Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Economic Value of MR-Imaging for Uveal Melanoma

Objective Uveal melanoma (UM) is the most common primary intra-ocular tumour. Treatment is determined by tumour size and location. Generally, smaller tumours are eligible for brachytherapy unless they are located close to posterior pole. Larger tumours are enucleated or undergo proton beam therapy (PBT), which is more expensive than brachytherapy and less available. Accuracy of tumour size determination is critical for accurate planning and delivery of treatment, particularly to ensure tumour coverage, critical structure sparing, and for the choice of treatment modality. This is particularly the case for tumour dimensions that are close to the cut-off point for a specific type of treatment: in the case of the brachytherapy protocol at our institution, 6–8 mm. Ultrasound is conventionally used, but magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has recently become an additional available tool. Although more expensive, it enables more accurate measurements and is particularly useful in combination with clinical fundus examination, fundus photography and ultrasound. Our aim in this paper was to determine the economic value of MRI for UM treatment. Methods We retrospectively analysed 60 patients’ MRI scans acquired as part of a study or for clinical care. For each patient, we assessed whether the extra cost of an MRI generated economic benefit or change in optimal treatment. Results MRI indicated a smaller tumour prominence than US in 10% of patients with intermediate tumour size, resulting in a change from PBT to brachytherapy. The costs of MRI, €200–€1000, are significantly lower than the higher costs of PBT compared to brachytherapy, €24,000 difference. In addition, the annual total economic burden of severe vision impairment associated with eye removal is €10,000. Furthermore, for patients where ultrasound was impossible due to previous surgery, MRI enabled eye-preserving treatment. Conclusion An additional MRI for specific patients with UM improves economic value as it enables less expensive treatment in a sufficient percentage of patients to compensate for the MRI costs. Value is increased in terms of quality of care as it enables for some a treatment option which spares more vision.
Conduction of nervous impulse at low temperature in Polar fishes

Abstract The conduction properties of peripheral nerves from the Arctic fish species Arctic eelpouts (Lycodes sp.), snake bleeny (Lumpenus lampretaeformis) and Polar cod (Boreogadus saida), permanently adapted to low temperatures, were studied. The temperature dependence of the conduction velocity was 1.82 to 2.16, which is similar to that described for Mediterranean fishes and, at their physiological temperature, the conduction velocity of Arctic fishes is about one half of that of temperate fishes, suggesting that this neurophysiological function is not cold adapted in those Arctic fish species.
Cassowary gloss and a novel form of structural color in birds

An integrative approach reveals strategies for producing conspicuous structural coloration in feathers in a key avian lineage. One of the two lineages of extant birds resulting from its deepest split, Palaeognathae, has been reported not to exhibit structural coloration in feathers, affecting inferences of ancestral coloration mechanisms in extant birds. Structural coloration in facial skin and eggshells has been shown in this lineage, but has not been reported in feathers. We present the first evidence for two distinct mechanisms of structural color in palaeognath feathers. One extinct volant clade, Lithornithidae, shows evidence of elongate melanin-containing organelles uniquely associated with glossy/iridescent color, a structural color mechanism found in fossil outgroups and neognath birds. We also demonstrate a structural basis for the exceptional gloss in extant cassowary feathers. We propose gloss as an intermediate phenotype between matte and iridescent plumage, conferred by a thick and smooth feather rachis. Rachis-based structural color has not been previously investigated. The new data illuminate the relationships between avian melanin-based coloration and feather structure.
Nonindigenous Crayfishes Threaten North American Freshwater Biodiversity: Lessons from Europe

Abstract North America harbors about 390 native species of crayfishes, 75% of the world's total. In this article, we highlight the threats posed by nonindigenous crayfishes to freshwater ecosystem function, fisheries, and the biodiversity of native crayfishes; draw some lessons for North American freshwater conservation from the experience with nonindigenous crayfishes in Europe; and review existing regulations that address the introduction of nonindigenous crayfishes. Most North American crayfishes have naturally small ranges in the southeastern United States, rendering them very vulnerable to environmental change. In contrast, Europe has only five, broadly distributed, native crayfishes, all of which have been greatly affected by environmental changes, especially the introduction of nonindigenous crayfishes (mostly from North America). In response, many European governments have adopted strict regulations to protect native crayfishes. The loss of thousands of populations of native European crayfishes an.
Chemical Fingerprinting of Conifer Needle Essential Oils and Solvent Extracts by Ultrahigh-Resolution Fourier Transform Ion Cyclotron Resonance Mass Spectrometry

Extractives are an important class of compounds in plants because they contribute to many of their physicochemical properties such as color, odor, density, strength, permeability, and hygroscopicity. Moreover, they also possess significant biological activity and are thus an important part of the plants’ defense mechanisms against biotic and abiotic stresses. Tree needles are a rich source of extractives, counting for as much as 40% of their dry weight. In this study, chemical fingerprinting of essential oils and solvent extracts, obtained from the needles of four conifer tree species (i.e., pine, spruce, larch, and juniper), was performed by using ultrahigh-resolution Fourier transform ion cyclotron mass spectrometry. A wide variety of compounds were detected in the oil samples, including mono-, sesqui-, and diterpenes, terpenoids, fatty and resin acids, esters, and different phenolic compounds. Although the main compounds were present in all the four essential oil samples, large variations in their relative abundances were observed. In contrast, pine needle hexane and toluene extracts showed a high content of resin acids, including pinifolic acid, a rare labdane-type diterpene diacid, and its mono- and dimethyl esters. Thus, by selecting a suitable solvent, specific types of compounds may be isolated from tree needles for further biotechnological or medicinal applications.
Genital abnormalities associated to lack of uterine adenogenesis or endometrial gland dysgenesis of female dromedary camels (Camelus dromedarius)

Background: The developmental disruption of the müllerian duct and the endometrial dynamic can generate genital lesions that could contribute to infertility. Aim: This paper discusses two cases of genital conditions associated to endometrial gland pathologies in nulliparous female camels. Methods: Macroscopic examinations and histopathological description were performed on congenital and acquired genital abnormalities with endometrial gland anomalies. Results: The first case is endometrial gland agenesis associated to unilateral uterine aplasia, and the second case is endometrial gland dysgenesis associated to metritis. The prevalence of each case is estimated to be 0.6%. The most specific microscopic features associated to the endometrial gland agenesis were the presence of endometrial stromal proliferation and homogenous hyalinization of the myometrium. The acute metritis was associated to endometrial-activated stroma with focal infiltration with inflammatory cells on the endometrium and myometrium and the spontaneous endometrial gland dysgenesis. Conclusion: This study reveals the importance of congenital abnormalities during the routine reproductive examination of peripubertal animals, as well as the association of histopathological complementary examination for the research functional and inflammatory anomalies of the uterus. Genetic screening of breeders would be very important in the search for genetic risk factors associated with these congenital pathologies, which can be disseminated by reproductive biotechnologies.
Anisodamine Suppressed the Growth of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells, Induced Apoptosis and Regulated the Levels of Inflammatory Factors by Inhibiting NLRP3 Inflammasome Activation

Introduction Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a primary liver cancer with a 5-year incidence of over 70%. Anisodamine (ANI), an alkaloid extracted from Anisodus, has a good therapeutic effect in septic shock and morphine addiction. Our study designed to investigate the anticancer effect of anisodamine (ANI) on HCC. Materials and Methods HepG2 cells were subcutaneously injected into BALB/C nude mice and the tumor tissue was subcutaneously inoculated to construct the transplanted tumor. Mice were randomly divided into 10 groups (n = 5): control group, ANI-10 group, ANI-50 group, ANI-200 group, ANI-200+pcDNA-NLRP3 group, ANI-200+EV group, sh-NLRP3 group, ANI-200 + sh-NLRP3 group, normal group and normal+ANI-200 group. Results Studies indicated that ANI inhibited the growth of HCC xenografts and reduced liver damage in a dose-dependent manner. Besides, ANI increased the survival rate of tumor-bearing mice and suppressed the expression of NLRP3 in a dose-dependent manner. It is worth noting that NLRP3 overexpression reversed the inhibitory effect of ANI on HCC xenografts. In addition, TUNEL analysis showed that ANI-induced apoptosis of tumor cells, and NLRP3 overexpression reversed the inhibitory effect of ANI on HCC. Moreover, ANI further regulated the levels of IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-4 and IL-27. Notably, low expression of NLRP3 enhanced the inhibitory effect of ANI on the development of HCC xenografts in mice. Discussion These findings indicate that ANI suppressed the growth of HCC cells, induced apoptosis and regulated the levels of inflammatory factors by inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome activation.
Combined Nimotuzumab with Chemoradiotherapy for Locally Advanced Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Background Most head and neck cancers (HNCs), specifically squamous cell carcinoma, express epidermal growth factor and are associated with an inadequate response to radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) monoclonal antibodies (mAb) increase response rates and survival when combined with radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy (CRT). This study evaluates the outcome and toxicity of the nimotuzumab-CRT combination for stage III, IVa, and IVb squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. Methods Eighty-seven patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck, stage III, IVa, or IVb were enrolled in a prospective comparative study. The nimotuzumab plus CRT group consisted of patients who received nimotuzumab 200 mg every week for six consecutive weeks chemoradiation therapy; cisplatin 30 mg/m2 every week for six weeks; radiotherapy of 2-Gy/fraction, five fractions/week for a total dose of 70 Gy; and neck lymph node invasion prophylaxis at 50 Gy. The CRT alone arm was treated with CRT (without nimotuzumab). Results Tumor response rate of 90.6% was achieved in nimotuzumab plus CRT group (complete response: 58.1%), and 70.4% in CRT alone arm (complete response: 38.6%; p=0.029). The lymph node response rate was 83.4% in nimotuzumab plus CRT group (complete response: 46.7%), and 73.0% in CRT group (complete response: 23.0%). The general response rate in nimotuzumab plus CRT group was 86.0% (complete response: 48.8%), and 68.0% in CRT alone arm (complete response: 36.0%). Twelve-month overall survival (OS) was 75.1% for the nimotuzumab plus CRT group and 54.4% for the CRT group. The 24-month survival was 48.0% (nimotuzumab plus CRT group) and 29.0% (CRT alone arm). The median OS was 20 months and 13 months for nimotuzumab plus CRT group and CRT alone arm, respectively. Progression-free survival (PFS) in the nimotuzumab plus CRT group at 12 months and 24 months was 64.2% and 37.4%, respectively. PFS in the CRT group at 12 months and 24 months was 39.5% and 21.3%, respectively. Infusion reaction presented mildly in two of 43 patients in the nimotuzumab plus CRT group, and no shock occurred. Other toxicity occurrences were similar between the two groups, mainly in grade I, II. Skin rash (grade I only) occurred at a rate of 4.7% in the nimotuzumab plus CRT group. Conclusion Nimotuzumab in combination with CRT was well tolerated as a treatment program for locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.
Psychosocial and occupational factors associated with low back pain among nurses in Saudi Arabia

Low back pain (LBP) is a major health problem with significant public health and economic burden. Few studies have clarified the role of psychosocial factors in LBP occurrence. In this study, we assessed psychosocial and occupational factors associated with LBP, within the last 12 months, among nurses in Saudi Arabia.
Distribution of ship-following seabirds and their utilization of discards in the North Sea in summer

Prey availability is one of the factors determining the distribution of seabirds at sea. Northern fulmars Fulmarus glaclalis and black-legged kittiwakes Rissa tridactyla were the most regular and frequent ship-followers across the central and northern North Sea during 2 surveys with a fishery research vessel in May-June and July-August 1992. Sixteen other species occurred less often and/or in lower numbers. Birds consumed 84 % of experimentally discarded roundfish and 8 % of discarded flatfish. On average, northern gannets Morus bassanus took the largest individuals of most fish specles, black-legged kittywakes the smallest The average size choices of herring gulls Larus argentatus, lesser black-backed gulls Larus fuscus and northern fulmars lay between these 2 extremes. The choice of fish lengths by birds vaned with different fish species. Northern gannet was the most successful species in consuming discards. Northern fulmars success rates decreased with the presence of larger ship-followers but were never high. Black-headed gull Larus ridibundus and common gull Larus canus were less successful than the more frequent typical ship-following species.
Complex Trophic Interactions in Deserts: An Empirical Critique of Food-Web Theory

Food webs in the real world are much more complex than food-web literature would have us believe. This is illustrated by the web of the sand community in the Coachella Valley desert. The biota include 174 species of vascular plants, 138 species of vertebrates, more than 55 species of arachnids, and an unknown (but great) number of microorganisms, insects (2,000-3,000 estimated species), acari, and nematodes. Trophic relations are presented in a series of nested subwebs and delineations of the community. Complexity arises from the large number of interactive species, the frequency of omnivory, age structure, looping, the lack of compartmentalization, and the complexity of the arthropod and soil faunas. Web features found in the Coachella also characterize other communities and should produce equivalently complex webs. If anything, diversity and complexity in most nondesert habitats are greater than those in deserts. Patterns from the Coachella web are compared with theoretical predictions and "empirical generalizations" derived from catalogs of published webs. The Coachella web differs greatly: chains are longer, omnivory and loops are not rare, connectivity is greater (species interact with many more predators and prey), top predators are rare or nonexistent, and prey-topredator ratios are greater than 1.0. The evidence argues that actual community food webs are extraordinarily more complex than those webs cataloged by theorists. I argue that most cataloged webs are oversimplified caricatures of actual communities. That cataloged webs depict so few species, absurdly low ratios of predators on prey and prey eaten by predators, so few links, so little omnivory, a veritable absence of looping, and such a high proportion of top predators argues strongly that they poorly represent real biological communities. Consequently, the practice of abstracting empirical regularities from such catalogs yields an inaccurate and artifactual view of trophic interactions within communities. Contrary to strong assertions by many theorists, patterns from food webs of real communities generally do not support predictions arising from dynamic and graphic models of food-web structure.
An Analysis of the Relationship Between Stress and Parasitism

The impact of stress upon the dynamics of host and parasite populations is varied. It may be expressed physiologically or behaviorally in either the host or the parasite. The outcome of stress may be an increase or a decrease in natality and mortality which may then result in significant changes in the densities of the involved popula- tions. At the ecosystem level, stress may be manifested either directly or indirectly on individuals or populations, but the outcome is change in natality or mortality and, hence, in the density of the affected species. The varied response to stressor input at the individual, population and ecosystem levels is dictated by the capacity for adaptability present at each level; the response may be modified, however, by the unique com- bination of environmental characteristics at the time of stressor input.
Serine Phosphorylation of Insulin Receptor Substrate 1 by Inhibitor κB Kinase Complex* 210

Insulin resistance contributes importantly to the pathophysiology of type 2 diabetes mellitus. One mechanism mediating insulin resistance may involve the phosphorylation of serine residues in insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1), leading to impairment in the ability of IRS-1 to activate downstream phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-dependent pathways. Insulin-resistant states and serine phosphorylation of IRS-1 are associated with the activation of the inhibitor κB kinase (IKK) complex. However, the precise molecular mechanisms by which IKK may contribute to the development of insulin resistance are not well understood. In this study, using phosphospecific antibodies against rat IRS-1 phosphorylated at Ser307 (equivalent to Ser312 in human IRS-1), we observed serine phosphorylation of IRS-1 in response to TNF-α or calyculin A treatment that paralleled surrogate markers for IKK activation. The phosphorylation of human IRS-1 at Ser312 in response to tumor necrosis factor-α was significantly reduced in cells pretreated with the IKK inhibitor 15 deoxy-prostaglandin J2 as well as in cells derived from IKK knock-out mice. We observed interactions between endogenous IRS-1 and IKK in intact cells using a co-immunoprecipitation approach. Moreover, this interaction between IRS-1 and IKK in the basal state was reduced upon IKK activation and increased serine phosphorylation of IRS-1. Data from in vitro kinase assays using recombinant IRS-1 as a substrate were consistent with the ability of IRS-1 to function as a direct substrate for IKK with multiple serine phosphorylation sites in addition to Ser312. Taken together, our data suggest that IRS-1 is a novel direct substrate for IKK and that phosphorylation of IRS-1 at Ser312 (and other sites) by IKK may contribute to the insulin resistance mediated by activation of inflammatory pathways.
Application of a probabilistic model for analysing the abortion of seeds and pods in winter oilseed rape (Brassica napus)

In winter oilseed rape (WOSR), only a subset of ovules can develop into seeds in the majority of pods. Any difficulty during the process of seed production may result in seed or pod abortion. This study aimed to reproduce the process of seed development in WOSR based on a limited number of parameters. As a result of the complexity of the developmental patterns of WOSR, it is challenging to identify the roles of various factors that influence seed production using an experimental approach. Here, we present a stochastic probabilistic model of seed development. The generalised least squares method was implemented to estimate the model parameters using the experimental data. Experiments were done in Grignon (France) in 2008 and 2009. The variations in the parameters were analysed according to the following four factors: year, pod rank, inflorescence position and ramification-clipping treatment. The year had no effect on the number of ovules per ovary (i µi¼) and the probability of seed viability (p). The proportion of effective pollen grains (k) significantly decreased with pod rank at the end of the main stem. Inflorescence position influenced the number of ovules per ovary (i µi¼: 30.8–33.8 from top to bottom) and the parameter k. The mean number of seeds per pod on the main stem and the bottom ramification along the stem was larger than the other ramifications within one plant. Ramification-clipping treatment increased the number of ovules per ovary (i µi¼: 31 for control plants and 32 for clipped plants), the parameter k and the number of seeds per pod (p). This effect could be due to the competition for assimilates between the pods and seeds. Furthermore, the distribution parameters of the pollen number per stigma (m) remained stable, and the probability of pod survival (Bo) varied with different factors, including the year, pod rank and inflorescence position. Our results indicate that pollen germination is a factor that determines final seed number. This model can identify the impact of each of the factors that lead to the abortion of seeds and pods in WOSR, which include the position effect, assimilate competition and pollination limitation. However, further studies on the pollination process in WOSR should help to refine this model.
Hydrogeographic Vicariance Determines the Genetic Structure of Northwestern Walleye Populations

Abstract Walleye Sander vitreus is one of the most important freshwater commercial and sport fishes in western Canada. It is an intensively managed species that is under considerable harvest pressure, yet little is known about the patterns of genetic variation and diversity of walleyes between connected water bodies and among river basins in this region. We examined the genetic variation of walleyes from 12 lakes in five different river basins of northern Alberta. Each lake contained a genetically distinct walleye subpopulation nested within a larger population of the river basin in which the lake was situated. Differentiation between subpopulations varied (F ST = 0.05–0.29) and exhibited a broad-scale isolation-by-distance pattern. Patterns of genetic divergence aligned closely with the current hydrogeographical landscape, as subpopulations in the same river basin were more similar than those in different river basins. The clear and distinct pattern of genetic structure is likely to have been generated a.
An Adaptive Neural Network Control Method for Hypersonic Vehicle

Parameter uncertainty, coupling between each channel and drastically changing state of hypersonic vehicle bring great challenges to the design of the aircraft control system. Focus on the controller design problem for hypersonic vehicle, an adaptive neural network control method is proposed by this paper. By decomposing the nonlinear model of the hypersonic vehicle the uncertainties which can be approximated by neural network system are extracted, so that the framework design of the neural network control system is completed. The weight value contained in the neural network controller can be obtained by synchronous perturbation random approximation method, and finally the design of the hypersonic vehicle control system is completed. By comparing with traditional NN method the high efficiency of the new algorithm is verified. Simulation results show that this method can complete the control system design task and has strong robustness.