilosa, Echinocloa crusgalli, and Lollium multiflorum were performed. Fungal broth obtained by submerged fermentation presented better physicochemical characteristics in terms of viscosity, density, and surface tension. Overall, it was more effective than the broth obtained by solid-state fermentation for weed control because it presented an average inhibition of 40% of weed growth and 45% lower surface tension if compared to the control test. Also, reductions of 1.4–4.2 times of root dry mass, 2.9–5.8 times of shoot dry mass and 1.2–3.9 times of weeds heights, if compared to the control test, were achieved. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT
Proarrhythmic effect of automatic threshold testing algorithm in dual chamber devices

Operation of auto‐threshold testing (ATT) algorithm in current dual chamber cardiac devices require temporary shortening of atrio‐ventricular (AV) delay to accurately measure evoked potential (capture) after a pacing pulse. Near simultaneous AV pacing causes atrial pressure elevation and may be associated with atrial arrhythmias.
Design of Equipment for Sleep Positioning of Children with Cerebral Palsy

Published online: 20 April 2019 Background and Aim: Children with cerebral palsy (CP) may have musculoskeletal disorder due to inappropriate position during sleep. The aim of this study was to design the equipment for sleep positioning of children with CP. Materials and Methods: This research was a designing device study for sleep positioning of children with CP. The design was carried out in three stages: needs assessment, develop an idea and final design. Seventeen children with CP aged 2-12 year olds at the levels of III to V Gross Motor Function Classification System Expanded and Revised (GMFCSE&R) were recruited from Tehran and Karaj rehabilitation clinics by a convenience sampling strategy. For data collection, some demographic questionnaire and GMFCS E&R were used. Ethical Considerations: This study was approved in Research Ethics Committee of Faculty of Applied Arts at Tehran University of Art with the code IR. ART U.REC. 1394.118. Findings: In the process of needs assessment, a researcher made questionnaire and pictures of sleep positioning children with CP when they were sleeping were used. In developing an idea stage, the free and creative ideas under the name of black box, as well as, Etudes at the transparency stage were presented as the combination of creative ideas. In the final design stage, by using superior materials, positioning and packaging, we achieved a superior design. Conclusion: The proposed plan is designed as an interventional tool based on the need of Iranian children with CP and there is no similar national or international device available. The final design of the sleeping equipment includes a set of mattresses and a variety of modular styling devices based on a family centered approach, so that, allow parents to active engagement during sleep and rest of their children and can help the children to assume the proper positions. Keywords
Deep proteome profiling of semen of an Indian indigenous Malnad Gidda (Bos indicus) cattle.

BACKGROUND Malnad Gidda is a dwarf indigenous cattle breed of India, which is known for its uniqueness of calving every year under a low input grazing system of rearing. Bulls of Malnad Gidda are known to be highly fertile even in stress conditions. However, the proteomic profiling of semen of this breed has not been investigated so far, which might provide a platform for a better understanding of its semen quality and male fertility. Therefore, we made an effort to characterize and quantify the proteome of seminal plasma and spermatozoa components of Malnad Gidda semen using a high-resolution mass spectrometry platform. FINDINGS We identified 2,814 proteins from spermatozoa and 1,974 proteins from the seminal plasma of this breed. Furthermore, >90% of proteins from each fraction were quantified using the intensity-based absolute quantification. We observed signal peptides in 33% of seminal plasma proteins, indicating their secretory nature. Gene Ontology analysis revealed their involvement in cytoskeletal assembly associated with sperm head, sperm motility, acrosome reaction, seminal plasma binding, and spermatogenesis associated protein. CONCLUSIONS An in-depth proteome profiling of semen of a unique indigenous cattle of India was carried out. Our findings could provide a reference for further studies on sperm functions, semen quality, and reproductive health of Bos indicus cattle. Mass spectrometry data generated in this study is deposited and publicly made available through ProteomeXchange Consortium via the PRIDE partner repository with the dataset identifier PXD014172.