Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Predation Risk of Tawny Owl Strix aluco Nests in Relation to Altitude, Breeding Experience, Breeding Density and Weather Conditions

Nest predation was studied in a population of Tawny Owls Strix aluco in the Duna-Ipoly National Park, Hungary during the period 1992–2009, and related to the choice of nesting sites at different altitudes, the breeding experience of males, and weather conditions. The use of nesting sites at high elevations reduced the risk of nest predation in comparison to lower elevations, where breeding territories occur at a higher density. Also, the risk of nest predation decreased as the local breeding experience of males increased. Adverse weather conditions, i.e. long-lasting snow cover, increasing breeding density, and later laying dates enhanced the probability of breeding failure by nest predation. Broods were depredated in the nestling period rather than during incubation.
The ventilatory abnormalities and prognostic values of H2FPEF score in dyspnoeic patients with preserved left ventricle systolic function

Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is one of the major diagnoses in dyspnoeic subjects, and H2FPEF score enables robust differentiation of HFpEF. Given ventilatory abnormalities prevail in subjects with HFpEF, the associations between H2FPEF score and pulmonary function remain to be elucidated.
Detection of Foot-and-Mouth Disease Virus in Swine Meat Juice

Foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) is a highly contagious agent that impacts livestock industries worldwide, leading to significant financial loss. Its impact can be avoided or minimized if the virus is detected early. FMDV detection relies on vesicular fluid, epithelial tags, swabs, serum, and other sample types from live animals. These samples might not always be available, necessitating the use of alternative sample types. Meat juice (MJ), collected after freeze-thaw cycles of skeletal muscle, is a potential sample type for FMDV detection, especially when meat is illegally imported. We have performed experiments to evaluate the suitability of MJ for FMDV detection. MJ was collected from pigs that were experimentally infected with FMDV. Ribonucleic acid (RNA) was extracted from MJ, sera, oral swabs, and lymph nodes from the same animals and tested for FMDV by real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR). MJ was also tested for FMDV antigen by Lateral Flow Immunoassay (LFI). FMDV RNA was detected in MJ by rRT-PCR starting at one day post infection (DPI) and as late as 21 DPI. In contrast, FMDV RNA was detected in sera at 1–7 DPI. Antigen was also detected in MJ at 1–9 DPI by LFI. Live virus was not isolated directly from MJ, but was recovered from the viral genome by transfection into susceptible cells. The data show that MJ is a good sample type for FMDV detection.
Higher Epoxyeicosatrienoic Acids in Cardiomyocytes-Specific CYP2J2 Transgenic Mice Are Associated with Improved Myocardial Remodeling

Elevated cis-epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs) are known to be cardioprotective during ischemia-reperfusion injury in cardiomyocyte-specific overexpressing cytochrome P450 2J2 (CYP2J2) transgenic (Tr) mice. Using the same Tr mice, we measured changes in cardiac and erythrocyte membranes EETs following myocardial infarction (MI) to determine if they can serve as reporters for cardiac events. Cardiac function was also assessed in Tr vs. wild-type (WT) mice in correlation with EET changes two weeks following MI. Tr mice (N = 25, 16 female, nine male) had significantly higher cardiac cis- and trans-EETs compared to their WT counterparts (N = 25, 18 female, seven male). Total cardiac cis-EETs in Tr mice were positively correlated with total cis-EETs in erythrocyte membrane, but there was no correlation with trans-EETs or in WT mice. Following MI, cis- and trans-EETs were elevated in the erythrocyte membrane and cardiac tissue in Tr mice, accounting for the improved cardiac outcomes observed. Tr mice showed significantly better myocardial remodeling following MI, evidenced by higher % fractional shortening, smaller infarct size, lower reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation, reduced fibrosis and apoptosis, and lower pulmonary edema. A positive correlation between total cardiac cis-EETs and total erythrocyte membrane cis-EETs in a Tr mouse model suggests that erythrocyte cis-EETs may be used as predictive markers for cardiac events. All cis-EET regioisomers displayed similar trends following acute MI; however, the magnitude of change for each regioisomer was markedly different, warranting measurement of each individually.
Winter residency and site association in the Critically Endangered North East Atlantic spurdog Squalus acanthias

Identification and incorporation of residential behaviour into elasmobranch manage- ment plans has the potential to substantially increase their effectiveness by identifying sites where marine protected areas might be used to help conserve species with high migratory potential. There is evidence that the spurdog Squalus acanthias displays site association in some parts of its global distribution, but this has currently not been shown within the North East Atlantic where it is Critically Endangered. Here we investigated the movements of electronically tagged spurdog within Loch Etive, a sea loch on the west coast of Scotland. Archival data storage tags (DSTs) that recorded depth and temperature revealed that 2 mature female spurdog overwintered within the loch, restricting their movements to the upper basin, and remaining either in the loch or the local vicinity for the rest of the year. This finding was supported by evidence for limited movements from conventional markrecapture data and from an acoustically tagged individual spurdog. Some of the movements between the loch basins appear to be associated with breeding and par- turition events. This high level of site association suggests that spatial protection of the loch would aid the conservation of different age and sex classes of spurdog.
The importance of herbivory in the decline of a seagrass (Posidonia oceanica) meadow near a fish farm: an experimental approach.

A 6-month macrograzer exclusion field experiment was conducted in an altered Posidonia oceanica meadow affected by organic effluents from a fish farm. This experiment was carried out in order to ascertain whether or not overgrazing had contributed to the meadow degradation observed, because higher densities of macrograzers (mainly the sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus ,2 0 to 60 times higher density) were found in the degraded meadow than in an undisturbed reference meadow located nearby. The plant variables measured (shoot density, shoot biomass, leaf growth rate and epiphyte load) had consistently lower values in unmanipulated plots of the degraded meadow than in plots of the undisturbed reference meadow, with the exception of herbivore pressure, which was 2 to 5 times higher. In the herbivore exclusion plots established in the degraded meadow, shoot biomass and epiphyte load increased to values similar to those in the reference plots in the undisturbed meadow. At the end of the experimental period, shoot density had significantly decreased by up to 30–50% of the initial values in the control (unmanipulated) plots, while no changes were observed in the exclusion plots or in the reference meadow. Our results show that the impact of macrograzers on shoot features made a significant contribution to the reported decline of the P. oceanica meadow next to the fish farm. It is also suggested that organic effluents generated as a result of aquaculture activities may help to increase grazing activity in these seagrass communities, although the mechanisms by which nutrient loads control the behaviour of herbivores remain unclear.
A new Editorial team for The Journal of Pathology

After 6 years as Editor-in-Chief, I have decided to step down and hand over the reins to a new Editor. I have thoroughly enjoyed my term of office and am grateful to the Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland for the opportunity to be a part of such an excellent team of people, both in the Society and in the Publishers, Wiley (now Wiley-Blackwell). I would like to thank all of those with whom I have been associated, particularly the Associate Editors, Managing Editors, and Assistant Editors that I have worked with; and, of course, the authors and reviewers, without whom there would be no journal. The Journal has developed considerably in recent years, particularly with the advent of online submission and review, the introduction by my predecessor of Annual Review Issues, and our focus on papers that address hypotheses related to disease mechanisms. I hope that these developments are considered to be
Roads, Development, and Conservation in the Congo Basin

Abstract: Road density is closely linked to market accessibility, economic growth, natural resource exploitation, habitat fragmentation, deforestation, and the disappearance of wildlands and wildlife. Research in the Republic of Congo shows that roads established and maintained by logging concessions intensify bushmeat hunting by providing hunters greater access to relatively unexploited populations of forest wildlife and by lowering hunters' costs to transport bushmeat to market. Reconciling the contrary effects of roads on economic development and biodiversity conservation is one of the key challenges to wildlife managers in all nations. As the Democratic Republic of Congo prepares to reconstruct its almost completely collapsed road system, the government, donors, and conservation organizations have a unique opportunity to strategically prioritize investment in segments of the network that would maximize local and national economic benefits while minimizing adverse effects on forest wildlife.
Salmonella Heterogeneously Expresses Flagellin during Colonization of Plants

Minimally processed or fresh fruits and vegetables are unfortunately linked to an increasing number of food-borne diseases, such as salmonellosis. One of the relevant virulence factors during the initial phases of the infection process is the bacterial flagellum. Although its function is well studied in animal systems, contradictory results have been published regarding its role during plant colonization. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that Salmonella’s flagellin plays a versatile function during the colonization of tomato plants. We have assessed the persistence in plant tissues of a Salmonella enterica wild type strain, and of a strain lacking the two flagellins, FljB and FliC. We detected no differences between these strains concerning their respective abilities to reach distal, non-inoculated parts of the plant. Analysis of flagellin expression inside the plant, at both the population and single cell levels, shows that the majority of bacteria down-regulate flagellin production, however, a small fraction of the population continues to express flagellin at a very high level inside the plant. This heterogeneous expression of flagellin might be an adaptive strategy to the plant environment. In summary, our study provides new insights on Salmonella adaption to the plant environment through the regulation of flagellin expression.
Changes in the distribution of extracellular matrix components during neural crest development in Xiphophorus spp. embryos

The changes in distribution of chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans (CSs) and fibronectin (FN), two major components of the extracellular matrix (ECM), are described during the development and migration of neural crest cells in two Xiphophorus species offish, X. helleri (swordtail) and X. maculatus (platyfish), using immunohistochemistry. A detailed description of the developmental changes in HNK-1-positive ECM components is also provided and compared with those of CSs and FN. HNK-1 antigen was also used as a marker for the neural crest cells. Weak staining for CSs, FN, and HNK-1-positive ECM was present in the neural crest cell migration pathways prior to migration of the cells. The level of staining increased dramatically during migration of these cells and decreased again after migration was nearly completed. Staining for CSs was more widespread than staining for FN, while the HNK-1 staining pattern was more clearly restricted to the migratory pathways than those seen with the other two antibodies. The co.
Bloodstream infections in immunocompromised children and emergence of multi-resistant bacteria

Objectif : Les bacteriemies sont responsables d’une morbidite elevee chez les enfants immunodeprimes. La documentation d’une bacteriemie demeure difficile en cas de survenue d’un episode febrile chez ces patients fragiles, c’est pourquoi une antibiotherapie probabiliste a large spectre est rapidement initiee. L’objectif de cette etude est double. Il consiste a la fois a caracteriser l’epidemiologie des bacteries responsables de bacteriemie chez des enfants immunodeprimes, mais egalement d’etudier l’emergence de bacteries resistantes aux antibiotiques chez ces memes patient. Methodes : Une etude descriptive et retrospective fut menee de janvier 2014 a decembre 2017 a l’institut d’hematologie et d’oncologie pediatrique de Lyon, un centre unique representatif de tous les niveaux d’immunodepression de l’enfant. Notre cohorte comprenait des patients atteints de maladies hematologiques et oncologiques, des enfants ayant recu une greffe de cellules souches hematopoietiques, et de patients souffrant de deficit immunitaire combine severe. Une bacteriemie etait definie par une hemoculture positive associee a de la fievre. L’antibiotherapie probabiliste etait adaptee au niveau d’immunodepression de l’enfant et a une eventuelle colonisation bacterienne anterieure, et comprenait de la vancomycine, de l’amikacine et une penicilline a large spectre. Resultats : 310 (4.2%) bacteriemies furent identifiees chez 186 patients sur les 7301 hospitalisations recensees en 4 ans. Les Cocci Gram-Positifs etaient majoritaires et representaient 72,9 % des bacteriemies documentees avec 49.7 % de staphylocoques a coagulase negatifs et 6.5% de Staphylococcus aureus. Les Bacilles Gram-Negatifs representaient 21.6% des pathogenes identifies avec 4.8% d’infections a Pseudomonas. L’incidence annuelle des bacteriemies diminua de 0.75% (p =0.002) par an. Seules 11 des 310 bacteriemies (3.5%) furent causees par des bacteries multiresistantes. Conclusion : Les bacteriemies chez les patients immunodeprimes sont majoritairement dues a des Cocci-Gram-Positifs. Dans notre etude, l’utilisation raisonnee d’antibiotiques a large spectre n’etait pas associee a l’emergence de bacteries multiresistantes.
Delphi Method to Achieve Clinical Consensus for a BPMN Representation of the Central Venous Access Placement for Training Purposes

Proper teaching of the technical skills necessary to perform a medical procedure begins with its breakdown into its constituent steps. Currently available methodologies require substantial resources and their results may be biased. Therefore, it is difficult to generate the necessary breakdown capable of supporting a procedural curriculum. The aim of our work was to breakdown the steps required for ultrasound guided Central Venous Catheter (CVC) placement and represent this procedure graphically using the standard BPMN notation. Methods: We performed the first breakdown based on the activities defined in validated evaluation checklists, which were then graphically represented in BPMN. In order to establish clinical consensus, we used the Delphi method by conducting an online survey in which experts were asked to score the suitability of the proposed activities and eventually propose new activities. Results: Surveys were answered by 13 experts from three medical specialties and eight different institutions in two rounds. The final model included 28 activities proposed in the initial model and four new activities proposed by the experts; seven activities from the initial model were excluded. Conclusions: The proposed methodology proved to be simple and effective, generating a graphic representation to represent activities, decision points, and alternative paths. This approach is complementary to more classical representations for the development of a solid knowledge base that allows the standardization of medical procedures for teaching purposes.
Mitochondrial ion channels as targets for cardioprotection

Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and the heart failure (HF) that often result remain the leading causes of death and disability worldwide. As such, new therapeutic targets need to be discovered to protect the myocardium against acute ischaemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury in order to reduce myocardial infarct (MI) size, preserve left ventricular function and prevent the onset of HF. Mitochondrial dysfunction during acute I/R injury is a critical determinant of cell death following AMI, and therefore, ion channels in the inner mitochondrial membrane, which are known to influence cell death and survival, provide potential therapeutic targets for cardioprotection. In this article, we review the role of mitochondrial ion channels, which are known to modulate susceptibility to acute myocardial I/R injury, and we explore their potential roles as therapeutic targets for reducing MI size and preventing HF following AMI.
Automata network SIR models for the spread of infectious diseases in populations of moving individuals

Automata network SIR models for the spread of infectious diseases are studied. The local rule consists of two subrules. The first one, applied sequentially, describes the motion of the individuals, the second is synchronous and models infection and removal (or recovery). The spatial correlations created by the application of the second subrule are partially destroyed according to the degree of mixing of the population which follows from the application of the first subrule. One- and two-population models are considered. In the second case, individuals belonging to one population may be infected only by individuals belonging to the other population as is the case, for example, for the heterosexual propagation of a venereal disease. It is shown that the occurrence of the epidemic in one population may be triggered by the occurrence of the epidemic in the other population. The emphasis is on the influence of the degree of mixing of the individuals which follows from their diffusive motion. In particular, the asymptotic behaviours for very small and very large mixing are determined. When the degree of mixing tends to infinity the correlations are completely destroyed and the time evolution of the epidemic is then correctly predicted by the mean-field approximation.
The effects of different temperature and salinity levels on the acute toxicity of zinc in the Pink Shrimp (Farfantepenaeus paulensis)

The purpose of this study was to measure the acute toxicity of zinc (Zn) on Farfantepenaeus paulensis at different salinities and temperatures by monitoring oxygen consumption. This aspect of the effect of zinc has not been studied in this important commercial species before. First, we examined the acute toxicity of zinc in F. paulensis at 24, 48, 72, and 96 h medium lethal concentration (LC50). One hundred and fifty shrimp were employed for the routine metabolism measurement utilizing sealed respirometers. Ten shrimp were subjected to oxygen consumption measurements in one of the four concentrations of zinc (control, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, and 3.0 mg L−1) at three salinities (36, 20, and 5) and three temperatures (25°C, 20°C, and 15°C). Zinc was significantly more toxic at a salinity of 5 than at 20 or 36. The oxygen consumption was estimated through experiments performed on each of the 12 possible combinations of three temperatures (25°C, 20°C, and 15°C) and three salinities (36, 20, and 5). The shrimp showed a significant reduction in oxygen consumption at a salinity of 5. The results show that the oxygen consumption decreases with respect to the zinc concentration in all temperatures studied. At the highest zinc concentration employed (3.0 mg L−1), the salinity 5 and the temperature at 25°C, oxygen consumption decreases 60.92% in relation to the control. The results show that zinc is more toxic to F. paulensis at lower salinities. The significance of the findings for the biology of the species close to sources of zinc is discussed.
Microdialysis Measurement of In Vivo Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone Secretion in the Goat

The microdialysis technique was applied to examine the pattern of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) secretion in the mediobasal hypothalamus of the goat using a probe with a polycarbonate membrane. An in vitro recovery test showed that changes in the GnRH concentration in the microdialysis perfusate were highly correlated (r=0.996) with those in the external medium, and the relative recovery rate was 2.8% at a flow rate of 5ƒÊl/min. Then an in vivo study was carried out in ovariectomized goats which had been implanted stereotaxically with a microdialysis probe in the median eminence of the hypothalamus. Artificial cerebrospinal fluid was perfused and every 10 min fractions were collected under conscious and unrestrained conditions. Patterns of perfusate GnRH were pulsatile and closely associated with LH pulses in the peripheral circulation suggesting that the microdialysis technique can be successfully adopted for examining the neurosecretory activity of GnRH neurons in the conscious goat.
Effect of water column light gradient on phytoplankton fluorescence transients

The light management of phytoplankton can be assessed in situ on time scales shorter than those of the non-photochemical fluorescence quenching (qn) mechanisms. We adopted fast repetition rate fluorometry to water column studies in the northwest Pacific Ocean and its adjacent shelf seas. Near-surface depression of the photochemical energy conversion efficiency (PECE) (effective Fq'/Fm' and maximum Fv'/Fm'; Fq' = Fm' - F', Fv' = Fm' - Fo'; Fq' and Fv' are variable fluorescence yields in the light, Fv' is that with maximum photochemical quenching; fluorescence yields in the light: Fm' maximum, F' steady-state, and Fo' minimum) defined specific zones according to whether PECE was depressed by photochemistry (relaxation of photochemical quenching, qp) or photoprotection/photoinhibition (increase of qn). qp seemed to be the main factor depressing PECE, and the depressing effect of qp on PECE also extended to considerably deeper depths than that of qn. When moving towards the surface, the qn effect overrode the qp effect on the PECE decrease at depths of 8 to 13 m, depending on the station. The vertical trends of Fq'/Fm' and Fv'/Fm' were modelled according to a typical P-E (photosynthesis-irradiance) dependence to supplement the 14 C-based P-E data. E(Fq'/Fm') and E(Fv'/Fm') were the light levels at which the vertical trends of Fq'/Fm' and Fv'/Fm', re- spectively, started to decrease. Although the nutrient regime is the main controller of primary photochem- istry in general, the ambient light also becomes the controlling factor on PECE whenever the light level rises above E(Fq'/Fm'). At E(Fv'/Fm'), light ultimately overrides the effect of the nutrient status on PECE. E(Fv'/Fm') also marks the light level at which the photoprotective measures first become necessary. This level is close to the onset of the plateau phase producing the 14 C-based light-saturated photosynthetic rate Pmax.