Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Simulated heat waves reduce cognitive and motor performance of an endotherm

Abstract Heat waves cause mass mortality of animals, including humans, across the globe annually, which has drawn new attention to how animals cope with high air temperatures. Recent field research has explored behavioral responses to high air temperatures, which can influence reproductive success and mortality. Less well studied are the effects of high air temperatures on cognition, which may underlie behavioral changes. Specifically, it is poorly known if cognitive declines occur at high temperatures, and if cognitive and motor components of behavior are similarly affected. We tested how well zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata castanotis), a model for cognition research, performed two learned foraging tasks (color association and detour‐reaching) at mild (22°C) and high (43 and 44°C) air temperatures that occur naturally in their range. We habituated birds to the trial conditions and temperatures on days preceding the test trials and at the trial temperature for 30 min immediately prior to each test trial. Trials lasted less than 10 min. At high air temperatures, zebra finches exhibited heat dissipation behaviors during most tasks, suggesting thermoregulatory challenge. Cognitive performance declined at high air temperatures in two of three measures: Color association was unaffected, but birds missed more food rewards, and did more unproductive behaviors. Motor performance declined at high temperatures on the color association task, including longer times to complete the task, move between food rewards, and process individual seeds. Performance declines varied among components of behavior and among individuals. We combined our behavioral data with existing climate data and predicted that in the austral summer of 2018–2019, zebra finches experienced air temperatures that caused cognitive and motor declines in our captive birds in 34% and 45% of their Australian range, respectively. This study provides novel experimental evidence that high air temperatures cause cognitive and motor performance decline in birds. Further, our results provide insights to how those declines might affect bird ecology and evolution. First, differences in declines among behavioral components may allow identification of behaviors that are most susceptible to decline in the wild. Second, variation in performance declines and heat dissipation behaviors among individuals suggests variability in heat tolerance, which could lead to differential fitness in the wild. Last, these results suggest that high air temperatures cause cognitive declines in the wild and that understanding cognition could help refine predictive models of population persistence.
CD38 and Regulation of the Immune Response Cells in Cancer

Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide. Understanding the functional mechanisms associated with metabolic reprogramming, which is a typical feature of cancer cells, is key to effective therapy. CD38, primarily a NAD + glycohydrolase and ADPR cyclase, is a multifunctional transmembrane protein whose abnormal overexpression in a variety of tumor types is associated with cancer progression. It is linked to VEGFR2 mediated angiogenesis and immune suppression as it favors the recruitment of suppressive immune cells like Tregs and myeloid-derived suppressor cells, thus helping immune escape. CD38 is expressed in M1 macrophages and in neutrophil and T cell-mediated immune response and is associated with IFNγ-mediated suppressor activity of immune responses. Targeting CD38 with anti-CD38 monoclonal antibodies in hematological malignancies has shown excellent results. Bearing that in mind, targeting CD38 in other nonhematological cancer types, especially carcinomas, which are of epithelial origin with specific anti-CD38 antibodies alone or in combination with immunomodulatory drugs, is an interesting option that deserves profound consideration.
Construct social‐behavioral association network to study management impact on waterbirds community ecology using digital video recording cameras

Abstract Studying social‐behavior and species associations in ecological communities is challenging because it is difficult to observe the interactions in the field. Animal behavior is especially difficult to observe when selection of habitat and activities are linked to energy costs of long‐distance movement. Migrating communities tend to be resource specific and prefer environments that offer more suitability for coexisting in a shared space and time. Given the recent advances in digital technologies, digital video recording systems are gaining popularity in wildlife research and management. We used digital video recording cameras to study social interactions and species–habitat linkages for wintering waterbirds communities in shared habitats. Examining over 8,640 hr of video footages, we built tetrapartite social‐behavioral association network of wintering waterbirds over habitat (n = 5) selection events in sites with distinct management regimes. We analyzed these networks to identify hub species and species role in activity persistence, and to explore the effects of hydrological regime on these network characteristics. Although the differences in network attributes were not significant at treatment level (p = .297) in terms of network composition and keystone species composition, our results indicated that network attributes were significantly different (p = .000, r 2 = .278) at habitat level. There were evidences suggesting that the habitat quality was better at the managed sites, where the formed networks had more species, more network nodes and edges, higher edge density, and stronger intra‐ and inter‐species interactions. In addition, we also calculated the species interaction preference scores (SIPS) and behavioral interaction preference scores (BIPS) of each network. The results showed that species synchronize activities in shared space for temporal niche partitioning in order to avoid or minimize any potential competition for shared space. Our social network analysis (SNA) approach is likely to provide a practical use for ecosystem management and biodiversity conservation.
The Effect of Illumination on Contact Angles of Pure Water on Crystalline Silicon

Abstract Contact angle measurements between pure water and etched and nonetched p -type single-crystal pieces of silicon under different illumination conditions have been performed by direct measurement and by photographic analysis. The results indicate that the observed contact angles depend on the wavelength of the illumination used, as well as the condition of the sample surface. For the etched surface, violet light gave the largest contact angles and red light the smallest. In the case of the nonetched silicon red light resulted in the largest angles and violet in the smallest. The results are discussed in terms of the photovoltage effect and charge trapping in the oxide layer.
Shedding Light on Miniaturized Dialysis Using MXene 2D Materials: A Computational Chemistry Approach

Materials science can pave the way toward developing novel devices at the service of human life. In recent years, computational materials engineering has been promising in predicting material performance prior to the experiments. Herein, this capability has been carefully employed to tackle severe problems associated with kidney diseases through proposing novel nanolayers to adsorb urea and accordingly causing the wearable artificial kidney (WAK) to be viable. The two-dimensional metal carbide and nitride (MXene) nanosheets can leverage the performance of various devices since they are highly tunable along with fascinating surface chemistry properties. In this study, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were exploited to investigate the interactions between urea and different MXene nanosheets. To this end, detailed analyses were performed that clarify the suitability of these nanostructures in urea adsorption. The atomistic simulations were carried out on Mn2C, Cd2C, Cu2C, Ti2C, W2C, Ta2C, and urea to determine the most appropriate urea-removing adsorbent. It was found that Cd2C was more efficient followed by Mn2C, which can be effectively exploited in WAK devices at the service of human health.
Analysis of the cytotoxic effects, cellular uptake and cellular distribution of paclitaxel-loaded nanoparticles in glioblastoma cells in vitro

Glioblastoma is the most common and aggressive type of brain tumor. Although treatments for glioblastoma have been improved recently, patients still suffer from local recurrence in addition to poor prognosis. Previous studies have indicated that the efficacy of chemotherapeutic or bioactive agents is severely compromised by the blood-brain barrier and the inherent drug resistance of glioblastoma. The present study developed a delivery system to improve the efficiency of delivering therapeutic agents into glioblastoma cells. The anticancer drug paclitaxel (PTX) was packed into nanoparticles that were composed of amphiphilic poly (γ-glutamic-acid-maleimide-co-L-lactide)-1,2-dipalmitoylsn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolaminecopolymer conjugated with targeting moiety transferrin (Tf). The Tf nanoparticles (Tf-NPs) may enter glioblastoma cells via transferrin receptor-mediated endocytosis. MTT assay and flow cytometry were used to explore the cytotoxic effects, cellular uptake and cellular distribution of paclitaxel-loaded nanoparticles. The results indicated that both PTX and PTX-Tf-NPs inhibited the viability of rat glioblastoma C6 cells in a dose-dependent manner, but the PTX-Tf-NPs exhibited a greater inhibitory effect compared with PTX, even at higher concentrations (0.4, 2 and 10 µg/ml). However, both PTX and PTX-Tf-NPs exhibited a reduced inhibitory effect on the viability of mouse hippocampal neuronal HT22 cells compared with that on C6 cells. Additionally, in contrast to PTX alone, PTX-Tf-NPs treatment of C6 cells at lower concentrations (0.0032, 0.0160 and 0.0800 µg/ml) induced increased G2/M arrest, although this difference did not occur at a higher drug concentration (0.4 µg/ml). It was observed that FITC-labeled PTX-Tf-NPs were endocytosed by C6 cells within 4 h. Furthermore, FITC-labeled PTX-Tf-NPs or Tf-NPs co-localized with a lysosomal tracker, Lysotracker Red DND-99. These results of the present study indicated that Tf-NPs enhanced the cytotoxicity of PTX in glioblastoma C6 cells, suggesting that PTX-Tf-NPs should be further explored in animal models of glioblastoma.
Contemporary approaches to bifurcation stenting

Bifurcation lesions are common and associated with higher risks of major cardiac events and restenosis after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Treatment requires understanding of lesion characteristics, stent design and therapeutic options. We review the evidence for provisional vs 2-stent techniques. We conclude that provisional stenting is suitable for most bifurcation lesions. We detail situations where a 2-stent technique should be considered and the steps for performing each of the 2-step techniques. We review the importance of lesion preparation, intracoronary imaging, proximal optimization (POT) and kissing balloon inflation
Goals, life events, and transitions: examining fertility apps for holistic health tracking

Abstract Objective Fertility is becoming increasingly supported by consumer health technologies, especially mobile apps that support self-tracking activities. However, it is not clear whether the apps support the variety of goals and life events of those who menstruate, especially during transitions between them. Methods Thirty-one of the most popular fertility apps were evaluated, analyzing data from three sources: the content of app store pages, app features, and user reviews. Findings Results suggest that fertility apps are designed to support specific life goals of people who menstruate, offering several data collection features and limited feedback options. However, users often desire holistic tracking that encompasses a variety of goals, life events, and the transitions among them. Discussion These findings suggest fertility patients can benefit more from holistic self-tracking and provide insights for future design of consumer health technologies that better support holistic fertility tracking. Conclusion Fertility apps have the potential to support varied experiences of people who menstruate. But to achieve that, apps need to expand their support by offering ways for more users to perform holistic, personalized, and personally meaningful tracking, so they can derive long-term benefit from the data they collect.
Stay-At-Home Orders Are Associated With Emergence of Novel SARS-CoV-2 Variants

Background While public health strategies to contain the current coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic are primarily focused on social distancing and isolation, emerging evidence suggest that in some regions social isolation failed to lead to further decrease in the number of COVID-19 deaths in the long run. This apparent paradox was particularly observed in the northern region of Brazil, in the state of Amazonas. We hypothesized that the emergence of new severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) mutations, leading to more transmissible and pathogenic variants, could explain the lack of further reductions in COVID-19 new cases and related deaths in some regions. Our objective is to determine if social isolation is associated with the emergence of new SARS-CoV-2 variants, particularly the P.1 lineage and E484K mutants, in Brazil and in the state of Amazonas. Materials and methods We assessed the prevailing SARS-CoV-2 genomes present in Brazil available on the GISAID (Global Initiative on Sharing All Influenza Data) database collected between June 1, 2020, and January 31, 2021. Data regarding demographics, lineage, and prevalence of P.1 lineage and E484K mutations were obtained. Social isolation was measured using the Social Isolation Index (SII), which quantifies the percentage of individuals that stayed within a distance of 450 meters from their homes on a given day, between February 1, 2020, and January 24, 2021. The number of daily COVID-19 deaths was obtained from the Brazilian Ministry of Health (OpenDataSUS, 2021) between March 12, 2020, and January 10, 2021. SII was correlated with the prevalence P.1 lineage and E484K mutations in the eight following weeks. All univariate associations were estimated using the Spearman Correlation Index. 3D surfaces were employed to reflect the relationship between time, social isolation, and prevalence of genomic variants simultaneously. Results A total of 773 and 77 samples were obtained in Brazil and in the Amazonas state, respectively. In the state of Amazonas, SII on a given week was positively, significantly, and moderately or strongly (r > 0.6) correlated with the prevalence of both P.1 lineage and other E484K variants in the six following weeks after the SII on a given week. Conversely, in overall Brazil, correlations between SII and P.1 lineage and E484K variants were weaker and shorter, or negative, respectively. When SII was below 40%, P.1 lineage or E484K variants were not detected in the following weeks. When SII was above 40%, apparently exponential positive correlations between SII and prevalence of both P.1 lineage and E484K variants were observed. Conclusion The results of this study indicate that SII above 40% is associated with the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 E484K variants and P.1 lineage in the state of Amazonas, which was not observed in overall Brazil.
Meta-Analyses Support a Taxonomic Model for Representations of Different Categories of Audio-Visual Interaction Events in the Human Brain

Abstract Our ability to perceive meaningful action events involving objects, people, and other animate agents is characterized in part by an interplay of visual and auditory sensory processing and their cross-modal interactions. However, this multisensory ability can be altered or dysfunctional in some hearing and sighted individuals, and in some clinical populations. The present meta-analysis sought to test current hypotheses regarding neurobiological architectures that may mediate audio-visual multisensory processing. Reported coordinates from 82 neuroimaging studies (137 experiments) that revealed some form of audio-visual interaction in discrete brain regions were compiled, converted to a common coordinate space, and then organized along specific categorical dimensions to generate activation likelihood estimate (ALE) brain maps and various contrasts of those derived maps. The results revealed brain regions (cortical “hubs”) preferentially involved in multisensory processing along different stimulus category dimensions, including 1) living versus nonliving audio-visual events, 2) audio-visual events involving vocalizations versus actions by living sources, 3) emotionally valent events, and 4) dynamic-visual versus static-visual audio-visual stimuli. These meta-analysis results are discussed in the context of neurocomputational theories of semantic knowledge representations and perception, and the brain volumes of interest are available for download to facilitate data interpretation for future neuroimaging studies.
Deoxycholic Acid and Lithocholic Acid Alleviate Liver Injury and Inflammation in Mice with Klebsiella pneumoniae-Induced Liver Abscess and Bacteremia

Purpose Klebsiella pneumoniae-induced liver abscess and baiacterem is a serious infectious disease with high mortality. Secondary bile acids (SBAs) are produced by intestinal flora through the metabolism of primary bile acids and play a role in promoting or inhibiting inflammation in some diseases. However, the immunomodulatory role of SBAs in bacterial infections of the liver remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the anti-inflammatory and liver-protective effects of SBAs in K. pneumoniae-infected mice. Methods The absolute concentrations of deoxycholic acid (DCA) and lithocholic acid (LCA) in feces and serum were analyzed, and intestinal flora alterations between K. pneumoniae-infected and healthy control mice were examined. The effect of SBAs was investigated by analyzing the survival, tissue bacterial load, histopathology, and inflammatory factor levels in SBA-treated mice. The expression of crucial proteins implicated in the NF-κB pathway, as well as the G-protein-coupled bile acid receptor TGR5, was detected. Results The content of SBAs in feces and serum of the K. pneumoniae-infected group was significantly reduced, and significant changes in the composition of the intestinal flora were detected. The intestinal flora are directly related to the synthesis of SBAs. Ruminococcaceae levels in K. pneumoniae-infected mice were significantly lower than in healthy control mice. Oral administration of SBAs improved the survival and liver pathology of K. pneumoniae-infected mice, and reduced the bacterial load and the level of inflammatory factors. SBAs down-regulated the expression of key proteins in the NF-κB inflammatory signaling pathway, including the phosphorylation of IκBα and NF-κB p50 and the nuclear translocation of NF-κB p65. The protective effect of SBAs may be dependent on high TGR5 expression. Conclusion SBAs downregulate the NF-κB inflammatory signaling pathway through TGR5, protecting the liver and inhibiting inflammation in K. pneumoniae-induced liver abscess and bacteremia.
An integrative approach to infer systematic relationships and define species groups in the shrub frog genus Raorchestes, with description of five new species from the Western Ghats, India

The genus Raorchestes is a large radiation of Old World tree frogs for which the Western Ghats in Peninsular India is the major center for origin and diversification. Extensive studies on this group during the past two decades have resolved long-standing taxonomic confusions and uncovered several new species, resulting in a four-fold increase in the number of known Raorchestes frogs from this region. Our ongoing research has revealed another five new species in the genus, formally described as Raorchestes drutaahu sp. nov., Raorchestes kakkayamensis sp. nov., Raorchestes keirasabinae sp. nov., Raorchestes sanjappai sp. nov., and Raorchestes vellikkannan sp. nov., all from the State of Kerala in southern Western Ghats. Based on new collections, we also provide insights on the taxonomic identity of three previously known taxa. Furthermore, since attempts for an up-to-date comprehensive study of this taxonomically challenging genus using multiple integrative taxonomic approaches have been lacking, here we review the systematic affinities of all known Raorchestes species and define 16 species groups based on evidence from multi-gene (2,327 bp) phylogenetic analyses, several morphological characters (including eye colouration and pattern), and acoustic parameters (temporal and spectral properties, as well as calling height). The results of our study present novel insights to facilitate a better working taxonomy for this rather speciose and morphologically conserved radiation of shrub frogs. This will further enable proper field identification, provide momentum for multi-disciplinary studies, as well as assist conservation of one of the most colourful and acoustically diverse frog groups of the Western Ghats biodiversity hotspot.
Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Self-Perception of Aging Among Older Adults

The COVID-19 pandemic has created a pattern of physical distancing worldwide, particularly for adults aged 65+. Such distancing can evoke subjective feelings of negative self-perception of aging (SPA) among older adults, but how this pandemic has influenced such SPA is not yet known. This study, therefore, explored SPA at different time phases of the COVID-19 pandemic to explain the pandemic’s impact on SPA among older adults. The analysis employed a sample of 1,990 community-dwelling older adults aged 65 to 95 (mean age = 72.74 years; 43% female) in Switzerland. Data collection from different older adults within one study occurred both before and after Switzerland’s first confirmed COVID-19 case. The descriptive analysis revealed that negative SPA increased, and positive SPA decreased, after the Swiss government recommended physical distancing. After the Federal Council decided to ease these measures, negative SPA slightly decreased and positive SPA increased. According to the multivariate analysis, individuals interviewed after the lockdown were more likely to report greater levels of negative SPA and lower levels of positive SPA. Age, income, and living alone also correlated with SPA. The results suggest that the pandemic has affected older adults’ subjective views of their own aging, and these findings help illustrate the pandemic’s outcomes.
The Care of Asthma Patients in Communities with Limited Resources

Abstract Asthma care has undergone significant changes over the past several years. Our understanding of the pathophysiology, risk factors, diagnosis, treatment, follow-up and prognosis has changed as more investigations shed new light on all of these aspects. This complexity has resulted in global guidelines aimed at improving the management of asthma patients. Among the multitude of guidelines, those published by the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) have achieved widespread and global acceptance. These guidelines cover the spectrum of factors that impact asthma care and include specific recommendations that treating physicians should follow to provide optimal patient care. In this review of asthma care in adult patients, we will outline some of the recommendations issued by GINA and discuss the challenges and limitations to the implementation of these guidelines in communities with limited resources. We will also propose recommendations to overcome these limitations in adult patients.