Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Knowledge of Dietitians on Gut Microbiota in Health—An Online Survey of the European Federation of the Associations of Dietitians (EFAD)

Explorations of current knowledge of dietitians about gut-health interconnection and the role of diet in gut microbiota manipulation are rather scarce in the literature. In this online survey we assessed the perceived and current knowledge of dietitians across Europe about gut microbiota and systemic health, nutrition as a modulator of the gut ecosystem, and the role of probiotics and prebiotics. Pre-graduate dietetic students and other professionals were also invited to participate. A total of 179 full responses were recorded (dietitians, n = 155), mainly from Southern and Western regions. Most participants (>78.0%) reported an average to good level of perceived knowledge, with significant positive correlations between perceived and current knowledge in all sections and overall (p for all <0.05). Nevertheless, a rather low current knowledge scoring of participants about probiotics and prebiotics was observed. Features such as being a dietitian, having a higher educational level as dietitian and working in an academic/research setting were usually associated with higher current knowledge. Further analysis revealed that dietitians had a trend for higher scoring about probiotics and prebiotics compared to pre-graduate students or other professionals. Moreover, for dietitians, working in an academic or research setting was an independent factor for scoring in the highest quartile in all tested sections and overall (p for all <0.05). In conclusion, this online survey shed some light on the current knowledge of dietitians across Europe about gut microbiota parameters, including dietary modulation, highlighting in parallel possible knowledge determinants. Potential areas for future educational efforts in this rather unexplored field were indicated.
Hydromechanical behaviour of a marl on controlled suction oedometer path

Abstract In this paper, a new osmotic oedometer with double flux is developed. The results on loading–unloading stress path with constant suction, for a high plastic marl (wL = 54%, Ip = 28%), are presented. Two initials conditions were considered: consolidated samples at a vertical stress of 100 kPa and compacted samples at the standard optimum Proctor conditions. The results show that suction influence greatly the compressibility parameters and contribute to the stiffness of the soil. The interpretation of results with effective stress concept shows that curves are gathered satisfactorily around the normally consolidated line, justifying the validity of this concept for the unsaturated soil.
Variation in Flavonoid Compounds, Volatiles and Yield Related Traits in Different Iranian Rosa damascena Mill. Cultivars Based on SPME Arrow and LC-MS/MS

Damask rose (Rosa damascena Mill.) is an aromatic industrial plant with different applications. Selection of cultivars with high-value metabolites such as flavonoids—with acceptable yields—can lead to elite cultivars for mass propagation in various industries. A field experiment was carried out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) to evaluate metabolites and some yield-related morphological data. In the present investigation, for the first time 13 flavonoid components of nine Iranian damask rose cultivars were compared using LC-MS/MS. As a result, 13 flavonoids were identified, most of which were reported for the first time in rose petals. Phloridzin (72.59–375.92 mg/100 g dw), diosmetin (82.48–153.16 mg/100 g dw) and biochanin A (0–1066.89 mg/100 g dw) were the most abundant, followed by trans-chalcone (0–106.29 mg/100 g dw) and diosmin (41.55–84.57 mg/100 g dw). Levels of naringenin also ranged from 3.77 in B111 to 54.70 mg/100 g dw in C294, while luteolin varied from 4.37 in B111 to 28.87 mg/100 g dw in C294. The SPME Arrow technique also was applied to determine the real aroma of the studied cultivars. Phenethyl alcohol was the most abundant compound, in the range of 69.28 to 77.58%. The highest citronellol/geraniol (C/G) was observed in D234 (4.52%) and D237 (4.30%), while the lowest amount belonged to A104 (1.28%). Rose oxide, as the most crucial factor for odor, ranged from 0.06% in D237 to 0.15% in D211. Based on cluster and principal component analysis (PCA), D234 cultivar can be suggested as a promising cultivar with high yield, high C/G content and high rose oxide, while D234 and C294 were the most valuable cultivars in terms of flavonoids with high yield. Finally, these cultivars can be introduced for further breeding programs and industrial cultivation.
Potassium Status of Indian soils: Need for Rethinking in Research, Recommendation and Policy

Potassium (K) is third most important plant nutrient, vital to many plant processes owing to its requirement for activation of at least 60 different enzymes involved in plant growth, important for osmoregulation, cation-anion balance, protein synthesis, water balance, reducing lodging, imparting disease resistance and improving quality and shelf life of crop produce. Nutrient K is less mobile in soils because of the strong affinity with exchange sites of clays. Large rates of K uptake can be attributed to its high mobility due to the large permeability of cell membranes to K-ions, which arise from the occurrence of a range of highly K selective, low and high affinity ion channels and transporters. The large K uptake rate achieved by roots result in a steep depletion of solution K in the rhizosphere. It has been well established that a significant proportion of plant needs of K are met from non-exchangeable fraction of soil K (Sreenivasa Rao et al., 2010; 2014). International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences ISSN: 2319-7706 Volume 6 Number 12 (2017) pp. 1529-1540 Journal homepage: http://www.ijcmas. com
Tongue Biting Event in Patients with Sleep-Related Facial Mandibular Myoclonus: A Case Series Study

Background Sleep-related facial mandibular myoclonus (SRFMM) remains rare in clinical practice. The aim of this study was to provide a comprehensive understanding of the electroclinical manner, therapeutic regimen, and prognosis of SRFMM. Methods Twenty-three patients who were diagnosed with SRFMM by clinical manifestation, video-electroencephalography (EEG) and electromyography over bilateral masseter and temporalis muscles were enrolled. Clinical and electrophysiological evaluation as well as follow-up information were recorded and analyzed. Results The cohort involved 4 infants and 19 adults with a mean onset age of 43.5 years for SRFMM, among whom 19 were male. Twenty-one patients complained of tongue injuries and disturbed night-time sleep. SRFMM in 4 patients were ascribed to oral aripiprazole, brainstem ischemia and brain trauma. In 62 SRFMM episodes, 93.5% occurred in NREM sleep and 6.5% in REM sleep, and all events were associated with EEG arousals. In 13 patients with or without clonazepam, the motor events gradually disappeared, and the rest turned to be sporadic. Conclusion SRFMM is a characteristic parasomnia manifested by tongue biting and accompanying facial mandibular myoclonus, leading to disrupted sleep. Besides adults, infants can also experience SRFMM with spontaneous remission. Most patients respond well to clonazepam, eventually with favorable prognosis.
Effects of neoadjuvant VEGF‑TKI treatment on surgery for renal cell carcinoma: A systematic review and meta‑analysis

To evaluate the effects of neoadjuvant vascular endothelial growth factor-tyrosine kinase inhibitor (VEGF-TKI) treatment on surgery in patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC), sources from Embase, PubMed and the Cochrane Library databases collected from inception to December, 2022 were used for analysis in the present study, according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Data regarding surgical outcomes were collected. The pooled effect sizes were calculated in terms of the risk ratio (RR)/standard mean difference (SMD) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) using the random-effects model. Subgroup and sensitivity analyses were used to explore the source of heterogeneity within the data. In total, 9 identified articles involving 829 patients (336 in the neoadjuvant + surgery group; 493 in the surgery group) were included in the present study, according to the criteria. The results demonstrated that there were no significant differences in blood loss (SMD=−0.11; 95% CI, −0.63–0.41; P=0.68), postoperative length of hospital stay or total length of hospital stay (SMD=0.23; 95% CI, −0.55–1.01; P=0.57) or complications (RR=1.16; 95% CI, 0.80–1.67; P=0.44) between the two groups. However, neoadjuvant therapy reduced the operation time (SMD=−0.67; 95% CI, −1.25- −0.09; P=0.02) and resulted in a greater proportion of patients choosing partial nephrectomy (RR=1.84; 95% CI, 1.47–2.31; P<0.00001). In the subgroup analysis, the blood loss was significantly lower in patients with RCC with inferior vena cava tumor thrombus in the neoadjuvant group (SMD=−1.10; 95% CI, −1.82- −0.38; P=0.003). In conclusion, the results of the present study indicated that neoadjuvant VEGF-TKI treatment in patients with RCC shortened operation time, decreased blood loss and did not cause an increase in perioperative complications. In addition, this treatment modality may encourage patients to opt for partial nephrectomy to preserve renal function.
Analysis of Geodynamical Conditions of Region of Burning Coal Dumps Location

Spontaneous combustion of coal dumps and their impact on the environment of mining regions remain important environmental problem, in spite of the measures that are being taken. The paper presents the hypothesis, which states that the location of coal dumps at the boundaries of geodynamically active crust blocks promotes the appearance of conditions for their combustion. At present geodynamically active crust faults that affect the operating conditions of engineering facilities are observed not only in the areas of tectonic activity, but also on platforms. According to the concept of geodynamical zoning, geodynamically dangerous zones for engineering structures can be not only large, well-developed crust faults, but also just formed fractures that appear as boundaries of geodynamically impacting and hierarchically ordered crust blocks. The purpose of the study is to estimate the linkage of burning dumps to boundaries of geodynamically active crust blocks (geodynamically dangerous zones) for subsequent development of recommendations for reducing environmental hazard. The analysis of 27 coal dumps location was made for one of the Eastern Donbass regions (Russia). Nine of sixteen burning dumps are located in geodynamically dangerous zones, which, taking into account relatively small area occupied by all geodynamically dangerous zones, results that there is a concentration (pcs/km2) of burning dumps, which is 14 times higher than the baseline value. While the probability of accidental obtaining of such a result is extremely low, this can be considered as the evidence of the linkage of burning dumps to geodynamically dangerous zones. Taking into account the stressed state of the rock massif in this region, all geodynamically dangerous zones can be divided into compression and tension zones. The statistic is limited, but nevertheless in tension zones the concentration of burning dumps is 2 times higher than in compression zones. Available results of thermal monitoring of burning dumps in this region also show that linearly extended firing sources oriented along geodynamically dangerous zones are observed. The obtained results show that geodynamical conditions of mining region, in which coal dumps are located, is important factor that impacts the creation of conditions for their spontaneous combustion and subsequent impact on the environment. Then this factor should be controlled by choosing the place for dumps location. It is proposed to carry out these works for the entire mining region of the Eastern Donbass, where there are more than 200 coal dumps.
Structural Features and Phylogenetic Implications of Crinoid Echinoderms Based on Thirteen Novel Mitochondrial Genomes

Crinoids, as integral echinoderms, play a crucial ecological role in benthic communities, serving as significant indicators reflecting the health of marine ecosystems. However, the phylogenetic relationships within crinoids are unclear. More molecular data can help to facilitate biodiversity assessment and elucidate evolutionary relationships by the phylogenetic tree. In this study, 13 complete mitochondrial genomes of the Crinoidea class were sequenced, annotated, and compared with other same class species available on NCBI. The results reveal five different gene order patterns among these mitochondrial genomes, indicating that crinoids have undergone gene rearrangements during evolution. The complete mitochondrial genome length of crinoids ranges from 15,772 bp to 16,850 bp. High A + T content, ranging from 64.5% to 74.2%, was observed. Additionally, our analysis of protein-coding genes highlights a preference for A + T nucleotides, along with specific start and stop codon usage, offering insights into codon bias and its implications for protein synthesis and function. The phylogenetic topology shows that the stalkless crinoid and stalked crinoid are distinct, and the phylogenetic trees generated based on maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference are almost identical at the family and order topology levels. The phylogenetic relationships of each family were fully clarified in four orders. A total of eleven positive selection sites were detected within six genes: cytb, nad2, nad3, nad4, nad4L and nad5. This study reveals the phylogenetic relationships of crinoid species, the mitochondrial gene differences, and the selective pressure on the evolution of stalked crinoids. This study significantly enhanced the crinoid mitochondrial genome database and contributed to a better understanding of the phylogenetic relationships among crinoid echinoderms.
Effect of Commercial Probiotics on Growth Performance of Sabaki tilapia, Oreochromis spilurus

The use of beneficial bacteria to improve fish health and growth is an innovative method in aquaculture practice. A study was conducted to test the efficiency of two commercial probiotics, such as Sanolife Pro-W and Protexin Balance on the microbial load in culture water and growth performance of Sabaki tilapia, Oreochromis spilurus in fiber glass tanks (400 liters) for a period of 75 days. Sanolife was supplied at 3ppm in the rearing water daily, and designated as Treatment 1. Protexin was incorporated at the rate of 1ppm in a supplementary feed, containing 35% protein in diet and considered as treatment 2. A control was also maintained without treating with probiotics in culture water or feed. Healthy and uniform size fish (3.1 ± 0.5g) were stocked at the rate of 25peaces/tank and both treatments and control tanks were set on a randomized design and triplicated. Water quality parameters (physical and chemical), microbial load in water, growth performance and body composition (nutrients) of fish were assessed during the culture period. Significant difference (p<0.01) on growth was observed between control and treatments, the highest growth was recorded in Protexin treated fish. Water quality parameters did not show significant variations. Carcass protein and lipid content showed significant difference between control and treatments. Considerable reduction in bacterial population and improved growth were observed in Sanolife Pro W treated water, when compared to Control. The result shows that Sanolife significantly reduce the bacterial population in culture water and Protexin improves the growth of fish. The outcome of the study has great application in the field of tilapia aquaculture sector in the Kingdom.
Association between Serum Creatinine and Osteoporosis in Early Postmenopausal Women: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background : Low bone mineral density (BMD) is the hallmark of osteoporosis, postmenopausal women are more likely to have microarchitectural deterioration and fracture risks. This study aimed to determine the relationship between serum creatinine (sCr) levels and osteoporosis in women who are early postmenopausal. Methods : There were 335 early postmenopausal women (age 40–60 years) in Dongguan, China, included in this cross-sectional study. BMD in the lumbar spine, femoral neck, and trochanter was measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and assessed using multivariable-adjusted logistic regression models based on sCr levels obtained during the first DXA examination. Results : Without osteoporosis patients had significantly higher sCr levels than osteoporosis patients. Overall, 75 (22.4%) participants (age, 51.3 ± 5.2 years) had osteoporosis. The median sCr level was 55.9 ± 9.6 µmol/L (range, 29.0–94.0 µmol/L). sCr levels increased by 1 µmol/L, while the risk of osteoporosis decreased by 4% (odds ratio [OR], 0.96; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 0.93–0.99), when menopause duration, menopause rating scale, body mass index, smoking habits, alcohol consumption, activity status, serum uric acid, and serum urea nitrogen were considered. Participants in the highest sCr quantile were at low risk for osteoporosis compared with those in the lowest quantile (OR, 0.46; 95% CI, 0.22–0.94). Based on subgroup and sensitivity analyses, this association remained stable. Conclusions : The sCr levels of early postmenopausal women are negatively associated with BMD, independent of age, menopause duration, and serum uric acid levels. As a marker of bone health, sCr may be a valuable indicator of skeletal muscle mass and provide evidence for future osteoporosis markers.
Meta‐analysis of field‐saturated hydraulic conductivity recovery following wildland fire: Applications for hydrologic model parameterization and resilience assessment

Hydrologic recovery after wildfire is critical for restoring the ecosystem services of protecting of human lives and infrastructure from hazards and delivering water supply of sufficient quality and quantity. Recovery of soil‐hydraulic properties, such as field‐saturated hydraulic conductivity (Kfs), is a key factor for assessing the duration of watershed‐scale flash flood and debris flow risks after wildfire. Despite the crucial role of Kfs in parameterizing numerical hydrologic models to predict the magnitude of postwildfire run‐off and erosion, existing quantitative relations to predict Kfs recovery with time since wildfire are lacking. Here, we conduct meta‐analyses of 5 datasets from the literature that measure or estimate Kfs with time since wildfire for longer than 3‐year duration. The meta‐analyses focus on fitting 2 quantitative relations (linear and non‐linear logistic) to explain trends in Kfs temporal recovery. The 2 relations adequately described temporal recovery except for 1 site where macropore flow dominated infiltration and Kfs recovery. This work also suggests that Kfs can have low hydrologic resistance (large postfire changes), and moderate to high hydrologic stability (recovery time relative to disturbance recurrence interval) and resilience (recovery of hydrologic function and provision of ecosystem services). Future Kfs relations could more explicitly incorporate processes such as soil‐water repellency, ground cover and soil structure regeneration, macropore recovery, and vegetation regrowth.
Reduction of tissue transglutaminase autoantibody levels by gluten‐free diet is associated with changes in subsets of peripheral blood lymphocytes in children with newly diagnosed coeliac disease

Tissue transglutaminase (tTG) autoantibodies decline after gluten‐free diet in patients with coeliac disease. We tested the hypothesis that gluten‐free diet‐induced change in tTG autoantibody levels affects subsets of peripheral blood lymphocytes. Peripheral blood was obtained from 20 children with biopsy‐proven active coeliac disease. Gluten‐free diet was initiated and the children examined again after three and six months. tTG autoantibodies were measured in radioligand binding assays and lymphocyte subsets by flow cytometry. IgA‐tTG levels at diagnosis, 2204 U/ml (median, range 113–24990), were reduced over six months to 76 U/ml (median, range 1–1261) (P < 0·001). At six months, 12/20 (60%) children had reduced their IgA‐tTG levels to < 100 U/ml and these children showed a decrease in B cells (mean change −3·8%, P = 0·014), CD4+ T cells (mean −4·32%, P = 0·011) and CD4+ T cells expressing CD25high (mean change −0·62%, P = 0·036). In contrast, the CD4+CD25highCCR4+ T cell population increased during the same period (mean change 11·5%, P = 0·0036). The decline in IgA‐tTG levels correlated to the decrease in B cells (r = 0·56, P = 0·01), CD4+ T cells (r = 0·66, P = 0·004) as well as CD4+CD25high T cells (r = 0·59, P = 0·01). A negative correlation was found between the decline in IgA‐tTG and CD4+CD25high T cells expressing CD45RO (r = –0·49, P = 0·03) and CCR4 (r = –0·54, P = 0·01). This is the first observational study on the effect of gluten‐free diet on concurrent changes of tTG autoantibodies and specific peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets. Our data suggest that flow cytometry may be a useful complement to tTG autoantibodies when studying the effects of gluten‐free diet in children with coeliac disease.
Why Do Large‐Scale Land Surface Models Produce a Low Ratio of Transpiration to Evapotranspiration?

Most land surface models (LSMs) used in Earth System Models produce a lower ratio of transpiration (T) to evapotranspiration (ET) than field observations, degrading the credibility of Earth System Model‐projected ecosystem responses and feedbacks to climate change. To interpret this model deficiency, we conducted a pair of model experiments using a three‐dimensional, process‐based ecohydrological model in a subhumid, mountainous catchment. One experiment (CTRL) describes lateral water flow, topographic shading, leaf dynamics, and water vapor diffusion in the soil, while the other (LSM like) does not explicitly describe these processes to mimic a conventional LSM using artificially flattened terrain. Averaged over the catchment, CTRL produced a higher T/ET ratio (72%) than LSM like (55%) and agreed better with an independent estimate (79.79 ± 27%) based on rainfall and stream water isotopes. To discern the exact causes, we conducted additional model experiments, each reverting only one process described in CTRL to that of LSM like. These experiments revealed that the enhanced T/ET ratio was mostly caused by lateral water flow and water vapor diffusion within the soil. In particular, terrain‐driven lateral water flows spread out soil moisture to a wider range along hillslopes with an optimum subrange from the middle to upper slopes, where evaporation (E) was more suppressed by the drier surface than T due to plant uptake of deep soil water, thereby enhancing T/ET. A more elaborate representation of water vapor diffusion from a dynamically changing evaporating surface to the height of the surface roughness length reduced E and increased the T/ET ratio.