Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
MicroRNAs in glioblastoma multiforme: Profiling studies and therapeutic impacts

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most lethal primary brain tumor and is characterized by a poor prognosis, resistance to standard therapies, and a highly mutated tumor genome. It is therefore critical to identify new molecular targets that contribute to GBM pathogenesis in order to develop novel targeted therapeutic and diagnostic strategies. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) represent an emerging class of molecules that play significant roles in a number of key cellular processes associated with GBM. This review summarizes the results of recent studies that have attempted to profile the miRNA expression signatures of GBM. Additionally, this review highlights the downstream effectors and activities of key oncogenic or tumor suppressive miRNAs in GBM and describes some promising therapeutic, diagnostic, and prognostic strategies involving miRNAs.
Antenatal corticosteriods decrease forced vital capacity in infants born fullterm

Antenatal corticosteroids (ACS) administration to pregnant women for threatened preterm labor is standard obstetric care to reduce neonatal respiratory distress syndrome and the associated respiratory morbidity. While ACS stimulates surfactant production in the fetal lung, the effects of ACS upon the subsequent growth and development of the lung are unclear. Follow‐up studies outside of the neonatal period have been primarily limited to spirometry, and most subjects evaluated were born prematurely. To our knowledge, no study has assessed both airway and parenchymal function in infants or adults following ACS exposure. We hypothesized that ACS impairs lung growth and performed infant pulmonary function testing, which included spirometry, alveolar volume (VA) and lung diffusion (DL). As a pilot study, we limited our assessment to infants whose mothers received ACS for threatened preterm labor, but then proceeded to full term delivery. This approach evaluated a more homogenous population and eliminated the confounding effects of preterm birth. We evaluated 36 full‐term infants between 4 to 12 months of age; 17 infants had ACS exposure and 19 infants had no ACS exposure. Infants exposed to ACS had a significantly lower forced vital capacity compared with non‐ACS exposed infants (250 vs 313 mL; P = .0075). FEV0.5 tended to be lower for the ACS exposed group (205 vs 237 mL; P = .075). VA and DL did not differ between the two groups. These findings suggest that ACS may impair subsequent growth of the lung parenchyma.
On the effect of abiotic environmental factors on production of bioactive oligopeptides in field populations of Planktothrix spp. (Cyanobacteria)

The variability in abundance of bioactive oligopeptides in Planktothrix spp. biomass in Lake Steinsfjorden, Norway, was examined for the period May 2003-August 2004, both temporally (over the year) and spatially (by depth). Of the 33 oligopeptides recorded, desmethyl-microcystin RR and LR, anabaenopeptin B, aeruginosin 583, oscillamide Y, oscillaginin B and oscillapeptin G were studied in detail. Of these desmethyl-microcystin RR had the highest average concentration (2.5 ± 3.0 μg L −1 ) and showed similar distributional patterns as the Planktothrix spp. biomass. Multivariate regression models, called generalized additive models (GAMs), were used to investigate the effect of temperature, irradiance, macronutrients, depth and date on the cellular oligopeptide content of Planktothrix spp. GAMs explained between 50 and 94% of the total variance in the abundance of oligopeptides per unit Planktothrix spp. biomass and also ranked parameters according to their contribution to this variance. Date was the most important contributor, linked to the waxing and waning of the four Planktothrix chemotypes found in Lake Steinsfjorden. There was an overall trend of increase in oligopeptide abundances per unit Planktothrix spp. biomass by depth. The factors affecting growth, temperature, irradiance and macronutrients had only a minor effect, explaining on average less than 10% of the variance included in the statistical models. The various classes of oligopeptides appeared to be influenced by environmental factors in a similar manner, suggesting that these oligopeptides may have a similar function in cyanobacteria.
Selective Toxicity of Some Pesticides to Hibana Velox (Araneae: Anyphaenidae), a Predator of Citrus Leafminer

The toxicity of fourteen different pesticides used in 'Tahiti' lime, Citrus aurantifolia (Christman) Swingle, to the spider, Hibana velox (Becker) was tested under laboratory conditions. Among the nine pesticides tested using a coated glass vial method, the five broad-spectrum insecticides (azinphos-methyl, chlorpyrifos, ethion, carbaryl, dicofol) were all highly toxic to H. velox, causing 100% mortality even at the lowest concentration. Avermectin and Provado® (a.i., imidacloprid) applied as sprays had moderate toxicity; whereas, Admire® (a.i., imidacloprid) applied as a drench and Tri-Basic® (copper fungicide) caused the lowest percent mortality (10-30%) even at the highest concentration. With a leaf-dip method, petroleum oil exhibited a low toxicity to H. velox. However, when combining petroleum oil with avermectin, a synergistic effect elevated the toxicity to moderate. Azadirachtin, Bacillus thuringiensis, and diflubenzuron showed low impact on H. velox . Less than 20% mortality was recorded at the highest concentrations for all of these products.
Opinions and attitudes of Italian healthcare workers towards recommended but not compulsory rotavirus vaccination

ABSTRACT Rotaviruses (RVs) are a leading cause of viral gastroenteritis among children younger than 5. The incidence of RV disease can be reduced through the widespread use of vaccination, but coverage is low in many countries, including Italy. This fact reflects the poor consideration given to the RV vaccine, both by the population and by healthcare workers. Peoples’ opinions are strictly dependent on the attitude of doctors and nurses. The aim of this work is the evaluation of healthcare workers’ knowledge, attitudes and opinions regarding RV vaccination. The results of two surveys were compared; the first was carried out in 2017, soon after the Italian National Immunization Plan introduced the recommendation for the RV vaccine. The second was performed at the end of 2018, approximately 1 year after the adoption of a Law that introduced new compulsory vaccinations, not including the RV vaccine. In 2017, 182 questionnaires were collected, and 111 in 2018. An increase was observed in the percentage of participants who reported recommending the RV vaccine and a significant increase was found in the coverage the participants claimed to reach. Education of healthcare workers after the introduction of compulsory vaccination may prompt them to actively offer also recommended vaccines.
Iron and Multiple Sclerosis

DECLARATION I, the undersigned, hereby declare that the work contained in this thesis is my own original work and that I have not previously in its entirety or in part submitted it at any university for a degree. SUMMARY Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a disease that causes neurological dysfunction. Studies attempting to elucidate the role of genes in MS development may aid efforts to control the damage caused by the disease that affects two million people worldwide, e.g. improved diagnosis and treatment. Although the association of MS and genes has not been fully characterized the proposed genetic etiology has been supported by the observed association of MS with the Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC), haplotype HLA-DRB1*1501, DRB5*0101, DQA1*0102, DQB1*0602. Iron, or rather the dysregulation thereof, has also been implicated as a precipitating factor in MS development. Considering the factors of iron dysregulation and the genes involved in iron regulation, this study aims to identify variation within genes involved in iron metabolism namely the high iron gene (HFE), solute-carrier family 40 (iron regulated transporter) member 1 gene (SLC40A1), hepcidin anti-microbial peptide (HAMP), cytochrome b reductase 1 (CYBRD1) and hemojuvelin (HJV). Screening of 40 patients (33 female, seven male; 33 Caucasian, seven Coloured) for each of the five genes was achieved by the Heteroduplex Single-Stranded Conformation Polymorphism (HEX-SSCP) technique. Semi-automated DNA sequencing allowed for verification and characterization of the variants detected. Results included identification of four novel variants present in only the Caucasian patient group, characterized as IVS4-53G→A (HFE) (one of 33 patients; 3%), IVS2-65delA (CYBRD1) (two of 32 patients; 6.3%), 3'UTR+26delACGTCACGTTTCAAAACTA (CYBRD1) (one of 31 patients; 3.2%) and 219delG (HJV) (two of 33 patients; 6%). In addition, a total of 15 previously described variants were identified (seven intronic and eight exonic) of which three were also prevalent in only the Caucasian patient group. This study aimed to investigate the differences between patient and control group variant frequencies, gene-gene interaction and genotype-phenotype relationships. Analysis did not indicate statistically significant associations. However, these investigations were limited because of the small cohort size and lack of control serum iron and ferritin levels. This pilot study detected variants within each of the five genes that were screened allowing for identification of potential markers and/or contributors to the disease, MS. Although statistical analysis, to elucidate the role of each/all of the variants identified, did not show significance, future studies of a larger cohort may indicate otherwise. This …
Brain-specific angiogenesis inhibitor 1 is expressed in the Myo/Nog cell lineage

The Myo/Nog cell lineage was discovered in the chick embryo and is also present in adult mammalian tissues. The cells are named for their expression of mRNA for the skeletal muscle specific transcription factor MyoD and bone morphogenetic protein inhibitor Noggin. A third marker for Myo/Nog cells is the cell surface molecule recognized by the G8 monoclonal antibody (mAb). G8 has been used to detect, track, isolate and kill Myo/Nog cells. In this study, we screened a membrane proteome array for the target of the G8 mAb. The array consisted of >5,000 molecules, each synthesized in their native confirmation with appropriate post-translational modifications in a single clone of HEK-293T cells. G8 mAb binding to the clone expressing brain-specific angiogenesis inhibitor 1 (BAI1) was detected by flow cytometry, re-verified by sequencing and validated by transfection with the plasmid construct for BAI1. Further validation of the G8 target was provided by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The G8 epitope was identified by screening a high-throughput, site directed mutagenesis library designed to cover 95–100% of the 954 amino acids of the extracellular domain of the BAI1 protein. The G8 mAb binds within the third thrombospondin repeat of the extracellular domain of human BAI1. Immunofluorescence localization experiments revealed that G8 and a commercially available BAI1 mAb co-localize to the subpopulation of Myo/Nog cells in the skin, eyes and brain. Expression of the multi-functional BAI1 protein in Myo/Nog cells introduces new possibilities for the roles of Myo/Nog cells in normal and diseased tissues.
Influence of Renin-Angiotensin System Inhibitors on Lower–Respiratory Tract Infections in Type 2 Diabetes: The Fremantle Diabetes Study Phase II

OBJECTIVE To determine whether ACE inhibitors (ACEi) and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARB) protect against lower–respiratory tract infections complicating type 2 diabetes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Of 1,732 participants with diabetes recruited to the longitudinal observational Fremantle Diabetes Study Phase II (FDS2) between 2008 and 2011, 1,482 had confirmed type 2 diabetes (mean age 65.8 years and median diabetes duration 9.0 years; 51.6% were male). All were followed for hospitalizations for or with, or deaths from, pneumonia/influenza, ascertained from validated administrative data linkage from study entry to end of 2016. Cox regression and competing risk regression were used to identify independent predictors of this outcome. RESULTS Two-thirds of participants (n = 982) were taking an ACEi and/or ARB at study entry (498 [33.6%] ACEi, 408 [27.5%] ARB, 76 [5.1%] both). During 9,511 person-years of follow-up (mean ± SD 6.4 ± 2.0 years), 174 participants had incident pneumonia/influenza (156 hospitalizations and 18 deaths without hospitalization). In Cox regression analysis, baseline ACEi/ARB use was independently associated with a reduced risk of incident pneumonia/influenza (cause-specific hazard ratio [HR] 0.64 [95% CI 0.45, 0.89], P = 0.008). Allowing for the competing risk of death did not change this finding (subdistribution HR 0.67 [0.48, 0.95], P = 0.024), and similar reductions were seen for ACEi, ARB alone, and ACEi/ARB combination therapy. There was no significant change in use of ACEi/ARB during follow-up [interaction with ln(time), P = 0.70]. Other significant predictors of incident pneumonia/influenza were previously reported, clinically plausible variables. CONCLUSIONS ACEi/ARB reduce the risk of pneumonia/influenza in people with type 2 diabetes.
Cuticular permeability of the three tree species Prunus Iaurocerasus L., Ginkgo biloba L. and Juglans regia L.: comparative investigation of the transport properties of intact leaves, isolated cuticles and reconstituted cuticular waxes

Cuticular transport properties of intact leaves, isolated cuticular membranes and reconstituted cuticular waxes of the three tree species Prunus laurocerasus L. , Ginkgo biloba L. and Juglans regia L. were measured using six different 14 C-labelled compounds, benzoic acid, salicylic acid, 2,4-dichlorophenoxy acid, metribuzin, 4-nitrophenol, and atrazine. For the same compound and the same species, the permeance of the intact leaf and the isolated cuticle was equal. This provides strong evidence demonstrating that transport properties of cuticles are not altered during isolation. Additionally, diffusion coefficients of the 14 C-labelled compounds in isolated and subsequently reconstituted cuticular wax of the three tree species were measured. Permeances of intact leaves and isolated cuticles could be predicted from diffusion coefficients, wax/water partition coefficients and the thickness of the transport-limiting wax layer with a mean deviation of about 1.7. This provides evidence that transport properties of recrystallized cuticular waxes do indeed reflect barrier properties of isolated cuticular membranes and intact leaves with in situ waxes. Thus, it can be concluded that the investigation of cuticular permeability using the three independent experimental systems of different complexity give comparable results. Finally, it was observed that permeances and diffusion coefficients measured with P. laurocerasus were always significantly lower than those measured with G. biloba and J. regia. This is interpreted as an ecological adaptation of the respective species. The evergreen species P. laurocerasus must be more adapted to environmental stress such as drought and frost injury compared to the two deciduous species G. biloba and J. regia.
Correlation between exploration activity and use of social information in three-spined sticklebacks

Individual variation in the exploration of an unfamiliar environment and joining performance probably reflects the shy--bold continuum as risk-related behavior. We experimentally examined the association between individual variation in exploration activity in an unfamiliar laboratory environment and tendency to follow other conspecifics in limnetic (primarily shoaling planktivore) and benthic (opportunistic shoaling benthic feeder) populations of three-spined stickleback from Alaska. Using a maze aquarium, we initially observed individual differences in exploration activity, that is, how far along the unfamiliar maze single immature fish could progress and how quickly they could arrive there. Then, we measured individual tendencies for individuals to follow "demonstrators" that had already been trained to solve the maze. There is a positive correlation between the 2 measurements in both populations. This may indicate that individuals active in exploration in unfamiliar environments can quickly exploit social advantages provided by demonstrators, which is consistent with the conceptual framework of behavioral syndromes in a shy--bold continuum. Copyright 2009, Oxford University Press.
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in Prisoners: Increased Substance Use Disorder Severity and Psychiatric Comorbidity

Objectives: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and substance use disorders (SUD) are overrepresented among incarcerated populations. We examined whether ADHD was associated with increased severity of comorbid SUD and with increased psychiatric comorbidity among prisoners. Methods: Cross-sectional study of 500 randomly selected Latino male prisoners in the Puerto Rico Correctional System using validated diagnostic measures to assess Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fifth edition (DSM-5) ADHD and SUD diagnosis, antisocial personality disorder (ASP) and borderline personality disorder (BPD), major depression, and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). We defined SUD severity by symptom count and by presence of at least 2 current SUD diagnoses (polysubstance). Results: Participants with ADHD had increased risk for lifetime (p < 0.05) and current (p < 0.01) SUDs, all comorbid psychiatric disorders, and suicidality (p < 0.001). They had more severe SUD, both in number of symptoms and number of SUD (polysubstance) diagnoses (p < 0.01). ADHD was associated with increased psychiatric comorbidity, as participants with ADHD were more likely to have a second diagnosis, and a greater number of comorbid disorders (p < 0.001). ASP, BPD, major depression, and GAD, but not ADHD, were significant predictors of SUD severity in adjusted models. Conclusions: Findings highlight the complex mental health needs of incarcerated populations, where SUD, ADHD, and other psychiatric disorders are prevalent and interrelated.
Eleven new South African earthworms (Oligochaeta: Microchaetidae) with new information on some known species, and an inventory of the microchaetids of KwaZulu-Natal

Eleven new South African indigenous earthworm species in three genera of Microchaetidae are described and illustrated : Microchaetus distasmosus, idechoritus, quaerus; Proandricus adami, amphius, oresbiosus (assigned to the lesothoensis species-group), lovuus (assigned to the belli species-group); Tritogenia debbieae, hiltonia, qudeni (assigned to the sulcata species-group); for the fourth new species, tetrata, a new species group is proposed. Of 137 currently known microchaetid species 77 are known from KwaZulu-Natal (KZN): 15 Microchaetus, 30 Proandricus, 31 Tritogenia, and one Michalakus. The exceptional diversity and endemicity of microchaetid species in this province is noted. Attention is drawn to the threat of extinction of several indigenous species. Species distribution in KZN is mapped. New localities are recorded for Microchaetus: natalensis, parvus, pondoanus, tuberosus; Proandricus: bourquini, beddardi, setosus, adriani, babanango, bergvillensis, entumeni, gracilis, jasoni, ortyi, thornvillensis; Tritogenia: grisea, kruegeri, ngomensis, douglasi, herbana, howickiana, karkloofia, lunata, shawi, sulcata, alveata; and Michalakus initus. New taxonomic or distributional information on certain species is added.
Fractional-order global optimal backpropagation machine trained by an improved fractional-order steepest descent method

We introduce the fractional-order global optimal backpropagation machine, which is trained by an improved fractional-order steepest descent method (FSDM). This is a fractional-order backpropagation neural network (FBPNN), a state-of-the-art fractional-order branch of the family of backpropagation neural networks (BPNNs), different from the majority of the previous classic first-order BPNNs which are trained by the traditional first-order steepest descent method. The reverse incremental search of the proposed FBPNN is in the negative directions of the approximate fractional-order partial derivatives of the square error. First, the theoretical concept of an FBPNN trained by an improved FSDM is described mathematically. Then, the mathematical proof of fractional-order global optimal convergence, an assumption of the structure, and fractional-order multi-scale global optimization of the FBPNN are analyzed in detail. Finally, we perform three (types of) experiments to compare the performances of an FBPNN and a classic first-order BPNN, i.e., example function approximation, fractional-order multi-scale global optimization, and comparison of global search and error fitting abilities with real data. The higher optimal search ability of an FBPNN to determine the global optimal solution is the major advantage that makes the FBPNN superior to a classic first-order BPNN.
Environmental Factors and Sentence Complexity in Child Second Language Acquisition

Variability in the linguistic proficiency of bilinguals is often associated with differences in exposure to the target language (Gathercole, 2014; Unsworth, 2016). The characteristic variation of environmental factors in child second language (L2) acquisition makes this population ideal for investigating how external components affect language learning (Paradis & Grüter, 2014). Research on input effects in child L2 acquisition often comprise quantitative, qualitative, and distal aspects of exposure. Previous studies investigating the effects of environmental factors in the morphosyntactic domain for child L2 learners have mostly focused on investigation of production of a number of complex structures (e.g. Armon-Lotem et al., 2011; Paradis & Kirova, 2014; Paradis et al., 2017; Unsworth, 2014; 2016). In the present study, we investigate the comprehension of L2 sentence structures ranging in complexity (active and passive voice, and subject and object relative clauses), and how their interpretation by child L2 learners is impacted by a number of environmental factors (length of L2 exposure; L2 language use at home; richness of the L2 environment; maternal education; and maternal L2 proficiency). Length of exposure in L2 acquisition refers to the amount of time the individual has been exposed to the target language and is traditionally measured in years or months by taking age of first meaningful exposure to the L2 from the child’s chronological age (Roesch & Chondrogianni, 2016; Unsworth, 2016). In child L2 acquisition, and where the child is of pre-school age, significant and consistent exposure (also referred to as meaningful exposure) typically occurs on commencing nursery or primary school (Paradis, 2011). Previous research focusing on the effect of length of L2 exposure and sentence structures has revealed both positive (e.g. Paradis et al., 2017) and negative (e.g. Unsworth, 2016) effects. L2 language use at home comprises a fine grained measure of quantitative language input which involves the calculation of detailed L2 exposure time and use, to allow a more comprehensive representation of the individual’s L2 exposure (Paradis, 2011). Fine grained measures are typically evaluated through