Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A supravital staining technique for honey bee spermatozoa

ABSTRACT A new supravital staining technique is described for honey bee, Apis mellifera L. , spermatozoa using the fluorochromes, propidium iodide and Hoechst 33342 (H342), a bis‐benzimidazole derivative. Propidium iodide binds to the DNA of sperm which lack membrane integrity and H342 binds to the DNA of all sperm. This assay is a simple and rapid method for determining the percentage nonviabiiity of a male honey bee's sperm. The recommended staining procedure is to incubate sperm in a solution of 5 μ. g/ml H342 and 10 μ. g/ml propidium iodide in modified Kiev solution for 15–20 min. After incubation, wet mounts of the sperm‐stain suspension are examined using fluorescence microscopy. Percentage nonviabiiity is determined by the ratio of propidium iodide stained sperm to H342 stained sperm.
Response of Douglas-fir to infection by Armillaria ostoyae after thinning or thinning plus fertilization

Second-growth stands of Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) were thinned to a 5- ×5-m spacing (TT); additional plots were thinned and fertilized once with 360 kg of N (as urea) per hectare (TF). An unthinned, unfertilized stand (UT) served as a control. Ten years after treatment, trees were inoculated with two isolates of Armillaria ostoyae. Trees receiving the TF and TT treatments produced greater diameter growth, leaf area, and wood production per square meter of leaf area per year than did those under the UT treatment (.)
Inherent variation in growth efficiency of African catfish Clarias gariepinus (Burchell, 1822) juveniles

Understanding the major causes of growth variation is crucial for the success of fish farming since its reduction contributes to maximize production efficiency, reduce food waste and improve water quality. The growth variation observed in aquaculture has been associated with the establishment of social hierarchies. However, some studies suggest that this variation may not be mainly a consequence of social hierarchies but mainly a result of inherent (genetic) differences. This study investigates the magnitude of individual responses, independently of group effects (fish housed individually), in growth efficiency and feeding behaviour of African catfish Clarias gariepinus (Burchell 1822). Despite the low variation in initial body weight (6.5%) and cumulative feed consumption (7.5%) over the experimental period, catfish exhibited high variation in final body weight (18.1%), specific growth rate (17.2%) and feed conversion ratio (27.9%), suggesting that individual variation in growth efficiency is important in determining growth rate. This individual variation may be related with individual differences in protein/fat deposition since faster growing fish deposited more protein and less fat than slower growing fish. Pronounced individual differences in feeding behaviour (reaction towards feed and time spent eating) were also observed and correlated with individual differences in growth efficiency. Fast eaters were the fast growers. We suggest that the growth variation observed in African catfish may be inherent and that the use of grading to increase uniformity should be further investigated
The Nature of Islamophobia: A Test of a Tripartite View in Five Countries

This article provides an examination of the structure of Islamophobia across cultures. Our novel measure—the Tripartite Islamophobia Scale (TIS)—embeds three theoretically and statistically grounded subcomponents of Islamophobia: anti-Muslim prejudice, anti-Islamic sentiment, and conspiracy beliefs. Across six samples (i.e., India, Poland, Germany, France, and the United States), preregistered analyses corroborated that these three subcomponents are statistically distinct. Measurement invariance analyses indicated full scalar invariance, suggesting that the tripartite understanding of Islamophobia is generalizable across cultural contexts. Furthermore, the subcomponents were partially dissociated in terms of the intergroup emotions they are predicted by as well as the intergroup outcomes they predict (e.g., dehumanization, ethnic persecution). For example, intergroup anger and disgust underpin Islamophobic attitudes, over and above the impact of fear. Finally, our results show that social dominance orientation (SDO) and ingroup identification moderate intergroup emotions and Islamophobia. We address both theoretical implications for the nature of Islamophobia and practical interventions to reduce it.
Hearing‐impaired population performance and the effect of hearing interventions on Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA): Systematic review and meta‐analysis

Older adults are at high risk of developing age‐related hearing loss (HL) and/or cognitive impairment. However, cognitive screening tools rely on oral administration of instructions and stimuli that may be impacted by HL. This systematic review aims to investigate (a) whether people with HL perform worse than those without HL on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), a widely used screening tool for cognitive impairment, and what the effect size of that difference is (b) whether HL treatment mitigates the impact of HL.
Octocoral densities and mortalities in Gorgona Island, Colombia, Tropical Eastern Pacific

Owing to the decrease of reef organisms in general, it has become essential to study populations that are prone to marine diseases, with the purpose of developing accurate survivorship predictions and in turn alarm on triggers and drivers of disease outbreaks. In this study, we quantified the octocorals of Gorgona island, Tropical Eastern Pacific (Colombia), during 2007 and 2009 documenting a mass mortality occurred during 2008. We recorded 16 octocoral species with densities that ranged between 2 and 30 colonies m -2 . Most abundant octocorals were Leptogorgia alba and Pacifigorgia spp . (Gorgoniidae: Octocorallia). During 2009 we noticed a mass mortality involving Pacifigorgia irene, P. adamsi , P. rubicunda and P. eximia , with a reduction of 70% of the colonies between 12 and 20 m in water depth. Around 5% of seafans during 2007 had an epizootic disease similar to aspergillosis, which seems the cause of the mass octocoral mortality. This disease outbreak observed in Gorgona island, and other nearby areas of the Colombian Pacific during 2007-2010, corresponded to extended periods of anomalous elevated seawater surface temperatures and thermal anomalies during the upwelling season of 2008. Constant monitoring of seawater temperatures and octocoral populations are urgently needed in this area to understand the nature of this new disease outbreak. Rev. Biol. Trop. 62 (Suppl. 1): 209-219. Epub 2014 February 01.
Preoperative Concurrent Chemoradiotherapy for Stage IIIA Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Thirty-one patients with stage IIIA non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) were treated with preoperative concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) followed by surgery. The treatment protocol could not be completed in eight patients. The acute hematologic toxicities of grade III or IV occurred in 48.4% (15/31) after the first chemotherapy cycle, and in 39.1% (9/23) after the second cycle. The most common non-hematologic toxicity was radiation esophagitis. Surgery was attempted in 23 patients and successful in 22 patients (resection rate = 71.0%). Pathologic complete response and down-staging were achieved in 13.6% (3/22) and 68.2% (15/22). The median survival period, 2-year overall survival, local control and disease-free survival rates of all 31 patients and of 22 patients who underwent surgery were 19 months, 37.2%, 49.1%, 35.5%, and 19 months, 43.2%, 51.8%, 25.6%, respectively. On the basis of our observations, preoperative CCRT followed by surgery for stage IIIA NSCLC has resulted in outcomes comparable with those in previous reports.
Monitoring Phenolic Compounds in Rice during the Growing Season in Relation to Fungal and Mycotoxin Contamination

Total phenolic content (TPC) and several phenolic acids present in rice grains were compared with fungal infection and mycotoxin presence throughout the growing season. Samples of 4 rice varieties were collected in 2018 and 2019 at 3 different plant phenological stages. Total fungal and main mycotoxigenic fungi incidence were checked and mycotoxin content was analysed. On the same samples, TPC and the concentration of 8 main phenolic acids (chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, syringic acid, 4-hydroxybenzoic acid (4-HBA), p-coumaric acid, ferulic acid, protocatecuic acid and gallic acid) were measured. The results showed significant differences between years for both fungal incidence and mycotoxin presence. In 2018 there was a lower fungal presence (42%) than in 2019 (57%) while, regarding mycotoxins, sterigmatocystin (STC) was found in almost all the samples and at all growing stages while deoxynivalenol (DON) was found particularly during ripening. An interesting relationship was found between fungal incidence and TPC, and some phenolic acids seemed to be more involved than others in the plant defense system. Ferulic acid and protocatecuic acid showed a different trend during the growing season depending on fungal incidence and resulted to be positively correlated with p-coumaric acid and 4-HBA that seem involved in mycotoxin containment in field.
Myofascial Pain Syndromes—Trigger Points

During the past few months, several new studies, reviews and case studies on myofascial pain syndrome [MPS] and myofascial trigger points [TrPs] have been published. Myofascial pain syndrome and TrPs are increasingly being recognized not only in the United States, but also in Europe. Testa and colleagues [Milan, Italy] published an excellent review article detailing the clinical signs that lead to the diagnosis of MPS. Chaitow and Delany published a review article in an orthopedic journal, which may indicate an increasing acceptance of the concepts of MPS and TrPs by a medical discipline that previously has expressed little or no interest in the subject matter. Three other articles emphasized that MPS needs to be included in the differential diagnostic process of radiculopathy, dental pain, and pelvic pain, respectively. New referred pain patterns were described from TrPs in the iliopsoas muscle causing knee pain and in the splenius capitis muscle causing tinnitus. Several articles on the use of botulinum toxin and MPS appeared in the literature. Following the integrated TrP hypothesis that suggests that excessive release of acetylcholine at the motor endplate leads to the formation of TrPs, the use of botulinum toxin is likely to increase particularly for persistent MPS that has not responded well to other TrP therapy (1). After 10 years of preparing this review of the pertinent literature on MPS and TrPs, David Simons welcomes the assistance of physical therapist Jan Dommerholt in preparing this review column. Each article review indicates whether it is prepared by Simons [DGS] or Dommerholt [JD].
Gastric Emptying and Plasma Neurotensin Levels in Untreated Celiac Patients

Background: Upper gastrointestinal motor abnormalities could account for some of the dyspeptic symptoms of celiac patients. However, the data on gastric emptying time are conflicting, and the pathophysiology of motor disturbances is still unclear. Neurotensin modulates upper gastrointestinal motor activity, and its postprandial increase is a reliable index of nutrient delivery to the ileum. We therefore assessed both plasma neurotensin levels and gastric emptying in untreated celiacs. M thods: The gastric antral area of nine untreated celiac patients and nine controls was measured with ultrasound at base line and every 30 min after a fatty meal (227 kcal, 45% fat); the base-line and postprandial neurotensin plasma levels were determined by means of radioimmunoassay. The data are mean values standard deviation and were analyzed by using non-parametric tests. Re ults:The overall and half gastric emptying time were significantly longer in the patients (203 32 versus 133 15 min, P = 0.0117, and 137 32 versus 78 11 min,P = 0.0001). The pattern of the changes in antral area was similar in both groups during the observation period as a whole but differed significantly in the first 120 min ( P = 0.0343). Base-line neurotensin levels were significantly higher in the patients (41.6 23.9 versus 18.2 5.5 pg/ml, P = 0.0214) and their net postprandial increase was lower than in controls (15.0 15.9 versus 29.8 13.0 pg/ml,P = 0.046). In both groups the base-line neurotensin levels were related to the half gastric emptying time ( P = 0.023). Conclusions: In untreated celiac patients gastric emptying time is longer than in controls and is concomitant with an increase in base-line plasma neurotensin levels.
The effect of time-of-day and judo match on short-term maximal performances in judokas

The aim of the present study was to investigate the time-of-day effect on short-term maximal performances before and after a judo match in young judokas. Ten male judokas (age, 18.2 ± 1.4 yrs; height, 176.5 ± 4.6 cm; body mass, 74.1 ± 9.6 kg) performed three test sessions at 09:00, 12:30, and 16:00 h. During each session, they completed the hand grip (HG) and the Wingate tests before (T0) and after (T1) a 5-min judo combat. Likewise, core temperature was measured at T0 and T1 in all sessions. Rating of perceived exertion (RPE) scores were obtained at the end of each combat. Core temperature recorded before and after the judo match was lower at 09:00 h than 12:30 h and 16:00 h, and at 12:30 h than 16:00 h (p < 0.001). Furthermore, the results indicated a significant increase in core temperature after the combat with respect to before the combat at the three times of measurement (p < 0.001). Muscle strength and power were significantly lower at 09:00 h than 16:00 h only before the combat (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the results indicated a significant decrease in muscle strength and power at 09:00, 12:30, and 16:00 h after the combat than before the combat (p < 0.05), with higher decrease in performance at 16:00 h than 09:00 and 12:30 h (e.g. 3.7 ± 6.2% vs. 3.7 ± 1.7% vs. 6.4 ± 5.0% for HG at 09:00, 12:30, and 16:00 h, respectively). The RPE scores were not significantly different between 09:00, 12:30, and 16:00 h. In conclusion, judokas’ muscle power and strength were significantly higher in the afternoon than the morning. However, these diurnal variations disappeared after the judo match by a higher fatigue in the afternoon than the morning.
Nucellangium: Gametophytic Structure and Relationship to Cordaites

Developmental stages of Nucellangium ovules from middle Pennsylvanian Iowa coal balls clarify the morphology and vascularization of the nucellus and structure of the gametophyte. Two archegonia, one on either side of a prominent gametophytic beak, are deeply embedded in the apical end of the gametophytic tissue The cellular remains of an undifferentiated embryo are present in one archegonium. Nucellangium is considered to be a cordaite ovule, based upon similarities between epidermal features of the ovule and Cordaianthus inflorescences. This conclusion is supported by the presence of a columnar epidermis on the ovules of Cordaianthus zeilleri in the original slide collection of Renault
Using Mg as a Proxy for Crystal Structure and Sr as an Indicator of Marine Growth in Vaterite and Aragonite Otoliths of Aquaculture Rainbow Trout

Abstract Otoliths of rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss reared in marine cages were analyzed by laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry to determine their Sr and Mg concentrations and by micro-Raman spectrometry to assess mineralogy. Analyses of transects from the core of the otolith to the growing edge (incorporating otolith material produced during freshwater hatchery and marine cage growth) revealed that these transects were composed of aragonite, vaterite, or both. The concentration of Sr varied significantly between mineral polymorphs and environments (hatchery or marine). In vaterite transects, Sr concentrations increased an average of 130 μg/g between freshwater hatchery growth and marine growth. This increase represents a near doubling of the Sr concentration in vaterite and made Sr a suitable indicator of a change in the environment as reflected in vaterite transects. In aragonite transects, Sr concentrations increased an average of 1,330 μg/g between hatchery and marine growth.
The CCK-2 Receptor is Located on the ECL Cell, But Not on the Parietal Cell

Background: The interrelationship between histamine and gastrin in the physiological regulation of gastric acid secretion is still a matter of dispute. CCK-2 receptors are located on enterochromaffin-like (ECL) cells in corpus mucosa and gastrin stimulates acid production by releasing histamine from the ECL cells, which in turn stimulates the parietal cells. Whether parietal cells also possess gastrin receptors of physiological significance is unclear. The aim of the present study was to localize the CCK-2 receptor cellularly and concomitantly demonstrate a gastrin receptor response (histamine release). Methods: Fluorescein labelled cholecystokinin-8 (Fluo-CCK-8) was added to the arterial infusion to totally isolated, vascularly perfused rat stomachs to a final concentration of 130 pmol L -1 for 1 min, either alone or along with 520 nmol -1 CCK-8 after 10-min pre-perfusion with CCK-8. Immediately after the FluoCCK-8 had reached the oxyntic mucosa, biopsies were taken and the binding sites were localized by double immunohistochemistry combined with the tyramide signal amplification (TSA) technique. Venous histamine was measured before and during stimulation. Results: Fluo-CCK-8 (130 pM) evoked histamine release, and binding sites were found in the basal part of corpus mucosa, co-localized with histidine decarbocylase (HDC) immunoreactive ECL cells. No binding of Fluo-CCK was found in the midglandular region of corpus, dominated by parietal cells. Binding of Fluo-CCK-8 was abolished by concomitant perfusion with excess CCK-8. Conclusion: Fluo-CCK-8 given to isolated rat stomachs in a physiological concentration binds to CCK-2 receptors on ECL cells and causes histamine release, whereas no binding of Fluo-CCK-8 to parietal cells was found.
Antibacterial Activity of Tea Polyphenols against Phytopathogenic Bacteria.

The antibactcrial property ef lea as a bevcrage has not been fully tmderstood, despite the long ycurs and svide-spreud consumption of tea. Only u few authors have rcpertcd the antibacterial activity of the polyphenolic fraetionoftcawithoutparticularrel'crencctotheindividual polypheno]ic components,i'4) Wc have previuusly reported that individualEy purified tca polyphenols had certain antibacterial activity against foodbornc bacteria, including Ciostridiuni botulirtum.j'6) In this notc, we report the antibactcrial activity of tea poLypheno]s measured as MIC (minimum inhibitory con-
Mapping oligogenes for atopy and asthma by meta-analysis

Meta-analysis is presented for published studies on linkage or allelic association that have in common only reported significance levels. Reporting is biassed, and nonsignificance is seldom quantified. Therefore meta-analysis cannot identify oligogenes within a candidate region nor establish their significance, but it defines candidate regions well. Applied to a database on atopy and asthma, candidate regions are identified on chromosomes 6, 5, 16, 11, 12, 13, 14, 7, 20, and 10, in rank order from strongest to weakest evidence. On the other hand, there is little support for chromosomes 9, 8, 18, 1, and 15 in the same rank order. The evidence from 156 publications is reviewed for each region. With reasonable type I and II errors several thousand affected sib pairs would be required to detect a locus accounting for 1/10 of the genetic effect on asthma. Identification of regions by a genome scan for linkage and allelic association requires international collaborative studies to reach the necessary sample size, using lod-based methods that specify a weakly parametric alternative hypothesis and can be combined over studies that differ in ascertainment, phenotypes, and markers. This has become the central problem in complex inheritance.
Effects of rate and timing of nitrogen fertilizer on disease control by fungicides in winter wheat. 1. Grain yield and foliar disease control

The effects of nitrogen (N) rate and timing on need for fungicide application in winter wheat (Triticum aestivum) were investigated in 3 years of field experiments on loamy sand soils in Denmark. A two-factor completely randomized experimental design was used, comprising seven combinations of different N fertilizer rates and application times, and five doses of fungicide (co-formulation propiconazole and fenpropimorph). Two different varieties of winter wheat with high susceptibility to powdery mildew (Blumeria graminis) were used, Florida in the first season and Pepital in the last two seasons. The severity of powdery mildew and septoria leaf spot (mainly Septoria tritici) varied between seasons from slight to moderate with powdery mildew dominating in the first season and septoria leaf spot in the last season. The severity of both powdery mildew and septoria leaf spot assessed as the Area Under the Disease Progress Curve (AUDPC) was increased by application of N in all years, and more so by early applied N. Grain yields increased with increasing N rate and fungicide dose. However, the observed grain yields did not reveal any N×fungicide interactions. Regression models were therefore fitted, relating grain yield to rate and timing of N fertilizer and to AUDPC of powdery mildew and septoria leaf spot, and relating AUDPC to rate and timing of N fertilizer and to fungicide dose. They demonstrated that septoria leaf spot had a considerably higher impact on grain yield than mildew. The optimal fungicide dose and N rate were defined as those giving the highest economic return. The regression models were used to estimate the effect of N rate and timing on optimal fungicide dose, and the effect of fungicide application on optimal N rate. The optimal fungicide dose increased almost linearly with N rate above a minimum N rate, but with a large dependency on price relations. Early applied N caused a higher demand for disease control. The fungicide applications in the model were mainly driven by the need to control septoria leaf spot, whereas powdery mildew gave a poor net return for control. The estimated optimal N fertilizer rate for untreated diseased crops was 60 kg N/ha lower than for crops without disease. The use of fungicides with an efficacy twice that of the EBI-fungicides used in this experiment would increase the optimal N rate by c. 20 kg N/ha.
Intraspecific Physiological Variants of Striga hermonthica

SUMMARY Preliminary evidence is presented in this study for the existence of (1) intraspecific physiological variants of Striga hermonthica, with Gabob population as the most responsive strain to a range of Sorghum bicolor cultivars, and (2) a local Sudanese sorghum cultivar called Tetron with broad-spectrum resistance to striga. Thus Tetron may be recommended as another standard resistant cultivar with reference to Framida of East Africa.