Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of mulches and antitranspirants on the grain yield of sorghum grown under limited irrigations on a deep vertisol

SUMMARY Field experiments made for 2 years on a deep vertisol under semi-arid conditions showed that soil-surface evaporation control by mulching with rice straw or transpiration suppression by foliar application of kaolin or atrazine increased the yield of grain sorghum. These materials decreased soil moisture depletion and thus increased water-use efficiency. Application of one irrigation at the boot-leaf stage was beneficial. No additional advantage was noted with two irrigations, one given 45 days after seeding and the other at anthesis.
PRODUCTION PERFORMANCE AND SERUM CONSTITUENTS OF AGED GIMMIZAH HENS AS AFFECTED BY DIETARY SUPPLEMENTATION WITH L-CARNITINE

This study investigated the effects of different dietary levels of L-carnitine supplementation on the productive, reproductive performances some physiological responses, and economic efficiency in Gimmizah laying hens . One hundred and fourty four hens of 60 weeks old were randomly chosen from a large flock with insignificant differences in body weight with laying rate and were divided into 6 groups ( each of 24 birds ) according to L-carnitine supplementation levels 0.0 , 25, 50, 75, 100, and 125 mg L- carnitine /kg to layer diet, respectively. Birds were housed in individual wire cages during the whole experimental period ( 60 to 68 weeks of age). The results indicated that, eg g weight was significantly increased (P=0.001), while, egg mass (gm/ hen/ day), feed conversion ( gm feed / gm eggs ), production efficiency, albumen weight, chick weight at hatch and serum globulin were significantly (P =0.05) increased by supplementation of L-carnitine to the layer diets as compared with control. Supplementation of L -carnitine level to the diet significantly increased (P=0.01) albumen percentage, Haugh Units score , yolk index, serum total protein and glucose , but yolk weight, yolk percentage , cholesterol and total lipids concentration in serum , cholesterol and total lipids in yolk were reduced significantly ( P =0.01) and albumen (P=0.05). Fertility and hatchability percentages were significantly increased ( P=0.01), and improved economic efficiency percentage by the addition of L-carnitine to layer diets. It can be concluded that supplementation of 25 mg L-carnitine /kg diet, improved fertility, hatchability, economic efficiency percentages, and gave the net profit.
How zebrafish turn: analysis of pressure force dynamics and mechanical work

ABSTRACT Whereas many fishes swim steadily, zebrafish regularly exhibit unsteady burst-and-coast swimming, which is characterized by repeated sequences of turns followed by gliding periods. Such a behavior offers the opportunity to investigate the hypothesis that negative mechanical work occurs in posterior regions of the body during early phases of the turn near the time of maximal body curvature. Here, we used a modified particle image velocimetry (PIV) technique to obtain high-resolution flow fields around the zebrafish body during turns. Using detailed swimming kinematics coupled with body surface pressure computations, we estimated fluid–structure interaction forces and the pattern of forces and torques along the body during turning. We then calculated the mechanical work done by each body segment. We used estimated patterns of positive and negative work along the body to evaluate the hypothesis (based on fish midline kinematics) that the posterior body region would experience predominantly negative work. Between 10% and 20% of the total mechanical work was done by the fluid on the body (negative work), and negative work was concentrated in the anterior and middle areas of the body, not along the caudal region. Energetic costs of turning were calculated by considering the sum of positive and negative work and were compared with previous metabolic estimates of turning energetics in fishes. The analytical workflow presented here provides a rigorous way to quantify hydrodynamic mechanisms of fish locomotion and facilitates the understanding of how body kinematics generate locomotor forces in freely swimming fishes. Summary: Modified particle image velocimetry (PIV) together with pressure computations reveal the turning mechanics in zebrafish.
Supplement effects of low- and high-cyanide cassava peels on the performance, nutrient digestibility, and serum metabolites of growing pigs

30 growing pigs were randomly offered diets containing 0, 203, or 419 mg HCN/kg in order to investigate the effects of low and high cyanide concentrations in cassava peels on the performance, nutrient digestibility, serum protein (total), albumin, urea, glutamic pyruvate transaminase, and glutamic oxaloacetate transaminase. The weight gain, feed intake, feed utilization, and protein efficiency ratio were not significantly affected (P 0.05) to increased dietary cyanide levels.
Detecting novel Indel variants within the GHR gene and their associations with growth traits in Luxi Blackhead sheep

Abstract The growth hormone is important in the regulation of metabolism and energy homeostasis and acts through a growth hormone receptor (GHR). In this work, genetic variations within the ovine GHR gene were identified and tested for associations with body morphometric traits in Chinese Luxi Blackhead (LXBH) sheep. Novel deletion loci in the LXBH GHR gene included P2-del-23 bp and P8-del-23 bp indel variants. The polymorphic information content (PIC) was 0.329 in P2-del-23 bp and 0.257 in P8-del-23 bp. Moreover, both indel polymorphisms were not at Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (p < 0.05) in the LXBH population. Statistical analyses revealed that the P2-del-23 bp and P8-del-23 bp indels were significantly associated (p < 0.05) with several growth traits in rams and ewes, including body weight, body height, chest depth, chest width, chest circumference, cannon circumference, paunch girth and hip width. Among the tested sheep, the body traits of those with genotype DD were superior to those with II and ID genotypes, suggesting that the ‘D’ allele was responsible for the positive effects on growth traits. Thus, these results indicate that the P2-del-23 bp and P8-del-23 bp indel sites and the DD genotype can be useful in marker-assisted selection in sheep.
Lower Bounds on the Depth of Integral ReLU Neural Networks via Lattice Polytopes

We prove that the set of functions representable by ReLU neural networks with integer weights strictly increases with the network depth while allowing arbitrary width. More precisely, we show that $\lceil\log_2(n)\rceil$ hidden layers are indeed necessary to compute the maximum of $n$ numbers, matching known upper bounds. Our results are based on the known duality between neural networks and Newton polytopes via tropical geometry. The integrality assumption implies that these Newton polytopes are lattice polytopes. Then, our depth lower bounds follow from a parity argument on the normalized volume of faces of such polytopes.
Ultraviolet B radiation (UV-B) and the growth and skeletal development of the Amazonian milk frog (Trachycephalus resinifictrix ) from metamorphosis

In captivity some anurans can show poor growth and skeletal development due to inadequate levels of UV-B radiation. From metamorphosis for 84 days the growth and skeletal development of Amazonian milk frogs (Trachycephalus resinifictrix) were assessed between treatments receiving daily UV-B (UV/daily), intense UV-B for 30 min every two weeks (UV/boost), or no UV-B (control). At 14 day intervals snout-urostyle length, weight, and X-ray images were taken. At day 84 five morphometric skeletal variables were measured and compared for absolute values and isometry. At day 42 and 84, X-ray images were compared for maximum opacity. At day 84 the UV/daily treatment showed greater snout-urostyle length, weight, condition index, vertebrae length, head width, and femur length than the other two treatments. The head width:snout-urostyle length ratio was greater in the control than in the UV/daily treatment. Calcification did not vary between treatments at day 84. Skeletal development in the control showed symmorphic growth of increased head width: head length ratio. The UV-B treatment showed preferential allometric skeletal development of components that increased mobility and feeding ability including head width, and vertebrae and femur length. Overall, these results show that in T. resinifictrix; (1) the provision of daily UV-B improved growth and skeletal development, (2) allometric skeletal development occurs during healthy juvenile growth, (3) symmorphic skeletal development occurs under conditions of poor growth, and (4) the provision of UV-B may be necessary in both research of the development of some amphibians and in conservation breeding programs or other husbandry. Key words: Skeletal development, UV-B, anuran, growth, conservation.
DNA damage analysis concerning GSTM1 and GSTT1 gene polymorphism in gold jewellery workers from Peshawar Pakistan

Abstract Purpose To evaluate the genotoxic effects of gold jewellery fumes and its association with GSTM1 and GSTT1 genetic polymorphisms. Materials and methods We examined 94 subjects including 54 gold jewellery workers and 40 controls. The DNA damage was evaluated by alkaline comet assay and genotyping by PCR. Results The mean total comet score (TCS) in gold jewellery workers was significantly higher as compared to the control subjects (128.0 ± 60.6 versus 47.7 ± 21.4; p = 0.0001). Duration of occupational exposure had positive correlation (r = 0.453, p < 0.01) with DNA damage. Age and tobacco use had significant effects on the TCS of the exposed group as compared to the control group (p < 0.05). The frequency of the GSTM1-null genotype in the exposed group was significant (p = 0.004) as compared to the control group. No significant association (p > 0.05) between the GSTM1 and GSTT1 genotypes and DNA damage was found. Conclusions Our results suggest that there is increased DNA damage in gold jewellery workers due to their occupational surroundings. Hence there is a strong need to educate the workers about the adverse health effects of potentially hazardous chemicals and highlight the importance of using protective measures.
The Impact of Severe Infectious Complications on Long-term Prognosis for Gastric Cancer

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of postoperative infectious complications on long-term outcomes after curative resection of gastric cancer. Patients and Methods: Patients who underwent curative gastrectomy with lymphadenectomy for gastric cancer at Yokohama City University and Kanagawa Cancer Center from January 2000 to August 2015 were retrospectively selected from medical records. Clinicopathological factors between patients with and without infectious complications were compared. Prognostic factors of long-term survival were analyzed by univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazards analyses. Results: A total of 2,254 patients were eligible for inclusion in the present study. Fifty-eight patients had postoperative infectious complications (IC group); 2,196 had no postoperative infectious complications (NC group). In the IC group, the median age (p=0.031), body mass index (p=0.004), American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status (p=0.006) and percentage of male patients (p<0.001) were higher in comparison to the NC group. The operation time was longer (p<0.001) and the incidence of intestinal-type histology was higher (p=0.017) in the IC group. The 5-year overall survival rates of the IC and NC groups were 59.8% and 83.2%, respectively (p<0.001). Univariate and multivariate analyses demonstrated that postoperative infectious complications were a significant risk factor for poorer overall survival (hazard ratio=2.38; 95% confidence interval=1.47-3.85, p<0.001). Conclusion: Perioperative management is necessary to reduce the incidence of postoperative infectious complications and improve the survival of patients after curative resection of gastric cancer.
Reorganisation of faecal microbiota transplant services during the COVID-19 pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to an exponential increase in SARS-CoV-2 infections and associated deaths, and represents a significant challenge to healthcare professionals and facilities. Individual countries have taken several prevention and containment actions to control the spread of infection, including measures to guarantee safety of both healthcare professionals and patients who are at increased risk of infection from COVID-19. Faecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) has a well-established role in the treatment of Clostridioides difficile infection. In the time of the pandemic, FMT centres and stool banks are required to adopt a workflow that continues to ensure reliable patient access to FMT while maintaining safety and quality of procedures. In this position paper, based on the best available evidence, worldwide FMT experts provide guidance on issues relating to the impact of COVID-19 on FMT, including patient selection, donor recruitment and selection, stool manufacturing, FMT procedures, patient follow-up and research activities.
In vitro pollen germination capacity of Citrullus lanatus L., (Cucurbitaceae).

Pollen germination capacity of Citrullus lanatus L. , (Cucurbitaceae) in “hanging drop” technique was evaluated up to 48 weeks. The collected pollen were stored at different temperatures (4oC, -20oC, -30C and -60oC). The pollen were also treated in organic solvents (acetone, benzene & chloroform), in vacuum over silica gel and in freeze dryer (-60oC) for 30 minutes. The study indicates that low temperature is far better than high temperature with respect to pollen germination capacity and viability. In organic solvents benzene showed better results as compared to vacuum dried pollen. Freeze dryer (-60oC) seems to be the best method to store pollen grains for a long period of time.
Characteristics and clinical outcomes of COVID‐19 patients in an underserved‐inner city population: A single tertiary center cohort

There is limited information describing the characteristics and clinical outcomes of patients infected with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) especially those in underserved urban area with minority population in the United States. This is a retrospective single‐center study for patients who were admitted with COVID‐19 infection. Data collection was from 1 March through 24 April 2020. Demographic, clinical, laboratory, and treatment data were presented using descriptive statistics and frequencies. The χ2 test and multivariate logistic regression were used to determine association of risk factors and clinical outcomes. A total of 242 inpatients were included with a mean age of 66 ± 14.75 (±standard deviation). A total of 50% were female and 70% were African American. Comorbidities included hypertension (74%), diabetes mellitus (49%), and 19% had either COPD or asthma. Older age was associated with higher risk of inpatient death odds ratio (OR): 1.056 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.023‐1.090; P = .001). Inpatient mortality occurred in 70% who needed mechanical ventilation (OR: 29.51; 95% CI: 13.28‐65.60; P < .0001), 58% who required continuous renal replacement therapy/hemodialysis (CRRT/HD) (OR: 6.63; 95% CI: 2.74‐16.05; P < .0001), and 69% who needed vasopressors (OR: 30.64; 95% CI: 13.56‐69.20; P < .0001). Amongst biomarkers of disease severity, only baseline CRP levels (145 ± 116 mg/L) were associated with mortality OR: 1.008 (95% CI: 1.003‐1.012; P = .002). Majority of hospitalized patients had hypertension and diabetes. Older age was an independent risk factor for inpatient mortality. Requirement of mechanical ventilation, vasopressor use, and CRRT/HD was associated significantly with inpatient mortality. Higher baseline CRP was significantly associated with inpatient death.
Evaluating the Clinical Impact of Rapid Response Electroencephalography: The DECIDE Multicenter Prospective Observational Clinical Study*

Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text. Objectives: To measure the diagnostic accuracy, timeliness, and ease of use of Ceribell rapid response electroencephalography. We assessed physicians’ diagnostic assessments and treatment plans before and after rapid response electroencephalography assessment. Primary outcomes were changes in physicians’ diagnostic and therapeutic decision making and their confidence in these decisions based on the use of the rapid response electroencephalography system. Secondary outcomes were time to electroencephalography, setup time, ease of use, and quality of electroencephalography data. Design: Prospective multicenter nonrandomized observational study. Setting: ICUs in five academic hospitals in the United States. Subjects: Patients with encephalopathy suspected of having nonconvulsive seizures and physicians evaluating these patients. Interventions: Physician bedside assessment of sonified electroencephalography (30 s from each hemisphere) and visual electroencephalography (60 s) using rapid response electroencephalography. Measurements and Main Results: Physicians (29 fellows or residents, eight attending neurologists) evaluated 181 ICU patients; complete clinical and electroencephalography data were available in 164 patients (average 58.6 ± 18.7 yr old, 45% females). Relying on rapid response electroencephalography information at the bedside improved the sensitivity (95% CI) of physicians’ seizure diagnosis from 77.8% (40.0%, 97.2%) to 100% (66.4%, 100%) and the specificity (95% CI) of their diagnosis from 63.9% (55.8%, 71.4%) to 89% (83.0%, 93.5%). Physicians’ confidence in their own diagnosis and treatment plan were also improved. Time to electroencephalography (median [interquartile range]) was 5 minutes (4–10 min) with rapid response electroencephalography while the conventional electroencephalography was delayed by several hours (median [interquartile range] delay = 239 minutes [134–471 min] [p < 0.0001 using Wilcoxon signed rank test]). The device was rated as easy to use (mean ± sd: 4.7 ± 0.6 [1 = difficult, 5 = easy]) and was without serious adverse effects. Conclusions: Rapid response electroencephalography enabled timely and more accurate assessment of patients in the critical care setting. The use of rapid response electroencephalography may be clinically beneficial in the assessment of patients with high suspicion for nonconvulsive seizures and status epilepticus.
Adjunctive Fluvoxamine for Schizophrenia: A Meta-analysis of Randomized Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trials.

BACKGROUND This was a meta-analysis of double-blind, randomized controlled trials that examined the therapeutic effects and tolerability of adjunctive fluvoxamine versus placebo for schizophrenia. METHODS The Review Manager, Version 5.3, was used to analyze data. RESULTS Five double-blind randomized controlled trials (N = 284) covering 145 patients on adjunctive fluvoxamine and 139 patients on placebo were included in the analyses. Meta-analyses of total psychopathology, and negative, positive, and depressive symptoms did not show significant differences between the fluvoxamine and placebo groups. Two studies examined the effects of adjunctive fluvoxamine on cognitive functioning with mixed findings. Fluvoxamine was superior over placebo in lessening weight gain and metabolic abnormalities. Although fluvoxamine led to more discontinuation, no significant group differences were found regarding adverse drug reactions. CONCLUSIONS There was inconsistent evidence for the therapeutic effect of adjunctive fluvoxamine on cognitive functions and preliminary evidence for alleviating metabolic syndrome caused by clozapine. More studies are needed to explore further the effectiveness of adjunctive fluvoxamine for schizophrenia.
Intravascular Cutaneous Disorders. A Clinicopathologic Review.

Intravascular proliferations of the skin are clinically heterogeneous and may present with a wide range of clinical features, including violaceous papules, nodules, plaques, or other unspecific cutaneous lesions. Histopathologically, these conditions are characterized by proliferation of different cell types within the lumina of dermal vessels and endothelial cell hyperplasia. Immunohistochemistry is the best tool to identify the nature of the intravascular proliferating cells and the type of involved vessel. In this review, we analyzed the clinicopathologic and immunohistochemical characteristics of intravascular large cell lymphoma, T-cell and natural killer-cell intravascular large cell lymphoma, intralymphatic variant of CD30 cutaneous lymphoproliferative disorders, benign atypical intralymphatic CD30 T-cell proliferation, reactive angioendotheliomatosis, intralymphatic histiocytosis, papillary intralymphatic angioendothelioma or Dabska tumor, glomeruloid hemangioma, papillary hemangioma, intravascular papillary endothelial hyperplasia or Masson phenomenon, and the intralymphatic involvement of Merkel cell carcinoma, cutaneous metastases, and cutaneous angiosarcoma.
Late Miocene Mauremys (Testudines, Geoemydidae) from Tuscany (Italy): Evidence of Terrapin Persistence after a Mammal Turnover

Abstract The occurrence of freshwater turtle remains in the late Miocene lignites of southern Tuscany (Montebamboli and Casteani, Italy) has been known since the nineteenth century. Three chelonian species were recognized by Ristori in 1891: Emys depressa, E. campanii, and E. parva. Revision of their type material, together with the study of new fossils from a different but correlated locality, Pian Calcinaio (Scansano), allows one to state that they can be referred to the genus Mauremys and that they belong to one single species. The new combination M. campanii (Ristori, 1891) is here proposed. Phylogenetic analysis indicates that M. campanii is closely related to the modern post-Miocene group of Mauremys species and shows a sister-group relationship with the Plio-Pleistocene M. gaudryi. The remains of M. campanii come from an insular setting which progressively lost its endemic mammal fauna, defined as the Oreopithecus Zone Fauna, enabling us to compare the pattern of survival of the chelonians with that of the mammals. In contrast to the radical turnover suffered by mammals, softshell turtles (Trionyx sp.) and terrapins (M. campanii) are present both in the pre-Messinian V1–V2 and Messinian V3 assemblages. Terrestrial tortoises (Testudo amiatae Pantanelli, 1893, Testudo s.l.) show a different pattern, because they appear only in the V3 assemblage, possibly because they apparently dispersed into Italy as recently as the Messinian. M. campanii represents the southernmost evidence of the genus Mauremys in the uppermost Miocene of Europe, filling a gap in the palaeogeographic and chronological distribution of this genus.
Carbohydrate‐based fat replacers in the modification of the rheological, textural and sensory quality of yoghurt: comparative study of the utilisation of barley beta‐glucan, guar gum and inulin

Summary Barley beta-glucan, partially hydrolysed guar gum and inulin were used in the processing of low-fat yoghurts. The possible beneficial effects of carbohydrate fat replacers on the rheological, textural and sensory quality of low-fat yoghurt-based products were determined. Comparisons were made between the sample yoghurts made from a low-fat milk base, and full-fat and low-fat yoghurt controls. The inclusion of the carbohydrate components reduced product syneresis and improved the texture and rheological properties of the low-fat-based products so that their quality characteristics were similar to yoghurt made with full-fat milk. Both the type and also the amount of carbohydrate component altered product characteristics. Beta-glucan addition at low level (0.5%) was effective in improving serum retention of the yoghurt and its viscoelastic nature (G′, G′ and tan δ). In contrast, higher levels (above 2%) of inulin and guar gum were needed to exert significant improvements in the textural characteristics of yoghurt. Sensory analysis conducted on the samples illustrated that the inclusion of carbohydrate-based fat replacers could be successfully utilised to mimic full-fat products.