Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Avidity of anti-phospholipid antibodies in relation to their levels

Introduction The heterogeneity of anti-phospholipid antibodies can be manifested not only in different antigenic specificities, but also in their avidities. The aim of the study was to investigate the relationship between anti-cardiolipin antibody (aCL) IgG avidities and levels within the range of their titres, from very low to high ones. Material and methods We analyzed 78 serum samples from 60 patients by ELISA with chaotropic agents, using urea concentration of 6 and 8 mol/l and single diluted serum samples. The changes of aCL levels and avidities were explored during a long-term follow-up in 14 patients. Results The avidities of aCLs did not differ in the groups of patients classified according to aCL levels. The higher avidity antibodies predominated in our patients and the fluctuation of avidities in the longitudinal follow-up did not show significant differences. No relationship between aCL levels and their avidities was found. Conclusions aCL avidities seem to have no relationship with aCL levels and high-avidity aCLs; the potentially deleterious effects might be present also in patients with low and extremely low aCL levels. Avidity of aCLs belongs to stable characteristics with insignificant changes in time.
Guidelines for physical, chemical and hygienic quality and safety control of donkey's milk.

The requirements of EC Regulation No. 853/2004 for milk should be implicitly applied to donkey's milk production systems since no safety and quality criteria are at the moment in force for donkey's milk. Nevertheless, in view of its hoped for use as food for infants suffering from hypersensitivity to cow's, sheep's and goat's milk protein or from multiple hypersensitivity, some norms are necessary. The Authors give some criteria and limits for the control of raw donkey's milk. A more suitable value for plate count is indicated, somatic cells count, pH values, lactose, total nitrogen amounts and freezing point are reported, on the basis of literature results. Furthermore, as for dried infant formulae and follow-on formulae in the EC Regulations No. 2073/2005, some suggestions for limits referring to coagulase + staphylococci, Salmonella, Listeria monocytogenes, Cronobacter (former Enterobacter) sakazakii, are indicated as useful "food safety criteria" for the control of raw donkey's milk. In the Author's opinion, some legislative amendments in donkey's milk regulations are necessary
Evaluation of different carbon sources for anaerobic soil disinfestation against Rhizoctonia solani on lettuce in controlled production systems

Effects of anaerobic soil disinfestation (ASD) on Rhizoctonia solani basal rot of lettuce were assessed considering: two soil types; different C-sources; different temperature regimes; two treatment durations; and two lettuce crop cycles, in the presence of a high disease incidence from artificial infestation with the pathogen. C-source, temperature, and incubation period, and their interaction, affected the efficacy of the ASD treatment for the lettuce–R. solani pathosystem, with differences depending on the soil type. Brassica carinata pellets, used as a C-source, reduced incidence of Rhizoctonia basal rot in the first crop cycle by 50 to 69% in a peat soil after 3 weeks of treatment at 21°C, and by 52 to 60% after 3 weeks of treatment at 26 or 31°C, compared to the inoculated and untreated experimental controls without anaerobic conditions. The best disease reduction was provided by B. carinata pellets applied, under anaerobic conditions, to peat soil (79% efficacy) and a sandy loam soil (100% efficacy) kept at 31°C for 6 weeks. Generally, ASD based on B. carinata pellets provided greater disease reduction in the first crop cycle than the second, with the only exception being for results achieved in both soils incubated for 6 weeks at 21, 26 and 31°C. Wild rocket used as a C-source provided the greatest disease reduction (78–83%) on plants grown in peat soil at the first crop cycle after 6 weeks of the ASD treatment at 31°C, while wild rocket provided disease reduction of 29 and 50% when mixed with the sandy-loam soil under the same conditions for 6 weeks. The efficacy of the ASD treatment with compost was improved in the second crop cycle, compared to the first, resulting in the greatest disease reduction (52 and 66% efficacy) reached in the sandy-loam soil incubated for 3 weeks at 21°C, and 63% efficacy in peat soil previously treated for 6 weeks at 26 and 31°C. However, slight reductions in lettuce plant development was generally evident in the first crop cycle, which could be due to differences in efficacy of the tested ASD treatments and to phytotoxicity. The greatest yield from sandy loam soil was obtained for the B. carinata pellets and wild rocket at 26 and 31°C in the second cultivation cycle. Partial efficacy of ASD does not justify the adoption of this method against R. solani on lettuce under intensive crop systems. However, ASD based on Brassicaceae and compost as carbon source applied in a sandy-loam soil may be valuable for reducing R. solani incidence, at lower temperatures than those required for soil solarisation or biosolarisation.
Foetal wastages and some gross reproductive abnormalities in small ruminants slaughtered at Dogarawa slaughter slab Zaria, Kaduna State

Introduction: Slaughtering of pregnant animals resulting in foetal wastages abound in many countries of the world. The practice of slaughtering of gravid animals in Nigeria is largely due to lower economic standards of the citizens. This study was to establish the nature and incidence of reproductive abnormalities and foetal wastages in small ruminants observed at Dogarawa slaughter slab Zaria, Kaduna state. Methods: Ante-mortem and post-mortem examinations of the genital tract of slaughtered small ruminants were conducted using visual examination, palpation and incision. A total of 1695 animals slaughtered on weekends (Saturdays and Sundays) within the months of August and September 2019 were examined. A total of 1158 bucks, 264 does, 111 ewes and 162 rams were slaughtered. Values obtained were presented in percentages using Microsoft excel, 2016. Results: A total of 52 foetal wastages were recorded (71.15% in sheep and 28.85% in goats). Abnormalities of the ovaries observed include ovarian hypertrophy (6.25%), the cystic follicle (12.5%) and unilateral ovarian agenesis (6.25%), which were detected at post-mortem examination. Abnormalities of the uterus observed were pyometra (6.25%), hydrometra (6.25%), metritis (12.5%) and uterine atrophy (6.25%). Supernumerary teats (25%) and mastitis (18.75%) were also observed. Ante-mortem and post-mortem gross pathological conditions of the male reproductive tract revealed; cryptorchidism (41.18%), paraphimosis (11.26%), testicular hypoplasia (5.88%), epididymitis (29.41%) and balanoposthitis (11.76%). Significance: The results from this study revealed various types of reproductive anomalies in animals brought to slaughter. The study also revealed the practice of slaughtering of pregnant animals resulting in foetal wastages.
Biochemical and Physiological Research on the Disposition and Fate of Ethanol in the Body

This chapter provides biochemical and physiological research on the disposition and fate of ethanol in the body. Few if any drugs have been studied as extensively and over so many years as ethanol or ethyl alcohol, the principal psychoactive substance in all alcoholic beverages. Much has already been written and published about the absorption, distribution and metabolism of man's favorite drug, both from the viewpoint of forensic science and legal medicine as well as substance abuse and biomedical alcohol research. The present chapter combines and updates two separate chapters that were published in the fourth edition. One chapter dealt with biochemistry and physiology of ethanol metabolism and the other covered the basic principles and concepts underlying studies on the disposition and fate of ethanol in the body.
Platelet-neutrophil aggregates promote skin pathology in psoriasis

Psoriasis is a frequent systemic inflammatory autoimmune disease characterized primarily by skin lesions with massive infiltration of leukocytes but frequently also presents with cardiovascular comorbidities. Especially polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) abundantly infiltrate psoriatic skin but the cues that prompt PMNs to home to the skin are not well defined. To identify PMN surface receptors that may explain PMN skin homing in psoriasis patients, we screened 332 surface antigens on primary human blood PMNs from healthy donors and psoriasis patients. We identified platelet surface antigens as a defining feature of psoriasis PMNs, due to a significantly increased aggregation of neutrophils and platelets in the blood of psoriasis patients. Similarly, in the imiquimod-induced experimental in vivo model of psoriasis, disease induction promoted PMN-platelet aggregate formation. In psoriasis patients, disease directly correlated with blood platelet counts and platelets were detected in direct contact with PMNs in psoriatic but not healthy skin. Importantly, depletion of circulating platelets in vivo ameliorated disease severity significantly, indicating that the intimate relationship of PMNs and platelets may be relevant for psoriasis pathology and disease severity, and potentially for psoriasis-associated cardiovascular comorbidities. Key points Human neutrophils in psoriasis patient blood show a distinct ‘platelet signature’ of surface antigens Platelets congregate with neutrophils in psoriatic skin lesions Circulating platelets contribute to psoriasis skin pathology
Fatty Acid Composition and Lipid and Protein Oxidation Products in Muscles of Broilers Fed with Different Plant Oils

The beneficial effects of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA) on human health have been extensively investigated and that has been recently summarized by ANDERSON and MA (2009). Such effects are evident in cardiovascular diseases, some cancers (prostate and breast) as well as in insulin resistance. Generally, nutritionists recommend reduction of fat consumption, especially saturated FA to 10% or less and increase of PUFA intake up to 10% of total energetic input. The ratio of n-6 PUFA linoleic acid (LA) to n-3 PUFA α-linolenic acid (ALA) should range from 5 : 1 to 10 : 1 (SUGANO and HIRATA, 2000), while current recommendations of the n-6/n-3 PUFA ratio are < 5. Furthermore, it was shown that the conversion of ALA to eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), important n-3 PUFAs involved in human health maintenance, was very low in human tissues (ANDERSON and MA, 2009). For example, The International Society for the Study of Fatty Acids and Lipids (ISSFAL) based on the results of BRENNA et al. (2009) claim that the conversion of ALA to DHA is around 1% in infants, while in adults this process is considerably reduced. Therefore, it is suggested that human diet should contain not only ALA (whose direct beneficial effects on human health are still doubtful) but also EPA and DHA in sufficient amount, especially in fast growing and developing organisms (CARLIER et al., 1991). Worldwide, poultry meat is an important source of proteins and lipids in human nutrition. In birds, tissues lipid composition can be significantly influenced by dietary lipids. Shifts in favor of PUFA increase can be achieved in tissues of domestic feeding fowl with a high proportion of dietary added PUFA (STEVENS, 2004). Consequently, attempts are carried out to rear chickens having meat FA composition that meets the specific demands of human nutrition. The addition of fish oil (rich in EPA and DHA) to broiler feed results in a rise of these n-3 PUFAs in meat, but also impairs its organoleptic qualities resulting in “fishy” taste (RYMER and GIVENS, 2005). Therefore, researchers are performing experiments by adding different vegetable oils to poultry feed in order to increase n-3 PUFA in muscle tissues and change its FA composition. In our present research, the
Loss of wetlands since 1990 in Southland, New Zealand

Reports of wetland loss in New Zealand are typically related to the historical, pre-European coverage of wetland ecosystems. It is widely accepted that large areas of wetlands were converted to other land uses prior to the 1990s before comprehensive national and regional environmental legislation was established. We sought to investigate recent (post 1990) changes in wetland extent to determine if current rates of wetland loss remain a concern for natural resources management. Remote sensing images from 1990–2012 for three regions of Southland, New Zealand, were analysed to determine whether wetlands present at 1990 exhibited ‘little or no change’, were ‘at risk’ due to recent drainage, were ‘restored’ due to revegetation, or had been ‘lost’. Of the 32 814 ha of wetlands assessed across Southland 3452 ha were no longer present in the landscape and a further 3943 ha were at risk. Most of the change in wetland extent occurred on the Southland Plains. A large proportion of the wetlands mapped as being lost or at risk were within the catchment of the Awarua Wetland, a large coastal Ramsar site. The rate of wetland loss in Southland since 1990 (0.5% of wetland area yr−1) is equivalent to the global average (0.5% yr−1). Taking into account wetlands that have been partially drained, the rate of decline increases to 1.0% yr−1. The predominant cause of the loss of wetlands is conversion to other land use, typically to pasture used for agriculture. A review of policy mechanisms and enforcement efforts intended to protect wetlands at regional and national levels is urgently called for, as well as increased effort to promote sustainable wetland management in agricultural environments.
Ultrafiltration du lait, de laits acidifiés et des caillés lactiques

L'influence de l'acidification du lait, pratique couramment utilisee dans l'industrie laitiere, est etudiee lors de l'ultrafiltration sur une membrane minerale de microfiltration en alumine, de laits acidifies a differents ph. L'etude des performances et de l'efficacite de l'ultrafiltration en fonction des principales conditions operatoires (pression moyenne transmembranaire, vitesse tangentielle de circulation, temperature du produit, facteur de concentration volumique, duree de l'operation et mode d'acidification) montre l'etroite dependance des transferts de matiere a travers la membrane avec l'etat physico-chimique des constituants du lait. L'observation en microscopie electronique a balayage du colmatage obtenu en statique permet de visualiser ses differentes composantes et de verifier que l'evolution de la structure du depot en fonction du ph concorde avec les performances observees lors de l'ultrafiltration. La concentration par ultrafiltration des coagulum, acides (ph 4,40), chimique et (ou) biologique avec ou sans presure, ecreme, ou enrichi en matieres grasses et leur etude rheologique montre: l'influence des conditions operatoires sur les transferts de matieres; la faisabilite de l'operation; l'importance du mode d'acidification sur les caracteristiques rheologiques des retentats
Nutrition During the Early Rearing Period Affects the Incidence of Wooden Breasts in Broilers

This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between early nutrition and the incidence of wooden breasts (WB) in broilers. Sixteen male and twenty female neonatal ROSS 308 broiler chicks were divided equally into four flocks. From 0–12 days of age, starter diet H, composed of 22.4% crude protein (CP), 6.6% crude fat (CF), 1.25% lysine, 0.48% methionine, and ≥3,070 kcal/kg metabolizable energy (ME), was fed to two flocks, and starter diet L, composed of 19.9% CP, 2.5% CF, 1.04% lysine, 0.38% methionine, and ≥2,930 kcal/kg ME, was fed to the remaining two flocks. All the flocks were fed the same commercial finisher diet, composed of 20.3% CP, 7.5% CF, 1.18% lysine, 0.44% methionine, and ≥3,300 kcal/kg ME, from 12–47 days of age. The birds were weighed every 2–5 days, subjected to a wing-lift test, and histology was conducted on the pectoralis major muscle tissue samples from all the birds necropsied at 47 days of age. Significant differences in the mean body weight between groups H and L were observed during 6–16 days and 24–26 days of age in males and during 6–26 days of age in females. Regarding the score evaluation of the individual lesions reflecting wooden breast, the birds in which back-to-back wing contact was not possible had higher lesion scores than those in which back-to-back wing contact was possible. The absence of back-to-back wing contact appeared more frequently in flocks fed the starter diet L, particularly in males. These results indicate that inappropriate nutrition levels in the starter diet increase the incidence of WB. Therefore, avoiding early nutrition deficits is a cost-effective feeding strategy.
Family-Related Antecedents and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR): Evidence from Saudi Arabia

This study extends the previous study by investigating the key determinates of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) disclosure. The study aims to explore firstly the level of CSR disclosure in the Saudi Arabian environment to determine these companies’ CSR towards their stakeholders. In addition, the study aims to investigate the possible impact of family antecedents on Saudi Arabian listed companies CSR disclosure during the period from 2015 to 2017. Family members can play an important role in encouraging their companies to disclose CSR information in their annual reports. This study sheds the light on the role of family companies in disclosing CSR components by comparing them with non-family companies. Consequently, this study ran the Ordinary Least Square (OLS) model in order to test the relationship between five main family antecedents and CSR disclosure. We measured CSR disclosure by a dichotomous checklist that depended on a manual content analysis. The findings demonstrate that, when compared to companies in developing countries, the Saudi Arabian listed companies have a low level of CSR disclosure. In addition, there is a significant relationship between CSR disclosure and two main family antecedents, namely, family ownership and family cross directorship. Further, when compared to non-family companies, family Saudi Arabian companies disclose more CSR information in their annual reports.
Whole brain polarity regime dynamics are significantly disrupted in schizophrenia and correlate strongly with network connectivity measures

From a large clinical blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study, we report several interrelated findings involving transient supra-network brainwide states characterized by a saturation phenomenon we are referring to as “polarization. ” These are whole-brain states in which the voxelwise-normalized BOLD (vnBOLD) activation of a large proportion of voxels is simultaneously either very high or very low. The presence of such states during a resting-state fMRI (rs-fMRI) scan is significantly anti-correlated with diagnosed schizophrenia, significantly anti-correlated with connectivity between subcortical networks and auditory, visual and sensorimotor networks and also significantly anti-correlated with contemporaneous occupancy of transient functional network connectivity states featuring broad disconnectivity or strong inhibitory connections between the default mode and other networks. Conversely, the presence of highly polarized vn-BOLD states is significantly correlated with connectivity strength between auditory, visual and sensorimotor networks and with contemporaneous occupancy of transient whole-brain patterns of strongly modularized network connectivity and diffuse hyperconnectivity. Despite their consistency with well-documented effects of schizophrenia on static and time-varying functional network connectivity, the observed relationships between polarization and network connectivity are with very few exceptions unmediated by schizophrenia diagnosis. We also find that the spatial distribution of voxels most likely to contribute to the highly polarized states (polarity participation maps (PPMs)) differs with a high degree of statistical significance between schizophrenia patients and healthy controls. Finally, we report evidence suggesting the process by which the most polarized states are achieved, i.e. the ways that strongly polarized voxel regions extend, merge and recede also differs significantly between patient and control populations. Many differences observed between patients and controls are echoed within the patient population itself in the effect patterns of positive symptomology (e.g. hallucinations, delusions, grandiosity and other positive symptoms of schizophrenia). Our findings highlight a particular whole-brain spatiotemporal BOLD activation phenomenon that differs markedly between healthy subjects and schizophrenia patients, one that also strongly informs time-resolved network connectivity patterns that are associated with this serious clinical disorder.
Health Risk Assessment of PM2.5-bound Components in Beijing, China during 2013–2015

ABSTRACT Risk assessment methods of the US Environment Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) were employed to estimate lifetime cancer risk in Beijing using the following fine particulate matter (PM2.5) components: six elements and 16 U.S. EPA priority polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and lifetime non-cancer hazard quotients (HQ) using 11 elements, based on data collected in Beijing during 2013–2015. The three-year average PM2.5 mass concentration was 82 µg m–3. Both lifetime cancer risk (1.9E-4) from exposure to ambient PM2.5-bound elements and PAHs and non-cancer HQ (18) from exposure to ambient PM2.5-bound elements in Beijing were much higher than the corresponding U.S. EPA acceptable levels. Cancer risks by source were, in descending order, road dust (7.3E-5), fossil fuel combustion (4.4E-5), vehicle exhaust (3.8E-5), soil dust (8.4E-6), metal processing (8.2E-6), secondary sulphur (8.0E-6), and biomass burning (6.4E-6). Cancer risks by PM2.5 component were, in descending order, As (1.1E-4), Cr(VI) (3.4E-5), total PAHs (1.5E-5), Pb (1.1E-5), Co (8.4E-6), Ni (3.9E-6), and Cd (3.9E-6). HQ by PM2.5-bound elements were, in descending order, Cl (14), As (1.8), Pb (0.94), P (0.81), Cd (0.22), Mn (0.22), Ni (0.18), Ba (0.1), Cr(VI) (0.03), Co (0.01), and Se (0.002). Fossil fuel combustion and vehicle exhaust were the top two sources, accounting for 77% of total HQ. HQ by target organ were, in descending order, respiratory (15), reproductive (1.8), nervous (1.2), renal (0.22), fetus (0.1), and alimentary system (0.002). The seasonal variations in PM2.5 mass concentrations, risks, as well as source and element contributions were largely due to increased coal combustion in winter.