Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Spatial incongruence in the species richness and functional diversity of cricetid rodents

Biodiversity is multidimensional and different mechanisms can influence different dimensions. The spatial distribution of these dimensions can help in conservation decisions through the location of complementary areas with high diversity. We analyzed congruence in spatial patterns of species richness and functional diversity of cricetid rodents in the state of Oaxaca, southern Mexico, at different scales, and environmental variables related. Potential distribution models were produced for 49 species of cricetids in Maxent and superimposed to obtain potential communities in cells of 25, 50,100, 200 and 400 km2. We estimated species richness (SR) and functional diversity (SES.FD) eliminating the species richness effect through null models. The patterns and spatial congruence of species richness and functional diversity are described. The relationships between the environmental variables (elevation, temperature, precipitation, net primary productivity and potential evapotranspiration) and the SR and SES.FD were explored using Generalized Linear Models (GLMs) and Generalized Additive Models (GAMs). The highest species richness was found in mountainous ecosystems while the highest functional diversity was in tropical forests, revealing a spatial incongruence among these components of biodiversity (r = -0.14, p = 0.42; Pearson correlation). The locations of the cells of low congruence varied according to spatial resolution. In univariate models, elevation was the variable that best explained species richness (R2 = 0.77). No single variable explained the functional diversity; however, the models that included multiple environmental variables partially explained both the high and low functional diversity. The different patterns suggest that different historic, ecological and environmental processes could be responsible for the community structure of cricetid rodents in Oaxaca. These results indicate that one great challenge to be met to achieve more effective planning for biological conservation is to integrate knowledge regarding the spatial distribution of different dimensions of biodiversity.
The ‘in vivo lifestyle’ of bile acid 7α-dehydroxylating bacteria: comparative genomics, metatranscriptomic, and bile acid metabolomics analysis of a defined microbial community in gnotobiotic mice

ABSTRACT The formation of secondary bile acids by gut microbes is a current topic of considerable biomedical interest. However, a detailed understanding of the biology of anaerobic bacteria in the genus Clostridium that are capable of generating secondary bile acids is lacking. We therefore sought to determine the transcriptional responses of two prominent secondary bile acid producing bacteria, Clostridium hylemonae and Clostridium hiranonis to bile salts (in vitro) and the cecal environment of gnotobiotic mice. The genomes of C. hylemonae DSM 15053 and C. hiranonis DSM 13275 were closed, and found to encode 3,647 genes (3,584 protein-coding) and 2,363 predicted genes (of which 2,239 are protein-coding), respectively, and 1,035 orthologs were shared between C. hylemonae and C. hiranonis. RNA-Seq analysis was performed in growth medium alone, and in the presence of cholic acid (CA) and deoxycholic acid (DCA). Growth with CA resulted in differential expression (>0.58 log2FC; FDR < 0.05) of 197 genes in C. hiranonis and 118 genes in C. hylemonae. The bile acid-inducible operons (bai) from each organism were highly upregulated in the presence of CA but not DCA. We then colonized germ-free mice with human gut bacterial isolates capable of metabolizing taurine-conjugated bile acids. This consortium included bile salt hydrolase-expressing Bacteroides uniformis ATCC 8492, Bacteroides vulgatus ATCC 8482, Parabacteroides distasonis DSM 20701, as well as taurine-respiring Bilophila wadsworthia DSM 11045, and deoxycholic/lithocholic acid generating Clostridium hylemonae DSM 15053 and Clostridium hiranonis DSM 13275. Butyrate and iso-bile acid-forming Blautia producta ATCC 27340 was also included. The Bacteroidetes made up 84.71% of 16S rDNA cecal reads, B. wadsworthia, constituted 14.7%, and the clostridia made up <. 75% of 16S rDNA cecal reads. Bile acid metabolomics of the cecum, serum, and liver indicate that the synthetic community were capable of functional bile salt deconjugation, oxidation/isomerization, and 7α-dehydroxylation of bile acids. Cecal metatranscriptome analysis revealed expression of genes involved in metabolism of taurine-conjugated bile acids. The in vivo transcriptomes of C. hylemonae and C. hiranonis suggest fermentation of simple sugars and utilization of amino acids glycine and proline as electron acceptors. Genes predicted to be involved in trimethylamine (TMA) formation were also expressed.
Effect of cooled perches on the efficacy of an induced molt in White Leghorn laying hens previously exposed to heat stress.

This study examined the effect of water-chilled perches on hen production and physiological responses to induced molt during elevated temperatures. A total of 288White Leghorns at 82 wk of age were housed in 36 cages of 6 banks. Each bank was assigned to 1 of 3 treatments: cooled perches, air perches, and no perches. The hens were subjected to 2 heat episodes during their first laying cycle at week 21 to 35 and week 73 to 80, respectively. The hens were subjected to a 28 D nonfasted molting regimen starting at 85 wk of age. Cyclic heat of 32°C (6:00 am to 6:00 pm) was applied daily during the molting period. After molt, hens were returned to a layer diet and housed under thermoneutral condition. Two birds per cage were monitored for BW change during molt. Egg production was recorded daily. Feed utilization was measured during molt at 86 and 88 wk of age. Egg weight and eggshell traits were examined at 84 wk (pre-molt) and post-molt at 92, 96, and 104 wk of age. Rectal temperature and blood samples were collected from 2 birds per cage at the end of molt. Blood samples were used for determining heterophil/lymphocyte ratio, corticosterone, and thyroid hormones. Plumage condition was examined at 22 wk post-molt. Compared to control and air perch hens, cooled perch hens had higher feed usage and greater BW loss, lower heterophil/lymphocyte ratios (P < 0.05) with no difference in thyroid hormones and corticosterone at the end of molt. Cooled perch hens also had higher egg production beginning at 98 wk of age (Ptreatment*age < 0.0001) than control hens and sometimes the air-perch hens. Cooled perch hens had higher rectal temperature than control but not air perch hens at end of molt. Moreover, cooled perch hens had better breast feather scores than air perch hens but worse vent plumage (P ≤ 0.05) than both control and air perch hens. These results indicate that the provision of cooled perches assists hens with better adaptation to stressors, such as induced molt plus heat exposure, resulting in improved post-molt egg production.
Associations of pregnancy‐related factors and birth characteristics with risk of endometrial cancer: A Nordic population‐based case–control study

Many pregnancy‐related factors are associated with reduced endometrial cancer risk. However, it remains unclear whether pregnancy‐related complications (e.g., hypertensive conditions) are associated with risk and whether these associations vary by endometrial cancer subtype. Thus, we evaluated the risk of endometrial cancer, overall and by subtype, in relation to pregnancy‐related factors, pregnancy complications and birth characteristics. Utilizing population‐based register data from four Nordic countries, we conducted a nested case–control analysis of endometrial cancer risk. We included 10,924 endometrial cancer cases and up to 10 matched controls per case. Odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were derived from unconditional logistic regression models. We further evaluated associations by individual histology (i.e., endometrioid, serous, etc.) or, for rare exposures (e.g., pregnancy complications), by dualistic type (Type I [n = 10,343] and Type II [n = 581]). Preexisting and pregnancy‐related hypertensive conditions were associated with increased endometrial cancer risk (OR [95% CI]: preexisting hypertension 1.88 [1.39–2.55]; gestational hypertension 1.47 [1.33–1.63]; preeclampsia 1.43 [1.30–1.58]), with consistent associations across dualistic type. Increasing number of pregnancies (≥4 vs. 1 birth: 0.64 [0.59–0.69]) and shorter time since last birth (<10 vs. ≥30 years: 0.34 [0.29–0.40]) were associated with reduced endometrial cancer risk, with consistent associations across most subtypes. Our findings support the role for both hormonal exposures and cell clearance as well as immunologic/inflammatory etiologies for endometrial cancer. This research supports studying endometrial hyperplasia, a precursor condition of endometrial cancer, in the context of pregnancy‐related exposures, as this may provide insight into the mechanisms by which pregnancy affects subsequent cancer risk.
Establishing a Community-Based Participatory Research Partnership in a Rural Community in the Midwest

Abstract:Background: Rural health disparities are well-documented. "New destination" communities in predominantly rural states have emerged in recent years, with immigrants moving into these communities for better opportunities. Few reports of community-based participatory partnerships with these communities have been previously described in the literature.Objectives: We report on the formation and implementation of a community–academic partnership to reduce health disparities in a rural Midwestern community.Methods: We describe the creation of a partnership between the University of Iowa (UI) Prevention Research Center (PRC) and the Ottumwa, Iowa community.Results: We describe the partnership formation, activities, and results of the implementation of the partnership, and challenges encountered, including balancing attention to different health disparities populations and ensuring mechanisms for hearing from the different voices in the community.Conclusions: Our experience suggests the importance and challenge of considering the multiple dimensions of health disparities in rural new destination Midwestern communities.
Are internal load measures associated with injuries in male adolescent Gaelic football players?

Abstract This study aimed to examine internal loads in male adolescent Gaelic footballers and their association with musculoskeletal injury. Written training diaries were completed by 97 male adolescent Gaelic footballers weekly and injuries, defined as any injury sustained during training or competition causing restricted performance or time lost from play, were assessed by a Certified Athletic Therapist. Daily load was determined for each player (session rating of perceived exertion by session duration) and summed to give weekly load. Univariate and multiple logistic regressions were conducted to determine the association with injury. Twenty-two injuries were recorded with match injuries significantly more common than training injuries. Periodic variations in weekly load and injuries were evident throughout the season. Univariate analysis identified weekly load (OR = 2.75; 95%CI = 1.00–7.59), monotony (OR = 4.17; 95%CI = 1.48–11.72) and absolute change in load (OR = 3.27; 95%CI = 1.15–9.32) greater than the team average were significant injury risk factors. Multiple logistic regression with 2-weekly and 3-weekly cumulative loads, absolute change, monotony, strain, ACWR and age as independent variables identified internal load measures (monotony, strain and absolute change) were associated with injury with high specificity (96.0%) but low sensitivity (25.0%). The findings highlight the need to monitor team and individual loads to avoid sudden week-to-week changes or excessive weekly loads. Open communication between players, parents, coaches and sports medicine clinicians enables effective load monitoring that can reduce injury risk and may subsequently minimise dropout, improve team success and overall sport enjoyment and promote life-long sports participation.
Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting in a Patient with Situs Inversus Totalis

Patient: Male, 50 Final Diagnosis: Coronary artery disease in a patient with situs inversus totalis Symptoms: Angina pectoris Medication: — Clinical Procedure: Coronary artery bypass grafting Specialty: Cardiac surgery Objective: Rare disease Background: We report a rare case of total arterial coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in a patient with situs inversus totalis (SIT). SIT is a rare variant of biologically normal anatomy, in which the main internal organs are mirrored compared to normal localization. Case Report: A 50-year-old patient with SIT and severe coronary stenosis of the left anterior descending artery (LAD) and the ramus circumflexus (RCX) was admitted to our hospital. CABG was performed promptly using 2 conduits. After medial sternotomy, both mammary arteries were isolated by the skeletal method. Next, the cannulation of the aorta and the physiologically right atrium was performed. Custodiol cardioplegia was performed antegrade in a single shot. The left internal mammary artery (LIMA) was anastomosed to the LAD and the right internal mammary artery (RIMA) to the RCX. The aortic clamping time was 29 minutes. The operation was completed without complications. The patient was extubated 6 hours after surgery. On the first postoperative day, the patient was transferred to a regular ward. Postoperative therapy was performed without complications. Conclusions: Surgical correction is indicated for many patients with SIT in combination with coronary heart disease. Performing a CABG operation on these patients requires the operating team to have certain skills. Surgeons face a number of problems and issues: preoperative preparation of the patient, the position of the surgeon to the left or right during the operation, the choice of conduit for anastomosis, and the tactics of the operation.
Impact of the frequency of plasma viral load monitoring on treatment outcomes among children with perinatally acquired HIV

Recommendations on the optimal frequency of plasma viral load (pVL) monitoring in children living with HIV (CLWH) who are stable on combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) are inconsistent. This study aimed to determine the impact of annual versus semi‐annual pVL monitoring on treatment outcomes in Asian CLWH.
'Online' integration of sensory and fear memories in the rat medial temporal lobe

How does a stimulus never associated with danger become frightening? The present study addressed this question using a sensory preconditioning task with rats. In this task, rats integrate a sound-light memory formed in stage 1 with a light-danger memory formed in stage 2, as they show fear when tested with the sound in stage 3. Here we show that this integration occurs ‘online’ during stage 2: when activity in the region that consolidated the sound-light memory (perirhinal cortex) was inhibited during formation of the light-danger memory, rats no longer showed fear when tested with the sound but continued to fear the light. Thus, fear that accrues to a stimulus paired with danger simultaneously spreads to its past associates, thereby roping those associates into a fear memory network.
RhoGTPase in Vascular Disease

Ras-homologous (Rho)A/Rho-kinase pathway plays an essential role in many cellular functions, including contraction, motility, proliferation, and apoptosis, inflammation, and its excessive activity induces oxidative stress and promotes the development of cardiovascular diseases. Given its role in many physiological and pathological functions, targeting can result in adverse effects and limit its use for therapy. In this review, we have summarized the role of RhoGTPases with an emphasis on RhoA in vascular disease and its impact on endothelial, smooth muscle, and heart and lung fibroblasts. It is clear from the various studies that understanding the regulation of RhoGTPases and their regulators in physiology and pathological conditions is required for effective targeting of Rho.
Dp Automata and Petri Nets

At the first view there are no similarities between P systems and Petri nets, but this paper describes a connection between them. Petri nets can describe a very large domain of systems. P systems represent a computational model that describe the interaction between chemical processes and their membranes. The dP automata are a class of membrane systems that tries to combine a number of P systems and makes them to communicate. The behavior of such an automaton is made in an nondeterministically maximally parallel way. The objects are moving inside each P system and also between the P systems from the automaton. This paper will use on the modeling process a place transitions network (PTN). Graphical symbols from PTN will be used to describe the behavior of a dP automaton(dPA). The properties from the PTN will be define for the dP automata providing that an automaton is having the same expressing power as a Petri net.
Chikungunya virus drug discovery: still a long way to go?

ABSTRACT Introduction: Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is the etiological agent of a (re)emerging arbovirus infection, chikungunya fever (CHIKF), that represents a serious health problem worldwide for which no antivirals are available. Areas covered: This review covers the efforts performed so far to identify and optimize small molecules that could be useful as antivirals for CHIKV infection, including drug repositioning, phenotypic screening, target-based screening, and structure-based design. This is accompanied by a brief presentation of the replicative cycle of the virus and the role of the viral proteins in CHIKV replication. Expert opinion: In the last decade, and particularly since CHIKV reached the Americas, significant efforts have been made to identify compounds that effectively inhibit CHIKV replication. Unfortunately, these efforts have not led to a clinical candidate. For the years to come, more basic research is required to allow a better understanding of the interplay of the viral proteins among them and with cellular components. Structural information is missing for most of the targets so that structure-based drug design, a strategy that has provided good results in other antiviral fields, has been scarcely applied to this alphavirus.
Standing centre of pressure alters the vibration transmissibility response of the foot

Abstract Vibration-white foot as an occupational disease has underscored the need to better understand the vibration response of the foot. While vibration transmissibility data exist for a natural standing position, it is anticipated that weight distribution will affect the response. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of changes in centre of pressure (COP) on the foot’s biomechanical response. Twenty-one participants were exposed to vertical vibration of 30 mm/s, with a sine sweep from 10–200 Hz. Z-axis (vertical) vibration was measured at 24 locations on the right foot, with the COP shifted forward or toward the heel. A mixed model analysis at each location revealed significant differences (p < .001) in the transmissibility response when the COP was altered to the forefoot and rearfoot. In general, the peak frequency of the average vibration response increased for a region of the foot when the COP was shifted toward that region. Practitioner Summary: Altering the centre of pressure location resulted in changes in the transmission of vibration through the foot. The forward lean position was associated with the greatest amplitude of vibration transmissibility at the toes. This information is relevant for clinicians studying vibration-induced white-foot and engineers designing protective equipment.
Ricin: An Ancient Story for a Timeless Plant Toxin

The castor plant (Ricinus communis L.) has been known since time immemorial in traditional medicine in the pharmacopeia of Mediterranean and eastern ancient cultures. Moreover, it is still used in folk medicine worldwide. Castor bean has been mainly recommended as anti-inflammatory, anthelmintic, anti-bacterial, laxative, abortifacient, for wounds, ulcers, and many other indications. Many cases of human intoxication occurred accidentally or voluntarily with the ingestion of castor seeds or derivatives. Ricinus toxicity depends on several molecules, among them the most important is ricin, a protein belonging to the family of ribosome-inactivating proteins. Ricin is the most studied of this category of proteins and it is also known to the general public, having been used for several biocrimes. This manuscript intends to give the reader an overview of ricin, focusing on the historical path to the current knowledge on this protein. The main steps of ricin research are here reported, with particular regard to its enzymatic activity, structure, and cytotoxicity. Moreover, we discuss ricin toxicity for animals and humans, as well as the relation between bioterrorism and ricin and its impact on environmental toxicity. Ricin has also been used to develop immunotoxins for the elimination of unwanted cells, mainly cancer cells; some of these immunoconjugates gave promising results in clinical trials but also showed critical limitation.
Effects of CYP3A inhibitors on the pharmacokinetics of quizartinib, a potent and selective FLT3 inhibitor, and its active metabolite

Quizartinib is an oral, highly potent and selective next‐generation FMS‐like tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3) inhibitor under investigation in patients with FLT3‐internal tandem duplication‐mutated acute myeloid leukaemia. This drug–drug interaction study assessed the pharmacokinetics (PK) of quizartinib when coadministered with strong or moderate cytochrome P450 3A (CYP3A) inhibitors.
CMV viremia and death after HCT: More complex than "to have and have not"?

1534 • cid 2020:70 (15 April) • EDITORIAL COMMENTARY Received 4 June 2019; editorial decision 5 June 2019; accepted 6 June 2019; published online June 8, 2019. Correspondence: G. Papanicolaou, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065 (papanicg@mskcc.org). Clinical Infectious Diseases 2020;70(8):1534–5 © The Author(s) 2019. Published by Oxford University Press for the Infectious Diseases Society of America. All rights reserved. For permissions, e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com. DOI: 10.1093/cid/ciz492 Cytomegalovirus Viremia and Death After Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation: More Complex Than “To Have and Have Not”?
Synthesis and Characterization of a High Flux Nanocellulose–Cellulose Acetate Nanocomposite Membrane

Despite the advantages of membrane processes, their high energy requirement remains a major challenge. Fabrication of nanocomposite membranes by incorporating various nanomaterials in the polymer matrix has shown promise for enhancing membrane flux. In this study, we embed functionalized cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) with high aspect ratios in the polymer matrix to create hydrophilic nanochannels that reduce membrane resistance and facilitate the facile transport of water molecules through the membrane. The results showed that the incorporation of 0.1 wt % CNF into the polymer matrix did not change the membrane flux (~15 L·m−2·h−1) and Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA) Fraction V rejection, while increasing the CNF content to 0.3 wt % significantly enhanced the flux by seven times to ~100 L·m−2·h−1, but the rejection was decreased to 60–70%. Such a change in membrane performance was due to the formation of hydrophilic nanochannels by the incorporation of CNF (corroborated by the SEM images), decreasing the membrane resistance, and thus enhancing the flux. When the concentration of the CNF in the membrane matrix was further increased to 0.6 wt %, no further increase in the membrane flux was observed, however, the BSA rejection was found to increase to 85%. Such an increase in the rejection was related to the electrostatic repulsion between the negatively-charged CNF-loaded nanochannels and the BSA, as demonstrated by zeta potential measurements. SEM images showed the bridging effect of the CNF in the nanochannels with high CNF contents.