Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Ginsenoside Rg1 Regulates Liver Lipid Factor Metabolism in NAFLD Model Rats

To establish the molecular mechanism of ginsenoside Rg1 in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), Sprague Dawley (SD) rats (180–220 g) were randomly divided into a control group, model group, ginsenoside Rg1 low-dose group (30 mg/(kg day)), high-dose (60 mg/(kg day)) group, and simvastatin group (1 mg/(kg day)), with 10 SD rats in each group. The control group was given a normal diet. The model group rats were given high-sugar and high-fat diets for 14 weeks. After the model of NAFLD was established successfully, ginsenoside Rg1 was administered orally for 4 or 8 weeks. The results showed that ginsenoside Rg1 decreased the levels of glucose (GLU), insulin (INS), triglyceride (TG), and total cholesterol (TC) and improved liver function. Meanwhile, ginsenoside Rg1 inhibited the secretion of interleukin-1 (IL-1), IL-6, IL-8, IL-18, and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and improved hepatocyte morphology and lipid accumulation in the liver. Furthermore, ginsenoside Rg1 promoted the expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-α (PPAR-α), carnitine palmitoyl transferase 1α (CPT1A), carnitine palmitoyl transferase 2 (CPT2), and cholesterol 7α-hydroxylase (CYP-7A) and inhibited the expression of sterol regulatory element binding proteins-1C (SREBP-1C). In conclusion, ginsenoside Rg1 can inhibit inflammatory reaction, regulate lipid metabolism, and alleviate liver injury in NAFLD model rats.
Risk Stratification of Thyroid Nodules with Bethesda III Category: The Experience of a Territorial Healthcare Hospital

Background The Bethesda System for Reporting Thyroid Cytolopathology (TBSRTC) is the standardized category-based reporting system for thyroid nodule (TN) aspirations; however, atypia of undetermined significance/follicular lesion of undetermined significance (Bethesda category III, AUS/FLUS) is the most controversial category. The aim of this study was to identify the degree of malignancy risk and the related risk factors in the surgical pathology of the Bethesda Category III thyroid nodules. Methods A total of 4074 patients (15-90 years, 81.5% of females) were subjected to retrospective analysis, and a total of 463 nodules were classified as Bethesda Class III and included in the analysis. Once all the thyroid cytopathological slides and ultrasound (US) reports were reviewed, they were classified according to the Bethesda System for Reporting Thyroid Cytology, the American College of Radiology (ACR) and the Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data System (TI-RADS). Results Among the 463 Bethesda class III nodules, 167 nodules were surgically excised, showing an overall malignancy of 27.6% (n = 46/167). Patients having thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels of >4.5 mIU/L (35%), TN <2 cm (34.6%), solid or nearly solid (28.7%), highly hypoechoic (58.3%), longer than wide (50%), lobulated (45.5%), punctate echogenic (48.6%), ACR TI-RAD 5 (55.2%) and falling under the ATA category of high suspicion (50%), displayed a higher risk of malignancy (ROM). The chi-square test revealed a strong association between the echogenicity, echogenic foci, ACR TI-RAD and American Thyroid Association (ATA) category between the malignant and benign nodules. The papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) follicular variant (39%) and PTC classical (27%) were identified, in this study population, as the commonest forms of thyroid cancer. Conclusion The nodules with AUS/FLUS cytology malignancy rate are comparable with the earlier estimations of other countries. The ACR TI-RAD displayed more accurate diagnostic performances in predicting malignancy in the Bethesda III nodules. However, to confirm the accuracy of the molecular marker tests in specific cytological scenarios, more extensive studies are required in the future.
Important marine habitat off east Antarctica revealed by two decades of multi-species predator tracking

Satellite telemetry data are a key source of animal distribution information for marine ecosystem management and conservation activities. We used two decades of telemetry data from the East Antarctic sector of the Southern Ocean. Habitat utilization models for the spring/summer period were developed for six highly abundant, wide-ranging meso- and top-predator species: Adelie Pygoscelis adeliae and emperor Aptenodytes forsteri penguins, light-mantled albatross Phoebetria palpebrata, Antarctic fur seals Arctocephalus gazella, southern elephant seals Mirounga leonina, and Weddell seals Leptonychotes weddellii. The regional predictions from these models were combined to identify areas utilized by multiple species, and therefore likely to be of particular ecological significance. These areas were distributed across the longitudinal breadth of the East Antarctic sector, and were characterized by proximity to breeding colonies, both on the Antarctic continent and on subantarctic islands to the north, and by sea-ice dynamics, particularly locations of winter polynyas. These areas of important habitat were also congruent with many of the areas reported to be showing the strongest regional trends in sea ice seasonality. The results emphasize the importance of on-shore and sea-ice processes to Antarctic marine ecosystems. Our study provides ocean-basin-scale predictions of predator habitat utilization, an assessment of contemporary habitat use against which future changes can be assessed, and is of direct relevance to current conservation planning and spatial management efforts.
Quantifying the Asian turtle crisis: market surveys in southern China, 2000–2003

1. A total of 950 251 individuals of 157 turtle species were recorded during a 35-month survey of the turtle trade in Hong Kong, Shenzhen and Guangzhou, southern China. All but two of the 157 species were encountered in Hong Kong; Guangzhou ranked second in diversity (113 species) and Shenzhen third (89 species). Together, these turtles made up around 60% of the global chelonian fauna; 124 (∼80%) of them were freshwater turtles. 2. Seventy-two globally threatened species were traded in southern China during the survey: 13 classified by the IUCN as critically endangered (CE), 29 as endangered (EN), and 30 as vulnerable (VU). Thirteen species listed on CITES Appendix I and 64 species on Appendix II, as well as eight species nationally protected in China, were traded. 3. The majority of species traded had natural ranges that included China and neighbouring Southeast Asian countries, or Southeast Asian countries other than China. These non-Chinese Asian turtles (primarily Bataguridae) constituted around two-thirds of the 77 species in the food trade, and turtles sold as food accounted for 73% of individuals encountered during the survey. Most species sold as food were also traded as traditional Chinese medicine, and nearly all turtles (155 of 157 species) were sold as pets. Eighty-one species were traded only as pets. 4. Large numbers of Cuora galbinifrons (CE; CITES-II) were traded (>15 000 individuals) and even greater quantities (>210 000 individuals) of C. amboinensis (VU; CITES-II), as were significant numbers of other CR, EN and VU batagurids. Observed levels of exploitation of wild populations appeared unsustainable. 5. Enforcement of relevant CITES regulations during the survey seemed limited and globally threatened Asian species remained in trade in Hong Kong without the relevant licences. Trade within China is not subject to CITES, but could be regulated by enforcement of existing national laws and expansion of protected-species lists. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Lobar Distribution of COVID-19 Pneumonia Based on Chest Computed Tomography Findings; A Retrospective Study

Introduction: Computed tomography (CT) imaging has quickly found its place as a beneficial tool in the detection of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). To date, only a few studies have reported the distribution of lung lesions by segment. This study aimed to evaluate the lobar and segmental distribution of COVID-19 pneumonia based on patients’ chest CT scan. Methods: This was a retrospective study performed on 63 Iranian adult patients with a final diagnosis of COVID-19. All patients had undergone chest CT scan on admission. Demographic data and imaging profile, including segmental distribution, were evaluated. Moreover, a scoring scale was designed to assess the severity of ground-glass opacification (GGO). The relationship of GGO score with age, sex, and symptoms at presentation was investigated. Results: Among included patients, mean age of patients was 54.2 ±14.9 (range: 26 - 81) years old and 60.3% were male. Overall, the right lower lobe (87.3%) and the left lower lobe (85.7%) were more frequently involved. Specifically, predominant involvement was seen in the posterior segment of the left lower lobe (82.5%). The most common findings were peripheral GGO and consolidation, which were observed in 92.1% and 42.9% of patients, respectively. According to the self-designed GGO scoring scale, about half of the patients presented with mild GGO on admission. GGO score was found to be equally distributed among different sex and age categories; however, the presence of dyspnea on admission was significantly associated with a higher GGO score (p= 0.022). Cavitation, reticulation, calcification, bronchiectasis, tree-in-bud appearance and nodules were not identified in any of the cases. Conclusion: COVID-19 mainly affects the lower lobes of the lungs. GGO and consolidation in the lung periphery is the imaging hallmark in patients with COVID-19 infection. Absence of bronchiectasis, solitary nodules, cavitation, calcifications, tree-in-bud appearance, and reversed halo-sign indicates that these features are not common findings, at least in the earlier stages.
Metabolic changes during the perinatal period in dairy sheep in relation to level of nutrition and breed. I. Late pregnancy.

Summary The effects of level of nutrition during pregnancy on the development of the mammary gland, on various biochemical parameters, on feed intake and on body weight were investigated in Chios (CH) and Karagouniko (K) ewes. Thirty pregnant ewes of both breeds were randomly assigned to groups A and B, which received 110% of their energy requirements for maintenance plus pregnancy for two foetuses and 90% of their maintenance energy requirements, respectively. In a second experiment, 34 pregnant Chios ewes were assigned and fed as in the first trial, but they were slaughtered on day 140 of pregnancy to study udder characteristics. The feed intake and the body weight in pregnancy were higher in ewes of group A and K ewes than of groups B (p 0.001) and CH (p 0.01), respectively. Plasma glucose concentration tended to be higher in group A than group B. Group A ewes had significantly decreased plasma free fatty acids (p 0.001) and β-hydrobutyric acid (p 0.05), but higher insulin (p 0.01) concentrations, whereas serum T4 concentrations were higher in K than in CH ewes (p 0.01), during the last 10 days of pregnancy. The fat cell diameter and the NADP-isocitrate dehydrogenase activity of the adipose tissue were higher in ewes of group A than group B, on the day 7 before lambing. In the second experiment, the underfed CH ewes had significantly lower empty udder weight (p 0.05), smaller udder (p 0.05), smaller teat length (p 0.01), lower mammary gland weight (p 0.05), less total content of DNA (p 0.05) and less fat percentage of mammary gland (p 0.01) in comparison with the well-fed CH ewes. It is concluded that undernutrition during pregnancy causes considerable changes in the ewe's metabolism, mainly in the adipose tissue. Furthermore, the level of nutrition significantly affected udder development.
Faecal Calprotectin and 7-α Cholestenone Levels in Microscopic Colitis﻿: Experience from Edinburgh

Introduction Microscopic colitis (MC) is an important cause of chronic, watery diarrhoea. Currently, there is no specific biomarker available to guide diagnosis. The use of ﻿faecal ﻿calprotectin (FCP) as a potential marker has been addressed in only a few studies. Further, ﻿bile ﻿acid ﻿malabsorption (BAM) often accompanies MC. Current practice recommends the selenium-labelled homocholic acid-taurine (SeHCAT) test, but at our centre, 7 alpha-hydroxy-4-cholesten-3-one (7αC) is used as a simpler and less expensive alternative to SeHCAT, with values over 22ng/mL indicating BAM. This study aims to evaluate the use of FCP as a biomarker in the diagnosis of MC and the role of 7αC in detecting concomitant BAM with MC. Methods Pathology records were retrospectively reviewed for patients diagnosed with ﻿collagenous ﻿colitis (CC) between 2000 and 2018 and ﻿lymphocytic ﻿colitis (LC) between 1995 and 2011. FCP and 7αc results, if measured within 6 months of pathological diagnosis, were extracted for analysis. Results Between 2000 and 2018, 646 CC cases were confirmed on histology. Of 646 patients, 147 had FCP measured; in 111 (75.5%) FCP was elevated with mean levels 238. 1μg/g (SD±273.0); 140/646 had 7αC measured; 16 (11.4%) indicated BAM. Mean levels were 10.2ng/mL (SD±9.4). During a 21-year period (1995–2011), 204 LC diagnoses were made: 14/204 had FCP measured﻿; 8 (57.1%) were elevated. Mean levels were 128. 4μg/g (SD±107.7). Of 204 LC patients, 20 had 7αC measured, 5 (25%) indicating BAM. Mean levels were 13.95ng/mL (SD±9.4). Discussion Both CC and LC were associated with raised FCP during the diagnostic phase, supporting the potential role of its use in clinical practice. Furthermore, we present results of using 7αC in identifying BAM amongst patients with MC. In our cohort, low levels of 7αC suggest relatively low concordance of BAM with MC.
Engorgement success of parasitic mites on adult sexes of the colour polymorphic mountain stone weta

Abstract In this study, the prevalence and intensity of the ectoparasitic mite Wetapolipus ja‐miesoni was examined on two colour morphs of the mountain stone weta Hemideina maori, collected from the Rock and Pillar Range in the province of Otago, New Zealand. We scored success of mites by identifying whether mites were alive or dead on hosts. We determined whether these indices of mite success related to morph or sex of adult weta. Our data indicate that there were no differences in mite prevalence, or in intensity of mite parasitism, between males and females of the two weta morphs. However, the interaction between morph and sex accounted for significant variation in proportion of dead mites on hosts. Specifically, black females had proportionately fewer dead mites than black males, yellow males, or yellow females. These data did not corroborate earlier findings that yellow individuals had higher immune expression than did their black conspecifics following challenges with immuno‐genic Sephadex beads. This study underscores the importance of comparing results obtained by various methods when examining susceptibility of hosts to their parasites.
Comparison between the Interferon γ Release Assay—QuantiFERON Gold Plus (QFT-Plus)—and Tuberculin Skin Test (TST) in the Detection of Tuberculosis Infection in Immunocompromised Children

Background Immunocompromised patients are at a higher risk of having latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI). QuantiFERON-TB Gold Plus (QFT-Plus) has been proven to perform effectively in LTBI detection among immunocompromised adults and can overcome the limitations of the tuberculin skin test (TST). However, the role of QFT-Plus in detecting LTBI in immunocompromised paediatric patients has not been well established. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the test agreement between QFT-Plus and the TST in LTBI detection among immunocompromised children. Method In this cross-sectional study, we enrolled immunocompromised paediatric patients, aged between 5 and 18 years, who were treated with corticosteroids and/or chemotherapy from June to November 2019. We categorized them into three groups based on the following diseases: hematologic malignancies and nephrological and immunological diseases. We recorded the patient characteristics and QFT-Plus and TST results, in which the positive result of the TST was induration ≥ 5 mm. Within the same group, comparisons between the two tests were performed using the McNemar test, and results were statistically significant for p values of <0.05. The kappa index was used to assess the agreement between the two test results. Results Among 71 patients (median age: 11.8 years) who underwent TST and QFT-Plus testing, 52% were females, and 69% had a normal nutritional status. Chemotherapy was the most common treatment modality for hematologic malignancy compared to other immunosuppressive treatments. The total number of patients with positive QFT-Plus and TST results was 11/71 (15.5%) and 4/71 (5.6%), respectively, among whom 3/11 patients had positive results in both tests, and one patient with positive TST results exhibited a discrepancy, as this was not followed by positive QFT-Plus results. QFT-Plus generated more positive results than the TST in immunocompromised children (McNemar, p = 0.039 (p < 0.05)). The diagnostic agreement between the tests was fair (K = 0.345, 95% CI: 0.05–0.745). Conclusion QFT-Plus detected LTBI more effectively than the TST in immunocompromised children.
The Mediating Effects of Attachment Styles on the Relationship between Sensory Processing Styles and Interpersonal Problems in Healthy University Students

Purpose Difficulties with sensory processing are known to have negative effects on individuals' attachment styles and the interpersonal domain. We investigated the relationships among sensory processing styles, attachment styles, and interpersonal problems to better understand the role of attachment styles on the relationship between sensory processing styles and interpersonal problems. Participants. One-hundred and eighty-four university students (aged 18-28 years) completed a set of self-reported measures. Methods Sensory processing styles, attachment styles, and interpersonal problems were assessed with the Adolescent/Adult Sensory Profile, Experiences in Close Relationships-Revised, and Inventory of Interpersonal Problems-Short Circumplex Form, respectively. Results Low registration (r = 0.587, p < 0.001) and sensory avoidance (r = 0.501, p < 0.001) were positively correlated with interpersonal problems. Regression analyses indicated that low registration (β = 0.301, p < 0.001) and anxious attachment (β = 0.640, p < 0.001) were predictors of interpersonal problems (R2 = 0.672, p < 0.001), and sensation avoidance (β = 0.386, p < 0.001) and avoidant attachment (β = 0.233, p < 0.001) were predictors of interpersonal problems (R2 = 0.286, p<0.001). Participants with higher levels of low registration reported higher levels of interpersonal problems, and this relationship was partially mediated by anxious attachment. Participants with higher levels of sensory avoidance reported higher levels of interpersonal problems, and this relationship was partially mediated by avoidant attachment. Conclusions This study clarifies the relationships between sensory processing styles and interpersonal problems and the mediating effects of attachment styles. The results were discussed in light of the related literature.
Phosphorus and Nitrogen Interactions in Field-Grown Soybean as Related to Genetic Attributes of Root Morphological and Nodular Traits

: Two field experiments with different soybean (Glycine max L.) materials were conducted to investigate the interactions between phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N) as related to the genetic attributes of root morphological and nodular traits. In experiment one, 13 cultivated soybean varieties were grown in a field with relatively low soil P and N availability. P application with 160 kg P/hm2 as triple superphosphate produced a significant simultaneous increase in the content of both P and N in shoot, demonstrating positive P and N interactions. The addition of P also increased root dry weight, root nodule number, nodule mass, nodule size, and nodulation index, but decreased root length and root surface area, indicating that P may affect N nutrition in soybean through a number of root morphological and nodular traits. Interestingly, like P content, N content appeared to be more correlated with root morphological traits (root weight, root length, and root surface area) than with root nodular traits (nodule number, nodule size, nodule mass, and nodulation index) at both P levels, implying that N taken up by the roots may contribute more to the plant N status than biological N2 fixation under the present experimental conditions. In experiment two, 57 soybean lines of a recombinant inbred line (RIL) population derived from a cross between a cultivated variety and a wild genotype were grown on another field site with moderately sufficient P and N levels to further characterize the genetic attributes of root morphological and nodular traits and their relationships with P and N interactions. The results indicated that all morphological and nodular traits measured continually segregated in the RIL population with a normal distribution of the phenotypic values, indicating that these traits are possibly controlled by quantitative trait loci (QTLs). Genetic analysis revealed that all these root traits had relatively low heritabilities (h2b=74.12,70.65,73.76,56.34,52.59, and 52.24 for root weight, root length, root surface area, nodule number, nodule mass, and nodule size, respectively), suggesting that root morphology and nodule formation are influenced greatly by environmental factors. Correlation analysis of the RILs showed that shoot N content was significantly correlated with P content, confirming positive PXN interactions. Similar to experiment one, shoot N content was only significantly correlated with root morphological traits, but not with root nodular traits, again denoting the fact that the N status in soybean could be attributed more to N uptake from the soil than to biological N2 fixation under the present experimental conditions. (Managing editor: Ping HE)
Fabrication of self-assembled monolayer using carbon nanotubes conjugated 1-aminoundecanethiol on gold substrates

The carbon nanotube (fundamentally Singlewalled carbon nanotube, SWCNT) based on 1-Amino-undecanethiol (AUT) were extremely controlled (nano-level) organizing a vertical self-assembled monolayer (SAM) on gold single crystal surfaces. The produced nano-surfaces were explored particularly by Fourier Transform Infra-red Spectroscopy (FT-IR), Cyclic Voltammetry (CV), Raman spectroscopy, Electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance (EQCM), and Atomic force microscopy (AFM) techniques. The SWCNTs were initially cut (chemically) into short pipes and thiol-derivatized at the open ends. The vertical aggregation of SWCNT-AUTs on chemically refined Au(111) substrates was made-up by their spontaneous chemical bonding among carboxyl derivatized SWCNT-COOH and AUT SAM on Au(111), via peptide bonds, or directly by synthesized SWCNT-AUT composites. Raman spectroscopy and AFM surface images obviously disclosed that the SWCNTAUT (dia. 20~40 nm) has been vertically categorized d on gold (111) substrates, shaping a SAM with a perpendicular direction.