Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Test–retest reliability of pulmonary oxygen uptake and muscle deoxygenation during moderate- and heavy-intensity cycling in youth elite-cyclists

ABSTRACT To establish the test–retest reliability of pulmonary oxygen uptake (V̇O2), muscle deoxygenation (deoxy[haem]) and tissue oxygen saturation (StO2) kinetics in youth elite-cyclists. From baseline pedalling, 15 youth cyclists completed 6-min step transitions to a moderate- and heavy-intensity work rate separated by 8 min of baseline cycling. The protocol was repeated after 1 h of passive rest. V̇O2 was measured breath-by-breath alongside deoxy[haem] and StO2 of the vastus lateralis by near-infrared spectroscopy. Reliability was assessed using 95% limits of agreement (LoA), the typical error (TE) and the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). During moderate- and heavy-intensity step cycling, TEs for the amplitude, time delay and time constant ranged between 3.5–21.9% and 3.9–12.1% for V̇O2 and between 6.6–13.7% and 3.5–10.4% for deoxy[haem], respectively. The 95% confidence interval for estimating the kinetic parameters significantly improved for ensemble-averaged transitions of V̇O2 (p < 0.01) but not for deoxy[haem]. For StO2, the TEs for the baseline, end-exercise and the rate of deoxygenation were 1.0–42.5% and 1.1–5.5% during moderate- and heavy-intensity exercise, respectively. The ICC ranged from 0.81 to 0.99 for all measures. Test–retest reliability data provide limits within which changes in V̇O2, deoxy[haem] and StO2 kinetics may be interpreted with confidence in youth athletes.
Age-Dependent Sensory Impairment in COVID-19 Infection and its Correlation with ACE2 Expression

Among individuals who tested positive for coronavirus disease 2019, smell and taste sensations were significantly less impaired among children than among adults, in a stepwise manner. Sensory impairment was correlated with recent data of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 expression in the corresponding age groups. This is the first report to compare sensory impairment in children and adults testing positive for coronavirus disease 2019.
Implications of Tobacco Smoking and Alcohol Consumption on Ectopic Fat Deposition in Individuals After Pancreatitis

Objectives Tobacco smoking and alcohol consumption are established risk factors for pancreatitis. This study investigated the associations between tobacco smoking/alcohol consumption in people after an attack of pancreatitis and intrapancreatic fat deposition (IPFD), intrahepatic fat deposition (IHFD), and skeletal muscle (SMFD) fat deposition. Methods In this cross-sectional study, magnetic resonance imaging was used to quantify IPFD, IHFD, and SMFD by 2 independent raters. A validated questionnaire was used to determine tobacco smoking and alcohol consumption. Results A total of 119 individuals after an attack of pancreatitis were included. Average tobacco smoking contributed most to variance in IPFD (R2 = 6.5%) and least to variance in SMFD (R2 = 0.4%). Average alcohol consumption contributed most to variance in variance in IPFD (R2 = 2.8%) and least to IHFD (R2 = 1.1%). Packs/day contributed more than years of smoking to variance in IPFD (R2 = 4.9 and 0.2%, correspondingly), whereas years of drinking contributed more than average daily alcohol consumption (R2 = 3.9 and 3.2%, correspondingly). Conclusions Tobacco smoking and alcohol consumption contributed more to variance in IPFD than IHFD and SMFD. Smoking contributed more than drinking to variance in IPFD. The daily amount of tobacco smoked appeared to be more important than years of smoking for IPFD.
Influences of Frequent Cool-season Burning Across a Soil Moisture Gradient on Oak Community Structure in Longleaf Pine Ecosystems

Abstract Fire and soil moisture gradients are thought to influence oak community structure in longleaf pine (Pinus palustris Mill.) woodlands. To explore these influences, we measured oak density and species composition within a longleaf pine-wiregrass (Aristida stricta Michaux) dominated landscape subjected to frequent cool-season fires for 70 yr. At 64 locations within the Joseph W. Jones Ecological Research Center in southern Georgia, oak trees, saplings and regeneration (seedlings plus sprouts) were counted in nested plots, and 20 additional measurements were taken to assess physical and chemical properties of soils, disturbance, density of other vegetation and topography. Principal components analysis of soil data revealed a soil moisture and soil chemistry gradient. Trees and saplings were sparse (mean of 37 and 81 per ha) and most common in dry and dry-mesic sites, while regeneration was abundant (mean of 110,100 stems per ha) and well-distributed across the soil moisture gradient. Fifty percent or more (depending on vegetation stratum analyzed) of cumulative species-environment relation was accounted for in the first two axes of a canonical correspondence analysis with axes representing gradients in soil moisture and several chemical and physical properties including mineralizable N, extractable Ca and Mg and soil texture. Three oak species were concentrated in the dry end of the soil moisture gradient, four in the moist end and one was common across much of the gradient. Species distributions probably reflect physiological tolerances of soil moisture extremes plus variation in fire regime caused by differences in soil moisture. Forest fragmentation and prescribed cool season burning may have increased oak densities in this landscape. If so, then this legacy of past management should be considered if managers wish to change fire regimes to better mimic natural disturbance patterns.
Gene action for physiological parameters and use of relative water content (RWC) for selection of tolerant and high yield genotypes in F2 population of wheat

In order to identify parents suitable for use in a breeding program for the development of high quality and high yield varieties of bread wheat with drought tolerant genotypes, the combining ability and gene action for certain physiological traits were investigated in half-diallel crossings among eight parental lines. The cultivars investigated (Irena/Babax//Pastor, S-78-11, Tajan, Chamran, Moghan3, Hamoon, Veery/Nacozari and Hirmand) possess different tolerance levels to drought stress. Eight parental genotypes, and their resulting 28 F2 generations, were grown in a triplicate randomised complete block design. Drought stress and non-stress conditions were achieved through irrigation at 75% and 25% soil moisture depletion. Data were subjected to analysis of variance, combining abilities factor analysis and correlation analysis between drought tolerance indices and factor scores (according to Griffing’s method 2, model 1). General combining ability and specific combining ability effects were significant for traits; however, non-additive gene effects were dominant over additive effects. The cultivar Chamran transmitted high relative water content (RWC) to its progeny, based on general combining ability. Broad-sense heritability was high and strict-sense heritability was low for the traits, confirming the importance of non-additive gene effects. The results of factor analysis revealed that three factors explained approximately 70% of total variation; these factors were strongly influenced by chlorophyll a and b, proline content, cell membrane stability, RWC and plant yield. Based on drought stress indices (STI and GMP), the cross Irena×Chamran was the most tolerant genotype. Correlation coefficients between two drought stress indices and the third factor from the factor analysis, which influenced RWC and plant yield, were positive and significant. Thus, RWC may be a good criterion for selection of tolerant genotypes with higher yields in breeding programmes.
Complication rate, functional outcomes, and risk factors associated with carbon ion radiotherapy for patients with unresectable pelvic bone sarcoma.

BACKGROUND To the authors' knowledge, carbon ion radiotherapy (CIRT) is one of the few curative treatments for unresectable pelvic bone sarcoma. The current study investigated the complications, functional outcomes, and risk factors of CIRT. METHODS Of 112 patients who were treated with CIRT for unresectable pelvic bone sarcoma, the authors enrolled 29 patients who were without local disease recurrence or distant metastasis. The mean follow-up was 93 months. Complications, functional outcomes, and quality of life scores were assessed. Risk factors were analyzed, including the dose-volume histogram of the femoral head. RESULTS Femoral head necrosis occurred in approximately 37% of patients, pelvic fractures were reported in 48% of patients, and neurological deficits were noted in 52% of patients. Femoral head necrosis was found to be significantly more prevalent among patients with periacetabular tumors (P = .018). The dose-volume histogram of the femoral head indicated tolerable volume percentages of the femoral head to be <33% for 40 grays (relative biological effectiveness) and 16% for 60 grays ( relative biological effectiveness). The mean Musculoskeletal Tumor Society score and Toronto Extremity Salvage Score were 53% and 64%, respectively, and the mean EuroQol 5 dimensions questionnaire index was 0.587. Patients aged >50 years and those with periacetabular tumors were found to have significantly lower Toronto Extremity Salvage Scores. CONCLUSIONS Femoral head necrosis, pelvic fracture, and nerve damage are common complications with the use of CIRT for pelvic bone sarcoma. To prevent femoral head necrosis, the radiation dose to the femoral head should be kept below the estimated tolerance curve presented in the current study. The functional outcome is nearly equivalent to that of surgery. CIRT may be a promising alternative to surgery for patients with unresectable pelvic bone sarcoma.
Angiotensin-(1–7) Treatment Restores Pancreatic Microcirculation Profiles

Supplemental digital content is available in the text. Objectives The aim of this study was to investigate the changes of pancreatic microvascular vasomotion and blood distribution pattern in acute pancreatitis (AP), and whether Angiotensin (Ang)-(1–7) treatment could restore pancreatic microcirculation profiles. Methods Mice were randomly separated into control, AP, and Ang-(1–7)-treated AP (A-AP) group. Acute pancreatitis was induced in mice by intraperitoneal injection of cerulein and lipopolysaccharide. Pancreatitis was confirmed by histopathology, serum amylase, and high-sensitive C-reactive protein. Pancreatic microvascular vasomotion and blood distribution pattern in AP progression were assessed by laser Doppler. Meanwhile, ultrastructural changes of pancreatic microcirculation, including microvascular cavity and wall and endothelial mitochondria, were evaluated by transmission electron microscopy. Results Acute pancreatitis mice exhibited pathological pancreatic injuries with lower blood distribution pattern and decreased average blood perfusion, relative velocity, effective frequency, and amplitude of microvascular vasomotion. The pancreatic pathological injuries in Ang-(1–7)-treated mice were significantly alleviated. Consistently, Ang-(1–7) treatment led to a restoration in pancreatic microcirculation profiles. Furthermore, non–Ang-(1–7)-treated mice showed an irregular microvascular wall, narrow cavity, and swelling mitochondria, and these ultrastructural impairments were reversed by Ang-(1–7) administration. Conclusions Pancreatic microcirculation profiles are abnormal in the progression of AP. Angiotensin-(1–7) administration could restore functional status of pancreatic microcirculation.
Modulation of bleomycin‐induced oxidative stress and pulmonary fibrosis by N‐acetylcysteine in rats via AMPK/SIRT1/NF‐κβ

The efficacy of bleomycin (BLM) as an antineoplastic drug is limited to the development of dose and time‐dependent pulmonary fibrosis. This study was intended to investigate the effect of N‐acetylcysteine (NAC) on BLM‐induced pulmonary fibrosis in rats. Twenty rats were randomly divided to the following four groups: Group one served as control; group two received BLM (15 mg/kg, intraperitoneal (ip)) for five consecutive days; group three received NAC (200 mg/kg, ip) for five consecutive days; and group four received NAC 1 hour before BLM for 5 days. The expression of connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), platelet‐derived growth factor (PDGF), silent information regulator l (SIRT1), AMP‐activated protein kinase (AMPK) were determined by qRT‐PCR in lung tissues. The changes in transforming growth factor‐beta1 (TGF‐β1), tumour necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α), interleukin‐β1 (IL‐β1) and nuclear factor kappa‐β (NF‐κβ) in serum were measured by ELISA. The tissue antioxidant status was determined biochemically. BLM administration caused pulmonary fibrosis as evidenced by increased levels of inflammatory mediators (TGF‐β1, TNF‐α, IL‐β1 and NF‐κβ) in serum (P < .05), elevated lipid peroxidation and nitric oxide and depleted endogenous antioxidants in lung tissue (P < .05). The expression levels of SIRT1 and AMPK were significantly decreased (P < .05), while the expression levels of CTGF and PDGF were increased significantly in the BLM group as compared to the control group (P < .05). These alterations were normalized by NAC intervention. NAC markedly attenuated the lung histopathological changes and reduced collagen deposition. These results suggest that NAC exerted an ameliorative effect against BLM‐induced oxidative damage and pulmonary fibrosis via SIRT1/ AMPK/ NF‐κβ pathways.
Effect of Dietary Supplementation with Cod Liver Oil on Cold Shock and Freezability of Boar Semen

Contents The effect of dietary supplementation with cod liver oil (CLO), which is rich in n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), on resistance to cold shock and on freezability of boar semen was investigated. Ejaculates from 29 fertile Norwegian Landrace boars, randomly divided into control (n = 15) and CLO-group (n = 14), were frozen before and after a 12 week period of daily oil supplementation. Before each freezing, semen samples were taken to determine the fatty acid composition of the spermatozoa. Docosahexaenoic acid (22 : 6n-3; DHA) was the major fatty acid in total lipids. The n-3 fatty acid DHA increased in the CLO-group from 25.5 to 32.1% at the expense of the n-6 docosapentaenoic acid (22 : 5n-6), which decreased from 11.3 to 4.2% (p < 0.0001). The concentration of these fatty acids were unchanged in the control group. There was also a significant decrease of other PUFAs in the CLO-group (p < 0.05). Eicosapentaenoic acid (20 : 5n-3) was not found in any sample. At four different steps of the preservation process (30, 15, 5°C and after freezing/thawing) both motility and acrosome integrity were assessed. No significant differences were found either within or between the groups at any of the steps. In conclusion, CLO-supplementation alters the lipid composition of the membranes of boar spermatozoa, however, this does not seem to have any beneficial effect on cold shock and freezability of boar semen.
Interactions between multiple fungi isolated from two bark beetles, Dendroctonus brevicomis and Dendroctonus frontalis (Coleoptera: Curculionidae).

Antagonism between the fungal symbionts of bark beetles may represent a biologically significant interaction when multiple beetle species co-occur in a host tree. Since high density bark beetle populations rapidly and dramatically shift forest characteristics, patterns of competition between the obligate fungal associates of sympatric bark beetle species may have broad ecological effects. Primary and competitive resource acquisition between allopatric and sympatric isolates of mutualist fungi associated with the bark beetles
Supporting and preparing patients for radiotherapy: Patients' and radiation therapists' perspectives on their one-to-one consultations.

OBJECTIVE Patients are often anxious and lack knowledge of radiotherapy prior to commencing treatment. Evidence-based interventions are required to reduce patient anxiety and increase patient preparation before treatment. This study is part of a larger project examining the effectiveness of an innovative preparatory intervention "RT Prepare," to reduce patient psychological distress prior to treatment for breast cancer. This study aimed to explore patients' and RTs' perceptions about the "RT Prepare" intervention and was conducted to assist with refinement of the intervention for future implementation. METHODS Semi-structured interviews were conducted with patients and radiation therapists (RTs) to elicit their perspectives on the "RT Prepare" intervention. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the data. RESULTS Telephone interviews were conducted with 21 patients who had received the intervention and 15 RTs who had delivered the intervention. Patients and RTs described the intervention positively and highlighted that it was beneficial for preparing patients for treatment planning and treatment. The overarching themes were communication skills; preparation; information provision and dedicated space and time. CONCLUSION RT Prepare was well received by patients and RTs. Practice implications Based on the results of this study and our quantitative findings, implementation of the intervention would be beneficial for both patients and RTs.
TDP-43 pathology in primary lateral sclerosis

Abstract Primary lateral sclerosis (PLS) is a controversial form of motor neuron disease (MND), with uncertainty whether it represents a distinct clinico-pathological entity or is simply a variant of classical amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Neuropathological studies provide an opportunity to investigate these issues; however, there have been very few published descriptions of postmortem findings in clinically defined PLS, using modern techniques. Here, we report the neuropathological features of seven cases of PLS with age at onset ranging from 47 to 73 years and disease duration from 3.5 to 35 years. All cases showed chronic degeneration of the primary motor cortex and/or the corticospinal tracts with preservation of lower motor neurons (LMN). All five cases, in which motor cortex was available, had TDP-43 immunoreactive (TDP-ir) cortical pathology. In all seven cases, TDP-ir inclusions were also present in LMN; however, these were always rare, averaging less than one inclusion per tissue section. The finding of TDP-ir pathology in all our cases suggests that PLS and ALS are closely related conditions. Importantly however, the extremely minor involvement of LMN, even after very long disease duration in some cases, suggests that PLS is a distinct form of MND in which LMN are spared or protected.
Genomics and taxonomy in diagnostics for food security: soft-rotting enterobacterial plant pathogens

Soft rot Enterobacteriaceae (SRE) are bacterial plant pathogens that cause blackleg, wilt and soft rot diseases on a broad range of important crop and ornamental plants worldwide. These organisms (spanning the genera Erwinia, Pectobacterium, Dickeya, and Pantoea) cause significant economic and yield losses in the field, and in storage. They are transmissible through surface water, by trade and other movement of plant material and soil, and in some cases are subject to international legislative and quarantine restrictions. Effective detection and diagnosis in support of food security legislation and epidemiology is dependent on the ability to classify pathogenic isolates precisely. Diagnostics and classification are made more difficult by the influence of horizontal gene transfer on phenotype, and historically complex and sometimes inaccurate nomenclatural and taxonomic assignments that persist in strain collections and online sequence databases. Here, we briefly discuss the relationship between taxonomy, genotype and phenotype in the SRE, and their implications for diagnostic testing and legislation. We present novel whole-genome classifications of the SRE, illustrating inconsistencies between the established taxonomies and evidence from completely sequenced isolates. We conclude with a perspective on the future impact of widespread whole-genome sequencing and classification methods on detection and identification of bacterial plant pathogens in support of legislative and policy efforts in food security.
Do Chronotype Differences and Night Eating Syndrome Affect Dental Health?

OBJECTIVE Our aim in this study was to examine the effect of chronotype differences and night eating syndrome on dental health parameters such as the decay-missing-filled-teeth (DMFT) index, the severity of the periodontal disease, and the number of endodontically treated teeth in patients admitted to the dental clinic. METHODS The participants, 210 patients, filled out a package of psychological tools, including the Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire (MEQ), the Night Eating Questionnaire (NEQ), and the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI). Afterward, the DMFT index scores, the severity of the periodontal disease, and the number of endodontically treated teeth of patients were recorded simultaneously with a routine dental examination. RESULTS Findings show that the ISI and NEQ scores were significantly higher in the evening-type individuals (E-types) compared to the morning-type individuals, and there was no significant difference between the chronotypes in terms of the number of endodontically treated teeth and the DMFT scores. In ordinal regression analyses, not brushing teeth (OR 7.94, CI 6.40-9.85), increased number of decayed teeth (OR 1.16, CI 1.13-1.19), and decreased MEQ scores (OR 0.95, CI 0.94-0.95) were statistically significant predictors for periodontal disease. CONCLUSION Although there was no correlation between chronotype differences and the DMFT index, and the number of endodontically treated teeth, E-types had a higher risk of periodontal disease severity.
Natal Dispersal of Peregrine Falcons in Greenland

Natal dispersal is female biased in most bird species in that proportionally more females than males disperse, or females disperse farther than males (Greenwood 1980). This pattern appears to be related to the amount of effort each sex spends in competing for territories or mates versus the amount of effort spent in raising young and choosing mates (Greenwood 1980). Presumably, males gain foraging and antipredator benefits that improve reproduction and survival when establishing territories in familiar areas. If males are philopatric, then females should disperse to avoid inbreeding (Pusey 1987) and to evaluate potential mates (Greenwood 1980). The effects of mating system and inbreeding avoidance on dispersal behavior are not mutually exclusive, and a combination of factors likely produces sex-biased dispersal. Although some long-distance dispersers experience lower survival and reproductive success than their philopatric counterparts (Newton and Marquiss 1983, Nilsson 1989, Part 1990), others suffer no apparent costs (Arcese 1989, Plissner and Gowaty 1996, Miller and Smallwood 1997). Most investigations of natal dispersal have focused on species that breed at one year of age, have short lifespans, and nest in unpredictable environments. Few studies have examined dispersal in long-lived, long-distance migrants that nest in predictable environments. Individuals of these species typically spend several seasons exploiting different habitats over large spatial scales before settling to breed. Therefore, we might expect he benefits of short-distance dispersal