Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A single-center 14-year follow-up study of the BalMedic® bovine pericardial bioprosthetic valve

Background The causes of valvular disease in China are complex, with a broad age distribution. For patients with early mechanical valve replacement, the quality of life is affected by postoperative anticoagulation-related complications. Since 2005, we have used bioprosthetic valves to provide more options for patients. In this study, we retrospectively analyzed the 14-year follow-up data of patients undergoing BalMedic bovine pericardial bioprosthetic valve replacement (manufacturer: Beijing Balance Medical Tech Co., Ltd.) to evaluate its intermediate- to long-term clinical effectiveness. Methods From 2005 to 2014, 336 BalMedic pericardial bioprosthesis valves were implanted in 299 patients (mean age 53.5 years, 59.86% female) at The First People’s Hospital of Yulin. Among followed up 290 discharged patients, 284 underwent aortic valve replacement and mitral valve replacement (AVR group, MVR group) for further grouping analysis, 6 underwent tricuspid valve replacement (TVR). The mean follow-up was 7.7±2.5 years (5 to 14), for a total of 2,196 valve-years, 98.28% of the patients completed follow-up. Results The perioperative mortality was 3% (9/299). After discharge, 68 patients (23.4%, 68/290) died, and 36 (12.4% 36/290) underwent the second valve replacement. The overall 5- and 10-year survival rates were 89.95% and 72.53%, respectively. For patients undergoing AVR alone, the overall 10-year survival rates were 80.64%, the reoperation-free rates were 92.94%, and the SVD-free rates were 90.95%. For patients undergoing MVR and double valve replacement (DVR group), the 10-year survival rates were 67.21% and 82.90%, the reoperation-free rates were 72.26% and 73.33%, the SVD-free rates were 58.90% and 53.80%, respectively. Subgroup analysis by age showed no significant intergroup difference in overall survival but a significant intergroup difference in reoperation-free and SVD-free rates (P<0.05). Conclusions With a similar 10-year overall survival rate as its foreign counterparts, BalMedic bovine pericardial bioprosthesis is reliable choice for both aortic valve and mitral valve. In patients undergoing AVR, the BalMedic valve is superior to the similar foreign counterparts in overall survival, reoperation-free survival, and SVD-free rates. While in MVR or DVR, Chinese patients are younger because of different etiology, postoperative outcomes show non-inferior to those from the foreign counterparts.
Axillary bud growth in relation to adventitious root formation in cuttings.

Single-node leaf-bud cuttings of Schefflera arboricola Hayata and Stephanotis floribunda Brongn. were set and root formation, onset of axillary bud growth and plant height were measured. An increase in the number of roots in Schefflera, which was achieved with increasing cutting position on the stock plant (measured from top to base) or with increasing stem length below the node, accelerated the onset of axillary bud growth and resulted in an increase in plant height. Increasing the number of roots per cutting in Stephanotis through an increase in basal temperature also accelerated bud and shoot growth. Positional effects on root formation in Stephanotis showed no relationship with axillary bud growth and plant height. A positive relationship between number of roots per cutting and axillary bud growth was found among clones of Stephanotis. In general the results suggest that, with some exceptions, the onset of axillary bud growth is accelerated in cuttings as a result of accelerated root formation and a higher number of roots per cutting.
Investigating walnut consumption and cognitive trajectories in a representative sample of older US adults

Abstract Objective: Existing research suggests walnut intake may be associated with better cognitive function in older adults, yet few studies utilise longitudinal data from observational studies of ageing populations. Our objective was to estimate the association between whole walnut intake and cognitive change in a representative sample of older Americans. Design: Secondary analysis of the Health and Retirement Study and Health Care and Nutrition Study. Walnut consumption was defined as a categorical measure (none, low intake (0·01–0·08 1 oz. servings per day) and moderate intake (>0·08 1 oz. servings per day)) and cognitive function was measured using the Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status. Latent growth modelling estimated the association between walnut consumption and trajectories of cognitive status over a 4-year observational period. Sensitivity analyses assessing non-random dropout and Monte Carlo power analyses were conducted to contextualise results. Setting: The USA. Participants: A sample of 3632 US adults aged 65 years and older. Results: Those reporting any walnut consumption had greater cognitive scores at baseline than those not consuming walnuts (low walnut consumption, b = 1·53, se = 0·21, P < 0·001; moderate walnut consumption, b = 2·22, se = 0·27, P < 0·001), but walnut consumption was not associated with cognitive change. Walnut consumption was positively associated with socioeconomic status and health behaviours as well as intake of nutrients identified to have neuroprotective benefits. Conclusions: We identified an association between walnut consumption and cognitive function in older adults, although we did not find that walnut consumption was protective against age-related cognitive decline.
WINTER ABUNDANCE OF AND HABITAT USE BY HENSLOW'S SPARROWS IN LOUISIANA

Abstract Population trend data indicates the Henslow's Sparrow (Ammodramus henslowii) is declining. Little information is available on the status, distribution, and habitat requirements of this species during winter. We obtained winter density estimates of Henslow's Sparrows and quantified and compared habitat structure along transects occupied and unoccupied by birds in longleaf pine (Pinus palustris) forests in westcentral Louisiana. We flushed Henslow's Sparrows from 14 transects during four surveys of 48 20- × 100-m transects from January to February 1996, and 20 transects during four surveys of 46 of the same transects from December 1996 to February 1997. The range of Henslow's Sparrow densities for both survey periods combined was 0.0–13.8 birds/ha (median = 0.0, 75th percentile = 1.3, 95th percentile = 5.0). We used logistic regression to evaluate the association of vegetative structure with Henslow's Sparrow habitat use. The most parsimonious model included litter depth and herbaceous cover as habitat variables predictive of Henslow's Sparrow occurrence. The model correctly classified the occupancy status of 79% (52 of 66) of observed transects. The number of Henslow's Sparrows observed in transect surveys declined with increased number of growing seasons since the last burn, suggesting fire may influence habitat quality.
Light dependence of quantum yields for PSII charge separation and oxygen evolution in eucaryotic algae

Quantum yields of photosystcm II (PSII) charge separation (ΦP and oxygen production () were determined by simultaneous measurements of oxygen production and variable fluorescence in four different aquatic microalgae representing three different taxonomic groups: the freshwater alga Scenedesmus protuberans (Chlorophyceae) and the marine algae Phaeocystis globosa (Prymnesiophyceae), Emiliania huxleyi (Prymnesiophyceae), and Phaeodactylum tricornutum (Bacillariophyceae). In S. protuberans, P. tricornutum, and E. huxleyi, light‐dependent variability was observed in the ratio of to ΦP i.e. in the number of oxygen molecules produced per electron generated by PSII. The ratio :ΦP was highly variable at low light intensities (E < 0.5 Ek), and at higher light intensities (E > 0.5 EK) :ΦP showed a nonlinear decrease with increasing light intensity. In contrast, in P. globosa a trend in :ΦP could not be distinguished, and this species showed a decrease in :ΦP during the day, indicating a dependency of :ΦP on light history. Additionally, considerable interspecific quantitative differences in :ΦP were observed. Two possible interpretations to explain the variability in :ΦP are discussed. Assuming that ΦP is a reliable measure of the quantum yield for charge separation at PSII, one interpretation is that net oxygen production is influenced by processes that consume oxygen or affect linear electron transport (e.g. cyclic electron transport around PSII, pseudocyclic electron transport in the Mehler reaction, Rubisco oxygenase activity, and lightdependent mitochondrial respiration). A second interpretation, however, suggests that at saturating light, changes in photosynthesis turnover time occur, such that ΦP does not predict the steady‐state O2 yield.
The effect of a lunar eclipse on the vertical migration behaviour of Meganyctiphanes norvegica (Crustacea : Euphausiacea) in the Ligurian Sea

The vertical migration of a zooplankton community dominated by the euphausiid Meganyctiphanes norvegica was monitored between 16 and 23 September 1997 with a 153 kHz Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP) and a MOCNESS net. The sampling period covered a phase in the lunar cycle when the rise of the moon (full moon) coincided initially with sunset and then became progressively later. On 16 September 1997, a lunar eclipse occurred 45 min after sunset, lasting for ~2 h. At dusk, the ADCP observed the upward vertical migration of two principal backscat- tering bands ~10 min apart with vertical velocities of up to 7 cm s-1. After a period at the surface, a more diffuse band subsequently sank at a slower rate (1-2 cm s-1) to a depth of 75-100 m. Net samples showed that the earlier band consisted mainly of the pteropod Cavolinia inflexa, whilst the later band was mostly euphausiids, predominantly M.norvegica. This species was also the major constituent of the band that sank. The timing of upward migration was relatively constant over the sampling period, but there was an increasing delay of the secondary sinking until 21 September. This showed as a strong correlation between the onset of sinking and the time of moonrise. The lunar eclipse on 16 September perturbed this pattern, such that animals did not sink soon after their arrival at the surface, as occurred on 17 September, but remained at the surface until the end of the umbra. This suggests that M.norvegica can perceive moonlight and that this influences vertical migration. Evidence that the behaviour is not solely mediated by this exogenous factor, however, is seen in the pattern that emerged after 21 September, when midnight sinking occurred at a relatively constant time after sunset and before moonrise. These observations support the hypothesis that moonlight is a Zeitgeber for an endogenous rhythm that synchronizes secondary sinking behaviour with the lunar cycle.
THE RELATIVE INFLUENCES OF PREDATION AND PREY AVAILABILITY ON ARDEID BREEDING COLONY SITE SELECTION

of Thesis Presented to the Graduate School of the University of Florida in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Science THE RELATIVE INFLUENCES OF PREDATION AND PREY AVAILABILITY ON ARDEID BREEDING COLONY SITE SELECTION By Matthew John Bokach May 2005 Chair: Peter Frederick Major Department: Natural Resources and Environment Nest predation and prey availability are two of the most important factors affecting breeding success in long-legged wading birds (Ciconiiformes). I investigated whether the breeding colony site selection of three species of herons and egrets (family Ardeidae) in the Florida Everglades was influenced by environmental characteristics that mediated these two factors. These characteristics were 1) likelihood that sites remained inundated throughout the breeding period; 2) amount of foraging habitat around sites; 3) average weekly proportional decline in water depths around sites throughout the breeding period; 4) spatial variation in water depths around sites at the time of nesting. Variables were calculated within a geographic information system using both raster and vector inputs. I used measures derived from the Akaike information criterion to select the best logistic regression model and to evaluate the relative importance of these four variables for colony site selection in each species.
Pyramidal horn design under constraints on half-power beamwidth

Summary form only given. A number of expressions useful for the pyramidal horn design are presented. Our design takes into account the half-power beamwidth, and is an approximate numerical one. Two sets of equations associated with the essential characteristics of a horn and its radiation pattern have been derived. The first one relates the half-power beamwidth (HPBW) in the two principal planes with the side lengths and the parameters s and t of the horn. The second one associates the parameters s and t with the aperture length, the directivity and the half-power beamwidth in the principal planes. The main characteristic of the design procedure is the choice of s and t parameters. We start from the achievement of optimality in one dimension and the determination of the characteristics in the other so that the constraints can be fulfilled. The optimality has been obtained by giving to one of the parameters s or t the optimum value, i.e. s=0.25 or t=0.375. The half-power beamwidth ratio HPBW/sub H//HPBW/sub E/ determines the parameter which has to take the above value. When the ratio is bigger than 1.15, s becomes 0.25 and vice versa. It is noticed that by taking the inverse ratio of HPBW we could start from the other parameter. In this case the results are not the same. So the proper method of design is to find the best solution of the above two. Some characteristic examples are presented to show the usefulness of the proposed method.
Recombinant Production of Growth Factors and Antimicrobial Peptides Using Microorganisms to Modulate Tissue Damage Healing

Recombinant Production of Growth Factors and Antimicrobial Peptides Using Microorganisms to Modulate Tissue Damage Healing Evanna Huynh Advisor: University of Guelph, 2016 Dr. Julang Li Mucosal healing in the gastrointestinal tract relies on coordinated events consisting of intestinal epithelial cell restitution, proliferation and differentiation. Growth factors such as epidermal growth factor (EGF) have an essential role in stimulating cell proliferation and differentiation, and maintaining integrity of the intestine to prevent infections and inflammation (colitis) in the digestive tract. Trefoil factor (TFF3) is another functional peptide that has potent protective and repairing abilities upon mucosal damage. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are also released upon injury to protect the re-generating tissue against microbial infections, facilitating efficient repair and closure of ulcerated tissue. In this regard, mucosal injury-responsive biofactors have potential therapeutic use. In this thesis, the potential use of probiotic Lactococcus lactis was explored as an expression platform to co-express pig EGF and TFF3. We found this strategy allowed the production of the two bioactive factors, which was more cost effective than producing them separately in two different single fermentations. We found that the co-expressed EGF and TFF3 enhanced tissue repair in vitro. The potential use of Pichia pastoris to express recombinant antimicrobial peptides, specifically protegrin (PG-1) in three of its different forms, was also explored by optimizing high-density fermentation to increase
Acute cerebrovascular disease following COVID-19: a single center, retrospective, observational study

Background and purpose COVID-19 is an infectious disease caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Apart from respiratory complications, acute cerebrovascular disease (CVD) has been observed in some patients with COVID-19. Therefore, we described the clinical characteristics, laboratory features, treatment and outcomes of CVD complicating SARS-CoV-2 infection. Materials and methods Demographic and clinical characteristics, laboratory findings, treatments and clinical outcomes were collected and analysed. Clinical characteristics and laboratory findings of patients with COVID-19 with or without new-onset CVD were compared. Results Of 219 patients with COVID-19, 10 (4.6%) developed acute ischaemic stroke and 1 (0.5%) had intracerebral haemorrhage. COVID-19 with new onset of CVD were significantly older (75.7±10.8 years vs 52.1±15.3 years, p<0.001), more likely to present with severe COVID-19 (81.8% vs 39.9%, p<0.01) and were more likely to have cardiovascular risk factors, including hypertension, diabetes and medical history of CVD (all p<0.05). In addition, they were more likely to have increased inflammatory response and hypercoagulable state as reflected in C reactive protein (51.1 (1.3–127.9) vs 12.1 (0.1–212.0) mg/L, p<0.05) and D-dimer (6.9 (0.3–20.0) vs 0.5 (0.1–20.0) mg/L, p<0.001). Of 10 patients with ischemic stroke; 6 received antiplatelet treatment with aspirin or clopidogrel; and 3 of them died. The other four patients received anticoagulant treatment with enoxaparin and 2 of them died. As of 24 March 2020, six patients with CVD died (54.5%). Conclusion Acute CVD is not uncommon in COVID-19. Our findings suggest that older patients with risk factors are more likely to develop CVD. The development of CVD is an important negative prognostic factor which requires further study to identify optimal management strategy to combat the COVID-19 outbreak.
Effect of rodents on seed fate of five hornbill-dispersed tree species in a tropical forest in north-east India

Abstract: Hornbills are important dispersers of a wide range of tree species. Many of these species bear fruits with large, lipid-rich seeds that could attract terrestrial rodents. Rodents have multiple effects on seed fates, many of which remain poorly understood in the Palaeotropics. The role of terrestrial rodents was investigated by tracking seed fate of five hornbill-dispersed tree species in a tropical forest in north-east India. Seeds were marked inside and outside of exclosures below 6–12 parent fruiting trees (undispersed seed rain) and six hornbill nest trees (a post-dispersal site). Rodent visitors and seed removal were monitored using camera traps. Our findings suggest that several rodent species, especially two species of porcupine were major on-site seed predators. Scatter-hoarding was rare (1.4%). Seeds at hornbill nest trees had lower survival compared with parent fruiting trees, indicating that clumped dispersal by hornbills may not necessarily improve seed survival. Seed survival in the presence and absence of rodents varied with tree species. Some species (e.g. Polyalthia simiarum) showed no difference, others (e.g. Dysoxylum binectariferum) experienced up to a 64% decrease in survival in the presence of rodents. The differing magnitude of seed predation by rodents can have significant consequences at the seed establishment stage.
Genetic variation in a geographically restricted and two widespread species of South American Nothofagus

The amount and distribution of genetic variation is compared using starch gel electrophoresis among populations of the three evergreen species of South American Nothofagus: the geographically restricted Nothofagus nitida (Phil.) Krasser and the widespread Nothofagus betuloides (Mirb.) Oerst. and Nothofagus dombeyi (Mirb.) Oerst. Ten enzyme systems were resolved coding for fifteen putative genetic loci. N. betuloides and N. dombeyi were more genetically variable than N. nitida; they had higher total number of alleles, mean number of alleles per locus, percent of polymorphic loci, mean expected heterozygosity, and mean total genetic diversity. These results are in agreement with the hypothesis that widespread species are often associated with historically large and more continuously distributed populations which in turn can maintain higher levels of genetic variation. Conversely, the genetic structure of N. nitida including its low genetic identity with the other two species and the presence of four unique alleles support the hypothesis that N. nitida has been isolated from the other two species for a considerable period of time. Genetic data in concert with the fossil record indicate that these taxa may be members of a pre‐Pleistocene flora and consequently their genetic structures reflect a more ancient evolutionary history than previously hypothesized.
Análise genética da idade ao primeiro parto e do perímetro escrotal em bovinos da raça Nelore

Aiming to study age at first calving (AFC) and scrotal circumference (SC) and their relationship to weight traits in a Nellore herd, 2,796 observations for AFC, 2,746 for SC, 3,657 for weaning weight and 4,686 for 18 month weight were analyzed. Analyses were processed using two and three-trait animal models (with weaning weight or 18 month weight as third trait). The 18 month weight was included as a covariate for SC in two analyses, aiming to adjust SC for body weight. Heritability coefficients for AFC and SC varied from 0.09 to 0.10 and from 0.33 to 0.34, respectively. Genetic correlation between AFC and SC varied from -0.23 to -0.29. The favorable correlation between SC and AFC does not allow to discard the use of SC as a selection criterion for sexual precocity. Multiple-trait analyses including the 18 month weight seem to be more appropriate for age at first calving and for 18 months scrotal circumference evaluations.
Potential of twenty exotic germplasms to improve Brazilian maize architecture

Temperate and temperate x tropical germplasms were introduced into the maize breeding of the Department of Genetics (ESALQ-USP). Twenty populations designated as P-1 to P-20 and a check population were evaluated in a randomized complete block design with two replications at Piracicaba, SP, Brazil. Plots were 2.0 m long, spaced 1.0 m apart, with 10 plants per plot after thinning. The following traits were evaluated: PH, plant height; EH, ear height; TB, tassel branch number; KW, 100 kernels weight; EL, ear length; ED, ear diameter; KR, kernels per row, and RN, number of rows of kernels. The means of the exotic populations showed a variation in performance for all traits. The population means were greater than check means for KW, EL, and KR. Populations P-9, P-10, P-12, and P-13 showed low relative ear placement values (EH/PH index), indicating that these materials could contribute to lower ear placement in local populations. P-1 and P-9 showed a high potential to reduce TB. The phenotypic correlation coefficients among populations were positive for most combinations, except for RN with PH, EH, TB, and KW. Predictions of 19 composite means were obtained for all traits.