Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Understanding conflicting cultural models of outdoor cats to overcome conservation impasse

Many conservation conflicts are scientifically complex yet are rooted in value conflicts, which result in an impasse. Additional biological information alone is insufficient to resolve this type of conflict. Conceptual models that articulate the material aspects of a system are increasingly used to identify areas where parties disagree. Yet, modeling processes typically follow the conveners’ rules for discussing and assessing the topic, which can exacerbate conflict. Researchers have identified a need for processes that require participants to reflect on the limits of their own philosophical assumptions and acknowledge other perspectives. Cultural models are a promising tool for this purpose because they include nonmaterial beliefs, morals, and values that guide people's understanding of how to interact with an issue, sometimes subconsciously. We explored how cultural models used with conceptual models can improve understanding of value conflicts and used outdoor cat management as a case study. We conducted interviews and focus group discussions with wildlife conservation and cat welfare professionals involved in outdoor cat policy discussions in Hawaii and Washington, D.C. From these conversations, we developed a conceptual model of the outdoor cat management system and cultural models that led stakeholders to weigh elements of the conceptual model differently. Although wildlife conservation professionals generally spoke about outdoor cats as invasive species, cat welfare professionals spoke about them as homeless pets. These conflicting conceptualizations of what an outdoor cat is may help explain the root of many long‐standing disagreements. Examining how and when stakeholders invoke different cultural models allowed us to identify management actions that work with, rather than challenge, those models. Dialogue that embraces conflicting cultural models can be difficult and uncomfortable, but has great potential to overcome conservation impasse and achieve lasting conservation results.
Capacidade antioxidante e composição química de grãos integrais de gergelim creme e preto

The objective of this work was to determine the chemical composition, to estimate the contents of phenolic compounds and phytate, and to evaluate the antioxidant capacity of whole grains of cream and black sesame (Sesamum indicum). Seed samples from both grain types were subjected to a heat treatment in an oven with forced air circulation at 150°C for 10 min, and milled to 20‑mesh particle size. Cream sesame showed higher content of lipids, carbohydrates, soluble dietary fiber, and calories, while black sesame had higher content of insoluble and total dietary fibers. Black sesame had total soluble phenolic content of 261.9±7.5 mg of gallic acid equivalent (GAE) per 100 g of flour, which was approximately two times higher than the value observed for cream sesame (147.5±31.7 mg per 100 g of GAE). Phytate content in cream sesame was two times lower than in black sesame (0.66±0.06 and 1.36±0.04 g per 100 g of phytic acid, respectively). Black sesame has the highest functional potential related to antioxidant activity. However, both sesame grains can be considered sources of natural antioxidant compounds.
Effect of lactation, pregnancy and somatotropin treatment on plasma IGF-1 concentrations, IGF-1 partition between binding protein groups and binding protein pattern in goats

To elucidate the role of IGF‐1 in the galactopoietic effect of somatotropin, the partition of plasma IGF‐1 between groups of binding proteins (BP) was studied in goats at different stages of pregnancy, lactation and somatotropin treatment. By size‐exclusion chromatography, total plasma IGF‐1 was divided into a 150 kDa class and a 35 kDa class. Lactation was associated with marked reduction in plasma concentrations of IGF‐1, specifically of the 150 kDa class. During lactation, BP3 concentrations were also low and BP3 circulated mainly in a “free”; or non‐complex bound form. Somatotropin treatment changed IGF‐1 concentration and distribution towards that seen in pregnancy. It is concluded that the change in distribution of IGF‐1 and its binding protein at the start of lactaion means increased turnover of IGF‐1 and probably increased availability of IGF‐1 to mammary cells and other target tissues. The observed changes may be important aspects of the homeorhetic adaptation to lactation.
Ground-Stone Tools and Hunter-Gatherer Subsistence in Southwest Asia: Implications for the Transition to Farming

Ground-stone tools and hunter-gatherer subsistence in late Pleistocene southwest Asia are examined in light of ethnographic and experimental data on processing methods essential for consumption of various plant foods. In general, grinding and pounding appear to be labor-intensive processing methods. In particular, the labor required to make wild cereals edible has been widely underestimated, and wild cereals were unlikely to have been “attractive” to foragers except under stress conditions. Levantine ground-stone tools were probably used for processing diverse plants. The earliest occurrence of deep mortars coincides with the glacial maximum, camp reoccupations, the onset of increasingly territorial foraging, and the earliest presently known significant samples of wild cereals. Two major episodes of intensification in plant-food processing can be identified in the Levant, coinciding respectively with the earliest evidence for sedentism (12,800-11,500 B.P.) and the transition to farming (11,500-9600 B.P.). The latter episode was characterized by rising frequencies of grinding tools relative to pounding tools, and suggests attempts to maximize nutritional returns of plants harvested from the limited territories characteristic of sedentary foraging and early farming. This episode was probably encouraged by the Younger Dryas, when density and storability of foods may have outweighed considerations of processing costs.
Skull variability of Martes martes and Martes foina from Poland

A morphological study of sex, age and population variation of Martes martes (Linnaeus, 1758) and Martes foina (Erxleben, 1777) was completed, using a collection of 236 and 47 skulls, respectively. Twenty-three measurements were take on each specimen. Three age groups (juveniles, subadults and adults) were recognized, based on relative criteria such as suture obliteration, tooth wear, and development of crista sagittalis. Univariate and multivariate technigues were used to process the data.
Propensity score-integrated composite likelihood approach for augmenting the control arm of a randomized controlled trial by incorporating real-world data

ABSTRACT In this paper, a propensity score-integrated composite likelihood (PSCL) approach is developed for cases in which the control arm of a two-arm randomized controlled trial (RCT) (treated vs control) is augmented with patients from real-world data (RWD) containing both clinical outcomes and covariates at the patient-level. RWD patients who were treated with the same therapy as the control arm of the RCT are considered for the augmentation. The PSCL approach first estimates the propensity score for every patient as the probability of the patient being in the RCT rather than the RWD, and then stratifies all patients into strata based on the estimated propensity scores. Within each propensity score stratum, a composite likelihood function is specified and utilized to down-weight the information contributed by the RWD source. Estimates of the stratum-specific parameters are obtained by maximizing the composite likelihood function. These stratum-specific estimates are then combined to obtain an overall population-level estimate of the parameter of interest. The performance of the proposed approach is evaluated via a simulation study. A hypothetical two-arm RCT and a hypothetical RWD source are used to illustrate the implementation of the proposed approach.
The Regulation of Homologous Recombination by Helicases

Homologous recombination is essential for DNA repair, replication and the exchange of genetic material between parental chromosomes during meiosis. The stages of recombination involve complex reorganization of DNA structures, and the successful completion of these steps is dependent on the activities of multiple helicase enzymes. Helicases of many different families coordinate the processing of broken DNA ends, and the subsequent formation and disassembly of the recombination intermediates that are necessary for template-based DNA repair. Loss of recombination-associated helicase activities can therefore lead to genomic instability, cell death and increased risk of tumor formation. The efficiency of recombination is also influenced by the ‘anti-recombinase’ effect of certain helicases, which can direct DNA breaks toward repair by other pathways. Other helicases regulate the crossover versus non-crossover outcomes of repair. The use of recombination is increased when replication forks and the transcription machinery collide, or encounter lesions in the DNA template. Successful completion of recombination in these situations is also regulated by helicases, allowing normal cell growth, and the maintenance of genomic integrity.
Radioiodine-induced salivary gland damage detected by ultrasonography in patients treated for papillary thyroid cancer: RAI activity and risk.

BACKGROUND An important side effect of radioactive iodine 131I (RAI) therapy in patients treated for papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) is chronic sialadenitis. Neck ultrasonography (US) easily recognizes radioiodine-induced salivary gland abnormalities. The objectives of this study were to determine the prevalence of US-detected sialadenitis caused by RAI and to identify the risk factors associated with this damage. METHODS This non-concurrent cohort study includes all PTC-operated patients who were treated with RAI between 2007 and 2017 and were systematically evaluated with preoperative and follow-up neck US that included targeted exploration of the major salivary glands. Patients with pre-existing salivary gland diseases were excluded. The anatomical damage (diminished glandular volume, wavy contours, hypoechogenicity and heterogeneity) was qualitatively assessed and compared with the preoperative study. RAI activity, sex, age, and preparation method were evaluated as risk factors using univariate and multivariate analyses with logistic regression. RESULTS Enrolled in this study were 570 patients who received a median RAI activity of 3700 MBq(100 mCi). On US, we found 143 patients (25.1%) with damage in at least one of their salivary glands: all had parotid damage (77 bilaterally) and 14 (9.8%) also had submandibular gland damage (7 of them bilaterally). The multivariate analysis indicated that the risk of sialadenitis was significantly (p<0.01) correlated with both RAI activity and sex (14.1% of males vs. 28.5% of females). However, the main risk factor was RAI activity; no injury was detected in 156 patients who received 1110 MBq(30 mCi) and 1850 MBq(50 mCi) of RAI. In the groups of patients receiving 3700 MBq(100 mCi), 5550 MBq(150 mCi) and ≥7400 MBq(≥200 mCi), atrophy was found in 21%, 46.9%, and 77.7% of patients, respectively. Age and preparation method were not related to an increased risk of atrophy in this study. CONCLUSION Chronic sialadenitis is common and affects approximately one fourth of patients who receive 3700 MBq(100 mCi) or higher RAI activity. The main risk factor for this injury is the total RAI activity administered. By using the lowest effective activity possible, irreversible anatomical damage in salivary glands can be minimized. US is an excellent tool to diagnose post-RAI atrophy.
Disruption of tight junctions contributes to hyposalivation of salivary glands in a mouse model of type 2 diabetes

Tight junction (TJ) plays an important role in regulating paracellular fluid transport in salivary glands; however, little is known about the involvement of TJs in diabetes salivary glands. This study aimed to investigate the alterations of TJs and their possible contribution in diabetes‐induced hyposalivation. Here, we observed that the morphologies of submandibular glands (SMGs) were impaired, characterized by enlarged acini accumulation with giant secretory granules, which were significantly reduced in atrophic ducts in SMGs of db/db mice, a spontaneous model of type‐2 diabetes. However, the secretory granules were increased and scattered in the acini of diabetes parotid glands (PGs). Other ultrastructural damages including swollen mitochondria, expansive endoplasmic reticulum, and autophagosomes were observed in the diabetes group. The levels of TJ proteins including claudin‐1 (Cldn1) and claudin‐3 (Cldn3) were increased, whereas those of claudin‐4 (Cldn4), occludin (Ocln), and zonula occludens‐1 (ZO‐1) were decreased in SMGs of db/db mice. Higher Cldn1 and Cldn3 and lower claudin‐10 (Cldn10) and Ocln levels were observed in PGs of diabetes mice. Taken together, the structures of SMGs and PGs were impaired in diabetes mice, and the disruption of TJ integrity in both SMGs and PGs may contribute to diabetes‐induced hyposalivation.
Prospects for Comprehensive Analyses of Circulating Tumor Cells in Tumor Biology

The comprehensive analysis of biological and clinical aspects of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) has attracted interest as a means of enabling non-invasive, real-time monitoring of cancer patients and enhancing our fundamental understanding of tumor metastasis. However, CTC populations are extremely small when compared to other cell populations in the blood, limiting our comprehension of CTC biology and their clinical utility. Recently developed proteomic and genomic techniques that require only a small amount of sample have attracted much interest and expanded the potential utility of CTCs. Cancer heterogeneity, including specific mutations, greatly impacts disease diagnosis and the choice of available therapeutic strategies. The CTC population consists primarily of cancer stem cells, and CTC subpopulations are thought to undergo epithelial–mesenchymal transition during dissemination. To better characterize tumor cell populations, we demonstrated that changes in genomic profiles identified via next-generation sequencing of liquid biopsy samples could be expanded upon to increase sensitivity without decreasing specificity by using a combination of assays with CTCs and circulating tumor DNA. To enhance our understanding of CTC biology, we developed a metabolome analysis method applicable to single CTCs. Here, we review―omics studies related to CTC analysis and discuss various clinical and biological issues related to CTCs.
Accounting for long-range correlations in genome-wide simulations of large cohorts

Coalescent simulations are widely used to examine the effects of evolution and demographic history on the genetic makeup of populations. Thanks to recent progress in algorithms and data structures, simulators such as the widely-used msprime now provide genome-wide simulations for millions of individuals. However, this software relies on classic coalescent theory and its assumptions that sample sizes are small and that the region being simulated is short. Here we show that coalescent simulations of long regions of the genome exhibit large biases in identity-by-descent (IBD), long-range linkage disequilibrium (LD), and ancestry patterns, particularly when the sample size is large. We present a Wright-Fisher extension to msprime, and show that it produces more realistic distributions of IBD, LD, and ancestry proportions, while also addressing more subtle biases of the coalescent. Further, these extensions are more computationally efficient than state-of-the-art coalescent simulations when simulating long regions, including whole-genome data. For shorter regions, efficiency can be maintained via a hybrid model which simulates the recent past under the Wright-Fisher model and uses coalescent simulations in the distant past.
Statement on methods in sport injury research from the 1st METHODS MATTER Meeting, Copenhagen, 2019

High quality sports injury research can facilitate sports injury prevention and treatment. There is scope to improve how our field applies best practice methods—methods matter (greatly! ). The 1st METHODS MATTER Meeting, held in January 2019 in Copenhagen, Denmark, was the forum for an international group of researchers with expertise in research methods to discuss sports injury methods. We discussed important epidemiological and statistical topics within the field of sports injury research. With this opinion document, we provide the main take-home messages that emerged from the meeting.
A gibberellin insensitive mutant of Arabidopsis thaliana

A dwarf mutant of Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh. was found to be less sensitive to applied gibberellins than the wild type, and this character was controlled by one partially-dominant gene (denoted Gai) located on chromosome 1. This mutant resembled gibberellin-deficient mutants since not only stem growth, but also apical dominanace and seed germination were reduced. However, in contrast to the latter mutants, gibberellin does not reverse these effects in the Gai mutant. The insensitivity of the mutant could be quantified in much more detail in the recombinant of this mutation with the GA deficient mutant ga-1/ga-1. Endogenous gibberellins of the Gai mutant did not differ from the wild type either in quantity or composition. The data suggest that the gene controls a step involved in gibberellin action.
Changes of Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. lactucae levels and soil microbial community during soil biosolarization using chitin as soil amendment

Regulatory pressure along with environmental and human health concerns drive the development of soil fumigation alternatives such as soil biosolarization (SBS). SBS involves tarping soil that is at field capacity with a transparent film following amendment with certain organic materials. Heating via the greenhouse effect results in an increase of the soil temperature. The organic amendments can promote microbial activity that can enhance pest inactivation by depleting oxygen, producing biopesticidal fermentation products, and competing with pests. The properties of the organic amendments can heavily influence the type and magnitude of these effects. This study evaluated the viability of chitin as a novel SBS soil amendment to influence soil fungal and bacterial microbial communities, including control of the plant pathogen Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. lactucae (FOL). Changes to FOL and the broader soil microbiota were monitored in response to biosolarization using 0.1% (by dry weight) amendment with chitin (Rootguard). FOL suppression was only observed in chitin amended soils that were incubated at room temperature, not under solarized conditions. Conversely, it decreased solarization efficacy in the upper (0–10 cm) soil layer. The presence of chitin also showed increase in FOL under anaerobic and fluctuating temperature regime conditions. Biosolarization with chitin amendment did exhibit an impact on the overall soil microbial community. The fungal genus Mortierella and the bacterial family Chitinophagaceae were consistently enriched in biosolarized soils with chitin amendment. This study showed low potential FOL suppression due chitin amendment at the studied levels. However, chitin amendment showed a higher impact on the fungal community than the bacterial community. The impact of these microbial changes on crop protection and yields need to be studied in the long-term.
Innovative Alternatives for Continuous In Vitro Culture of Babesia bigemina in Medium Free of Components of Animal Origin

In this study, we report Babesia bigemina proliferation in culture medium free of components of animal origin supplemented with a lipid mixture. Babesia bigemina continuously proliferated in VP-SFM with a higher percent parasitized erythrocyte as compare to using other animal component-free culture media. Compared with Advanced DMEM/F12 (ADMEM/F12), VP-SFM had a similar percent parasitized erythrocyte (PPE). Supplementation of VP-SF with a lipid acid mixture improved B. bigemina proliferation in vitro culture, with a maximum PPE of 11.3%. Growth of B. bigemina in a perfusion bioreactor using VP-SFM medium supplemented with lipid mixture resulted in a PPE above 28%. In conclusion, we demonstrated that B. bigemina proliferated in an animal component-free medium supplemented with the fatty acid mixture. This innovation to B. bigemina in vitro culture method presented herein is an important source of biological material for live vaccine production and understanding the mechanisms and molecules involved in parasite attachment and invasion of bovine erythrocytes.
Effect of smoking cessation on sexual functions in men aged 30 to 60 years

ABSTRACT Purpose We aimed to evaluate the effects of smoking cessation on the sexual functions in men aged 30 to 60 years. Materials and Methods Male patients aged 30 to 60 years that presented to the smoking cessation polyclinic between July 2017 and December 2018 were prospectively included in the study. The amount of exposure to tobacco was evaluated in pack-year. The patients filled the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) form before the cessation and six months after cessation of smoking. Patients were subgrouped according to age, education level and packs/year of smoking and this groups were compared in terms of IIEF total and all of the IIEF domains. Results The evaluations performed by grouping the patients according to age (30-39, 40-49 and 50-60 years) and education level (primary-middle school and high school-university) revealed that the total IIEF scores obtained after smoking cessation were significantly higher compared to the baseline scores in all groups (p=0.007 for the 30-39 years group and p <0.001 for the remaining groups). According to grouping by exposure to smoking (≤25, 26-50, 51-75, 76-100 and 101≥ packs/year), the total IIEF scores significantly increased after smoking cessation in all groups except 101≥ packs/year (p=0.051 for the 101≥ group and p <0.001 for the remaining groups). Conclusions Erectile function is directly proportional to the degree of exposure to smoking, and quitting smoking improves male sexual function in all age groups between 30-60 years of age regardless of pack-year and education level.
Stromal and thylakoid‐bound ascorbate peroxidases in NaCl‐treated wheat

Salinity is one of the most widespread causes of plant growth inhibition and reduction of agricultural productivity. Activated oxygen species seem to be implicated in the injury mechanism induced by salt. In our work, the effect of NaCl was studied in chloroplasts from seedlings of two cultivars of Triticum durum Desf. , differently sensitive to drought and to heavy metals (cv. Ofanto more tolerant than cv. Adamello). The seedlings were grown for 9 days in Hoagland's no. 2 solution, to which increasing concentrations of NaCl (0, 50 and 100 mM) were added. The results indicate an involvement of activated oxygen species in the mechanism of cellular toxicity of NaCl and the capability of the seedlings to induce their antioxidant defences. In chloroplasts of both cultivars, NaCl treatment induced a significant increase in ascorbate, even if cv. Ofanto showed the higher response. Ascorbate peroxidases appear to behave differently in the two cultivars in response to NaCl-induced oxidative stress of chloroplasts. In seedlings of Adamello treated with 50 mM NaCl, a sudden increase in thylakoid-bound ascorbate peroxidase (tAPX) activity and a decrease in that of stromal ascorbate peroxidase (sAPX) occurred. Differently, in Ofanto, a slight increase of both sAPX and tAPX was induced by NaCl. In both cultivars, three well-resolved bands of sAPX were found. In chloroplasts of both cultivars, monodehydroascorbate reductase (MDHAR) and dehydroascorbate reductase (DHAR) behaved similarly, even if in Adamello a greater decrease of DHAR was shown. The experimental evidence suggested a more marked effect of NaCl stress on Adamello as compared with Ofanto.