Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of prenatal stress in regulating pulmonary allergic inflammation in a murine model of experimental asthma

Due to the rapid growth of the fetus it is particularly vulnerable to insults and changes in hormonal milieu. Therefore, is suggested that adverse situations experienced by the pregnant mother can alter the development and health of offspring, mainly due to the permeability of the placental barrier to various hormones and substances. The aim of the present investigation was to study the effects of prenatal stress in the regulation of pulmonary allergic inflammation, employing the murine model of experimental asthma. For this purpose, were used virgin female mice, Swiss lineage, of 50 days old. The models used were foot shock to induce prenatally stress, and “New York subway” stress to induce postnatally stress. Females were divided into 4 groups: CC group: not stressed females; CE group: postnatally stressed females (PND60); EC: females born from stressed mothers (GD15 to GD18); EE Group: females born from stressed mothers (GD15 to GD18) (footshock) and postnatally stressed (PND60). The induction of allergic pulmonary inflammation was done through sensitization of animals with 0,1 mg.Kg-1 sc of ovalbumin (OVA) solution, to further evaluate leukogram, bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) hematopoietic marrow cellularity and neurochemistry. The experiments were performed 24 hours after the last session of nebulization.
Efficacy of Afatinib, Erlotinib, and Gefitinib on epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutant non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with brain metastasis: a network meta-analysis

Background: Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) targeting the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) have been the standard first-line therapy in patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). There have been no head to head comparisons among gefitinib, erlotinib, and afatinib for such patients, brain metastasis in EGFR-mutant NSCLC. The best EGFR-TKI for their treatment is not yet known. We aimed to assess the relative efficacy among gefitinib, erlotinib, and afatinib using network meta-analysis. Methods: A systematic literature review with electronic databases was conducted. We included patients with brain metastasis and EGFR positive NSCLC. End-points were objective response rate (ORR), progression free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS) and adverse events. Data were extracted from included studies. We regarded different standard chemotherapy regimens as “chemotherapy” for network comparisons. Results: Eight studies involving 446 patients with brain metastasis and EGFR positive NSCLC were enrolled in the meta-analysis. Rank probability showed that afatinib had potentially better PFS compared with gefitinib and erlotinib (HR (95% CI): 0.76 (0.06-6.82); 1.00 (0.04-26.10) and 2.20 (0.03-170.64) respectively). Gefitinib revealed better OS than erlotinib and afatinib (HR (95% CI): 0.42(0.10-1.70); 1.03 (0.01-76.98) and 1.14(0.14-9.01) respectively). The data of objective response rate and adverse events for analysis were not available. Conclusions: The published data for EGFR mutant NSCLC patients with brain metastasis were limited. Our study indicated potentially better outcomes of afatinib and gefitinib in this population.
Relationships between mediators of the acute phase response and altered energetic metabolism in dairy cows after calving

Parturition, changes in homeostasis, metabolic and physiological challenges occuring in the period after calving may contribute to the activation of host immune system, including the initiation of the production of acute phase proteins. They have various activities by which contribute to germs destruction, they reduce tissue damage and help its regeneration (Eckersall and Bell, 2010). Major bovine acute phase proteins, haptoglobin and serum amyloid A, play an important role also in the reproductive processes (Krakowski and Zdzisinska, 2007). Moreover, the transition of pregnancy to lactation, with the concomitant negative energy balance, requires substantial adaptation of the cow, including metabolic and physiological adaptations, and is accompanied by changes in whole metabolism (Leroy et al., 2008). However, the pathophysiology and the relationships between the aforementioned metabolic events and changes in immune functions in dairy cows are less well documented.
Detecting Media Self-Censorship without Explicit Training Data

The motives and means of explicit state censorship have been well studied, both quantitatively and qualitatively. Self-censorship by media outlets, however, has not received nearly as much attention, mostly because it is diﬃcult to systematically detect. We develop a novel approach to identify news media self-censorship by using social media as a sensor. We develop a hypothesis testing framework to identify and evaluate censored clusters of keywords and a near-linear-time algorithm (called GraphDPD ) to identify the highest scoring clusters as indicators of censorship. We evaluate the accuracy of our framework, versus other state-of-the-art algorithms, using both semi-synthetic and real-world data from Mexico and Venezuela during Year 2014. These tests demonstrate the capacity of our framework to identify self-censorship, and provide an indicator of broader media freedom. The results of this study lay the foundation for detection, study, and policy-response to self-censorship.
Pembrolizumab—the “KEY” to an evolving landscape in treatment of squamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)

© Translational Lung Cancer Research. All rights reserved. Squamous cell histology constitutes about 25–30% of all non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLC) (1), and because of the lack of targetable mutations, remains a challenge to treat. For many years, cytotoxic chemotherapy doublet, which includes a platinum agent (carboplatin or cisplatin), has been the standard of care for metastatic squamous NSCLC. Over the last 1–2 years, with an improved knowledge regarding the biology of tumor and evolution in the role of Immunotherapy, treatment algorithms in NSCLC are evolving at a rapid pace. Identifying patients and disease types which are most likely to benefit from immunotherapy has become an increasingly important area of research. Cytotoxic chemotherapy has been replaced by pembrolizumab in the first-line setting as the preferred choice of treatment for patients with metastatic NSCLC whose tumors have a programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) tumor proportion score (TPS) greater than 50%, regardless of histology (2). The results of KEYNOTE-407 came at a time where the treatment of NSCLC is becoming increasing complex. In this study, Dr. Paz-Ares and colleagues studied whether adding pembrolizumab to standard chemotherapy improved outcomes in individuals with previously untreated metastatic squamous NSCLC. In this phase III, placebocontrolled, double blind trial, 559 patients from 17 countries with treatment-naive metastatic squamous cell NSCLC (stage IV) were randomized in an equal proportion to receive pembrolizumab plus carboplatin and either paclitaxel (60.1% patients) or nanoparticle albumin-bound (nab)-paclitaxel for 4 cycles vs. the same chemotherapy plus placebo (3). The experimental arm received further pembrolizumab for up to 31 cycles, whereas the control arm received placebo. Randomization was stratified according to PD-L1 expression on tumor cells [≥1% (63% of patients) vs. <1%], the taxane used and geographic regions [East Asia (19% of patients) vs. the rest of the world] (3). The treatment assigned was then continued until disease progression confirmed through radiologic assessments, intolerable toxicities, patient consent withdrawal or by investigator’s choice. If a patient had radiographically confirmed progression while on placebo, they are allowed to cross over to the Pembrolizumab arm (31.7% patients in the placebo group crossed over) (3). After a 7.8-month median follow-up interval, the median overall survival in the pembrolizumab-containing arm was significantly improved with 15.9 months [95% confidence interval (CI): 13.2 months to not reached] vs. 11.3 months (95% CI: 9.5–14.8 months) in the chemotherapy arm (P=0.0008). Pembrolizumab arm revealed a superior overall survival among all predefined subgroups. Notably, across all the PD-L1 TPS subgroups, the extent of survival benefit with pembrolizumab added to chemotherapy was similar. Editorial Commentary
Equity of access to critical care services in Scotland: A Bayesian spatial analysis

Background There is increasing evidence that access to critical care services is not equitable. We aimed to investigate whether location of residence in Scotland impacts on the risk of admission to an Intensive Care Unit and on outcomes. Methods This was a population-based Bayesian spatial analysis of adult patients admitted to Intensive Care Units in Scotland between January 2011 and December 2015. We used a Besag–York–Mollié model that allows us to make direct probabilistic comparisons between areas regarding risk of admission to Intensive Care Units and on outcomes. Results A total of 17,596 patients were included. The five-year age- and sex-standardised admission rate was 352 per 100,000 residents. There was a cluster of Council Areas in the North-East of the country which had lower adjusted admission rates than the Scottish average. Midlothian, in South East Scotland had higher spatially adjusted admission rates than the Scottish average. There was no evidence of geographical variation in mortality. Conclusion Access to critical care services in Scotland varies with location of residence. Possible reasons include differential co-morbidity burden, service provision and access to critical care services. In contrast, the probability of surviving an Intensive Care Unit admission, if admitted, does not show geographical variation.
Myxopapillary Ependymoma

Myxopapillary ependymomas (MPEs) are a variant of the spinal ependymomas, which are common in the conus medullaris and filum terminale in the sacrococcygeal region. Approximately 13 % of the spinal ependymomas are myxopapillary ependymomas. These tumors are usually a gradual development. It is mostly localized in the intradural space and may cause local pressure on the paravertebral soft tissue and neighboring bone. MPEs may be found in extraspinal, extradural, subcutaneous tissues, in the cervical and thoracic vertebras and in the brain. The prognosis of the small lesions are usually good and a complete resection is usually curative. A local extension to the soft tissue and a dissemination to the subarachnoidal space may be encountered as a result of the incomplete resection. Our objective was to remind this rare tumor with the occasion of an adult patient.
Lymph Node Blood Vessels: Exit Route for Systemic Dissemination of Cancer

There are reports about the existence of meningeal lymphatic vessels in human and nonhuman primates (mormoset monkeys) and feasibility of noninvasively imaging and mapping them in vivo with high-resolution, clinical MRI. On T2-FLAIR and T1-weighted black-blood imaging, lymphatic vessels enhance with graduator, a gadolinium-based contrast agent with high propensity to extravasate across a permeable capillary endothelial barrier, but not with gadofosveset, a blood-pool contrast agent.
Avoiding Attack: The Evolutionary Ecology of Crypsis, Warning Signals and Mimicry

AVOIDING DETECTION 1. Background Matching 2. Disruptive Coloration 3. Countershading 4. Transparency and Silvering SIGNALLING UNPROFITABILITY 5. Secondary Defences 6. Signalling to Predators 7. The Form and Function of Warning Displays 8. The Initial Evolution of Warning Displays 9. The Evolution and Maintenance of Mullerian Mimicry DECEIVING PREDATORS 10. The Evolution and Maintenance of Batesian Mimicry 11. The Relationship Between Batesian and Mullerian Mimicry 12. Other Forms of Adaptive Resemblance 13. Deflection and Startling of Predators 14. General Conclusions Appendix 1: A summary of mathematical and computer models that deal with Mullerian mimcry Appendix 2: A summary of mathematical and computer models that deal with Batesian mimcry
Multilateral bargaining with proposer selection contest

This study investigates the competition to be selected as the proposer in a subsequent multilateral bargaining game experimentally. The experimental environment varies in two dimensions: reservation payoffs (homogeneous or heterogeneous) and information on the extent of each subjectâ€™s investment in the competition (public or private). The proposerâ€™s share was significantly lower than what theory predicts, and with taking into account the proposerâ€™s partial rent extraction, subjects over-invest to increase their chances of winning the right of proposal. More importantly, we find that inefficiency (due to the levels of spending) and inequality go hand in hand; the surplus was distributed most efficiently and most equally when the reservation payoffs were heterogeneous, and subjects were informed of who had spent how much in the competition. The proportion of proposals being rejected was smaller in public treatments than in private treatments. This study contributes to the literature by identifying formal rules that are more effective in establishing efficient informal norms.
Reduced Reproductive Capacity in Moina micrura Kurz, 1875 Exposed to Toxic Microcystis spp.

Toxic cyanobacterial blooms are considered harmful to all consuming organisms along the aquatic food chain and top consumers, including humans. Hence this study was conducted to assess the impacts of two toxic Microcystis spp. on a tropical cladoceran, Moina micrura Kurz, 1875. Population growth studies and chronic bioassays were conducted using Microcystis aeruginosa (Kützing) Kützing, 1846, Microcystis viridis f. viridis (A. Braun) Elenkin, 1938, and a green alga, Chlorella vulgaris f. tertia Fott et Novakova, 1972 (as the control). Both Microcystis spp. negatively affected M. micrura. The population growth rate of M. micrura fed with C. vulgaris was 0.51 day-1, while growth rates were negative when fed with M. aeruginosa (0.33 day-1) and M. viridis (0.13 day-1). In the chronic bioassay, the exposure of M. micrura to M. aeruginosa resulted in delayed production of M. micrura’s first batch of offsprings, which only occurred on day 6 compared to M. micrura fed with C. vulgaris which produced their first batch of offsprings earlier on day 3. This study showed that exposure of M. micrura to both toxic Microcystis spp. reduced the population density, fecundity, total offspring production and longevity of M. micrura compared to those fed with C. vulgaris.
A Practical and Comprehensive Evaluation Method for Series-Connected Battery Pack Models

Accurate and computationally efficient series-connected battery pack models (PMs) in new energy vehicles are extremely important for battery management. Based on a system of indexes of accuracy, adaptability, and computational complexity, this article presents a practical and comprehensive evaluation method for series-connected battery PMs, which is crucial for model selection and model-based algorithm development. Seventeen battery PMs, based on four series-connected battery pack structure models and three battery cell models, are introduced and discussed in detail. Experiments are designed and carried out to collect realistic battery test data for parameter identification and model comparisons. The estimation accuracy and computational complexity of different battery PMs are compared. Both the merits and demerits of each battery PM are thoroughly analyzed and discussed. The practical comprehensive evaluation results provide useful insights that will enable industry and academia to design more advanced battery management systems for battery packs.
Huddle Up! Exploring Domestic Coalition Formation Dynamics in the Differentiated Politicization of TTIP

The politicization of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) has manifested itself to different extents across EU Member States. In some countries, conflicting interpretations about the deal were highly visible in public and political debates, while in others there was hardly any awareness. To further understand this phenomenon, trade scholars have to date not yet deepened nor leveraged the insights of the ‘differentiated politicization’ and social movement literature, which both point to coalition formation as an important trigger of politicization processes. This article contributes to our understanding of variation in politicization across EU Member States, by exploring coalition formation dynamics in differentiated politicization processes, in order to identify the factors facilitating successful domestic coalition formation. Through an exploratory case study design, I focus on three countries that exemplify high, middle, and low politicization cases: Germany, Belgium, and Ireland. By relying on the testimonies of campaigners active during the TTIP episode, I identify three elements that facilitated the formation of a diverse domestic coalition, which subsequently played an important role in pushing for a broad-based debate about the implications of TTIP: (i) an expert ‘mesomobilization’ link with a transnational advocacy network, (ii) the prior availability of domestic alliances, and (iii) an inclusive framing approach in order to establish a diverse coalition. The findings also underline the importance of timing in the unfolding of (successful) politicization processes.
Sensitive Periods to Train General Motor Abilities in Children and Adolescents: Do They Exist? A Critical Appraisal

Some Long-term athlete development (LTAD) models have proposed generic sensitive periods or ‘windows of opportunity’ during childhood and adolescence that are optimal for training general motor abilities such as strength or speed. However, it remains unclear whether these periods exist. This review will therefore critically appraise the rationale behind generic sensitive periods. We discuss several issues with generic sensitive periods and argue that general motor abilities and the associated sensitive periods do not exist. The identified issues with generic sensitive periods questions their validity and we therefore suggest that they should not be used to train youth athletes.
Examination of marketing mix factors in Chinese Tourists’ Demand for Spa Service in Middle-sized Bangkok Hotels

This study aims to examine marketing mix factors in Chinese tourists’ demand for spa service in middle-sized hotels in Bangkok. This study is a quantitative study and thus uses questionnaire to obtain information from 400 sample tourists. The information is quantitatively analyzed by using descriptive statistics to learn about marketing mix factors in Chinese tourists’ demand in spa service in middle-sized hotels in Bangkok. It is found that the tourists give high importance to all 7 marketing mix factors or 7Ps: product, price, place, promotion, people, process and physical evidence.
Cotton genome evolution and features of its structural and functional organization

Allotetraploid cotton Gossypium hirsutum L. is not only an important crop, but also a model organism used to study such processes as polyploidization, plant genome evolution and the influence of polyploidy on gene expression. The present article provides a review of studies devoted to the taxonomy of the genus Gossypium, the evolution of the genomes of its representatives (including 45 diploid and 7 allotetraploid species), and the functional divergence of duplicated copies of the same genes in allotetraploid species. The discussion concerns the areas of individual species’ origin, as well as the reasons of the high variation in genome size (from ~880 Mb to ~2400 Mb), which was influenced by both full-genome duplications and the spread of mobile genetic elements. The data support the fact that the expression of genes in allotetraploid cotton changes as a result of polyploidization, and that one of the two subgenomes dominates in the formation of one or another trait. The considered data shed light on the features of the evolution of plant genes and genomes.
Improved heat tolerance of cattle by dietary supplementation with osmolytes

Background When exposed to hot conditions grain-fed cattle wil l reduce dry matter intake (DMI) resulting in reduc ed average daily gain and feed:gain efficiency. Reduc ing the detrimental effect of heat stress is necess ary for maintaining optimum cattle performance and welfare. Feeding osm olytes such as polyols, betaine, free amino acids, and combinations of urea and methylamines to cattle during summer ma y be beneficial. Osmolytes help maintain cellular w ater balance, protecting cells and tissues from dehydration and o smotic inactivation. Objective To investigate the effect of dietary supplementation with an osmolyte product ( Bos Koolus) on heat tolerance of cattle. Design Eight Angus steers (550 ± 25 kg) were used to test the effect of adding a mi x of osmolytes (7.6 kg/t) to a feedlot finisher ration. The steers were housed in individua l st lls for 11 d in a climate controlled unit and exposed to 5 d of hot conditions (HOT) (32 C dry bulb temperature, 66 % relative humidity). Pr ior to HOT the steers had 4 d exposure to thermoneutral conditions (TN), and following HOT a f urther 2 days of TN. Rectal temperature (RT), respir ation rate (RR) and individual DMI were measured. Outcomes The steers fed the osmolyte diet had lower ( P<0.05) RT (39.5 ± 0.01 C) compared to the control group (39.9 ± 0.01 C). Mean RT of the osmolyte fed steers during HOT was 39.6 C and for the control group the mean was 40.1 C (P<0.001). The RR of the osmolyte fed steers was lowe r (P <0.05) compared to the control group at 77 ± 1.1 breaths per minute (bpm) and 81 ± 1.1 bpm respectively. Mean RR were lower ( P<0.05) for the osmolyte fed steers on days 3 and 4 of HOT at 92 bpm and 102 bpm respectively. The DMI o f the osmolyte fed steers was greater ( P<0.001) than the control group at 5.74 kg/d and 4.93 kg/d respectively. Conclusion The data suggests that steers fed an osmolyte supple ment were more heat tolerant than those fed the con trol diet.
Gross Morphology, Histology and Ultrastructure of the Nymphal Ileum of Conocephalus (Xiphidion) fuscus fuscus (Fabricius, 1793) (Orthoptera, Tettigoniidae)

Objective: The alimentary canal is composed of the foregut, the midgut, and the hindgut in insects. The hindgut is the region where the reabsorption of the water and some ions occur and the feces are generated. The hindgut is generally divided into 3 parts as the ileum, the colon and the rectum in insects. The morphological and fine structures of these parts can be used as the taxonomical character. The aim of this study is to investigate the fine structure and morphology of the ileum in the last instar nymph of Conocephalus (Xiphidion) fuscus fuscus (Fabricius, 1793) (Orthoptera, Tettigoniidae). Materials and Methods: In this study, morphology, histology, and ultrastructure of the ileum in the last instar nymphal C. fuscus fuscus were examined by stereomicroscope, light microscope, scanning electron microscope, and transmission electron microscope. Results: Ileum is a tube-like structure, which is situated between the midgut and the colon. The wall of the ileum is composed of muscle tissue, connective tissue, epithelial tissue, and cuticular intima from the outermost to the innermost. Those singlelayered epithelial cells have globular nuclei, and some granulated endoplasmic reticulum can be observed in photographs. Besides, the regenerative cells groups called regenerative nidi are clear in some basal regions of the epithelial layer. Conclusion: The general morphology and structure of the nymphal ileum in C. fuscus fuscus have some differences with the insects belonging to Orthoptera orders, but its histological, cytological, and fine structure are very alike.