Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Systemic right ventricle in elderly patients with congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries: Clinical profile, cardiac biomarkers, and echocardiographic parameters

Objective: The number of patients with congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries (ccTGA) surviving to old age is increasing. This study therefore sought to characterize “geriatric” systemic right ventricle (sRV) in terms of clinical profile, cardiac biomarkers, and echocardiography-derived function when compared with findings in younger patients. Methods: A single-center cross-sectional study of adults with ccTGA was performed. Patients underwent clinical assessment; transthoracic echocardiography; and venous blood sampling including N-terminal pro–B-type natriuretic peptide (NTproBNP), galectin-3, and soluble suppression of tumorgenicity 2 (sST2) measurements. In the echocardiographic study, the sRV function was assessed using fractional area change (FAC), tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE), systolic pulsed-wave Doppler velocity (s′), and longitudinal strain (LS). Results: Ten patients with ccTGA aged 60 years or older and 53 patients younger than 60 years of age were included. There were significantly more individuals with hypertension (40% vs. 5.7%), dyslipidaemia (50% vs. 5.7%), and atrial fibrillation (70% vs. 20.7%) in the older group; similarly, we found higher NTproBNP (2706 pg/mL vs. 784.7 pg/mL; p<0.001), and galectin-3 (10.15 ng/mL vs. 7.24 ng/mL; p=0.007) concentrations in elderly ccTGA individuals, while sST2 content did not vary significantly according to age. Upon echocardiographic assessment, lower sRV FAC (28.6% vs. 36.1%; p=0.028) and LS (−12% vs. −15.5%; p=0.017) values were observed in patients aged 60 years or older. TAPSE and s’ did not differ between the age groups. Conclusion: Careful screening for acquired comorbidities, particularly atrial fibrillation, in elderly ccTGA patients is warranted. Examining selected cardiac biomarkers and echocardiography-derived parameters are useful in the assessment of the aging sRV.
On some species of Eremaeozetes Berlese 1913 (Acari Oribatida Eremaeozetidae) from South Africa

New records of four species of the genus Eremaeozetes Berlese 1913 from South Africa are presented. Eremaeozetes louisae n. sp. and E. nasutus n. sp. are described and illustrated. A supplemental description with illustrations of E. machadoi Mahunka 1989 is given; records of E. capensis Schatz 2001 are added. The term “Eremaeozetes-reticulatus-group” is proposed for a group of morphologically closely related Eremaeozetes species, including Eremaeozetes araucana Monetti et al. 1994, E. lineatus Mahunka 1985, E. louisae n. sp. , E. machadoi Mahunka 1989, E. nasutus n. sp. , E. reticulatus Balogh 1958, and E. sabinae Schatz 2000. A diagnostic key for the known Eremaeozetidae species from the Ethiopian region is provided.
How Do Crop Area and Management Intensity Influence Tropical Lizard Species Diversity?

Crop area (CA) and agricultural management intensity (AMI) are the two main factors associated with agricultural systems that can negatively affect the diversity of animal communities. Despite existing knowledge, the effect of both factors has not been analyzed for all biological groups. In this study, we evaluated the effect of CA and AMI in two types of crop farming (intensive and semitraditional) on the diversity of tropical lizards in a mosaic of agricultural land and subdeciduous tropical forest. The results of this study show that by grouping crops, CA reduces lizard species richness and diversity, while lizard abundance is not related to either CA or AMI. However, when crops are assessed separately, AMI and CA are found to reduce richness and diversity in semitraditional crops. Lizard abundances in both types of crops are unrelated to any factor. Our results show that lizard diversity is more affected by CA than AMI; however, the magnitude of the effect depends on the type of crop farming.
An Examination of Public Hospital Productivity and its Persistence: An Index Number Approach

This paper measures the level and growth of total factor productivity (TFP) of public hospitals in Victoria, Australia, using an index number approach. We further examine the persistence of productivity over time, and the extent to which productivity varies with hospital characteristics such as hospital size. Hospital administrative data from Victoria from 2007–08 to 2011–12 are used. We find substantial variation in TFP across hospitals: large hospitals perform significantly better than small hospitals, both in TFP level and growth. Productivity level is highly persistent over time, but not productivity growth.
Impact of predation by juvenile Clinus superciliosus on phytal meiofauna. are fish important as predators

Clinus superciliosus (L.) is the dominant resident fish of the rocky intertidal around the Cape Peninsula, South Africa. Meiofauna is frequently recorded in the diet of immature individuals. Predation by juvenile fish on communities was examined in a series of laboratory experiments in which the meiofauna was provided with shelter in the form of several species of algae differing in their morpholoqcal complexity. Although algal complexity significantly influenced the success of predators, results suggest that the fish selected their prey on the basis of size. Typically, they took the largest meiofauna or juvenile macrofauna i. e . amphipods, isopods and polychaetes, and unless the fish were starved, smaller components such as copepods were ignored. Using these data and material from the literature it is concluded that permanent members of the meiofaunal community are unaffected by fish predation and that complex algae only become important as a refuge in tidal pools, where fish occur at high densities for relatively long penods of time. This represents the first attempt at estimating the overall impact of fish predation on rocky shore meiofauna.
Effects of Dietary Protein Level on Growth, Food Conversion, and Protein Use in Young Tilapia nilotica at Four Salinities

Abstract Effect of seven artificial diets, having protein contents ranging from 10 to 48%, on the growth and food conversion in young Tilapia nilotica of mean weight 24 mg were tested in 0‰, 5 ‰, 10‰, and 15‰ salinities. Growth of young T. nilotica was consistently better on diets containing 28–30% protein. For diets up to 30% protein, the fish grew best at 10‰, and for diets of higher protein contents, fish grew best in fresh water. Efficiency of food conversion increased with dietary protein content up to 30% protein level and then decreased at higher contents. Food conversion efficiency was greater for young fish raised in 10‰ than in other salinities.
Encapsulation of Bifidobacterium bifidum by internal gelation method to access the viability in cheddar cheese and under simulated gastrointestinal conditions

Abstract The current study was conducted to elucidate the impact of encapsulation on the stability and viability of probiotic bacteria (Bifidobacterium bifidum) in cheddar cheese and in vitro gastrointestinal conditions. Purposely, probiotics were encapsulated in two hydrogel materials (kepa carrageenan and sodium alginate) by using an internal gelation method. Cheddar cheese was supplemented with unencapsulated/free and encapsulated probiotics. The product was subjected to physicochemical (pH, titrable acidity, moisture, and protein) and microbiological analysis for a period of 35 days of storage. Furthermore, the probiotics (free and encapsulated) were subjected to simulated gastrointestinal conditions. The initial probiotic count in cheese containing encapsulated probiotic was 9.13 log CFU/g and 9.15 log CFU/g which decreased to 8.10 log CFU/g and 7.67 log CFU/g while cheese containing unencapsulated probiotic initially 9.18 log CFU/g decreased to 6.58 log CFU/g over a period of 35 days of storage. The incorporation of unencapsulated and encapsulated probiotic affected the physicochemical, microbiological, and sensory attributes of the cheese. The encapsulated probiotic bacteria exhibited better survival as compared to unencapsulated probiotic. A 2.60 CFU/g log reduction in unencapsulated cells while just 1.03 CFU/g and 1.48 CFU/g log reduction in case of sodium alginate and K‐carrageenan, respectively, was recorded. In short, encapsulation showed protection and stability to probiotic in hostile conditions.
Bird community energetics in a boreal coniferous forest

The annual minimum energy consumption of the bird community was 2524 × 103 kcal km−2, of which 44% was consumed by wintering species and 73% by passerines. The daily energy consumption was in summer 14–16 × 103 and in winter 1–2 × 103 kcal km−2. In spruce forests and in afforested swamps birds required approximately 0.12% of the net primary production. Their total annual energy consumption was covered by invertebrates (59%), vertebrates (2%) and vegetable matter (39%); the food derived from the ground (55%), from trees (44%) and from the air (1%). Arboreal insectivorous passerines, ground passerines and gallinaceous birds were the most important ecological guilds. Among passerines existence metabolism accounted for 73% of the annual energy consumption, extra activity for 17%, breeding activity for 1%, moult for 4% and nestlings for 4%.
Phytoremediation of Pentachlorophenol in the Crested Wheatgrass (Agropyron cristatum × desertorum) Rhizosphere

ABSTRACT Pentachlorophenol (PCP) is a widespread, highly toxic contaminant of soil and water that is generally recalcitrant to microbial breakdown and thus may be considered a good candidate for phytoremediation. PCP toxicity and rates of mineralization were compared in crested wheatgrass seedlings that were either sterile or root-inoculated with microbial consortia derived from soil at a PCP-contaminated site. Inoculated seedlings were more tolerant to PCP and mineralized threefold more 14C-PCP than sterile seedlings. Only 10% of the recovered radioactivity from sterile seedlings represented mineralized PCP, indicating that rhizosphere microorganisms are primarily responsible for PCP mineralization. The levels of PCP degradation exhibited by several microbial consortia and isolates in liquid culture were not correlated with their ability to protect crested wheatgrass seedlings from PCP toxicity. Most probable number estimates showed that the presence of crested wheatgrass root exudates enhanced the number of PCP-degrading microorganisms by 100-fold in liquid culture, indicating that exudate components provide some nutritive benefit, possibly as PCP co-metabolites. A close association of plants and rhizosphere microorganisms appears to be necessary for crested wheatgrass survival in PCP-contaminated soil, although understanding the molecular details of this association requires further research.
Formas farmacêuticas de liberação modificada: polímeros hidrifílicos

Os sistemas de liberacao de farmacos sao parte integrante da investigacao farmaceutica. A maioria dos sistemas de liberacao oral de farmacos e baseada em matrizes polimericas. Nas duas decadas passadas, as matrizes hidrofilicas tornaram-se muito populares na formulacao de formas farmaceuticas de liberacao modificada. A escolha do polimero hidrofilico na formulacao da matriz pode fornecer uma combinacao apropriada dos mecanismos de intumescimento, de dissolucao ou de erosao e determinam a cinetica de liberacao in vitro. As matrizes de intumescimento sao sistemas monoliticos preparados pela compressao de mistura de um polimero hidrofilico e de um farmaco. Elas representam sistemas da liberacao em que os varios mecanismos podem ser adaptados ao programa de liberacao. O sucesso desses sistemas esta relacionado com a tecnologia de fabricacao e com as caracteristicas fisicas e fisico-quimicas do polimero, responsaveis pelo mecanismo de liberacao.
Fasciola gigantica IN ONITSHA AND ENVIRONS

The presence of Fasciola gigantica in cattle slaughtered in Onitsha abattoir and three other abattoirs in Onitsha area of AnambraState, Nigeria was investigated from November to December 2004. The study involved actual postmortem inspection on the slaughtered cattle. The liver were examined for Fasciola bymaking length wise incsion on the ventral side ofthe liver in such a waythat the bile duct and gall bladder are cut open. All cases of Fasciola were detected from the liver. Afor-Igwe abattoir recorded the prevalence rate of 10.8% whle the prevalence rates of 7.0%, 7.7% and 13.4% were recorded at Nkwor-Ogidi abattoir, Oye Olisa abattoir and Onitsha main market abattoir respectively. Out of a tota of 1580 catte examined, 166(10.51%) were infected with F. ggantca. Of the 166 diseased liver, 26(15.7%) had light worm load, 77(46.4%) medum worm load and 63(38%) had heavy worm load. The lowest number of worm recovered per liver was 3 while the highest was 88. This study has established the presence of F. gigantica in Onitsha Area. It was also observed that most diseased liver were not condemned. This situation calls for serious attention o the veterinary workers in the state. In view of the fact that these cattle whichwere brought from the Northern part of Nigeria were made to trek to places of pasture (near streams and rivers) within Onitsha area where the snail intermediate host of the parasite thrives, itis suggested that grazing of cattle should be highly restricted to lesser snail infected areas. The range land system (Artificial pasture land) seems tobe the panacea to fascioliasis in cattle. Keywords : Fasciola gigantica , Cattle, Liver, Onitsha Animal Research International Vol. 3 (2) 2006 pp. 448-450
Journeys to Knua: displacement, return and translocality in Timor-Leste

ABSTRACT Return journeys to ancestral lands are a central dimension that underscores contemporary ideas of origin, identity, kinship, custom, health and prosperity for the East Timorese. The material and social reproduction of knua – both in the sense of the ancestral territory and associated kin-based ritual community – is heavily reliant on ongoing place-based and translocal customary reciprocal exchanges. Based on multi-sited fieldwork, this article examines the return journeys to Lesuai, an ancestral settlement in the remote central southern highlands of Timor-Leste, which was abandoned during the Indonesian invasion and restored in the later years of occupation. Lesuai community believes the spirit realm exerts an overwhelming influence over their general well-being, compelling ‘house’ members to renew their connection with knua to maintain family ties and benefit from ancestral protection. Closer ethnographic attention reveals how the motivations, experiences and understandings of ‘return’ to origin places are highly personal, gendered and generational. Broadly, these return mobilities demonstrate the agency, adaptability and resilience of conflict-affected populations. Through prolonged displacement and resettlement, dispersed knua members have created new livelihoods, subjectivities and attachments across multiple places, which are reconfiguring family ties, connections to ancestral places, and how ritual obligations are fulfilled.
Morphological description of the megalopa and the first juvenile crab stage of Chiromantes eulimene (Decapoda, Brachyura, Sesarmidae), with a revision on zoeal morphology

The complete larval development of a sesarmid crab from East Africa, Chiromantes eulimene (De Man 1895) was obtained through laboratory culture. It consists of five zoeal stages and a megalopa, followed by metamorphosis to the first juvenile crab. The morphology of all zoeal stages is revised and compared with previous descriptions. The megalopa and the first juvenile crab stage are, for the first time, fully described in detail and compared with those of other known species of the genus Chiromantes and further sesarmid crabs. The megalopal morphology of C. eulimene presents the typical combination of features that characterize sesarmid megalopae. The first crab stage is also similar to that of other sesarmid species, for which morphological descriptions are available.
Amino Acid and Fatty Acid Composition of Cultured Beluga (Huso huso) of Different Ages

The amino acids (AA) and fatty acids (FA) of Beluga (Huso huso) flesh at different ages were investigated as a source of AA and FA for human consumption. The analysis of Huso huso lipids (chloroform extracted) showed significant differences (p < .05) for specific FA with age. At all ages, the major saturated FA in Huso huso fillets was palmitic acid and the major unsaturated FA were oleic and docosahexanoic acid (DHA). Protein analysis indicated that the Huso huso muscle is well balanced with good levels of essential AA and appears to be a source of high quality protein (tryptophan was not measured) with methionine/cysteine as the first limiting AA. The major AA were glutamic acid, aspartic acid, and lysine. The results obtained from the present study show that Huso huso is an excellent protein and fat source when compared with other sturgeons.
Prevalence and new histopathological aspects of Haemoproteus spp. in pigeons from Iran

Haemoproteus spp. is pathogenic protozoan that effecting blood circulatory system of birds. After reading various articles and texts different opinions were found about histopathological lesions and shapes of schizonts in different species of Haemoproteus . The present study was undertaken to evaluate the presence of Haemoproteus spp. in pigeons from Iran and its histopathological changes. A total of 108 blood samples were taken from pigeons to investigate Haemoproteus spp. presence by blood smear and semi-nested PCR targeting the cytochrome b gene methods. Also to evaluate histopathological changes 12 infected pigeons to Haemoproteus were sacrificed and studied. 34.2% of pigeons infected with Haemoproteus showed macro and microgametocytes in their erythrocytes while based on the molecular method 63.8% were infected. Results of histopathological study showed that focal lymphocytic aggregates, pigmentation and cell swelling in livers, multifocal nonsuppurative interstitial nephritis, pigmentation and white pulp hyperplasia in spleens were the main histopathological lesions in infected pigeons. Mild lymphocytic myocarditis in heart of one pigeon was the other finding. No histopathological changes were seen in brain, intestine and pancreas. Schizonts with variable shapes and sizes were detected in infected livers, lungs, kidneys and spleens but megaloschizonts were not found. This study is the first report of molecular prevalence of Haemoproteus spp. in Iran.
Changes in the Selection of Microhabitat by Juvenile Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar) at the Summer–Autumn Transition in a Small River

Over three summers we used direct underwater observation to examine the summer to autumn differences in seven microhabitat properties of three age-classes of juvenile Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) in the Little Sevogle River of northeastern New Brunswick. Salmon of all three age-classes occupied a wide range of water depths during summer, but were concentrated mainly in depths of 24–36 cm. In autumn, they occurred in this range almost exclusively. The streambed stones most closely associated with the individual positions of all ages were always <20 cm in summer and mostly (84–92%) <10 cm in diameter. In autumn, all ages were associated with home stones up to 40 cm in diameter, with 65–83% of the stones exceeding 20 cm; the size of home stones selected increased with fish age in autumn. There was no apparent relationship between the water depth and home stone size distributions occupied by all age-classes and available in the stream during either summer or autumn. Summer focal water velocity (velocity at t.
Visual Participatory Analysis: A Qualitative Method for Engaging Participants in Interpreting the Results of Randomized Controlled Trials of Health Interventions

This article contributes to the field of mixed methods by introducing a new method for eliciting participant perspectives of the quantitative results of randomized controlled trials. Participants are rarely asked to interpret trial results, obscuring potentially valuable information about why a trial either succeeds or fails. We introduce a unique method called visual participatory analysis and discuss the insights gained in its use as part of a trial to prevent risk and reduce the prevalence of diabetes in Bangladesh. Findings highlight benefits such as elucidating contextualized explanations for null results and identifying causal mechanisms, as well as challenges around communicating randomized controlled trial methodologies to lay audiences. We conclude that visual participatory analysis is a valuable method to use after a trial.
Factors that Influence the Number of Patent Deposited in some Countries of the American Continent

The information technology available in the world is disclosed only in the form of patent documents deposited, which also reflect the scientific and technological level of a country. This paper has the objective of identifying what are the main factors that influence the generation of these patents in some American countries. A modeling study via multiple linear regression to analyze the effects of the number of published articles, gross domestic product (GDP), population and variations in number of patents over the last year and the last two years, about number of patents in those countries. The patent data were obtained from the World Intellectual Property Organization, data on GDP and population come from the World Bank and the amount of scientific articles from the SCImago Journal & Country Rank. Based on the selection criteria, the countries chosen for modeling were United States, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, Chile and Argentina. The results indicated that in the United States the number of patents increases as GDP. In all other countries, the variation in the number of patents in relation to two recent years contributes to an increase in the number of patents. In Brazil, Argentina and Chile, in addition to this variation, an increase of the population favors the patent number. In Canada and Colombia, the number of patents also increases according to the number of articles published. In Mexico, the variation in two years and the GDP contributed to the increase in the number of patent.
Species diversity of marine macrobenthos in the Virginia area

Species diversity of benthic macro-organisms as measured by Shannon’s formula was highest on the outer continental shelf. Benthic diversity was higher in polyhaline zones of estuaries than on the shallow shelf and decreased sharply into the mesohaline zone, declining to the lowest in oligohaline zones. In addition to environmental stability and salinity regime, sediment grain size and pollution also affect species diversity. Analysis of the components of informational diversity, species richness and equitability indicates that the richness component accounts for most of the observed pattern, although both components are important to within-habitat differences.