Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Comparison of Methods to Measure Methane for Use in Genetic Evaluation of Dairy Cattle

Simple Summary Methane is a greenhouse gas with a global warming potential 28 times that of CO2. Enteric methane accounts for 17% of global methane emissions and 3.3% of total global greenhouse gas emissions from human activities. There is, therefore, significant research interest in finding ways to reduce enteric methane emissions by ruminants. Partners in Expert Working Group 2 (WG2) of the European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST) Action METHAGENE have used several methods for measuring methane output by individual dairy cattle under various environmental conditions. Methods included respiration chambers, the sulphur hexafluoride (SF6) tracer technique, breath sampling during milking or feeding, the GreenFeed system, and the laser methane detector. Respiration chambers are considered the ‘gold standard’, but are unsuitable for large-scale measurements of methane emissions, which are needed for genetic evaluations. In this study, the suitability of methods for large-scale studies was reviewed and compared. All methods showed high correlations with respiration chambers, but comparisons among alternative methods generally had lower correlations. Results confirm, however, that there is sufficient correlation between methods for measurements from all methods to be combined, with appropriate weightings, for use in international genetic studies. This will pave the way for breeding cattle with lower methane emissions. Abstract Partners in Expert Working Group WG2 of the COST Action METHAGENE have used several methods for measuring methane output by individual dairy cattle under various environmental conditions. Methods included respiration chambers, the sulphur hexafluoride (SF6) tracer technique, breath sampling during milking or feeding, the GreenFeed system, and the laser methane detector. The aim of the current study was to review and compare the suitability of methods for large-scale measurements of methane output by individual animals, which may be combined with other databases for genetic evaluations. Accuracy, precision and correlation between methods were assessed. Accuracy and precision are important, but data from different sources can be weighted or adjusted when combined if they are suitably correlated with the ‘true’ value. All methods showed high correlations with respiration chambers. Comparisons among alternative methods generally had lower correlations than comparisons with respiration chambers, despite higher numbers of animals and in most cases simultaneous repeated measures per cow per method. Lower correlations could be due to increased variability and imprecision of alternative methods, or maybe different aspects of methane emission are captured using different methods. Results confirm that there is sufficient correlation between methods for measurements from all methods to be combined for international genetic studies and provide a much-needed framework for comparing genetic correlations between methods should these become available.
Targeting strategies in therapeutic applications of Toxoplasmosis; Recent advances in liposomal vaccine delivery systems.

Toxoplasma gondii is a prevalent parasitic pathogen that infected over one-third of the global population. Toxoplasmosis is diagnosed by isolating the parasite and detecting host antibodies. In contrast, the main problem with diagnosis relates to the sensitivity and specificity of the tests. Currently, treatment with pyrimethamine and sulfadiazine is recommended, despite their side effects and toxicity to humans. Moreover, the absence of a vaccine to completely protect against this infection is the main obstacle to the effective treatment and prevention of toxoplasmosis. Recently, nanoparticles and nanomaterials have been studied as delivery systems for the immunization and treatment of T. gondii infections. One of the most important applications of liposomes is drug and vaccine delivery, due to their biodegradability, low inherent toxicity, and immunogenicity. Liposomes are flexible delivery systems and immunological adjuvants able not only to load diverse antigens, such as proteins, peptides, nucleic acids, and carbohydrates but also to combine them with immunostimulators. Liposomes have incredible potential within the development of modern types of vaccines and numerous endeavors have been made to improve the effectiveness of vaccines in recent years. In this review, we concentrate on the viable targeting strategies of liposome-based vaccine delivery systems to prevent, control and treat toxoplasmosis.
Education as a moderator of the relationship between episodic memory and amyloid load in normal aging.

The current study explored whether education, a proxy of cognitive reserve, modifies the association between episodic memory performance and βeta-amyloid load (Aβ), a biomarker of Alzheimer's disease, in a cohort of cognitively normal elderly adults. One hundred and four participants (mean age 73.3 years) evenly spread out in three bands of education were recruited. Participants underwent neuropsychological assessment, structural MRI as well as PET imaging to quantify Aβ load. Moderation analyses and the Johnson-Neyman technique were carried out to examine the interaction of education with Aβ load to predict episodic memory performance. Linear regressions were then performed within each group of education to better illustrate the interaction effect (all analyses were controlled for age and sex). The interaction between education and Aβ load was significant (p<0.05) for years of education, reaching a cut-off point of 13.5 years, above which the relationship between Aβ load and episodic memory was no longer significant. Similarly, significant associations were found between Aβ and episodic memory among participants with secondary (p<0.01) and pre-university education (p<0.01), but not with a university degree (p=0.253). Episodic memory performance is associated with Aβ load in cognitively normal elderly individuals, and this relationship is moderated by educational attainment.
Electronic device use and beverage related sugar and caffeine intake in US adolescents

Background Despite recent declines in consumption of sugary beverages, energy drinks (ED) and sodas continue to contribute a substantial amount of sugar and caffeine to the diet of youth. Consumption of these beverages has been linked with electronic device use, however in-depth associations between sugar and caffeine intake from energy drinks and sodas with various electronic devices are not clear. Objective Describe the relationship of soda and energy drink consumption and associated added sugar and caffeine intake with electronic device use among adolescents. Methods Secondary data from the 2013–2016 cycles of Monitoring the Future Survey, a national, repeated, cross-sectional study, were analyzed. Information on energy drink and soda consumption by students in grades 8 and 10 (n = 32,418) from 252–263 schools randomly sampled from all US states was used. Results Soda and energy drink consumption decreased each year from 2013–2016 while daily use of electronic devices remained stable. An additional hour/day of TV was linked to a 6.92g (6.31,7.48; p<0.001) increase in sugar intake and a 32% (OR = 1.32; 1.29,1.35; p < .001) higher risk of exceeding World Health Organization (WHO) recommended sugar intakes. Further, each hour/day of TV was linked to a 28% increased risk of exceeding caffeine recommendations (OR = 1.25–1.31; p<0.001). Each hour per day talking on a cellphone was associated with an increased risk of exceeding WHO sugar and caffeine intakes by 14% (OR = 1.11–1.16; p<0.001) and 18% (OR = 1.15–1.21; p<0.001) respectively. Video game use was only weakly linked to caffeine intake. Computer use for school was associated with lower likelihood of exceeding sugar intake cut-offs. Conclusion While a trend towards reduced energy drink and soda intake from 2013–2016 was evident, greater electronic device use, especially TV time, was linked to higher intake of beverage-derived added sugar and caffeine amongst adolescents. Addressing these behaviours through counselling or health promotion could potentially help to reduce excess sugar and caffeine intake from sodas and energy drinks among this population.
Angiogenesis in Breast Cancer: Molecular Markers, Therapeutic Targets, Antiangiogenic Therapy & Inhibitors

Mechanism of angiogenesis and its management in breast cancer disease has been discussed in this chapter. This review specifically describes on the targetted molecular markers for development of antiangiogenic therapy like anti VEGF therapy and suitable agents that target the receptors of VEGF like VEGFR. These are essentially tyrosine kinase inhibitors which block downstream signaling pathways instead of binding to VEGF directly. Block of VEGF production in clinical development that target the EGFR include agents like cetuximab, gefitinib and erlotinib. Other drugs which may be of interest including cyclooxygenase 2 inhibitors and MMP inhibitors find clinical application as angiogenic inhibitors. Tumor associates macrophage which acts as conductor of angiogenesis and notch signaling getting involved in cell proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis are also a target of therapy. Combination of antiangiogenic drugs with one another and with other biological agent is also being explored to improve efficacy and to overcome the drug resistance.
Circulating and dietary advanced glycation end products and obesity in an adult population: A paradox of their detrimental effects in obesity

Background The detrimental role of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) against cardio-metabolic health has been revealed in several previous reports. However, the results of studies regarding the association between AGEs and obesity measurements are inconsistent. In the current meta-analysis, we aimed to quantitatively summarize the results of studies that evaluated the association between circulating and dietary AGEs with obesity measurements among the adult population. Methods A systematic search from PubMed, Embase, and Scopus electronic databases until 30 October 2022 retrieved a total of 21,429 observational studies. After duplicate removal, title/abstract screening, and full-text reading by two independent researchers, a final number of 18 manuscripts remained to be included in the meta-analysis. Results Those in the highest category of circulating AGEs had ~1.5 kg/m2 reduced BMI compared with those in the lowest AGEs category [weighted mean difference (WMD): −1.485; CI: −2.459, −0.511; p = 0.003], while a nonsignificant increase in BMI was observed in the highest versus lowest category of dietary AGEs (WMD: 0.864, CI: −0.365, 2.094; p = 0.186). Also, lower amounts of circulating AGEs in individuals with obesity versus individuals without obesity were observed (WMD: −57.220, CI: −84.290, −30.149; p < 0.001). AGE type can be considered as a possible source of heterogeneity. Conclusion In the current meta-analysis, we observed an inverse association between circulating AGEs and body mass index among adults. Due to low study numbers, further studies are warranted to better elucidate these results.
Hand-eye coordination, movement reaction time and hand tactile sensitivity depending on the practiced sports discipline.

BACKGROUND Practicing competitive sports, particularly those disciplines in which the upper limbs are involved in the movement, develops physical fitness and its special feature, namely the handeye coordination. Some sport disciplines require manipulation of an object. Using a sport equipment every day, several times, during training and matches must affect the characteristics of the skin of the palmar side of the hand. It may be presumed to affect the tactile sensitivity of the skin.The aim of the study was to determine the relationship between handeye coordination and tactile sensitivity in basketball, volleyball, handball, football and combat sports players as compared to those who do not practice competitive sports. METHODS 121 men were subject to tests. The tactile sensitivity threshold was determined at three points of the palmar side of the hand using The TouchTestTM Sensory Evaluators esthesiometer. The second test involved handeye coordination of the upper limbs and it was carried out using crosstype machine. RESULTS The greatest tactile sensitivity was shown in combat sports players. These players also demonstrated the shortest reaction time and the lowest number of errors in the motorcoordination test. The correlation between tactile sensitivity and coordination was found to be the strongest in subjects not practicing sports. CONCLUSIONS The most interesting finding is that in the group of athletes using hands (team sports games and combat sports) the correlation between movement coordination and tactile sensitivity is weaker.
Genome-Wide Association Analysis of Plant Height Using the Maize F1 Population

Drastic changes in plant height (PH) are observed when maize adapt to a higher plant density. Most importantly, PH is an important factor affecting maize yield. Although the genetic basis of PH has been extensively studied using different populations during the past decades, genetic basis remains unclear in the F1 population, which was a widely used population in production. In this study, a genome-wide association study (GWAS) was conducted using an F1 population consisting of 300 maize hybrids with 17,652 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) makers to identify candidate genes for controlling PH. A total of nine significant SNPs makers and two candidate genes were identified for PH. The candidate genes, Zm00001d018617 and Zm00001d023659, were the genes most probable to be involved in the development of PH. Our results provide new insights into the genetic basis of PH in maize.
Strengthening the Evidence for Cardiac Rehabilitation Benefits.

In 1982, Medicare policies provided for coverage of cardiac rehabilitation (CR) for patients recovering from myocardial infarction or coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) or for those with stable angina.1 This coverage decision was based primarily on evidence that CR provided safe and effective improvements in functional capacity and quality of life in these patients. Little by little, new published studies added additional weight to evidence for CR benefits in patients recovering from myocardial infarction, percutaneous coronary intervention, and CABG, including evidence of significant improvements in cardiovascular risk-factor control2 and medication adherence,3 hospital readmission,4 and mortality5 rates.
Dairy Production under Climatic Risks: Perception, Perceived Impacts and Adaptations in Punjab, Pakistan

The changing climatic conditions coupled with fodder availability have posed severe challenges and threats for the dairy sector in Pakistan. The current paper determines the influence of climate change on the dairy sector in Pakistan. Comprehensive data set was collected from 450 farmers. The majority of farmers experienced the climate change and its variability and explained that severity and frequency of climatic extreme events such as droughts, heat waves, floods, pests and diseases and humidity is increasing. The study found that farmers considered drought as one of the major climatic risks which severely affects all aspects of dairy production. Specifically, to estimate the perceived impacts of climatic extreme event on milk production, an ordered probit model was applied and identified that climate change had high adverse impact on milk quantity in the study area. Different adaptation practices, such as changing cropping pattern for fodder production, off-farm income activities, diversifying the farm and regular vaccination are mostly used by dairy farmers. The study recommends policy initiatives to be taken by government for long term developments in the dairy farming.
Adipose stem cells in reparative goat mastitis mammary gland

Mesenchymal stem cells have been widely used in the treatment of various chronic diseases. The objective of this survey was to evaluate the therapeutic and regenerative potential of stem cells from adipose tissue (ASCs) in the milk production recovery repair of tissue injury in mastitis goats treated with antimicrobial agents prior to cell therapy. After the diagnosis of mastitis and treatment with gentamicin, eight lactating goats were selected for cellular and subsequent therapy, physical-chemical analysis of milk, ultrasonographic and histopathological examinations. The ASCs were taken from the subcutaneous fat of a young goat cultivated in vitro, marked with Qdots-655 and injected in the left mammary gland, being the right mammary gland used as the control. After 30 days the ultrasonographic and histopathological analyzes were repeated and, in the first lactation period, the physical-chemical analysis of the milk was reapeated. Before the cellular therapy, the physical-chemical quality of the milk was compromised and the ultrasonographic and histopathological analysis revealed a chronic inflammatory process and fibrous tissue. The marking of the ASCs with Qdots enabled the tracking, by fluorescence microscopy (BX41-OLYMPUS), in the mammary tissue. In the ASCs therapy, cultures showed high cellularity and characteristics favorable to preclinical studies; with the therapy the physical-chemical parameters of the milk, fat, protein, temperature and pH showed significant differences among the groups; five animals treated with ASCs reconstituted the functionality of the gland and the connective tissue reduced in quantity and inflammatory infiltrate cells. ASCs have potential for the possible regeneration of fibrous mastitis lesions in the mammary gland, however, it would be necessary to increase injection time for the histopathological analysis, since the reconstitution of the glandular acini within the assessed period was not finalized. ASCs can be used to reestablish milk production in goat with chronic mastitis repair mammary lesions, with potential to be a promising clinical alternative for animal rehabilitation for productivity.
The Impact of Medical Scribes on Patient Satisfaction in an Academic Otolaryngology Clinic

Objectives: Evidence shows that scribes can improve provider efficiency and satisfaction in several settings, but is mixed on whether scribes improve patient satisfaction. We studied whether scribes improved patient satisfaction in an academic otolaryngology clinic. Methods: The authors performed a retrospective review of patient responses to the Press Ganey survey between 12/2016 and 12/2017. Their responses about satisfaction with the provider and wait times were examined. Three providers worked with scribes during this year; each spent six months with a scribe and six without. The authors compared survey responses from periods with and without scribes using the Fischer exact test. Average overall provider ratings were compared using the Student’s t-test. Results: A total of 87 patients filled out Press Ganey surveys for the 3 providers over the year: 54 for visits without scribes, and 33 for visits with scribes. Fischer exact analysis demonstrated no significant difference in satisfaction with providers and wait times for both individual providers and all providers combined (all P > .05). There was also no difference in patients’ likelihood of recommending the provider’s office (P = .91). Overall provider rating (0-10 scale) was high without scribes (9.48 ± 1.06) and was unchanged by the presence of scribes (9.53 ± 0.8) (P = .97). Conclusion: Patient satisfaction with wait times and providers was high overall and was not affected by the presence of a medical scribe.
Synthesis and Thermophysical Characterization of Fatty Amides for Thermal Energy Storage

Nine monoamides were synthesized from carboxylic acids (C8–C18) and crude glycerol. The final monoamides were the result of a rearrangement of the acyl chain during the final hydrogenation process. The purity of the final compounds was determined by spectroscopic and mass spectrometry (MS) techniques. The thermophysical properties of solid monoamides were investigated to determine their capability to act as phase change materials (PCM) in thermal energy storage. Thermophysical properties were determined with a differential scanning calorimeter (DSC). The melting temperatures of the analyzed material ranged from 62.2 °C to 116.4 °C. The analyzed enthalpy of these monoamides ranged from 25.8 kJ/kg to 149.7 kJ/kg. Enthalpy values are analyzed considering the carbon chain and the formation of hydrogen bonds.
Analysis of competing endogenous RNA network identifies a poorly differentiated cancer‐specific RNA signature for hepatocellular carcinoma

Plenty of evidence has suggested that long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) play a vital role in competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) networks. Poorly differentiated hepatocellular carcinoma (PDHCC) is a malignant phenotype. This paper aimed to explore the effect and the underlying regulatory mechanism of lncRNAs on PDHCC as a kind of ceRNA. Additionally, prognosis prediction was assessed. A total of 943 messenger RNAs (mRNAs), 86 miRNAs, and 468 lncRNAs that were differentially expressed between 137 PDHCCs and 235 well‐differentiated HCCs were identified. Thereafter, a ceRNA network related to the dysregulated lncRNAs was established according to bioinformatic analysis and included 29 lncRNAs, 9 miRNAs, and 96 mRNAs. RNA‐related overall survival (OS) curves were determined using the Kaplan‐Meier method. The lncRNA ARHGEF7‐AS2 was markedly correlated with OS in HCC (P = .041). Moreover, Cox regression analysis revealed that patients with low ARHGEF7‐AS2 expression were associated with notably shorter survival time (P = .038). In addition, the area under the curve values of the lncRNA signature for 1‐, 3‐, and 5‐year survival were 0.806, 0.741, and 0.701, respectively. Furthermore, a lncRNA nomogram was established, and the C‐index of the internal validation was 0.717. In vitro experiments were performed to demonstrate that silencing ARHGEF7‐AS2 expression significantly promoted HCC cell proliferation and migration. Taken together, our findings shed more light on the ceRNA network related to lncRNAs in PDHCC, and ARHGEF7‐AS2 may be used as an independent biomarker to predict the prognosis of HCC.
MOLECULAR DOCKING STUDIES ON EGF – 5 FLUOROURACIL

Cancer can be described as the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells. 5 Fluorouracil is an anticancer drug which has it effects on colon cancer, brain tumor, breast cancer, head & neck cancer. The aim of the present study was to find the targeting efficiency of the drug by molecular docking. The Protein- Ligand interaction plays a significant role in structural based drug designing. The drug, EGF and conjugation of drug and EGF were subjected to docking studies using the Argus Lab docking software to obtain the binding energy levels of each. The Drug with Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF) has higher binding energy of -107.649 with the responsible amino acids Cys6, gly12, Asp11, gly18, His13 when compared with the plain drug and plain EGF. Key words: EGF, Cancer, Brain Tumor, Binding energy