Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Real-world outcomes with ranibizumab in branch retinal vein occlusion: The prospective, global, LUMINOUS study

Objective To evaluate the effectiveness, safety, and treatment patterns of ranibizumab 0.5 mg in treatment-naïve patients with branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO) enrolled in the LUMINOUS™ study. Study design A 5-year, global, prospective, multicenter, observational, open-label study conducted in a clinical practice (real-world) setting at outpatient ophthalmology clinics that recruited 30,138 consenting adult patients from all approved indications for ranibizumab across 42 countries. Patients with BRVO were treated according to the local ranibizumab label of the participating countries. Mean change in visual acuity (VA) in Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study letters from baseline to Year 1, treatment exposure during Year 1, and adverse events (AEs) over 5 years were assessed. Results Of the 1366 recruited BRVO patients, 405 were treatment-naïve at baseline with a mean (standard deviation [SD]) age of 67.9 (12.5) years, 57.5% were female, and 71.8% were White. At Year 1 (n = 189), the mean (SD) VA gain was 11.9 (17.66) letters from a baseline of 49.2 (±20.32) letters with a mean (SD) of 5.0 (2.34) injections. VA gains were higher in patients (n = 83) who received 6–9 injections (13.6 [20.16] letters) than in those who received 2–5 injections (n = 92, 11.7 [15.43] letters), or 1 injection (n = 14, 3.6 [13.72] letters). Patients with baseline VA <23 letters had numerically highest VA gains (n = 20, 31.1 [24.48] letters). Over 5 years, the rate of ocular/non-ocular AEs was 7.4%/9.1% and serious AEs was 0.3%/4.4% in treatment-naïve BRVO patients (n = 405). Conclusions One year results from the LUMINOUS real-world study showed a clinically meaningful VA improvement with ranibizumab in treatment-naïve patients with BRVO; numerically higher VA gains were achieved in patients who received more injections and those with poor baseline VA. No new safety signals were observed.
Sanguinarine modulate gut microbiome and intestinal morphology to enhance growth performance in broilers

Sanguinarine is a bioactive compound as a quaternary benzophenanthridine alkaloid from plant of the Macleaya cordata, Papaveraceae family. The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary sanguinarine supplementation on growth performance, serum biochemistry parameters, intestinal mucosal morphology and gut microbiome in yellow feathered broilers. Two hundred and seventy 1-d-old female broilers were randomly assigned to 3 treatments ① Basal diet (NG); ② Basal diet containing bacitracin methylene disalicylate (50mg/Kg diet) (ANT); ③ Basal diet containing sanguinarine (0.7 mg/ kg of feed) (SAG). The statistical results showed that dietary sanguinarine supplementation enhanced growth performance and decreased glucose, uric acid as well as urea nitrogen levels of broilers at 28d of age (P<0.05). The 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis revealed that sanguinarine significantly decreased the species from the phyla Bacteroidetes, and increased the species from phyla Firmicutes. Moreover, dietary sanguinarine supplementation improved mucosal morphology to achieve higher ratio of intestinal villus height to crypt depth (P < 0.05), and decreased the concentrations of TNF-α and IL-4 in jejunum mucosal. This study demonstrated that sanguinarine supplementation in the diet of yellow feathered broilers improved intestinal morphology and microbiota community structure to promote growth performance on 1-28d.
Release Behavior of 5-Fluorouracil from Chitosan-Gel Nanospheres Immobilizing 5-Fluorouracil Coated with Polysaccharides and Their Cell Specific Cytotoxicity

Abstract Small-sized chitosan-gel nanospheres, CNSs (average diameter 250 nm), containing 5-fluorouracil (5FU) or immobilizing 5FU derivatives (aminopentyl-carbamoyl-5FU or aminopentyl-ester-methylene-5FU) were prepared by the glutaraldehyde crosslinking technique and the emulsion method. When chitosan was crosslinked with glutaraldehyde, these 5FU derivatives were simultaneously immobilized to CNSs by means of Schiff's base formation. The CNSs were coated with anionic polysaccharides, such as 6-O-carboxymethyl-N-acetyl-α-l,4-polygalactosamine/Na (CM-NAPGA/Na), 6-O-carboxymethyl-chitin/Na (CM-chitin/Na), and sodium hyaluronate, through formation of a polyelectrolyte complex membrane to give CNS/polyanion, i.e., CNS/G, CNS/C, and CNS/H, respectively. The polyelectrolyte complex of polysaccharide was employed to achieve the controlled release and effective targeting of 5FU by the CNSs. The release rate of 5FU from the CNSs could be controlled by immobilization of 5FU, degree of deacetylation of chitosan use.
Symmetries in Muscle Torque and Landing Kinematics Are Associated With Maintenance of Sports Participation at 5 to 10 Years After ACL Reconstruction in Young Men

Background: Long-term maintenance of sports participation is important for young men undergoing anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. Identifying biomechanical characteristics in patients who achieve this goal can assist in elaborating rehabilitation programs and in identifying successful recovery, but this has rarely been investigated. Purpose: To test the association between maintenance of sports participation at 5 to 10 years after ACL reconstruction and measures of force production and landing biomechanics in men. Study Design: Cross-sectional study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: A total of 30 men who underwent isolated ACL reconstruction were examined. At 5- to 10-year follow-up, associations were tested between reported outcomes of sports maintenance and objective biomechanical measures. The biomechanical tests included isokinetic knee torque and lower limb kinetics and kinematics during landing tasks. Measurements for each limb were conducted separately, and side-to-side symmetry indices (SI) were calculated. Subgroups included SI greater than +10% (ie, extreme positive), SI lower than –10% (ie, extreme negative), and SI between –10% and +10% (ie, symmetric). Results: At follow-up, concentric knee torque in the operated limb correlated with Tegner and Marx scores (r = 0.42-0.47; P ≤ .05). Regarding the SI of knee torque, the highest Tegner, Marx, and KOOS (Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score) results were associated with symmetry, as opposed to patients with extreme positive or extreme negative SIs (P < .05). As for landing kinematics, Tegner score negatively correlated with knee range of motion (ROM) in the operated limb (r = –0.38; P ≤ .05). With regard to SI, hip and knee ROM correlated with Tegner, IKDC, and KOOS scores (r = 0.41-0.51; P ≤ .05). Specifically, the highest sports participation levels were associated with achieving symmetric hip and knee ROM but also with extreme positive SIs, as opposed to patients with extreme negative SIs (P < .03), indicating substantially higher ROM in the uninjured limb as compared with the operated limb. Conclusion: At 5 to 10 years after ACL reconstruction, maintenance of sports participation was associated with symmetric side-to-side concentric knee torque and with producing greater attenuation of hip and knee ROM during the drop jump landing in the operated limb. Therefore, eccentric load programs that can improve attenuation-phase kinematics during landing tasks may be valuable in addition to concentric training and may facilitate enhanced long-term outcomes.
Vaccine production and glycoengineering in Arabidopsis thaliana seeds

29 Introduction . 29 Results . 32 Antigen expression in A. thaliana seed . 32 Glycosylation of antigens produced in A. thaliana seed . 37 Accumulation levels of antigens produced in A. thaliana seed . 40 Purification of antigens produced in A. thaliana seed . 41 Immunogenicity of antigens produced in A. thaliana seeds . 43
Update on the target structures of SARS-CoV-2: A systematic review

Knowledge of structural details is very much essential from the drug-design perspective. In the systematic review, we systematically reviewed the structural basis of different target proteins of SARS-corona virus (CoV2) from a viral life cycle and from drug design perspective. We searched four literature (PubMed, EMBASE, NATURE, and Willey online library) databases and one structural database (RCSB.org) with appropriate keywords till April 18, and finally, 26 articles were included in the systematic review. The published literature mainly centered upon the structural details of “spike protein,” “main protease/M Pro/3CL pro,” “RNA-dependent RNA polymerase,” and “nonstructural protein 15 Endoribonuclease” of SARS-CoV-2. However, inhibitor bound structures were very less. We need better structures elucidating the interactions between different targets and their inhibitors which will help us in understanding the atomic level importance of different amino acid residues in the functionality of the target structures. To summarize, we need structures with fine resolution, co-crystallized structures with biologically validated inhibitors, and functional characterization of different target proteins. Some other routes of entry of SARS-CoV-2 are also mentioned (e.g., CD147); however, these findings are not structurally validated. This review may pave way for better understanding of SARS-CoV-2 life cycle from structural biology perspective.
Cellules Solaires à base de Matériaux Pérovskites : De la caractérisation des matériaux à l’amélioration des rendements et de la stabilité

Au cours des dernieres annees, les cellules solaires a base de perovskites hybrides ont attire considerablement l’attention. Des lors, grâce aux travaux de recherche intensifs deployes, les efficacites de ces cellules ont tres rapidement evolue pour atteindre recemment un record de 25,2 %. Le caractere hybride (organique et inorganique) confere a cette classe de materiaux des proprietes optoelectroniques interessantes, telles qu’une forte absorption optique, une grande longueur de diffusion des porteurs de charge ainsi que la facilite de mise en solution et de fabrication a faible cout. Neanmoins, parmi les defis qui restent a relever pour l’industrialisation de cette technologie, le probleme de stabilite a long terme est sans doute l’un des principaux. Le but principal de ce travail de these est la comprehension et l’amelioration de la stabilite sous illumination des cellules solaires a base de perovskite et, plus particulierement, celles avec une architecture dite N-I-P (structure verre/ITO / Couche N / Perovskite / Couche P/ Electrode d’or) a base de perovskite CH3NH3PbI3 (MAPI). Au prealable des etudes de vieillissement, une etude DRX in situ detaillee de l’empilement verre /ITO /SnO2 /MAPI revele le mecanisme de formation de la MAPI, preparee a partir du PbCl2 et MAI en solution, a partir d’une perovskite chloree MAPbCl3 par echange ionique Cl/I.L’etude en temperature de la MAPI a montre un haut niveau de contraintes presents dans ces couches minces, qui se traduit par un taux eleve de deformation par rapport a la poudre de MAPI.La stabilite sous illumination des dispositifs de ce systeme de reference a ete etudiee et montre une importante perte d’efficacite des cellules completes. Afin de comprendre l’origine de cette instabilite, une methode de vieillissement differentiel a ete mise au point et consiste a faire vieillir les differentes couches de l’empilement de la cellule separement pour identifier la couche ou l’interface a l’origine de la degradation sous illumination. Ces vieillissements ont montre que la raison de degradation des cellules completes, sur les longues echelles de temps, est causee par les couches au-dessus de la MAPI (couche P et electrode d’or). L’interface couche N / MAPI a ete identifiee comme premiere cause d’instabilite (les premieres centaines d’heures) sous illumination et sa degradation a ete etudiee grâce aux methodes de caracterisations combinees XPS et ToFSIMS. Finalement, un systeme optimise plus performant a base de perovskite double cations FACsPbIBr a montre une meilleure stabilite sous illumination des cellules completes.
Três novas espécies de abelhas da Amazônia pertencentes ao gênero Eulaema (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Euglossini)

Eulaema (Apeulaema) pseudocingulata sp. n. , similar to E. (A.) cingulata and from Amazonia and Guyana highlands; Eulaema (Eulaema) parapolyzona sp. n. , similar to Eulaema (Eulaema) polyzona and from Western Amazonia, and Eulaema (Eulaema) napensis sp. n. , endemic of Ecuatorian Amazonia are described. A key for species identification of the genus is presented.
Vascular plants of a Delaware River tidal freshwater wetland and adjacent terrestrial areas: Seed bank and vegetation comparisons of reference and constructed marshes and annotated species list1

Abstract Leck, M. A. (Dept. Biol., Rider Univ., Lawrenceville, NJ 08648) and C. F. Leck (Dept. Ecol. & Evol. Biol., Cook College, Rutgers Univ., New Brunswick, NJ 08901). Vascular plants of a Delaware River tidal freshwater wetland and adjacent terrestrial areas: Seed bank and vegetation comparisons of reference and constructed marshes and annotated species list. J. Torrey Bot. Soc. 132: 323–354. 2005. —Constructed wetland soil samples contained many more species with densities > 100 seeds / m2 than reference marsh ones (102 vs. 28); constructed wetland densities for many species were considerably higher and richness (species / sample) were > 2× greater than the reference marsh. Of the total 218 seed bank species, 60 were common to both and 34 occurred only in reference marsh samples. Numbers of cover species were similar, but composition differed. Invasive species, notably Lythrum salicaria, Phalaris arundinacea, and Phragmites australis, were more important in constructed wetland soil samples and vegetation. Non-native species comprised 9 % and 13 % of the reference marsh and constructed wetland seed bank species and 8 % and 12 % of the cover species, respectively. Variable dispersal patterns and in situ seed production contributed to these differences. Over the entire study area (wetlands and adjacent terrestrial areas) we recorded 875 species, representing 141 families, more than doubling the number observed in a 1988 report. The families having the most species were Asteraceae (103 species), Poaceae (100), and Cyperaceae (83). The largest genera were Carex (46) and Polygonum (19); seven other genera also had ≥ 10 species. Nine species were pseudo-viviparous, producing plantlets on inflorescences. Non-native species comprised 27 % of the total flora. Overall there were 37 NJ rare / endangered species for the entire area; 11 occurred only in the constructed wetland with constructed wetland soil samples containing more than the reference marsh samples (8 vs. 1). Available lists from 1824, 1887, and 1964/65 and five species known only from herbarium specimens indicate that several species have been extirpated since the 19th C. Anthropogenic influences continue to have impact on diversity.
Biological control of peach twig blight (Monilinia laxa) with Epicoccum nigrum

Various preparations of spores and mycelium of the antagonist Epicoccum nigrum, alone or in combination with Captan, were applied in four different field trials to peach trees inoculated with Monilinia laxa, the cause of twig blight. Biocontrol obtained after application of E. nigrum was variable each year, depending on the releative disease severity in the first 2–3 weeks after infection and the climatic conditions. In three out of four trials, treatments with E. nigrum were comparable with Captan in reducing disease severity and combinations of E. nigrum and Captan gave a level of disease suppression similar to that given by the antagonist or chemical alone. In the remaining trial, combinations of E. nigrum and Captan were necessary to obtain successful disease suppression.
On the breeding season of Lipophrys pholis (Pisces: Blenniidae) at Arrábida, Portugal

Direct observations of egg masses on the shore indicates that Lipophrys pholis is a winter and spring spawner in Portuguese waters. The results are compared with those published for the British Isles. Lipophrys pholis, Linnaeus, 1758, is a very common intertidal fish in the north-eastern Atlantic and in the North Sea. Considerable work has been published concerning its breeding season in British waters (Lebour, 1927; Qasim, 1957; Shackley & King, 1977). The breeding season of the species at the southern limit of its range is almost unknown, and Zander (1986) mentions the period from April to August for the whole species. Based on dates of first appearance of larvae in plankton collected in the Bay of Biscay, Villegas (1981) concluded that breeding should have begun as early as the end of December. In this report we present data on the spawning season of this blenny based on direct observation of the presence of eggs and/or parental guarding males on the shore. Data were collected at a site located at Arrábida (38°28′N, 8°59′W), near Senibal, 50 km south of Lisbon, Portugal. In the course of behavioural observations on the breeding males of L. pholis, the area was visited at various intervals during the period 1986 to 1989. The nests were located intertidally in holes in vertical walls. On each visit, the presence of eggs and/or black males inside the nests was registered. Each nest was mapped for inspection in subsequent visits. The results are summarized in Figure 1. It is clear that in our study area breeding begins as early as December, and has virtually ended in June.
α1,2Fucosyltransferase increases resistance to apoptosis of rat colon carcinoma cells

Accumulation of histo-blood group antigens such as Lewis b, Lewis Y and H in colon cancer is indicative of poor prognosis. It is accompanied by increase in alpha1,2fucosyl-transferase activity, a key enzyme for synthesis of these antigens. Using a model of colon carcinoma, we previously showed that alpha1,2fucosylation increases tumorigenicity. We now show that tumorigenicity inversely correlates with the cells' sensitivity to apoptosis. In addition, poorly tumorigenic REG cells independently transfected with three different alpha1,2fucosyltransferase cDNAs, the human FUT1, the rat FTA and FTB were more resistant than control cells to apoptosis induced in vitro by serum deprivation. Inversely, PRO cells, spontaneously tumorigenic in immunocompetent syngeneic animals and able to synthesize alpha1,2fucosylated glycans, became more sensitive to apoptosis after transfection with a fragment of the FTA cDNA in the antisense orientation. Expression of alpha1,2fucosyl-transferase in poorly tumorigenic REG cells dramatically enhanced their tumorigenicity in syngeneic rats. However, in immunodeficient animals, both control and alpha1,2fuco-syltransferase transfected REG cells were fully tumorigenic and metastatic, indicating that the presence of alpha1,2fucosylated antigens allowed REG tumor cells to escape immune control. Taken together, the results show that increased tumorigenicity mediated by alpha1,2fucosyl-ation is associated to increased resistance to apoptosis and to escape from immune control.
Experimental Research to Obtain a Better Understanding of the Epidemiology, Transmission and Dispersal of Amphibian Chytrid Fungus in Australian Ecosystems

This is the final report for the project Experimental research to obtain a better understanding of the epidemiology, transmission and dispersal of amphibian chytrid fungus in Australian ecosystems. The report describes factors such as environmental characteristics which favour this serious amphibian pathogen, the potential means of its spread and management implications arising from research outcomes. The rediscovery of the armoured mist frog (Litoria lorica) in a situation offering environmental refuge from the fungus is also detailed. This species had previously been thought to be extinct.
Control Of Postharvest Decay Of Apple Fruit With Trichoderma Virens Isolates And Induction Of Defense Responses

The biocontrol activity of two isolates of Trichoderma virens against blue mould of apple fruits caused by Penicillium expansum and their ability to induce biochemical defense responses in apple tissue were investigated. Apple fruit (Malus domestica) wounds were inoculated with 20µl antagonist suspension (10 7 conidia/ml) of T. virens and 4 h later with 20 µl of conidial suspension of P. expansum (10 5 conidia/ml). The apples were then incubated at 20°C for 8 days. Lesion diameters were measured 4 and 8 days after inoculation with the pathogen. Two isolates of T. virens were effective in controlling decay of apple fruits caused by P. expansum. Six days after treatment peroxidase activity increased by more than three-fold in apple treated fruit in combination of antagonist and pathogen, in comparison with in wounded, non-inoculated control tissue. Catalase (CAT) activity increased in inoculated fruits in combination of T. virens and P. expansum in comparison with healthy control at all days and maximum activity level was noted at 6 days after inocula- tion. The results indicated that T6 and T8 isolates of T. virens caused the increase in β-1,3-glucanase activity that reached maximum levels 4 and 6 days after inoculation with pathogen, respectively. The increase in β-1,3-glucanase activity was triggered by wounding although the level of increase was markedly lower than detected in treated fruits. Phenolic compounds accumulation showed the highest levels 2-4 days after inoculation and then decreased. The ability of T. virens to increase the activity of peroxidase, catalase, β-1,3-glucanase and levels of phenolic compounds may be one of mechanisms responsible for its biocontrol activity.
Acceptance of Simulated Cowbird Parasitism in a Northern Population of Red-Winged Blackbirds

Abstract Red-winged Blackbirds (Agelaius phoeniceus) may be more likely to desert nests parasitized by Brown-headed Cowbirds (Molothrus ater) when they interact with the parasite, because desertion frequencies are higher at naturally parasitized nests than at artificially parasitized nests in some brood-parasitic hosts. We experimentally parasitized blackbird nests in southern Manitoba with cowbird model eggs and presented taxidermic mounts of adult female cowbirds near their nests. We observed no desertion, which is possibly attributable to constraints of a shorter breeding season at this latitude. We also compared rejection frequencies for blackbirds when a mounted female cowbird was placed near the nest to rejection frequencies recorded when (1) no model egg was added, (2) a model egg was added but no mounted cowbird was presented, and (3) a model egg was added plus presentation of a mount of a non-parasitic and non-threatening species, the Fox Sparrow (Passerella iliaca). Blackbirds struck the cowbird mount more often than the sparrow mount, but responses to the cowbird mount did not influence acceptance or rejection of the model egg. Blackbirds apparently engage in the least costly form of anti-parasite defense (aggression) and accept the costs of acceptance instead of those of renesting during a short breeding season.