Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Crescimento e sobrevivência de mudas de eucalipto sob doses de boro cultivadas em condições de viveiro e de campo

Conduziu-se este trabalho, em condicoes de viveiro e de campo para avaliar o efeito do boro sobre o crescimento em altura e diâmetro e a sobrevivencia de mudas de eucalipto. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi o de blocos casualizados em esquema fatorial 5 x 2: cinco doses de boro (0, 0,325, 1,3, 5,2 e 20,8 mg L-1) na forma de octaborato e duas especies de eucalipto (Eucalyptus grandis w. Hill ex Maiden e Eucalyptus saligna Sm), com cinco repeticoes. Pelos resultados, verifica-se que as mudas cultivadas com 5,2 e 20,8 mg L-1 de B apresentam reducao significativa no crescimento em altura e no diâmetro do caule. Nas condicoes de campo, a aplicacao de ate 20,8 mg L-1 nao afeta a sobrevivencia das mudas das duas especies de eucalipto. Observou que, nas condicoes de viveiro, o E. saligna e mais sensivel a fitotoxidez de boro do que o E. grandis.
The Protective Role of Lycopene Against Oxidative Damage in the Liver, Heart and Kidney Tissues of Mice Exposed to CoCL2

Heavy metals are harmful to both the environment and human health. One of these heavy metals is cobalt. Lycopene is a potent antioxidant. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of lycopene on change of lipid peroxidation in liver, kidney and heart of experimentally exposed mice with cobalt (Co). Experimental protocol: For this purpose, 30 Swiss Albino male mice of 3-4 months of age and weight ranging from 45 to 50 g were used. Mice were subdivided in to 3 groups including control, cobalt and cobalt lycopene (combined). The control group mice were given 3 mg/kg/day saline (by intramuscular injection) and 10 mg/kg/day saline (orally) for 30 days in order to achieve equality with administration to the mice in the experimental group). At the end of this process, malondialdehit (MDA), glutathione (GSH), vitamin-E and β -carotene were analyzed in the prepared homogenates. According to findings; Increase in liver MDA levels in cobalt group was significant (p 0.05). It was observed that liver and kidney β-carotene level in cobalt group was lower than control and combined group. This decrease is statistically significant in the kidney (p 0.05). As a result, increasing the antioxidant levels of GSH, vitamin E and β-carotene together with lycopene application may play an important role in preventing the negative effects of lycopene on free radicals (MDA, etc.) caused by acute cobalt oxidation
Membrane Chemistry Tunes the Structure of a Peptide Transporter

Abstract Membrane proteins require lipid bilayers for function. While lipid compositions reach enormous complexities, high‐resolution structures are usually obtained in artificial detergents. To understand whether and how lipids guide membrane protein function, we use single‐molecule FRET to probe the dynamics of DtpA, a member of the proton‐coupled oligopeptide transporter (POT) family, in various lipid environments. We show that detergents trap DtpA in a dynamic ensemble with cytoplasmic opening. Only reconstitutions in more native environments restore cooperativity, allowing an opening to the extracellular side and a sampling of all relevant states. Bilayer compositions tune the abundance of these states. A novel state with an extreme cytoplasmic opening is accessible in bilayers with anionic head groups. Hence, chemical diversity of membranes translates into structural diversity, with the current POT structures only sampling a portion of the full structural space.
Galectins for Diagnosis and Prognostic Assessment of Human Diseases: An Overview of Meta-Analyses

An increasing number of studies have explored the activities and functions of galectins. However, translation of these researches into clinical practice seems to be lacking. As compared to scattered individual studies, meta-analyses can provide a more comprehensive review of current evidence and reach a more unbiased and powered conclusion by synthesizing data from diverse studies. In this paper, findings from meta-analyses were reviewed to establish the role of galectins in diagnosis and prognostic assessment of various human diseases. First, in patients with cancer, galectin-1 expression is often associated with poorer survival, but galectin-9 expression is associated with better survival. Galectin-3 is a diagnostic biomarker for thyroid cancer and a predictor of worse survival in patients with colorectal cancer and improved survival in patients with gastric cancer. Second, galectin-3 is useful for diagnosis and prognostic assessment of heart failure and prediction of atrial fibrillation and its recurrence. Third, in chronic kidney disease, galectin-3 is valuable for predicting poor survival. Fourth, during pregnancy, galectin-13 is potentially helpful for identifying patients who do not have preeclampsia.
Perceptions of power and sexual pleasure associated with sexual behaviour profiles among Latino sexual minority men

Abstract In a body of research typically focused on risk reduction and disease prevention, other factors motivating the sexual behaviours of Latino sexual minority men, such as resource-based power and sexual pleasure, are less well understood. To this end, Latino immigrant sexual minority men living in New York City were surveyed about their sexual behaviours, perceived power differentials, and pleasure from insertive and receptive anal intercourse. Power and pleasure were examined as associations with behavioural profiles identified through latent class analysis, adjusting for age and partner type. Four latent classes of Latino sexual minority men were identified based on behaviours reported during the most recent sexual event: behaviourally insertive (14.2%), behaviourally versatile (25.9%), behaviourally receptive (29.2%), and limited penetrative behaviour (30.7%). Participants who derived pleasure from insertive and receptive anal intercourse had higher odds of belonging in the behaviourally insertive and behaviourally receptive class, respectively. Perceptions of resource-based power were not associated with class membership. Findings highlight the importance of sexual pleasure as a driver of sexual behaviour, irrespective of power dynamics. Sexual health curricula and interventions for sexual minority men should consider sexual pleasure and sex-affirmative frameworks when providing sexuality education and promoting sexual wellbeing.
White Clover (Trifolium repens) Control and Flower Head Suppression in Apple Orchards1

White clover is a weed in apple orchards that competes with the crop; also, flowers of this weed are unwanted attractants of honey bees at times when insecticides, which are harmful to these pollinators, are being applied. In 1997 and 1998, white clover flower head and plant control by clopyralid alone and with 2,4-D and apple tolerance to these herbicides were determined. Treatments consisted of clopyralid at 0.10 and 0.21 kg ae/ha, 2,4-D at 1.1 kg ae/ha, and 2,4-D at 1.1 kg ae/ha plus 0.03 or 0.05 kg ae/ha clopyralid, which were applied 2 wk before full apple bloom and 2 wk after full apple bloom, and a nontreated check. No crop injury occurred with any treatment. All herbicide treatments provided some white clover control and flower head suppression. No differences in white clover bloom reduction were observed through May among treatments containing clopyralid. As summer progressed, the effect of clopyralid rate became more apparent. Clopyralid at 0.21, regardless of application time, provided 99% vegetative control and 100% flower head reduction through July. Clopyralid plus 2,4-D controlled white clover better than 2,4-D alone. However, vegetative control and flower head reduction with clopyralid at reduced rates (0.03 or 0.05 kg ae/ha) plus 2,4-D were not acceptable (76% or less and 78% or less, respectively). Thus, clopyralid at 0.10 and 0.21 kg ae/ha will be necessary for acceptable white clover vegetation control and flower head reduction. Nomenclature: 2,4-D; clopyralid; white clover, Trifolium repens L. #3 TRFRE; apple, Malus domestica Borkh. ; honey bees, Apis mellifera L. Additional index words: Orchard floor management, TRFRE, weed control. Abbreviations: 2WAFB, 2 wk after full apple bloom; 2WBFB, 2 wk before full apple bloom.
Analysis of the prognostic significance of solute carrier (SLC) family 39 genes in breast cancer

Abstract Background: Breast cancer (BC) is the most common malignancy in females and remains a main cause of cancer-associated death worldwide. The solute carrier (SLC) groups of membrane transport proteins, which control the influx of zinc, participate in ranging of physiological processes and may provide novel therapeutic targets of cancers. However, the prognostic values of individual SLC family 39 (SLC39A) genes in patients with BC are not clarified. Materials and Methods: The mRNA expression of SLC family 39 genes in BC was evaluated by using the UALCAN database. The prognostic values of overall survival (OS) of SLC family 39 genes in patients with BC were investigated by Kaplan–Meier plotter. The survival analysis of cells was determined by Project Achilles. Results: The analytic results suggested that SLC39A1, SLC39A3, SLC39A4, SLC39A5, SLC39A6, SLC39A7, SLC39A9, SLC39A10, SLC39A11 and SLC39A13 were significantly up-regulated in BC tissues compared with normal breast tissues. However, SLC39A8 and SLC39A14 were expressed higher in normal tissues than in BC tissues. High expression of SLC39A2, SLC39A3, SLC39A4, SLC39A5, SLC39A7, SLC39A12 and SLC39A13 was significantly associated with worse OS in patients with BC. In contrast, high mRNA levels of SLC39A6 and SLC39A14 indicated favorable OS. Through subgroup analysis, all abnormal expressed SLC family members were correlated with prognoses of patients with specific BC. Moreover, SLC39A7 was associated with proliferation and cloning of BC. Conclusions: Our results suggested that SLC family 39 members were promising prognostic biomarkers of BC. The SLC39A7 played a key role in growth and survival of BC cells.
Clinical Signs to Categorize Shock and Target Vasoactive Medications in Warm Versus Cold Pediatric Septic Shock*

Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text. Objectives: Determine level of agreement among clinical signs of shock type, identify which signs clinicians prioritize to determine shock type and select vasoactive medications, and test the association of shock type-vasoactive mismatch with prolonged organ dysfunction or death (complicated course). Design: Retrospective observational study. Setting: Single large academic PICU. Patients: Patients less than 18 years treated on a critical care sepsis pathway between 2012 and 2016. Interventions: None. Measurements and Main Results: Agreement among clinical signs (extremity temperature, capillary refill, pulse strength, pulse pressure, and diastolic blood pressure) was measured using Fleiss and Cohen’s κ. Association of clinical signs with shock type and shock type-vasoactive mismatch (e.g., cold shock treated with vasopressor rather than inotrope) with complicated course was determined using multivariable logistic regression. Of 469 patients, clinicians determined 307 (65%) had warm and 162 (35%) had cold shock. Agreement across all clinical signs was low (κ, 0.25; 95% CI, 0.20–0.30), although agreement between extremity temperature, capillary refill, and pulse strength was better than with pulse pressure and diastolic blood pressure. Only extremity temperature (adjusted odds ratio, 26.6; 95% CI, 15.5–45.8), capillary refill (adjusted odds ratio, 15.7; 95% CI, 7.9–31.3), and pulse strength (adjusted odds ratio, 21.3; 95% CI, 8.6–52.7) were associated with clinician-documented shock type. Of the 86 patients initiated on vasoactive medications during the pathway, shock type was discordant from vasoactive medication (κ, 0.14; 95% CI, –0.03 to 0.31) and shock type-vasoactive mismatch was not associated with complicated course (adjusted odds ratio, 0.3; 95% CI, 0.1–1.02). Conclusions: Agreement was low among common clinical signs used to characterize shock type, with clinicians prioritizing extremity temperature, capillary refill, and pulse strength. Although clinician-assigned shock type was often discordant with vasoactive choice, shock type-vasoactive mismatch was not associated with complicated course. Categorizing shock based on clinical signs should be done cautiously.
SOLUÇÃO HIPERSATURADA DE SAL COMO CONSERVANTE DE PERICÁRDIO CANINO UTILIZADO NA REPARAÇÃO DO MÚSCULO RETO ABDOMINAL DE RATOS WISTAR

Com a finalidade de testar a solucao hipersaturada de sal (na proporcao de 1,5g de sal comercial para 1m de agua tridestilada) como conservante, foram realizados implantes de pericardio canino mantido neste meio, no minimo por 90 dias, em lesoes provocadas no musculo reto abdominal de 24 ratos Wistar. Previamente a implantacao da membrana, a solucao foi avaliada quanto a presenca de bacterias e fungos, demonstrando resultados negativos. Durante o procedimento cirurgico, foi removido um segmento da largura completa do musculo reto abdominal direito, de 1,5cm de comprimento. A lesao produzida foi preenchida com o implante, sendo este suturado as bordas musculares com fio de nailon monofilamentar 6-0 em padrao continuo simples. Os animais operados foram subdivididos em seis grupos (I, II, III, IV, V, VI) de igual numero, sendo posteriormente sacrificados aos tres, cinco, sete,10, 15 e 30 dias do pos-operatorio, afim de se realizar as avaliacoes macroscopica e histologica da regiao do implante. Nos exames macroscopico e histologico pode-se constatar neovascularizacao no local reparado, que gradualmente foi decrescendo. Ao exame histologico foi observado a substituicao gradativa do implante por tecido conjuntivo fibroso, sem a ocorrencia de eliminacao do implante ou contaminacao. Atraves destes achados e possivel afirmar que a solucao hipersaturada de sal estudada, e um meio adequado para a conservacao de pericardio canino.
Biomarkers of the effect of gastrin on Barrett's oesophagus

The incidence of adenocarcinoma of the oesophagus (ACO) is rapidly rising, with the UK white male population currently experiencing the highest incidence worldwide. ACO arises on a background of Barrett’s oesophagus (BO), a condition characterised by metastatic remodelling of the lower oesophagus in response to reflux of gastric contents. Previous work within our laboratory has shown that Barrett’s epithelium expresses the gastrin activated CCK2 receptor, that gastrin stimulates proliferation of BO cells, and that Barrett’s patients with the highest circulating gastrin concentrations are more likely to exhibit dysplasia. Patients diagnosed with BO are often prescribed proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) to reduce damage when acid reflux occurs. A common consequence of PPI usage is a significant increase in circulating gastrin concentration. The idea underlying the present study is that gastrin drives the progression of BO to ACO. If so, there is a need for biomarkers of the effect of gastrin on Barrett’s epithelium that might be useful in tracking the progression of BO to ACO and in monitoring the effectiveness of novel anti-gastrin therapies. Circulating gastrin concentration was analysed by radioimmunoassay and related to putative biomarker mRNA and miRNA expression quantified by qPCR in gastric and oesophageal biopsies from BO patients. Using gastric adenocarcinoma cell lines expressing the CCK2 receptor and treated with gastrin, putative protein biomarkers were analysed using western blot. Treatment with PPIs was associated with significant increases in circulating gastrin in control and Barrett’s patients. Abundance of CgA and HDC mRNA was also significantly elevated in gastric biopsies of both groups treated with PPIs. In gastric biopsies from patients with preneoplastic conditions CgA was significantly decreased in the highest risk group. Interestingly, BO biopsies exhibited a significantly lower abundance of CgA, MMP-1, MMP-7, COX-2 and SHH transcripts in patients with high circulating gastrin (>100 pM). In serum, miR-21, -221 and 222 abundances were significantly elevated when circulating gastrin was 30-100 pM but not >100 pM; tissue miR-221 and 222 was lower with gastrin >100 pM. The expression of putative biomarkers in vitro varied between cell lines, although TIMP-1 and MMP-1 exhibited consistent responses to gastrin. Unexpectedly, in stomach and BO biopsies, CCK2 receptor mRNA abundance was significantly depressed in patients with elevated circulating gastrin concentration. Whilst changes in CCK2 receptor expression relative to gastrin have been suggested previously, the regulatory mechanisms are not completely understood. This result was surprising and may account for the pattern of association of putative gastrin-regulated biomarkers and circulating gastrin. The result also has wider-reaching implications for the interpretation of previous studies and for the design of future studies of the effect of gastrin on the progression of preneoplastic conditions in the gastrointestinal tract.
A systematic and biogeographical study of epi‐ and hypogean populations of the Proasellus species group from Sardinia, central Italy and Jordan: allozyme insights

Genetic variation at 18 enzymatic loci was investigated in 10 epigean and three hypogean populations belonging to the Proasellus (Asellidae, Crustacea) species group, from Sardinia, central Italy, and Jordan, in order to clarify their systematics and evolutionary relationships. We found unexpectedly high levels of genetic divergence, which allowed us to recognize a number of genetically distinct species presently hidden under the name Proasellus coxalis. The group of Sardinian populations is the most genetically differentiated. Among the central Italian populations, the northernmost population is the earliest branch in the proposed phyletic scheme, whereas the remaining populations are genetically homogeneous and clustered as the sister taxon of the Sardinian populations. The Jordanian population is genetically differentiated versus both the central Italian and Sardinian groups. The evolutionary relationships seem to indicate that several waves of colonization by this genus occurred in Europe. The evolutionary times inferred from genetic distance data place the main splitting events at the end of the Miocene, in agreement with the paleogeography of the study areas. Eine systematisch biogeographische Studie epigaischer und hypogaischer Populationen der Proasellus Artengruppe aus Sardinien, Mittelitalien und Jordanien: Eine Allozym-Studie Zehn epigaische und drei hypogaische Populationen der Proasellus (Asellidae, Crustacea) Artengruppe aus Sardinien, Mittelitalien und Jordanien wurden auf ihre genetische Variabilitat an 18 Enzymloci untersucht, um ihre systematischen und evolutiven Beziehungen zueinander zu klaren. Unerwarteterweise fanden wir starke genetische Divergenzen, die es uns erlaubten, eine Reihe von genetisch unterscheidbaren Arten, die sich bisher unter dem Namen P. coxalis verbargen, zu erkennen. Die sardinischen Populationen sind genetisch am starksten differenziert. Unter den Populationen Mittelitaliens stellt die nordlichste den altesten Ast des phylogenetischen Baums dar, wahrend die ubrigen Populationen genetisch homogen sind und so wie die sardinischen Populationen des Geschwistertaxons ein gemeinsames Cluster bilden. Die jordanische Population ist wieder gegenuber den mittelitalienischen und sardinischen Populationen genetisch abweichend. Die evolutiven Beziehungen deuten darauf hin, das es in Europa mehrere Kolonisationswellen dieser Art gegeben haben mus. Die evolutiven Divergenzzeiten, auf die man aus den Genetischen Distanzwerten schliesen kann, weisen darauf hin, das die wesentlichen Aufspaltungsereignisse in Ubereinstimmung mit den palaogeographischen Verhaltnissen der Untersuchungsgebiete am Ende des Miozans stattgefunden haben durften.
Contacts with primary and secondary healthcare prior to suicide: case–control whole-population-based study using person-level linked routine data in Wales, UK, 2000–2017

Background Longitudinal studies of patterns of healthcare contacts in those who die by suicide to identify those at risk are scarce. Aims To examine type and timing of healthcare contacts in those who die by suicide. Method A population-based electronic case–control study of all who died by suicide in Wales, 2001–2017, linking individuals’ electronic healthcare records from general practices, emergency departments and hospitals. We used conditional logistic regression to calculate odds ratios, adjusted for deprivation. We performed a retrospective continuous longitudinal analysis comparing cases’ and controls’ contacts with health services. Results We matched 5130 cases with 25 650 controls (5 per case). A representative cohort of 1721 cases (8605 controls) were eligible for the fully linked analysis. In the week before their death, 31.4% of cases and 15.6% of controls contacted health services. The last point of contact was most commonly associated with mental health and most often occurred in general practices. In the month before their death, 16.6 and 13.0% of cases had an emergency department contact and a hospital admission respectively, compared with 5.5 and 4.2% of controls. At any week in the year before their death, cases were more likely to contact healthcare services than controls. Self-harm, mental health and substance misuse contacts were strongly linked with suicide risk, more so when they occurred in emergency departments or as emergency admissions. Conclusions Help-seeking occurs in those at risk of suicide and escalates in the weeks before their death. There is an opportunity to identify and intervene through these contacts.
Calcite deposition in karst waters is promoted by leaf litter breakdown and vice versa

Plant litter breakdown, an important process for energy and matter flows in freshwater eco- systems, has been extensively studied except in the karst (and calcite depositing) habitats. The aim of this paper was to answer three questions regarding the breakdown of leaf litter in calcite depositing environment: (i) Does leaf decomposition hinder calcite deposition and vice versa? ; (ii) What role do other environmental factors play? ; and (iii) How long does leaf litter persist in these habitats? Leaves of beech (Fagus sylvatica) and butterbur (Petasites hybridus) were exposed for 8 weeks in 8 microhabitats: 2 calcite deposition ratesr 2 flow velocitiesr 2 seasons. A linear model was better at predicting leaf litter persistence but only for the period after the extreme loss of leaf mass occurring during the initial leaching of highly hydrosoluble compounds in the first week (11.6% of beech and 54.2% of butterbur regardless of the studied environmental factors). Higher flow velocity and calcite deposition rates stimulated the breakdown of both leaf species. During summer, breakdown was accelerated for butterbur leaves only. Since breakdown rates of both litter types were faster at high calcite depositing sites, it can be concluded that the breakdown process is not hindered by calcite deposition in general. The amount of deposited calcite per gram of leaf litter increased linearly over time (after the first week of exposure) on both leaf species. More calcite was deposited on the fast-decomposing butterbur leaves than on beech leaves.