Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Preliminary Study: Depriving Piglets of Maternal Feces for the First Seven Days Post-Partum Changes Piglet Physiology and Performance before and after Weaning

Simple Summary Coprophagy is the behavior of eating feces. This behavior has been reported in many animals, including pigs. We aimed to assess how coprophagy affects piglet behavior, physiology, and performance by depriving piglets of maternal feces for the first 7 d post-partum. Eight litters were randomly assigned either to have access to maternal feces (control) or to be deprived of maternal feces for the first 7 d post-partum. Piglet behavior was observed for 24 h at 7 d of age and two piglets from each litter (male and female) were bled for hematological analysis at 0, 7, and 21 d of age. Piglets feed intake and weight gain were measured until 123 d post-weaning. No behavioral differences were observed between treatments. Overall, control piglets had 25% higher white blood cell counts and higher feed intake and weight gain than piglets deprived of maternal feces. At 123 d post-weaning, control piglets were 9.6 kg heavier than piglets deprived of maternal feces. In conclusion, piglets with access to maternal feces early in life exhibited better performance. The mechanisms by which coprophagy improves piglet performance needs to be elucidated in further studies, but could include effects of the nutrition, microbiome or semiochemical exposure. Abstract Coprophagy has been described in piglets although its importance has not been fully assessed. The aim of this study was to evaluate how deprivation of maternal feces influenced piglet physiology, behavior, and performance. Eight litters were randomly assigned to one of two treatments. Control (CON) litters had access to maternal feces while deprived (DEP) litters were deprived of maternal feces for the first 7 d post-partum. Piglet behavior was quantified for 24 h at 7 d of age. Blood samples were collected from one male and female from each litter at 0, 7, and 21 d for hematological analyses, and post-weaning performance was assessed until 123 d post-weaning. No treatment effects were observed on piglet behavior. DEP piglets had 25% lower leukocyte counts (p < 0.01). Relative to DEP litters, CON litters had increased post-weaning feed intake (0.998 vs 0.901 kg/d; p = 0.02) and weight gain (0.536 vs 0.483 kg/d; p < 0.01). At 123 d post-weaning, CON pigs were 9.3 ± 2.3 kg heavier than treatment pigs (p < 0.01). These results suggest that access to maternal feces improves immunocompetence and growth performance. Further studies are needed to explore the physiological mechanisms through which maternal feces improve growth performance, including nutritional and microbial factors, or the presence of maternal semiochemicals.
Effect of Load Positioning on the Kinematics and Kinetics of Weighted Vertical Jumps

Abstract Swinton, PA, Stewart, AD, Lloyd, R, Agouris, I, and Keogh, JWL. Effect of load positioning on the kinematics and kinetics of weighted vertical jumps. J Strength Cond Res 26(4): 906–913, 2012—One of the most popular exercises for developing lower-body muscular power is the weighted vertical jump. The present study sought to examine the effect of altering the position of the external load on the kinematics and kinetics of the movement. Twenty-nine resistance-trained rugby union athletes performed maximal effort jumps with 0, 20, 40, and 60% of their squat 1 repetition maximum (1RM) with the load positioned (a) on the posterior aspect of the shoulder using a straight barbell and (b) at arms' length using a hexagonal barbell. Kinematic and kinetic variables were calculated through integration of the vertical ground reaction force data using a forward dynamics approach. Performance of the hexagonal barbell jump resulted in significantly (p < 0.05) greater values for jump height, peak force, peak power, and peak rate of force development compared with the straight barbell jump. Significantly (p < 0.05) greater peak power was produced during the unloaded jump compared with all trials where the external load was positioned on the shoulder. In contrast, significantly (p < 0.05) greater peak power was produced when using the hexagonal barbell combined with a load of 20% 1RM compared with all other conditions investigated. The results suggest that weighted vertical jumps should be performed with the external load positioned at arms' length rather than on the shoulder when attempting to improve lower-body muscular performance.
Inequality and Influencing Factors of Spatial Accessibility of Medical Facilities in Rural Areas of China: A Case Study of Henan Province

The equalization of medical services has received increasing attention, and improving the accessibility of medical facilities in rural areas is key for the realization of fairness with regard to medical services. This study studies the rural areas of Henan Province, China, and uses unincorporated villages as the basic unit. The spatial pattern of accessibility in rural areas was comprehensively analyzed via geographic information system spatial analysis and coefficient of variation. The spatial heterogeneity of relevant influencing factors was assessed by using the geographically weighted regression model. The results show that: (1) The distance cost of medical treatment in rural areas is normally distributed, and most areas are within a range of 2–6 km. (2) The accessibility in rural areas has clear spatial differences, is significantly affected by terrain, and shows characteristics of significant spatial agglomeration. The eastern and central regions have good spatial accessibility, while the western regions have poor spatial accessibility. Furthermore, regions with poor accessibility are mainly located in mountainous areas. (3) The spatial equilibrium of accessibility follows a pattern of gradual deterioration from east to west. The better accessibility-unbalanced type is mostly located in the center of Henan Province, while the poor accessibility-unbalanced type is concentrated in mountainous areas. (4) The area, elevation, residential density, and per capita industrial output are positively correlated with spatial accessibility, while road network density and population density are negatively correlated.
Cabotegravir is Not Associated with Weight Gain in HIV-uninfected Individuals in HPTN 077.

Studies in HIV-infected individuals suggest excess weight gain with integrase inhibitor-based antiretroviral therapy. HPTN 077 evaluated changes in weight and fasting metabolic parameters in HIV-uninfected individuals randomized to cabotegravir or a placebo. No differences between arms were found for change in weight or fasting metabolic parameters overall or for subgroups.
Anti-aging therapies, cognitive impairment and dementia.

Aging is a powerful risk factor for the development of many chronic diseases including dementia. Research based on disease models of dementia have yet to yield effective treatments, therefore it is opportune to consider whether the aging process itself might be a potential therapeutic target for the treatment and prevention of dementia. Numerous cellular and molecular pathways have been implicated in the aging process and compounds that target these processes are being developed to slow aging and delay the onset of age-associated conditions. A few particularly promising therapeutic agents have been shown to influence many of the main hallmarks of aging and increase lifespan in rodents. Here we discuss the evidence that some of these anti-aging compounds may beneficially impact brain aging and thereby lower the risk for dementia.
Balloon valvuloplasty in 30 dogs with pulmonic stenosis: effect of valve morphology and annular size on initial and 1-year outcome.

Case records of 30 dogs in which valvular pulmonic stenosis (PS) was treated by balloon dilation were reviewed retrospectively. Physical examination, thoracic radiographs, 9-lead ECG, echocardiography, and Doppler studies were performed in all dogs. Two-dimensional and Doppler echocardiography were repeated after 24 h and 1 year after treatment. Dogs were divided into 2 groups based on their valvular anatomy on echocardiography and aortic:pulmonary ratio: 18 had type A PS with normal annulus diameter and aortic:pulmonary ratio < or = 1.2, and 12 had type B PS with pulmonary annulus hypoplasia and aortic:pulmonary ratio > 1.2. Most dogs in the type B group were brachycephalic and had no poststenotic dilatation on thoracic radiographs. Of the dogs with type A stenosis, 100% survived valvuloplasty with resolution of clinical signs. At 1-year follow-up, 94.4% were still alive and remained asymptomatic. Of those with type B stenosis, 66.6% had favorable outcome postvalvuloplasty. At 1-year follow-up, 66.6% of dogs were alive, and resolution of clinical signs was obtained in 50%. This study revealed the immediate and long-term efficacy of balloon valvuloplasty in dogs with PS.
Critical success factors for implementing enterprise portals: A comparison with ERP implementations

Purpose – The goal of this paper is to discuss critical success factors (CSF) for implementing enterprise portals by comparing them with CSF for ERP implementations.Design/methodology/approach – In order to identify and rank CSF for portal implementations, the paper followed a multi‐method design, following a two‐stage approach with the first stage analyzing the state‐of‐the‐art of portal implementation by interviewing portal integrators in Germany and a follow‐up stage with a focus on CSF, thereby identifying and analyzing the CSF for portal (implementation) projects in general and across project stages. Then the findings are compared with the results of a similar study on CSF in ERP (implementation) projects.Findings – When comparing CSF for portal projects with CSF of ERP projects, some similarities were found but also some differences with respect to top management support, project management, communication, selection of the software package and business process re‐engineering.Research limitations/imp.
Diazepam effects on non-syndromic cleft lip with or without palate: epidemiological studies, clinical findings, genes and extracellular matrix

Importance of the field: This review analyses international studies investigating the combined genetic and environmental causes of cleft lip with or without cleft palate (CL/P) and describes successes and limitations in identifying underlying genetic and environmental factors. CL/P, the most common congenital facial malformation, is a major public health burden in terms of medical costs and emotional stress to patients and families. Because genetic and environmental factors determine risk of occurrence, CL/P has a complex, multifactor aetiology. Areas covered in this review: English language reports from 1980 to 2010 were searched for in Medline, PubMed, Science Citation Index, textbooks and review articles on drugs and pregnancy. Key words were diazepam or benzodiazepine(s) combined with cleft lip, cleft palate, oral malformations, prenatal exposure, GABA, gene expression and extracellular matrix. What the reader will gain: This review presents an updated assessment of the mutagenic and genotoxic effects of diazepam (DZ), one of the most commonly used benzodiazepines, on CL/P occurrence. Take home message: Data are divergent; more studies are needed for an in-depth picture of the effects of DZ during gestation on the child's development, particularly on orofacial clefts.
Isocaloric Substitution of Dietary Carbohydrate Intake with Fat Intake and MRI-Determined Total Volumes of Visceral, Subcutaneous and Hepatic Fat Content in Middle-Aged Adults

The present study investigated the association of carbohydrate intake and isocaloric substitution with different types of fat with visceral adipose tissue (VAT), subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) and hepatic fat content as determined by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Data from 283 participants (mean age 56.1 ± 9.0 years) from the MRI sub study of the KORA FF4 study were included. VAT, SAT and total body fat were quantified by a volume-interpolated VIBE-T1w-Dixon MR sequence. Hepatic fat content was determined as the proton density fat-fraction (PDFF) derived from multiecho-T1w MR sequence. Dietary intake was estimated using information provided by two different instruments, that is, repeated 24-h food lists and a food frequency questionnaire. Replacing total carbohydrates with an isoenergetic amount of total fat was significantly positively associated with VAT and hepatic fat, while there was no significant association with SAT. The multivariable adjusted β-coefficient for replacing 5% of total energy (5E%) carbohydrates with total fat was 0.42 L (95% CI: 0.04, 0.79) for VAT. A substitution in total fat intake by 5E% was associated with a significant increase in liver fat content by 23% (p-value 0.004). If reproduced in prospective studies, such findings would strongly argue for limiting dietary fat intake.
Dietary Fiber, Atherosclerosis, and Cardiovascular Disease

Observational studies have shown that dietary fiber intake is associated with decreased risk of cardiovascular disease. Dietary fiber is a non-digestible form of carbohydrates, due to the lack of the digestive enzyme in humans required to digest fiber. Dietary fibers and lignin are intrinsic to plants and are classified according to their water solubility properties as either soluble or insoluble fibers. Water-soluble fibers include pectin, gums, mucilage, fructans, and some resistant starches. They are present in some fruits, vegetables, oats, and barley. Soluble fibers have been shown to lower blood cholesterol by several mechanisms. On the other hand, water-insoluble fibers mainly include lignin, cellulose, and hemicellulose; whole-grain foods, bran, nuts, and seeds are rich in these fibers. Water-insoluble fibers have rapid gastric emptying, and as such may decrease the intestinal transit time and increase fecal bulk, thus promoting digestive regularity. In addition to dietary fiber, isolated and extracted fibers are known as functional fiber and have been shown to induce beneficial health effects when added to food during processing. The recommended daily allowances (RDAs) for total fiber intake for men and women aged 19–50 are 38 gram/day and 25 gram/day, respectively. It is worth noting that the RDA recommendations are for healthy people and do not apply to individuals with some chronic diseases. Studies have shown that most Americans do not consume the recommended intake of fiber. This review will summarize the current knowledge regarding dietary fiber, sources of food containing fiber, atherosclerosis, and heart disease risk reduction.
Assessment of the denaturation of collagen protein concentrates using different techniques

Abstract The use of collagen and gelatin in the field of regenerative medicine is widely extended. However, most of the studies in this topic are focused on the scaffolds’ properties, but only a few are related to the properties of the raw material used. The raw material analysis not only consists of a study of the composition, but also of the denaturation degree that can influence the processing and properties of the structure of the scaffold. Thus, the denaturation degree analysis of different collagen proteins was performed and assessed by the comparison of four different methods: differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), Fourier transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and circular dichroism (CD) spectra and sulfhydryls content analysis. DSC measurements put forward a glass transition between 88°C and 95°C as well as from the FTIR measurements; the characteristic peaks for proteins are evidenced. However, from the sulfur content, only a small proportion of free sulfhydryls are present with respect to their total amount. In addition, CD spectra allow to estimate the secondary structure of the protein by the analysis of the α-helix and β-strand and also quantify the denaturation degree with the ‘positive/negative ratio’ (RPN) from the CD profiles, obtaining values in the range between 25% and 100%.
Acetyl‐3‐Aminoethyl Salicylate Ameliorates Hepatic Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury and Liver Graft Survival Through a High‐Mobility Group Box 1/Toll‐Like Receptor 4–Dependent Mechanism

In liver transplant cases, severe hepatic ischemia/reperfusion injury (HIRI) is a strong predictor of adverse liver graft and overall outcomes. During HIRI, high‐mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) promotes hepatocellular death and proinflammatory cytokine secretion by toll‐like receptor 4 (TLR4). Because salicylates inhibit HMGB1/TLR4 interaction, we hypothesized that salicylates may ameliorate HIRI‐induced liver damage by inhibiting HMGB1/TLR4 axis activation. Using a murine model of HIRI, we found that the salicylate acetyl‐3‐aminoethyl salicylic acid (ac3AESA) reduced serum alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase as well as Suzuki scores and apoptotic cell counts after HIRI. Ac3AESA also down‐regulated hepatocellular HMGB1 and TLR4 expression, phosphorylated inhibitor of κBα, extracellular signal‐regulated kinase 1/2, c‐Jun N‐terminal kinase, p38 mitogen‐activated protein kinase, cleaved caspase 3, and cleaved caspase 1 levels after HIRI. Ac3AESA reduced liver Kupffer cell transcription of proinflammatory mediators tumor necrosis factor α (TNF‐α), interleukin (IL) 6, IL1β, chemokine (C‐X‐C motif) ligand (CXCL) 1, CXCL2, and CXCL8 after HIRI. Ac3AESA also dose‐dependently reduced in vitro release of Kupffer cell TNF‐α. Employing a murine orthotopic liver transplantation model, we found daily ac3AESA administration up to day 10 after transplant improved liver graft survival, suppressed allograft damage, and down‐regulated HMGB1/TLR4 signaling. These benefits to survival and allograft health were maintained for cold ischemia times of 12 and 18 hours. Notably, TLR4 knockout eliminated all foregoing ac3AESA‐induced effects. In conclusion, ac3AESA partially rescues the negative effects of HIRI and prolongs liver graft survival in a TLR4‐dependent manner.
Comparison of real-time PCR and droplet digital PCR for the detection of Xylella fastidiosa in plants

Xylella fastidiosa (Xf) is a quarantine plant pathogen bacterium originating from the Americas and that has emerged in Europe in 2013. Xf can be detected directly on plant macerate using molecular methods such as real-time PCR, which is a sensitive technique. However, some plants may contain components that can act as PCR reaction inhibitors, which can lead to false negative results or an underestimation of the bacterial concentration present in the analyzed plant sample. Droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) is an innovative tool based on the partitioning of the PCR reagents and the DNA sample into thousands of droplets, allowing the quantification of the absolute number of target DNA molecules present in a reaction mixture, or an increase of the detection sensitivity. In this study, a real-time PCR protocol, already used for Xf detection in the framework of official surveys in the European Union, was transferred and optimized for Xf detection using ddPCR. This new assay was evaluated and compared to the initial real-time PCR on five plant matrices artificially inoculated and on naturally infected plants. In our conditions, this new ddPCR enabled the detection of Xf on all artificially inoculated plant macerates with a similar limit of detection, or a slight benefit for Quercus ilex. Moreover, ddPCR improved diagnostic sensitivity as it enabled detection of Xf in samples of Polygala myrtifolia or Q. ilex that were categorized as negative or close to the limit of detection using the real-time PCR. Here, we report for the first time a ddPCR assay for the detection of the bacterium Xf.
An integrated diabetic index using heart rate variability signal features for diagnosis of diabetes

Electrocardiogram (ECG) signals are difficult to interpret, and clinicians must undertake a long training process to learn to diagnose diabetes from subtle abnormalities in these signals. To facilitate these diagnoses, we have developed a technique based on the heart rate variability signal obtained from ECG signals. This technique uses digital signal processing methods and, therefore, automates the detection of diabetes from ECG signals. In this paper, we describe the signal processing techniques that extract features from heart rate (HR) signals and present an analysis procedure that uses these features to diagnose diabetes. Through statistical analysis, we have identified the correlation dimension, Poincaré geometry properties (SD2), and recurrence plot properties (REC, DET, L mean) as useful features. These features differentiate the HR data of diabetic patients from those of patients who do not have the illness, and have been validated by using the AdaBoost classifier with the perceptron weak learner (yielding a classification accuracy of 86%). We then developed a novel diabetic integrated index (DII) that is a combination of these nonlinear features. The DII indicates whether a particular HR signal was taken from a person with diabetes. This index aids the automatic detection of diabetes, thereby allowing a more objective assessment and freeing medical professionals for other tasks.
Phytochrome A and Phytochrome B Have Overlapping but Distinct Functions in Arabidopsis Development

Plant responses to red and far-red light are mediated by a family of photoreceptors called phytochromes. In Arabidopsis thaliana, there are genes encoding at least five phytochromes, and it is of interest to learn if the different phytochromes have overlapping or distinct functions. To address this question for two of the phytochromes in Arabidopsis, we have compared light responses of the wild type with those of a phyA null mutant, a phyB null mutant, and a phyA phyB double mutant. We have found that both phyA and phyB mutants have a deficiency in germination, the phyA mutant in far-red light and the phyB mutant in the dark. Furthermore, the germination defect caused by the phyA mutation in far-red light could be suppressed by a phyB mutation, suggesting that phytochrome B (PHYB) can have an inhibitory as well as a stimulatory effect on germination. In red light, the phyA phyB double mutant, but neither single mutant, had poorly developed cotyledons, as well as reduced red-light induction of CAB gene expression and potentiation of chlorophyll induction. The phyA mutant was deficient in sensing a flowering response inductive photoperiod, suggesting that PHYA participates in sensing daylength. In contrast, the phyB mutant flowered earlier than the wild type (and the phyA mutant) under all photoperiods tested, but responded to an inductive photoperiod. Thus, PHYA and PHYB appear to have complementary functions in controlling germination, seedling development, and flowering. We discuss the implications of these results for possible mechanisms of PHYA and PHYB signal transduction.
Associated Factors of Drinking Prior to Recognising Pregnancy and Risky Drinking among New Zealand Women Aged 18 to 35 Years

Nearly half of all pregnant women in the Western world drink prior to recognising pregnancy. The current study aimed to investigate the factors associated with drinking prior to recognising pregnancy among pregnant women and factors associated with risky drinking among nonpregnant sexually active women. The study was a cross-sectional survey of a random sample of women aged 18 to 35 years (n = 1062) selected from the New Zealand electoral roll. Pregnant women (currently pregnant: n = 65; previously pregnant: n = 202) who were risky drinkers and who smoked in the year prior to pregnancy had five times the odds (p < 0.01) and women who planned their pregnancy (p = 0.05) and who used a community service card (p = 0.004) had less than half the odds to drink prior to recognising pregnancy than their respective counterparts. Among sexually active nonpregnant women who consumed alcohol, those who smoked in the year prior to the survey and those who drank for social reasons, for mood enhancement or coping reasons had higher odds of being risky drinkers (p < 0.05). Addressing risky drinking, especially in social settings, and smoking among women of peak childbearing age may mitigate the potential risk of drinking prior to recognising pregnancy.