Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Multi-Omics Analysis of Transcriptomic and Metabolomics Profiles Reveal the Molecular Regulatory Network of Marbling in Early Castrated Holstein Steers

Simple Summary In this paper, we investigated the early-castrated Holstein cattle liver transcriptome and metabolome and conducted a comprehensive analysis of two omics associated with the IMF deposition using transcriptomics and untargeted metabolomics under different treatments: non−castrated and slaughtered at 16 months of age (GL16), castrated at birth and slaughtered at 16 months of age (YL16), and slaughtered at 26 months of age (YL26). The results demonstrated that implementation of early castration modified the hepatic metabolites and the related biological pathways by regulating the relevant gene expression, which could represent a better rearing method for the production of high-marbled and healthier beef products. Abstract The intramuscular fat (IMF), or so-called marbling, is known as potential determinant of the high quality beef in China, Korea, and Japan. Of the methods that affect IMF content in cattle, castration is markedly regarded as an effective and economical way to improve the deposition of IMF but with little attention to its multi-omics in early-castrated cattle. The aim of this study was to investigate the liver transcriptome and metabolome of early-castrated Holstein cattle and conduct a comprehensive analysis of two omics associated with the IMF deposition using transcriptomics and untargeted metabolomics under different treatments: non−castrated and slaughtered at 16 months of age (GL16), castrated at birth and slaughtered at 16 months of age (YL16), and castrated at birth and slaughtered at 26 months of age (YL26). The untargeted metabolome was analyzed using ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry. The transcriptome of the hepatic genes was analyzed to identify marbling-related genes. Using untargeted metabolomics, the main altered metabolic pathways in the liver of cattle, including those for lipid and amino acid metabolism, were detected in the YL16 group relative to the GL16 and YL26 groups. Significant increases in the presence of betaine, alanine, and glycerol 3-phosphate were observed in the YL16 group (p < 0.05), which might have contributed to the improved beef-marbling production. Compared to the GL16 and YL26 groups, significant increases in the presence of glutathione, acetylcarnitine, and riboflavin but decreases in diethanolamine and 2-hydroxyglutarate were identified in YL16 group (p < 0.05), which might have been beneficial to the beef’s enhanced functional quality. The gene expressions of GLI1 and NUF2 were downregulated and that of CYP3A4 was upregulated in the YL16 group; these results were strongly correlated with the alanine, betaine, and leucine, respectively, in the liver of the cattle. In conclusion, implementation of early castration modified the hepatic metabolites and the related biological pathways by regulating the relevant gene expressions, which could represent a better rearing method for production of high marbled and healthier beef products.
A Relationship between Potential Vorticity and Zonal Wind on Jupiter

Abstract We present evidence from analysis of Voyager data and numerical experiments that in Jupiter's troposphere at midlatitudes the potential vorticity is given simply by the reciprocal of the streamfunction. This relationship agrees with the results of a vortex-tube stretching analysis of the Voyager wind-field data of the Great Red Spot and White Oval BC, whereas other published models do not. The derivative of streamfunction with respect to potential vorticity is negative definite, and in the quasigeostrophic limit the relationship is neutrally stable with respect to Arnol'd's second stability theorem. Numerical experiments indicate that the relationship is also neutrally stable in the primitive shallow-water system. This resolves a long-standing question as to how Jupiter's cloud-top winds are able to violate the Rayleigh-Kuo stability criterion, and constrains the two-layer model to a single free parameter.
The Influence of Therapeutic Exercise on Survival and the Quality of Life in Survivorship of Women with Ovarian Cancer

Background: Ovarian cancer is the most difficult of all gynaecological cancers to treat, mainly due to its late diagnosis. Although exercise interventions have been reported to be safe and beneficial for ovarian cancer, treatment does not include it and is usually a combination of chemotherapy and surgery. It is increasingly common to include exercise as a tool to increase survival in the cancer population. The aim of this study was to determine the influence of therapeutic exercise on survival and the quality of life in survivorship in women with ovarian cancer. Methods: Literature review of clinical trials, reviews and pilot studies compiled in three databases collected in PubMed, PEDro and Scopus. Results: Of the 44 articles found, 10 were selected. Improvements in survival, quality of life and comorbidities associated with ovarian cancer were found with exercise interventions as a treatment tool. Conclusions: Through the application of therapeutic exercise, improvements in survival and quality of life were observed, as well as in the general symptomatology of ovarian cancer. No adverse effects have been found with its use, but future studies with larger sample sizes with more detailed and individualised interventions combined with conventional treatment are needed.
Challenges Inherent in Controlling Prickly Pear Species; a Global Review of the Properties of Opuntia stricta, Opuntia ficus-indica and Opuntia monacantha

Opuntia species (prickly pear) were deliberately introduced to many countries around the world for fruit, cochineal dye production, living fencing or as ornamentals. They are now some of the world’s most significant weeds, particularly in regions with warm and or dry climates, as they pose threats to economic and environmental assets. In addition, they can cause considerable health issues for humans and animals. Opuntia spp. have prolific reproduction abilities, being able to reproduce both vegetatively and by seed. They have generalist pollination and dispersal requirements, which promotes their establishment and spread. Opuntia stricta, O. monacantha and O. ficus-indica are the most globally widespread of the Opuntia spp. In many countries, biological control agents, particularly the cactus moth (Cactoblastis cactorum) and various cochineal insects from the Dactylopius genus, have successfully reduced land-scape scale populations. On a smaller scale, controlling these weeds by either injecting or spraying the cladodes with herbicides can provide effective control. Care must be taken during herbicide treatments as any untreated areas will regenerate. While biological control is the most cost and time effective control method for landscape-scale infestations, further research into the combined efficacy of herbicides, fire, grubbing and pre-burial techniques would be beneficial for land managers to control small-scale and establishing populations. It would also be useful to have greater knowledge of the potential seedbank longevity and seed ecology of these species so that integrated management strategies can be developed to not only deal with initial populations but also the subsequent seedling regrowth.
A multi-scale simulation method for high Reynolds number wall-bounded turbulent flows

We present an assessment and enhancement of the hybrid two-level large-eddy simulation method (A.G. Gungor and S. Menon, A new two-scale model for large eddy simulation of wall-bounded flows, Prog. Aerosp. Sci. 46 (2010), pp. 28–45), a multi-scale formulation for simulation of high Reynolds number wall-bounded turbulent flows. The assessment of the method is performed by examining role of static and dynamic blending functions used to perform hybridisation of two-level simulation (K. Kemenov and S. Menon, Explicit small-scale velocity simulation for high-Re turbulent flows, J. Comput. Phys. 220 (2006), pp. 290–311; K. Kemenov and S. Menon, Explicit small-scale velocity simulation for high-Re turbulent flows. Part 2: Non-homogeneous flows, J. Comput. Phys. 222 (2007), pp. 673–701) and large-eddy simulation methods. The sensitivity of first- and second-order turbulence statistics to the type of blending functions is investigated by simulating a fully developed turbulent flow in a channel at a friction Reynolds number Reτ = 395 and comparing the results with those obtained using a direct numerical simulation. The first-order statistics do not show any significant differences for different blending functions, but the second-order statistics show some minor differences. The dynamic evaluation of the hybrid region and the blending function is necessary for non-equilibrium and complex flows where use of a static blending function can lead to inaccurate results. We propose two criteria for the dynamic evaluation; first evaluates extent of the hybrid region based on the subgrid turbulent kinetic energy and the second estimates the blending function based on a characteristic length scale. The computational efficiency of the method is enhanced by incorporating a hybrid programming paradigm where a standard domain decomposition by the message-passing-interface library is combined with the open multi-processing based parallelisation. A further enhancement of the method is achieved by incorporating a closure model for the unclosed hybrid terms in the governing equations, which appear due to hybridisation of two-level- and large-eddy-simulation methods. The model is based on an order of magnitude approximation and a preliminary assessment of the model shows improvement of turbulence statistics when used to simulate turbulent flow in a periodic channel. The assessment and improvements to the multi-scale method make it more suitable for simulation of practical wall-bounded turbulent flows at higher Reynolds number than a conventional large-eddy simulation. This is demonstrated by simulating two representative cases; turbulent flow at high Reynolds number in a periodic channel and flow over a bump placed on the lower surface of a channel, where a relatively coarser computational grid is found to be sufficient for reasonably accurate results.
Assessment of Pre-existing Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Prevalence and Risk Factors Among Colorectal Cancer Patients in King Abdulaziz Medical City, Jeddah

Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) and cancer are recognized as non-communicable chronic disorders which are among the top ten causes of death globally. In Saudi Arabia, the prevalence of type 2 DM (T2DM) and colorectal cancer (CRC) is alarmingly high. Both T2DM and CRC share common risk factors. In this study, we aim to assess the prevalence of pre-existing T2DM among CRC Saudi patients. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, data were collected from the medical records of 275 Saudi adult patients with CRC from 2009 to 2018 at King Abdulaziz Medical City, Jeddah (KAMC-J). Results: Participants had a mean age of 57.0 years, standard deviation (SD) of 13.0, and were mostly males (60.00%) and Saudi (100.0%). Participants had a mean BMI of 26.42 (7.35) kg/m2. The prevalence of pre-existing T2DM in this study was 40.80%. 15.8% of participants were overweight and obese (BMI>30), respectively. The average age of diabetics and non-diabetics was 63.6 (10.64) and 52.73 (12.43), respectively. Diabetic patients are significantly older than non-diabetic patients (p<0.001). The average BMI for diabetics was 26.96 (7.26) kg/m2, whereas the average BMI for non-diabetics was 25.93 (7.48) kg/m2. No significant differences were found between the two groups. Conclusion: This study provides new insight into the high prevalence of pre-existing T2DM in CRC patients in Saudi Arabia. In particular, the age of diagnosis of CRC in diabetic patients was significantly higher than in non-diabetics.
Multifractal temperature and flux of temperature variance in fully developed turbulence

We analyse the multifractal properties of the temperature field θ and temperature variance flux χ in atmospheric turbulence, using simultaneous velocity V and temperature measurements in the atmosphere. This permits us first to characterize the multifractal scaling moment function of the flux of temperature variance estimated as χ ≈ (Δθ)2ΔV/l. We then study the structure function scaling exponent of the temperature field directly, and compare it to the consequences of the assumption of the independence of the fluctuations of θ and V. Up until moment orders of at least order 6, the data analysis is consistent with independence.
One-dimensional pseudoelastic theory of shape memory alloys

The one-dimensional isothermal pseudoelastic theory of shape memory alloys which the present authors proposed has been further exploited in order to clarify the thermodynamic meaning of the interaction energy introduced in the theory. From the equilibrium condition of the two-phase state, it is shown that the partial derivative of the interaction energy with respect to the phase fraction represents the thermodynamic driving force of the phase transformation. Functions for the interaction energy are derived from the definition of the driving force of the phase transformation in equilibrium. Analytical results predicted by the present theory agree well qualitatively with available experimental observations. Tanaka's transformation kinetics are also well modelled by the present theory.
Increased Number of Mucosal-Associated Invariant T Cells Is Associated with the Inhibition of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in High Fat Diet–Fed Mice

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is an emerging worldwide health concern. The disease may involve immune cells including T cells, but little is known about the role(s) of the innate-like T cells in the liver. Furthermore, the most abundant innate-like T cells in the human liver are mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells, but the involvement of MAIT cells in NAFLD remains largely unexplored because of their paucity in mice. In this study, we used a novel mouse line, Vα19, in which the number of MAIT cells is equivalent to or greater than that in humans. Compared with the control mice, Vα19 mice fed a high-fat diet (HFD) exhibited a reduction in lipid accumulation, NAFLD activity score, and transcripts relevant to lipogenesis. In addition, serum triglyceride and non-esterified fatty acids were lower in Vα19 mice fed normal chow or HFD. In contrast, the Vα19 mice showed little or no change in glucose tolerance, insulin sensitivity, inflammation in adipose tissues, or intestinal permeability compared with the controls, irrespective of diet. These results suggest that the presence of MAIT cells is associated with reduced lipogenesis and lipid accumulation in the liver; however, further studies are needed to clarify the role of MAIT cells in hepatic lipid metabolism.
Assessing Sarcopenia, Frailty, and Malnutrition in Community-Dwelling Dependant Older Adults—An Exploratory Home-Based Study of an Underserved Group in Research

Background: Adults of advanced age, with functional dependency, socioeconomic disadvantage, or a need for home care, are expected to be at high risk of sarcopenia, frailty and malnutrition, yet are likely to be underrepresented in research. We aimed to explore the assessment of sarcopenia, frailty, and malnutrition in-home, and to describe the practicality of performing these assessments. Methods: Home-based health assessments and post-study feedback surveys were conducted among community-dwelling older adults ≥65 years in receipt of state-funded home care (n = 31). Assessments included probable sarcopenia [hand-grip strength (HGS), chair rise-test, and SARC-F case-finding tool], the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA), and the Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS). Results: The study group was of mean age 83.2 ± 8.2 years, 74% were female and 23% lived in socioeconomically disadvantaged areas. Almost all met the criteria for probable sarcopenia (94%, n = 29/31), were frail or vulnerable by the CFS (97%, n = 30/31), and over a quarter were at risk of malnutrition (26%, n = 8). Participants had low physical activity (71.0%, n = 22/31), with a mean daytime average of 11.4 ± 1.6 h spent sitting. It was possible to assess probable sarcopenia (by HGS and SARC-F, but not the chair rise test), malnutrition (MNA), and frailty (CFS). Home-based research was a complex environment, and unearthed significant unmet need, prompting referrals to health services (36%, n = 11), in addition to technology assistance. The majority of participants (93%) reported a willingness to partake in future research. Conclusions: Most community-dwelling older people in receipt of home support, assessed in this exploratory study, were at risk of probable sarcopenia, frailty, and low physical activity, with over a quarter were at risk of malnutrition. Our initial findings provide practical data for large scale studies and may inform the development of intervention studies aiming to support ageing in place.
Bioaccessibility and Intestinal Transport of Tebuconazole in Table Grape by Using In Vitro Digestion Models

In this study, the effects of various digestive models, influencing factors and dietary supplements on the bioaccessibility of tebuconazole in table grapes were compared. The Caco-2 cell model was employed to reveal the transfer behavior of tebuconazole. The results indicated that digestion time is the main factor affecting bioaccessibility. With an increase in time, the tebuconazole in grapes was almost completely dissolved, with bioaccessibility reaching 98.5%, whereas dietary fiber reduced bioaccessibility. Tebuconazole undergoes carrier-free passive transport in permeable cells in the Caco-2 cell model. These findings have practical application value for correctly evaluating the harmful level of pollutants in the matrix to human body.
Perceptions of Farm Animal Sentience and Suffering: Evidence from the BRIC Countries and the United States

Simple Summary The relations between farm animals and humans vary across countries and cultures. It was the aim of this study to understand the position of the population in the BRIC countries (Brazil, Russia, India, and China) and the USA. It was found that perceptions of farm animal sentience and suffering vary a lot with culture, country, gender, and age. This could have important consequences for the globalized trade of animal products does not find common grounds for standardization, and the risk of countries with more advanced animal welfare legislation imposing trade barriers increases. These trade barriers may be precepted as protectionism by exporting countries. Abstract In this study, we examined how beliefs about farm animal sentience and their suffering vary across culture and demographic characteristics. A total of N = 5027) questionnaires were administered in Brazil, Russia, India, China, and the USA. Brazilians showed higher and Chinese lower levels of perceived animal sentience. In Russia and India, the perception of suffering and sentience increases with age, with similar levels to those observed in the USA. In all the countries, more people agreed than disagreed that animals are sentient. Men in India show higher levels of agreement with the relation between eating meat and animal suffering, followed by women in Brazil and China. Lower levels of agreement are observed in Americans and Chinese. Women show higher levels of compassion than men. In Russia, there is a slightly higher level of agreement between men and in the USA younger men agree more. Young American men show higher levels of agreement, while in India and China age has the opposite effect. For fair trading competition, it is important to standardize procedures and respect the demand for both animal protein and its ethical production. Overall, our results showed that perceptions of farm animal sentience and suffering vary substantially across countries and demographic groups. These differences could have important consequences for the perceived ethicality of meat production and consumption, and for global trade in animal products.
Rayleigh-Bénard flow of a rarefied gas and its attractors. III. Three-dimensional computer simulations

We investigate the three-dimensional Rayleigh–Benard flow for a set of different Knudsen and Froude numbers at a fixed temperature ratio r=0.1, as well as for different aspect ratios. We observe a variety of stable vortex structures in the form of rolls, squares, and more complicated polygonal patterns. For sufficiently low Knudsen numbers, the existence of irregular regimes was confirmed. Two numerical approaches (the direct simulation Monte Carlo method and a finite-difference method for the Navier–Stokes equation) are used and the results show a satisfactory agreement.
Micelles induced high coercivity in single domain cobalt-ferrite nanoparticles

We have prepared CoFe2O4 nanoparticles in micellar medium by wet chemical technique and obtained very high coercivity value of 4.4 kOe at room temperature for particle size ∼16 nm. A large coercivity (∼20 kOe) is observed on cooling down to 2.5 K. We annealed the sample at different temperatures to check the role of micelles and particles size in the change in coercivity value. Here we observed micelles as capping agent playing an important role to enhance the coercivity, as after removal of micelles for the same particle size the coercivity drops from 4.4 kOe to small value ∼350 Oe. But the coercivity again increases due to the increase in particle size with increase in annealing temperature from 873 K and above. To obtain structural information and size of particles, we have taken x-ray diffraction spectra from the samples before and after annealing at different temperatures which confirm the spinel phase only.
Enhancing Motor-Imagery Brain-Computer Interface Training With Embodied Virtual Reality: A Pilot Study With Older Adults

Electroencephalography-based Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCI’s) can provide an alternative non-muscular channel of control to stroke survivors, especially to those who lack volitional movement. This is achieved through motor-imagery (MI) practice, involving the activation of motor-related brain regions. MI is reinforced in a closed-loop BCI through rewarding feedback, and it has been shown to be able to strengthen key motor pathways. Recently, growing evidence of the positive impact of virtual reality (VR) has accumulated. When combined with BCI, VR can provide patients with a safe simulated environment for rehabilitation training, which could be adapted to real-world scenarios. However, not all users have the ability to sufficiently modulate their brain activity for control of a MI-BCI, a problem known as BCI illiteracy. In this study, we investigate the role of embodied feedback and how we can help elderly adults increase their BCI performance during MI-BCI training in VR. The elderly population was selected to age-match with the typical stroke age-range demographic, accounting for age-related confounds. Participants have received MI-BCI training in two conditions: Abstract feedback (Graz BCI), and embodied feedback (NeuRow VR-BCI). Current results show differences between the two conditions in terms of Event-Related Desynchronization (ERD), lateralization of ERD and classifier performance in terms of arm discriminability.
Surface wave excitation of local field line oscillations

The well-behaved solution of the hydromagnetic wave equation for a general class of initial conditions is used to study the ringing, phase-mixing, transient amplification of field line resonances. An expression for the phase-mixing time in terms of the amplitude of initial impulse at the magnetopause and the gradient of Alfven speed in the magnetosphere is derived. The features of free oscillation of field lines studied here compare well with the previous numerical studies for particular types of impulse excitations of the magnetosphere.