Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Habitat and Seasonality Affect Mosquito Community Composition in the West Region of Cameroon

To identify potential sylvatic, urban and bridge-vectors that can be involved in current or future virus spillover from wild to more urbanised areas, entomological field surveys were conducted in rural, peri-urban and urban areas spanning the rainy and dry seasons in western Cameroon. A total of 2650 mosquitoes belonging to 37 species and eight genera were collected. Mosquito species richness was significantly influenced by the specific combination of the habitat type and the season. The highest species richness was found in the peri-urban area (S = 30, Chao1 = 121 ± 50.63, ACE = 51.97 ± 3.88) during the dry season (S = 28, Chao1 = 64 ± 25.7, ACE = 38.33 ± 3.1). Aedes (Ae.) africanus and Culex (Cx.) moucheti were only found in the rural and peri-urban areas, while Cx. pipiens s.l. and Ae. aegypti were only found in the urban area. Cx. (Culiciomyia) spp. , Cx. duttoni and Ae. albopictus were caught in the three habitat types. Importantly, approximately 52% of the mosquito species collected in this study have been implicated in the transmission of diverse arboviruses. This entomological survey provides a catalogue of the different mosquito species that may be involved in the transmission of arboviruses. Further investigations are needed to study the vectorial capacity of each mosquito species in arbovirus transmission.
The effects of spatial pattern of nutrient supply on yield, structure and mortality in plant populations

1 Early in growth, plant populations subjected to heterogeneous conditions can achieve significantly higher yields than populations grown in homogeneous conditions that provide the same amount of nutrients. We hypothesized that this yield enhancement would be ephemeral, and that yields of populations grown under different patterns of nutrient supply will converge as time passes. We also predicted that plant size frequency distributions will continue to differ between populations in heterogeneous and homogeneous conditions, that spatial patterns of mortality will differ, and that greater mortality will occur in populations under heterogeneous conditions. An experiment was carried out on Cardamine hirsuta to test these hypotheses. 2 The experiment was harvested after 60 days, when flowering had begun in all populations. At this time, populations grown with the same nutrient supply but different patterns of supply did not differ in yield. Populations grown at higher nutrient levels had greater yields but suffered more mortality. 3 In heterogeneous conditions, plants in nutrient‐rich locations were larger than plants in nutrient‐poor locations, and larger than plants in identical positions in populations growing under homogeneous conditions. Plants in nutrient‐rich patches in heterogeneous treatments suffered more mortality than plants in nutrient‐poor patches. Contrary to prediction, total mortality at all levels of nutrient supply was significantly higher in populations in homogeneous conditions. 4 Coefficient of variation in shoot sizes was higher in populations at higher nutrient levels, but unaffected by pattern of nutrient supply. CV of root mass per unit of substrate was greater under heterogeneous than homogeneous conditions. 5 Frequency distributions of shoot size, and root mass per unit of substrate, were strikingly different between populations grown under different patterns of nutrient supply. The differences are interpreted as showing that under homogeneous conditions all parts of the habitat are heavily exploited, giving rise to uniformly high levels of interplant competition. In contrast, nutrient‐poor patches in the heterogeneous treatments contain low root masses. Plants in these patches remain small, but have a high probability of survival. We propose that these differences in intensity of habitat occupation, and presumably in competition, explain the lower mortality in populations growing under heterogeneous conditions.
Secondary myelodysplastic syndrome and leukemia in acquired aplastic anemia and paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria.

Acquired aplastic anemia (AA) and paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) are pathogenically related non-malignant bone marrow failure disorders linked to T-cell mediated autoimmunity and associated with an increased risk of secondary myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Approximately 15-20% of AA patients and 2-6% of PNH patients go on to develop secondary MDS/AML by ten years of follow-up. Factors determining an individual patient's risk of malignant transformation remain poorly defined. Recent studies identified nearly ubiquitous clonal hematopoiesis (CH) in AA patients. Similarly, CH with additional, non-PIGA, somatic alterations occurs in the majority of patients with PNH. Factors associated with progression to secondary MDS/AML include longer duration of disease, increased telomere attrition, presence of adverse prognostic mutations and multiple mutations, particularly when occurring early in the disease course and at a high allelic burden. Here, we will review the prevalence and characteristics of somatic alterations in AA and PNH and will explore their prognostic significance and mechanisms of clonal selection. We will then discuss the available data on post-AA and post-PNH progression to secondary MDS/AML and provide practical guidance for approaching patients with PNH and AA who have CH.
Determining biogeographical patterns of dispersal and diversification in oscine passerine birds in Australia, Southeast Asia and Africa

Aim Several independent studies suggest that oscine passerine birds originated in Eastern Gondwana/Australia and from there spread to Southeast Asia and then to Africa. A recently constructed supertree including 1724 oscine taxa forms the basis for this study, in which we present a more detailed hypothesis of this out‐of‐Australia scenario.
Anti-coagulant and anti-platelet therapy in the COVID-19 patient: a best practices quality initiative across a large health system

ABSTRACT The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic due to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has challenged health-care systems and physicians worldwide to attempt to provide the best care to their patients with an evolving understanding of this unique pathogen. This disease and its worldwide impact have sparked tremendous interest in the epidemiology, pathogenesis, and clinical consequences of COVID-19. This accumulating body of evidence has centered around case series and often empiric therapies as controlled trials are just getting underway. What is clear is that patients appear to be at higher risk for thrombotic disease states including acute coronary syndrome (ACS), venous thromboembolism (VTE) such as deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or pulmonary embolism (PE), or stroke. Patients with underlying cardiovascular disease are also at higher risk for morbidity and mortality if infected. These patients are commonly treated with anticoagulation and/or antiplatelet medications and less commonly thrombolysis during hospitalization, potentially with great benefit but the management of these medications can be difficult in potentially critically ill patients. In an effort to align practice patterns across a large health system (Jefferson Health 2,622 staffed inpatient beds and 319 intensive care unit (ICU) beds across 14 facilities), a task force was assembled to address the utilization of anti-thrombotic and anti-platelet therapy in COVID-19 positive or suspected patients. The task force incorporated experts in Cardiology, Vascular Medicine, Hematology, Vascular Surgery, Pharmacy, and Vascular Neurology. Current guidelines, consensus documents, and policy documents from specialty organizations were used to formulate health system recommendations. Objective Our goal is to provide guidance to the utilization of antithrombotic and antiplatelet therapies in patients with known or suspected COVID-19.
Results of chemical analysis of prawn muscle as influenced by sex variations

The main muscle constituents in 100 male and female prawn as related to their moisture contents were analysed. The study was aimed to assess the nutritional state in which prawn exists and determine which sex is the more susceptible to changes. Significant higher levels of ash and water in males and relatively greater contents of fat, protein, carbohydrates, phosphorus and gross energy in females were determined. The data given in this study can establish the non starved condition in which the prawn exist. The variation in muscle constituents between male and female prawn reflects the differences in the sex development and their energy requirements during maturation.
Nationwide Remapping of Schistosoma mansoni Infection in Rwanda Using Circulating Cathodic Antigen Rapid Test: Taking Steps toward Elimination

Abstract. The field standard for the detection of Schistosoma mansoni infection is Kato–Katz (KK), although it misses many active infections, especially light infections. In 2014, a reassessment of S. mansoni prevalence was conducted in Rwanda using the more sensitive point-of-care circulating cathodic antigen (POC-CCA) rapid assay. A total of 19,371 children from 399 schools were selected for testing for single urine CCA. Of these, 8,697 children from 175 schools were also tested with single stool double-slide KK. Samples from eight of these 175 schools were tested again with CCA and additionally with the highly specific and sensitive up-converting phosphor-lateral flow circulating anodic antigen (UCP-LF CAA) assay. Latent class analysis was applied to all four test results to assess sensitivity and specificity of POC-CCA and estimate the proportion of trace results from Rwanda likely to be true infections. The overall prevalence of S. mansoni infection in Rwanda when CCA trace results were considered negative was 7.4% (school interquartile range [IQR] 0–8%) and 36.1% (school IQR 20–47%) when trace was considered positive. Prevalence by KK was 2.0% with a mean intensity of infection of 1.66 eggs per gram. The proportion of active infections among children diagnosed with CCA trace was estimated by statistical analysis at 61% (Bayesian credibility interval: 50–72%). These results indicate that S. mansoni infection is still widespread in Rwanda and prevalence is much underestimated by KK testing. Circulating cathodic antigen is an affordable alternative to KK and more suitable for measuring S. mansoni prevalence in low-intensity regions.
Nonbiological Gradients in Species Richness and a Spurious Rapoport Effect

G. C. Stevens showed that an equatorward increase in species richness is often paralleled by a decrease in the mean latitudinal range of species-a pattern he called Rapoport's rule. He reported a similar pattern for elevational gradients and suggested that both latitudinal and elevational species richness gradients may be a result of the Rapoport effect. Using null models that assume no environmental gradients, we show that "nonbiological" gradients in species richness arise inevitably from the assumption of a random latitudinal (or elevational) association between the size and placement of species' ranges. These models predict a peak in species richness at tropical latitudes and, at intermediate elevations (regardless of latitude), common patterns in empirical data. Using simulated sampling from a parametric distribution of ranges that incorporates a richness gradient but no Rapoport effect, we then show that a spurious Rapoport effect can be caused by sampling bias alone, even when total sampling effort is equal at all latitudes or elevations. The bias arises because per-species sampling effort declines as richness increases, and range is correlated with sample size. Evidence suggests that this sampling bias, which is exacerbated by poorer knowledge of diverse tropical communities, may have affected some of Stevens's elevational results.
Metabolic Regulation of Brain Aβ by Neprilysin

Amyloid β peptide (Aβ), the pathogenic agent of Alzheimer's disease (AD), is a physiological metabolite in the brain. We examined the role of neprilysin, a candidate Aβ-degrading peptidase, in the metabolism using neprilysin gene-disrupted mice. Neprilysin deficiency resulted in defects both in the degradation of exogenously administered Aβ and in the metabolic suppression of the endogenous Aβ levels in a gene dose-dependent manner. The regional levels of Aβ in the neprilysin-deficient mouse brain were in the distinct order of hippocampus, cortex, thalamus/striatum, and cerebellum, where hippocampus has the highest level and cerebellum the lowest, correlating with the vulnerability to Aβ deposition in brains of humans with AD. Our observations suggest that even partial down-regulation of neprilysin activity, which could be caused by aging, can contribute to AD development by promoting Aβ accumulation.
Engineering the Bio-Nano Interface Using a Multifunctional Coordinating Polymer Coating.

ConspectusIn the past three decades, interest in using nanoparticles as diagnostic tools to interrogate various biosystems has witnessed remarkable growth. For instance, it has been shown that nanoparticle probes enable the study of cellular processes at the single molecule level. These advances provide new opportunities for understanding fundamental problems in biology, innovation in medicine, and the treatment of diseases. A multitude of nanoparticles have been designed to facilitate in vitro or in vivo sensing, imaging, and diagnostics. Some of those nanoparticle platforms are currently in clinical trials or have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Nonetheless, using nanoparticles in biology is still facing several obstacles, such as poor colloidal stability under physiological conditions, nonspecific interactions with serum proteins, and low targeting efficiency in biological fluids, in addition to issues of uncontrolled biodistribution and cytotoxicity. All these problems are primarily controlled by the surface stabilizing coating used.In this Account, we summarize recent progress made in our laboratory focused on the development of multifunctional polymers as coordinating ligands, to tailor the surface properties of nanoparticles and facilitate their application in biology. We first detail the advantageous features of the coating strategy, followed by a discussion of the key parameters in the ligand design. We then describe the synthesis and use of a series of multicoordinating polymers as ligands optimized for coating quantum dots (QDs), gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), and magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs), with a focus on (i) how to improve the colloidal stability and antifouling performance of materials in biological conditions; (ii) how to design highly compact coating, without compromising colloidal stability; and (iii) how to tailor the surface functionalities to achieve conjugation to target biomolecules. We also highlight the ability of a phase transfer strategy, mediated by UV irradiation, to promote rapid ligand exchange while preserving the integrity of key functional groups. We then summarize the bioconjugation approaches applied to polymer-coated nanoparticles, with emphasis on the ability of metal-histidine self-assembly and click chemistry, to control the final nanoparticle bioconjugates. Finally, we demonstrate the use of polymer-coated nanoparticles for sensor design based on redox-active interactions and peptide-mediated intracellular delivery. We anticipate that the coating design presented in this Account would advance the integration of nanoparticles into biology and medicine.
Team Configurations, Efficiency, and Family Physician Burnout

Introduction: The delivery of team-based care relies on team structure and teamwork. Little is known about the landscape of team configurations in family medicine practices in the United States. Teamwork between diverse team members likely impacts both performance and physician well-being. We examined team configuration and teamwork and whether they are associated with family physician (FP) well-being. Methods: We used data from practice demographic questionnaires completed by FPs who registered for the American Board of Family Medicine Family Medicine Certification Examination in 2017 and 2018. We grouped 14 types of health care professionals into medical assistant (MA)/nurse, nurse practitioner (NP)/physician assistant (PA), and specialist, and we characterized 3 common team configurations. We used FPs' subjective ratings to measure perceived teamwork efficiency and a validated single-item measure to identify FPs who were burned out. Results: Among 2575 FPs in our sample, 22% worked collaboratively with MA/nurse only; 40% with MA/nurse and NP/PA or specialist; and 38% with MA/nurse, NP/PA, and specialist. The distribution of perceived teamwork efficiency was not statistically different across team configurations. In teams with greater perceived teamwork efficiency, FPs were less likely to be burned out. For FPs working with expansive teams, optimal perceived teamwork efficiency was associated with significantly reduced odds of burnout after controlling for practice and physician characteristics. Conclusion: Most FPs practice in multidisciplinary teams. Regardless of the team structure, FPs who perceived their teams as having greater efficiency were less likely to be burned out. We found that optimal perceived teamwork efficiency was associated with significantly reduced odds of burnout for FPs in all types of team configurations. Improving teamwork efficiency may be an effective strategy for practice organizations to support not only team functioning but also physician well-being.
Deep Brain Stimulation for Gilles de la Tourette Syndrome: Toward Limbic Targets

Gilles de la Tourette syndrome (GTS) is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by tics and, frequently, psychiatric and behavioral comorbidities. Above all, obsessive compulsive disorder/behavior (OCD/OCB) influences the clinical picture and has a severe impact on quality of life, eventually more than the tics themselves. Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is an effective therapy in selected, refractory cases. Clinical response to DBS may vary according to the clinical picture, comorbidities, and to the anatomical target. This retrospective study compares the results obtained from DBS in the ventralis oralis/centromedian-parascicular nucleus of the thalamus (Voi-Cm/Pf) (41 patients) and antero-medial Globus Pallidus internus (am-GPi) (14 patients), evaluating clinical response over time by means of Yale Global Tic Severity Scale (YGTSS) and Yale–Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (YBOCS) scores over a period of 48 months. A significant and stable improvement in the YGTSS and YBOCS has been obtained in both groups (p < 0.001). There was a significant difference in YBOCS improvement over time between the am-GPi group and the Voi-Cm/Pf group, indicating a better and faster control of OCD/OCB symptoms in the former group. The ratio of hardware removal was 23% and limited to 13 patients in the Voi-Cm/Pf group. These results confirm that DBS is an effective therapy in treating GTS and suggest that the am-GPi might be superior to Voi-Cm/Pf in alleviating comorbid OCD/OCB.
Dieback and death of larch caused by Ceratocystis laricicola sp. nov. following attack by Ips cembrae

Circumstantial and experimental evidence suggests that the bark beetle Ips cembrae acts as a vector for Ceratocystis laricicola sp. nov. which it introduces into larches during breeding attacks. The fungus kills bark and cambium, and invades the sapwood causing the formation of areas of ‘blue stain’ surrounded by dry wood. Multiple inoculations resulting from numerous beetle attacks may totally disrupt conduction causing dieback and death of whole trees. Attacks seem frequently to be associated with drought and other forms of stress. Trees damaged by I. cembrae and C. laricicola may be attacked subsequently by the woodwasp Urocerus gigas which introduces a sapwood decay fungus, Amylostereum chailletii. This is the first record of an association between I. cembrae and a species of Ceratocystis and the first record of dieback in larch caused by I. cembrae and C. laricicola. I. cembrae was introduced into Britain from mainland Europe and a similar association may occur there.
Wetland Restoration in the Mancha Occidental Aquifer, Spain: A Critical Perspective on Water, Agricultural, and Environmental Policies

Conflicts between intensive groundwater use and wetland conservation are widespread throughout arid and semiarid regions worldwide. These have become more significant wherever there has been a synchronism between pumping‐based human development and the awakening of an environmental awareness in society. The Mancha Occidental aquifer provides an example of such an occurrence, which has given rise to noteworthy social conflicts. This paper presents a cross‐policy analysis for wetland restoration measures, establishing the main reasons why funding‐intensive agricultural, environmental, and water policies have only attained marginal success in recovering the area’s aquatic ecosystems.
Having a Primary Care Provider is the Strongest Predictor of Successful Follow-up of Participants in a Clinical Trial

Purpose: Ethnic minorities, women, and those of low socioeconomic status are widely underrepresented in clinical trials. Few studies have explored factors associated with successful follow-up in these historically difficult-to-reach patients. This study's objective was to identify patient characteristics and methods of contact that predict successful contact for follow-up in an urban, predominantly ethnic minority, majority-women, poor population to help devise strategies to improve retention. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed records from a prospective randomized control trial of 400 hospitalized chest pain patients to determine which characteristics were associated with successful telephone follow-up at 1 year after enrollment. We assessed demographic variables, medical history, and social factors by using bivariate analyses. A multivariate analysis was performed using variables from the bivariate analysis with P ≤ . 2. Results: The overall successful 1-year follow-up rate was 95% (381/400). Study participants who completed follow-up were significantly more likely to have a primary care physician (PCP) (88% [337/381] versus 68% [13/19]), speak English natively (52% [199/381] versus 26% [5/19]), have a higher Charlson comorbidity index score, and identify as women (64.0% [244/381] versus 42.1% [8/19]). Having a PCP and native English language remained significant at multivariate analysis. Socioeconomic status score, quantity of contact information recorded at recruitment, and insurance status were not significantly associated with successful follow-up. Conclusions: Patients engaged with the health care system by having a PCP are significantly more likely to achieve follow-up. Successful follow-up is also associated with native English speaking. The potential of improving follow-up by facilitating connections with health care providers requires further study.