Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Soybean meal and poultry offal meal effects on digestibility of adult dogs diets: Systematic review

Soybean meal and poultry offal meal are protein ingredients commonly used in the formulation of commercial diets for dogs. However, there remains great variability in the data on the digestibility of each protein source. This systematic review study aimed to examine the intake, apparent nutrient digestibility coefficients and fecal output of protein sources (soybean meal and poultry offal meal) in adult dog food as reported in published studies. The article search was conducted in August 2018 in the PUBMED, SciELO, Science Direct and AGRIS indexing databases. The literature search was performed using "digestibility", "source protein" and "dog" as the main key terms combined with sub-terms to broaden the scope of the search. Criteria were defined for readability, exclusion and inclusion of articles. Results were organized in groups according to the search in the indexing databases, totaling 1,414 articles. After the works were selected following the inclusion criteria, 17 articles were evaluated in this review. According to most studies, plant-based ingredients have a less variable nutritional composition than animal-derived ingredients and poultry offal meal increases the digestibility coefficients of nutrients and energy and reduces fecal dry matter production. Factors inherent to raw-material origin, ingredient and food processing, as well as the high heterogeneity of the methodologies evaluated in the studies are directly related to the obtained results. To ensure a more accurate evaluation of the quality and of effects on the digestibility of protein sources, we recommended that articles include ingredient processing data and that the variables be evaluated under standardized study conditions.
Disparities in First Instrumental Activity of Daily Living Difficulty between Black and White Older Adults: Findings from the Advanced Cognitive Training in Independent and Vital Elderly Study

Objectives: Few studies have examined differences in age of onset of first self-reported instrumental activities of daily living difficulty, much less differences by race. Our objective was to determine whether there are differences in the first reported difficulty with IADLs between Black and white older adults. Methods: We analyzed data from N = 1168 participants in the Advanced Cognitive Training in Independent and Vital Elderly (ACTIVE) study. A multiple group discrete-time multiple-event process survival mixture (MEPSUM) model was used to estimate the hazard of incident IADL difficulty in seven IADL task groups. Results: No statistically significant differences were identified in the first reported IADL task group difficulty between Black and white older adults. Discussion: Our findings indicate similar patterns of early IADL difficulty in Black and white older adults, suggesting that previously reported racial disparities in ability to perform IADLs may be attributable to differences in absolute risk, not timing.
Mesenchymal-to-epithelial transitions require tissue-specific interactions with distinct laminins

Pitsidianaki et al. show that the mesenchymal-to-epithelial transition in the Drosophila melanogaster midgut relies both on downregulation of the EMT-transcription factor Serpent and on the secretion of a specific laminin trimer from the neighboring mesoderm.
Gypsum Precipitation Kinetics and Solubility in the NaCl–MgCl2–CaSO4–H2O System

Crystallization of calcium sulfate dihydrate (CaSO4·2H2O, gypsum) in sodium chloride solutions has been studied in the presence of magnesium ion. It was shown that Mg2+ has an inhibiting effect on the two stages of precipitation: nucleation and growth. Kinetic results were explained on the basis of the strong effect of magnesium ions on gypsum solubility. In the studied range of the ionic strength (IS), it was found that in the presence of NaCl the solubility increase stops beyond IS = 0.31 mol·L–1 whereas it continues to rise in the presence of MgCl2. X-ray diffraction analyses showed that magnesium ions act by substituting the calcium ones or by insertion in the defects of the gypsum crystal lattice.
Cardiorespiratory plasticity in humans following two patterns of acute intermittent hypoxia

What is the central question of this study? Do cardiorespiratory experience‐dependent effects (EDEs) differ between two different stimulus durations of acute isocapnic intermittent hypoxia (IHx; 5‐min vs. 90‐s cycles between hypoxia and normoxia)? What is the main finding and its importance? There was long‐term facilitation in ventilation and blood pressure in both IHx protocols, but there was no evidence of progressive augmentation or post‐hypoxia frequency decline. Not all EDEs described in animal models translate to acute isocapnic IHx responses in humans, and cardiorespiratory responses to 5‐min versus 90‐s on/off IHx protocols are largely similar.
Developmental Trauma Disorder: A Legacy of Attachment Trauma in Victimized Children

Abstract Developmental trauma disorder (DTD) and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have been found to have both shared and unique traumatic antecedents. The present study was an independent replication, with the DTD Structured Interview and the Traumatic Events Screening Instrument administered to 271 children in mental health treatment in six U.S. sites. On an unadjusted basis, DTD (27.3% prevalence, N = 74) and PTSD (40.2% prevalence, N = 109) both were associated with traumatic physical assault or abuse, family violence, emotional abuse, caregiver separation or impairment, and polyvictimization. After controlling for PTSD, DTD was associated emotional abuse, OR = 2.9, 95% CI [1.19, 6.95], and traumatic separation from a primary caregiver, OR = 2.2, 95% CI [1.04. 4.60], both of which also were associated with caregiver impairment, physical assault/abuse, and witnessing family/community violence. Three traumatic antecedents associated with PTSD were not associated with DTD: noninterpersonal trauma, sexual trauma, and traumatic loss. Children exposed to both traumatic victimization and attachment trauma (36.2%) or attachment trauma alone (32.5%) were more likely than children exposed only to victimization (17.5%) or those with no history of victimization or attachment trauma (8.1%) to meet the symptom criteria for DTD, χ²(3, N = 271) = 17.68, p < . 001. Study findings replicate and extend prior DTD field trial study results, showing that, although PTSD and DTD share traumatic antecedents, DTD is uniquely associated with traumatic emotional abuse and caregiver separation. Further research is needed to examine how specific trauma types contribute to the risk, course, and severity of DTD.
Relationship between motor abilities and executive functions in patients after pediatric stroke

Abstract Patients after pediatric stroke typically experience varying extent of motor and cognitive impairments. During rehabilitation, these impairments are often treated as separate entities. While there is a notion claiming that motor and cognitive functions are interrelated to some degree in healthy children, a minimal amount of evidence exists regarding this issue in patients after pediatric stroke. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between motor abilities and executive functions in patients after pediatric arterial ischemic stroke. Twenty-seven patients (6 – 23 years) diagnosed with pediatric arterial ischemic stroke in the chronic phase (≥ 2 years after diagnosis, diagnosed < 16 years) and 49 healthy controls (6 – 26 years) were included in this study. Participants completed six tasks from standardized neuropsychological tests assessing the dimensions of executive functions, namely working memory, inhibition, and shifting. Additionally, we assessed hand strength and upper limb performance with two tasks each. In the patient group, the association between upper limb performance and executive functions was stronger than between hand strength and executive functions. Our results point toward the idea of a close interrelation between upper limb performance and executive functions. Training more complex and cognitively engaging motor abilities involving upper limb performance rather than basic motor abilities such as hand strength during a rehabilitation program may have the power to foster executive function development and vice versa in patients after stroke.
Factors Influencing Job Retention and Quality of Life amongst Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Patients

Objective: To evaluate the quality of life (QoL) amongst Thai nasopharyngeal cancer patients (NCP) and identify associated factors with QoL. Methods: This study was based on secondary data from a cross-sectional study that aimed to develop the Thai version of functional assessment of cancer therapy with nasopharyngeal cancer subscale demographic data, clinical information of participants, and Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy with Nasopharyngeal cancer subscale (FACT-NP) were utilized. Data were analyzed using Student’s t-test, rank-sum test, variance analysis, and the Kruskal-Wallis test. Multiple linear regression with the stepwise model was used to determine multiple variable analysis. Statistical significance was defined at p-value < 0.05. Results: Two hundred and thirty NCP were included in the study with a mean age of 50.3±12.4 years. According to our findings, 68.3% were male, 81.7% were married or living with a partner, and 86.1% were Buddhism had the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status between 0-2 (95.2 %). The employment status, education level, economic status, ECOG, stage , and disease status significantly influenced patients’ QoL. Patients who had active treatment and received prophylactic percutaneous gastrostomy were also impacted by the FACT-NP score. In the multivariate analysis, employment status, ECOG, and disease status were shown to be significant factors that were associated with their QOL in the final model. Conclusion: Employment status was a socioeconomic factor that led to positive QOL amongst NCP.
Incidence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in HIV patients on ART in a developing country: Case of Zimbabwe’s Chitungwiza Central Hospital—A retrospective cohort study (2010–2019)

Introduction The incidence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) has been reported to be rising over the years leading up to 2010. In Zimbabwe, there are few studies done to examine the incidence of NCDs in people living with HIV (PLHIV) on anti-retroviral treatment (ART). Objective To determine the incidence of NCDs in HIV patients on ART at the Chitungwiza Central Hospital over ten years and the associated risk factors. Methods This was a retrospective cohort study using data from 203 patients enrolled on ART at the Chitungwiza Central Hospital between 2010 and 2019. All 500 records were considered and the selection was based on participants’ consenting to the study and their strict adherence to ART without absconding. The incidence of NCDs was determined and generalized estimating equations (GEE) were used to estimate the association between NCDs and the selected risk factors. Findings Data collected at the study’s baseline (2010) showed that the most prevalent NCD was hypertension, found in (18/203) 8.9% of the study participants, followed by diabetes (6.9%), then followed by cardiovascular diseases (CVD) (3.9%), and the least common NCD was cancer (1.9%). Incidences of all of these NCDs showed an increasing trend as the time of follow-up progressed. The factors found to be significantly associated with the development of NCDs were gender (p = 0.002) and follow-up time (p<0.001). Geographical location was a significant risk factor as urban patients were more likely to develop hypertension as compared to the peri-urban patients (p = 0.001). Conclusions NCDs and HIV comorbidity is common with women more likely than males to develop NCDs as they advance in age. There is need to devise targeted intervention approach to the respective NCDs and risk factors since they affect differently in relation to the demographic details of the participants. Recommendations This paper recommends a multi-stakeholder approach to the management of NCDs, with researchers, clinicians and the government and its various arms taking a leading role.
Technical advances in surgery for pancreatic cancer.

BACKGROUND Multimodal treatment concepts enhance options for surgery in locally advanced pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). This review provides an overview of technical advances to facilitate curative-intent resection in PDAC. METHODS A review of the literature addressing current technical advances in surgery for PDAC was performed, and current state-of-the-art surgical techniques summarized. RESULTS Artery-first and uncinate-first approaches, dissection of the anatomical triangle between the coeliac and superior mesenteric arteries and the portomesenteric vein, and radical antegrade modular pancreatosplenectomy were introduced to enhance the completeness of resection and reduce the risk of local recurrence. Elaborated techniques for resection and reconstruction of the mesenteric-portal vein axis and a venous bypass graft-first approach frequently allow resection of PDAC with venous involvement, even in patients with portal venous congestion and cavernous transformation. Arterial involvement does not preclude surgical resection per se, but may become surgically manageable with recent techniques of arterial divestment or arterial resection following neoadjuvant treatment. CONCLUSION Advanced techniques of surgical resection and vessel reconstruction provide a toolkit for curative-intent surgery in borderline resectable and locally advanced PDAC. Effects of these surgical approaches on overall survival remain to be proven with high-level clinical evidence.
Sensory adaptation at ribbon synapses in the zebrafish lateral line

The present study aimed to determine the sensory adaptation characteristics of hair cell ribbon synapses in vivo. Hair cells of the zebrafish lateral line transmit hydrodynamic stimuli to the posterior lateral line ganglion afferent neurons. Excitatory hair bundle deflections by water‐jet stimuli cause glutamate release at hair cell synapses with a rapid (phasic) and a sustained component, which are likely linked to the exocytosis of distinct vesicle pools. The glutamate‐induced increase in afferent neuron firing rate adapts over time, which is mirrored by the depression of neurotransmitter release, without preventing phase‐locking. Adaptation also occurs during inhibitory hair bundle displacements, highlighting a shift in the sensitivity range of the lateral line during prolonged stimulation. Postsynaptic mechanisms exert some degree of regulation on the afferent firing adaptation. We conclude that vesicle depletion is the primary determinant of firing rate adaptation, allowing lateral line hair cell ribbon synapses to maintain sensitivity to sustained stimuli.
Study on optimization of the technology for extraction and purification polysaccharide from astragaLus membranaceus

The orthogonal experiment was designed by using four factors and three levels,for the AstragaLus polysaccharide extractive techonology by water bath.The experimental results showed that the influenc factors of water bath is in theorder:extract temperature extract numberratio of solid to liquidextract time.The optimal extractive conditions obtained was:ratio of solid to liquid in 1∶6,extract at 100 ℃,90 minutes for three times.Then,the orthogonal experiments three factors and three levels were used for separation of Astragalus polysaccharide,the influence factors of ethanol precipitation were in the order concentration of ethanolethanol volumeprecipitation time.The optimal separation conditions obtained were to precipitate Astragalus polysaccharide by using the five times volume 90% ethanol solution for four hours.Further,the purification technology was studied by using AB-8 macroporous adsorption resin,polyamide,and the different concentration ethanol to elute were analyzed for optimal purification technology.The best elution solution is 30% ethanol.All of these information laid the foundation for large-sale development and application of Astragalus radix.
A Comparison of Associations Between Self-Reported and Device-Based Sedentary Behavior and Obesity Markers in Adults: A Multi-National Cross-Sectional Study

The purpose of this study was to examine the associations between self-reported and device-based measures of sedentary behavior (SB) with obesity markers in adults from Latin American countries. Sitting time and total time spent in different SBs were self-reported using two different questionnaires. Accelerometers were used to assess total sedentary time. Body mass index, waist, and neck circumferences were assessed. The highest self-reported sitting time was in Argentina, the highest total time spent in different SBs was in Brazil and Costa Rica, and the highest device-based sedentary time was observed in Peru. Neither self-reported sitting time, total time spent in different SBs or device-based sedentary time were associated with body mass index. Device-based sedentary time was positively associated with waist circumference and self-reported sitting time was positively associated with neck circumference. Caution is warranted when comparing the associations of self-reported and device-based assessments of SB with anthropometric variables.
Emotional content overrides spatial attention.

Spatial attention is our capacity to attend to or ignore particular regions of our spatial environment. However, some classes of stimuli may be able to override our efforts to ignore them. Here we assessed the relationship between involuntary attentional capture with emotional images and spatial attention at early stages of perceptual processing. Multiple scenes of unpleasant and neutral content were displayed in rapid serial visual presentation (RSVP) streams that elicited the steady-state visual evoked potential (SSVEP), a neural marker of selective attention at early visual areas. In a spatial cueing task, participants were cued to covertly attend to RSVP streams presented at 4 and 6 Hz presentation rates in the left and right visual hemifields. The task was to detect square targets occasionally displayed within the image streams, responding only to those appearing on the cued side. The RSVP streams were always neutral pictures in one visual hemifield but would unpredictably switch from neutral to aversive content in the other visual hemifield. We found that SSVEP amplitude was consistently modulated by a change in emotional valence of image streams, regardless of whether the change in content occurred in the attended or unattended spatial location, reflecting an automatic sensory amplification for affective stimuli. The present data provide further evidence in support that emotional images can attract visual processing resources independently of spatial attention allocation, and are consistent with sustained sensory facilitation of early visual areas through re-entrant feedback projections from higher-order cortical areas involved in the extraction of affective information.
Heritability of Magnetoencephalography Phenotypes Among Patients With Genetic Generalized Epilepsy and Their Siblings

Objective To assess whether neuronal signals in patients with genetic generalized epilepsy (GGE) are heritable, we examined magnetoencephalography resting-state recordings in patients and their healthy siblings. Methods In a prospective, cross-sectional design, we investigated source-reconstructed power and functional connectivity in patients, siblings, and controls. We analyzed 5 minutes of cleaned and awake data without epileptiform discharges in 6 frequency bands (1–40 Hz). We further calculated intraclass correlations to estimate heritability for the imaging patterns within families. Results Compared with controls (n = 45), patients with GGE (n = 25) showed widespread increased functional connectivity (θ to γ frequency bands) and power (δ to γ frequency bands) across the spectrum. Siblings (n = 18) fell between the levels of patients and controls. Heritability of the imaging metrics was observed in regions where patients strongly differed from controls, mainly in β frequencies, but also for δ and θ power. Network connectivity in GGE was heritable in frontal, central, and inferior parietal brain areas and power in central, temporo-parietal, and subcortical structures. Presence of generalized spike-wave activity during recordings and medication were associated with the network patterns, whereas other clinical factors such as age at onset, disease duration, or seizure control were not. Conclusion Metrics of brain oscillations are well suited to characterize GGE and likely relate to genetic factors rather than the active disease or treatment. High power and connectivity levels co-segregated in patients with GGE and healthy siblings, predominantly in the β band, representing an endophenotype of GGE.
Prediction‐driven pooled testing methods: Application to HIV treatment monitoring in Rakai, Uganda

Chronic medical conditions often necessitate regular testing for proper treatment. Regular testing of all afflicted individuals may not be feasible due to limited resources, as is true with HIV monitoring in resource‐limited settings. Pooled testing methods have been developed in order to allow regular testing for all while reducing resource burden. However, the most commonly used methods do not make use of covariate information predictive of treatment failure, which could improve performance. We propose and evaluate four prediction‐driven pooled testing methods that incorporate covariate information to improve pooled testing performance. We then compare these methods in the HIV treatment management setting to current methods with respect to testing efficiency, sensitivity, and number of testing rounds using simulated data and data collected in Rakai, Uganda. Results show that the prediction‐driven methods increase efficiency by up to 20% compared with current methods while maintaining equivalent sensitivity and reducing number of testing rounds by up to 70%. When predictions were incorrect, the performance of prediction‐based matrix methods remained robust. The best performing method using our motivating data from Rakai was a prediction‐driven hybrid method, maintaining sensitivity over 96% and efficiency over 75% in likely scenarios. If these methods perform similarly in the field, they may contribute to improving mortality and reducing transmission in resource‐limited settings. Although we evaluate our proposed pooling methods in the HIV treatment setting, they can be applied to any setting that necessitates testing of a quantitative biomarker for a threshold‐based decision.