Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Price of Surviving on Adrenaline: Developmental Programming Responses to Chronic Fetal Hypercatecholaminemia Contribute to Poor Muscle Growth Capacity and Metabolic Dysfunction in IUGR-Born Offspring

Maternofetal stress induces fetal programming that restricts skeletal muscle growth capacity and metabolic function, resulting in intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) of the fetus. This thrifty phenotype aids fetal survival but also yields reduced muscle mass and metabolic dysfunction after birth. Consequently, IUGR-born individuals are at greater lifelong risk for metabolic disorders that reduce quality of life. In livestock, IUGR-born animals exhibit poor growth efficiency and body composition, making these animals more costly and less valuable. Specifically, IUGR-associated programming causes a greater propensity for fat deposition and a reduced capacity for muscle accretion. This, combined with metabolic inefficiency, means that these animals produce less lean meat from greater feed input, require more time on feed to reach market weight, and produce carcasses that are of less quality. Despite the health and economic implications of IUGR pathologies in humans and food animals, knowledge regarding their specific underlying mechanisms is lacking. However, recent data indicate that adaptive programing of adrenergic sensitivity in multiple tissues is a contributing factor in a number of IUGR pathologies including reduced muscle mass, peripheral insulin resistance, and impaired glucose metabolism. This review highlights the findings that support the role for adrenergic programming and how it relates to the lifelong consequences of IUGR, as well as how dysfunctional adrenergic signaling pathways might be effective targets for improving outcomes in IUGR-born offspring.
Significance and Relevance of Spermatozoal RNAs to Male Fertility in Livestock

Livestock production contributes to a significant part of the economy in developing countries. Although artificial insemination techniques brought substantial improvements in reproductive efficiency, male infertility remains a leading challenge in livestock. Current strategies for the diagnosis of male infertility largely depend on the evaluation of semen parameters and fail to diagnose idiopathic infertility in most cases. Recent evidences show that spermatozoa contains a suit of RNA population whose profile differs between fertile and infertile males. Studies have also demonstrated the crucial roles of spermatozoal RNA (spRNA) in spermatogenesis, fertilization, and early embryonic development. Thus, the spRNA profile may serve as unique molecular signatures of fertile sperm and may play pivotal roles in the diagnosis and treatment of male fertility. This manuscript provides an update on various spRNA populations, including protein-coding and non-coding RNAs, in livestock species and their potential role in semen quality, particularly sperm motility, freezability, and fertility. The contribution of seminal plasma to the spRNA population is also discussed. Furthermore, we discussed the significance of rare non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) such as long ncRNAs (lncRNAs) and circular RNAs (circRNAs) in spermatogenic events.
Deep-Learning Approach to Predict Survival Outcomes Using Wearable Actigraphy Device Among End-Stage Cancer Patients

Survival prediction is highly valued in end-of-life care clinical practice, and patient performance status evaluation stands as a predominant component in survival prognostication. While current performance status evaluation tools are limited to their subjective nature, the advent of wearable technology enables continual recordings of patients' activity and has the potential to measure performance status objectively. We hypothesize that wristband actigraphy monitoring devices can predict in-hospital death of end-stage cancer patients during the time of their hospital admissions. The objective of this study was to train and validate a long short-term memory (LSTM) deep-learning prediction model based on activity data of wearable actigraphy devices. The study recruited 60 end-stage cancer patients in a hospice care unit, with 28 deaths and 32 discharged in stable condition at the end of their hospital stay. The standard Karnofsky Performance Status score had an overall prognostic accuracy of 0.83. The LSTM prediction model based on patients' continual actigraphy monitoring had an overall prognostic accuracy of 0.83. Furthermore, the model performance improved with longer input data length up to 48 h. In conclusion, our research suggests the potential feasibility of wristband actigraphy to predict end-of-life admission outcomes in palliative care for end-stage cancer patients. Clinical Trial Registration: The study protocol was registered on ClinicalTrials.gov (ID: NCT04883879).
Editorial: Advances in Biomonitoring for the Sustainability of Vulnerable African Riverine Ecosystems

Since recorded time, rivers have facilitated the establishment of human civilizations because of the myriad ecosystem goods and services they offer (Macklin and Lewin, 2015). Rivers provide transportation corridors, supply food in form of fisheries, and are major sources of water for irrigation, domestic use, renewable energy, and industrial development (Ripl, 2003). However, these benefits have come at a great cost to the structural and functional integrity of rivers and linked ecosystems (Dudgeon et al., 2006; Vörösmarty et al., 2010). The capacity of rivers to sustainably meet human needs for water and ecosystem services is premised on maintaining their ecological integrity, which encompasses the gamut of biological diversity and ecosystem processes that maintain them (Karr, 1993). In river networks, ecological integrity is spatiotemporally dynamic, largely driven by the natural flow regime (Poff et al., 1997), which provides a template for ecological processes and species to thrive. River managers have the challenge of reconciling human needs with the ecological requirements of healthy ecosystems. This requires innovative decision-support tools for assessing and monitoring the ecological status of rivers to guide management and conservation efforts. This Research Topic presents selected original research articles and reviews on some of the tools used to assess the ecological status of rivers in Africa. The objectives of the special issue are to:
Roles of Noncoding RNA in Reproduction

The World Health Organization predicts that infertility will be the third major health threat after cancer and cardiovascular disease, and will become a hot topic in medical research. Studies have shown that epigenetic changes are an important component of gametogenesis and related reproductive diseases. Epigenetic regulation of noncoding RNA (ncRNA) is appropriate and is a research hotspot in the biomedical field; these include long noncoding RNA (lncRNA), microRNA (miRNA), and PIWI-interacting RNA (piRNA). As vital members of the intracellular gene regulatory network, they affect various life activities of cells. LncRNA functions as a molecular bait, molecular signal and molecular scaffold in the body through molecular guidance. miRNAs are critical regulators of gene expression; they mainly control the stability or translation of their target mRNA after transcription. piRNA functions mainly through silencing genomic transposable elements and the post-transcriptional regulation of mRNAs in animal germ cells. Current studies have shown that these ncRNAs also play significant roles in the reproductive system and are involved in the regulation of essential cellular events in spermatogenesis and follicular development. The abnormal expression of ncRNA is closely linked to testicular germ cell tumors, poly cystic ovary syndrome and other diseases. This paper briefly presents the research on the reproductive process and reproductive diseases involving ncRNAs.
The Safety of Micro-Implants for the Brain

Technological advancements in electronics and micromachining now allow the development of discrete wireless brain implantable micro-devices. Applications of such devices include stimulation or sensing and could enable direct placement near regions of interest within the brain without the need for electrode leads or separate battery compartments that are at increased risk of breakage and infection. Clinical use of leadless brain implants is accompanied by novel risks, such as migration of the implant. Additionally, the encapsulation material of the implants plays an important role in mitigating unwanted tissue reactions. These risks have the potential to cause harm or reduce the service of life of the implant. In the present study, we have assessed post-implantation tissue reaction and migration of borosilicate glass-encapsulated micro-implants within the cortex of the brain. Twenty borosilicate glass-encapsulated devices (2 × 3.5 × 20 mm) were implanted into the parenchyma of 10 sheep for 6 months. Radiographs were taken directly post-surgery and at 3 and 6 months. Subsequently, sheep were euthanized, and GFAP and IBA-1 histological analysis was performed. The migration of the implants was tracked by reference to two stainless steel screws placed in the skull. We found no significant difference in fluoroscopy intensity of GFAP and a small difference in IBA-1 between implanted tissue and control. There was no glial scar formation found at the site of the implant’s track wall. Furthermore, we observed movement of up to 4.6 mm in a subset of implants in the first 3 months of implantation and no movement in any implant during the 3–6-month period of implantation. Subsequent histological analysis revealed no evidence of a migration track or tissue damage. We conclude that the implantation of this discrete micro-implant within the brain does not present additional risk due to migration.
Editorial: Loss of Epithelial Barrier Integrity in Inflammatory Diseases: Cellular Mediators and Therapeutic Targets

Division of Gastroenterology, Infectious Diseases and Rheumatology, Medical Department, Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany, Clinical Physiology/Nutritional Medicine, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany, Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany, Deutsches Zentrum Immuntherapie (DZI), University Hospital Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany, 5 Internal Medicine 2 (Gastroenterology and Hepatology), Faculty of Medicine, Kepler University Hospital, Johannes Kepler University Linz, Linz, Austria, Department of Medicine 1, University Hospital of Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
Backfat Thickness Does Affect the Restoration of Ovarian Activity Postpartum in Different Breeding Programs in Zebu Cattle

The backfat thickness (BFT) was used to forecast the onset of ovarian activity and predict the calf growth. Eighty Brahman cows with their calves were allocated in two groups of 40 distributed in 4 months according to the month of calving, starting in March and finishing in June. One was synchronized and inseminated at fixed time following by natural mating (TAI+NM); whilst the other only by natural mating (NM). The programs started at 60 ± 5 days postpartum and ended 60 days later. From day 30 postpartum, serial ultrasound examinations and progesterone samples were used to monitor the onset of ovarian activity. The BFT in the rump area was measured by ultrasound from 30 days postpartum and every 15 days thereafter. The weight of the calves was recorded at birth and at weaning on 160 days. The adjusted effect of BFT on ovarian activity and the calves' development was assessed by binomial logistic regression at 30, 60, 75, and 120 days postpartum. The cycling cows averaged higher BFT irrespective of breeding program (P < 0.001). Also, slower changes in BFT were recorded during the follow-up at each time for all cows. However, the former had the higher BFT values from calving to the end of the study (P < 0.001). At 60, 75, and 120 days, the BFT measured, at the preceding time, was the only factor predicting the commencement of cyclicity (P < 0.001). The accumulative pregnancy through time was higher in TAI+NM (P = 0.003). Daily weight gain and weaning weight of the calves born in March was significantly heavier (P < 0.001) than peers born in April, May, or June. The most critical element to forecast the onset of ovarian activity is the monitoring of BFT around calving regardless of the breeding program. BFT to estimate the development of the calves until weaning was unpredictable.
Innovation Orientation in the Non-profit Sector: Analysis of Its Impact on the Performance of Spanish Non-governmental Development Organizations

Since 2015, the approval of the 2030 Agenda and of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) has led to a notable reshaping and expansion of the architecture of the international cooperation system. The SDGs mark a new path for the planning processes of the different actors working for development, expanding their goals, proposing an update of the roles they must play, and defining new frameworks for relationships and spaces for action. Non-governmental development organizations (NGDOs), whose traditional mission focused on reducing the poverty gap, defending human rights, or promoting environmental protection, must be able to respond satisfactorily to these new challenges, pass beyond their classic positions, and adapt to an increasingly complex and turbulent global context. Achieving high impact in the SDGs requires development organizations to be more agile and innovative. With the intention of bringing visibility to the importance that innovation can play in the success and results achieved by development cooperation organizations, the main objective of this study was to validate, through a sample of Spanish NGDOs, a causal model that represents the positive contribution which innovation orientation generates in the result of the activity of these entities. This research concludes by confirming that innovation orientation favors the attainment of a higher degree of success in the projects and actions carried out by non-profit entities which promote the SDGs, which has a direct and positive impact on the performance they achieve.
Adaptation of the Stuttgart University Altitude Test Facility for BR700 Core Demonstrator Engine Tests

Within the initiative of the German Aerospace Research Programme - Engine 3E Project - the altitude test facility at the University of Stuttgart has been successfully adapted and commissioned as a new facility for BR700 core demonstrator engine tests.A core demonstrator consists of high pressure components of the engine. The low pressure system, which is not part of the core engine, must be simulated by the test facility itself. This paper describes the technical concept of the computer control system and the procedure in which the core demonstrator, altitude test facility and sub-systems were integrated and tested. The concept consists of:1. A Master Control System to run the measurement process and to control and monitor the overall test activity.2. A modified FADEC of a BR700-710 engine with modified control laws to control the core demonstrator.3. A Facility Controller to control the air conditioning process of the facility-air station and to provide the required core inlet pressure and temperature profiles for the running of the core demonstrator.4. Various sub-systems for supplying the core engine with lubricating oil, fuel, etc.The test programme was focussed on evaluating the interaction between the various control systems. It was found that the test facility fulfills the requirements of providing the transient pressure and temperature profiles for rapid accelerations and decelerations during core engine test.Copyright © 1998 by ASME
Importance of SNP Dependency Correction and Association Integration for Gene Set Analysis in Genome-Wide Association Studies

A typical genome-wide association study (GWAS) analyzes millions of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), several of which are in a region of the same gene. To conduct gene set analysis (GSA), information from SNPs needs to be unified at the gene level. A widely used practice is to use only the most relevant SNP per gene; however, there are other methods of integration that could be applied here. Also, the problem of nonrandom association of alleles at two or more loci is often neglected. Here, we tested the impact of incorporation of different integrations and linkage disequilibrium (LD) correction on the performance of several GSA methods. Matched normal and breast cancer samples from The Cancer Genome Atlas database were used to evaluate the performance of six GSA algorithms: Coincident Extreme Ranks in Numerical Observations (CERNO), Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA), GSEA-SNP, improved GSEA for GWAS (i-GSEA4GWAS), Meta-Analysis Gene-set Enrichment of variaNT Associations (MAGENTA), and Over-Representation Analysis (ORA). Association of SNPs to phenotype was calculated using modified McNemar’s test. Results for SNPs mapped to the same gene were integrated using Fisher and Stouffer methods and compared with the minimum p-value method. Four common measures were used to quantify the performance of all combinations of methods. Results of GSA analysis on GWAS were compared to the one performed on gene expression data. Comparing all evaluation metrics across different GSA algorithms, integrations, and LD correction, we highlighted CERNO, and MAGENTA with Stouffer as the most efficient. Applying LD correction increased prioritization and specificity of enrichment outcomes for all tested algorithms. When Fisher or Stouffer were used with LD, sensitivity and reproducibility were also better. Using any integration method was beneficial in comparison with a minimum p-value method in specific combinations. The correlation between GSA results from genomic and transcriptomic level was the highest when Stouffer integration was combined with LD correction. We thoroughly evaluated different approaches to GSA in GWAS in terms of performance to guide others to select the most effective combinations. We showed that LD correction and Stouffer integration could increase the performance of enrichment analysis and encourage the usage of these techniques.
Delay in Diagnosis of Cervical Cancer in Afghanistan: A Pilot Cross-Sectional Survey

Objectives: The present study aimed to investigate the potential delays in healthcare seeking and diagnosis of women with cervical cancer (CC) in Afghanistan. Methods: Clinical records of three hospitals in Kabul were searched for CC cases, and the women identified were interviewed by a trained physician using a semi-structured questionnaire. The main outcomes were the prevalence of potential delays over 90 days (1) from symptoms onset to healthcare seeking (patient delay), and (2) from first healthcare visit to CC diagnosis (healthcare delay). Information was also collected on: type and stage of CC, diagnostic test utilized, familiarity for CC, signs and symptoms, treatment type, and potential reasons for delaying healthcare seeking. Results: 31 women with CC were identified, however only 11 continued their treatment in the study hospitals or were reachable by telephone, and accepted the interview. The mean age was 51 ± 14 years, and only 18.2% had a previous history of seeking medical care. Patient delay was seen in 90.9% of the women (95% CI: 58.7–99.8), with a median of 304 ± 183 days. Instead, healthcare delay was found in 45.4% (95% CI: 16.7–76.6), with a median of 61 ± 152 days. The main reasons for patient delays were unawareness of the seriousness of the symptoms (70.0%) and unwillingness to consult a healthcare professional (30.0%). None of the women ever underwent cervical screening or heard of the HPV vaccination. Conclusions: Given the global effort to provide quality health care to all CC patients, Afghanistan needs interventions to reduce the delays in the diagnosis of this cancer, for instance by improving all women's awareness of gynecological signs and symptoms.
The Differential Impact of Mystery in Nature on Attention: An Oculometric Study

Nature exposure can provide benefits on stress, health and cognitive performance. According to Attention Restoration Theory (ART), the positive impact of nature on cognition is mainly driven by fascination. Fascinating properties of nature such as water or a winding hiking trail may capture involuntary attention, allowing the directed form of attention to rest and to recover. This claim has been supported by studies relying on eye-tracking measures of attention deployment, comparing exposure to urban and nature settings. Yet, recent studies have shown that promoting higher engagement with a nature setting can improve restorative benefits, hence challenging ART’s view that voluntary attention is resting. Besides, recent evidence published by Szolosi et al. (2014) suggests that voluntary attention may be involved during exposure to high-mystery nature images which they showed as having greater potential for attention restoration. The current study explored how exposure to nature images of different scenic qualities in mystery (and restoration potential) could impact the engagement of attention. To do so, participants were shown nature images characterized by either low or high mystery properties (with allegedly low or high restoration potential, respectively) and were asked to evaluate their fascination and aesthetic levels. Concurrently, an eye tracker collected measures of pupil size, fixations and spontaneous blinks as indices of attentional engagement. Results showed that high-mystery nature images had higher engagement than low-mystery images as supported by the larger pupil dilations, the higher number of fixations and the reduced number of blinks and durations of fixations. Taken together, these results challenge ART’s view that directed attention is merely resting during exposure to restorative nature and offer new hypotheses on potential mechanisms underlying attention restoration.
Usage-Based Individual Differences in the Probabilistic Processing of Multi-Word Sequences

While it is widely acknowledged that both predictive expectations and retrodictive integration influence language processing, the individual differences that affect these two processes and the best metrics for observing them have yet to be fully described. The present study aims to contribute to the debate by investigating the extent to which experienced-based variables modulate the processing of word pairs (bigrams). Specifically, we investigate how age and reading experience correlate with lexical anticipation and integration, and how this effect can be captured by the metrics of forward and backward transition probability (TP). Participants read more and less strongly associated bigrams, paired in sets of four to control for known lexical covariates such as bigram frequency and semantic meaning (i.e., absolute control, total control, absolute silence, total silence) in a self-paced reading (SPR) task. They additionally completed assessments of exposure to print text (Author Recognition Test, Shipley vocabulary assessment, Words that Go Together task) and provided their age. Results show that both older age and lesser reading experience individually correlate with stronger TP effects. Moreover, TP effects differ across the spillover region (the two words following the noun in the bigram).