Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of resveratrol treatment on apoptosis and apoptotic pathways during boar semen freezing

Resveratrol (3,5,4'-trihydroxystilbene, RSV) has been widely used in mammalian cells, but whether it can be used during freezing boar semen is still unknown. The effects of RSV treatment during boar semen freezing on its anti-freezing ability, apoptosis, and possible apoptotic pathways were observed in this study. Sperm motility, mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm), adenosine triphosphate (ATP) content, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT)-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL)-positive apoptotic state, and messenger RNA (mRNA) expression levels of apoptotic genes involved in different apoptotic pathways after freezing with or without RSV treatment were tested. The results showed that: (1) Compared with fresh sperm, the motility, normal acrosome rate, and plasma membrane integrity rate of frozen boar sperm decreased significantly (P<0.05), and RSV did not significantly increase the sperm motility (0.44 vs. 0.40, P>0.05), but it did significantly improve the normal acrosome rate (57.65% vs. 47.00%, P<0.05) and plasma membrane integrity rate (46.67% vs. 38.85%, P<0.05). (2) After freezing, most boar sperm showed low mitochondrial ΔΨm. RSV treatment could increase the rate of high mitochondrial ΔΨm of boar sperm. (3) RSV treatment significantly decreased reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels (58.65% vs. 88.41%, P<0.05) and increased the ATP content (0.49 μmol/L vs. 0.25 μmol/L, P<0.05) of boar sperm during freezing. (4) The apoptotic rate of the freezing group (80.41%) with TUNEL detection increased significantly compared to the fresh group (9.70%, P<0.05), and RSV treatment greatly decreased the apoptotic rate (68.32%, P<0.05). (5) Real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) showed that not only the genes from the death receptor-mediated apoptotic pathway (tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), Fas ligand (FasL), and Caspase-8), but also the genes from the mitochondria-mediated apoptotic pathway (manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD), B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2), Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax), and Caspase-9) were both significantly changed after freezing. RSV treatment during freezing greatly changed their expression levels. Although RSV treatment during boar semen freezing did not significantly increase motility after thawing, it still played an efficient antioxidant role, which could enhance the mitochondrial function and decrease the apoptotic level induced by both the death receptor- and mitochondria-mediated apoptotic pathways.
Comparative Effectiveness of Calcimimetic Agents for Secondary Hyperparathyroidism in Adults: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-analysis.

RATIONALE & OBJECTIVE Comparative benefits and harms of calcimimetic agents used for the treatment of secondary hyperparathyroidism have not been well characterized. We sought to compare the effectiveness of 3 calcimimetic agents using published data. STUDY DESIGN Systematic review of randomized controlled trials and network meta-analysis. SETTING & STUDY POPULATION Adults with chronic kidney disease enrolled in a clinical trial of a calcimetic agent. SEARCH STRATEGY & SOURCES MEDLINE, EMBASE, CENTRAL (from February 7, 2013, to November 21, 2019), and a published meta-analysis. DATA EXTRACTION Two reviewers independently extracted the study data, assessed risk of bias, and rated evidence certainty using Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) criteria. ANALYTICAL APPROACH Frequentist network meta-analysis was conducted. The primary review outcomes were achievement of a target reduction in serum parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels and hypocalcemia. Additional outcomes were nausea, vomiting, serious adverse events, all-cause mortality, cardiovascular mortality, heart failure, and fracture. RESULTS 36 trials (11,247 participants) were included. All except 4 trials involved dialysis patients. Median follow-up was 26 weeks (range, 1 week to 21.2 months). Compared with placebo, calcimimetic agents had higher odds of achieving target PTH levels with high or moderate certainty. Etelcalcetide had the highest odds of achieving a PTH target compared with evocalcet (OR, 4.93; 95% CI, 1.33-18.2) and cinacalcet (OR, 2.78; 95% CI, 1.19-6.67). Etelcalcetide appeared to cause more hypocalcemia than cinacalcet and evocalcet. Cinacalcet and to a lesser extent etelcalcetide appeared to cause more nausea than placebo. Differences in risk for mortality, cardiovascular end points, or fractures across calcimimetic agents could not be discerned with sufficient certainty. LIMITATIONS Lack of longer-term data; heterogeneous end point definitions. CONCLUSIONS Evidence of the benefits of calcimimetic therapy is limited to short-term assessment of a putative surrogate outcome (serum PTH). Although etelcalcetide was associated with the largest reduction in PTH levels, side-effect profiles differed across the 3 calcimimetic agents, making it not possible to identify 1 preferred agent.
All-cause mortality and the risk of stroke with selective aspiration thrombectomy in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention

Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text Abstract Few data exist on the clinical outcomes of selective aspiration thrombectomy during primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI). This was a nationwide retrospective cohort study. Patients who were diagnosed with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and received primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) from July 2009 to December 2011 were identified from the National Health Insurance Research Database of Taiwan. Propensity score weighting was used to balance the covariates between the 2 study groups. The primary endpoints were all-cause mortality and stroke during hospitalization and at 30 days and 1 year of follow-up. Subgroup analyses were performed based on the hospital and physician volume of primary PCI. A total of 9100 ST-elevation myocardial infarction patients (29.4% of patients receiving aspiration thrombectomy and conventional PPCI vs 70.6% receiving PPCI alone) were identified. The incidence rates of all-cause mortality were comparable between the 2 groups during hospitalization (21.0 vs 27.37/100 person-months; P = .29) and 1-year follow-up (0.81 vs 1.26/100 person-months; P = .85). There were no significant differences in the stroke rates between the 2 groups during hospitalization (1.1 vs 2.34/100 person-months; P = .3) and 1-year follow-up (0.09 vs 0.15/100 person-months; P = .85). For the patients who survived to discharge, the post-discharge 1-year mortality was lower in the aspiration thrombectomy group of patients in whom the procedures were performed by physicians with a high volume of PPCI (hazard ratio: 0.47; 95% confidence interval: 0.24–0.94; P = .03). In this nationwide cohort study, selective aspiration thrombectomy at the operation's discretion had a comparable mortality rate compared with PCI alone and did not increase the risk of stroke. In the patients treated by physicians with a high volume of PPCI, aspiration thrombectomy appeared to have a beneficial effect on post-discharge survival at 1 year.
A Possible Role for Rhizobacteria in Water Treatment by Plant Roots

ABSTRACT By accumulating Cd from solution, roots of hydroponically grown Indian mustard (Brassica juncea L.), a high biomass crop plant, were able to cause substantial reductions in the concentration of Cd in solution. The removal of Cd from solution was linearly correlated with Cd accumulation by roots. Screening of 300 different rhizobacterial isolates identified several that, when inoculated onto roots of Indian mustard, significantly enhanced the total amount of Cd removed from solution. Further investigations revealed that this enhancement was because of an overall increase in root biomass in the rhizobacterial-treated plants. Rhizobacteria were found to accumulate Cd from solution, and ultrastructural observations suggested that rhizobacteria promote the precipitation of Cd on the root surface. By precipitating Cd at the root surface, rhizobacteria reduce the amount of Cd taken up into roots, thereby protecting the plants, and in particular the roots, from the toxic effects of Cd. This reduced Cd to.
On the bionomy of Tomicus piniperda (L.) (Col., Scolytidae) in the Kunming region of China

The bionomy of the pine shoot beetle, Tomicus piniperda (L.), was studied in the field in Kunming, China. Tomicus piniperda in Kunming seems to develop some biological features, which distinguish it from those in some European countries. For example, the infestation on the living host trees, all the life stages occuring in winter, biological establishing of sister brood, and so on. This paper compares the characteristics of the European and Kunming beetles and suggests that the observed differences may be the results of the climate and the host pine in the Kunming region. Also, the paper introduces the pattern of shoot feeding and infestation on the trunks, and the reproduction rate of the pine shoot beetle.
Incidence of Limb Loss and Bald Chelipeds in the Japanese Mitten Crab Eriocheir japonica (de Haan) in its Marine Phase

The incidence of limb loss and bald chelipeds in the Japanese mitten crab Eriocheir japonica in the sea was investigated at Tsuyazaki, Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan, in 1990-1991. Frequency of crabs with missing limbs increased remarkably in males from the beginning (September-December) to the end (May-July) of the reproductive season (26.8% to 83.3%), but only slightly in females (26.5% to 53.1%). Cheliped loss increased in males, from 8.9% to 33.3%, but showed no apparent change in females (5.8% to 4.1%) over the same period. Similarly, the average number of missing limbs per crab among all the sampled specimens increased markedly in males (0.36 to 1.71), but not as much in females (0.45 to 0.86). The site of limb loss was significantly different between sexes, with a lower frequency of cheliped loss in females compared to males, but there was no significant site specificity of loss in either sex. Increases in frequencies of limb loss reflect the deterioration in physiological condition after migration and reproduction and no regeneration of limbs by moulting in the sea. Higher frequencies of limb loss in males, especially of chelipeds, reflect their more active use of their larger chelipeds in the sea. Occurrence of bald chelipeds increased in both sexes towards summer (3.7% to 66.7% in males and 2.9% to 53.1% in females), with no significant difference between sexes in each season. Thus, the causes of baldness may differ from those of limb loss which more clearly reflect the behavioural differences between sexes.
A three-dimensional micro-electrode array for in-vitro neuronal interfacing

Objective. In this paper, we report on the development of an easy-to-fabricate three-dimensional Micro-Electrode Array (3D-MEA) specifically designed for brain-on-a-dish applications. Approach. The proposed device consists of pillar-shaped gold microelectrodes realized by electroplating directly on top of a standard MEA, making this approach highly versatile and convenient for batch fabrication. Moreover, with this simple technique, it is possible to obtain electrodes with a height of more than 100 µm onto different kind of substrates, ranging from glass to flexible plastic ones. Main results. This novel 3D-MEA structure has been validated with acute brain slices, successfully recording both epileptiform-like discharges (upon the administration of 4-AP), and electrically-evoked neuronal activity. The preliminary validation showed a substantial improvement in the signals amplitude with respect to both commercial and custom planar electrodes thanks to a better coupling offered by the peculiar shape of the three-dimensional electrodes. Significance. Beside the versatility of the fabrication approach, which allows to obtain 3D MEA devices onto both rigid and flexible substrates, the reported validation showed how the pillar approach can outperform standard planar MEA recordings in terms of signal amplitude. Moreover, thanks to the possibility of obtaining multi-level 3D structures within the same device, the proposed fabrication technique offers an interesting and flexible approach for the development of a new family of electrophysiological tools for 3D in vitro electrophysiology, in particular for acute brain slices and 3D neuronal cultures for brain-on-a-dish applications.
Gains in Grain Yield of Early Maize Cultivars Developed During Three Breeding Eras under Multiple Environments

Maize (Zea mays L.), an important staple crop in West and Central Africa (WCA), has enormous potential to reduce food insecurity in this sub - region. r esearch covering three periods or eras of breeding has been conducted to develop cultivars resistant/tolerant to three maize stress factors: Striga parasitism, drought, and low soil nitrogen. A study was conducted under optimal or natural growing environments at 35 locations in WCA for 2 yr to determine genetic improvement in grain yield of the maize cultivars developed during the three breeding periods: 1988-2000 (period 1), 2001-2006 (period 2), and 2007-2010 (period 3). The average rate of increase in grain yield under optimum growing conditions was 40 kg ha -1 yr -1 with a genetic gain of 1.3% yr -1 , which was slightly higher than the gain of 30 kg ha -1 yr -1 , an annual genetic gain of 1.2% across 16 stress environments. It was concluded that substantial improvement in the yield potential of early maize under relatively nonstress environmental conditions has been made in this subregion by breeding for stress tolerance during the past three decades. The varieties EV DT-W 2008 STr, 2009 DTE-Y STr Syn, and TZE-W DT C2 STr, all from the lat - est era of improvement, were identified as the highest yielding and most stable cultivars and should be promoted to contribute to food secu -
Ticagrelor alone or conventional dual antiplatelet therapy in patients with stable or acute coronary syndromes.

AIMS To investigate the effect of ticagrelor monotherapy after 1-month dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) or conventional DAPT in patients with or without acute coronary syndrome (ACS) in the GLOBAL LEADERS Adjudication Sub-Study (GLASSY). METHODS AND RESULTS Risk estimates were expressed as rate ratios (RR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). A total of3,840 ACS and 3,745 SIHD (stable ischemic heart disease) patients were included. At 2-year, rates of co-primary efficacy endpoint, composite of death, myocardial infarction, stroke or urgent target-vessel revascularization, were 7.94% in the experimental and 9.68% in the control group (RR, 0.82, 95% CI, 0.66-1.01) among ACS and 6.31% in the experimental and 7.14% in the control group (RR, 0.89, 95% CI, 0.69-1.13) among SIHD patients (Pint= 0.63). Trends for lower and higher risk of BARC 3 or 5 bleeding with the experimental strategy in ACS (2.27% vs. 3.00%, RR, 0.76, 95% CI, 0.51-1.12) and SIHD (2.70% vs. 1.96%, RR, 1.39, 95% CI, 0.91-2.12) patients, respectively, were observed with significant interaction testing (Pint=0.039). A net clinical benefit endpoint, composite of both co-primary study endpoints, favored the experimental treatment among ACS patients only. CONCLUSIONS Ticagrelor monotherapy after 1-month DAPT provided consistent treatment effects on ischemic endpoints in patients with or without ACS but only the former experienced a net clinical benefit. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov number NCT03231059.
Winter use and habitat characteristics of vulture communal roosts

We examined winter use and characteristics of 16 communal roosts used by black (Coragyps atratus) and turkey (Cathartes aura) vultures during 1986 and 1987 in southern Pennsylvania, northern Maryland, and northeastern Virginia. Eight roosts were classified as primary and 8 as secondary based on numbers of vultures per roost and on frequency of use in both winters. Roosts had a greater density of conifers and larger trees (deciduous and coniferous) than random wooded sites and presumably provided vultures nocturnal perches with favorable microclimates, increased food availability, and enhanced soaring conditions. Roosts that contain large conifers (>56 cm dbh and >21 m tall) and are near (50-200 m) habitat features that contribute to air currents should be preserved for wintering vultures. J. WILDL. MANAGE. 54(1):77-83 Populations of black and turkey vultures in the Mid-Atlantic region have declined in recent decades (Brown 1976). A knowledge of both winter use and habitat characteristics associated with communal roosts is required to manage habitat for wintering populations of vultures. Previous studies of vulture roosts focused on roost dynamics (Sweeney and Fraser 1986, Taylor 1986), behavioral interactions and movements (Stewart 1978; Rabenold 1983, 1986; Coleman and Fraser 1989), and thermoregulation (Byman 1985, Clark and Ohmart 1985). With the exception of 1 communal vulture roost study in southcentral Pennsylvania (Wright et al. 1986), little is known about winter use and characteristics of roosts in the Mid-Atlantic region. Our objectives were to determine winter use of communal roosts by black and turkey vultures in southern Pennsylvania, northern Maryland, and northeastern Virginia and to describe habitat characteristics of communal roosts. J. D. Fraser, H. G. Hughes, and W. L. Myers reviewed the manuscript, and J. W. Grimm provided statistical advice. We thank J. S. Coleman and W. L. Myers for comments on the manuscript and J. F. Karish and H. J. Greenlee for cooperation with all aspects of the study. Funding was provided by the Max McGraw Wildlife Foundation, the Pennsylvania Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, and the Jesse Rossiter Rapp Scholarship of the School of Forest Resources, The Pennsylvania State University. This is Journal Series Paper 7892 of the Agricultural Experiment Station, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park.
Differences in Vegetative Growth Response to Soil Flooding between Common and Tartary Buckwheat

Abstract Common buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum Moench cv. Shinano No.1) and Tartary buckwheat (F. tataricum (L.) Gaertn. cv. Nepal) were grown in pots to examine their responses to soil flooding. Flooding treatment was carried out during the early growth stage by completely submerging the pots in a nutrient solution from 12 to 36 days after sowing. The plant growth rate, relative growth rate and mean leaf area under the flooding treatment were reduced to 72, 90 and 83% of the control, respectively, in Shinano No.1, and to 29, 71 and 45% of the control, respectively, in Nepal. The excess moisture stress had no effect on the net assimilation rate (NAR) in Shinano No.1, but lowered the NAR to 68% of that in the control in Nepal. Excess moisture stress decreased the total leaf area to 76 and 34% of the control in Shinano No.1 and Nepal, respectively. Leaf growth rate, number of leaves and leaf area per leaf, which influenced the total leaf area, were reduced by the excess soil moisture. The relative water content of leaves was unchanged in Shinano No.1, but was decreased in Nepal. Reduction in bleeding from the cut end of stem due to flooding was greater in Nepal than in Shinano No.1. Excess moisture stress reduced the K+ concentration of the stem and increased the Na+ concentration of leaves, stem and roots more strongly in Nepal than in Shinano No.1. Development of adventitious roots in the surface layer of the nutrient solution was better in Shinano No.1 than in Nepal. In conclusion, Shinano No.1 (common buckwheat) had a stronger tolerance to excess soil moisture than Nepal (Tartary buckwheat). In Shinano No. 1, leaf growth and photosynthetic rate were not markedly affected and the capacity of absorbing water and nutrients was retained by developing adventitious roots in the solution above the surface of the soil keeping proper physiological activity under excess moisture conditions.
Cholescintigraphy may have a role in selecting patients with biliary dyskinesia for cholecystectomy: a systematic review

Patients with typical biliary pain, no gallstones on ultrasound and low gallbladder ejection fraction (GBEF) on cholescintigraphy (gallbladder dyskinesia) may be considered for a laparoscopic cholecystectomy. However, some studies have suggested that symptoms alone are an adequate indication for laparoscopic cholecystectomy. The aim was to determine the role of cholescintigraphy in predicting outcomes of cholecystectomy in patients with typical and atypical biliary symptoms and normal biliary ultrasound.
A Comparison of Two Virgin Forests in Northwestern Pennsylvania

Pitifully little remains of the once extensive forests of white pine, Pinus strobus L. , and hemlock, Tsuga. canadensis (L.) Carr. , that once made northern Pennsylvania famous as a lumbering region. Virgin stands that contain pine are extremely rare. Two of the most extensive, of incalculable value, are now in public ownership. Because both have been referred to as illustrations of the original forests of the Allegheny Plateau, a comparison of their composition and development is of interest. Hearts Content, an area of 121 acres, is located in southern Warren County, and is part of the Allegheny National Forest. Cook State Forest Park,2 a 6,000-acre tract of which 150 acres approach a virgin condition (Illick, '30), is situated in northeastern Clarion County and southwestern Forest County,3 some 20 miles south of Hearts Content. It is owned and administered by the state of Pennsylvania (fig. 1).
Development and quality evaluation of value added Khakhra using different variety and proportion of flour

Khakhra is a popular vegetarian roasted ‘Gujarati’ Indian thin cracker bread or snack item made from whole wheat flour and oil. In present investigation efforts were made to prepare khakhra by using different proportions and variety of flours i.e. S0, S1, S2, S3, S4, S5 and S6. Considering all sensory quality parameter, the overall acceptability of S2 was found highest followed by S1 and S3. Physico-chemical and nutritional profile of final product i.e. khakhra was carried out. The results revealed that khakhra contained 17.2 cm diameter, 2.85mm thickness, 15g weight and 1.67 kg hardness respectively. Chemical profile analysis revealed that 11.07% crude protein, 1.83% crude fat, 69.57% carbohydrates and 5.33% ash respectively. Mineral profile analysis revealed that khakhra contained 12.75% Iron.