Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of Maize Stover in Fermented Total Mixed Ration on Nutritive Value and Digestibility Quality in Vitro

The objective of this experiment was to investigate the effect of maize stover used as roughage source in fermented total mixed ration on nutritive value and digestibility quality by in vitro technique. The experimental compared between the feeds non-fermented total mixed ratio (TMR) group and fermented total mixed ratio (FTMR) group by fermentation 21 days, each group were ratio 60:40 and five replications. The results revealed that CF content of FTMR increased from 33.79% to 40.70% significantly different (P 0.05). The digestibility quality were dry matter digestibility (%DMD) in FTMR higher than control group significantly different (P 0.05) and N-NH3 concentrations were not significantly different (P>0.05). The gas production was recorded at 0, 6, 12, 18, and 24h of incubation. The cumulative gas production curve both of treatments was remarkable boost from 0h to 6h incubation of FTMR from 57.5 to 37 ml and then incubation time the cumulative gas production both of them were slowly decrease.
THE ANXIOLYTIC POTENTIAL OF A NEW SERIES OF DIAZEPINOBENZIMIDAZOLE DERIVATIVES

Проведено изучение анксиолитической активности нового ряда производных диазепинобензимидазола, имеющих в своей структуре две привилегированные подструктуры – диазепина и бензимидазола. По результатам проведенного исследования показано, что новый ряд соединений обладает анксиолитической активностью различной степени выраженности, что может свидетельствовать о высокой перспективности дальнейшего углубленного изучения нейропсихотропного потенциала новых соединений. Доказана анксиолитическая активность соединения под шифром ДАБ19, превышающая показатели препарата сравнения диазепама. Ключевые слова: диазепинобензимидазолы, ДАБ-19, анксиолитическая активность, миорелаксация.
Multiparameter persistent homology landscapes identify immune cell spatial patterns in tumors

Significance Quantifying and comparing complex spatial biological datasets is crucial for medical applications and remains an active area of research. As datasets become more heterogeneous and complicated, so must the methods that are used to understand them. Multiparameter topology is built upon the assumption that the shape of data depends on multiple parameters, such as scale, outliers, or other parameters (e.g., cell density and oxygen levels in the case of tumors). A key difficulty encountered in multiparameter persistent homology (MPH) is interpreting and comparing data. The present work uses statistical MPH landscapes to overcome this difficulty and quantifies differences in synthetic data of immune cell infiltration as well as clinical tumor histology data of T cells, macrophages, and hypoxia. Highly resolved spatial data of complex systems encode rich and nonlinear information. Quantification of heterogeneous and noisy data—often with outliers, artifacts, and mislabeled points—such as those from tissues, remains a challenge. The mathematical field that extracts information from the shape of data, topological data analysis (TDA), has expanded its capability for analyzing real-world datasets in recent years by extending theory, statistics, and computation. An extension to the standard theory to handle heterogeneous data is multiparameter persistent homology (MPH). Here we provide an application of MPH landscapes, a statistical tool with theoretical underpinnings. MPH landscapes, computed for (noisy) data from agent-based model simulations of immune cells infiltrating into a spheroid, are shown to surpass existing spatial statistics and one-parameter persistent homology. We then apply MPH landscapes to study immune cell location in digital histology images from head and neck cancer. We quantify intratumoral immune cells and find that infiltrating regulatory T cells have more prominent voids in their spatial patterns than macrophages. Finally, we consider how TDA can integrate and interrogate data of different types and scales, e.g., immune cell locations and regions with differing levels of oxygenation. This work highlights the power of MPH landscapes for quantifying, characterizing, and comparing features within the tumor microenvironment in synthetic and real datasets.
Association of maternal dietary patterns during pregnancy with small-for-gestational-age infants: Korean Mothers and Children's Environmental Health (MOCEH) study.

BACKGROUND Nutrients that support the desired growth and development of the fetus (i.e., micronutrients like folate, iron, and zinc) have been associated with birth outcomes, such as gestational age at delivery and birth weight. OBJECTIVE We characterized the maternal dietary patterns that explain the maximum variation in folate, iron, and zinc intakes in pregnant Korean women using reduced-rank regression (RRR) and investigated the association of these patterns with small-for-gestational-age (SGA) risk. METHODS A total of 1,158 pregnant Korean women at 12-28 weeks gestation and their newborns were recruited for the Mothers and Children's Environmental Health (MOCEH) study between 2006 and 2010. A semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire was collected from the women, and RRR was used to derive their dietary patterns. Log-transformed maternal intakes of folate, iron, and zinc were selected as the intermediate response variables to extract dietary patterns. Infant birth outcome measurements were obtained from hospital records. Associations were assessed by logistic regression with adjustment for confounding factors. RESULTS Three dietary patterns were identified. Pattern 1, characterized by high intakes of grains, green/yellow and light-colored vegetables, kimchi, legumes, fruits, meat, eggs, fish, seaweeds, tofu/soymilk, yogurt, and nuts, was associated with a lower risk of SGA in the highest quartile compared to the lowest quartile (odds ratio: 0.36; 95% confidence interval: 0.14, 0.94). Especially, maternal dietary pattern 1 was negatively related to high-sensitivity C-reactive protein in the blood and malondialdehyde levels in the urine. No association was observed for other dietary patterns with SGA. CONCLUSIONS Among pregnant Korean women, adherence to a dietary pattern characterized by high intakes of grains, green/yellow and light-colored vegetables, kimchi, legumes, fruits, meat, eggs, fish, seaweeds, tofu/soymilk, yogurt, and nuts is associated with a lower risk of delivering SGA infants.
1‐Hydroxypyrene mediates renal fibrosis through aryl hydrocarbon receptor signalling pathway

In chronic kidney disease (CKD), patients inevitably reach end‐stage renal disease and require renal transplant. Evidence suggests that CKD is associated with metabolite disorders. However, the molecular pathways targeted by metabolites remain enigmatic. Here, we describe roles of 1‐hydroxypyrene in mediating renal fibrosis.
Sexual size and shape dimorphism in Turkish common toads (Bufo bufo Linnaeus 1758)

Differences in male and female traits (sexual dimorphism [SD]) are widespread in animals. Dimorphism in morphological characters evolves under the effect of environmental and genetic factors and is shaped by natural and sexual selection. In this study, intersexual differences in size and shape in common toad, Bufo bufo, populations in Turkey were investigated. For this, linear measurements of 27 body‐related morphometric characters in a sample of 140 individuals (70 males and 70 females) were compiled. The data were analyzed using univariate and multivariate statistical methods. The results show SD in body size with females having larger body size, a trait related with fecundity and thus probably under sexual selection. Body shape differences, which are associated with head width and dorsal head, are likely to prey size. Male‐biased differences observed in nasal characters and tympanum may also be associated with sexual selection (male–male competition). Our findings are consistent with previous studies of major of Anura and support a role for selection pressures acting differentially upon individuals from both sexes, resulting in the evolution of sexually dimorphic traits.
Phase Behaviors of Ionic Liquids Heating from Different Crystal Polymorphs toward the Same Smectic-A Ionic Liquid Crystal by Molecular Dynamics Simulation

Five distinct crystal structures, based on experimental data or constructed manually, of ionic liquid [C14Mim][NO3] were heated in NPT molecular dynamics simulations under the same pressure such that they melted into the liquid crystal (LC) phase and then into the liquid phase. It was found that the more entropy-favored structure had a higher solid-LC transition temperature: Before the transition into the LC, all systems had to go through a metastable state with the side chains almost perpendicular to the polar layers. All those crystals finally melted into the same smectic-A LC structure irrelevant of the initial crystal structure.
Correlation of myeloid‐derived suppressor cells with C‐reactive protein, ferritin and lactate dehydrogenase levels in patients with severe COVID‐19

The novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) remains a global health emergency, and understanding the interactions between the virus and host immune responses is crucial to preventing its lethal effects. The expansion of myeloid‐derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) in COVID‐19, thereby suppressing immune responses, has been described as responsible for the severity of the disease, but the correlation between MDSC subsets and COVID‐19 severity remains elusive. Therefore, we classified patients according to clinical and laboratory findings—aiming to investigate the relationship between MDSC subsets and laboratory findings such as high C‐reactive protein, ferritin and lactate dehydrogenase levels, which indicate the severity of the disease. Forty‐one patients with COVID‐19 (26 mild and 15 severe; mean age of 49.7 ± 15 years) and 26 healthy controls were included in this study. MDSCs were grouped into two major subsets—polymorphonuclear MDSCs (PMN‐MDSCs) and monocytic MDSCs—by flow cytometric immunophenotyping, and PMN‐MDSCs were defined as mature and immature, according to CD16 expressions, for the first time in COVID‐19. Total MDSCs, PMN‐MDSCs, mature PMN‐MDSCs and monocytic MDSCs were significantly higher in patients with COVID‐19 compared with the healthy controls (P < .05). Only PMN‐MDSCs and their immature PMN‐MDSC subsets were higher in the severe subgroup than in the mild subgroup. In addition, a significant correlation was found between C‐reactive protein, ferritin and lactate dehydrogenase levels and MDSCs in patients with COVID‐19. These findings suggest that MDSCs play a role in the pathogenesis of COVID‐19, while PMN‐MDSCs, especially immature PMN‐MDSCs, are associated with the severity of the disease.
The Mesencephalic Periaqueductal Gray, a Further Structure Involved in Breathing Failure Underlying Sudden Infant Death Syndrome

The aim of this study was to investigate the involvement of the periaqueductal gray (PAG), an area of gray matter surrounding the cerebral aqueduct of Sylvius, in the pathogenetic mechanism of SIDS, a syndrome frequently ascribed to arousal failure from sleep. We reconsidered the same samples of brainstem, more precisely midbrain specimens, taken from a large series of sudden infant deaths, namely 46 cases aged from 1 to about 7 months, among which 26 SIDS and 20 controls, in which we already highlighted significant developmental alterations of the substantia nigra, another mesencephalic structure with a critical role in breath and awakening regulation. Specific histological and immunohistochemical methods were applied to examine the PAG cytoarchitecture and the expression of the tyrosine hydroxylase, a marker of catecholaminergic neurons. Hypoplasia of the PAG subnucleus medialis was observed in 65% of SIDS but never in controls; tyrosine hydroxylase expression was significantly higher in controls than in SIDS. A significant correlation was found between these findings and those related to the substantia nigra, demonstrating a link between these neuronal centers and the brainstem respiratory network and a common involvement in the sleep-arousal phase failure leading to SIDS.
Association of blood trihalomethane concentrations with asthma in US adolescents: nationally representative cross-sectional study

Background Population studies show that the use of swimming pools is associated with the risk of asthma and allergic diseases among children. Our objective was to explore the associations between blood trihalomethane (THM) concentrations and asthma among US adolescents, and assess to what extent the association is modified by active tobacco smoke exposure. Methods We included 2359 adolescents aged 12–19 years with measured blood concentrations of chloroform (trichloromethane (TCM)), bromodichloromethane (BDCM), dibromochloromethane (DBCM) and bromoform (tribromomethane (TBM)) from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2005–2012. Logistic regression models were fitted to assess the odds ratios for the association of blood THM concentrations (three or four categories) with the risk of self-reported current and ever (lifetime) asthma. Results Blood DBCM concentrations were associated with a higher risk of ever asthma among all adolescents (OR 1.54 (95% CI 1.07–2.21), comparing the extreme exposure categories). The relationship was stronger among adolescents exposed to tobacco smoke (OR 3.96 (95% CI 1.89–8.30), comparing the extreme exposure categories). We also found positive relationships between blood brominated THM concentrations (sum of BDCM, DBCM and TBM) and risk of ever asthma and between blood DBCM and brominated THM concentrations and risk of current asthma among adolescents with tobacco smoke exposure. The relative excess risk of ever asthma due to the interaction between high blood DBCM and brominated THM concentrations and tobacco smoke exposure was 1.87 (95% CI 0.30–3.43) and 0.78 (95% CI 0.07–1.49), respectively. Conclusions Exposure to THMs is associated with a higher risk of asthma in adolescents, particularly among those exposed to tobacco smoke. Among a representative sample of 2359 US adolescents, we found that exposure to THMs was associated with a greater risk of asthma, particularly among those who were co-exposed to tobacco smoke https://bit.ly/3mpHxgq
Pit and tracheid anatomy explain hydraulic safety but not hydraulic efficiency of 28 conifer species

Abstract Conifers face increased drought mortality risks because of drought-induced embolism in their vascular system. Variation in embolism resistance may result from species differences in pit structure and function, as pits control the air seeding between water-transporting conduits. This study quantifies variation in embolism resistance and hydraulic conductivity for 28 conifer species grown in a 50-year-old common garden experiment and assesses the underlying mechanisms. Conifer species with a small pit aperture, high pit aperture resistance, and large valve effect were more resistant to embolism, as they all may reduce air seeding. Surprisingly, hydraulic conductivity was only negatively correlated with tracheid cell wall thickness. Embolism resistance and its underlying pit traits related to pit size and sealing were more strongly phylogenetically controlled than hydraulic conductivity and anatomical tracheid traits. Conifers differed in hydraulic safety and hydraulic efficiency, but there was no trade-off between safety and efficiency because they are driven by different xylem anatomical traits that are under different phylogenetic control.
Antioxidant Properties of a Yogurt Beverage Enriched with Salal (Gaultheria shallon) Berries and Blackcurrant (Ribes nigrum) Pomace during Cold Storage

Aqueous extracts (20% w/w) of dried berry fruits and skins were used as sources of phenolic compounds to fortify yogurt beverages. The total phenol and anthocyanin content of the reformulated yogurts were determined, and the antioxidant properties were compared to plain yogurt (C) during storage at 4 °C for a total period of four weeks. Yogurt beverages fortified with salal berry (SB) extracts contained higher amounts of phenolic compounds (>69.9 μg GAE/mL) and anthocyanins (>19.12 mg C3G/L) compared to drinks supplemented with blackcurrant pomace (BC) extract (>50.13 μg GAE/mL and >10.80 mg C3G/L respectively). Storage affected the stability of anthocyanins, whereas total phenol content remained unaffected. Yogurts with SB displayed the highest antioxidant capacity followed by samples with BC, which is attributed to the radical scavenging effect of the bioactive compounds present with antioxidant properties. The antioxidant capacity of the yogurt beverages fortified with fruit extracts was maintained during cold storage. Findings of this study indicate that SB and BC pomace can be used as functional ingredients to increase the antioxidant potential of yogurt beverages.
Knowledge gaps in the assessment of antimicrobial resistance in surface waters

ABSTRACT The spread of antibiotic resistance in the water environment has been widely described. However, still many knowledge gaps exist regarding the selection pressure from antibiotics, heavy metals and other substances present in surface waters as a result of anthropogenic activities, as well as the extent and impact of this phenomenon on aquatic organisms and humans. In particular, the relationship between environmental concentrations of antibiotics and the acquisition of ARGs by antibiotic-sensitive bacteria as well as the impact of heavy metals and other selective agents on antimicrobial resistance (AMR) need to be defined. Currently, established safety values are based on the effects of antibiotic toxicity neglecting the question of AMR spread. In turn, risk assessment of antibiotics in waterbodies remains a complex question implicating multiple variables and unknowns reinforced by the lack of harmonized protocols and official guidelines. In the present review, we discussed current state-of-the-art and the knowledge gaps related to pressure exerted by antibiotics and heavy metals on aquatic environments and their relationship to the spread of AMR. Along with this latter, we reflected on (i) the risk assessment in surface waters, (ii) selective pressures contributing to its transfer and propagation and (iii) the advantages of metagenomics in investigating AMR. Furthermore, the role of microplastics in co-selection for metal and antibiotic resistance, together with the need for more studies in freshwater are highlighted.
One single-center serological survey on measles, rubella and mumps antibody levels of people in Youyang, China

ABSTRACT Although measles, rubella and mumps elimination had achieved great progress in recent years, outbreaks were still reported worldwide. Serological surveillance on the remaining susceptibility in the population is essential to evaluate the preventive policy, estimate the current risk of infection, and predict evolutions in the future. In this study, we aimed to investigate the prevalence of seropositivity of antibodies against measles, rubella and mumps in a population of all ages in Youyang, southwest China. A cross-sectional hospital-based study was conducted among 657 cases who attended to Youyang Hospital from Sep 2018 to Aug 2019. Sero IgG antibodies were measured by ELISA. No difference in the seropositivity of antibodies against measles, rubella and mumps was found between neither urban vs. rural, nor male vs. female. The overall seropositivity of anti-measles, rubella, mumps IgG antibodies was 81.1% (95% CI: 78.0–83.9), 65.9% (95% CI: 62.2–69.4) and 63.2% (95% CI: 59.4–66.8), respectively. The IgG seropositivity varied with age significantly. In this study, the seropositivity of antibodies against measles, rubella and mumps among the participants was insufficient in the population, especially among infants, teenagers and productive women, who were suggested to booster the immunity. To better control and eliminate measles, mumps and rubella-related diseases, nation-wide active laboratory-supported surveillance, outbreak investigation and revaccination for vulnerable population are needed.
COVID-19 screening using breath-borne volatile organic compounds

Rapid screening of COVID-19 is key to controlling the pandemic. However, current nucleic acid amplification involves lengthy procedures in addition to the discomfort of taking throat/nasal swabs. Here we describe potential breath-borne volatile organic compound (VOC) biomarkers together with machine learning that can be used for point-of-care screening of COVID-19. Using a commercial gas chromatograph-ion mobility spectrometer, higher levels of propanol were detected in the exhaled breath of COVID-19 patients (N = 74) and non-COVID-19 respiratory infections (RI) (N = 30) than those of non-COVID-19 controls (NC)/health care workers (HCW) (N = 87), and backgrounds (N = 87). In contrast, breath-borne acetone was found to be significantly lower for COVID-19 patients than other subjects. Twelve key endogenous VOC species using supervised machine learning models (support vector machines, gradient boosting machines (GBMs), and Random Forests) were shown to exhibit strong capabilities in discriminating COVID-19 from (HCW + NC) and RI with a precision ranging from 91% to 100%. GBM and Random Forests models can also discriminate RI patients from healthy subjects with a precision of 100%. In addition, the developed models using breath-borne VOCs could also detect a confirmed COVID-19 patient but with a false negative throat swab polymerase chain reaction test. It takes 10 min to allow an entire breath test to finish, including analysis of the 12 key VOC species. The developed technology provides a novel concept for non-invasive rapid point-of-care-test screening for COVID-19 in various scenarios.
Metabolic and antioxidant effects of inoculation with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in crops of flesh-coloured Solanum tuberosum treated with fungicides.

BACKGROUND Solanum tuberosum tubers have higher contents of phenolic compounds such as hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives (HCAD) and anthocyanins in coloured genotypes. The use of fungicides for crops is common, but there are few studies regarding the interaction of fungicides and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). Here, the AMF-plant interactions and the metabolic responses of three potato genotypes with different tuber colourations (VR808, CB2011-509 and CB2011-104) inoculated with Claroideoglomus claroideum (CC), Claroideoglomus lamellosum (HMC26) or Funneliformis mosseae (HMC7) were studied together with the use of the fungicides MONCUT (M) and ReflectXtra (R). Mycorrhizal traits, phenolic compound profiles and antioxidant activity (AA) were evaluated. RESULTS Despite only two HCADs were identified, being the 5-caffeolquinic acid the most abundant, four anthocyanins were detected only in purple potato genotypes. The anthocyanin and HCAD profiles, as well as AA, showed that the CB2011-104 genotype had better characteristics than the other genotypes, while VR808 and CB509 showed similar responses. The responses were dependent on the specific combinations of genotypes, fungicide and the AMF strain and generally showed better responses when colonized by AMFs. CONCLUSION The three potato genotypes had differential responses depending on the inoculated AMFs and the fungicide applied before sowing, where the optimal combinations for antioxidant response, mycorrhization degree and performance were HMC26/R for VR808, HMC7/M for CB2011-509 and HMC26/M for CB2011-104. Our results suggest the existence of functional compatibility that can be registered as beneficial effects even at the genotypic level of the host regarding a specific AMF strain. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.