Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Alterações Morfológicas e Desempenho de Cordornas Poedeiras Tratadas com Diferentes Programas de Alimentação no Período de Repouso, da Muda Forçada

This research was conducted with the objective to evaluate the physical alterations, productive and mortality tracts in layer quails during the fast period and rest period when fed by different periods with corn meal and to study their effects on the production period. During the fast period, a completely randomized design with four treatments (0, 1, 2, and 3) days of fast, and three replicates of 36 birds per pen were used. In the rest period, a completely randomized design with three treatments (0, 4, and 7) days of feeding with corn meal and four replications of 30 birds per pen for live weight, egg production and mortality for analysis and two birds per pen for physical characteristics analysis were used. Results showed that there was a regression of the reproductive tract continued to the four days of the rest period. To the seven days of the rest period, the birds fed with production ration reached the weight that they had before the beginning the fast, and to the eleven days, the birds fed with corn meal during seven days had not still recovered the weight of the reproductive tract before the beginning of the fast period.
Coronavirus disease-2019 in cancer patients. A report of the first 25 cancer patients in a western country (Italy)

Background: We describe cancer patients with coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) infection treated at the Piacenza’s general hospital (north Italy). Materials & methods: Twenty-five cancer patients infected by COVID-19 admitted at the Piacenza’s general hospital from 21 February to 18 March 2020. Outcome from the infection were compared with infected noncancer patients. Results: Twenty patients (80%) were treated with antiviral therapy and hydroxychloroquine and five (20%) received hydroxychloroquine alone. Nine (36%) patients died, while 16 (64%) overcome the infection. In the control group the mortality was 16.13% and the overcome from infection was 83.87%. Conclusion: Mortality for COVID-19 was greater in cancer patients when compared with noncancer patients, worse prognosis for older age, women and patients treated with hydroxychloroquine alone. However, the comparisons did not reach statistical significance in most cases. This could be due to the small sample size that is the main limitation of the study.
Longitudinal effect of transcranial direct current stimulation on knee osteoarthritis patients measured by functional infrared spectroscopy: a pilot study

Abstract. Significance: Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is a common joint disease causing chronic pain and functional alterations (stiffness and swelling) in the elderly population. OA is currently treated pharmacologically with analgesics, although neuromodulation via transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) has recently generated a growing interest as a safe side-effect free treatment alternative or a complement to medications for chronic pain conditions. Although a number of studies have shown that tDCS has a beneficial effect on behavioral measures of pain, the mechanistic action of neuromodulation on pain sensitivity and coping at the central nervous system is not well understood. Aim: We aimed at observing longitudinal changes of cortical hemodynamics in older adults with knee OA associated with a two-week-long tDCS self-treatment protocol. Approach: Hemodynamics was measured bilaterally in the motor and somatosensory cortices with functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) in response to thermal pain induced ipsilaterally to the knee primarily affected by OA. Results: We found that both oxyhemoglobin- and deoxyhemoglobin-related functional activations significantly increased during the course of the tDCS treatment, supporting the notion that tDCS yields an increased cortical excitability. Concurrently, clinical measures of pain decreased with tDCS treatment, hinting at a potential spatial dissociation between cortically mediated pain perception and suppression and the prevalence of neuromodulatory effects over cortical pain processing. Conclusions: fNIRS is a valid method for objectively tracking pain in an ambulatory setting and it could potentially be used to inform strategies for optimized tDCS treatment and to develop innovative tDCS protocols.
Germination of Leymus arenarius and its Significance for Land Reclamation in Iceland

Leymus arenarius is used to stabilize the extensive areas of eroded volcanic sand in Iceland, both inland and on the coast. It has been reported previously to produce seeds of generally low viability. We investigated the potential for seed dormancy and the responses of germination to temperature, light and salinity, as part of a re-assessment aimed at improving reclamation procedures. Contrary to previous reports, high rates of germination could be obtained under certain conditions. All caryopses were soaked in water (24 h) and stratified for 2 weeks (5 °C) before the subsequent germination tests. Constant temperatures or exposure to light resulted in very poor germination. Close to 100% germination could be obtained within 2 weeks in continuous darkness, under alternating temperatures with an amplitude of 10-20 °C on a 12 h cycle; high day temperatures appear to be important. Diurnal fluctuations in temperature of this order occurred under average weather conditions in the black, volcanic sands in Iceland during the growing season (May-Sep.). The dark requirement is interpreted as a selective response to the adverse conditions for establishment at the surface of the sand; the alternating temperature requirement may be a response to ensure dormancy under deep burial with accreting sand, although it could have a role in gap-sensing under established canopies. Scarification, surface sterilization and treatment with n -butanol or KNO3 were all generally ineffective in promoting germination. Nearly all caryopses that did not germinate, in all treatments, remained viable. Caryopses of coastal populations of Leymus arenarius showed significantly higher total germination and more rapid germination in 100 mmol l-1 and 300 mmol l-1 NaCl solutions than inland populations. The inhibition of germination by salinity was an osmotically enforced dormancy effect rather than a lethal, toxic one; caryopses that had not germinated in saline solution generally were able to germinate subsequently, when transferred to non-saline conditions.
Temporal assessment of neonatal pain after airway aspiration

Objective To temporally assess a painful stimulus in premature infants using 3 neonatal pain scales. Methods A total of 83 premature infants were observed during airway aspiration by 3 evaluators (E1, E2 and E3) using 3 pain assessment scales (Neonatal Facial Coding System - NFCS; Neonatal Infant Pain Scale - NIPS; and Premature Infant Pain Profile - PIPP) at 5 time points: T1 (before airway aspiration), T2 (during airway aspiration), T3 (1 minute after airway aspiration), T4 (3 minutes after airway aspiration), and T5 (5 minutes after airway aspiration). Light’s Kappa (agreement among examiners and among scales at each time point) and the McNemar test (comparison among time points) were used considering p < 0.05. Results There was a significant difference between the 3 examiners for T1 and T2 using the 3 scales. In T3, pain was observed in 22.9%/E1, 28.9%/E2, and 24.1%/E3 according to the NFCS; 22.9%/E1, 21.7%/E2, and 16.9%/E3 according to the NIPS; and 49.4%/E1, 53.9%/E2, and 47%/E3 according to the PIPP. There was a difference between T1 and T3 using the 3 scales, except for 2 examiners for the PIPP (E2: p = 0.15/E3: p = 0.17). Comparing T4 and T5 to T1, there was no difference in the 3 scales. Conclusion Premature infants required at least 3 minutes to return to their initial state of rest (no pain).
Chitosan-Based Nanoparticles for Intracellular Delivery of ISAV Fusion Protein cDNA into Melanoma Cells: A Path to Develop Oncolytic Anticancer Therapies

Oncolytic virus therapy has been tested against cancer in preclinical models and clinical assays. Current evidence shows that viruses induce cytopathic effects associated with fusogenic protein-mediated syncytium formation and immunogenic cell death of eukaryotic cells. We have previously demonstrated that tumor cell bodies generated from cells expressing the fusogenic protein of the infectious salmon anemia virus (ISAV-F) enhance crosspriming and display prophylactic antitumor activity against melanoma tumors. In this work, we evaluated the effects of the expression of ISAV-F on the B16 melanoma model, both in vitro and in vivo, using chitosan nanoparticles as transfection vehicle. We confirmed that the transfection of B16 tumor cells with chitosan nanoparticles (NP-ISAV) allows the expression of a fusogenically active ISAV-F protein and decreases cell viability because of syncytium formation in vitro. However, the in vivo transfection induces a delay in tumor growth, without inducing changes on the lymphoid populations in the tumor and the spleen. Altogether, our observations show that expression of ISAV fusion protein using chitosan nanoparticles induces cell fusion in melanoma cells and slight antitumor response.
Metabolism of zinc in the mussel, Mytilus edulis (L.): a combined ultrastructural and biochemical study

The uptake, transport, storage and excretion of zinc has been studied in Mytilus edulis. Zinc accumulates in the soft tissues in proportion to its concentration in sea water whilst the concentration in the haemolymph is little above that in the environment. Uptake is via the gut, mantle and gills. The zinc is transported from the gills and gut (t½ ≈ 8 days) via the haemolymph, either as a high molecular weight complex or in the granular amoebocytes, to the kidney. Most of the body zinc is present in the granular amoebocytes (which are found in all the body tissues) or in the gut and kidney. The kidney forms the major storage organ for many trace metals, containing 30% of the body zinc and a concentration of about 1000 μg/g. Zinc is localized as insoluble granules in membranelimited vesicles occupying some 20% of the cell volume. Excretion of zinc is by defaecation, exocytosis of the kidney granules into the urine and diapedesis of the amoebocytes. A multicompartmental model for zinc metabolism which correlates the ultrastructural and kinetic data is proposed.
Digestibilidade Ileal de aminoácidos de alguns alimentos, determinada pela técnica da cânula T simples com suínos

The objective of this work was evaluate the apparent and true ileal digestibility of aminoacids feedstuffs, using the technique of simple canula T, with swines. Were used eight barrows canulated (Landrace x Large White). The feedstuffs evaluated were rice broked, low tanine sorghum, wheat bran, millet, brewer yeast and sugar cane yeast. The diets with rice broked, sorghum, wheat bran, millet as protein source were formulated to provide 7% of crude protein and the others diets with brewer's and sugar cane yeasts were formulated to provide 13% of crude protein. Chromic oxide was used as digestibility marker. The collect of digest was made after adaptation period of five days para determination of feed intake and three days for the regularization of intestinal flux, for a period of 24 hours, in intervals of three hours beggining after the feed intake. The samples were obtained from digests collected from groups of two animals. Among the evaluated feedstuffs, the rice broked, sorghum and millet showed higher coefficients of true digestibility, while the lower values were obtained to wheat bran. Threonine was the essential aminoacid with lower digestibility in rice broked, wheat bran, brewer yeast and sugar cane yeast. Lysine was the aminoacid less digestible in sorghum and millet.
Tent construction and social organization in Cynopterus brachyotis (Muller) (Chiroptera: Pteropodidae) in Peninsular Malaysia

This study examined the tent-making behaviour and social organization of the lesser dog-faced fruit bat, Cynopterus brachyotis (Muller), in Peninsular Malaysia. Cynopterus brachyotis alters the leaves of eight species of broad-leafed palms (Palmae) to form palmate umbrella tents, the leaves of Scindapsus aureus Engl. (Araceae) to form apical tents, and the leaves of Dracaena fragrans Ker-Gawl (Liliaceae) to form conical tents. Cynopterus brachyotis also severed the roots of Cymbidium finlaysonianum Lindl (Orchidaceae), and the leaves and stems of Philodendron lacerum Schott (Araceae) to form stem tents. In addition, C. brachyotis also roosted in unmodified plants. Cynopterus brachyotis possesses a harem type of social organization, but it was not possible to distinguish between a resource-defence polygyny and female-defence polygyny mating system. Our observations indicate that dominant males construct tents, and recruit females for the purpose of gaining reproductive access.
Effects of plant size and morphological constraints on variation in reproductive components in two related species of Epilobium

1 This study explored the effects of plant size, position of fruits within inflorescences, and position of seeds within fruits on the regulation of fecundity in the two outcrossing perennial herbs Epilobium dodonaei and E. fleischeri which replace each other along an altitudinal gradient. 2 Almost all reproductive components were affected by size. The largest difference between small and large individuals of both species concerned the number of mature seeds per stem, followed by the number of fruits per stem, flower buds per stem, seeds per fruit, ovules per fruit and individual seed mass. 3 The increase in the number of seeds per stem from small to large plants was not only due to the increasing number of flower buds per stem and ovules per fruit, but also a result of a decreasing abortion rate of flower buds and seeds. 4 The fruit/flower ratio was not affected by plant size, but the fruit/flower-bud ratio increased from 53% in small plants to 68% in large plants of E. fleischeri and from 22 to 62% in E. dodonaei, respectively. Early abortion of flower buds determined the abortion pattern, abortions after flowering were rare. The pattern of abortion in both species was strongly affected by the position of flower buds within the inflorescences. Buds from intermediate parts of the inflorescence had the smallest abortion frequency. 5 Seed/ovule ratio was 50% in E. fleischeri and 40% in E. dodonaei. The fate of ovules was not affected significantly by the size of plants. However, positional effects of fruits within inflorescences and of ovules within fruits on abortions were highly significant. 6 The overwhelming part of the variation in individual seed mass in both species was found within fruits and among fruits within a single inflorescence. Only in E. fleischeri was individual seed mass affected by the size of plants. 7 Our results suggest that abortion patterns in reproductive components are strongly affected by changes in resource availability during plant development, but also by morphological constraints. 8 Although the alpine E. fleischeri produced fewer fruits than E. dodonaei, a trade-off between seed number and seed mass contributed to a similar seed number per shoot in both species. We conclude that the pattern and regulation capacity in reproductive components are tightly linked to specific life-history traits of the two species.
The influence of environmental factors on the seasonal dynamics and composition of Rotifera in the Sapucaí River arm of Furnas Reservoir, MG, Brazil

Seasonal fluctuations in the dynamics of the plankton rotifer populations in an oligo-mesotrophic branch of a tropical reservoir were analyzed with respect to the possible influence of environmental conditions (physical, chemical and biological), with emphasis on biological interactions. Samples were taken monthly from August 2006 to July 2007. The well-defined climatic seasons were reflected in variations of the physical and chemical properties of the water. The zooplankton community consisted mainly of Rotifera, Cladocera and Copepoda, with occasional representatives of Chaoborus brasiliensis (Diptera), Ostracoda, Protozoa and Turbellaria. Rotifera was the dominant group in zooplankton community in 5 of the 12 months of the study and were represented by 35 taxa. Redundancy analysis between the rotifer population abundances and the set of environmental variables showed significant (p < 0.05) positive correlations with the chlorophyll a in the rainy season. In the dry period, predation was probably the environmental factor that had the strongest effect on rotifer populations; in particular, the density of the cyclopoid Thermocyclops decipiens showed significant (p < 0.05) negative correlations with many of the rotifer population abundances. In addition, analysis of the co-occurrence of different rotifer species indicated strong competitive interactions between populations, during the rainy period (p < 0.001). Among the biotic environmental factors analyzed, algal biomass had an important role during the rainy period and inter-rotifer competition was also significant in these months. It was probably that predation by the cyclopoid copepod Thermocyclops decipiens determined the structure and dynamics of the rotifer populations in the Sapucai arm of the Furnas reservoir, during the dry period.
Vagility as a Liability: Risk Assessment of the Leaf-Blotching Bug Eucerocoris suspectus (Hemiptera: Miridae), A Prospective Biological Control Agent of the Australian Tree Melaleuca quinquenervia

ABSTRACT Melaleuca quinquenervia (Cav.) S.T. Blake (Myrtales: Myrtaceae) forms dense monocultures that displace native vegetation in wetlands of southern Florida, USA. Faunal studies in the tree's native Australian range revealed several prospective biological control agents, including the leaf-blotching bug, Eucerocoris suspectus Distant (Hemiptera: Miridae). This herbivore was imported into quarantine to assess risk to Florida native and ornamental species after preliminary Australian studies had indicated that it might be useful. Ornamental Melaleuca spp. suffered heavy feeding in no-choice adult feeding trials, with moderate feeding on some native Myrtaceae. Native species sustained light to heavy feeding in multichoice adult feeding trials and in a no-choice nymphal feeding trial. Feeding increased on native species in a large enclosure after M. quinquenervia was cut, allowed to dry, and then removed. Nymphs completed development only on M. quinquenervia and ornamental bottlebrushes, Melaleuca spp. However, inability to fully develop on non-target species is of limited importance as a criterion for release of insects with highly mobile immature stages as compared to less vagile species. Local movement from the host to other plant species could result in unacceptable non-target damage despite seemingly adequate developmental specificity. This insect would clearly harm native and ornamental Myrtaceae and should therefore not be released.
Fresh Soft White Cheese (Domiati-Type) from Camel Milk: Composition, Yield, and Sensory Evaluation

Abstract Manufacturing procedures and composition of fresh soft white cheeses (Domiati-type) from camel milk were characterized. Different percentages of fat and salt and two lactic starter cultures (yogurt and lactic fermentation) were used. Yields and recovery of protein, fat, and milk total solids of cheeses were calculated. The yield was highest with cheeses made from camel milk (3% salt and 1.5% fat) and from yogurt or lactic ferment culture, whereas the yield was lowest with whole milk (3.9% fat and 0% salt). However, the average fresh cheese yield (12.29 ± 1.63%) obtained from camel milk was lower than that for cow and buffalo milks. In general, the greater soft cheese yields are accompanied by higher recovery of solids. However, more than 50% of the milk total solids were retained in the whey, which was white. Sensory evaluation by a taste panel was conducted to determine acceptability of cheeses. The cheeses made from milk (1.5% fat and 3% salt) with lactic starter cultures were the most acceptable, whereas the least acceptable cheeses were those made from whole milk (3.9% fat) and 0 or 1% salt. The methods investigated for soft white cheese have potential for the development of cheese with good acceptability from camel milk. However, more research is needed to improve the quality and the yield of this type of cheese.
The Relation of Size to Rate of Oxygen Consumption and Sustained Swimming Speed of Sockeye Salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka)

The relation of size (log weight, g) to metabolic rate (log O2-uptake, mg O2/hr) of sockeye salmon was found to have a continuous change in slope (0.78–0.97) with increasing activity at 15 C.The slope of the equation relating the 60-min sustained swimming speed (log speed, cm/sec) to length (cm) had a value of 0.50, demonstrating a rapid decrease in relative performance with increasing size.
A long-term trend and temporal fluctuations of the sea level at the Polish Baltic coast

The analysis of sea level record series along the Polish coast is presented. The main aim was to identify linear trends in the sea level changes at the coastal (Świnoujście, Kołobrzeg, Ustka, Łeba, Władysławowo, Hel, Gdynia, Gdańsk), lagoonal (Trzebież, Tokmicko) and riverine (Szczecin) gauge stations. The analysis showed individual coastal stations to differ in the rate of sea level changes. During 60 years of continuous observations (1947–2006), the differences varied from 1.0 (the western part of the coast) to 2.5 mm year−1 (the eastern part of the coast). The longest, more than 100-yr-long data series showed the sea level rise in Świnoujście and Kołobrzeg to be about 0.5 mm year−1; 1.57 mm year−1 being revealed in Gdańsk. Spectral analysis applied to the data showed numerous fluctuations and cyclicity in changes of the annual mean sea level at the Polish coast. A distinct, major 3-year cycle was revealed. In addition, three secondary cycles of 4.6, 6.7, and 8.6 years were present in the data, more or less clearly identifiable at individual stations.
Body Composition of Black Rockfish Sebastes schlegeli Fed on Diets Containing Different Levels of Turmeric Curcuma longa L.

This study investigated the effect of diets supplemented with different levels (0, 1, 3, and 5 %) of turmeric Curcuma longa L. powder (TP) on the body composition of black rockfish Sebastes schlegeli. Fish weighing g were fed to apparent satiation twice daily for 8 weeks. Adding TP decreased crude lipid levels and increased crude protein and ash levels. Abundant fatty acids in the TP-added group were C16:0, C18:1 n-9 (cis), and C22:6 n-3. The major amino acids in samples were glutamic acid, aspartic acid, glycine, leucine, alanine, lysine, and arginine.
A “Necessary Evil”: Staff Perspectives of Soft Restraint Kit Use in a High-Security Hospital

Introduction Forensic mental health nurses working at the forefront of services can intermittently face enduring and somewhat harrowing or stressful situations. Enclosed is an example of the use of mechanical restraints (Soft Restraint Kit) for a two month period. Staff experience of working under such circumstances is an under reported area. Methods The experience of nursing a patient under extreme conditions was captured through use of a qualitative study, using semi structured interviews with a purposive sample of (n = 10) staff nurses and nursing assistants in a high-security hospital. Results Thematic analysis was undertaken generating four themes: sense of responsibility, aptitude, enablers/inhibitors, and consequence. Conclusions suggest that Soft Restraint Kits provide a useful method of containment, although prolonged use presents considerable challenges for staff. The importance of preparation and training cannot be underestimated and continued support and supervision are absolutely essential.