Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Retinal Layer Thicknesses in Early Age-Related Macular Degeneration: Results From the German AugUR Study

Purpose To systematically analyze thicknesses of retinal layers in an older population and their link to early age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Methods In the AugUR baseline survey from a population aged ≥70 years, we conducted multimodal retinal imaging, including spectral-domain optical coherence tomography. Autosegmentation of eight distinct retinal layers was followed by manual correction of segmentation errors. AMD status was graded on color fundus images according to the Three Continent AMD Consortium Severity Scale. We tested the association of early AMD on retinal layer thicknesses by using linear mixed models and replicated significant results in independent data also from the AugUR platform. Results When comparing layer thicknesses between early AMD and no AMD (822 eyes, 449 participants), the retinal pigment epithelium/Bruch's membrane complex demonstrated a statistically significant thickening (e.g., P = 6.41 × 10−92 for severe early versus no AMD) and photoreceptor layers showed a significant thinning. Autosegmented retinal layer thicknesses revealed similar associations as manually corrected values but underestimated some effects. Independent replication analysis in 1026 eyes (546 participants) confirmed associations (e.g., P = 9.38 × 10−36 for retinal pigment epithelium/Bruch's membrane complex, severe early versus no AMD). Conclusions This first population-based study on spectral-domain optical coherence tomography-derived retinal layer thicknesses in a total of ∼1000 individuals provides insights into the reliability of autosegmentation and layer-specific reference values for an older population. Our findings show a difference in thicknesses between early AMD and no AMD for some retinal layers, suggesting these as potential imaging biomarkers. The thinning of photoreceptor layers substantiates a photoreceptor cell loss/damage already occurring in early AMD.
Progenitor Subpopulations of Valvular Cells Resembling Hematopoietic and Mesenchymal Stem Cells and their Role in Myofibroblastic Activation

valvular interstitial cells (qVICs) resembling fibroblasts. In diseased valves, a myofibroblastic phenotype, activated VICs (aVICs), is highly proliferative, synthesize extracellular matrix and repair/remodel the valve. Adult valves also have an understudied small population of progenitor cells (pVIC), which can differentiate into other VIC phenotypes. A better understanding is needed for the role of pVIC in valvular pathophysiology. We hypothesize that pVICs mediate deactivation of VICs, to control or prevent pathological development. Methods: In this study, we isolated two subpopulations of pVICs, Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSC) and Hematopoietic Stem Cells (HSC), and evaluated their role in myofibroblastic deactivation of VICs. Porcine pVIC subpopulations were magnetically isolated with CD90 and CD34 respectively serving as markers of MSC and HSC. MSC and HSC subpopulations were validated using secondary MSC and HSC markers CD105 and CD117 respectively. Three culture types were designed. Results: A pVIC-supplemented culture was created by increasing pVIC concentration in VIC population by 50% (positive response) Native culture maintained pVIC concentration identical to native valves postharvest (physiologic response). Negative culture had pVICs removed (negative response). Supplemented culture with MSC subpopulation did not have any effect on VIC activation. Supplemented culture with HSC subpopulation induced deactivation in VICs. Conclusion: To our knowledge, this is one of the first observations of pVIC subpopulations mediating myofibroblastic deactivation in VICs and further studies are needed for a more detailed understanding of pVIC function in valvular biology.
Research on Streptomycetes from Moldovian Soils with Antifungal, Nematicidal and Phytostimulating Activity on Tomato

Aim. The purpose of the research was to determine the antifungal, nematicidal and phytostimulating activity of streptomycetes isolated from the soil of Moldova. Methods. The strains were stored on the media Czapek and oatmeal agar by subculturing. Antifungal activity was determined by disk diffusion method, using phytopathogenic fungi as test cultures. To determine the nematicidal and phytostimulating activity of exometabolites of the studied strains, they were cultivated on complex medium M-I and aqueous solutions of exometabolites (EM) were prepared that were contained in the liquid culture after it was separated from the biomass by centrifugation. Tomato seeds were treated by soaking in EM solutions and the germination and length of the roots were determined. Nematicidal activity was determined by mortality test. Results. Strains that completely inhibited the growth of A. alternata, B. cinerea and S. solani (S. sp. 9, 10 and 17) or retarded the growth of test cultures to different degrees (zone diameters from 25.0 to 34.0 mm) were found. For nematicidal activity, the best results were shown by EM strains of S. spp. 9 and 205. The best results on the germination of tomato seeds of the cv. Fakel were obtained by treating with a 0.5% solution of EM strains of S. spp. 49 and 154 (by 11.32% more than in control), and for root growth – of EM of all strains (73-89% more than in control). Conclusions. Studies have shown that the EM of streptomycetes isolated from the soil of Moldova can be used to obtain new plant growth stimulants and biopesticides.
Application of coconut battery waste to graphic as an alternative electrode on primary battery cells

Coconut shell is one of the potential biomass as carbon sources. Coconut shell is converted to charcoal through the carbonization process. The potential of charcoal from coconut shells can be synthesized into graphene. Graphene is a derivative of one of the carbon allotropes, namely graphite, where carbon is in the form of thin plates with sp2 orbitals arranged hexagonally. The process of making graphene which is coconut shell dried in the sun then pyrolysis into charcoal then mixed with activated carbon as a reducing agent at 600 ° C for 1 hour to produce graphene. The graphene produced is characterized by X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscope-Energy Dispersive X-Ray (SEM-EDX). The results by XRD analysis showed the resulting peaks were not sharp and slightly widened at the diffraction peaks at 24 ° and 44 °. The results of SEM-EDX analysis at 4000x magnification show the surface size and shape of the structure that is smaller, thinner and reduced buildup on the graphene structure. graphene that has been successfully synthesized was tested on a coin battery. The coin battery cathode which was replaced with graphene succeeded in turning on the light. Keyword: charcoal, graphene, activated carbon, pyrolysis, coconut shell
THE ESSENCE AND SPECIFIC ASPECTS OF PRE-SCHOOL TEACHERS METHODOLOGIKAL COMPETENCE IN THE PROFESSIONAL PEDAGOGICAL COMPETENCE STRUCTURE

The following approaches to the definition of a professional competence phenomenon have been analyzed: function activity related, axiological, universal, personal activity related; the structure of key competences in education has been disclosed; the main components of professional competence of pedagogues and form of methodological work have been determined, aimed at development of competence of educators of pre-school educational institutions. In modern researches, terms «methodological competency» and «methodological competence» are often used as synonymous. The structure of the competence of the specialist involves experience (knowledge, skills), orientation (needs, values, motives, ideals), quality (ability to synergetic manifestations, adaptation, scaling and interpretation, self-development, integration, transfer of knowledge from one branch to another). Content of professional competence of a pedagogue of one or another major is determined by qualification characteristics. It constitutes a normative model of a pedagogue’s competence, reflect- ing theoretically substantiated professional knowledge, abilities, skills. A qualification characteristics is in fact a compilation of generic requirements to a pedagogue at the level of his/her theoretical and practical experience. By conditional separation of professional competence from other personal transformations we mean that acquisition of knowledge is not a goal in itself but a very important condition for production of «knowledge in action», i.e. abilities and skills as a main criterion of a professional readiness. Understanding the essence of pedagogical abilities allows to understand their internal structure, i.e. an interdependent connection between actions (components of abilities) as relatively individual personal abilities. The structure of methodical competence as the result of the training of future educators of pre-school institutions is due to its components being the key, basic, special and partly professional competencies, each of which has a cognitive, activity and personal aspect.
Subtropical Forages Differentially Influenced the Ruminal Fermentation and Microbial Community of Jersey Cow In Vitro

Oven dried cassava residues, corn straw silage, elephant grass and sugarcane tail silage were used as substrates to do a 24 h of incubation with a 100 ml glass syringe at 39°C. Gas production was recorded at the end of incubation and ruminal fluid was harvested to determine volatile fatty acids (VFA) using gas chromatograph, quantify microbial populations using real time PCR, and analyze microbial community using high throughput sequencing. Results showed in vitro incubation not only decreased population of bacteria, fungi, methanogen and some cellulolytic bacteria (P<0.05), but also increased diversity of bacteria, reversed Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes ratio, and decreased abundance of Prevotella, M. gottschalkii and Entodinium. Gas production, acetate/propionate ratio and abundances of Succiniclasticum, Entodinium and Diploplastron were the highest, while total VFA concentration, fungal and cellulolytic bacterial populations, and abundances of Methanomassiliicoccales and Ostracodinium were the lowest with cassava residues (P<0.05). Influence on fermentation pattern and microbiota of three gramineous substrates was similar, but inoculum incubated with sugarcane tail silage had higher abundance of Methanomassiliicoccales and Diplodinium. In conclusion, cassava residues which is a low neutral detergent fiber forage showed a completely different fermentation pattern and influence on microbe community indicated NDF was the most crucial factor to determine microbial community in vitro.
Outage Probability of One-Source-With-One- Helper Sensor Systems in Block Rayleigh Fading Multiple Access Channels

Two correlated sources are transmitted over a block Rayleigh fading multiple access channel (MAC), where information recovery from only one of the sources is aimed at, and the other is used as a helper which helps recover the source sequences at the destination. In this article, the successful transmission is defined as in the case the transmission rates satisfy the intersection of both the MAC region and the Slepian-Wolf (SW) region with a helper, referred to as h-SW region, even though it is a sufficient condition. Then, the outage is defined as the average probability that the two regions do not have an intersection. The explicit expressions of the outage probability of the system are derived, in the form of multiple integrals with respect to the probability density function of instantaneous signal-to-noise ratios of each link. To have an in-depth insight regarding the contributions of some special cases to the successful transmission probability, the occurrence probabilities of these cases are also evaluated. The results indicate that outage probabilities decrease as the correlation between the source and helper information increases. The impacts of geometric gains of each link and the correlation of each link’s fading variation are also considered. The most significant finding of this article is that h-SW over a MAC improves the throughput efficiency compared to the orthogonal transmission both in independent and correlated block Rayleigh fading channels without sacrificing the outage probability.
Microbiota Metabolic Product Deoxycholic Acid Prevents Campylobacter jejuni Chicken Colonization through Modulating Ceca Anaerobes

Campylobacter jejuni is a prevalent infectious enteritis mainly foodborne from chickens. Despite of reducing C. jejuni food contamination dramatically decreases the occurrence of campylobacteriosis, few effective approaches are available for the bacterial reduction in chickens. The aim of this study was to use microbial metabolic product deoxycholic acid (DCA) to reduce C. jejuni chicken colonization. Broiler chicks were fed 0 or 1.5 g/kg DCA, lithocholic acid (LCA), or urodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) in diets or orally gavaged with cholic acid (CA, 1.5g/kg body weight). Birds were also transplanted with DCA modulated anaerobes (DCA-Anaero) or aerobes (DCA-Aero). Birds were infected with 10 CFU/bird human clinical isolate C. jejuni 81-176 or chicken isolate C. jejuni AR101 and were weighed or sacrificed to enumerate cecal C. jejuni colonization levels. C. jejuni was culture in broth with various concentrations of DCA, CA, and taurocholic acid (TCA). DCA modulated microbiota were analysis by real time PCR at phylum level. Notably, C. jejuni 81-176 was readily colonized intestinal tract at 10 CFU/g cecal digesta at d16 and reached an almost plateau of 2.8x10 CFU/g cecal digesta at d21. Remarkably, DCA excluded C. jejuni cecal colonization at 100, 99.997, and 100% at 16, 21, and 28 days of age. DCA also improved chicken growth performance of body weight gain compared to infected control birds (1.45 vs. 1.29 kg/bird) at d28. Interestingly, DCA failed to inhibit C. jejuni 81-176 in vitro growth. Neither chicken ages of infection nor CA, LCA or UDCA altered C. jejuni AR101 chicken colonization level, while DCA reduced 91% of the bacterium in chickens at d28. Notably, DCA diet induced a distinct microbiota composition of phyla firmicutes (82.7.1 vs. 98.8%) and bacteroidetes (16.9 vs. 0.8%) compared to infected control birds. Importantly, DCA-Anaero attenuated 93% of C. jejuni colonization at d28 compared to control infected birds (1.79x10 vs. 2.52x10 CFU/bird). In conclusion, DCA shapes microbiota composition against C. jejuni colonization in chickens, suggesting a bidirectional interaction between microbiota and microbial metabolites. Simultaneously reconstituting both microbiota and microbial metabolites may render better therapeutic effect against enteritis or pathogen colonization.
Characterization of the antifungal activity of three rhizobacterial strains against Rhizoctonia solani

In this study, three rhizobacterial strains were characterized by their ability to inhibit Rhizoctonia solani and tested in chili (Capsicum annuum L.) seedlings. Strains A46 and P61 were identified as Pseudomonas tolaasii, and S108 as Rhanella aquatilis. In the dual culture tests, all the strains inhibited the radial growth of R. solani. None of the three strains produced chitinases or volatile compounds, but they were found to produce siderophores. However, this last characteristic was not responsible for the rhizobacterial inhibitory effect on the growth of R. solani, other bacterial metabolites were possibly involved. The bacterial filtrates added to the potato dextrose agar medium (PDA) in a 3:7 ratio had significant antifungal activity, being the filtrate from strain S108 the one that showed the highest effect, with 56% fungal inhibition. The co-culture of strain A46 with the phytopathogenic fungi in potato dextrose broth (PDB) increased the antifungal activity of the rhizobacterial filtrate. The application of the rhizobacterial strains to Serrano chili decreased the R. solani-related mortality rate in seedlings; particularly, S108 had the greatest effect, which was similar to the fungicide effect. This study showed that the S108 strain has potential as a biofungicide to control R. solani in chili seedlings.
Comparison of Fattening Performance and Carcass Traits Measurements of Akkaraman and Awassi Male Lambs

This research was carried out to compare fattening performance Akkaraman and Awassi sheep breeds. In this research, a total of 16 lambs were used, and each genotype group consisted of 8 male lambs about 3 months of age of which beginning live weight averaged 20 kg. They were fed up with ad libitum concentrated feed and given 150 g alfalfa to each animal for a fattening period of 70 days. Feed conversion ratios were found as follows; 4.93, 4.61 and total feed intakes were; 106.8 and 89.9 kg for Akkaraman and Awassi respectively. Daily live weight gains were 314 g. and 284 g respectively. Cutting weight, cold carcass weight and carcass yield of Akkaraman were found to be 43.28 kg, 21.35 kg and 49.29% respectively. They were found to be 39.66 kg, 18.90 kg and 47.62% for Awassi.
Factors affecting defaulting from services among people living with HIV at two treatment centers in Western province, Sri Lanka

Introduction: Failure to retention in care or lost to follow up (LFU) is a challenge in the lifelong HIV care continuum as it results in adverse clinical and preventive outcomes. This study explores social and clinical factors that contribute to loss to follow up among PLHIV. Objective: to describe factors affecting loss to follow up among PLHIV at two high-burden, treatment centers in the Western Province, Sri Lanka. Method: A comparative cross-sectional study was conducted in STD clinics Colombo and Ragama. LFU was defined as failure to attend a given appointment for three months. PLHIV who were registered from February 2016 to February 2019 and were LFU at least once were chosen as the study population. PLHIV who continuously retained in care, in the same time period, were chosen for comparison by systematic sampling. Socio demographic, clinical and LFU data were collected as secondary data, using a pre tested checklist and analyzed by SPSS. Results: Income levels, proportions of key populations and vulnerable populations, WHO stage and performance scale at registration were similar among both groups. Shorter distance to ART center, unknown serostatus of the regular partner, non-disclosure and absence of a treatment supporter were significantly associated with loss to follow up in this study population. Disclosure status and the presence of a treatment supporter was significantly associated with success of defaulter tracing. Conclusion: It is important to consider non-disclosure, absence of a treatment supporter and partner’s serostatus when addressing loss to follow up among PLHIV.
Coordinated changes in photosynthetic machinery performance and water relations of the xerophytic shrub Ziziphus lotus (L.) Lam. (Rhamnaceae) following soil drying

Aim of this study was to investigate the effect of water shortage in wild jujube plants, Ziziphus lotus (L.) Lam, and how it is related to its ecological success. All leaf anatomical traits were significantly affected following soil drying. Stressed plants displayed more negative stem water potential (ψw) and osmotic potential values of ca. -3.5 and -4.5 MPa, respectively, after 30 d. The relative water content declined although it still maintained high values (≥ 75%). The net photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, and transpiration rate were significantly inhibited as ψw decreased. However, the intrinsic water-use efficiency increased as water deficit was intensified; the difference became significant only after 30 d. As a consequence, the effective quantum yield of PSII photochemistry and the photochemical quenching coefficient significantly decreased although the maximal quantum yield of PSII photochemistry ratio remained statisticaly unchanged. Plants could maintain their water status sufficiently by increasing proline 1.7-fold and sucrose 1.8-fold in their leaves, respectively. The largest accumulation of both solutes may avoid photodamages at cellular level and play a critical role in maintaining osmotic adjustment.
Heme oxygenase-1 deficiency affects bone marrow niche and triggers premature exhaustion of hematopoietic stem cells

While intrinsic changes in aging hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) are well-characterized, it remains unclear how hematopoietic niche affects HSC aging. Here, we demonstrate that cells in the niche — endothelial cells (ECs) and CXCL12-abundant reticular cells (CARs) — highly express the heme-degrading enzyme, heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1), but then decrease its expression with age. RNA-sequencing shows that ECs and CARs from HO-1-deficient animals (HO-1-/-) produce less hematopoietic factors. Consequently, HSCs from young HO-1-/- animals lose quiescence and regenerative potential. Young HO-1-/- HSCs exhibit features of premature aging on the transcriptional and functional level. HO-1+/+ HSCs transplanted into HO-1-/- recipients exhaust their regenerative potential early and do not reconstitute secondary recipients. In turn, transplantation of HO-1-/- HSCs to the HO-1+/+ recipients recovers the regenerative potential of HO-1-/- HSCs and reverses their transcriptional alterations. Thus, HSC-extrinsic activity of HO-1 prevents HSCs from premature aging and may restore the function of aged HSCs.
The role of Astragalus membranaceus as immunomodulator in poultry

Astragalus membranaceus (AM) is a member of the family Leguminosae which has been widely used as immunomodulatory agent. Astragalus polysaccharides (APS) possess promising biological activities like immune enhancing, anti-oxidant, anti-viral, anti-microbial and anti-parasitic activities. Researchers have studied the immune enhancing activities of AM in birds and reported that APS and sulphated APS (4 or 8 mg/kg of body weight) showed immunomodulatory effects broiler chicks infected with lipopolysaccharide and modulated the resulting negative effects. AM powder supplementation in broiler feed at levels of 0, 100, 200 and 300 mg /kg diet increased the immune organs weight and IgG level and improved the liver and kidney functions and antioxidant status. Dietary APS (10 g/kg) promoted the growth rate and the histology of jejunum of offspring chickens. The addition of crude AM at 0.5% in laying hen feed for 21 days was able to improve the composition of faecal microorganisms. The following review describes the structure and chemical composition of AM and its immunomodulatory role in improving the health status of poultry and its mechanisms of action.
Caracterización morfológica cualitativa en campo de plantas de Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench cultivar ‘CIAP 132R-05’ regeneradas vía embriogénesis somática

The phenotypic stability of plants obtained under in vitro conditions is essential for the success of any plant regeneration protocol. The present work was carried out with the aim to characterize morphologically, through qualitative characters and in field conditions, plants of Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench cv. 'CIAP 132R-05' regenerated via somatic embryogenesis. Plants obtained from somatic embryos were compared with plants from botanical seed. A description was made at the phenological stages during the growth and development of the plants under field conditions. The qualitative morphological characters of the leaves, the stem and the panicle were evaluated in two progeny. During the cultivation periods there was homogeneity in the stages of development of both plants populations and in the morphological characters evaluated. The population of plants obtained from somatic embryos and evaluated under field conditions, during two generations, showed phenotypic stability in the qualitative morphological characters. Keywords: phenotypic stability, phenological stage, progenies, qualitative characters