Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Predicting the Effects of Silvicultural Regime on Branch Size and Crown Wood Core in Douglas-Fir

Three major determinants of wood quality in Douglas-fir (Psemtotsga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco) were estimated from the dynamics of crown structure in ORGANON, an indi- vidual-tree, distance-independent growth model. Branch whorl locations were estimated directly from the height growth predictions assuming formation of one whorl per year. Mean maximum branch diameter was predicted as crown base receded past each whorl; branch diameter estimates were based on current depth of the whorl into crown, tree diameter, stand rehfive density, and site index. Diameter of crown wood core was established as diameter inside bark, likewise at time of crown recession past each branch whorl. This approach facilitated description of harvested log distribution (40-ft butt logs) by various branch size, whorl frequency, and crown wood core indices. Based on pro- jections of a 9-yr-old Doughs-fir stand to final harvest at 65 years, thinning precommer- dally to 121 trees/ac at age 9 resulted in a BD4 (mean of four largest branch diameters per log) of 2.5 in. , rs. 1.5 in. for the unthinned stand (484 trees/ac). When thinned to 121 trees/ac, approximately 55% of the volume/ac in 40-ft butt logs consisted of crown wood as opposed to 30% at 484 trees/ac. Responses to subsequent thinnings were less pro- nounced, but included larger branches in the largest 80 trees/ac, and larger total crown wood percentages for a given initial stand density. Thinning from below resulted in larger average BD4's and slightly greater crown wood percentages than proportional thinning. Individual-tree growth models that contain a crown recession component can easily be modified to predict crown wood core and indices of branch size. Foe SCL 37(5):1409- 1428.
Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Thickness is not Associated with Cognitive Measures in Patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment due to Alzheimer’s Disease

Background: Alterations in Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer (RNFL) thickness have been proposed as a surrogate biomarker for predicting disease progression and early diagnosis in Alzheimer’s disease. We retrospectively examined the cognitive function of patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) using domainspecific neuropsychological tests. In addition, we investigated the association between RNFL thickness and cognitive functioning in different sub domains.
eHealth: Disease activity measures are related to the faecal gut microbiota in adult patients with ulcerative colitis

Abstract Background/Aim Microbial dysbiosis in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is poorly understood. Faecal samples collected for the purposes of microbiota analysis are not yet a part of everyday clinical practice. To explore associations between faecal microbiota and disease activity measures in adult IBD patients, for the purpose of possibly integrating microbiota measures in an existing IBD eHealth application for disease-monitoring. Methods We collected faecal samples from adult IBD patients for one year while they were home-monitoring for disease activity, using faecal calprotectin (FC) and the Simple Clinical Colitis Activity Index (SCCAI). Faecal samples were analysed in two different ways: commercially available test consisting of 54 pre-determined bacterial markers (DNA test) and 16S rRNA gene sequencing (16S-seq). Univariable linear mixed effect models were fitted to predict disease scores using normalised relative abundances as fixed effects. Results Seventy-eight IBD patients provided a total of 288 faecal samples for microbiota analysis. Two hundred and thirty-four of the samples were from patients with ulcerative colitis (UC). Peptostreptococcus anaerobius was found to correlate significantly with increasing FC, while an additional 24 genera were found to be associated with FC and/or SCCAI (16S-seq). Bacterial markers (DNA test) for Proteobacteria, Shigella spp. and Escherichia spp. , were significantly correlated with increasing FC measures, while another 14 markers were found to be associated with FC and/or SCCAI. Conclusions In patients with UC, results of both methods are associated with disease activity, correlating significantly with Peptostretococcus anaerobius (16S-seq) and with Proteobacteria, Shigella spp. and Escherichia spp. (DNA test).
Adenosine-to-Inosine RNA Editing of Alu Double-Stranded (ds)RNAs Is Markedly Decreased in Multiple Sclerosis and Unedited Alu dsRNAs Are Potent Activators of Proinflammatory Transcriptional Responses

Key Points A-to-I RNA editing of Alu dsRNAs is markedly decreased in MS. Endogenous Alu dsRNAs are potent activators of IFN and NF-κB responses. Minor RNA editing of active Alu dsRNAs abrogates this activity. Sensors that detect dsRNA stimulate IFN responses as a defense against viral infection. IFN responses are also well documented in a variety of human autoimmune diseases, including relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis (MS), in which increased IFN responses result from increased levels of double-stranded endogenous Alu RNAs. Mechanisms underlying increases in double-stranded Alu RNAs in MS are obscure. We find widespread loss of adenosine-to-inosine editing of Alu RNAs in MS. Unedited Alu RNAs are potent activators of both IFN and NF-κB responses via the dsRNA sensors, RIG-I, and TLR3. Minor editing of highly active Alu elements abrogates the ability to activate both transcriptional responses. Thus, adenosine-to-inosine editing may also represent an important defense against autoimmune diseases such as MS.
The dynamics and stoichiometry of dissolved organic carbon release by kelp.

Canopy-forming kelps are foundational species in coastal ecosystems, fixing tremendous amounts of carbon, yet we know little about the ecological and physiological determinants of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) release by kelps. We examined DOC release by the bull kelp, Nereocystis luetkeana, in relation to carbon fixation, nutrient uptake, tissue nitrogen content, and light availability. DOC release was approximately 3.5 times greater during the day than at night. During the day, N. luetkeana blades released an average of 16.2% of fixed carbon as DOC. Carbon fixation increased with light availability but DOC release did not, leading to a lower proportion of fixed carbon released as DOC at high light levels. We found no relationship between carbon fixation and DOC release rates measured concurrently. Rather, DOC release by N. luetkeana blades declined with marginal significance as blade tissue nitrogen content increased and with experimental nitrate addition, supporting the role of stoichiometric relationships in DOC release. Using a stable isotope (13 C) tracer method, we demonstrated that inorganic carbon is rapidly fixed and released by N. luetkeana blades as 13 DOC, within hours. However, recently fixed carbon (13 DOC) comprised less than 20% of the total DOC released, indicating that isotope studies that rely on tracer production alone may underestimate total DOC release, as it is decoupled from recent kelp productivity. Comparing carbon and nitrogen assimilation dynamics of the annual kelp N. luetkeana with the perennial kelp Macrocystis pyrifera revealed that N. luetkeana had significantly higher carbon fixation, DOC production and nitrogen uptake rates per unit dry mass. Both kelp species were able to perform light-independent carbon fixation at night. Carbon fixation by the annual kelp N. luetkeana is as high as 2.35 kg C m-2 yr-1 , but an average of 16% of this carbon (376 g C m-2 yr-1 ) is released as DOC. As kelp forests are increasingly viewed as vehicles for carbon sequestration, it is important to consider the fate of this substantial quantity of DOC released by canopy-forming kelps.
Calidad fisicoquímica, microbiológica y toxicológica de leche cruda en las cuencas ganaderas de la región Puno –Perú

The objective of this study was to evaluate the quality of raw milk in seven representative basins of the region Puno. The results were compared with the standards established by the International Standard for milk and milk products NTP 200.001-2003 and the Official Mexican Standard NOM-155-SCFI-2012 for the parameters of protein and lactose in the absence of Peruvian parameters. For physicochemical characterization pH, acidity, density, fat, protein, lactose, total solids, fat solids was determined microbiological analysis of E. coli and mesophilic, just as we also performed the study spanned pesticide residue analysis such as organochlorines, organophosphates, carbamates and pyrethroids with sensitivity 1.0ug/g sample which gave negative results for the four groups of pesticides, the physicochemical determinations over 50% of the basins (except for pH and acidity) is found within the standards of the NTP and NOM. The presence of mesophilic were mostly found within the parameters except for two milksheds and as for E. Coli any basin met established standards found one poor quality milk hygienic.
Potent Synergistic Interactions between Lopinavir and Azole Antifungal Drugs against Emerging Multidrug-Resistant Candida auris

The limited therapeutic options and the recent emergence of multidrug-resistant Candida species present a significant challenge to human medicine and underscore the need for novel therapeutic approaches. Drug repurposing appears as a promising tool to augment the activity of current azole antifungals, especially against multidrug-resistant Candida auris. In this study, we evaluated the fluconazole chemosensitization activities of 1,547 FDA-approved drugs and clinical molecules against azole-resistant C. auris. ABSTRACT The limited therapeutic options and the recent emergence of multidrug-resistant Candida species present a significant challenge to human medicine and underscore the need for novel therapeutic approaches. Drug repurposing appears as a promising tool to augment the activity of current azole antifungals, especially against multidrug-resistant Candida auris. In this study, we evaluated the fluconazole chemosensitization activities of 1,547 FDA-approved drugs and clinical molecules against azole-resistant C. auris. This led to the discovery that lopinavir, an HIV protease inhibitor, is a potent agent capable of sensitizing C. auris to the effect of azole antifungals. At a therapeutically achievable concentration, lopinavir exhibited potent synergistic interactions with azole drugs, particularly with itraconazole against C. auris (fractional inhibitory concentration index [ΣFICI] ranged from 0.04 to 0.09). Additionally, the lopinavir/itraconazole combination enhanced the survival rate of C. auris-infected Caenorhabditis elegans by 90% and reduced the fungal burden in infected nematodes by 88.5% (P < 0.05) relative to that of the untreated control. Furthermore, lopinavir enhanced the antifungal activity of itraconazole against other medically important Candida species, including C. albicans, C. tropicalis, C. krusei, and C. parapsilosis. Comparative transcriptomic profiling and mechanistic studies revealed that lopinavir was able to significantly interfere with the glucose permeation and ATP synthesis. This compromised the efflux ability of C. auris and consequently enhanced the susceptibility to azole drugs, as demonstrated by Nile red efflux assays. Altogether, these findings present lopinavir as a novel, potent, and broad-spectrum azole-chemosensitizing agent that warrants further investigation against recalcitrant Candida infections.
T cell and antibody responses to SARS-CoV-2: Experience from a French transplantation and hemodialysis center during the COVID-19 pandemic

Immunosuppressed organ‐transplanted patients are considered at risk for severe forms of COVID‐19. Moreover, exaggerated innate and adaptive immune responses might be involved in severe progression of the disease. However, no data on the immune response to SARS‐CoV‐2 in transplanted patients are currently available. Here, we report the first assessment of antibody and T cell responses to SARS‐CoV‐2 in 11 kidney‐transplanted patients recovered from RT‐PCR–confirmed (n = 5) or initially suspected (n = 6) COVID‐19. After reduction of immunosuppressive therapy, RT‐PCR–confirmed COVID‐19 transplant patients were able to mount vigorous antiviral T cell and antibody responses, as efficiently as two nontherapeutically immunosuppressed COVID‐19 patients on hemodialysis. By contrast, six RT‐PCR–negative patients displayed no antibody response. Among them, three showed very low numbers of SARS‐CoV‐2–reactive T cells, whereas no T cell response was detected in the other three, potentially ruling out COVID‐19 diagnosis. Low levels of T cell reactivity to SARS‐CoV‐2 were also detected in seronegative healthy controls without known exposure to the virus. These results suggest that during COVID‐19, monitoring both T cell and serological immunity might be helpful for the differential diagnosis of COVID‐19 but are also needed to evaluate a potential role of antiviral T cells in the development of severe forms of the disease.
Clinical Characteristics and Changes of Clinical Features in Patients with Asthma-COPD Overlap in Korea according to Different Diagnostic Criteria

Background Asthma–chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) overlap (ACO) is a condition characterized by the overlapping clinical features of asthma and COPD. To evaluate the appropriateness of different sets of ACO definition, we compared the clinical characteristics of the previously defined diagnostic criteria and the specialist opinion in this study. Methods Patients enrolled in the KOrea COpd Subgroup Study (KOCOSS) were evaluated. Based on the questionnaire data, the patients were categorized into the ACO and non-ACO COPD groups according to the four sets of the diagnostic criteria. Results In total 1,475 patients evaluated: 202 of 1,475 (13.6%), 32 of 1,475 (2.2%), 178 of 1,113 (16.0%), and 305 of 1,250 (24.4%) were categorized as ACO according to the modified Spanish Society of Pneumonology and Thoracic Surgery (SEPAR), American Thoracic Society (ATS) Roundtable, Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA)/Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) criteria, and the specialists diagnosis, respectively. The ACO group defined according to the GINA/GOLD criteria showed significantly higher St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire and COPD Assessment Test scores than the non-ACO COPD group. When the modified SEPAR definition was applied, the ACO group showed a significantly larger decrease in the forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1, %). The ACO group defined by the ATS Roundtable showed significantly larger decrease in the forced vital capacity values compared to the non-ACO COPD group (–18.9% vs. –2.2%, p=0.007 and –412 mL vs. –17 mL, p=0.036). The ACO group diagnosed by the specialists showed a significantly larger decrease in the FEV1 (%) compared to the non-ACO group (–5.4% vs. –0.2%, p=0.003). Conclusion In this study, the prevalence and clinical characteristics of ACO varied depending on the diagnostic criteria applied. With the criteria which are relatively easy to use, defining ACO by the specialists diagnosis may be more practical in clinical applications.
The diet of barn owl in the agricultural landscapes of central Greece

A b s t r a c t . The diet of the barn owl from three localities in Thessaly, Central Greece, was studied in the breeding and non breeding seasons over one year. A total of 420 pellets with 1.013 prey items were analyzed. Twelve small mammalian species were taken (94.9% by number and 96.1% by biomass), although Mus domesticus (26.3%), Crocidura spp. (25.3%) and Apodemus spp. (18.4%) were the main species predated by number. Rats (Rattus spp.), showed the highest frequency (11%) and biomass percentages observed to date in Greece, and their presence in the barn owl diet is also among the highest in the Mediterranean Europe. Birds (Passer spp. and Carduelis spp.) and insects (Acrididae) were also present (3.9% and 1.2%, respectively). Ecological niche values, seasonal and geographical differences were tested, the results pointing to the opportunistic feeding behavior of the barn owl in the croplands of central Greece.
Exploring Associations Between Oral Health and Frailty in Community-Dwelling Older People

Background In frail older people with natural teeth factors like polypharmacy, reduced salivary flow, a decrease of oral self-care, general healthcare issues, and a decrease in dental care utilization contribute to an increased risk for oral complications. On the other hand, oral morbidity may have a negative impact on frailty. Objective This study explored associations between oral health and two frailty measures in community-dwelling older people. Design A cross-sectional study. Setting The study was carried out in a Primary Healthcare Center (PHC) in The Netherlands. Participants Of the 5,816 persons registered in the PHC, 1,814 persons were eligible for participation at the start of the study. Measurements Two frailty measures were used: 1. Being at risk for frailty, using Electronical Medical Record (EMR) data, and: 2. Survey-based frailty using ‘The Groningen Frailty Indicator’ (GFI). For oral health measures, dental-record data (dental care utilization, dental status, and oral health information) and self-reported oral problems were recorded. Univariate regression analyses were applied to determine the association between oral health and frailty, followed by age- and sex-adjusted multivariate logistic regressions. Results In total 1,202 community-dwelling older people were included in the study, 45% were male and the mean age was 73 years (SD=8). Of all participants, 53% was at risk for frailty (638/1,202), and 19% was frail based on the GFI (222/1,202). A dental emergency visit (Odds Ratio (OR)=2.0, 95% Confidence Interval (CI)=1.33;3.02 and OR=1.58, 95% CI=1.00;2.49), experiencing oral problems (OR=2.07, 95% CI=1.52;2.81 and OR=2.87, 95% CI= 2.07;3.99), and making dietary adaptations (OR=2.66, 95% CI=1.31;5.41 and OR=5.49, 95% CI= 3.01;10.01) were associated with being at risk for frailty and survey-based frailty respectively. Conclusions A dental emergency visit and self-reported oral health problems are associated with frailty irrespective of the approach to its measurement. Healthcare professionals should be aware of the associations of oral health and frailty in daily practice.
Effects of supplementation of Satureja khuzistanica Jamzad essential oils in the drinking water on growth performance, serum metabolites and differential counts of white blood cells in broiler chickens

This study was carried out to evaluate the effects of Satureja khuzistanica essential oils (SKEO) on performance, serum metabolites and differential counts of white blood cells in broiler chickens. A total of 280 one-day-old straight-run Cobb 500 broiler chickens were allocated into seven treatment groups with four replicates of 10 birds each from day 1 to 42 of age. The birds were con- tinuously given drinking water supplemented with 0 (Control - ), 100, 200, 300, 400 and 500 mg/L SKEO or 1,000 mg/L Tween-80 (control + ) as seven experimental treatments. During overall period (1 to 42 days) of the study, broilers received water supplemented with 300, 400 and 500 mg/L SKEO consumed less (P 0.05) from either of the groups. Broilers received water supplemented with 300 mg/kg SKEO had lower (P 0.05) by treatments at days 21 and 42 of age. Similarly, water supplementation with SKEO had no effect on differential counts of white blood cells and heterophil to lymphocyte (H/L) ratio at days 21 and 42 of age. Overall, results of the present study showed that drinking water sup- plementation with SKEO had no beneficial effect on growth performance, serum metabolite concen- trations and differential counts of white blood cells in broiler chickens and water supplementation
On the Gradient Lenition of Spanish Voiced Obstruents: A Look at Onset Clusters

Abstract Spanish voiced obstruents are traditionally described as having a stop allophone [b, d, g] and a lenited allophone [β, ð, ɣ]. Despite this binary classification, acoustic data has shown that this variation is continuous or gradient depending on the preceding linguistic context. The goal of this paper is to investigate how the following linguistic context affects the degree of Spanish voiced obstruent lenition. Specifically, this paper reports an acoustic investigation of Spanish voiced obstruent lenition in onset cluster contexts. Nine native Spanish speakers were recorded reading Spanish-like nonce words that included a singleton voiced obstruent or an onset cluster consisting of a voiced obstruent plus [ɾ] or [l]. The relative intensity and the duration of these segments were measured and compared with linear mixed-effects regressions. In line with past work, the results show that the voiced obstruents are the most lenited in intervocalic contexts. However, Spanish voiced obstruents are significantly less lenited when followed by [ɾ] in a complex onset; when followed by [l] in a complex onset, the degree of lenition is much more variable. These results provide further support for the gradient lenition of Spanish voiced obstruents, rather than a dichotomous distribution of stops versus lenited variants.
Effects of adding ivabradine to usual care in patients with angina pectoris: a systematic review of randomised clinical trials with meta-analysis and Trial Sequential Analysis

Objective To determine the impact of ivabradine on outcomes important to patients with angina pectoris caused by coronary artery disease. Methods We conducted a systematic review. We included randomised clinical trials comparing ivabradine versus placebo or no intervention for patients with angina pectoris due to coronary artery disease published prior to June 2020. We used Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines, Cochrane methodology, Trial Sequential Analysis, Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation, and our eight-step procedure. Primary outcomes were all-cause mortality, serious adverse events and quality of life. Results We included 47 randomised clinical trials enrolling 35 797 participants. All trials and outcomes were at high risk of bias. Ivabradine compared with control did not have effects when assessing all-cause mortality (risk ratio [RR] 1.04; 95% CI 0.96 to 1.13), quality of life (standardised mean differences −0.05; 95% CI −0.11 to 0.01), cardiovascular mortality (RR 1.07; 95% CI 0.97 to 1.18) and myocardial infarction (RR 1.03; 95% CI 0.91 to 1.16). Ivabradine seemed to increase the risk of serious adverse events after removal of outliers (RR 1.07; 95% CI 1.03 to 1.11) as well as the following adverse events classified as serious: bradycardia, prolonged QT interval, photopsia, atrial fibrillation and hypertension. Ivabradine also increased the risk of non-serious adverse events (RR 1.13; 95% CI 1.11 to 1.16). Ivabradine might have a statistically significant effect when assessing angina frequency (mean difference (MD) 2.06; 95% CI 0.82 to 3.30) and stability (MD 1.48; 95% CI 0.07 to 2.89), but the effect sizes seemed minimal and possibly without any relevance to patients, and we identified several methodological limitations, questioning the validity of these results. Conclusion Our findings do not support that ivabradine offers significant benefits on patient important outcomes, but rather seems to increase the risk of serious adverse events such as atrial fibrillation and non-serious adverse events. Based on current evidence, guidelines need reassessment and the use of ivabradine for angina pectoris should be reconsidered. PROSPERO registration number CRD42018112082.