Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Sulforaphane exerts anticancer effects on human liver cancer cells via induction of apoptosis and inhibition of migration and invasion by targeting MAPK7 signalling pathway.

PURPOSE This study was undertaken to investigate the anticancer effects of Sulforaphane against liver cancer and to elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms. METHODS WST-1 assay was used to monitor the proliferation rate. DAPI and annexin V/propidium iodide (PI) staining was used for apoptosis. Flow cytometry was used for cell cycle analysis. Wound heal and transwell assays were used to monitor cell migration and invasion. The protein expression was determined by western blot analysis. RESULTS It was found that Sulforaphane decreased the viability of the liver cancer HepG2 cells and exhibited an IC50 of 9 µM. Nonetheless, Sulforaphane (µM) exerted very low toxic effects on the normal AML12 hepatocytes and exhibited an IC50 of 100 µM. Flow cytometery analysis showed that Sulforaphane triggered G2/M arrest of the liver HepG2 cancer cells. DAPI staining revealed that Sulforaphane triggered the apoptotic cell death of HepG2 cells which was accompanied with activation of caspases 3 and 9, upregulation of Bax and downregulation of Bcl-2. Transwell assays showed that Sulforaphane inhibited the migration and invasion of the HepG2 liver cancer cells in a dose dependent manner. The effects of Sulforaphane were also investigated on the MAPK7 signalling pathway and it was found that Sulforaphane could block this pathway in HepG2 cells. CONCLUSION Taken together, Sulforaphane may prove essential in the development of chemotherapy for liver cancers.
Variability of the blood composition of dairy cows in relation to time of day

SUMMARY A blood sample was taken at each hourly interval between 07.00 and 16.00 h on five consecutive days from each of two groups of five lactating and two groups of five nonlactating cows. The sampling was organized so that each cow was sampled twice daily and once at each time of day. Samples were analysed for blood glucose and haemoglobin, serum urea, inorganic phosphate, Ca, Mg, Na, K, total protein, albumin, Fe and Cu and plasma β-hydroxybutyrate. The sources of variation in the concentration of each constituent were determined. Definite patterns of changes in concentrations with time of day were observed for β-hydroxybutyrate, urea, Ca, Na, Mg and Cu. In lactating cows there was a 2½-fold increase in the concentration of β-hydroxybutyrate from the lowest at 07.00 to the highest at 11.00 h. Variation in the concentrations of the other constituents with time of day was a relatively small proportion of the total variance. It was concluded that diurnal variation in blood composition was unlikely to be a major source of error in interpretation for the usual constituents of a metabolic profile test. However, if β-hydroxybutyrate were to be included great care would be required in selecting a time for sampling.
Grape Marc Compost Tea Suppressiveness to Plant Pathogenic Fungi: Role of Siderophores

It is important to know about the mechanisms that suppress plant diseases when compost from vegetable residues and/or their liquid extracts (compost tea) are used in order to improve the efficiency of this suppressing effect on pathogens. In this study, we assessed the presence of siderophores in various grape marc aerated compost teas (ACT) and their suppressing effect on nine pathogens: Rhizoctonia solani, Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. radicis-lycopersici, Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici race 0, Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici race 1, Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. radicis-cucumerinum, Verticillium dahliae, Pythium aphanidermatum, Phytophthora parasitica and the mycopathogen, Verticillium fungicola. Three concentrations (5, 10 and 15%) filtered, microfiltered and sterilized ACT were added to Petri dishes with a PDA medium, and 1 mM of ferric chloride (FeCy. After adding this mixture, a 0.5 cm disc was placed at the center of each dish containing the vegetative and reproductive body of each of the fungi to be tested. All the dishes were incubated at 25°C for seven days, except R. solani y P. aphanidermatum, which developed after 4 days. The addition of 1 mM of FeCl3 deactivated the siderophores present in the ACT, suppressing their inhibition of fungal development. The results obtained with the microfiltered ACT revealed that the microorganisms present in grape marc compost excreted siderophores into the medium which were responsible for inhibiting the growth of the 9 fungi tested. This activity was annulled by the addition of ferric chloride. The same results were achieved with the ACT obtained from filtering. This inhibition was not 100% after adding FeCl3 due to the fact that the microorganisms present in this tea, exhibited other biocontrol mechanisms.
The Association of Antibiotic Duration With Successful Treatment of Community-Acquired Pneumonia in Children.

BACKGROUND National guidelines recommend 10 days of antibiotics for children with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP), acknowledging that the outcomes of children hospitalized with CAP who receive shorter durations of therapy have not been evaluated. METHODS We conducted a comparative effectiveness study of children aged ≥6 months hospitalized at The Johns Hopkins Hospital who received short-course (5-7 days) vs prolonged-course (8-14 days) antibiotic therapy for uncomplicated CAP between 2012 and 2018 using an inverse probability of treatment weighted propensity score analysis. Inclusion was limited to children with clinical and radiographic criteria consistent with CAP, as adjudicated by 2 infectious diseases physicians. Children with tracheostomies; healthcare-associated, hospital-acquired, or ventilator-associated pneumonia; loculated or moderate to large pleural effusion or pulmonary abscess; intensive care unit stay >48 hours; cystic fibrosis/bronchiectasis; severe immunosuppression; or unusual pathogens were excluded. The primary outcome was treatment failure, a composite of unanticipated emergency department visits, outpatient visits, hospital readmissions, or death (all determined to be likely attributable to bacterial pneumonia) within 30 days after completing antibiotic therapy. RESULTS Four hundred and thirty-nine patients met eligibility criteria; 168 (38%) patients received short-course therapy (median, 6 days) and 271 (62%) received prolonged-course therapy (median, 10 days). Four percent of children experienced treatment failure, with no differences observed between patients who received short-course vs prolonged-course antibiotic therapy (odds ratio, 0.48; 95% confidence interval, .18-1.30). CONCLUSIONS A short course of antibiotic therapy (approximately 5 days) does not increase the odds of 30-day treatment failure compared with longer courses for hospitalized children with uncomplicated CAP.
Tremor pathophysiology: lessons from neuroimaging.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW We discuss the latest neuroimaging studies investigating the pathophysiology of Parkinson's tremor, essential tremor, dystonic tremor and Holmes tremor. RECENT FINDINGS Parkinson's tremor is associated with increased activity in the cerebello-thalamo-cortical circuit, with interindividual differences depending on the clinical dopamine response of the tremor. Although dopamine-resistant Parkinson's tremor arises from a larger contribution of the (dopamine-insensitive) cerebellum, dopamine-responsive tremor may be explained by thalamic dopamine depletion. In essential tremor, deep brain stimulation normalizes cerebellar overactivity, which fits with the cerebellar oscillator hypothesis. On the other hand, disconnection of the dentate nucleus and abnormal white matter microstructural integrity support a decoupling of the cerebellum in essential tremor. In dystonic tremor, there is evidence for involvement of both cerebellum and basal ganglia, although this may depend on the clinical phenotype. Finally, in Holmes tremor, different causal lesions map to a common network consisting of the red nucleus, internal globus pallidus, thalamus, cerebellum and pontomedullary junction. SUMMARY The pathophysiology of all investigated tremors involves the cerebello-thalamo-cortical pathway, and clinical and pathophysiological features overlap among tremor disorders. We draw the outlines of a hypothetical pathophysiological axis, which may be used besides clinical features and cause in future tremor classifications.
Thrombectomy for Stroke in the Public Health Care System of Brazil.

BACKGROUND Randomized trials involving patients with stroke have established that outcomes are improved with the use of thrombectomy for large-vessel occlusion. These trials were performed in high-resource countries and have had limited effects on medical practice in low- and middle-income countries. METHODS We studied the safety and efficacy of thrombectomy in the public health system of Brazil. In 12 public hospitals, patients with a proximal intracranial occlusion in the anterior circulation that could be treated within 8 hours after the onset of stroke symptoms were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to receive standard care plus mechanical thrombectomy (thrombectomy group) or standard care alone (control group). The primary outcome was the score on the modified Rankin scale (range, 0 [no symptoms] to 6 [death]) at 90 days. RESULTS A total of 300 patients were enrolled, including 79 who had undergone thrombectomy during an open-label roll-in period. Approximately 70% in the two groups received intravenous alteplase. The trial was stopped early because of efficacy when 221 of a planned 690 patients had undergone randomization (111 to the thrombectomy group and 110 to the control group). The common odds ratio for a better distribution of scores on the modified Rankin scale at 90 days was 2.28 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.41 to 3.69; P = 0.001), favoring thrombectomy. The percentage of patients with a score on the modified Rankin scale of 0 to 2, signifying an absence of or minor neurologic deficit, was 35.1% in the thrombectomy group and 20.0% in the control group (difference, 15.1 percentage points; 95% CI, 2.6 to 27.6). Asymptomatic intracranial hemorrhage occurred in 51.4% of the patients in the thrombectomy group and 24.5% of those in the control group; symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage occurred in 4.5% of the patients in each group. CONCLUSIONS In this randomized trial conducted in the public health care system of Brazil, endovascular treatment within 8 hours after the onset of stroke symptoms in conjunction with standard care resulted in better functional outcomes at 90 days than standard care alone. (Funded by the Brazilian Ministry of Health; RESILIENT ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT02216643.).
Physicochemical properties of twenty-one Caribbean sweet potato cultivars.

Summary The physical, chemical and physicochemical properties of twenty-one Caribbean sweet potato cultivars were investigated. Hunter L a b colour parameters were measured, chroma, colour intensity and hue angle were calculated. Proximate composition, vitamin C, amylose, reducing and non-reducing sugars contents were determined using standard methods. Pasting properties were determined using Rapid Visco Analyser. Tuber size (length, r = 0.72, n = 21, P < 0.0015; width, r = 0.85, n = 21, P < 0.0002) was highly correlated with weight of the tubers. External colours of the tubers (L = 28.7–63.1, a = +5.9 to +18.0, b = +3 to +19.3) were lower than the flesh colours (L = 60.8–84.0, a = −2.4 to +27.8, b = +9.9 to +28.5). Proximate composition is typical of sweet potato cultivars but significant differences exist among cultivars. Total sugar, amylose and amylopectin contents ranged from 1.8 to 4.7%, 15.3–31.2% and 68.8–84.7%, respectively. Cooking profiles of the sweet potato flours showed similar trend. Pasting temperature, peak time, swelling power and solubility ranged from 78.3 to 93.0 °C, 3.3–4.8 min, 5.6–23.5 and 11.7–45.7%, respectively.
Effects of Aphis fabae and Uromyces viciae-favae on the growth of a susceptible and an aphid resistant cultivar of Vicia faba

Summary Damaging effects of either black bean aphid (Aphis fabae), broad bean rust (Uromyces viciae-fabae), or the combination of both were investigated on a susceptible (cv. Diana) and an aphid resistant (cv. Bolero) cultivar of Vicia faba. When compared with rust, aphids caused greater reductions of root dry weight, shoot dry weight, leaf area, and mean relative growth rate. The mean unit leaf rate was also reduced whereas the leaf area ratio was not affected. The damage caused per aphid was highest on the susceptible cultivar. Rust induced damage did not differ between the cultivars. Concomitant infestation with both pests only resulted in additive damage. The population development of aphids was delayed on partially resistant plants. High temperature and rust infection reduced the total number of aphids the plants were able to support but not the level of resistance. Thus the specific damaging effect per aphid was increased.
Fungal biomass in roots and extramatrical mycelium in relation to macronutrients and plant biomass of ectomycorrhizal Pinus sylvestris and Alnus incana.

We studied the effects of macronutrients on the production and distribution of fungal biomass and plant biomass in ectomycorrhizal (Paxillus involutus (Fr.) Fr. ) or non-mycorrhiza] Pinus sylvestris L, and Alnus incana (L.) Moench. Fungal biomass was measured as ergosterol content in roots and extramatrical mycelium, Alnus infants was nodulated with Frankia. All six macronutrients were varied according to a two-level fractional factorial design, The plants were grown in pots during two growing periods in a growth chamber. Levels of N, P and sometimes K and interactions between them, had highly significant effects, whereas Ca. Mg and S had no significant effects. The production of extramatrical mycelial biomass peaked when P was low and other nutrients were high. This investment in extramatrical mycelium resulted in a 660%, higher biomass in mycorrhizal compared with non-mycorrhizal P. sylvestris at this nutrient regime. The proportion of fungal biomass in roots was stable in P. sylvestris hut more variable in A. incana. Alnus incana grew less when mycorrhizal then when non-mycorrhizal. The growth responses to mycorrhiza and to the different nutrient treatments were evident at the end of the first growing period. Non-mycorrhizal P. sylvestris did not respond to P limitation by a production of proportionally more roots. This might be a reflection of an obligate dependency on mycorrhiza for effective P uptake. By contrast, the root/shoot ratio in both mycorrhizal and non-mycorrhiza] P. sylvestris decreased strongly in response to increased N. The opposite root/shoot response was found in Alnus incana, and the ratio decreased strongly in response to increased P and increased in response to increased N.
Expansión del alburno Alburnus alburnus (Linnaeus, 1758) (Actinopterygii, Cyprinidae) en la península Ibérica: el papel de los embalses

Since its first record in a tributary of the Ebro basin in 1992, the bleak Alburnus alburnus has spread to almost the whole Iberian Peninsula. In this paper (based on electrofishing surveys in 598 localities), we provide information on the expansion of the bleak. We detail current distribution in the Ebro basin and the rivers of the Eastern Pyrenees and we report its presence in three other major Iberian drainages. Currently, the bleak is sympatric with 15 Iberian endemic species (58% of total Iberian endemic fish). The possible threats to the rich Iberian ichthyofauna caused by the presence of the bleak are discussed. The factors that promoted the extremely rapid expansion of this exotic cyprinid are examined, focusing on the role of reservoirs, which seem to favour its dispersal.
Mode of Transmission of Vibriosis among Ayu Plecoglossus altivelis

Abstract The mode of transmission of Vibrio anguillarum infection in ayu (Plecoglossus altivelis) and the portal of entry for the pathogen were investigated by the use of various challenge methods. The methods employed were immersion, direct contact, cohabitation, patch contact (filter paper soaked in bacterial suspension placed on part of a test fish for 1 min), and intubation. Based on the results of immersion, direct contact, and cohabitation challenges, it was concluded that water-borne infection is the primary mode of transmission of the disease. The patch contact challenge revealed that V. anguillarum penetrated the host through the skin, fins, anus, and gills. Among those, the skin and anus were determined to be the essential portals of entry for the pathogen. Artificial wounds of the skin surface caused by swabbing or scale removal facilitated invasion by the pathogen. Infection also was established by oral and anal intubations.
Spatial organization of the arboreal carnivorous marsupial Phascogale tapoatafa

Phascogale tapoatafa is a squirrel-sized carnivorous marsupial (Dasyuridae) found in dry eucalyptus forests of Australia. Radio-tracking and live-trapping studies at three sites in Victoria indicated that population densities were typically low, with females occupying home ranges averaging 41 ha (minimum convex polygon method) that were intrasexually exclusive. Male home ranges (mean 106 ha) overlapped extensively with females and other males, and expanded during the short breeding season to an average length of 2.7 km. When presented with the faeces of unfamiliar conspecifics, both female and male P. tapoatafa investigated the faeces of females significantly longer than those of males, suggesting that the exclusive home ranges of females are reinforced by olfactory communication, and that males are less responsive to the presence of potential rivals than to potential mates. Both sexes foraged throughout their home range, but the core area of intensive use was less than one-third of the total area traversed. The spatial organization of P. tapoatafa differs markedly from that of the closely related species Antechinus stuartii, but is similar to that of the only other extensively studied carnivorous marsupial, Dasyurus geoffroii.
17-β Estradiol Attenuates Hypoxic Induction of HIF-1&agr; and Erythropoietin in Hep3B Cells

Hypoxia inducible factor-1 (HIF-1) is a heterodimeric transcription factor that regulates expression of several hypoxia-inducible genes, including erythropoietin (EPO), by binding to hypoxia response elements (HREs) in their promoters/enhancers. Previously, we have shown that 17-β estradiol (E2-β) attenuates hypoxic induction of EPO in rats. We hypothesized that this response is mediated by E2-β-induced attenuation of HIF-1&agr; activity/expression. To test this hypothesis, we performed reporter gene assays in Hep3B cells to assess E2-β effects on hypoxia-induced activity of a reporter gene driven by the HRE from a cloned EPO-enhancer element. Immunocytochemistry and Western blots were additionally used to determine effects of E2-β on hypoxic increases in HIF-1&agr; and EPO immunoreactivity. Finally, we examined potential influences of E2-β on HIF-1&agr; mRNA levels by real-time PCR. Consistent with our hypothesis, E2-β (100 pM) inhibited hypoxic increases in HRE-mediated reporter gene activity. Furthermore, the estrogen-receptor antagonist ICI 182,780 (25 μM) eliminated these inhibitory effects of E2-β. E2-β similarly attenuated hypoxic induction of both EPO and HIF-1&agr; protein in an estrogen-receptor dependent manner, but was without effect on HIF-1&agr; mRNA expression. These findings suggest a role for E2-β to attenuate EPO expression by interfering with hypoxic increases in HIF-1&agr; protein through an estrogen receptor-dependent mechanism.
Density multiply maturity interactions for grain yield in sunflower

Variation in grain yield response to density (10 000, 30000, 50000, 70000, 90 000 and 110 000 plants/ha), of 2 sunflower hybrids differing in maturity (Hysun 11 and Hysun 30), was examined over a range of yield levels provided by 9 locations. While the interaction between hybrid, density and site was statistically highly significant, its value for commercial recommendations was limited. Optimum yields by each hybrid at each yield level did not differ significantly from yields at densities of 50000 plants/ha. When combined with Victorian and southern Queensland data, the responses were consistent over sites, years and times of sowing. This suggests that valid agronomic recommendations over regions may be based on data for 1 region, providing a suitable data set covering the range of yield expectations is obtained. The regression technique, which related grain weight per plant to area per plant, enhanced the sensitivity in data analysis, simplified data presentation, and provided a framework for interpreting differences between hybrids in density response.
Aspects of the biology of Hyolitha (Mollusca)

Hyolitha constitute an extinct group of class rank assigned to Molhsca. Two orders, Ortho-thecida and Hyolithida, are well established and most knowledge of morphologic detail is derived from the latter. Both orders had an operculum not hinged to the conch. Hyolithida also had paired, curved, whiskerlike appendages, requiring complex musculature to move them and the operculum. The Hyolithida were probably deposit feeders living in shallow water, and accordingly were tentaculate. A reconstruction of the soft parts of this sedentary organism is given — a shallow mantle cavity on the dorsal side, anterior tentacles, a long intestine, and a reduced ventral foot. Except for the more complex musculature associated with an elaborate operculum, Orthothecida are judged to have had a similar anatomy.
Participatory science and education: bringing both views into focus

Aligning the goals of scientists and participants becomes more challenging when citizen science moves into middle- and high-school classrooms. Here, we describe a logic model developed in association with the Acadia Learning Project, a collaboration among scientists, teachers, and students that successfully meets both research and educational needs. The logic model is intended to assist other classroom-based citizen-science initiatives with project design and evaluation.