Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of caffeic acid phenethyl ester and erdosteine on radiocontrast media-induced oxidative stress and histopathological changes in rat testicular tissue

The aim of this study was to determine the possible protective role of caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) and erdosteine on testicular toxicity of radiocontrast media (RCM) in rats. A total of thirty-five male Wistar albino rats were included in this study. All animals were equally and randomly divided into four groups as follows: Controls (n=10), RCM-treated (n=8), RCM + erdosteine-treated (n=7) and RCM + CAPE-treated (n=10) groups. RCM was intraperitoneally (i.p.) administered at 10 ml/kg dose. CAPE was administered i.p. at a dose of 10 I¼mol/kg once daily for two days. Erdosteine was orally administered at 25 mg/kg dose once daily for two days. At the end of the study, all animals were sacrificed. Testis tissues and blood samples were collected for histopathological and biochemical analysis. Catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) enzyme activity levels and the level of malondialdehyde (MDA) were measured in order to investigate the extent of oxidative stress in testicular tissues. Histopathological examination was also performed on tissue samples stained with hematoxyline-eosin by using light microscope. In RCM treated group, the mean testicular CAT activity was significantly decreased when compared with the control group (p 0.05). There was no statistically significant difference between the study group and controls by means of testicular SOD and MDA levels (p > 0.05). We have observed that CAPE and erdosteine exhibited protection against RCM-induced toxicity / oxidative stres and histopathological changes in testicular tissues in histopathological aspect. Taken together, current data suggest that RCM leads to oxidative stress in rat testicular tissues and CAPE may have relatively more protective effect than erdosteine in RCM-induced oxidative stress via antioxidant defence mechanisms.
Grapheme-to-Phoneme Conversion with a Multilingual Transformer Model

In this paper, we describe our three submissions to the SIGMORPHON 2020 shared task 1 on grapheme-to-phoneme conversion for 15 languages. We experimented with a single multilingual transformer model. We observed that the multilingual model achieves results on par with our separately trained monolingual models and is even able to avoid a few of the errors made by the monolingual models.
Variability in northwards extension of warm water copepods in the NE Pacific

The Continuous Plankton Recorder has been deployed in the NE Pacific on two intersecting transects since 2000. Many deployments included a temperature sensor providing in situ temperature data to supplement the species abundance data for 1300 samples. Twenty-nine copepod taxa were sufficiently abundant to examine their temperature-related distributions. Groups of warm- and cold-water species were identified, with overlapping distributions between 48 and 588N. Recent fluctuations in ocean climate, from the warmest year on record in 2005 to one of the coldest in decades in 2008, provided ideal conditions to observe temperature-related interannual variability. The abundance and northwards extension of warm water species were significantly positively correlated with mean annual temperature and the Pacific Decadal Oscillation. The cold water species showed no correlations with temperature/Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO) within the study region; however, if the 4 years of sampling that extended south to 398N were examined separately, there was a strong relationship between temperature/PDO and the southern extent of subarctic copepods. Under warm ocean conditions, the range overlap of the two groups will increase as warm water species extend northwards, causing an increase in copepod diversity. Since warm water species are generally smaller and nutritionally poorer, this has implications for higher trophic levels.
Biological activities of some endemic plants in Turkey

Two different bioassays (antibacterial and antitumor) were performed to evaluate the biological activities of 8 different Turkish endemic plants (Crocus abantensis T.Baytop & Mathew, Crocus ancyrensis (Herbert) Maw, Galanthus plicatus Bieb. subsp. byzantinus (Baker) D.A. Webb. , Paronychia chionaea Boiss, Astragalus gymnolobus Fischer, Trifolium pannonicum Jacq. subsp.elongatum (Willd.) Zoh. , Eryngium bithynicum Boiss and Convolvulus galaticus Rostan ex Choisy). For each plant, 3 different extracts (aqueous, methanol and ethanol) were prepared and totally 24 extracts were tested. The disc diffusion assay was used to screen for antibacterial activity. Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella typhimurium, Serratia marcescens, Proteus vulgaris, Enterobacter cloacae and Klebsiella pneumoniae which are Gram-negative bacteria, and Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis and Streptococcus pyogenes which are Gram- positive bacteria were used. Best antibacterial activity was observed with T. pannonicum extracts. Ethanolic extract of T. pannonicum was better than aqueous and methanolic extracts against S. aureus, S. epidermidis, S. pyogenes, P. vulgaris and K. pneumonia. Antitumor activity was evaluated with potato disc diffusion bioassay. Best antitumor activity was observed with all extracts of G. plicatus. Generally, alcoholic extracts showed better antitumor activity than aqueous extracts. Alcoholic extracts of C. abantensis, C. ancyrensis, P. chionae and C. galaticus also exhibited strong antitumor activity.
Holding Their Own and Being Resilient: Narratives of Parents over the First 12 Months of Their Child Having Tracheostomy

ABSTRACT Caring for a child with a tracheostomy can be challenging for parents and learning to safely manage their child’s airway can be frightening due to their child’s breathing issues, complex diagnosis and the difficult decisions they have to make. The aim of this longitudinal narrative study was to tell the stories of parents whose child had a new tracheostomy. Twenty three narrative interviews were conducted with twelve parents from nine families at three time points over a 12 month period. Data were analyzed using a socio-narratological approach. The stories told how parents were able to ‘hold their own’ despite experiencing shock, emotional upheaval and uncertainty during the period of their child’s surgery. ‘Holding their own’ was possible for parents because resilience played an important part of their journey. Parents continued to be resilient as they adapted to being at home and dealt with ongoing challenging and stressful circumstances. All of the parents told stories reflecting on and recognizing that there were times when they exhibited higher levels of resilience and times when their resilience was lower. Looking back on their experiences parents appreciated that they reframed their initial often negative views about their child’s need for a tracheostomy into more positive understandings and a future orientated perspective.
Brief Communication Decrease in CD8+ lymphocyte number and altered cytokine profile in human prostate cancer

The tumor microenvironment is comprised of multiple cell types arranged in a three-dimensional structure. Interactions amongst the various cell components play an important role in neoplasia, including the inflammatory reaction that occurs as part of the host response. In this study, the regional lymphocyte subpopulations and cytokine profiles associated with prostate cancer were examined using a quantitative imaging approach and expression mi- croarray analysis. Lymphocytes were measured in four different epithelial phenotypes in prostate cancer specimens: carcinoma; prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PIN); benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH); and normal epithelium. The data indicate that CD8 positive, cytotoxic T lymphocytes are significantly decreased in regions adjacent to hyperplasia and carcinoma as compared to normal epithelium and PIN. In contrast the relative number of CD4 positive and CD20 positive lymphocytes did not change markedly. Parallel mRNA expression array analysis of the normal and tumor microenvironments identified a distinct cytokine profile in cancer, with 24 dysregulated genes in tumor epithelium and nine altered in tumor-associated stroma. Overall, these data indicate that the spatial distribution of CD8 positive, cytotoxic T lymphocytes is dysregulated in human prostate glands that contain cancer, and cytokine profiles are al- tered at the mRNA level.
A review of progress in taxonomy of water mites from China (Acari: Hydrachnidia)

With a brief review on taxonomic studies of Chinese water mites since the early 20th century, this paper gives a checklist of the 193 species in 34 subgenera, 36 genera, 19 subfamilies, 19 families, 7 superfamilies, recorded from China. Forty-five of these species (23.38%) are Palaearctic-Oriental or polyregional, 19 (9.9%) Palaearctic, 129 (66.8%) Oriental, and 118 (61.1%) known at present only from China. The information on distribution within China is given for each species. Hygrobates ( Rivobates ) octoporus Jin, 1996 is replaced with Hygrobates ( Rivobates ) hexoporus Jin & Yi nomen novum.
Describing the status of reproductive ageing simply and precisely: A reproductive ageing score based on three questions and validated with hormone levels

Objective Most women live to experience menopause and will spend 4–8 years transitioning from fertile age to full menstrual stop. Biologically, reproductive ageing is a continuous process, but by convention, it is defined categorically as pre-, peri- and postmenopause; categories that are sometimes supported by measurements of sex hormones in blood samples. We aimed to develop and validate a new tool, a reproductive ageing score (RAS), that could give a simple and yet precise description of the status of reproductive ageing, without hormone measurements, to be used by health professionals and researchers. Methods Questionnaire data on age, menstrual regularity and menstrual frequency was provided by the large multicentre population-based RHINE cohort. A continuous reproductive ageing score was developed from these variables, using techniques of fuzzy mathematics, to generate a decimal number ranging from 0.00 (nonmenopausal) to 1.00 (postmenopausal). The RAS was then validated with sex hormone measurements (follicle stimulating hormone and 17β-estradiol) and interview-data provided by the large population-based ECRHS cohort, using receiver-operating characteristics (ROC). Results The RAS, developed from questionnaire data of the RHINE cohort, defined with high precision and accuracy the menopausal status as confirmed by interview and hormone data in the ECRHS cohort. The area under the ROC curve was 0.91 (95% Confidence interval (CI): 0.90–0.93) to distinguish nonmenopausal women from peri- and postmenopausal women, and 0.85 (95% CI: 0.83–0.88) to distinguish postmenopausal women from nonmenopausal and perimenopausal women. Conclusions The RAS provides a useful and valid tool for describing the status of reproductive ageing accurately, on a continuous scale from 0.00 to 1.00, based on simple questions and without requiring blood sampling. The score allows for a more precise differentiation than the conventional categorisation in pre-, peri- and postmenopause. This is useful for epidemiological research and clinical trials.
Controle de qualidade de drogas vegetais a base de Bauhinia forficata Link (Fabaceae)

The present study aimed to use methods to perform the quality control of some vegetal drugs based on Bauhinia forficata from Itajai and Balneario Camboriu, using the flavonoid kaempferitrin as chemical marker. The methods used were thin layer chromatography (TLC) and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), besides microscopic analysis, label analysis and organoleptic characteristics and strange material presence. All the analyses were compared with the authentic sample of B. forficata (A) results. This study used six commercial samples which were denoted as B-G. In the strange material analyses, all the samples were disapproved because they were above 2%. Microscopic analyses revealed that only B and G samples were identical to B. forficata (A). The chromatographic results suggested that only the samples B, C, E and G presented kaempferitrin.
Budvicia aquatica gen. nov., sp. nov.: a Hydrogen Sulfide-Producing Member of the Enterobacteriaceae

Deoxyribonucleic acid relatedness studies (SI nuclease method) showed that 60 strains proposed as Budvicia aquatica form a homogeneous deoxyribonucleic acid hybridization group. Three strains labeled Budvicia-like were 9 to 22% related to B. aquatica. A total of 74 strains representing known species and genera in the Enterobacteriaceae were 0 to 8% related to B. aquatica. These findings support designation of Budvicia aquatica as a new genus and new species. This new species in the family Enterobacteriaceae is composed of strains which produce H2S; hydrolyze urea and o-nitrophenyl-β-D-galactopyranoside; do not produce acid from trehalose, D-mannose, glycerol, sucrose, maltose, and D-melibiose; do not decarboxylate lysine, ornithine, or arginine; do not produce phenylalanine deaminase; and have complex growth factor requirements. The guanine-plus-cytosine content of the deoxyribonucleic acid is 46 mol%. The type strain is strain 20186HG01 (= ATCC 25567).
Invasion of Lake Erie Offshore Sediments by Dreissena, and Its Ecological Implications

Large populations of the exotic rounded (noncarinate) shelled mussel of the genus Dreissena were found to exist on soft sediments collected throughout the central and eastern basins of Lake Erie during July and August 1992. Two different phenotypes were present on fine sediments (<150 μm) in the eastern basin. An elongated white morph was common on the profundal sediments beyond 40 m depth, while the "quagga" mussel was common on sand and sandy silt at depths between 10 and 30 m. Together with the carinated zebra mussel Dreissena polymorpha, which is very abundant on hard substrates in the sublittoral region, at least 80% of Lake Erie's bottom sediments have been invaded by Dreissena. Only that region of the central basin (near Cleveland) which undergoes periodic summer anoxia was not inhabited by this genus.
Associations between sleep duration and insulin resistance in European children and adolescents considering the mediating role of abdominal obesity

Background Short sleep duration has been suggested to lead to insulin resistance both directly by altering glucose metabolism and indirectly through obesity. This study aims to investigate associations between nocturnal sleep duration and insulin resistance considering abdominal obesity as a mediator. Methods We analysed data of 3 900 children aged 2–15 years participating in the second (2009/10) and third (2013/14) examination wave of the European IDEFICS/I.Family study (hereafter referred to as baseline and follow-up). Information on nocturnal sleep duration was collected by questionnaires and age-standardised (SLEEP z-score). The homeostasis model assessment (HOMA) was calculated from fasting insulin and fasting glucose obtained from blood samples; waist circumference (WAIST) was measured with an inelastic tape. HOMA and WAIST were used as indicators for insulin resistance and abdominal obesity, respectively, and transformed to age- and sex-specific z-scores. Cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between SLEEP z-score and HOMA z-score were investigated based on a path model considering WAIST z-score as a mediator adjusting for relevant confounders. Results Cross-sectionally, baseline SLEEP z-score was negatively associated with baseline WAIST z-score (unstandardised effect estimate -0.120, 95% confidence interval [-0.167; -0.073]). We observed no direct effect of baseline SLEEP z-score on baseline HOMA z-score but a negative indirect effect through baseline WAIST z-score (-0.042 [-0.058; -0.025]). Longitudinally, there was no direct effect of baseline SLEEP z-score on HOMA z-score at follow-up but a negative indirect effect through both baseline WAIST z-score and WAIST z-score at follow-up (-0.028 [-0.040; -0.016]). Conclusions Our results do not support the hypothesis of an association between short sleep duration and insulin resistance independent of abdominal obesity. However, longer sleep duration may exert short and long term beneficial effects on insulin resistance through its beneficial effects on abdominal obesity.
Influence of Nutrition, Sex and Slaughter Age on the Carcass Characteristics at Broiler Chicken Ross-308

Normal 0 21 false false false RO X-NONE X-NONE In this paper was studied the effect of feed with different energy and protein level on the carcass characteristics at broiler chickens, which were sacrificed at 35 and 42 days old. The genetic material was represented by broiler chickens that belonged to the „Ross-308” hybrid, with two groups (LC-control group and LE-experimental group). During the growth periods (starter, growing and finishing) they have received compound feed ad libitum, with different energy and protein levels (LC-conforming to recommendations of Aviagen Company; LE-higher with 10%). After slaughter, from each group were sampled 30 carcasses (15 carcasses per sex) and was determined slaughter yield and participation percentage of the cut parts from the whole carcasses structure . The meat/bones ratio from carcass and from major parts of the carcass was determined on 10 carcasses from each group (five per sex). The results of this experiment showed that the nutrition and age had significant influence on the slaughter yield, the participation percentage of the cut parts from the whole carcass and meat/bones ratio in breast and legs, while the sex influenced participation share and meat quantity in breast and legs.
The intraocular pressure response to lower-body and upper-body isometric exercises is affected by the breathing pattern

Abstract We assessed the mediating role of the breathing pattern adopted during isometric exercise on the intraocular pressure (IOP) response in the back squat and biceps curl exercises. Twenty physically active young adults performed sets of 1-minute isometric effort against a load corresponding to 80% of the maximum load while adopting three different breathing patterns: (i) Constant breathing: 10 cycles consisting of 3 s of inhalation and 3 s of exhalation, (ii) 10-sec Valsalva: 3 cycles consisting of 10 s holding the breath and 10 s of normal breathing, and (iii) 25-sec Valsalva: 2 cycles consisting of 25 s of the Valsalva maneuver and 5 s of normal breathing. A rebound tonometer was used to semi-continuously assesses IOP during the six sets of 1-minute isometric effort (2 exercises × 3 breathing patterns). We found a progressive IOP rise during isometric effort (P < 0.001, = 0.83), with these increases being greater when the breath was held longer (P < 0.001, = 0.58; 25-sec Valsalva > 10-sec Valsalva = constant breathing). There was a trend towards higher IOP values for the back squat in comparison to the biceps curl, although these differences did not reach statistical significance for any breathing pattern (corrected P-value ≥ 0.146, d ≤ 0.69). These findings reveal that glaucoma patients or those at risk should avoid activities in which the breath is held, especially when combined with physical exercise modalities that also promote an increment in IOP values (e.g. isometric contractions).
A Long-Term Study of a Bicarbonate/Lactate-Based Peritoneal Dialysis Solution — Clinical Benefits

Objective A bicarbonate/lactate peritoneal dialysis solution (Bic/Lac) has been developed based on in vitro and ex vivo data showing better preservation of cell function and correction of pain on infusion. Design This was a randomized, prospective, controlled, open-label study comparing a new 25 mmol/L bicarbonate/15 mmol/L lactate with a standard 40 mmol/L lactate-buffered peritoneal dialysis solution (Lac) over a 12-month treatment period. Setting 17 European nephrology centers. Patients 106 (70 Bic/Lac and 36 Lac) well-dialyzed continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) patients. Interventions Dialysis adequacy and peritoneal equilibration test (PET, week –4, months 3, 6, and 12); 24-hour ultrafiltration (week –4, months 1, 3, and 6); blood biochemistry (week –2, day 0, months 1, 2, 3,6, 9, and 12); and a product acceptability questionnaire (months 1 and 6). Results 88 patients completed the first 6 months, and 44 the full year. The solutions were shown to be therapeutically equivalent with respect to plasma bicarbonate and peritoneal urea and creatinine clearances. Ultrafiltration in the Bic/Lac group increased significantly from baseline by about 150 mL/day for the whole of the 6-month treatment period (p < 0.05). The biochemistry profile, adverse events, and physical examination (except body weight where there was a statistically significant increase in the Bic/Lac group) results did not differ significantly between the two groups. Reduced pain/discomfort on infusion or an increased sense of well-being was reported by 41% of patients on the Bic/Lac fluid. Conclusions The Bic/Lac solution is safe and effective in correcting uremic acidosis, provides relief of inflow pain/discomfort, and improves ultrafiltration and body weight.
Role of histone methylation in paternal transmission of epigenetic information

During the development of multi-cellular organisms, one genome gives rise to multiple differentiated cell types. This is achieved by sequence specific transcription factors and different epigenetic mechanisms, which collaborate in reading the genetic information. These epigenetic mechanisms coordinate the establishment and maintenance of transcriptional programs in a lineage specific manner during development. However, very little is known whether such epigenetic information can be also passed to the next generation. Mammalian gametes may differ in their potential to transmit chromatin encoded epigenetic information. The oocyte genome is organized in a nucleosomal configuration with DNA wrapped around histones that carry various post translational modifications. By contrast, the paternal genome undergoes a major reorganization during the last stages of spermatogenesis. Most of histones are replaced by protamines, which after fertilization, are exchanged by maternally provided histones. Nevertheless, approximately 10% of histones are retained in human spermatozoa, raising a possibility for a paternal, epigenetic contribution to the next generation. In this thesis, I aimed to determine the genomic localisation of histones retained in sperm and to analyze their potential to influence transcription after fertilization. We show that histones isolated from mouse and human spermatozoa are carrying multiple post translational modifications, many of which have functions in gene regulation. In our genome wide analysis of human promoters, we demonstrate that two of these marks, Trithorax/Set1 mediated dimethylation of lysine 4 of histone H3 (H3K4me2) and Polycomb mediated trimethylation of lysine 27 of histone H3 (H3K27me3), occupy functionally defined groups of genes. H3K4me2-marked promoters control genes with functions in spermatogenesis and cellular homeostasis, suggesting that this mark reflects germline transcription. By contrast, multiple developmental regulators, which are Polycomb targets in pluripotent somatic cells, are marked by H3K27me3 in human sperm. Similarly to somatic cells, the presence of this mark correlates with gene repression during spermatogenesis and in the early embryo. We propose a model in which H3K27me3, transmitted by sperm, assures repression of developmental regulators at the totipotent stage of the preimplantation development. Finally, we demonstrate that a number of these developmental regulators are also marked by H3K27me3 in mouse spermatozoa, implicating an evolutionary conserved role for histone methylation in the paternal transmission of epigenetic information.