Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Anti-Müllerian Hormone promotes human osteoblast differentiation and calcification by modulating osteogenic gene expression

Abstract Objective To investigate whether the Anti-Müllerian Hormone (AMH), an ovarian hormone belonging to the Transforming Growth Factor β superfamily, may represent a possible candidate for use as a bone anabolic factor. Methods We performed in vitro studies on Human Osteoblasts (HOb) to evaluate the expression and the functionality of AMHRII, the AMH receptor type-2, and investigate the effects of exogenous AMH exposure on osteogenic gene expression and osteoblast functions. Results We reported the first evidence for the expression and functionality of AMHRII in HOb cells, thus suggesting that osteoblasts may represent a specific target for exogenous AMH treatment. Furthermore, the exposure to AMH exerted a stimulatory effect on HOb cells leading to the activation of osteogenic genes, including the upregulation of osteoblastic transcription factors such as RUNX and OSX, along with increased deposition of mineralized nodules. Conclusion Our findings proved interesting clues on the stimulatory effects of AMH on mature osteoblasts expressing its specific receptor, AMHRII. This study may therefore have translation value in opening the perspective that AMH may be an effective candidate to counteract the bone loss in osteoporotic patients by selectively targeting osteoblast with minimal off-target effect.
The Paradox between Conservation and Development: Can Cultural Relics of the Dunhuang Mogao Grottoes be Preserved through Cultural Creativity and Digital Technologies?

The Mogao Grottoes as one of the most famous UNESCO ＂World Heritage Sites＂ are a treasure trove of world renowned murals, architectural art, sculptures and cultural history. However, over 810,000 tourists per year now has resulted in severe damage to the murals and structural integrity of the Mogao Grottoes. This study aims to answer the following question: how can Dunhuang Research Academy achieve a healthy balance between heritage tourism development and conservation of cultural relics with cultural creativity elements and digital technologies? This paper finds that Dunhuang Research Academy resorted to digital technologies to convert the visitor management mode from ＂physical Dunhuang＂ to ＂digital Dunhuang+physical Dunhuang＂. The digital multimedia technologies are used to extract the cultural quintessence and cultural creativity elements of the Mogao Grottoes through films, animations, and interactive signboards to present the history and art of Mogao Grottoes to tourists. The new tourist management model could increase the daily visitor carrying capacity to 6,000 tourists and significantly improve the quantity of information available to the tourists. Not only that, it has also reduced the number of grottoes visited by tourists, shortened their visiting duration inside the grottoes and thereby alleviated their threat to the grottoes, consequently resolving the paradox between cultural relic conservation and tourism development.
The bodily threat monitoring scale: Development and preliminary validation in adult and childhood cancer survivors

Bodily threat monitoring is a core clinical feature of Fear of cancer recurrence (FCR) and is targeted in psycho‐oncology treatments, yet no comprehensive self‐report measure exists. The aim of this study was the theory‐informed development and initial validation of the Bodily Threat Monitoring Scale (BTMS).
SARC‐F as a screening tool to detect computed tomography‐based sarcopenia and myosteatosis among older adults with cancer

The European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People (EWGSOP) recommends SARC‐F as a tool for identifying sarcopenia among older adults. However, the role of SARC‐F among older adults with cancer remains unexplored. We aimed to evaluate the diagnostic utility of SARC‐F to identify those with sarcopenia, or low muscle mass (using skeletal muscle index [SMI]), and myosteatosis (using skeletal muscle density [SMD]) from computed tomography (CT) imaging and the association of SARC‐F with all‐cause mortality.
Investigating biodiversity patterns across scales in freshwater mussels

Hypotheses relating genomic diversity to community attributes such as abundance and species diversity attract attention from a wide and varied audience because their applications are twofold. First, testing such hypotheses can further a theoretical—and hopefully generalizable—understanding of the forces that assemble communities and create observed patterns of biodiversity. Second, relationships that hold true could ease the burden of data collection for conservation or other urgent applications; for example, a strong correlation between species diversity and genetic diversity could make it possible to use one as a proxy for the other, and focus limited resources on measuring the easier of the two without sacrificing information gained. In a From the Cover article in this issue of Molecular Ecology, Bucholz et al. (2023) explore the relationships between within‐species genomic diversity, community relative abundance and community species richness, testing three types of ecological hypotheses in the freshwater mussel communities of the southeastern United States. They find positive relationships between mussel density and species richness, and between genomic diversity within a species and density of that species, but no robust support for the expectation of correlated genomic and species diversity. Their analyses highlight the among‐species variability in relationships among these different levels of organization and also the complex ways in which interactions with the broader ecosystem (i.e. unionid mussels require fish hosts for maturation) affect these quantitative relationships, nonetheless pushing forward into the important frontier of community‐wide genomic assessment for theoretical and conservation applications.
Treatments for partial remission of major depressive disorder: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Question Partial remission of major depressive disorder (MDD) is a debilitating and distressing clinical state related to chronicity, morbidity and relapse. Although one-third of patients remit partially, evidence for treatment efficacy is unclear. We provide an overview of treatment options and their efficacy. Study selection and analysis Embase, PsycINFO, Medline and SCOPUS were systematically searched through February 2023. Included were randomised controlled trials (RCTs) examining any treatment in patients with partially remitted MDD aged 13–65 years, reporting data on severity, remission or relapse. Findings Seven RCTs examining psychotherapy including 1024 patients were eligible. There were not enough RCTs to examine effects of pharmacotherapy. Psychotherapy was associated with lower depressive symptom severity at post-treatment (Hedges’ g=0.50; 95% CI 0.23 to 0.76), but not at follow-up up to 1 year (Hedges’ g=0.36; 95% CI −0.30 to 1.02) or longer (Hedges’ g=0.02; 95% CI −0.09 to 0.12). Psychotherapy was associated with superior remission rates at post-treatment (OR 2.57; 95% CI 1.71 to 3.87) and follow-up 6 months or longer (OR 1.75; 95% CI 1.21 to 2.53), although not with improved relapse rates at post-treatment (OR 0.17; 95% CI 0.01 to 4.83) or follow-up 6 months or longer (OR 0.46; 95% CI 0.21 to 1.03). Overall methodological quality was poor. Conclusions Psychotherapy targeting partial remission may be effective in lowering depressive symptom severity and patients may potentially achieve full remission twice as likely. Yet, long-term and prophylactic effects are lacking. Given the risk of chronicity, more high-quality RCTs are needed. PROSPERO registration number CRD42020188451.
The HIV-2 proviral landscape is dominated by defective proviruses

Background: Compared with HIV-1 infection, HIV-2 infection is associated with a slower progression to AIDS. Understanding the persistence of HIV-2 infection might inform the mechanisms responsible for differences in the pathogenicity of HIV-2 versus HIV-1. Methods: In this study, we analyzed the genetic composition of the proviral reservoir in archived blood samples collected from 13 untreated HIV-2-infected adults from Senegal. We used single-genome, near-full-length individual proviral sequencing (FLIP-Seq) to assess the relative frequency of intact and defective proviruses. Results: Ten out of 13 (77%) study participants demonstrated virologic suppression (<90 HIV RNA copies/ml) while the remaining 3 (23%) had detectable HIV RNA. We obtained 363 proviral sequences from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from the 13 study participants. Within these sequences, 342 (94%) defective proviruses were detected. Twenty-one (6%) intact proviruses were detected from three study participants, with one study participant displaying a large clone consisting of 16 genome-intact sequences. Conclusion: This data suggests that similar to HIV-1 infection, the proviral landscape of HIV-2 is dominated by defective proviruses.
Both Horatio and Polonius: Innate Lymphoid Cells in Tissue Homeostasis and Repair

Abstract Innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) have emerged as critical tissue-resident lymphocytes that coordinate responses to environmental stress and injury. Traditionally, their function was thought to mirror adaptive lymphocytes that respond to specific pathogens. However, recent work has uncovered a more central role for ILCs in maintaining homeostasis even in the absence of infection. ILCs are now better conceptualized as an environmental rheostat that helps maintain the local tissue setpoint during environmental challenge by integrating sensory stimuli to direct homeostatic barrier and repair programs. In this article, we trace the developmental origins of ILCs, relate how ILCs sense danger signals, and describe their subsequent engagement of appropriate repair responses using a general paradigm of ILCs functioning as central controllers in tissue circuits. We propose that these interactions form the basis for how ILC subsets maintain organ function and organismal homeostasis, with important implications for human health.
Report on the CALFED Science Program Workshop "Defining a Variable Delta to Promote Estuarine Fish Habitat"

On June 11, 2007 the CALFED Science Program hosted a workshop titled “Defining a Variable Delta to Promote Estuarine Fish Habitat. ” The Workshop included six technical presentations followed by an audience participation/panel discussion. This workshop was inspired by the Variable Delta Hypothesis (VDH), which was originally outlined in the Public Policy Institute of California report “Envisioning Futures for the SacramentoSan Joaquin Delta” (www.ppic.org). Prior to the workshop, the VDH was informally being simplified into a notion of a Delta system with variable salinity. However, the VDH encompasses more than salinity. It is based on the premise that (1) increasing the variability of estuarine habitat will improve conditions for native estuarine fishes (and the introduced sport fish striped bass), and (2) increased expanses of aquatic habitat with more variability are likely on the way, and we should attempt to manage that variability to achieve positive benefits for native species. The VDH can be stated as increasing the variability (or heterogeneity) of the Delta’s geometry, which comprises both regional scale plan forms and local scale channel morphology, will lead to water residence time diversity that will improve habitat conditions for desirable fishes and other organisms. A Delta with more variability in habitat gradients, it is argued, will provide more habitat that is suitable for desired species and less habitat that is suitable for undesirable invasive species like Corbula amurensis (overbite clam), Corbicula fluminea (Asiatic freshwater clam), and Egeria densa (Brazilian waterweed).
Archéologie pastorale en Vallée d’Ossau

C'est dans le cadre d'une convention pluripartite entre le Parc National des Pyrenees, le Service Regional de l'Archeologie d'Aquitaine et le laboratoire FRAMESPA (UMR 5136 CNRS - Universite Toulouse le Mirail) que s'est deroule une campagne de prospection pedestre et des sondages archeologiques en haute vallee d'Ossau (Territoire du syndicat pastoral du Bas-Ossau - Territoire administratif de Laruns - Pyrenees-Atlantiques). Cette convention reconduisait les travaux entrepris en 2004 sur ce territoire et prolongeait la serie des quatre etudes qui visaient a mettre en place les bases d'un programme sur l'anthropisation et les dynamiques socio-environnementales des regions couvertes par le Parc National des Pyrenees (Bearn et Bigorre). Pour la vallee d'Ossau, trois volets ont ete abordes : la poursuite des prospections pedestres (entreprises en 2004) sur l'estive d'Aneou (prospection dite fine) ; la realisation d'une campagne de prospection pedestre destinee a evaluer le potentiel quantitatif et qualitatif du patrimoine pastoral des estives de Bious et de Pombie (prospection dite rapide) ; l'execution de cinq sondages archeologiques sur des structures pastorales de l'estive d'Aneou. Cinq sondages archeologiques ont egalement ete realises sur des structures identifiees en 2004. Les criteres de choix des structures sondees repose sur la volonte de couvrir un vaste etagement altitudinal (entre 1800 et 2100 metres d'altitude) et de prendre en compte un eventail typologique le plus large possible. Ces sondages ont permis de disposer d'information sur les chronologies et les modes architecturaux des structures pastorales etudiees.
Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy Before Radical Cystectomy for Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer: Elective and Eligibility Factors Impacting Utilization

Abstract Introduction: We aimed to assess utilization of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) and etiologies for lack of NAC receipt among patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC). Methods: Patients diagnosed with MIBC undergoing radical cystectomy at a single institution (2005-2021) were included. Patients were categorized by receipt of NAC, and reasons for no NAC were categorized into eligibility and elective factors. Overall survival was analyzed using univariable and multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression models and modeled with Kaplan-Meier curves. Results: Three hundred eighty patients with MIBC were included; 154 (40.5%) received NAC. Patients were not candidates for NAC due to renal dysfunction (16.6%), clinical contraindications (4.7%), salvage setting (2.1%), and histology (5.3%; total N = 109). Among 271 (71.3%) who were eligible, utilization increased from early (2005-2016) to recent (2016-2021) time periods (34.2% to 85.7% among NAC-eligible, P < .001; 22.8% vs 67.1% among all MIBC, P < .001). Elective factors for not receiving NAC included patient symptoms (7.8%), disease progression concern (7.0%), patient preference/refusal (20.3%) and provider discretion (8.1%) among 271 NAC-eligible patients. Notably, patient preference/refusal decreased from 33.6% to 3.4% in recent years (P < .001). On multivariable analysis, lack of NAC utilization due to renal dysfunction (HR 2.18, P = .002), clinical contraindications (HR 2.62, P = .01), and elective factors (HR 1.88, P = .01) were associated with worse overall survival. Conclusions: NAC utilization increased over time with 85.7% of eligible patients with MIBC receiving NAC in recent years. Renal dysfunction, patient preference, and clinical contraindications were primary etiologies for lack of NAC. Fewer patients refused NAC in recent years leading to a potential ceiling for NAC utilization.
Explosive cyclogenesis in the Euro-Atlantic sector: study of associated large-scale dynamics and variability

Intense winter cyclones often lead to hazardous weather over Europe. Previous studies have pointed to a link between the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) and strong European windstorms. However, the robustness of this relation for cyclones of varying intensities remains largely unexplored. In this paper, the bi-directional relation between the NAO and cyclones impacting Europe is analyzed for the period 1950-2010 focusing on the sensitivity to storm intensity. Evidence is given that explosive (EC) and non-explosive cyclones (NoEC) predominantly develop under different large-scale circulation conditions over the North Atlantic. Whereas NoEC evolve more frequently under negative and neutral NAO phases, the number of EC is larger under a positive NAO phase, typically characterized by an intensified jet toward Western Europe. Important differences are also found on the dynamics of NAO evolution after peak intensity for both cyclone populations. Gómara I, Rodríguez-Fonseca B, Zurita-Gotor P, and Pinto JG (2014b) On the relation between explosive cyclones affecting Europe and the North Atlantic Oscillation, Geophys. Res. Lett. , 41, 218-2190, doi: 10.1002/2014GL059647 1 Article in Section V.4
Muddy lateral accretion and low stream power in a sub‐recent confined channel belt, Rhine‐Meuse delta, central Netherlands

The Hennisdijk fluvial system in the central Rhine‐Meuse delta is an abandoned Rhine distributary that was active on a wide floodplain from 3800 to 3000 years BP. Cross‐sectional geometry, lithological characteristics and planform patterns of the channel‐belt deposits indicate lateral migration of the Hennisdijk palaeochannel. Channel‐belt deposits are around 10 m thick and 200–400 m wide. A gravelly facies near the base of the channel‐belt deposits represents channel‐lag and lower point‐bar deposits. The axis of the channel belt is dominated by a sandy facies (medium and coarse sand), showing an overall fining upward trend with multiple cycles. This facies is interpreted as lower and middle point‐bar deposits. The sandy facies is capped by a muddy facies, which is 1–2 m thick near the axis of the channel belt and thickens to 5–6 m along the margins. It laterally interfingers with the sandy facies that occurs near the channel‐belt axis, but it has sharp, erosive outer contacts marking the edges of the channel belt. The muddy facies comprises inclined heterolithic stratification (IHS) (fine/medium sand–mud couplets) in its upper part. The relatively thin muddy facies with IHS that occurs near the channel‐belt axis is interpreted as upper point‐bar deposits with lateral accretion surfaces, formed under marine influence. Along the margins of the channel belt the muddy facies consists of thick, fairly homogeneous, successions of mud with variable sand content, and fine sand. Based on facies geometry and position, this part of the muddy facies is interpreted as counterpoint deposits, formed along the upstream limb of the concave bank of a channel bend. Counterpoint accretion seems to have been associated with the confined nature of the channel belt, which was the result of low stream power (4·5–7·8 W m−2, based on reconstructions of palaeodischarge and channel slope) and cohesive bank material, i.e. clayey floodbasin deposits with intercalated peat beds occurring next to the channel belt. In the literature, counterpoint accretion is mostly reported from alluvial valleys, where meandering is confined by limited floodplain width, whereas muddy lateral accretion surfaces are commonly reported from much wider marine‐influenced floodplains. The present study shows juxtaposition of both forms of muddy channel deposits in a low‐energy, wide coastal plain setting, where preservation potential is considerable.
Geographies of Scale in International Rugby Union

Argentina has emerged as one of the top ten rugby teams in the world and became the first country from outside of the eight foundation unions to compete in the semi-final of a world cup competition in 2007. This paper assesses the geographies of scale in international rugby and considers Argentina's place within the contemporary game. It puts forward an analysis of the above within a framework shaped by the professionalisation, postmodernisation, and globalisation of the sport. The notion of scale, initially complemented by an outline of core and periphery, attempts to tease out the spatial isolations surrounding professional rugby since 1995. The work concludes by assessing what the proposed inclusion of Argentina in an extended Tri-Nations competition will mean to the wider international rugby setting.
Cold-blooded vertebrates evolved organized germinal center–like structures

Germinal centers (GCs) or analogous secondary lymphoid microstructures (SLMs) are thought to have evolved in endothermic species. However, living representatives of their ectothermic ancestors can mount potent secondary antibody responses upon infection or immunization, despite the apparent lack of SLMs in these cold-blooded vertebrates. How and where adaptive immune responses are induced in ectothermic species in the absence of GCs or analogous SLMs remain poorly understood. Here, we infected a teleost fish (trout) with the parasite Ichthyophthirius multifiliis (Ich) and identified the formation of large aggregates of highly proliferating IgM+ B cells and CD4+ T cells, contiguous to splenic melanomacrophage centers (MMCs). Most of these MMC-associated lymphoid aggregates (M-LAs) contained numerous antigen (Ag)–specific B cells. Analysis of the IgM heavy chain CDR3 repertoire of microdissected splenic M-LAs and non–M-LA areas revealed that the most frequent B cell clones induced after Ich infection were highly shared only within the M-LAs of infected animals. These M-LAs represented highly polyclonal SLMs in which Ag-specific B cell clonal expansion occurred. M-LA–associated B cells expressed high levels of activation-induced cytidine deaminase and underwent significant apoptosis, and somatic hypermutation of Igμ genes occurred prevalently in these cells. Our findings demonstrate that ectotherms evolved organized SLMs with GC-like roles. Moreover, our results also point to primordially conserved mechanisms by which M-LAs and mammalian polyclonal GCs develop and function. Description Cold-blooded vertebrates evolved organized SLMs with GC-like functions.
Predicting Survival of End-Stage Heart Failure Patients Receiving HeartMate-3: Comparing Machine Learning Methods

HeartMate 3 is the only durable left ventricular assist devices (LVAD) currently implanted in the United States. The purpose of this study was to develop a predictive model for 1 year mortality of HeartMate 3 implanted patients, comparing standard statistical techniques and machine learning algorithms. Adult patients registered in the Society of Thoracic Surgeons, Interagency Registry for Mechanically Assisted Circulatory Support (STS-INTERMACS) database, who received primary implant with a HeartMate 3 between January 1, 2017, and December 31, 2019, were included. Epidemiological, clinical, hemodynamic, and echocardiographic characteristics were analyzed. Standard logistic regression and machine learning (elastic net and neural network) were used to predict 1 year survival. A total of 3,853 patients were included. Of these, 493 (12.8%) died within 1 year after implantation. Standard logistic regression identified age, Model End Stage Liver Disease (MELD)-XI score, right arterial (RA) pressure, INTERMACS profile, heart rate, and etiology of heart failure (HF), as important predictor factors for 1 year mortality with an area under the curve (AUC): 0.72 (0.66–0.77). This predictive model was noninferior to the ones developed using the elastic net or neural network. Standard statistical techniques were noninferior to neural networks and elastic net in predicting 1 year survival after HeartMate 3 implantation. The benefit of using machine-learning algorithms in the prediction of outcomes may depend on the type of dataset used for analysis.