Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of dietary supplementation of chitosan on immune function in growing Huoyan geese

This present experiment was performed to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation of chitosan (CS) on immune function in growing Huoyan geese. A total of 320 28-day-old healthy growing Huoyan geese (sex balance) with similar body weight were randomly allotted into control, CS100, CS200, and CS400 groups. Each group includes 4 replicates with 20 geese per replicate, and the feeding trial lasted for 4 wk. The 4 diets contained 0, 100, 200, and 400 mg CS per kg feed, respectively. The results showed that compared with the control group, the relative weight of thymus, serum concentrations of IGF-I, INS, GH, T3, T4, IgM, IgG, IgA, complement C3, and IL-2 in CS200 group were significantly higher at both 42 and 56 D of age, respectively (P < 0.05). In addition, relative weight of bursa of fabricius (BF), spleen, serum complement C4, and TNF-a concentrations in CS200 group were higher at 56 D of age (P < 0.05), no differences were observed at 42 D of age (P > 0.05). These results indicated that addition of 200 mg/kg CS enhanced immune organs weight, serum concentrations of immunoglobulins, complements, hormone, as well as cytokines, and improved immune function of growing Huoyan geese.
Congenital Syphilis Misdiagnosed as Suspected Nonaccidental Trauma

CS presented as a long bone fracture. Current prenatal screening guidelines are reviewed with arguments to consider their re-evaluation given rising rates of syphilis. Congenital syphilis (CS) is a preventable infection, yet the incidence has surged to the highest rates in 20 years. Because 50% of live-born infants with CS are asymptomatic at birth, there is an increasing likelihood that pediatric providers will encounter older infants whose diagnoses were missed at birth, emphasizing the importance of timely prenatal screening and treatment. We present one such case of an infant admitted twice at 3 and 4 months of age with long bone fractures and suspected nonaccidental trauma. On her second presentation, several additional symptoms prompted evaluation for and eventual diagnosis of CS. In this case, it is demonstrated that an isolated long bone fracture can be a first presentation of CS, with other classic findings possibly appearing later. Pediatric providers should be familiar with the varied presentations of CS in older children, including the radiographic findings that we describe. The rising rates of CS reveal deficiencies in our current strategy to prevent CS and, thus, we recommend reconsideration of universal syphilis screening in the third trimester and at delivery, with timely treatment to prevent CS during pregnancy.
Urban wild meat consumption and trade in central Amazonia

The switch from hunting wild meat for home consumption to supplying more lucrative city markets in Amazonia can adversely affect some game species. Despite this, information on the amounts of wild meat eaten in Amazonian cities is still limited. We estimated wild meat consumption rates in 5 cities in the State of Amazonas in Brazil through 1046 door‐to‐door household interviews conducted from 2004 to 2012. With these data, we modeled the relationship between wild meat use and a selection of socioeconomic indices. We then scaled up our model to determine the amounts of wild meat likely to be consumed annually in the 62 urban centers in central Amazonia. A total of 80.3% of all interviewees reported consuming wild meat during an average of 29.3 (CI 11.6) days per year. Most wild meat was reported as bought in local markets (80.1%) or hunted by a family member (14.9%). Twenty‐one taxa were cited as consumed, mostly mammals (71.6%), followed by reptiles (23.2%) and then birds (5.2%). The declared frequency of wild meat consumption was positively correlated with the proportion of rural population as well as with the per capita gross domestic product of the municipality (administrative divisions) where the cities were seated. We estimated that as much as 10,691 t of wild meat might be consumed annually in the 62 urban centers within central Amazonia, the equivalent of 6.49 kg per person per year. In monetary terms, this amounts to US$21.72 per person per year or US$35.1 million overall, the latter figure is comparable to fish and timber production in the region. Given this magnitude of wild meat trade in central Amazonia, it is fundamental to integrate this activity into the formal economy and actively develop policies that allow the trade of more resilient taxa and restrict trade in species sensitive to hunting.
Viral miRNA adaptor differentially recruits miRNAs to target mRNAs through alternative base-pairing

HSUR2 is a viral non-coding RNA (ncRNA) that functions as a microRNA (miRNA) adaptor. HSUR2 inhibits apoptosis in infected cells by recruiting host miRNAs miR-142–3p and miR-16 to mRNAs encoding apoptotic factors. HSUR2’s target recognition mechanism is not understood. It is also unknown why HSUR2 utilizes miR-16 to downregulate only a subset of transcripts. We developed a general method for individual-nucleotide resolution RNA-RNA interaction identification by crosslinking and capture (iRICC) to identify sequences mediating interactions between HSUR2 and target mRNAs in vivo. Mutational analyses confirmed identified HSUR2-mRNA interactions and validated iRICC as a method that confidently determines sequences mediating RNA-RNA interactions in vivo. We show that HSUR2 does not display a ‘seed’ region to base-pair with most target mRNAs, but instead uses different regions to interact with different transcripts. We further demonstrate that this versatile mode of interaction via variable base-pairing provides HSUR2 with a mechanism for differential miRNA recruitment.
A Web-Based Study of HIV Prevention in the Era of Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis Among Vulnerable HIV-Negative Gay and Bisexual Men, Transmen, and Transwomen Who Have Sex With Men: Protocol for an Observational Cohort Study

Background Gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men continue to bear a large burden of the HIV epidemic in the United States and are among the only populations with increasing incidence in recent years. Objective The Together 5000 (T5K) Study aimed to enroll a US-based, racially diverse sample of HIV-negative men, transmen, and transwomen who are not on pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) into an observational cohort to inform the design, implementation, scale-up, and evaluation of HIV prevention programs. Methods We used internet-based strategies to enroll a large, racially diverse national sample of HIV-negative men, transmen, and transwomen aged 16 to 49 years at high risk of HIV acquisition via sexual networking apps. Study participants are contacted every 6 months (in between annual surveys) for a brief survey on HIV testing, HIV diagnosis, and PrEP use (ie, attempts to access, PrEP initiation, and PrEP discontinuation). Participants complete annual self-administered at-home HIV testing and Web-based surveys. Using baseline serologic data and self-reported HIV testing history, we reconstructed a cohort of persons who were HIV negative at 12 months before baseline to estimate HIV incidence leading up to cohort enrollment. Results The study sample included 8777 participants from all 50 US states, Puerto Rico, and Guam; 50.91% (4468/8777) were persons of color and 25.30% (2221/8777) were young individuals aged 16 to 24 years. Per eligibility criteria, all T5K participants reported having sex with >2 male partners in the 90 days before enrollment, self-reported not having been diagnosed with HIV, and were not actively taking PrEP. In addition, 79.39% (6968/8777) reported >2 insertive condomless anal sex (CAS) acts, 61.02% (5356/8777) reported >1 receptive CAS acts in the past 90 days. Furthermore, most (7525/8777, 85.74%) reported never having taken PrEP. In total, 70.25% (6166/8777) were sent a self-administered at-home HIV test kit and 82.29% (5074/6166) of those sent a kit returned a sample for testing. The HIV incidence rate during the 12-month period leading up to enrollment was estimated to be 2.41 (95% CI 2.02-2.90) per 100 person-years. Conclusions A large, national, and racially diverse fully Web-based cohort of HIV-negative men, transmen, and transwomen at high risk for HIV seroconversion has successfully been recruited into longitudinal follow-up. This cohort is at high risk for HIV acquisition and can provide important insights related to the real-world uptake, impact, and equity of HIV prevention interventions in the United States. Participants can be invited to participate in trials aimed at testing strategies to improve the uptake of and engagement in these interventions. International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID) RR1-10.2196/13715
The emerging value of serum D-dimer measurement in the work-up and management of ischemic stroke

Background Elevated D-dimer levels are a marker of both thrombin formation and fibrinolysis. Currently D-dimer measurement is routinely used for ruling out venous thromboembolism and diagnosis/monitoring of disseminated intravascular coagulation. Recent emerging data suggest that D-dimer may become an important biomarker in ischemic stroke as well as in cardiovascular diseases. Aims To outline the clinical utility of D-dimer in work-up and management of ischemic stroke. Summary D-dimer measurement is most useful in stroke with active cancer as it can confirm etiologic diagnosis, predict recurrent stroke risk, and aid treatment decision in cancer-associated stroke. In cryptogenic stroke, high D-dimer levels can also provide clues for the cause of stroke as occult cancer and undetected cardiac embolic source as occult atrial fibrillation and may be helpful in treatment decision making of secondary stroke prevention. Serial D-dimer measurements should be further studied to monitor antithrombotic therapy effectiveness in both cardiogenic and cryptogenic etiologies. Conclusion Accumulating data suggests the utility of D-dimer test in the management of ischemic stroke, although the evidence is still limited. Future studies would clarify the role of D-dimer measurement in ischemic stroke.
Bacillus velezensis UTB96 Is an Antifungal Soil Isolate with a Reduced Genome Size Compared to That of Bacillus velezensis FZB42

Bacillus velezensis UTB96 was isolated from soil based on its antifungal activity. Whole-genome sequencing of strain UTB96 provided further information about its secondary metabolite gene clusters. Compared to the well-known strain FZB42, UTB96 lacks an IS3 element and a type I restriction endonuclease. ABSTRACT Bacillus velezensis UTB96 was isolated from soil based on its antifungal activity. Whole-genome sequencing of strain UTB96 provided further information about its secondary metabolite gene clusters. Compared to the well-known strain FZB42, UTB96 lacks an IS3 element and a type I restriction endonuclease.
How to identify sex chromosomes and their turnover

Although sex is a fundamental component of eukaryotic reproduction, the genetic systems that control sex determination are highly variable. In many organisms the presence of sex chromosomes is associated with female or male development. Although certain groups possess stable and conserved sex chromosomes, others exhibit rapid sex chromosome evolution, including transitions between male and female heterogamety, and turnover in the chromosome pair recruited to determine sex. These turnover events have important consequences for multiple facets of evolution, as sex chromosomes are predicted to play a central role in adaptation, sexual dimorphism, and speciation. However, our understanding of the processes driving the formation and turnover of sex chromosome systems is limited, in part because we lack a complete understanding of interspecific variation in the mechanisms by which sex is determined. New bioinformatic methods are making it possible to identify and characterize sex chromosomes in a diverse array of non‐model species, rapidly filling in the numerous gaps in our knowledge of sex chromosome systems across the tree of life. In turn, this growing data set is facilitating and fueling efforts to address many of the unanswered questions in sex chromosome evolution. Here, we synthesize the available bioinformatic approaches to produce a guide for characterizing sex chromosome system and identity simultaneously across clades of organisms. Furthermore, we survey our current understanding of the processes driving sex chromosome turnover, and highlight important avenues for future research.
Tuberculosis drug discovery in the CRISPR era

Stewart Cole and colleagues determined the complete genome sequence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), the etiological agent of tuberculosis (TB), in 1998 [1]. This was a landmark achievement that heralded a new age in TB drug discovery. With the genome sequence in hand, drug discoverers suddenly had thousands of new potential targets to explore. But the excitement has since faded [2]. It is unquestioned that genomics has transformed our understanding of the biology of this pathogen. However, the expectation that the Mtb genome sequence would rapidly lead to new therapeutic interventions remains unfulfilled [3]. One of the (many) reasons for this unrealized potential is that our tools to systematically interrogate the Mtb genome and its drug targets—so-called functional genomics—have been limited. In this Pearl, I argue that the recent development of robust CRISPR-based genetics in Mtb [4] overcomes many prior limitations and holds the potential to close the gap between genomics and TB drug discovery.
Consequences of Chronic Sleep Restriction on Energy Balance in Healthy Adults

Habitual short sleep duration is consistently associated with weight gain and increased risk for obesity. The objective of this dissertation was to elucidate how chronic sleep restriction impacts components of energy balance, namely, weight gain, energy intake, and energy expenditure. Healthy adults (21-50 y) participated in controlled isolated laboratory protocols for 14-18 days and were randomized to either an experimental condition (baseline sleep followed by sleep restriction [5 consecutive nights of 4 hours time-in-bed [TIB] per night] and recovery sleep) or control condition (no sleep restriction: 10 hours TIB per night for all nights). Sleep-restricted subjects exhibited significant weight gain, increased caloric intake, greater consumption of fat, delayed meal timing and decreased resting metabolic rate (the largest component of energy expenditure) during sleep restriction but these changes returned to baseline levels after one night of recovery sleep (12 hours TIB). Control subjects did not exhibit a significant change in weight, caloric intake or resting metabolic rate across corresponding protocol days. Notably, there were significant gender and race differences in the energy balance response to sleep restriction. Men gained more weight, increased caloric intake to a greater degree during sleep restriction and consumed a larger percentage of calories during late-night hours than women. Relative to Caucasians, African Americans consumed a comparable amount of calories during baseline and sleep restriction but exhibited marked energy expenditure deficits after baseline sleep, sleep restriction and recovery sleep, and gained more weight during the study. In the largest, most diverse healthy sample of adults studied to date under controlled laboratory conditions, sleep restriction promoted weight gain and positive energy balance. Collectively, these results highlight the importance of obtaining sufficient sleep for regulating energy balance and maintaining a healthy weight, particularly in men and African Americans. Degree Type Dissertation Degree Name Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Graduate Group Psychology First Advisor David F. Dinges
Empty Sella Is a Sign of Symptomatic Lateral Sinus Stenosis and Not Intracranial Hypertension

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Empty sella has been reported in patients with idiopathic intracranial hypertension and is thought to be a sign of elevation of intracranial pressure. However, it can also be found in patients with lateral sinus stenosis presenting with isolated pulsatile tinnitus without signs of intracranial hypertension. We hypothesized that the volume of the sella turcica would be similar in both groups of patients undergoing stent placement for lateral sinus stenosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Consecutive patients with idiopathic intracranial hypertension or isolated venous pulsatile tinnitus and undergoing lateral sinus stent placement from January 2012 to December 2017 were included. The primary outcome was the estimated volume of the sella turcica based on preoperative CTA measurements. The ratio of the pituitary gland height/sellar height was calculated on preoperative MR imaging. Sellar volumes were compared among the 3 groups: pulsatile tinnitus, idiopathic intracranial hypertension, and a control group, matched by age and sex. RESULTS: Eighty-eight patients underwent lateral sinus stent placement. The median age was 37 years, and 94% were women. No difference in age, sex, or body mass index was found among the groups. Patients undergoing venous stent placement had significantly higher sellar volumes than the control group (P < 0.001). There was no difference in the sellar volumes (P = .63) or gland/sellar height ratios (P = .25) between the pulsatile tinnitus and idiopathic intracranial hypertension groups. CONCLUSIONS: Empty sella is found in 2 differing groups of patients undergoing lateral sinus stent placement, suggesting that it is a radiologic sign of symptomatic hemodynamic lateral sinus stenosis rather than elevated intracranial pressure.
Linear and Nonlinear Associations between Sleep and Adjustment in Adolescence

ABSTRACT Background & Objectives A growing body of work supports linear associations between sleep and socioemotional adjustment in adolescence. However, associations between sleep and adjustment are not necessarily linear and investigations of nonlinear effects are scarce. This study examined linear and nonlinear relations between several sleep-wake parameters and externalizing behavior and internalizing symptoms in adolescence, and assessed the role of adolescent sex as a moderator of effects. Participants Participants were high school students (N = 180; M age = 17.49, SD = .62; 59% female; 68% White/European American, 32% Black/African American) from a wide range of socio-economic backgrounds living in semirural communities and small towns in Alabama. Methods Sleep-wake parameters were indexed by actigraphy-derived sleep minutes and adolescents’ reports on morningness-eveningness (circadian preference), sleep-wake problems (sleep quality), and sleepiness. Adolescents completed questionnaires on externalizing behaviors and internalizing symptoms. Results Controlling for sleep duration, a higher preference for eveningness and poor sleep quality were associated in a linear fashion with increased externalizing and internalizing symptoms. Nonlinear relations between sleepiness and internalizing symptoms emerged with pronounced sex-related effects, including somewhat delayed accelerating relations for males and rapidly accelerating associations that tended to plateau for females. Conclusions Results illustrate the importance of examining multiple sleep-wake and adjustment variables as well as linear and nonlinear associations.
Kinetosis: All You Need to Know

One of the major fears that grips about 50% of travelers, either by air, road ,sea or any other means of transportation is a very uncompromising situation know as motion sickness. This condition is branded “uncompromising” because ones it sets in, nothing else matters, all attention must be focused on how to resolve it. In medicine, it is called “kinetosis” because it is associated with movements. This condition has made so many people to think a lot whenever they are going to make any form of travelling, and has ultimately reduced some people to limited distances and short destinations. It is also a source of worry to commuters and passengers because a sufferer must be made to get him/herself if the situation gets bad and everybody has to wait until the situation is calmed. This review is aimed at checking the possible cause of kinetosis, its effects on the sufferer and how to manage it. It also reviewed the prevalence of the sickness among adult and children travelers.
Validation and assessment of minimally clinically important difference of the unadjusted Health Assessment Questionnaire in a Danish cohort: uncovering ordinal bias

Objectives: The Stanford Health Assessment Questionnaire Disability Index (HAQ-DI) is a widely used patient-reported outcome for functional disability in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Minimal clinically important differences (MCIDs) in the HAQ-DI were previously calculated based on device-corrected ordinal HAQ-DI scores, leading to limited generalizability and validity for today’s patients. Our objectives were to examine the internal construct validity of the unadjusted HAQ-DI and to determine an MCID in a cohort of Danish RA patients based on the transformed linear logit scale of the HAQ-DI. Method: The study included 362 RA patients registered in the DANBIO registry. The Rasch model was fitted to HAQ-DI data at baseline and after 3 months’ follow-up. MCID was calculated as the median changes in the original HAQ-DI score and logit HAQ-DI score in those patients who had experienced minimal improvement (15–30 mm on a 0–100 mm Patient Global scale). Results: HAQ-DI data showed acceptable fit to the Rasch model at both time-points, and consistent item ranking across time indicated instrument invariance. Sixty-one patients (16.8%, ~1/6) had an improvement above the MCID on the logit scale but improvement below the MCID on the original scale, while the opposite was not the case for any patients. Conclusions: The Danish unadjusted version of the HAQ-DI showed acceptable internal construct validity. Application of the logit MCID classified an additional one in six patients as having achieved an MCID compared to the MCID calculated on the ordinal scale, which may have potential implications for the powering of future studies.
FACTORS INFLUENCING PERFORMANCE OF COFFEE COOPERATIVES IN KANGEMA CONSTITUENCY , MURANG ’ A COUNTY , KENYA BY KAMAU

xi CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION . 1 1.1 Background of the Study.1 1.2 Statement of the Problem.3 1.3 Purpose of the Study . 4 1.4 Objectives of the Study . 4 1.5 Research Questions . 5 1.6 Significance of the Study . 5 1.8 Limitations of the Study.6 1.9 Delimitations of the Study . 6 1.11 Organization of the Study . 7 CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW . 9 2.