Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of nephroprotective and antioxidant activity of Mahonia leschenaultia takeda on acetaminophen-induced toxicity in rat

Mahonia leschenaultia takeda (Berberidaceae) (MLT) is a traditional medicinal plant that is commonly used to treat and improve liver and renal conditions in India and other Asian countries. Acetaminophen (APAP) is commonly used as an analgesic and an antipyretic agent that, in high doses, produces liver and kidney necrosis in mammals. The aim of this study was to investigate the nephroprotective and antioxidant activities of the ethanol extract of MLT at two dose levels of 250 and 500 mg kg−1 bw on APAP-induced toxicity in rats. APAP significantly increased levels of serum urea, hemoglobin (Hb), total leukocyte count, creatinine, packed cell volume, DLC, and mean corpuscular volume, raised body weight, and reduced levels of neutrophils, mean corpuscular Hb content, mean corpuscular hematocrit, granulocytes, uric acid, and platelet concentration. MLT inhibited the hematological effects of APAP. MLT significantly increased activities of renal superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione, and glutathione peroxidase and decreased malondialdehyde content of APAP-treated rats. Apart from these, histopathological changes also showed the protective nature of the MLT extract against APAP-induced necrotic damage of renal tissues. In conclusion, data suggest that the ethanol extract of MLT prevented renal damage from APAP-induced nephrotoxicity in rats and it is likely mediated through antioxidant activities.
Influence of local stand basal area on density and growth of regeneration in uneven‐aged Picea abies stands

In single‐tree selection, trees removed by harvest or lost through mortality are replaced by ingrowth from the seedling/sapling bank. Because the level of ingrowth is governed not only by the recruitment rate of new seedlings, but also by mortality and growth rates within the seedling/sapling stratum, knowledge of how these processes are related to the tree stratum is important for successful application of single‐tree selection. Therefore, Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst. ) regeneration (0.1 m ≤ height ≤ 2.0 m) was measured on seventy 100 m2 circular subplots at each of two sites in central and northern Sweden. Both sites had previously been selectively logged, but the time elapsed since the last harvest was at least 30 yrs. Basal area of trees of at least 2 m height within three different radii from the subplot centres was measured. Measurements on regeneration included height and leader length. Influence of local stand basal area on density and growth of regeneration was analysed by ordinary least.
Diagnostic PET/CT for detecting malignant lymph nodes in patients with cervical cancer Stage IB1

Cervical cancer is the fourth most frequent cancer among women and a common cause of death in the female population [1]. Approximately 30% of patients with cervical cancer develop recurrent disease, most within two years after therapy completion [2]. After the initial diagnosis of cervical cancer, all patients treated at Rigshospitalet, University Hospital Copenhagen, Denmark underwent clinical staging under general anesthesia in accordance with the FIGO classification. Patients with greater than Stage 1A underwent a PET/CT scan to evaluate possible spread to lymph nodes and distant metastatic disease. Patients with Stage IB1 disease were usually surgically treated. If PET-positive lymph nodes were detected, a diagnostic laparoscopy was performed to remove the lymph nodes for histological examination. Nodal status is not included in the FIGO staging system, but was used for treatment guidance [3-5]. In the literature, FDG-PET was superior to conventional imaging methods for detecting metastatic lymph nodes and metastatic disease [6-9]. Tumor volume and lymph node involvement determined by FDG-PET were predictors of overall survival [10]. The presence of metastatic para-aortic lymph nodes was the most important prognostic factor for recurrence and death and generally indicated a poor prognosis. Postsurgical stage was a better indicator of prognosis than clinical FIGO stage [6, 8, 11-13]. PET/CT has been used at Rigshospitalet in cervical cancer for over ten years [14]. A retrospective study evaluated 65 selected cervical cancer (Stage IB-IVA) patients treated there from 2006 to 2011. They all underwent diagnostic laparoscopy due to PET-positive lymph nodes. Thirty-five percent of the patients had false-positive lymph nodes, indicating no sign of malignancy at conclusive histological examination [15]. The reason for false-positive results may be benign tumours (histiocytosis), infection, and inflammation. The female abdomen is difficult to evaluate due to FDG-activity in ovaries, ureters, and intestines [14]. The objective of this study was to evaluate results of initial PET/CT in patients with cervical cancer Stage IB1. The authors hypothesized that the positive predictive value was high, i.e. the rate of false-positive lymph nodes on PET/CT was low. The present authors believed that their skills improved with experience in the assessment of PET/CT.
The effect of weather on Sorex cinereus activity

The effect of weather on the daily activity of Sorex cinereus has been observed during eight consecutive summers. Sorex cinereus activity greatly increases when rain falls at night. Maximum activity occurs when about 1 cm of rain falls. Afternoon rainfall may also result in increased activity if S. cinereus have been relatively inactive on previous nights and the night remains cloudy. When rain does not fall, activity increases moderately with temperature, but this response is not evident when rain falls in the afternoon or evening. Weather explains at least 27% of the variation in S. cinereus activity.Total summer activity is greatly influenced by temperature and rainfall in April (warm and wet preferred). The effect of weather on S. cinereus activity is discussed in terms of the biology of the species and theories of population estimation.
Seasonal Prevalence and Intensity of Infestation by the Ectoparasites in Carps Relating to Physico-Chemical Parameters in Some Ponds of Mymensingh and Bogra Districts of Bangladesh

The research work was conducted to find out the seasonal prevalence and intensity of infestation of the ectoparasites of carps in some ponds of Mymensingh and Bogra districts of Bangladesh. Seven species of parasites viz. Trichodina domerguei, Trichodina reticulata, Chilodonella cyprini, Myxobohts koi, Dactylogiroides tripathi, D. extenswi and D. catlarius were found from 640 fry-fingerlings of silver carp, Hypophthalmicthys mohtrix (Valenciennes), grass carp, Ctenopharyngodon idella (Valenciennes), European carp, Cyprinns carpio (Linnaeus), small carp, Puntius gonionotus (Bleeker), katla, Catla catla (Hamilton), rui, Labeo rohita (Hamilton-Buchanan) and mrigal, Cirrhina mrigala (HamiltonBuchanan) from different nurseries and rearing ponds of Mymensingh and Bogra districts of Bangladesh during June, 2004 to October, 2005. The overall percentage of infestations in two study areas was the highest (95%) in winter, moderate (48%) in summer and the lowest (34.8%) in the rainy season. The physicochemical parameters of water exerted more or less significant combined effect on the occurrence of parasites.
Factors Influencing Success of Greenback Cutthroat Trout Translocations

Abstract Native subspecies of cutthroat trout Oncorhynchus clarki have declined drastically because of the introduction of nonnative salmonids, overharvesting, and habitat degradation. Conservation of most declining subspecies will include establishing new populations through translocation of genetically pure fish. Recovery of greenback cutthroat trout O. clarki stomias has been ongoing for 25 years, so the attempted translocations of this subspecies provide unique empirical information to guide recovery of other nonanadromous salmonids. We compared 14 translocations that successfully established populations of greenback cutthroat trout to 23 that failed to determine the factors that influenced translocation success. Of the translocations that failed, 48% were reinvaded by nonnative salmonids, 43% apparently had unsuitable habitat, and 9% experienced suppression by other factors. Reinvasion occurred most often because of failed artificial barriers or incomplete removal of nonnative salmonids in complex ha.
Patterns of diversity along experimental gradients of disturbance and nutrient supply—the confounding assumptions of the Intermediate Disturbance Hypothesis

A model of the interactive effects of disturbance and productivity on diversity predicts peak diversity to shift towards higher disturbance regimes as productivity increases, confining the Intermediate Disturbance Hypothesis to intermediate productivity levels. We conducted a two-factorial (disturbance, nutrients) field experiment to test the validity of this model for two subtropical intertidal rocky shores. Treatment responses varied between distinct community types at two sites. Intensified disturbance increased evenness, and under high nutrient enrichment decreased species richness of communities dominated by encrusting algae, whereas turf-dominated communities remained unaffected. Nutrient additions increased biomass and modulated community composition at both sites, in addition to increasing species richness in encrusting-algal and decreasing evenness of turf-forming assemblages. Thus, only highly enriched encrusting-algal communities followed the model predictions. Different mechanisms appear to control species coexistence in different types of communities, some violating the assumptions of the tested model, i.e. resource limitation and competitive exclusion.
Spatial Distribution of Vascular Epiphytes (including Hemiepiphytes) in a Lowland Amazonian Rain Forest (Surumoni Crane Plot) of Southern Venezuela 1

The mobile crane of the Surumoni project allowed for the first time ever a complete inventory and spatial description of the epiphytic vegetation of a tropical lowland rain forest plot (1.5 ha), at La Esmeralda on the upper Orinoco River, Venezuela. A total of 778 individual vascular epiphytes of 53 species was found, dominated by 19 orchid species and 14 species of Araceae. Fifty percent of all individual plants were obligate ant‐garden epiphytes. The distribution of epiphytes was highly clumped and not random. The clumped occurrence of holoepiphytes (complete life cycle on host tree) was the consequence of the rarity of suitable phorophytes (host trees; e.g., size and age) in the plot and the preference of ants for gaps where most of the ant‐garden epiphytes were found. In comparison, hemiepiphytes were distributed more evenly because of greater independence from tree suitability. The dispersal modes of epiphytes did not explain their distribution patterns. There was no consistent difference in distribution between anemochorous and zoochorous epiphytes, presumably because availability of suitable substrate is the more important factor for epiphyte establishment and growth. Whereas the vertical distribution of epiphytes could be attributed largely to deterministic factors such as physiological adaptation and requirements, horizontal distribution appeared to be governed by suitable substrate, which in turn seemed to be governed by stochastic gap formation.
Oxidative status among a group of pregnant women in relation to gingival health condition

Background: pregnancy as a systemic condition causes changes in the functioning of human body as a whole and specifically in the oral cavity and it also is considered as a stressful condition. These changes may favor the increase of oxidative stress. Aim: The aim of this study was to estimate the level of marker of oxidative stress (malondialdehyde) and antioxidant (uric acid) in saliva of pregnant compared to non-pregnant women and to assess the gingival health condition in both groups. Additionally, unstimulated salivary flow rate was determined in both groups. Subjects, materials and methods: The study group consisted of sixty pregnant women, they were divided into three equal groups according to trimester (20 pregnant women for each trimester), and they were selected randomly from the Maternal and Child Health Care Centers in Baghdad city, their age range was 20-25 years. In addition to 60 newly married non-pregnant women as a control group and matched with age. Collection of unstimulated salivary samples was carried out under standardized conditions. Dental plaque and gingival indices were used for recording the oral hygiene and gingival health respectively. Salivary flow rate was measured then salivary samples were analyzed to determine the level of salivary antioxidant (uric acid) and lipid peroxidation biomarker of oxidative stress (malondialdehyde). Result: The data analysis of the present study found that the level of salivary malondialdehyde was higher among pregnant women compared to non-pregnant controls with statistically significant difference (p<0.05), while salivary uric acid was statistically significantly lower among the pregnant women compared to non-pregnant controls (p<0.05). Salivary analysis demonstrated that the salivary flow rate was statistically significantly lower among the pregnant women compared to non-pregnant controls (p<0.05). The values of plaque and gingival indices were higher among pregnant women compared to non-pregnant controls with statistically significant difference (p<0.05). The correlation of gingival index with plaque index in study and control group was significant (p<0.05), while with others variables were non-significant (p>0.05). Conclusion: The current study showed an increase in oxidative status in saliva during pregnancy that could affect gingival health which was also affected by oral hygiene.
Single-Species Spatial Dynamics May Contribute to Long-Term Rarity and Commonness

A model of spatial population dynamics was developed in which small and large local populations are distinguished. In the model, emigration from small populations is assumed to be inconsequential, but the dynamics of currently small populations are affected by immigration from large ones. If immigration substantially increases the likelihood that a small population will grow large, two alternative stable states are possible in the model corresponding to regional commonness and regional extinction (or regional rarity, if dispersal from safe sites or from outside the region is allowed for). Analysis of the model showed that even a small number of large local populations may play a crucial role in the regional dynamics of some species. The process of regional extinction, when it occurs, may show as an unexpected crash in the time trajectory. See full-text article at JSTOR
The Determinants of the CSRD Categories: Empirical Evidence from Saudi Arabia

The aim of this paper is to elevate the understanding of corporate social responsibility disclosure (CSRD) by analysing the level of CSRD related to threem a in categories (human resources, community involvement and economic disclosure). It examined whether firm characteristics (size, age, return on assets[ROA]and leverage) and corporate governance aspects (governmental, managerial and foreign ownership, the board of director’s size, the number of independent members on the board of directors, CEO duality and audit firm size) are potential determinants of CSRD in Saudi-listed companies. Furthermore, three theoretical frame works (i.e., stakeholder, legitimacy and agency theory) were used to efficiently analyse the findings of the level of CSRD in Saudi Arabia. This study adopted a quantitative approach to examine CSRD practices in the annual reports of 164 companies listed on the Tadawul Stock Exchangein 2012. An information index was devised to collect the data, which were examined using negative binomial regression. The results indicate that firm age is the most influential factor that affects the three categories, where older firms disclose more social information than newly established firms while larger-sized firms disclose more information about human resources and community involvement than smaller firms. Moreover, profitability and debt level are positively significant in disclosing economic information. Finally, human resources practices are significantly reported by most Saudi Arabian
Mass Mortality of Cultured Kuruma Prawn Penaeus japonicus Caused by Vibrio nigripulchritudo

A mass mortality of cultured kuruma prawn Penaeus japonicus occurred in Kagoshima Prefecture in June, 2005. Affected prawns displayed a sluggish behavior or swimming on their side. The mean water temperature during the disease outbreak was 27°C. A black pigment-producing bacterium was isolated from the diseased prawns and was identified as Vibrio nigripulchritudo by bacteriological tests, 16S rDNA sequence analysis and DNA array for discrimination of Vibrio species. High pathogenicity of the isolated bacterium to healthy kuruma prawn was confirmed by intramuscular injection. This is the first report of V. nigripulchritudo infection in kuruma prawn.
Selection for efficiency of food utilisation in laying hens: Direct response in residual food consumption and correlated responses in weight gain, egg production and body weight

Abstract 1. Two‐way selection was performed in a White Leghorn population for percentage residual food consumption, defined as the percentage deviation of the observed from the expected food consumption. Expected food consumption was estimated using a multiple regression equation including weight gain, egg production and metabolic body size as independent variables. 2. Three selection lines were established from a common population, two low lines and one high line. In addition, one control line was kept. The generation interval was one year and the experiment lasted for 4 generations. 3. The direct selection response was considerable and the realised heritability was close to 0.5. Food intake and food conversion (FCR) were lower in the low lines than in the high line. 4. The correlated selection responses showed no phenotypic or genetic correlations between percentage residual food consumption and egg production, but one of the low lines had a heavier adult body weight than the high line. No undesirable c.
Haematological Parameters and Factors Affecting Their Values

﻿This article presents an overview of haematological parameters and factors affecting their values. Blood act as a pathological reflector of the status of the exposed animals to toxicants and other conditions. The examination of blood provides the opportunity to clinically investigate the presence of metabolites and other constituents in the body of animals and it plays a vital role in the physiological, nutritional and pathological status of an animal. Blood constituents change in relation to the physiological status of an animal. These changes are important in assessing the response of farm animals to various physiological situations. These changes are often caused by several factors; some of which are genetic and others, non-genetic. Age, sex, breed and management systems are among the factors that influence blood-based parameters of farm animals. It is important to establish baseline indices for these parameters on the basis of these factors and determine the effects of these factors on these indices.
Hematological and serum biochemical aspects associated with a camel (Camelus dromedarius) naturally infected by Trypanosoma evansi with severe parasitemia in Semnan, Iran

ABSTRACT Objective To determine the presence of Trypanosoma evansi (T. evansi) and the effect of trypanosomosis on hemato-biochemical profile of dromedary camels in Semnan, Iran, which has not been reported yet. Methods To perform this project, blood samples were collected by venipuncture into plain and EDTA-K2-containing vacutainer tubes from 21 dromedary camels (12 males and 9 females) aged 3-18 years, from 4 different regions of Semnan. Results Microscopic examination of stained thin blood smears revealed the presence of T. evansi in one of the samples. However, it should be noted that this sample showed a very high parasitemia (more than 5 trypomastigote were visible per microscopic field with MGG, 1000×). This heavy parasitemia was associated with an 18-year-old female camel that showed symptoms of corneal opacity, intense emaciation and pale mucous membranes. Comparison of hematologyical and serum biochemical profiles between the camel infected by T. evansi and uninfected camels indicated anemia, leukocytosis, hyperproteinemia, hypoalbuminemia, hyperglobulinemia, reduction A/G ratio, increased α 2 , β and globulins and decreased of α 2 globulins and increased the concentration of gamma-glutamyl transferase enzyme. Conclusions Results of the present study revealed that trypanosomosis was present in dromedary camels of Semnan, Iran (infection rate is 4.76%) and hemato-biochemical parameters were markedly affected by camel trypanosomosis.
Chemical Purity of Shewanella oneidensis-Induced Magnetites

Magnetite is a common iron oxide produced both inorganically and biogenically. Biologically-induced magnetite is often originated, under appropriate conditions, as a result of the Fe3+ reduction by dissimilatory iron reducing bacteria, which are usually found in anoxic environments or at the oxic-anoxic interface. Such a Fe3+ bioreduction occurs upon this cation acting as an electron acceptor of an anaerobic respiration, thus creating favorable conditions for magnetite precipitation. This biologically-induced magnetite is an important biomineral in the environments inhabited by iron reducing bacteria. The presence of a variety of cations may influence both the biomineralization process and the resulting biomineral, however this phenomenon has not been investigated extensively. In the present study, we study the effect on the magnetite biomineralization process of the presence of calcium, magnesium and manganese in the culture medium where Shewanella oneidensis lives. We also test the incorporation of these cations into the crystalline structure of inorganic and biogenic magnetite induced by S. oneidensis. According to our findings, manganese ions likely become incorporated into the crystal structure of biologically produced magnetites, while magnesium ions are incorporated in inorganic magnetites, and calcium ions are excluded from the crystal structure of both inorganic and biotic magnetites. We hypothesize that the incorporation of cations into magnetite depends not only on the relative cation radii, but also on the mechanisms of magnetite formation.