Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Selenium-methionine and chromium-methionine supplementation of sheep around parturition: impacts on dam and offspring performance

ABSTRACT To examine the effects of maternal energy restriction along with selenium-methionine (Se-Met) and chromium-methionine (Cr-Met) supplementation on performance of pregnant sheep and their offspring, the following treatments were allotted randomly to 40 multiparous Baluchi ewes (53.9 ± 1.15 kg of body weight [BW]) from 5 weeks prior to 5 weeks after parturition: (1) Control diet (60% and 100% of NRC energy requirements in pre- and post-partum, respectively); (2) Control diet plus 5 mg Se-Met/kg dry matter (DM); (3) Control diet plus 3 mg Cr-Met/kg DM and (4) Control diet plus 5 mg Se-Met and 3 mg Cr-Met/kg DM (Se–Cr-Met) of concentrate diet. The results indicated that Cr-Met alone or in combination with Se-Met increased average DM intake of ewes. In addition, Group Cr-Met had higher average BW than the Control (p < 0.05). Se-Met and/or Cr-Met supplementation led to decreased average serum cholesterol of the ewes (p < 0.05). Groups Cr-Met and Se–Cr-Met displayed decreased average serum malondialdehyde compared to the Control (p < 0.05). At 24 h post-partum, Group Se–Cr-Met had a greater serum Se content than the Control (p = 0.006). Compared with the Control, the Se concentration in milk was significantly increased from 30 to 138 µg/l and 197 µg/l in Groups Se-Met and Se–Cr-Met, respectively (p < 0.01), which proved that Se-Met supplementation can increase the Se concentration of ewe milk. Furthermore, feeding Cr-Met may attenuate BW loss post-partum and Se-Met and/or Cr-Met supplements may ameliorate oxidative stress condition in ewes around parturition.
Muscle mass at the time of diagnosis of nonmetastatic colon cancer and early discontinuation of chemotherapy, delays, and dose reductions on adjuvant FOLFOX: The C‐SCANS study

For many chemotherapy regimens dosed based on body surface area (BSA), patients experience dose reductions or delays or discontinue treatment, thereby reducing survival. Consideration of body composition may be useful in individualizing chemotherapy dosing, but to the authors' knowledge few studies to date have examined the association of body composition with chemotherapy tolerance in patients with colon cancer.
Regional Brain Activity in Chronic Schizophrenic Patients during the Performance of a Verbal Fluency Task

Background This study examined the pattern of cerebral blood flow observed in chronic schizophrenic patients while they performed a paced verbal fluency task. Such tasks engage a distributed brain system associated with willed action. Since willed action is impaired in many chronic schizophrenic patients we hypothesised that task performance would be associated with an abnormal pattern of blood flow. Method Positron emission tomography (PET) was applied to 18 chronic schizophrenic patients stratified into three groups on the basis of verbal fluency performance and current symptoms. Regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) was measured while the patients performed (a) verbal fluency, (b) word categorisation, and (c) word repetition. Results were compared with six normal controls matched for age, sex and premorbid IQ. Analysis was restricted to six brain regions previously identified in studies of normal volunteers. Results In five brain areas, including the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, the patients showed the same pattern of activation as control subjects. However, in the left superior temporal cortex, all patient groups failed to show the normal decrease in blood flow when verbal fluency was compared with word repetition. Conclusion These observations suggest that (a) chronic schizophrenic patients can show a normal magnitude of frontal activation when matched for performance with controls, and (b) they fail to show the expected reductions of activity in the superior temporal cortex. This latter result may reflect abnormal functional connectivity between frontal and temporal cortex.
Use of lanthanum to accurately quantify insulin‐like growth factor binding to proteins on cell surfaces

Insulin‐like growth factor binding proteins (IGFBPs) are found both associated with cells and in extracellular fluids. Cell‐associated IGFBPs increase [125I]‐IGF binding to cell monolayers, whereas extracellular (soluble, released) IGFBPs decrease binding. In the current study, we show that either IGFBP‐3 or IGFBP‐5 are the major forms of IGFBP released from monolayers of human GM10 fibroblasts, T98G glioblastoma cells and forskolin‐treated bovine MDBK cells. IGFBPs represent the most abundant [125I]‐IGF‐I binding site on GM10 and T98G cell monolayers, but 4‐17% of the total cell‐associated IGFBPs are released from the cell monolayer at 8°C during their quantification. Most of the IGFBPs (> 70%) are released from MDBK cells. Quantitative estimates of [125I]‐IGF binding to the cell monolayers are altered because of the ability of the released IGFBPs to reduce the amount of radiolabeled ligand that is available to bind to the cell surface. Lanthanum (La3+) depresses IGFBP release from all three cell types (> 80% for GM10 and T98G cells and > 65% for MDBK cells). The effect was cation specific, noted with La3+ or Zn2+ but not with either Mn2+, Sr2+ or Se3+. The effect was also IGFBP specific; La3+ markedly depressed the release of IGFBP‐3 and IGFBP‐5, but had less of an effect on IGFBP‐2 and IGFBP‐4. Concomitant with a decrease in IGFBP‐3 and IGFBP‐5 release, La3+ caused an increase in [125I]‐IGF‐I binding to cell‐associated IGFBPs and type I IGF receptors. The released soluble IGFBPs have a three‐ to 20‐fold greater affinity (Ka) for [125I]‐IGF‐I compared to cell‐associated IGFBPs. La3+ did not alter the affinity constants of cell‐associated IGFBPs. In summary, we have identified a means to prevent loss of IGFBPs from cell monolayers during binding assays. This procedure will be useful in accurately quantifying the levels of IGFBPs on cell monolayers and in determining the role of cell‐associated IGFBPs in controlling IGF activity. Retention of cell‐associated low affinity IGFBPs may be important in controlling the size of the pericellular IGF pool and in regulating IGF‐I access to the type I IGF receptor. J. Cell. Biochem. 66:256‐267. © 1997 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Implicit Associations and Social Anxiety

The aim of this study was to test whether an Implicit Association Test (IAT) with self‐ and social anxiety‐words is sensitive to differences in trait social anxiety, and to an experimental induction of social anxiety. This was performed in the context of a partial replication of a previous study, in which Mauss et al. (2004) compared high and low trait socially anxious individuals before and after a social anxiety induction (an impromptu speech). Mauss et al.'s findings were replicated; that is, (i) the social anxiety induction produced increases in self‐rated anxiety, self‐rated physiological responses, and actual physiological arousal; and (ii) higher trait social anxiety was associated with stronger self‐rated anxiety and stronger self‐rated physiological responses, but not with stronger actual physiological responses. In addition, the results showed higher IAT social anxiety scores, both (i) as a result of the social anxiety induction, and (ii) as a function of self‐reported trait social anxiety. It is suggested that the IAT may be a useful method for the experimental study of automatic evaluational thought patterns.
PIP5K-driven PtdIns(4,5)P2 synthesis: regulation and cellular functions

It has long been known that phosphoinositides are present in cellular membranes, but only in the past four decades has our understanding of their importance for proper cell function advanced significantly. Key to determining the biological roles of phosphoinositides is understanding the enzymes involved in their metabolism. Although many such enzymes have now been identified, there is still much to learn about their cellular functions. Phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate 5-kinases (PIP5Ks) are a group of kinases that catalyse the production of phosphatidylinositol (4,5)-bisphosphate [PtdIns(4,5)P2]. As well as being a substrate for the enzymes phospholipase C (PLC) and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K), PtdIns(4,5)P2 acts as a second messenger in its own right, influencing a variety of cellular processes. In this Commentary, we review how PIP5Ks are modulated to achieve regulated PtdIns(4,5)P2 production, and discuss the role of these proteins in different cellular processes.
Rural Educator Policy Brief: Rural Education and the Every Student Succeeds Act

Rural education is becoming an increasing focus of federal education legislation. The Every Student Succeeds Act explicitly addresses rural education through the REAP program, by taking steps to ensure geographic distribution in competitive grants, by requiring states to consider rural LEAs in the development of state plans, and in many other ways. The mandated report on rural education is intended to provide data about whether these provisions are sufficient for ensuring that federal policy and funding address the needs of rural schools and students and its impact remains to be seen.
Leaf chemistry as a predictor of primate biomass and the mediating role of food selection: A case study in a folivorous lemur (Propithecus verreauxi)

Folivorous primate biomass has been shown to positively correlate with the average protein‐to‐fiber ratio in mature leaves of tropical forests. However, studies have failed to explain the mismatch between dietary selection and the role of the protein‐to‐fiber ratio on primate biomass; why do not folivores always favor mature leaves or leaves with the highest protein‐to‐fiber ratio? We examined the effect of leaf chemical characteristics and plant abundance (using transect censuses; 0.37 ha, 233 trees) on food choices and nutrient/toxin consumption in a folivorous lemur (Propithecus verreauxi) in a gallery forest in southern Madagascar. To assess the nutritional quality of the habitat, we calculated an abundance‐weighted chemical index for each chemical variable. Food intake was quantified using a continuous count of mouthfuls during individual full‐day follows across three seasons. We found a significant positive correlation between food ranking in the diet and plant abundance. The protein‐to‐fiber ratio and most other chemical variables tested had no statistical effect on dietary selection. Numerous chemical characteristics of the sifaka's diet were essentially by‐products of generalist feeding and “low energy input/low energy crop” strategy. The examination of feeding behavior and plant chemistry in Old World colobines and folivorous prosimians in Madagascar suggests that relative lack of feeding selectivity and high primate biomass occur when the average protein‐to‐fiber ratio of mature leaves in the habitat exceeds a threshold at 0.4. Am. J. Primatol. 76:563–575, 2014. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Application of time-series and Artificial Neural Network models in short term load forecasting for scheduling of storage devices

In the context of the smart grid, scheduling residential energy storage device is necessary to optimize technical and market integration of distributed energy resources (DERs), especially the ones based on renewable energy. The first step to achieve proper scheduling of the storage devices is electricity consumption forecasting at individual household level. This paper compares the forecasting ability of Artificial Neural Network (ANN) and AutoRegressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA) model. The benefit of proper storage scheduling is demonstrated via a use-case. The work is a part of a project focused on photovoltaic generation with integrated energy storage at household level. The methods under study attempt to capture the daily electricity consumption profile of an individual household.
Comparative Effects of Lithium on the Phosphoinositide Cycle in Rat Cerebral Cortex, Hippocampus, and Striatum

Abstract: The effects of lithium on muscarinic cholinoceptor‐stimulated phosphoinositide turnover have been investigated in rat hippocampal, striatal, and cerebral cortical slices using [3H]inositol or [3H]cytidine prelabelling and inositol 1,4,5‐trisphosphate [lns(1,4,5)P3] and inositol 1,3,4,5‐tetrakisphosphate [lns(1,3,4,5)P4] mass determination methods. Carbachol addition resulted in maintained increases in lns(1,4,5)P3 and lns(1,3,4,5)P4 mass levels in hippocampus and cerebral cortex, whereas in striatal slices these responses declined significantly over a 30‐min incubation period. Carbachol‐stimulated lns(1,4,5)P3 and lns(1,3,4,5)P4 accumulations were inhibited by lithium in all brain regions studied in a time‐and concentration‐dependent manner. For example, in hippocampal slices significant inhibitory effects of LiCl were observed at times > 10 min after agonist challenge; IC50 values for inhibition of agonist‐stimulated lns(1,4,5)P3 and lns(1,3,4,5)P4 accumulations by lithium were 0.22 ± 0.09 and 0.33 ± 0.13 mM, respectively. [3H]CMP‐phosphatidate accumulation increased in all brain regions when slices were stimulated by agonist and lithium. The ability of myo‐inositol to reverse these effects, as well as lithium‐suppressed lns(1,4,5)P3 accumulation, implicates myo‐inositol depletion in the action of lithium in the hippocampus and cortex at least. The results of this study suggest that although significant differences in the magnitude and time courses of changes in inositol (poly)phosphate metabolites occur in different brain regions, lithium evokes qualitatively similar enhancements of [3H]inositol monophosphate and [3H]CMP‐phosphatidate levels and inhibitions of lns(1,4,5)P3 and lns(1,3,4,5)P4 accumulations. However, the inability of striatal slices to sustain carbachol‐stimulated inositol polyphosphate accumulation in the absence of lithium and the inability to reverse effects with myo‐inositol may indicate differences in phosphoinositide signalling in this brain region.
Improvement of Oral Intake following Chemotherapy in Gastric Cancer Patients with an Inability to Eat

Background: Based on several phase III studies, oral S-1-based chemotherapy has become the standard for treatment of advanced gastric cancer in Japan. However, these studies included patients able to maintain sufficient oral intake, and the effectiveness of chemotherapy for patients unable to eat remained unclear. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the effect of chemotherapy on patients with advanced gastric cancer who presented with inability to eat. We defined ‘inability to eat’ as requirement for daily intravenous fluids or hyperalimentation and ‘improvement of oral intake’ as no such requirement >1 week. Results: Among the 777 patients who received first-line chemotherapy, 100 patients (12.8%) were considered unable to eat and required daily intravenous fluids or hyperalimentation. Performance status was 0–1 in 26 patients and ≧2 in the other 74 patients. Seventy-eight patients (78%) had peritoneal metastasis and 62 patients (62%) had ascites. First-line chemotherapy with 5-fluorouracil-based regimens was used in 46 patients, taxane-based chemotherapy in 34 patients, oral fluoropyrimidine-based therapy in 19 patients, and irinotecan-cisplatin combination treatment in 2 patients. Median survival time was 5.0 months (95% confidence interval, CI, 3.9–6.6). Improvement in oral intake with duration for >1 week was achieved in 40 patients (40%) with the median duration of nutritional-support-free time of 3.1 months (95% CI 2.5–4.6). Conclusion: Chemotherapy is moderately effective in improving oral intake in patients with advanced gastric cancer with inability to eat. Further study is required to improve its prognosis.
In Vitro Activity of Piperacillin Compared with That of Carbenicillin, Ticarcillin, Ampicillin, Cephalothin, and Cefamandole Against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Enterobacteriaceae

Piperacillin (T-1220), a semisynthetic derivative of aminobenzylpenicillin, was more active than either carbenicillin or ticarcillin against Pseudomonas aeruginosa; over 60% of isolates were inhibited at a concentration of 6.3 μg/ml. Piperacillin was bactericidal for 84% of Pseudomonas strains at 100 μg/ml, carbenicillin killed 60%, and ticarcillin killed 68% at that concentration. Piperacillin was also more active than the other penicillins against isolates of Escherichia coli, Enterobacter, and Proteus mirabilis. The combination of piperacillin and tobramycin, demonstrating synergistic inhibition of 87% of strains of P. aeruginosa, was the most active of the penicillin-aminoglycoside combinations tested for synergism.
Culture-Independent Analyses Reveal Novel Anaerolineaceae as Abundant Primary Fermenters in Anaerobic Digesters Treating Waste Activated Sludge

Anaerobic digestion for biogas production is reliant on the tightly coupled synergistic activities of complex microbial consortia. Members of the uncultured A6 phylotype, within the phylum Chloroflexi, are among the most abundant genus-level-taxa of mesophilic anaerobic digester systems treating primary and surplus sludge from wastewater treatment plants, yet are known only by their 16S rRNA gene sequence. This study applied metagenomics to obtain a complete circular genome (2.57 Mbp) from a representative of the A6 taxon. Preliminary annotation of the genome indicates these organisms to be anaerobic chemoorganoheterotrophs with a fermentative metabolism. Given their observed abundance, they are likely important primary fermenters in digester systems. Application of fluorescence in situ hybridisation probes designed in this study revealed their morphology to be short filaments present within the flocs. The A6 were sometimes co-located with the filamentous Archaea Methanosaeta spp. suggesting potential undetermined synergistic relationships. Based on its genome sequence and morphology we propose the species name Brevefilum fermentans gen. nov. sp. nov.
Correlates of fertility issues in an Internet survey of cancer survivors

Purpose. The objectives of this study were (1) to determine what young cancer survivors know about the effect of their cancer on fertility, how fertility difficulties affected their lives and whether they would opt for fertility preservation (FP) and (2) to assess the sources of information and the helpfulness of them. Methods. Women of at least 18 years with cancer affecting reproductive function were recruited from eight cancer websites for this online survey. The Cancer and Fertility Survey (CFS) contained items from validated inventories and items to assess fertility issues in cancer patients. Quantitative analyses (t-tests, χ2, analysis of variance) and thematic analysis of free text data were performed. Results. Of the 80 participating women, 68.1% rated the risk of infertility as high. The mean number of professionals consulted was 3.56 (SD = 2.7), but 20% of women had not discussed fertility with any professional. The weighted mean helpfulness index was the highest for spouses and oncologists. Strength of positive attitudes towards FP was significantly greater than that of negative attitudes. Conclusion. The need to discuss fertility is high among women searching for information on cancer websites. Options to preserve fertility were positively viewed but the actual use may be limited by concerns about safety.
Using Thresholds in Noise to Identify Hidden Hearing Loss in Humans

Objectives: Recent animal studies suggest that noise-induced synaptopathy may underlie a phenomenon that has been labeled hidden hearing loss (HHL). Noise exposure preferentially damages low spontaneous-rate auditory nerve fibers, which are involved in the processing of moderate- to high-level sounds and are more resistant to masking by background noise. Therefore, the effect of synaptopathy may be more evident in suprathreshold measures of auditory function, especially in the presence of background noise. The purpose of this study was to develop a statistical model for estimating HHL in humans using thresholds in noise as the outcome variable and measures that reflect the integrity of sites along the auditory pathway as explanatory variables. Our working hypothesis is that HHL is evident in the portion of the variance observed in thresholds in noise that is not dependent on thresholds in quiet, because this residual variance retains statistical dependence on other measures of suprathreshold function. Design: Study participants included 13 adults with normal hearing (⩽15 dB HL) and 20 adults with normal hearing at 1 kHz and sensorineural hearing loss at 4 kHz (>15 dB HL). Thresholds in noise were measured, and the residual of the correlation between thresholds in noise and thresholds in quiet, which we refer to as thresholds-in-noise residual, was used as the outcome measure for the model. Explanatory measures were as follows: (1) auditory brainstem response (ABR) waves I and V amplitudes; (2) electrocochleographic action potential and summating potential amplitudes; (3) distortion product otoacoustic emissions level; and (4) categorical loudness scaling. All measurements were made at two frequencies (1 and 4 kHz). ABR and electrocochleographic measurements were made at 80 and 100 dB peak equivalent sound pressure level, while wider ranges of levels were tested during distortion product otoacoustic emission and categorical loudness scaling measurements. A model relating the thresholds-in-noise residual and the explanatory measures was created using multiple linear regression analysis. Results: Predictions of thresholds-in-noise residual using the model accounted for 61% (p < 0.01) and 48% (p < 0.01) of the variance in the measured thresholds-in-noise residual at 1 and 4 kHz, respectively. Conclusions: Measures of thresholds in noise, the summating potential to action potential ratio, and ABR waves I and V amplitudes may be useful for the prediction of HHL in humans. With further development, our approach of quantifying HHL by the variance that remains in suprathreshold measures of auditory function after removing the variance due to thresholds in quiet, together with our statistical modeling, may provide a quantifiable and verifiable estimate of HHL in humans with normal hearing and with hearing loss. The current results are consistent with the view that inner hair cell and auditory nerve pathology may underlie suprathreshold auditory performance.
Update on Genomes of Nodule Bacteria Genomes of the Symbiotic Nitrogen-Fixing Bacteria of Legumes

Over the last several decades, there have been a large number of studies done on the genetics, biochemistry, physiology, ecology, and agronomics of the bacteria forming nitrogen-fixing symbioses with legumes. These bacteria, collectively referred to as the rhizobia, are taxonomically and physiologically diverse members of the a and b subclasses of the Proteobacteria, and mostly comprise members of the genera Rhizobium, Bradyrhizobium,Mesorhizobium,Sinorhizobium, and Azorhizobium (Fig. 1). Most studies have focused on mutational and biochemical analyses to define bacterial genes involved in root-nodule formation, symbiotic specificity, nitrogen fixation, and plant-microbe signal exchange. More recently, however, several genomic approaches have been used to define and understand the involvement of whole bacterial genomes in the symbiotic process. Genomic analyses of the model symbiotic bacterial species Sinorhizobium meliloti, Rhizobium leguminosarum, and Bradyrhizobium japonicum have revealed a few surprises concerning genome evolution and structure, how plant and microbes communicate, and physiological diversity among the microsymbionts of legumes. In this review we discuss what is currently known about the genomes of several rhizobia and how genome-enabled studies have provided insights into the symbiotic interaction of the rhizobia and their respective host legumes.