Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Variability of Immune Response to Heterologous Erythrocytes during Population Cycles of Red (Clethrionomys rutilus) and Bank (C. glareolus) Voles

Immunocompetence is regarded to be one of the principal links in mechanisms of population regulation in small mammals. We assessed immune responsiveness to injection of sheep red blood cells (SRBC) in sympatric populations of red and bank voles in southern West Siberia, Russia, during the cycle of density from 1991 to 1995. We used a splenic plaque-forming cells (PFC) technique to measure the immune response to the antigen. In an attempt to establish relationships of immunity with intrinsic factors involved in population regulation we monitored the following parameters: population numbers, recruitment rate, and adrenocortical activity. The analysis of covariance showed a significant effect of reproductive status of voles and independent significant effects of month and year of capture on immune response to SRBC. In general, immature young was significantly higher responders as compared to mature (breeding) adults. The seasonal and long-term variations in numbers of PFC were similar in both species. Seasonal minimum of the immune response was observed within the period of intensive breeding in June and July. Among the years the immune responsiveness was maximal in the phase of population depression. The increase in maturation rate as density increased coincided with a decrease in immune responsiveness. The correlation analysis showed little or no evidence of links between the immunity and adrenocortical activity in the populations under study. Based on the patterns of seasonal and long-term variations of surveyed variables it is likely that physiological mechanisms governing the processes of sexual maturation and reproduction of red and bank voles are involved in the regulation of immunity.
Mechanisms and early patterns of dyslipidemia in pediatric type 1 and type 2 diabetes

Abstract Objectives The is no consensus on the early patterns of lipid-based cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk in youth with either type 1 diabetes (T1D) or type 2 diabetes (T2D). The aim was todetermine the differences in CVD risk, using lipid profiles, in children and adolescents with either T1D or T2D at the time of their first lipid assessment, after stratifying the T1D cohort into remitters and non-remitters based on their honeymoon history. Methods A cross-sectional study of 249 subjects consisting of 73 controls, 53 T2D subjects, and 123 T1D subjects stratified into remitters (n=44), and non-remitters (n=79). Partial clinical remission (PCR) was defined as insulin-dose adjusted HbA1c of ≤9. Pubertal status was determined by Tanner staging. Results After adjusting for age, sex, BMI, race, and pubertal status, T2D patients had significantly higher LDL-C compared to the controls (p=0.022), the remitters (p=0.029), but not the non-remitters (103.1 ± 5.9 mg/dL vs. 91.4 ± 4.2 mg/dL, p=0.49). Similarly, T2D patients had significantly higher non-HDL-C compared to the controls (p=0.006), the remitters (p=0.0002), but not the non-remitters (137.6 ± 7.1 mg/dL vs. 111.71 ± 5.0 mg/dL, p=0.053). Total cholesterol was also significantly higher in T2D patients compared to the controls (p=0.0005), the remitters (p=0.006) but not the non-remitters (183.5 ± 6.6 mg/dL vs. 166.2 ± 4.8 mg/dL, p=0.27). Conclusions Lack of the honeymoon phase in children and adolescents with T1D confers early and significantly increased lipid-based cardiovascular risk to these patients that is similar to the elevated cardiovascular risk seen in T2D.
Serum Galectin-3 Levels Are Unlikely to Be a Useful Predictive Marker for Early-onset Preeclampsia Development.

Galectin-3 (gal-3) is lectin which is presumed to interact with extracellular matrix proteins and cell surface glycoproteins in normal and pathophysiological conditions. The expression of gal-3 at the fetal-maternal interface partially overlaps that of gal-1, suggesting that an interplay between them might be important for hypertensive disorders in pregnancy like preeclampsia. The aim of our study was to test the hypothesis whether galectin-3 could be used as a predictive marker for early-onset preeclampsia development. 32 patients with early-onset preeclampsia were examined, mean age 28.8 ± 5.5; and 22 age matched normal pregnancies mean age 28.5 ± 6.0. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used for measuring serum galectin-3 levels. There were no significant differences between serum levels of galectin-3 in sera of preeclampsia patients compared to normal pregnant women - 14.1 ± 4.77 vs. 15.7 ± 5.95 ng/ml (p>0.05). Serum galectin-3 levels correlated with maternal age (r=0.33; p=0.03) and BMI (body mass index) (r=0.52; p=0.01). Our data suggest that determination of serum galectin-3 levels may not be a useful method for prediction of early-onset preeclampsia. Studies should be aimed to other categories of biomarkers.
Assessment of willingness-to-pay for Aflasafe KE01, a native biological control product for aflatoxin management in Kenya

ABSTRACT Contamination of key staples with aflatoxins compromises the quality of food and feed, impedes trade, and negatively affects the health of consumers whereas acute exposure can be fatal. This study used the Contingent Valuation Method (CVM) on a sample of 480 farmers in counties prone to aflatoxin contamination to assess the willingness to pay (WTP) by farmers for Aflasafe KE01, a promising biological control product for the management of aflatoxin contamination of key staples in Kenya, compare its cost with that of a similar product in use in Nigeria, and determine factors likely to affect its adoption. Four hundred and eighty households from four counties identified as aflatoxin hotspots in Kenya were purposively selected and interviewed using a semi-structured questionnaire. The mean WTP per kilogram of Aflasafe KE01, using Contingent Valuation Method in the four counties ranged from Kenya Shillings (Ksh) 113 to 152/kg compared to a cost of Ksh. 130/kg, the price of a similar product, AflasafeTM, in Nigeria. Factors that positively influenced farmers’ WTP included information from crop extension services and access to credit. To facilitate the adoption of Aflasafe KE01 or any other biocontrol product in Kenya and elsewhere, there is a need for increased education efforts through extension services to farmers about aflatoxins. Strategies to ensure that the biocontrol product is integrated into the credit scheme of the technological packages to farmers need to be considered.
Longitudinal Study of Thyroid Hormones between Conventional and Organic Farmers in Thailand

Many pesticides are endocrine-disrupting chemicals that can interfere with hormone levels. This study aimed to assess the longitudinal impact of exposure to pesticides on thyroid hormone levels, including Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH), Free Triiodothyronine (FT3), Free Thyroxine (FT4), Triiodothyronine (T3), and Thyroxine (T4). Both conventional (i.e., pesticide using) and organic farmers were interviewed using questionnaires, and blood samples were collected at 7–9 a.m. to determine thyroid hormone levels for four rounds, with a duration of eight months between each round. A linear mixed model of the natural log of the individual hormone levels used random intercepts for subjects while controlling gender, baseline age, and body mass index (BMI) was used to compare between conventional and organic farmers or the impact of cumulative days of spraying insecticides, herbicides or fungicides. The estimated marginal means of the thyroid hormone levels (TSH, FT3, T3, and T4) estimated from the linear mixed models were significantly higher among the conventional farmers than organic farmers. As cumulative spray days of insecticide, herbicide or fungicide increased, TSH and FT3 increased significantly. FT4 decreased significantly as cumulative spray days of insecticide or fungicide increased. These findings suggest that the insecticides, herbicides, and fungicides sprayed by conventional farmers exert endocrine-disrupting activities, altering the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid (HPT) axis homeostasis.
Emergency management in dental clinic during the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) epidemic in Beijing.

BACKGROUND In mid-March 2020, the World Health Organization declared that COVID-19 was to be characterised as a pandemic. The purpose of this article is to recommend emergency management procedures for dental clinics during this public health emergency. MATERIALS AND METHODS We have implemented a series of emergency management measures to prevent cross-infection in our dental clinic during the COVID-19 pandemic, including personnel scheduling, division of the clinic into functional areas, limitation or delay of non-emergency patients, staff protection and infection controls, clinical environmental disinfection, and the use of online consultation services, among others. RESULTS Due to public health policy and dental emergency management, the number of dental visitors to our clinic dropped sharply, and no COVID-19 suspected cases or high-risk patients received treatment. There have been no reports of infection of dental staff or patients during dental treatment in China to date. CONCLUSION These public health policies and dental emergency management measures were effective in controlling cross-infection of COVID-19 in the dental clinic. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS We share control measures for COVID-19, and hope that they will be helpful for dental professionals worldwide to continue to provide dental care in a safe and orderly manner.
Lipid/Lipoprotein Abnormalities Among Adult Type 1 Diabetics in Nigeria

Background: Dyslipidemia abounds among diabetics. However, these are poorly characterized among patients with type 1 diabetes (T1DM). The current study determined the pattern of dyslipidemia and their relationship with glycemic status among adult T1DM subjects. Methods: This survey was conducted retrospectively among 346 newly-diagnosed/treatment-naive T1DM adults attending outpatient units of a third-level hospital in Nigeria. Patients’ fasting plasma glucose and lipid parameters at the time of T1DM diagnosis were abstracted from their medical files. Lipid parameters included triglyceride (Tg), total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). Abstracted parameters were analyzed using descriptive and comparative statistics. Results: Of the 346 studied, 46.8% (n=162) were dyslipidemic (aged: 32.69±6.29) with female predominance (59.3%; p=0.018). Categorically, females predominated among isolated dyslipidemics while males predominated among the combined/mixed dyslipidemics. High plasma Tg concentration (n=142;87.7%) was the most common isolated dyslipidemia without male/female difference (p>0.05); seconded by low HDL-C (n=80;49.4%) with the females predominating (p<0.05). The most combined and mixed dyslipidemia was high plasma Tg/low HDL-C (total n=28, 17.3%; males n=16, 24.2% vs. females n=12, 12.5%; p=0.011) and high plasma Tg/high LDL-C/low-HDL-C (total n=30, 18.5%; males n=18, 27.3% vs. females n=12, 12.5%; p=0.001) concentrations, respectively with male predominance. The female dyslipidemics were younger with lower BMI, higher systolic blood pressure, glycemia, and mean plasma Tg levels (p<0.05). The overall dyslipidemics had poor glycemic status and their risk of dyslipidemia increases with worsening glycemia. Conclusion: Dyslipidemia was common and associated with poor glycemic status among the studied cohorts. This finding informs the need for more rigorous monitoring of dyslipidemia among T1DM subjects to reduce the risk of its complications.
Planting Method, Plastic Mulch, and Fumigation Influence Growth, Yield, and Root Structure of Watermelon

A 2-year field study was conducted to determine the influence of planting method, i.e., transplanting or direct seeding, black plastic mulch, and soil fumigation on the vine growth, yield, and root structure of diploid hybrid watermelon. The experiment was a split-plot design with fumigation as the main plot and there were four replications. Methyl bromide (337 L·ha -1 ) was applied to the soil, which was then tarped. Black plastic mulch, 0.61 m wide x 2 mil (Visqueen 4020™) was applied to appropriate rows. Vine growth was measured during the season and yield was determined by the number and weight of fruit from each treatment. After fruit harvest, plant roots were excavated so that root structure was maintained with minimal damage and roots were photographed. Root systems were scored for tap root dominance and overall root distribution. Direct-seeded watermelon had more vine growth and higher yields in both years than transplanted watermelon. The advantage of direct seeding was likely the result of the growth and root expansion that occurred for these plants while the transplants were still in the greenhouse. Direct-seeded plants also displayed greater tap root dominance in each year than transplanted watermelon. Roots of both direct-seeded plants and transplants had a greater range in size distribution in both years under plastic mulch than those grown on bare ground. In late-planted watermelon, direct-seeded plants had more favorable vine growth and yield without the aberrant roots systems produced by transplants.
Dysregulation of hsa-miR-34a and hsa-miR-449a leads to overexpression of PACS-1 and loss of DNA damage response (DDR) in cervical cancer

We have observed overexpression of PACS-1, a cytosolic sorting protein in primary cervical tumors. Absence of exonic mutations and overexpression at the RNA level suggested a transcriptional and/or posttranscriptional regulation. University of California Santa Cruz genome browser analysis of PACS-1 micro RNAs (miR), revealed two 8-base target sequences at the 3′ terminus for hsa-miR-34a and hsa-miR-449a. Quantitative RT-PCR and Northern blotting studies showed reduced or loss of expression of the two microRNAs in cervical cancer cell lines and primary tumors, indicating dysregulation of these two microRNAs in cervical cancer. Loss of PACS-1 with siRNA or exogenous expression of hsa-miR-34a or hsa-miR-449a in HeLa and SiHa cervical cancer cell lines resulted in DNA damage response, S-phase cell cycle arrest, and reduction in cell growth. Furthermore, the siRNA studies showed that loss of PACS-1 expression was accompanied by increased nuclear γH2AX expression, Lys382-p53 acetylation, and genomic instability. PACS-1 re-expression through LNA-hsa-anti-miR-34a or -449a or through PACS-1 cDNA transfection led to the reversal of DNA damage response and restoration of cell growth. Release of cells post 24-h serum starvation showed PACS-1 nuclear localization at G1-S phase of the cell cycle. Our results therefore indicate that the loss of hsa-miR-34a and hsa-miR-449a expression in cervical cancer leads to overexpression of PACS-1 and suppression of DNA damage response, resulting in the development of chemo-resistant tumors.
Mongoloid Dental Complex in the Deciduous Dentition with Special Reference to the Dentition of the Ainu

Although several investigations have been made from different aspects, the origin and the racial history of the Ainu are still remained unsolved. In this connection, it is required to investigate additional characteristics which have not been discussed so far in detail. The present article describes dental characters in the Ainu and gives some idea of morphological pattern of this population. Comparisons with the other populations are also discussed in the light of Mongoloid dental complex. Overall characteristics discussed in this article show that the dentition of the Ainu is close to the Mongoloid populations, especially to the Japanese, in its morphological pattern and this trend is evidently seen in either the deciduous or the permanent dentitions.
On the Importance of Household versus Firm Credit Frictions in the Great Recession

Although a credit tightening is commonly recognized as a key determinant of the Great Recession, to date, it is unclear whether a worsening of credit conditions faced by households or by firms was most responsible for the downturn. Some studies have suggested that the household-side credit channel is quantitatively the most important one. Many others contend that the firm-side channel played a crucial role. We propose a model in which both channels are present and explicitly formalized. Our analysis indicates that the household-side credit channel is quantitatively more relevant than the firm-side credit channel. We then evaluate the relative benefits of a fixed-sized transfer to households and to firms that improves each group's access to credit. We find that the effects of such a transfer on employment are substantially larger when the transfer targets households rather than firms. Hence, we provide theoretical and quantitative support to the view that the employment decline during the Great Recession would have been less severe if instead of focusing on easing firms' access to credit, the government had expended an equal amount of resources to alleviate households' credit constraints. (Copyright: Elsevier)
Understanding the Knowledge and Practices of Patent Medicine Vendors towards Tuberculosis Control in a Semi-Urban Area of South-South, Nigeria

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) is a significant health and economic burden in our environment and consistently ranks amongst the most common disease that affects individuals whose immunity has been compromised. It is also one of the major infectious diseases that affect those living with HIV and AIDS. Patent Medicine Vendors (PMVs) are ubiquitous in our Communities and are highly patronized by the populace. This is because they are at close proximity, affordable and accessible to many underprivileged and underserved people in Low and middle income countries. Inadequate knowledge and practice among PMVs will increase morbidity, mortality and promote spread of TB and emergence of Multi-drug resistant strains of TB. The study therefore aimed to understand the knowledge and practices of PMVs towards TB control to enable appropriate intervention. Method: The study was of a descriptive cross-sectional design. Semi-structured self-administered questionnaires in English were administered to forty ‘in-charge’ Patent medicine vendors to obtain quantitative data on their socio-demographics, their knowledge and their practices towards clients who present with chronic cough or tuberculosis. Results: From our study, more than half (65.0%) of the respondents identified prolonged cough -lasting more than 2 weeks and bloody cough (75.0%) as symptoms of TB. Only 27.5% of the PMVs have heard of DOTS (Directly Observed Treatment Short-course). Only 20.0% of the PMVs were aware that TB treatment required a minimum of 4 different drugs while 60.0% of them knew that drug treatment of TB should last for a minimum of 6 months. The majority (80.0%) of the PMVs correctly answered that TB drugs in government hospitals are free. When asked the most important tests to request for a client with chronic cough, all (100%) the PMVs mentioned sputum test and X-ray. The result shows that most of the respondents had good practice on the management of tuberculosis because they tended to refer clients with chronic cough or confirmed cases of TB to the government hospital. In our study, level of education of the PMVs was significantly associated with good practice of TB management, p=0.005. Conclusion: From our study, we understood that the level of knowledge and practices of TB management among PMVs in Alakahia Community is fairly adequate as we assessed them based on knowledge appropriate for them. A lot more still need to be done in area of training and retraining of PMVs on knowledge and practices, as well as educating the public on proper health-seeking behavior.
A natural carbohydrate fraction Actigen™ from Saccharomyces cerevisiae cell wall: effects on goblet cells, gut morphology and performance of broiler chickens

A study was conducted to evaluate a natural carbohydrate fraction (NCF) derived from mannan oligosaccharide in feed on growth performance, intestinal morphology and goblet cell number and area of male broilers. Dietary treatments included: 1) control diet (antibiotic and NCF free), 2) NCF at 200g/t, 3) NCF at 400g/t, and 4) NCF 800g/t. Birds were placed into 12 replicate pens/treatment (5 birds/pen). Body weight and feed intake were recorded weekly to day 42. At this time a 2.5cm section of jejunum and duodenum were excised post mortem for morphological analysis. Birds fed 200g/t and 800g/t NCF were significantly (P<0.01) heavier from day 14 onwards than the control birds. Feed intake was significantly increased for birds fed 200g/t NCF over the control in weeks 3 and 5 (P<0.05). Diet including 200g/t and 800g/t of NCF significantly decreased the FCR over the control in the first phase (1-14 days) (P<0.01), in the second phase all inclusion levels of NCF decreased FCR (P<0.05). NCF had no significant effect on villus height, villus width, crypt depth or villus to crypt ratio in either duodenum or jejunum. NCF did not significantly affect goblet cell area or goblet cell number in the duodenum, however in the jejunum 800g/t NCF significantly (P<0.05) increased goblet cell area over the control. In conclusion under the conditions of this trial NCF showed a positive effect on performance in the starter and grower phases, and increased goblet cell area in the jejunum, suggesting higher levels of mucin production. This indicated that the performance benefit of NCF could be age-dependent with younger birds responding more than the older ones. In the conditions of the poultry research unit, there were no additional benefits to performance when feeding NCF for a longer period (post 4 weeks), however it is postulated that birds fed NCF would have greater defence to pathogenic challenge through increased storage capacity of mucin.
Geographic Variation, Taxonomic Status, and Biogeography of Two Widely Distributed African Freshwater Fishes: Ctenopoma petherici and C. kingsleyae (Teleostei: Anabantidae)

of these two forms, and, in fact, synonymy has been argued for in the literature. In this study, we document geographic variation for both species by plotting in three-dimensional space population scores derived from regular and sheared principal component analyses of morphometric and meristic characters. We then distinguish 204 C. kingsleyae from 172 C. petherici with 95% accuracy, based upon three (or six) meristic characters entered into a stepwise multiple discriminant analysis. A similar evaluation, based upon nine (of 33) morphometric characters from 67 C. petherici and 70 C. kingsleyae, correctly classified 84.7% of the fish. We, thus, conclude that the two species are indeed separate entities; they can be clearly allocated to species on the basis of three key meristic counts and a classification function provided herein. A diagnosis and description of each species is furnished. The biogeographic significance of the distribution of these fishes is discussed. In addition, Anabas breviventralis is placed in synonymy with C. kingsleyae, whereas A. riggenbachi and A. togoensis are both placed in synonymy with C. petherici.