Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
New classification of motility score in fishes to determine the quality of spermatozoa

Knowledge on physiology of reproduction and gametes is important for the production of quality off spring and solving infertility issues in animals and human beings. Spermatozoa are prime entities having a prominent role in the successful fertilization of ova. Spermatological parameters are therefore considered as evaluation factors through which the quality of the spermatozoa can be determined. Motility is the inherent quality of the spermatozoa and the most preferred parameter that helps the spermatozoa in the search and subsequent entry into the ova. In the quality determination of spermatozoa, “motility score” is an essential factor and fixing the score demands visual observations on the motility pattern of the spermatozoa. It has been invariably evolved out from the animal spermatozoa evaluation and scrupulously followed for fishes too. Nevertheless, there is a wide variation in the fish spermatozoa and therefore a new and improved scoring system for the spermatozoa of the fishes was felt necessary. Various parameters that are to be considered for fixing the score have been included after thorough visual observation of the spermatozoa under varying conditions and as many motility patterns as possible have been included and the scoring chart widened. Although this might not be the ultimate in the motility scoring of fish spermatozoa, it can be a beginning for defining and classifying varied spermatozoa motility in fishes.
The coppicing of a savanna tree species (Terminalia sericea) in relation to resource manipulation and disturbance

The seasonal duration of leaf flushing, flowering and fruiting determine the growth and survival of coppicing trees. There is limited information about the factors that affect phenology of coppicing trees. This study examined the effects of water and nutrient additions on the phenology of resprouting Terminalia sericea trees in a semiarid savanna in South Africa. Cut trees were exposed to different levels of water and nutrient (nitrogen and phosphorus) supplementation over a period of two years in a factorial experiment. Phenological stages monitored fortnightly included bud presence, leaf presence and fruit production. Leaf presence followed a similar distribution to bud presence, peaking during the wet season (December-March). Change in leaf colour from the typical silvery green to yellow was delayed to later in the wet season, while higher leaf numbers were recorded during the wet seasons for trees supplemented with water and nutrients. Although generally low throughout the study in all treatments, fruit presence was mainly in supplemented trees. Results indicate that the increase in water and nutrient availability has direct consequences for extending the growing season of resprouting trees. This extension has positive effects on increasing the photosynthetically active period, thus potentially increasing the carbon gain and growth of trees. Plant growth and the duration of carbon assimilation are important because disturbances, such as tree cutting, have implications for productivity when growth can only occur during certain times of the year.
Patterns of percutaneous transthoracic needle biopsy (PTNB) of the lung and risk of PTNB-related severe pneumothorax: A nationwide population-based study

Background As percutaneous transthoracic needle biopsy (PTNB) of the lung is a well-established diagnostic method for the evaluating pulmonary lesions, evidence of safety based on representative data is limited. This study investigated the practice patterns of PTNB of the lung and assessed the incidence and risk factors of PTNB-related severe pneumothorax in Korea. Methods We used a national-level health insurance database between January 1, 2007 and December 31, 2015. Patients who underwent PTNB of the lung were identified using procedure codes for organ biopsy, fluoroscopy, computed tomography, chest radiography, and lung-related diagnosis codes. The annual age-/sex-standardized rate of PTNB and the incidence of PTNB-related severe pneumothorax were calculated. We defined severe pneumothorax as the pneumothorax requiring intervention. The odds ratios of risk factors were assessed by a generalized estimating equation model with exchangeable working correlation matrix to address clustering effect within institution. Results A total of 66,754 patients were identified between 2007 and 2015. The annual age-/sex-standardized rate of PTNB per 100,000 population was 19.6 in 2007 and 22.4 in 2015, and it showed an increasing trend. The incidence of severe pneumothorax was 2.4% overall: 2.5% in men and 1.2% in women, and 2.6%, 2.7%, 2.1%, 2.1%, 1.9%, 2.4%, and 2.4% from 2009 to 2015. Older age (≥60), male sex, presence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, receiving treatment in an urban or rural area versus a metropolitan area, and receiving treatment at a general hospital were significantly associated with the risk of severe pneumothorax. Conclusions Considering the increasing trend of PTNB, more attention needs to be paid to patients with risk factors for severe pneumothorax.
Studies on the morphology and growth of statoliths in Caenogastropoda

Gravireception in gastropods occurs by the displacement of statoparticles (multiple statoconia or a single statolith) inside statocysts, resulting from changes in the animal’s position. An easy method for extraction and processing of statoliths is given and their morphology and microstructure described in 12 species of caenogastropods collected on the NW Portuguese coast, belonging to eight different families. In addition, statolith growth was studied in two species, Nucella lapillus and Nassarius reticulatus. The relation between statolith diameter (StD) and shell height (SH) follows logistic curves [in N. lapillus SH ¼ 34.98/(1 þ 190.817 249.082 StD ), P , 0.001; and in N. reticulatus SH ¼ 31.03/(1 þ 116.709 236.577 StD ), P , 0.001]. All statoliths observed are hard and translucent, with several concentric layers delimited by well-marked growth rings. Recently, some studies have shown that these rings are annual and can be used to determine the age of some gastropods and we show that this applies in a wider range of caenogastropods. Statolith rings were clearer in species collected offshore (Aporrhais pespelecani, Ranella olearium, Charonia lampas and N. reticulatus), because additional disturbance rings were more often present in statoliths from inshore species (Crepidula fornicata, Littorina littorea, Peringia ulvae, Trivia monacha, N. reticulatus, Nassarius incrassatus, N. lapillus, Ocenebra erinaceus and Ocinebrina aciculata). Statoliths thus have potential for sclerochronology and may provide an important record of the physical and chemical characteristics of the marine environment throughout ontogeny.
A biodiversity‐inspired approach to aquatic ecosystem modeling

Current aquatic ecosystem models accommodate increasing amounts of physiological detail, but marginalize the role of biodiversity by aggregating multitudes of different species. We propose that at present, understanding of aquatic ecosystems is likely to benefit more from improved descriptions of biodiversity and succession than from incorporation of more realistic physiology. To illustrate how biodiversity can be accounted for, we define the system of infinite diversity (SID), which characterizes ecosystems in the spirit of complex adaptive systems theory as single units adapting to environmental pressure. The SID describes an ecosystem with one generic population model and continuity in species‐characterizing parameters, and acquires rich dynamics by modeling succession as evolution of the parameter value distribution. This is illustrated by a four‐parameter phytoplankton model that minimizes physiological detail, but includes a sophisticated representation of community diversity and interspecific differences. This model captures several well‐known aquatic ecosystem features, including formation of a deep chlorophyll maximum and nutrient‐driven seasonal succession. As such, it integrates theories on changes in species composition in both time and space. We argue that despite a lack of physiological detail, SIDs may ultimately prove a valuable tool for further qualitative and quantitative understanding of ecosystems.
Analysis of the fetal cardio-electrohysterographic coupling at the third trimester of gestation in healthy women by Bivariate Phase-Rectified Signal Averaging

Introduction The fetal cardio-electrohysterographic coupling (FCEC) is defined as the influence of the uterine electrical activity on fetal heart rate. FCEC has been mainly evaluated by visual analysis of cardiotocographic data during labor; however, this physiological phenomenon is poorly explored during the antenatal period. Here we propose an approach known as Bivariate Phase-Rectified Signal Averaging analysis (BPRSA) to assess such FCEC in the late third trimester of low-risk pregnancies. We hypothesized that BPRSA is a more reliable measure of FCEC than visual analysis and conventional measures such as cross-correlation, coherence, and cross-sample entropy. Additionally, by using BPRSA it is possible to detect FCEC even from the third trimester of pregnancy. Material and methods Healthy pregnant women in the last third trimester of pregnancy (36.6 ± 1.8 gestational weeks) without any clinical manifestation of labor were enrolled in the Maternal and Childhood Research Center (CIMIGen), Mexico City (n = 37). Ten minutes of maternal electrohysterogram (EHG) and fetal heart rate (FHR) data were collected by a transabdominal non-invasive device. The FCEC was quantified by the coefficient of coherence, the maximum normalized cross-correlation, and the cross-sample entropy obtained either from the EHG and FHR raw signals or from the corresponding BPRSA graphs. Results We found that by using BPRSA, the FCEC was detected in 92% cases (34/37) compared to 48% cases (18/37) using the coefficient of coherence between the EHG and FHR raw signals. Also, BPRSA indicated FCEC in 82% cases (30/37) compared to 30% cases (11/37) using the maximum normalized cross-correlation. By comparing the analyses, the BPRSA evidenced higher FCEC in comparison to the coupling estimated from the raw EHG and FHR signals. Conclusions Our results support the consideration that in the third trimester of pregnancy, the fetal heart rate is also influenced by uterine activity despite the emerging manifestation of this activity before labor. To quantify FCEC, the BPRSA can be applied to FHR and EHG transabdominal signals acquired in the third trimester of pregnancy.
Notes on the Rubiaceae of tropical Asia

The genus Rutidea was founded by De Candolle in 1807 on a West African plant. Twenthy-three years later in the ”Prodromus“ (IV, p. 495, 1830) he tentatively admitted a second species: it was based on a plant from Penang which he had seen in Blume’s herbarium, where it was labelled ”Rutidea? mollis Bl. “. Subsequently several other species have been added, but as none of them were Asiatic, it was, perhaps, no wonder that Bentham and Hooker f. in their ”Genera Plantarum“ (II, 1, p. 116, 1873) made no mention whatever of Blume’s plant, and regarded the genus as confined to tropical Africa. Hiern, who in the ”Flora of tropical Africa“ gave an excellent description of the genus, and enumerates ten species from tropical Africa, said that it is known from Madagascar also, but he too omitted every reference to its occurrence in Asia. Lemee (Dict. d. Pl. Phan. V, p. 903, 1934) also declares that the genus, which now comprises 25 species, is confined to tropical Africa and Madagascar¹). Blume’s plant was more fully described by Miquel in his ”Ecloge Rubiacearum Archipelagi Indici“ Ann. Mus. Bot. Lugd. -Bat. IV, p. 256, 1869). It is not mentioned, however, in Hooker’s ”Flora of British India“. Boerlage’s remarks on it in his ”Handleiding“ (II, 1, pp. 107 et 142, 1891) also passed unnoticed; at least neither King and Gamble’s ”Materials for a Flora of the Malay Peninsula“ nor Ridley’s ”Flora of the Malay Peninsula“ contain any reference to the plant. This want of recognition is all the more remarkable as the original diagnosis published by De Candolle did not contain anything which would have justified its exclusion from the genus. It is true that Miquel’s more detailed analysis describes the seed as ”sectione transversa semilunale introrse valde concavum“, which sounds ominous, as the seed of Rutidea is globose, but he adds ”nondum maturum“, and it might be possible, therefore, that the unusual form was but a passing stage in its development.
In Vitro Propagation of Salvia leucantha Cav.

Salvia leucantha Cav. is a native Mexican perennial plant that has a densely violet-purple, funnel-form calyx and white corolla (Bailey, 1976). The plant is used for cut flowers and in ornamental gardens in Japan. Conventional propagation is by division or cuttings, a method that is too slow for producing many plants in a short time. To overcome this problem, in vitro propagation methods were developed. A frequently used method is to section elongated shoots and promote axillary bud growth. This method is favored because of low somaclonal variation and because many clones are produced from a mother plant (Matsumoto and Yamaguchi, 199 1). Successful mass propagation of yacon (Polymnia sonchifolia Poepp. et Endl.) (Hamada et al., 1990) and edible canna (Canna edulis Ker.) (Hosoki and Sasaki, 1991) have been reported using similar methods. To date, there have been no reports on the in vitro propagation of Salvia spp. The objective of the present study was to establish a rapid propagation method for S. leucantha by repeat sectioning of the elongated shoots in vitro. One-cm-long shoots from the top of S. leucantha plants grown in the field of Shimane Univ. were picked on 10 May 1991 andwashed in tap water containing 0.1% Tween 20 (v/v). They were then surface-sterilized with a solution of sodium hypochlorite (active chlorine, 0.6%) for 10 min followed by two rinses in sterile water. After a few basal leaves were cut off, shoot-tip explants (≈3 cm long) were excised for culture. The explants were placed in test tubes (2 cm in diameter, 15 cm high) containing 15 ml agar-solidified medium. Test tubes were sealed with Milli Wrap (Japan Millipore Co., Tokyo). The culture basal medium consisted of Murashige and Skoog (MS) major salts and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid iron salt (Murashige and Skoog, 1962), Ringe and Nitsch minor elements (Ringe and Nitsch, 1968), and 2% sucrose; the medium was solidified with 0.8% agar after adjusting to pH 5.6 with NaOH. The basal medium was supplemented with 0,0.1, or 1.0 mg Nbenzyladenine (BA)/liter. Ten explants were cultured at each BA concentration. Cultures were placed in an incubator maintained at 25 ± 1C with 16 h of
Autologous cancer cell vaccination, adoptive T‐cell transfer, and interleukin‐2 administration results in long‐term survival for companion dogs with osteosarcoma

Abstract Background Osteosarcoma (OSA) in dogs is an aggressive bone tumor with frequent chemotherapy failure and translational relevance for human health. Hypothesis/Objectives We hypothesized that dogs with OSA could be treated safely by ex vivo activated T‐cells that were generated by autologous cancer vaccination and supported by interleukin‐2 (IL‐2) treatment with survival more than twice that reported for amputation alone. Animals Osteosarcoma‐bearing dogs (n = 14) were enrolled in a single‐arm prospective trial after complete staging before amputation. Four healthy dogs also were treated in a safety study. Methods Autologous cancer cell vaccinations were administered intradermally and dogs underwent leukapheresis. Mononuclear cell products were stimulated ex vivo with a T‐cell‐activating agent. Activated product was transfused and 5 SC IL‐2 injections were administered q48h. Dogs were monitored for metastasis by thoracic radiography every 3 months. Results Autologous cancer cell vaccine and activated cellular therapy (ACT) products were successfully generated. Toxicity was minimal after premedicants were instituted before ACT. With premedication, all toxicities were grade I/II. Median disease‐free interval for all dogs was 213 days. One dog developed cutaneous metastasis but then experienced spontaneous complete remission. Median survival time for all dogs was 415 days. Five dogs survived >730 days. Conclusions and Clinical Importance This immunotherapy protocol without cytotoxic chemotherapy is safe and tolerable. Compared to historical amputation reports, survival was notably prolonged in this group of patients. Additional prospective studies are warranted to elucidate active immunologic mechanisms and further improve disease response and survival.
The pterothoracic skeletomuscular system of Scirtoidea (Coleoptera: Polyphaga) and its implications for the high‐level phylogeny of beetles

External and internal structures of the pterothorax of six adult representatives of three families of Scirtoidea were examined. A detailed description of the skeleton and musculature is presented for the scirtid species Elodes pseudominuta. Phylogenetically relevant characters are discussed and a comprehensive table of thoracic muscles of adult beetles is presented. The monophyly of Scirtoidea is supported by derived features of the skeleton, the musculature and the hind wing. Thoracic characters suggest a branching pattern {Decliniidae + [Eucinetidae + (Clambidae + Scirtidae)]}. However, the interrelationships of the scirtoid families were difficult to reconstruct, as internal characters of Decliniidae are unknown and Clambidae are characterized by many autapomorphic features related to miniaturization. The largest family, Scirtidae, is well supported as a clade. The position of the superfamily remains ambiguous. A basal position within Polyphaga is only suggested by one character state, the complete absence of the bending zone of the hind wing in all other lineages of the suborder. A position of Scirtoidea within Elateriformia is tentatively supported by the elongated anepisternum 3 (polarity unclear), a triangular radial cell, and the reduction of the apical branches of the radius posterior in the hind wing. The thoracic features of Scirtoidea – like those of all polyphagan lineages – are clearly derived compared with the conditions in Adephaga, and especially Archostemata. A basal position of Archostemata and a sister group relationship between Polyphaga and Myxophaga is supported by the results of this study. Characters in support of a basal position of Polyphaga were not found.
The Effects of Prebiotic Supplementation with OMNi-LOGiC® FIBRE on Fecal Microbiome, Fecal Volatile Organic Compounds, and Gut Permeability in Murine Neuroblastoma-Induced Tumor-Associated Cachexia

Malignant diseases can cause tumor-associated cachexia (TAC). Supplementation with prebiotic non-digestible carbohydrates exerts positive metabolic effects in experimental oncologic diseases. The aim of this project was to assess the effect of prebiotic supplementation with OMNi-LOGiC® FIBRE on intestinal microbiome, bacterial metabolism, gut permeability, and inflammation in a murine model of neuroblastoma (NB)-associated TAC. For this study, 2,000,000 NB cells (MHH-NB11) were implanted into athymic mice followed by daily supplementation with water or 200 mg prebiotic oligosaccharide (POS) OMNi-LOGiC® FIBRE (NB-Aqua, n = 12; NB-POS, n = 12). Three animals of each tumor group did not develop NB. The median time of tumor growth (first visibility to euthanasia) was 37 days (IQR 12.5 days) in the NB-Aqua group and 37 days (IQR 36.5 days) in the NB-POS group (p = 0.791). At euthanasia, fecal microbiome and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), gut permeability (fluorescein isothiocyanate-dextran (FITC-dextran), and gut barrier markers were measured. Values were compared to sham animals following injection of culture medium and gavage of either water or OMNi-LOGiC® FIBRE (SH-Aqua, n = 10; SH-POS, n = 10). Alpha diversity did not differ significantly between the groups. Principal coordinate analysis (PCoA) revealed clustering differences between Aqua and POS animals. Both NB and POS supplementation led to taxonomic alterations of the fecal microbiome. Of 49 VOCs, 22 showed significant differences between the groups. NB animals had significantly higher gut permeability than Aqua animals; POS did not ameliorate these changes. The pore and leak pathways of tight junctions did not differ between groups. In conclusion, our results suggest that NB-induced TAC causes increased gut permeability coupled with compositional changes in the fecal microbiome and VOC profile. Prebiotic supplementation with OMNi-LOGiC® FIBRE seemed to induce modifications of the fecal microbiome and VOC profile but did not improve gut permeability.
Trimebutine Maleate Monotherapy for Functional Dyspepsia: A Multicenter, Randomized, Double-Blind Placebo Controlled Prospective Trial

Background and Objectives: Functional dyspepsia (FD) is one of the most common functional gastrointestinal disorders; it has a great impact on patient quality of life and is difficult to treat satisfactorily. This study evaluates the efficacy and safety of trimebutine maleate (TM) in patients with FD. Materials and Methods: A multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled, prospective study was conducted, including 211 patients with FD. Participants were randomized to receive TM 300 mg twice per day (BID, 108 patients) or placebo BID (103 patients) for 4 weeks. The Glasgow Dyspepsia Severity Score (GDSS) was used to evaluate the relief of dyspepsia symptoms. Moreover, as a pilot secondary endpoint, a substudy (eight participants on TM and eight on placebo) was conducted in to evaluate gastric emptying (GE), estimated using a 99mTc-Tin Colloid Semi Solid Meal Scintigraphy test. Results: Of the 211 patients enrolled, 185 (87.7%) (97 (52.4%) in the TM group and 88 (47.6%) in the placebo group) completed the study and were analyzed. The groups did not differ in their demographic and medical history data. Regarding symptom relief, being the primary endpoint, a statistically significant reduction in GDSS for the TM group was revealed between the first (2-week) and final (4-week) visit (p-value = 0.02). The 99 mTc-Tin Colloid Semi Solid Meal Scintigraphy testing showed that TM significantly accelerated GE obtained at 50 min (median emptying 75.5% in the TM group vs. 66.6% in the placebo group, p = 0.036). Adverse effects of low to moderate severity were reported in 12.3% of the patients on TM. Conclusion: TM monotherapy appears to be an effective and safe approach to treating FD, although the findings presented here warrant further confirmation.