Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of the Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition Criteria Using Different Muscle Mass Indices for Diagnosing Malnutrition and Predicting Survival in Lung Cancer Patients.

BACKGROUND Malnutrition is prevalent and outcome-related in lung cancer (LC) patients, yet there are no globally accepted criteria for diagnosing malnutrition. Recently, the Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition (GLIM) criteria were proposed. However, the role of these criteria in prospective LC cohorts remains unclear. METHODS We performed a multicenter, observational cohort study including 1219 LC patients from two institutions in China. Different anthropometric measures were compared for the assessment of reduced muscle mass (RMM) in the GLIM criteria. LASSO and multivariate Cox regressions were performed to analyze the association between the GLIM criteria and survival. Independent prognostic predictors were incorporated to develop a nomogram for individualized survival prediction and decision curve was applied to assess the clinical significance of the nomogram. RESULTS Patients in the stage II (severe) malnutrition group diagnosed using the combined calf circumference (CC) plus body weight-standardized hand grip strength (HGS/W) criteria had the highest hazard ratio (HR = 2.07, 95%CI = 1.50-2.86) compared to other methods used to evaluate RMM. The GLIM criteria diagnosed malnutrition in 24% of cases (292 patients, using the CC and HGS/W criteria) and were effective for determining the nutritional status of LC patients. GLIM-diagnosed malnutrition was an independent risk factor for survival and the malnutrition severity was monotonically associated with death hazards (P = 0.002). The GLIM nomogram showed good performance in predicting the survival of LC patients and the decision curve analysis demonstrated that the nomogram was clinically useful. CONCLUSION These findings support the effectiveness of GLIM in diagnosing malnutrition and predicting survival among LC patients. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
How School Contexts Shape the Relations Among Adolescents’ Beliefs, Peer Victimization, and Depressive Symptoms

The present research examined how school contexts shape the extent to which beliefs about the potential for change (implicit theories) interact with social adversity to predict depressive symptoms. A preregistered multilevel regression analysis using data from 6,237 ninth‐grade adolescents in 25 U.S. high schools showed a three‐way interaction: Implicit theories moderated the associations between victimization and depressive symptoms only in schools with high levels of school‐level victimization, but not in schools with low victimization levels. In high‐victimization schools, adolescents who believed that people cannot change (an entity theory of personality) were more depressed when they were victimized more frequently. Thus, the mental health correlates of adolescents’ implicit theories depend on both personal experiences and the norms in the context.
Concomitant carriage of KPC-producing and non-KPC-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae ST512 within a single patient.

BACKGROUND KPC-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae of clonal group 258 are prominent in healthcare settings in many regions of the world. The blaKPC gene is mostly carried by a multireplicon IncFIIk-IncFI plasmid suspected to be highly compatible and stable in this genetic background. Here, we analysed the genetic diversity of an ST512 K. pneumoniae population in a single patient. METHODS Twelve K. pneumoniae isolates (n = 5 from urine samples and n = 7 from rectal swabs) were recovered from one patient over a 2 month period. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing, plasmid extraction and WGS were performed on all isolates. The first K. pneumoniae isolate, D1, was used as a reference for phylogenetic analysis. RESULTS Antimicrobial susceptibility testing, plasmid analysis and WGS revealed concomitant carriage of carbapenem-resistant and carbapenem-susceptible K. pneumoniae isolates of ST512, with the absence of the entire blaKPC-carrying plasmid in the susceptible population. Furthermore, 14 other genetic events occurred within the genome, including 3 chromosomal deletions (of 71 kb, 33 kb and 11 bp), 2 different insertions of ISKpn26 and 9 SNPs. Interestingly, most of the events occurred in the same chromosomal region that has been deleted independently several times, probably after homologous recombination involving 259 bp repeated sequences. CONCLUSIONS Our study revealed (to the best of our knowledge) the first case of in vivo blaKPC-carrying plasmid curing and a wide within-patient genetic diversity of a single K. pneumoniae ST512 clone over a short period of carriage. This within-patient diversity must be taken into account when characterizing transmission chains using WGS during nosocomial outbreaks.
Could CGRP Antagonists Be Helpful in the Fight Against COVID‐19?

When treating migraine patients in the current era of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), many institutions have moved away from face-to-face procedures like onabotulinumtoxinA injections,1 sometimes transitioning to the newer CGRP antibodies for migraine prevention. However, despite our best efforts to mitigate viral transmission, many of our migraine patients may eventually be exposed to SARS-CoV2. While most patients will have mild to moderate symptoms, a subset will become severely ill, with possible complications including respiratory failure and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Given the possibility of this level of severe respiratory illness, we should consider what effect blocking calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) might have on these patients.
Effect of photoperiod manipulation on the growth performance of juvenile lenok, Brachymystax lenok (Pallas, 1773)

Summary The effect of four different light regimes on growth was studied in lenok, Brachymystax lenok. Fish with average weights of 5.5 g were subjected to four different photoperiods (0L:24D, 6L:18D, 12L:12D and 24L:0D) for 35 days. The specific growth rate (SGR) of lenok in 24-h darkness had a significantly higher SGR than those in the continuous light regime (P < 0.05); however, there was no significant difference among fish exposed to 6L:18D, 12L:12D and 24L:0D photoperiods. There was a tendency for higher food intake over the light period extension from 0L to 24L, and feed intake was significantly higher in the continuous light group than in 24-h darkness (P < 0.05). No significant difference in feed conversion efficiency (FCE) was observed between fish exposed to 0L:24D and 6L:18D photoperiods, however, the FCE in both photoperiods was significantly higher than that in the other two groups. The final survival rate of juveniles varied from 79.67 to 95.33%, with significant differences among experimental groups. Fish tested in continuous illumination spent much more energy on respiration and excretion while depositing less energy for growth than in the other photoperiods. In contrast, fish in 24-h darkness deposited more energy for growth and spent less energy on respiration and excretion. Results show that photoperiod manipulation can affect growth, and that a continuous dark regime could improve growth in lenok at this stage of development.
Proximate composition of Australian sea lion milk throughout the entire Supra-annual lactation period

A total of 87 milk samples was collected from 47 Australian sea lions, Neophoca cinerea, with pups ranging from one day old to 471 days old. Analysis of proximate composition yielded an overall mean (+/- s.d.) of 30.82 +/- 9.84% lipid, 56.97 +/- 9.96% water, 9.97 +/- 2.52% protein, and 0.88 +/- 0.25% ash. Milk fat content increased during lactation and was inversely proportional to water content. There was a significant difference between the lipid content of milk collected during the first half of lactation ( 250 days, range 314-469 days) (39.1 +/- 5.5%, n = 12) (Mann-Whitney U-test, P < 0.0001). The relatively low lipid (energy) content of Australian sea lion milk is postulated to be, in part, an adaptive response to living in a low-energy marine environment where the rate of energy transfer from mother to young is decreased and the duration of maternal dependence of the young is increased.
A Taxonomic Analysis of Gambian Asilidae (Diptera) Based Chiefly on a Collection Assembled by W.F. Snow between 1974 and 1977

A remarkable collection of 298 Gambian Asilidae collected by William F. Snow between 1974 and 1977 and housed in the collections of the Oxford University Museum of Natural History is reported upon. Before this study only 19 catalogued species were known from this tiny West African country. Snow's collection has representatives of 55 species and apart from a new genus (Antiscylaticus) and five new species (Hippomachus snowi, Robertomyia snowi, Pegesimallus snowi, Storthyngomerus snowi, Antiscylaticus snowi), described in this paper, there are other species that will probably prove to be new to science. Three previously established Afrotropical genera (Hippomachus, Robertomyia, Scylaticus) are reported for the first time from West Africa. In addition, representatives of eight other genera, known to occur in West Africa, but never before recorded from Senegal or Gambia, are represented in Snow's collection (Ancylorhynchus, Gonioscelis, Habropogon, Leptogaster, Nusa, Oligopogon, Rhabdogaster, Stichopogon).
The influence of exposure to house dust mite, cat, pollen and fungal allergens in the home on primary sensitisation in asthma

The homes of 68 atopic asthmatic children were studied to estimate the concentrations of perennial and seasonal aeroallergens (Der pl, Fel d1, grass pollen, tree pollen, Cladosporium, Aspergillaceae and Alternaria) to which children were likely to have been exposed during their first few months of life, by sampling in the child's month of birth. There was a strong association between the presence or absence of the house dust mite allergen Der p1 in the air with the skin test and IgE antibody test results (p < 0.001), with a similar association for cat allergen Pel d 1 (p < 0.01), when using a low volume sampler (equivalent to the minute tidal volume of a small baby). No significant correlation was found between levels of allergen in carpet dust and air in the same room. There was a strong indication that the presence of a cat at birth was linked with a higher risk of development of allergy to cat, but high levels of Fel d 1 were sometimes found in homes even when there was no cat present, indicating that allergen may be introduced from other sources. The levels of tree pollen were significantly higher in the homes of tree pollen‐allergic children than in the homes of patients without this sensitivity (p < 0.01); and the degree of sensitivity, determined by RAST, correlated significantly to the level of tree pollen in the home (p < 0.001). However, no relationship was found between specific sensitivity and the levels of Cladosporium, Aspergillaceae, Alternaria or grass pollen measured in the homes. The effect of high allergen exposure was most prominent in children under 7 yr and not beyond that age.
Modulation of tissue α‐tocopherol in African catfish, Clarias gariepinus (Burchell), fed oxidized oils, and the compensatory effect of supplemental dietary vitamin E

Juvenile African catfish, Clarias gariepinus (Burchell), of mean initial weight 15 g, were fed practical diets containing fresh or rancid oil (1:1 cod liver:corn oil) supplemented with either 20 or 100 mg all-rac-α-tocopheryl acetate per kg dry diet, at 0.03 × body weight per day for 8 weeks. After this time, catfish had grown by at least four times in body weight. Significant (P < 0.05) inter-treatment differences in final body weight were noted. Clarias fed low-tocopherol: oxidized-oil diets performed least well with regard to growth, though elevated dietary vitamin E partially abrogated this effect. Growth of fish fed fresh-oil diets did not benefit from increased dietary α-tocopherol content. Muscle, liver, plasma, heart and spleen all responded significantly (P < 0.05) to dietary vitamin E dose. Inclusion of oxidized oil in catfish diets decreased tissue α-tocopherol concentration. Hepatic α-tocopherol concentration (μg α-tocopherol per g liver) was observed to be lowered by 90% by the rancid oil diets. When fish previously fed fresh-oil diets were switched to oxidized: low-tocopherol diets, hepatic α-tocopherol concentration was significantly (P < 0.05) lowered within 2 weeks. The results highlight the importance of dietary oil quality in modulating tissue α-tocopherol concentrations in African catfish.
Growth and Resource Use of Birch Seedlings Under Elevated Carbon Dioxide and Temperature

The effects of elevated CO2 and temperature on the growth, resource acquisition and resource allocation of small birch seedlings (Betula pendula Roth.) were examined under conditions of non-limiting soil, water and nutrient supply. Seedlings were planted in pots and placed in controlled environment chambers either under normal ambient conditions (CON), or in the presence of elevated CO2 (approx. 700 mu mol mol(-1); Elev. C), elevated temperature (approx. 3 degreesC above the outside ambient temperature; Elev. T) or a combination of elevated CO2 and elevated temperature (Elev. C + T). Both Elev. C and Elev. T significantly increased biomass accumulation, but the extent of the increase depended greatly on the stage of development of the seedlings. Furthermore, the theoretically expected positive effect of the warmer temperature on the CO2-induced stimulation of growth was not observed. By analysing resource acquisition (i.e. CO2, nitrogen and water uptake), seedling development, leaf area production and the allocation pattern, it was deduced that the CO2-stimulated increase in biomass resulted mainly from the initial 'fertilization' effect of CO2 while the temperature-induced increase in biomass stemmed from higher net carbon intake during the middle and latter parts of the growing season achieved by Virtue of the increased leaf area and larger photosynthetic capacity. The lack of positive stimulation by temperature under Elev. C + T may be related in part to (1) CO2-induced acceleration of seedling development, which led to a small or no response to CO2 enrichment and lower leaf area production during the latter part of the growth season, and (2) a cumulative delay in the response of growth to the warmer temperature, which did not increase net carbon intake when the seedlings were at a juvenile stage. Neither Elev. C nor Elev. T altered the root:shoot ratio during early growth, but Elev. C increased it during the latter part of the growth season while Elev. T decreased it, possibly on account of a change in leaf area retention. Finally, the nitrogen and water use efficiencies of seedlings at different stages of development are discussed. (C) 2001 Annals of Botany Company.
Genotype and climate conditions influence the drop off of flowers and premature berries of blackcurrant (Ribes nigrum L.)

Abstract The aim of the present research was to study the extent of the drop off of blackcurrant flowers and young berries in the conditions of northern Europe, depending on particular genotypes and weather conditions. The study was carried out in southern Estonia in 2004–2007. The experiment involved nine recently selected genotypes from the blackcurrant breeding program of the Estonian University of Life Sciences Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Polli Horticultural Research Centre and 10 parent genotypes. Drop off is considerably influenced by the weather conditions during flowering (temperature, precipitation) and the particular genotype. Drop off is lower in genotypes ‘Ats’, 6-90-5, 1-90-15 and ‘Pilenai’, whereas it is high in genotypes ‘Zagadka’ and ‘Karri’. There is an average positive correlation between the cluster length, the number of flower buds in cluster and the extent of drop off. A strong negative correlation was found between the intra-flower fertilization ability of the genotype and drop off. There may be specimens with both similar as well as a very different extent of drop off among the genotypes originating from the same crossing combination. Drop off was lower among the genotypes where cultivar ‘Öjebyn’ was one of the parents.
Mycoparasitic nature of Bionectria sp. strain 6.21

In this study, a Bionectria sp. strain isolated from citrus rhizosphere was evaluated for its potential in inhibiting the growth of Rhizoctonia solani and Pythium aphanidermatum. It was demonstrated that Bionectria sp. 6.21 inhibited the growth of P. aphanidermatum and R. solani. In dual cultures, however, the antagonist only parasitised R. solani. Regarding the assay involving P. aphanidermatum, a lack of mycoparasitic ability was demonstrated. Crude extract of Bionectria completely inhibited the mycelial growth of both fungi. It appears that the main mechanism involved in the antagonism of Pythium by Bionectria is through antibiotic production. The antagonistic fungus released extracellular secondary metabolites. The metabolites were found to be inhibitory to both plant pathogenic fungi. From the crude extract, eleven fractions were obtained and tested for their antifungal properties. Two of them showed very strong activity against P. aphanidermatum. The obtained results indicated that this biocontrol agent has both antibiotic and mycoparasitic properties. On the other hand, evidence obtained from Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) suggests the involvement of an enzymatic process, with enzymatic digestion playing a major role in the parasitism of Bionectria sp. 6.21. In conclusion, these results provide evidence that mainly due to mycoparasitism, this strain has the potential to become a good candidate for biological control.
African locust bean (Parkia species) and its West African fermented food product, dawadawa.

African locust bean (Parkia species) is a perennial tree legume. It plays an important part in traditional agriculture, but has not entered commercial trade to any significant extent. Parkia trees are found in Africa, South‐East Asia and tropical South‐America. In Malaysia and Indonesia, the whole pods, including seeds of Parkia speciosa, are eaten raw or cooked as a vegetable known as petal. In West Africa, from Gambia to Cameroun, the beans of the Savannah species, P. blglobosa, are widely fermented to the traditional dawadawa, while the yellow pericarp pulp is eaten as a fresh food, dozim. Small quantities of dawadawa are used as a protein and fat‐rich flavoursome ingredient of the traditional soups and stews eaten in West Africa. It contributes useful amounts of lysine and riboflavin, which are deficient in the diet in the region. Dawadawa is an interesting example of the use of fermentation as a low‐cost method of food preservation.
Colony performance and immunocompetence of a social insect, Bombus terrestris, in poor and variable environments

1. Feeding and defence against parasites are among the major simultaneous requirements for survival and successful reproduction of any animal, including colonies of social insects. Harsh environments may therefore not only negatively affect overall success, but force animals to allocate resources in different ways, for example, to reduce immune defence under adverse conditions while maintaining growth rate. 2. This study examines how colony growth, reproduction and immune defence of the bumble bee, Bombus terrestris, varies with environmental condition. In particular, the manner in which limited or unpredictable food availability affects the number and size of workers and sexuals produced, the timing of reproduction, and the level of encapsulation of a novel antigen was tested. A new experimental paradigm was applied by splitting colonies into two halves while ensuring integrity by regular swaps of the residing queen. 3. The results show that limited food availability, as expected, led to fewer and smaller workers and sexuals. Unpredictable food availability, in contrast, was associated with higher numbers of workers and heavier sexuals. Also, reproductive success was highest under unpredictable conditions, due to an increased rate of collection of resources. 4. The timing of reproduction did not vary among treatments. Contrary to expectation, also immunocompetence did not vary among treatments.
Effect of grazing severity on perennial ryegrass herbage production and sward structural characteristics throughout an entire grazing season

The objective of this study, which was part of a larger grazing-systems experiment, was to investigate the cumulative impact of three levels of grazing intensity on sward production, utilization and structural characteristics. Pastures were grazed by rotational stocking with Holstein–Friesian dairy cows from 10 February to 18 November 2009. Target post-grazing heights were 4·5 to 5 cm (high; H), 4 to 4·5 cm (intermediate; I) and 3·5 to 4 cm (low; L). Detailed sward measurement were undertaken on 0·08 of each farmlet area. There were no significant treatment differences in herbage accumulated or in herbage harvested [mean 11·3 and 11·2 t dry matter (DM) ha−1 respectively]. Above the 3·5 cm horizon, H, I and L swards had 0·56, 0·62 and 0·67 of DM as leaf and 0·30, 0·23 and 0·21 of DM as stem respectively. As grazing severity increased, tiller density of grass species other than perennial ryegrass (PRG) decreased (from 3,350 to 2,780 and to 1771 tillers m−2 for H, I and L paddocks respectively) and the rejected area decreased (from 0·27 to 0·20 and to 0·10 for H, I and L paddocks respectively). These results indicate the importance of grazing management practice on sward structure and quality and endorse the concept of increased grazing severity as a strategy to maintain high-quality grass throughout the grazing season. The findings are presented in the context of the need for intensive dairy production systems to provide greater quantities of high-quality pasture over an extended grazing season, in response to policy changes with the abolition of EU milk quotas.
Comparison of the physiological and realized host-ranges of a biological control agent from Australia for the control of the aquatic weed, Hydrilla verticillata

Abstract Evaluating the safety of a potential weed control agent usually involves laboratory host-range tests. However, while these laboratory tests may define the “physiological” range of hosts upon which an organism can feed and develop, many researchers are unconvinced that this is necessarily predictive of the “realized” range of hosts upon which that organism will develop in the field. We present the results of our laboratory and field studies in Australia of a stem-boring weevil, Bagous hydrillae (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), a biological control agent for the submersed weed, hydrilla, Hydrilla verticillata. During these studies, the same array of hosts was evaluated in the laboratory and the field. Laboratory studies indicated that in addition to hydrilla (the primary host), the physiological range included 16 feeding hosts and 11 oviposition hosts. However, during our field surveys, which involved extracting herbivores from 1532 quantitative collections of 48 different aquatic plant species, we found the weevil only on 7 plant species besides hydrilla, and on only one of these ( Vallisneria spiralis ) was it ever common. Based solely on laboratory tests, B. hydrillae 's safety as a biocontrol agent was uncertain. The narrow host-range indicated by extensive field data from Australia was a key factor in obtaining permission for the release of this weevil in Florida.