Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Network analysis of regional livestock trade in West Africa

In West Africa, long and complex livestock value chains connect producers mostly in the Sahel with consumption basins in urban areas and the coast. Regional livestock trade is highly informal and, despite recent efforts to understand animal movement patterns in the region, remains largely unrecorded. Using CILSS’ database on intraregional livestock trade, we built yearly and overall weighted networks of animal movements between markets. We mapped and characterized the trade networks, identified market communities, key markets and their roles. Additionally, we compared the observed network properties with null-model generated ensembles. Most movements corresponded to cattle, were made by vehicle, and originated in Burkina Faso. We found that live animals in the central and eastern trade basins flow through well-defined, long distance trade corridors where markets tend to trade in a disassortive way with others in their proximity. Modularity-based communities indicated that both national and cross-border trade groups exist. The network’s degree and link distributions followed a log-normal or a power-law distribution, and key markets located primarily in urban centers and near borders serve as hubs that give peripheral markets access to the regional network. The null model ensembles could not reproduce the observed higher-level properties, particularly the propinquity and highly negative assortativity, suggesting that other possibly spatial factors shape the structure of regional live animal trade. Our findings support eliminating cross-border impediments and improving the condition of the regional road network, which limit intraregional trade of and contribute to the high prices of food products in West Africa. Although with limitations, our study sheds light on the abstruse structure of regional livestock trade, and the role of trade communities and markets in West Africa.
Plant availability of phosphorus accumulated from long-term applications of superphosphate and effluent to irrigated pastures

Abstract The plant availability of soil phosphorus (P) which accumulated in two Winchmore soils receiving annual topdressings of sup'rphosphate at two rates (188 and 376 kg superphosphate/ha) and in Fairton soil receiving one rate (65 kg P/ha) of effluent over the last 30 and 80 years respectively, was determined. The experiment involved three successive croppings of perennial ryegrass plants (Lolium perenne L.) grown under growth chamber and glasshouse conditions. The plants were fed with complete nutrients, except P, to favour growth. Each soil was subjected to three treatments consisting of Control (no nutrients added), and two treatments with complete nutrients, except P, added at two different rates of nitrogen (N) (100 and 200 kg N/ha on an area basis). A sequential P fractionation scheme (NaHC03 ⪰ NaOH ⪰ HCI ⪰ NaOH) was used on soils before and after cropping to detect changes in soil P fractions. Results obtained showed that dry matter yield increased with applied N but decreased with increased cr.
Decreased Foxp3 and function of Tregs caused immune imbalance and liver injury in patients with autoimmune liver diseases post-liver transplantation

Background Autoimmune liver diseases (AILD) is a type of autoimmune disease which may cause end-stage liver failure and require liver transplantation. Regulatory T cells (Tregs) play an irreplaceable role in maintaining immunological homeostasis. Methods In this study, we made a comparative analysis of the immune balance and graft function between AILD patients’ post-transplantation and the patients who have had liver failure with hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection post-transplantation. Immune cell phenotype of two groups were analyzed. We sorted CD4+CD25+CD127-Tregs both in vitro and vivo and did TSDR methylation status assay to explore further possible mechanisms. Results Our data showed that there is a worse prognosis with severe graft function in liver transplant patients with AILD compared to patients with HBV-induced liver failure. Immune cell phenotype analysis showed that more Tregs could be detected in AILD patients compared with HBV patients’ post-transplantation. We sorted CD4+CD25+CD127-Tregs in vivo and showed that Tregs presented decreased function both in vitro and vivo. Mechanism study also proved that modulation of the phosphorylation level of STAT1 and STAT3 as well as the methylation level of TSDR in Foxp3 might partially result in the function loss of Tregs. Conclusions These results suggest that loss of Foxp3 expression and suppressive function of Tregs may be the critical factor that causes graft loss for liver transplant patients after AILD.
Quantitative Analysis of Protein Synthesis Altered by Estrogen in Cultured Xenopus Liver Parenchymal Cell

Using the primary culture system of male Xenopus laevis hepatocytes consisting of more than 95% parenchymal cells, the effect of estradiol‐17 β (10−6M) on protein synthesis was quantitatively analyzed by 3H‐leucine incorporation kinetics and the estimation of specific radioactivity of newly synthesized secretory protein. The cells in a well defined culture revealed high plating efficiency and very low DNA synthetic activity. The cultured cells could synthesize several secretory proteins containing serum albumin. The pattern of secreted proteins in SDS‐polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS‐PAGE) did not alter with culture time but secretion rate of protein increased for 7 days, starting on the third day following inoculation. Estradiol added to the culture media extensively induced the synthesis of yolk precursor protein vitellogenin which accounted for 40–50% of the overall secretory protein synthesis and 20–30% of the total protein synthesis on day 7 of estradiol treatment. Ultimately, the total protein synthesis and secretory protein synthesis were stimulated 1.2–1.3 fold and 2.0–2.2 fold, respectively, over those of the control cells cultured in the absence of estradiol. These results indicated that the stimulation of protein synthesis was largely due to vitellogenin production. Such an estradiol‐dependent stimulation of protein synthesis was also detected in the low molecular weight protein(s). On the other hand, albumin synthesis was evidently reduced by estradiol. Thus, estradiol had two different effects on protein synthesis.
Probable congenital SARS-CoV-2 infection in a neonate born to a woman with active SARS-CoV-2 infection

KEY POINTS A 40-year-old woman (gravida 2, para 1) was admitted to a tertiary hospital in Toronto, Ontario. She had familial neutropenia, gestational diabetes and a history of frequent bacterial infections, including 3 episodes (sinusitis, skin infection and bronchitis) during this pregnancy, which
Imaging lutein and zeaxanthin in the human retina with confocal resonance Raman microscopy

Significance We have determined the spatial distribution of the macular pigment carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin in the human retina using confocal resonance Raman microscopy and found that zeaxanthin is highly concentrated in the fovea, while lutein is more diffusely spread across the macula at a relatively lower concentration. Our results imply that zeaxanthin may play a more important role than lutein in human macular health and disease, and they demonstrate the elegant ability of confocal resonance Raman imaging to probe the biochemistry and structure of the most important region of the human retina. Lutein and zeaxanthin are xanthophyll carotenoids that are highly concentrated in the human macula, where they protect the eye from oxidative damage and improve visual performance. Distinguishing lutein from zeaxanthin in images of the human retina in vivo or in donor eye tissues has been challenging because no available technology has been able to reliably differentiate between these two carotenoids, which differ only in the position of one C = C bond. Here, we report the differential distributions of lutein and zeaxanthin in human donor retinas mapped with confocal resonance Raman microscopy. Zeaxanthin is highly concentrated in the fovea, extending from the inner to the outer limiting membranes, with especially high concentrations in the outer plexiform layer, while lutein is much more diffuse at relatively lower concentration. Our results imply that zeaxanthin may play a more important role than lutein in human macular health and disease.
Tamanho relativo dos órgãos internos e do trato gastrintestinal de bovinos indubrasil e mestiços leiteiros em fase de engorda

Twelve steers have been used, when they had average live weight of 276kg, being four indubrasil and eight dairy crossbreeds (four crossbreeds HolsteinxGir and four HolsteinxGuzera). They have been weighted and distributed into two treatments (indubrasil and dairy crossbreeds), in phase fattening. The animals were studied up to 480kg of live weight. Grass hay Tifton 85 (Cynodon dactylon) have been used as feedstuff. After slaughtering samples of rumen, reticulum, omasum, abomasum and intestines have been collected after emptying and cleaning. Weight and samples values of blood, leather, feet, head, liver, kidneys, lung, tongue, spleen and internal fat (mesenterium plus perirenal and pericardia fats) have been collected. Empty body weight (EBW) have been obtained by summing weights of carcass, blood, leather, feet, tail, intestines and organs. The group head-foot-leather of indubrasil steers have been heaver than in dairy crossbreeds. The animals indubrasil and dairy crossbreeds, in fattening phase, have not presented significant differences for total weight of intestines and organs. The animals dairy crossbreeds present, in fattening phase, higher fat proportions intern than indubrasil animals.
Effect of nostalgia as a motivational force for depressed students to seek professional psychological help

Abstract In times of distress, people show a tendency to remember the ‘good old days,’ a bittersweet emotion called Nostalgia. This study explores how experimentally-induced nostalgia improves attitude toward counseling center and behavioral intentions to contact the counseling center on a college campus. Students living with depression (N = 148) were randomly assigned to view a public service announcement (PSA) for the campus counseling center that was designed with or without a nostalgia-inducing narrative and imagery. Participants exposed to the nostalgic PSA expressed significantly higher positive emotions compared to the control condition, after controlling for the effects of stigma, past counseling experience, levels of depression, and friends or family with mental illness. Mediation analyses showed that the higher positive emotions participants felt, the more positive was their attitude toward the campus counseling center, which in turn increased behavioral intention to seek help. The study suggests nostalgia-themed messages to promote help-seeking intentions among students experiencing depression.
Fidelity of Hymenoptera and Diptera pollinators in onion (Allium cepa L.) pollination

Onion (Allium cepa L.) is protandrous in nature and requires cross‐pollination to avoid inbreeding. The pollination potential of native bees (Hymenoptera) and true flies (Diptera) was assessed in the perspective of finding the best pollinators for onion cross‐pollination and seed multiplication. The community of pollinators was composed of four bee species and twelve true fly species. Episyrphus balteatus, Eupeodes sp. , Musca domestica and Eristalinus aeneus were the most abundant pollinators. The maximum pollinator activity was observed from 12 to 24 days after opening of the flowers. The pollination effectiveness of tested bees (Apis dorsata and Apis florea) was greater than true flies (E. balteatus, Eupeodes sp., M. domestica, E. aeneus and Callihoridae sp.) in terms of Spears values.
Sweet syndrome associated with malignancies: A retrospective analysis of 25 patients from West China hospital

Sweet syndrome (SS), also known as acute febrile neutrophilic dermatosis, is a rare inflammatory disorder characterized by sudden onset of variably tender brightly erythematous‐to‐violaceous papules, plaques, or nodules. To clarify the frequency, clinical course, therapeutic response, and outcome of Sweet syndrome with malignancy. We conducted a retrospective review of patients diagnosed with SS between 2009 and 2019 with a diagnosis of Sweet syndrome in West China hospital. Records were analyzed for variables, clinical features, etiological factors, laboratory results, and treatment outcomes. The 25 cases under study consisted of 14 (56%) females and 11 (44%) males. Mean age was 52.2 years (range: 4‐76 years). Nodules were the commonest lesion presentation (48%), involving mostly the lower limbs (52%). Pain of lesion was identified as the most common symptom (88%), followed by fever (76%) and cough (44%). Among the patients, 52% exhibited the classic form, 48% showed the malignancy‐associated form, and 4% exhibited the drug‐induced form in the setting of malignancy. Acute myeloid leukemia was the most common malignancy, observed in 5 of 12 patients (41.6%). Anemia (P = .002) was associated with malignancy (Chi‐square test).
Sensory‐motor network topology in multiple sclerosis: Structural connectivity analysis accounting for intrinsic density discrepancy

Graph theory and network modelling have been previously applied to characterize motor network structural topology in multiple sclerosis (MS). However, between‐group differences disclosed by graph analysis might be primarily driven by discrepancy in density, which is likely to be reduced in pathologic conditions as a consequence of macroscopic damage and fibre loss that may result in less streamlines properly traced. In this work, we employed the convex optimization modelling for microstructure informed tractography (COMMIT) framework, which, given a tractogram, estimates the actual contribution (or weight) of each streamline in order to optimally explain the diffusion magnetic resonance imaging signal, filtering out those that are implausible or not necessary. Then, we analysed the topology of this ‘COMMIT‐weighted sensory‐motor network’ in MS accounting for network density. By comparing with standard connectivity analysis, we also tested if abnormalities in network topology are still identifiable when focusing on more ‘quantitative’ network properties. We found that topology differences identified with standard tractography in MS seem to be mainly driven by density, which, in turn, is strongly influenced by the presence of lesions. We were able to identify a significant difference in density but also in network global and local properties when accounting for density discrepancy. Therefore, we believe that COMMIT may help characterize the structural organization in pathological conditions, allowing a fair comparison of connectomes which considers discrepancies in network density. Moreover, discrepancy‐corrected network properties are clinically meaningful and may help guide prognosis assessment and treatment choice.
Acidification and other chemical changes Halifax County lakes after 21 years

Sixteen of 23 lakes sampled in 1955 show no sign of significant physical alterations within their drainage basins over a 21-year interval, so that chemical changes in these lakes can be assumed to reflect changes in atmospheric inputs. In all 16, the pH levels have declined, with greater declines in the higher pH (near neutrality) lakes. After correction for sea-salt input, concentrations of sodium, magnesium, calcium, potassium, and sulfate show no significant change. Sulfate and hydrogen ions are significantly correlated and both show significant regressions on distance from the major sulfur-emitting industrial sources in the Halifax area. Although the area as a whole may be subject to an influx of acid pollutants via long distance atmospheric transport, for lakes near Halifax the high acid levels are largely due to local pollution.
Some Physical and Chemical Properties of Starch Isolates of Cassava Genotypes

Cassava starches (Manihot esculenta Crantz) were prepared from tubers of Kaesetsart 50 (KU50), Rayong 5, Hanatee and KMUL 36-YOO2 (YOO2) and their physicochemical properties studied using the Rapid Visco Analyser (RVA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and rheometry. Amylose content was determined by iodine potentiometric titration (IPT) and gel permeation chromatography (GPC). Starch contents of the tubers varied from 34.2 to 35.1% and protein and fiber contents in the starches varied from 0.8 to 1.1% and 0.6 to 0.8%, respectively. The cassava starches contained 0.06-0.12% lipid and 0.7% to 0.9% ash. Amylose content determined by IPT (15.9 to 22.4%) had higher positive correlation with peak viscosity, breakdown and gel consistencies (R 2 = 0.835, 0.772, 0.859), respectively, whereas GPC (18.1 to 25.3%) showed high correlation with setback (R 2 = 0.923) and AH (R 2 = 0.579). The onset gelatinization temperatures varied from 59.7-64.4°C, and KU50 exhibited highest AH of 13.7 J/g. Hanatee and YOO2 formed clear gels with higher peak viscosities, setback and gel consistency viscosities attributed to their higher amylose contents. Retrogradation of KU50 and Rayong 5 tended to be more severe on cooling and formed opaque gels, showing higher resistance to shearing, properties attributed to recrystallized amylopectin fractions.
Dimensions of anxiety and depression and neurophysiological indicators of error-monitoring: Relationship with delta and theta oscillatory power and error-related negativity amplitude

Error-monitoring processes may be affected by transdiagnostic dimensions of psychopathology symptoms including trait anxiety, worry, and severity of depressive symptoms. We tested the relationship between continuous measures of anxiety and depressive symptomology and neural correlates of error-monitoring as measured by time-frequency domain delta and theta oscillatory power and time domain error-related negativity (ERN) amplitude extracted from the electroencephalogram (EEG). Secondary analyses tested for diagnostic group differences in error-related neural responses in individuals with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), major depressive disorder (MDD), and comorbid psychiatric disorders. 178 participants (104 female, M[SD]age = 21.7[4.6]) with a wide range of psychopathology symptoms completed a modified version of the Eriksen flanker task and symptom questionnaires. Residualized difference values between correct and error trials for delta/theta power and error/correct ERN amplitude were dependent variables. Linear regression analyses adjusted for age and sex showed nonsignificant associations of symptom dimension measures with error-related residualized delta/theta power or residualized ERN amplitude. Subset analyses on those with confirmed psychopathology diagnoses also did not predict residualized error-related delta/theta power nor ERN amplitude. Exploratory analyses with only error trial delta/theta power and ERN amplitude also revealed nonsignificant relationships. Taken in the context of previous literature, results suggest a heterogeneous relationship between depressive and anxiety symptom dimensions and neurophysiological indices of error-monitoring. Impact Statement In line with the RDoC framework, we tested the relationship between anxiety and depressive symptom dimensions and neural indices of error-processing (delta and theta power, error-related negativity ERP amplitude) in 178 participants with a range of pathology symptoms. A non-significant relationship emerged between neural and symptom measures suggesting anxiety and depressive symptomology have a nuanced relationship with error-monitoring in a large sample across a range of anxiety and depression symptoms.
Clinical Characteristics and Risk Factors for Mortality of COVID-19 Patients With Diabetes in Wuhan, China: A Two-Center, Retrospective Study

OBJECTIVE Diabetes is common in COVID-19 patients and associated with unfavorable outcomes. We aimed to describe the characteristics and outcomes and to analyze the risk factors for in-hospital mortality of COVID-19 patients with diabetes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS This two-center retrospective study was performed at two tertiary hospitals in Wuhan, China. Confirmed COVID-19 patients with diabetes (N = 153) who were discharged or died from 1 January 2020 to 8 March 2020 were identified. One sex- and age-matched COVID-19 patient without diabetes was randomly selected for each patient with diabetes. Demographic, clinical, and laboratory data were abstracted. Cox proportional hazards regression analyses were performed to identify the risk factors associated with the mortality in these patients. RESULTS Of 1,561 COVID-19 patients, 153 (9.8%) had diabetes, with a median age of 64.0 (interquartile range 56.0–72.0) years. A higher proportion of intensive care unit admission (17.6% vs. 7.8%, P = 0.01) and more fatal cases (20.3% vs. 10.5%, P = 0.017) were identified in COVID-19 patients with diabetes than in the matched patients. Multivariable Cox regression analyses of these 306 patients showed that hypertension (hazard ratio [HR] 2.50, 95% CI 1.30–4.78), cardiovascular disease (HR 2.24, 95% CI 1.19–4.23), and chronic pulmonary disease (HR 2.51, 95% CI 1.07–5.90) were independently associated with in-hospital death. Diabetes (HR 1.58, 95% CI 0.84–2.99) was not statistically significantly associated with in-hospital death after adjustment. Among patients with diabetes, nonsurvivors were older (76.0 vs. 63.0 years), most were male (71.0% vs. 29.0%), and they were more likely to have underlying hypertension (83.9% vs. 50.0%) and cardiovascular disease (45.2% vs. 14.8%) (all P values <0.05). Age ≥70 years (HR 2.39, 95% CI 1.03–5.56) and hypertension (HR 3.10, 95% CI 1.14–8.44) were independent risk factors for in-hospital death of patients with diabetes. CONCLUSIONS COVID-19 patients with diabetes had worse outcomes compared with the sex- and age-matched patients without diabetes. Older age and comorbid hypertension independently contributed to in-hospital death of patients with diabetes.
Arabinoxylan, β-glucan and pectin in barley and malt endosperm cell walls: a microstructure study using CLSM and Cryo-SEM.

The architecture of barley endosperm cell walls is remarkably different from that of other grass species and is affected by germination or malting. Here, the cell wall microstructure is investigated using (bio)chemical analyses, cryo-scanning electron microscopy (Cryo-SEM) and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) as main techniques. Relative proportions of β-glucan, arabinoxylan and pectin in cell walls were 61%, 34% and 5%, respectively. The average thickness of a single endosperm cell wall was 0.30 µm, as estimated by Cryo-SEM analysis of barley seeds, which was reduced to 0.16 µm after malting. After fluorescent staining, 3D confocal multiphoton microscopy (multiphoton CLSM) imaging revealed the complex cell wall architecture. The endosperm cell wall is composed of a structure in which arabinoxylan and pectin are colocalised on the outside, with β-glucan depositions on the inside. During germination, arabinoxylan and β-glucan are hydrolysed, but unlike β-glucan, arabinoxylan remains present in defined cell walls in malt. Integrating the results, an enhanced model for the endosperm cell walls in barley is proposed.