Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of bare-root methods for transplanting cocoa seedlings

Studies were carried out to evaluate various bare-root methods for transplanting cocoa seedlings. The objective was to find alternative methods to the ball-of-earth (polyethylene bag) method of transplanting cocoa seedling which is known to give very good establishment but is very expensive. The experiment involved three factors: (i) length of time after lifting seedlings from the soil (1, 2 or 3 days), (ii) with or without the application of clay-slurry to the roots, and (iii) eight different methods for packaging the uprooted seedlings in a 3 W 2 W 8 factorial experiment with the ball-of-earth method as a control. Seedling mortality was determined at 3-month intervals up to the 12th month whilst growth was measured at 12 months after transplanting. The experiment was repeated each year for 4 years. At the end of each year, less promising treatments assessed by percentage survival were eliminated. The following five bare-root treatments with a success range of 63 - 78 per cent were selected besides the ball-of-earth treatment which consistently had the highest mean survival of 92.5 per cent over the 4-year period: (i) roots wrapped in moist sack, leaves enveloped in clear polythene bag and seedlings planted on the same day; (ii) roots and leaves pruned, roots wrapped in moist sack, and seedlings planted on the same day; (iii) roots wrapped in moist sack and seedlings left in the shade and planted on the 2nd day; (iv) roots wrapped in moist sack, leaves enveloped in clear polyethylene bag, and seedlings left in the shade and planted on the 3rd day; and (v) roots and leaves pruned, roots wrapped in moist sack, and seedlings left in the shade and planted on the 3rd day. Verification of these treatments with farmer participation will help to determine their acceptance or whether to modify the different packages. Ghana Jnl.agric. Sci Vol.32(1), 1999: 69-78
Dimerization of glycoprotein Ibα is not sufficient to induce platelet clearance

Essentials Many anti‐glycoprotein (GP)Ibα antibodies induce platelet clearance in a dimer‐dependent manner. Characterization of monoclonal antibodies that bind the mechanosensitive domain (MSD) of GPIbα. An anti‐MSD antibody binds two copies of GPIbα in platelets but does not induce platelet clearance. The prevailing clustering model of GPIbα signaling is incorrect or needs revision.
Is the PCOS diagnosis solved by ESHRE/ASRM 2003 consensus or could it include ultrasound examination of the ovarian stroma?

BACKGROUND The clinical heterogeneity of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is mirrored by the unceasing debate on the most appropriate diagnostic criteria. METHODS AND RESULTS To highlight differences and inconsistencies between NIH and ESHRE/ASRM criteria, we applied them to 375 patients with oligo/amenorrhoea and signs of hyperandrogenism. Among them, we identified 273 women with PCOS according to NIH, whereas up to 345 patients fulfilled ESHRE/ASRM criteria. The 72 patients, constituting the gap between the two classifications, exhibited a lower expression of clinical signs compared with the 273 patients matching both criteria. To the whole group, we then applied the ESHRE/ASRM criteria modified to include an easily reproducible ultrasound examination of the ovarian stroma (UCSC criteria). In this way, we identified 30 women who were healthy according to all criteria, 37 affected by PCOS according only to the ESHRE/ASRM Consensus, 35 affected according only to the UCSC and ESHRE/ASRM criteria and 273 who were considered to have PCOS by all criteria. These groups showed a progressively increasing expression of PCOS features. CONCLUSION In the grey area between NIH and ESHRE/ASRM classifications, UCSC criteria could identify a subgroup of women, missed by NIH criteria, with more pronounced stigmas than those identified by ESHRE/ASRM criteria alone, and who may profit more from a targeted therapy.
Neutrophil-mediated Activation of Epithelial Protease-Activated Receptors-1 and -2 Regulates Barrier Function and Transepithelial Migration1

Neutrophil (PMN) infiltration and associated release of serine proteases contribute to epithelial injury during active phases of mucosal disorders such as inflammatory bowel disease. Previous studies have demonstrated that PMN contact with basolateral surfaces of intestinal epithelial cells in the presence of a chemoattractant results in disruption of barrier function even without transmigration. Similarly, serine protease-mediated activation of epithelial protease-activated receptors (PARs) has been shown to increase permeability. In this study, we assessed whether transmigrating PMNs can regulate barrier function through epithelial PAR activation. Transepithelial resistance (TER) decreased significantly after PMN contact with basolateral surfaces of T84 monolayers or after incubation with PMN elastase and proteinase-3, but not cathepsin G. Inhibition of PMN serine proteases, but not selective inhibition of elastase or cathepsin G, prevented the fall in TER induced by PMN contact and blocked PMN transepithelial migration. Basolateral, but not apical, PAR-1 and -2 activation with selective agonists also decreased TER. PAR-1 and -2 were localized intracellularly and in close proximity to lateral surfaces beneath tight junctions, and expression was increased in colonic mucosa from individuals with Crohn’s disease. Combined, but not individual, transfection with small interfering RNAs targeted against epithelial PAR-1 and -2, prevented the fall in TER induced by PMN contact. Furthermore, basolateral PAR-1 and -2 activation induced phosphorylation of myosin L chain kinase and regulatory myosin L chain. Lastly, epithelial PAR-1 and -2 knockdown decreased the rate of PMN transepithelial migration. These results suggest that protease-mediated epithelial PAR-1 and -2 activation, by migrating PMNs, induces signaling events that increase epithelial permeability thereby facilitates PMN transepithelial migration.
Monitoring Oxygenation and Gas Exchange in Neonatal Intensive Care Units: Current Practice in the Netherlands

Background Although recommendations in oxygenation and gas exchange monitoring in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) are available, little is known of the current practice. Aim To evaluate the current practice in oxygenation and gas exchange monitoring of the NICUs in the Netherlands. Methods An online survey-based questionnaire concerning preferences and current practice of monitoring oxygenation and gas exchange was sent out to all 107 neonatal staff members (neonatologists, neonatal fellows, and physician assistants) of the 10 NICUs in the Netherlands. Results The response rate was 42%. Pulse oximetry (PO), partial pressure of oxygen in arterial blood gas (paO2), and oxygen saturation in arterial blood gas (saO2) was used by, respectively, 100, 80, and 27% of the staff members for monitoring oxygenation. Of all staff members, 76% considered PO as the best parameter for monitoring oxygenation, 22% paO2, and 2% saO2. Blood gas, transcutaneous gas monitoring, endotracheal gas monitoring, and near-infrared spectroscopy was used by, respectively, 100, 82, 40, and 18% of the staff members for monitoring gas exchange. During endotracheal ventilation, 67% of the caregivers would exclusively accept arterial blood gas for gas exchange monitoring. In contrast, during non-invasive ventilation, 68% of the caregivers did not prefer arterial or capillary blood gas (CBG). CBG is found reliable in infants with warm extremities by 76% of the caregivers. Venous blood gas would be accepted by 60% of the caregivers, independent of the mode of respiratory support, and only when venous blood sample was needed for other reasons. Conclusion This survey identified a wide variation in preference in monitoring oxygenation and gas exchange monitoring among Dutch neonatal staff members.
Effects of Waterlogging on Leaf Mesophyll Cell Ultrastructure and Photosynthetic Characteristics of Summer Maize

A field experiment was performed to study the effects of waterlogging on the leaf mesophyll cell ultrastructure, chlorophyll content, gas exchange parameters, chlorophyll fluorescence, and malondialdehyde (MDA) content of summer maize (Zea mays L.) hybrids Denghai605 (DH605) and Zhengdan958 (ZD958). The waterlogging treatments were implemented for different durations (3 and 6 days) at the third leaf stage (V3), the sixth leaf stage (V6), and the 10th day after the tasseling stage (10VT). Leaf area index (LAI), chlorophyll content, photosynthetic rate (Pn), and actual photochemical efficiency (ΦPSII) were reduced after waterlogging, indicating that waterlogging significantly decreased photosynthetic capacity. The chloroplast shapes changed from long and oval to elliptical or circular after waterlogging. In addition, the internal structures of chloroplasts were degenerated after waterlogging. After waterlogging for 6 d at V3, the number of grana and grana lamellae of the third expanded leaf in DH605 were decreased by 26.83% and 55.95%, respectively, compared to the control (CK). Those in ZD958 were reduced by 30.08% and 31.94%, respectively. Waterlogging increased MDA content in both hybrids, suggesting an impact of waterlogging on membrane integrity and thus membrane deterioration. Waterlogging also damaged the biological membrane structure and mitochondria. Our results indicated that the physiological reactions to waterlogging were closely related to lower LAI, chlorophyll content, and Pn and to the destruction of chloroplast ultrastructure. These negative effects resulted in the decrease of grain yield in response to waterlogging. Summer maize was the most susceptible to damage when waterlogging occurred at V3, followed by V6 and 10VT, with damage increasing in the wake of waterlogging duration increasing.
31-34GHz low noise amplifier with on-chip microstrip lines and inter-stage matching in 90-nm baseline CMOS

A Ka band low-noise amplifier in a 90-nm bulk CMOS technology is presented. A thin-film microstrip line with ground sidewalls is used for signal distribution, matching and load resonators. The low-noise amplifier comprises two identical cascode stages, with inter-stage matching as gain boosting. The gain boosting circuit improves the gain by 20% and the noise performance by 27% of the cascode LNA. The proposed amplifier achieves a peak power-gain of 19dB with a 3-dB bandwidth of 31 to 34GHz and a noise figure of 3dB in the middle of the band. No extra process options like MIM capacitors or thick oxide devices are used. The die size is 933 mum by 918 mum and the power consumption is 10mW from a 1.2V (plusmn10%) power supply
Pharmacological Characterization and Modeling of the Binding Sites of Novel 1,3-Bis(pyridinylethynyl)benzenes as Metabotropic Glutamate Receptor 5-Selective Negative Allosteric Modulators

Metabotropic glutamate receptor subtype 5 (mGluR5) is a potential drug target in neurological and psychiatric disorders, and subtype-selective allosteric modulators have attracted much attention as potential drug candidates. In this study, the binding sites of three novel 2-methyl-6-(phenylethynyl)pyridine (MPEP)-derived negative allosteric modulators, 2-, 3-, and 4-BisPEB, have been characterized. 2-, 3-, and 4-BisPEB are 1,3-bis(pyridinylethynyl)-benzenes and differ only by the position of the nitrogen atoms in the pyridine rings. Despite their high structural similarity, 2-BisPEB [1,3-bis(pyridin-2-ylethynyl)-benzene, nitrogen atoms in ortho positions], with an IC50 value in the nanomolar range, is significantly more potent than the 3- and 4-pyridyl analogs. Mutational analysis, directed by a previously published mGluR5 homology model, was used to determine key residues for the ligand-receptor interactions that may explain the potency differences of 2-, 3-, and 4-BisPEB. Residues Ile651, Pro655, Tyr659, Asn747, Trp785, Phe788, Tyr792, Ser809, and Ala810 were found to have critical roles for the activity of one or more of the three BisPEBs and the reference compound MPEP. The mutagenesis data suggest that the higher potency of 2-BisPEB is due to hydrogen bonding to Ser809 because the S809A mutation made 2-BisPEB equipotent to 3- and 4-BisPEB (IC50, 1–2.5 μM). The potency of MPEP was also greatly affected by S809A (52-fold), suggesting that a Ser809-mediated hydrogen bond is also a key interaction between MPEP and mGluR5. Potential binding modes of 2-, 3-, and 4-BisPEB obtained by molecular docking to the mGluR5 homology model provide a structural context for the reported major mutational effects.
Free Fatty Acids and Their Metabolism Affect Function and Survival of Podocytes

Podocyte injury and loss critically contribute to the pathogenesis of proteinuric kidney diseases including diabetic nephropathy. Deregulated lipid metabolism with disturbed free fatty acid (FFA) metabolism is a characteristic of metabolically unhealthy obesity and type 2 diabetes and likely contributes to end-stage kidney disease irrespective of the underlying kidney disease. In the current review, we summarize recent findings related to FFAs and altered renal FFA metabolism with a special focus on podocytes. We will outline the opposing effects of saturated and monounsaturated FFAs and a particular emphasis will be given to the underlying molecular mechanisms involving insulin resistance and endoplasmic reticulum homeostasis. Finally, recent data suggesting a critical role of renal FFA metabolism to adapt to an altered lipid environment will be discussed.
Interception loss from eucalypt forest: Lysimeter determination of hourly rates for long term evaluation

Analyses of the response by a weighing lysimeter in Kioloa State Forest during and after rainfall provided values of interception loss rate. The derived rates for time scales between 0.1 and 1.0mm h−1 were generally similar throughout storm events to losses determined from throughfall and stemflow observations. During post-rainfall periods of canopy drying, enhanced rates of lysimeter evaporation were consistent with micrometeorological determinations of the partitioning of available radiant energy, based on atmospheric gradients of humidity and temperature. Interception losses from the eucalypt forest, deduced from the lysimeter response, varied between 10 and 15 per cent of gross rainfall in three consecutive 12 month periods whereas the corresponding rainfall ranged between 590 and 1530 mm yr−1. Daytime losses accounted for about two-thirds of total interception loss with a similar fraction occurring during rain periods. Storage capacity of the evergreen forest canopy was inferred to be 0.35 mm. Hourly loss rates during rainfall ranged up to 0.8 mm h−1 but with decreasing mean values and variability with increasing time scale resulting in a monthly mean value computed for the total number of hours of rain of approximately 0.1 mm h−1. A preliminary analysis of loss rate in terms of storm windspeed and rainfall intensity explained about half of its variation in statistically derived relationships. Improved time resolution of the order of seconds was considered a prerequisite to the physical understanding of turbulent transport from saturated canopies. The small value of interception storage capacity was considered in relation to that for pine forest as a basis for explaining observed differences in interception behaviour between eucalypt forest and coniferous plantations in the same area. Large differences in interception losses between the Kioloa site and evergreen forest in the South Island of New Zealand and also eucalypt forest in Western Australia were attributed to dissimilar meteorological conditions at the various sites.
Perceived Enjoyment and the Effect of Gender on Continuance Intention for Mobile Internet Services

Based on technology acceptance theory, the authors examined the effect of perceived enjoyment and gender on the intention to continue using mobile Internet services (MIS) in an everyday life context. A survey was conducted among 623 current MIS users to test the structural equation model. Their findings confirm the effect of perceived enjoyment on MIS continuance intention as well as the moderating effect of gender. Women expressed a stronger need for perceived usefulness and ease-of-use than men, while men expressed a significant need for perceived enjoyment. Interestingly, and somewhat contrary to previous findings, the effect of perceived usefulness on MIS continuance intention was stronger for women; whereas the effect of perceived enjoyment was significantly stronger for men. The authors findings suggest that MIS developers and providers should consider the gender of users when designing and offering MIS. The paper provides some guidelines regarding how MIS can be designed and customized for gender segments.
Palaeomagnetism and 40Ar/39Ar age determinations of the Ediacaran traps from the southwestern margin of the East European Craton, Ukraine: relevance to the Rodinia break-up

A palaeomagnetic study and age determinations have been performed on Ediacaran basalts from the northwestern Ukraine. Whole-rock 40Ar/39Ar age determination revealed plateau ages at 590–560 Ma and 393 Ma, the latter probably reflecting a resetting of the radiometric system. Palaeomagnetic poles have been calculated from five basalt flows, two of which (A poles) are considered reliable with ages that range from 580 to 560 Ma. Tentative poles (B poles), calculated from most probably primary magnetizations, have ages estimated at 580–545 Ma. Secondary magnetizations, possibly of late Ediacaran or Devonian age, have also been isolated (C poles). Based on the new poles, Baltica drifted together with Laurentia from an equatorial position at c. 750 Ma to occupy high southern latitude positions at c. 580 Ma. Baltica during that time period was joined to Laurentia in a similar relative position to that at 750 Ma. The two shields then split up from each other and from c. 550 Ma Baltica drifted at moderately high latitudes and rotated some 180° during the final opening of the Iapetus ocean. This reconstruction suggests that during the Ediacaran glaciation Baltica occupied high-latitude positions, which contradicts the high-obliquity model to explain low-latitude Neoproterozoic glaciations.
Multiple Target Localization Using Compressive Sensing

In this paper, a novel multiple target localization approach is proposed by exploiting the compressive sensing theory, which indicates that sparse or compressible signals can be recovered from far fewer samples than that needed by the Nyquist sampling theorem. We formulate the multiple target locations as a sparse matrix in the discrete spatial domain. The proposed algorithm uses the received signal strengths (RSSs) to find the location of targets. Instead of recording all RSSs over the spatial grid to construct a radio map from targets, far fewer numbers of RSS measurements are collected, and a data pre-processing procedure is introduced. Then, the target locations can be recovered from these noisy measurements, only through an l1-minimization program. The proposed approach reduces the number of measurements in a logarithmic sense, while achieves a high level of localization accuracy. Analytical studies and simulations are provided to show the performance of the proposed approach on localization accuracy.
Simulations of the Ocean Response to a Hurricane: Nonlinear Processes

Abstract Superinertial internal waves generated by a tropical cyclone can propagate vertically and laterally away from their local generation site and break, contributing to turbulent vertical mixing in the deep ocean and maintenance of the stratification of the main thermocline. In this paper, the results of a modeling study are reported to investigate the mechanism by which superinertial fluctuations are generated in the deep ocean. The general properties of the superinertial wave wake were also characterized as a function of storm speed and central latitude. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Ocean General Circulation Model (OGCM) was used to simulate the open ocean response to realistic westward-tracking hurricane-type surface wind stress and heat and net freshwater buoyancy forcing for regions representative of midlatitudes in the Atlantic, the Caribbean, and low latitudes in the eastern Pacific. The model had high horizontal [Δ(x, y) = ⅙°] and vertical (Δz = 5 m in top 100 m) resolution.
Demonstration of deductive meta-analysis: ethanol intake and risk of myocardial infarction.

Meta-analyses should be analytic and deductive. In a review of the state of the science of meta-analysis in the previous volume of Epidemiologic Reviews, a list of definitions and synonyms of meta-analysis was given: "overview, pooling, data pooling, literature synthesis, data synthesis, quantitative synthesis, and quantitative review" (1, p. 154). Indeed, most metaanalyses are more synthetic than analytic: They produce a summary, such as an aggregate relative risk and 95 percent confidence interval, from a set of individual studies and stop there. Such a "meta-synthesis" has an inductive approach, i.e., generalization from a set of particular observations. By contrast, a deductive approach starts with alternative generalizations (hypotheses) and uses particular observations to discriminate among them. The causal hypothesis of primary interest is considered corroborated if competing hypotheses do not stand up to the evidence (2). The words "inductive" and "deductive" here have the meanings used in logic (3). Induction is the inference "If true for A, then true for B" when A is a part, sample, or special case of B. When epidemiologists infer
Latency of the pupillary response

The authors give an explanation of pupillary latency in terms of nonminimum phase lag. Minimum phase lag is that phase associated with a simple linear lag element; nonminimum phase is associated with a true delay element modeled as exp (-ST). Latency can be accurately modeled by a delay element. The authors experimentally demonstrate that pupillary latency increases with reductions in intensity and increases with frequency of the square-wave stimuli. They summarize these characteristics with a model. <<ETX>>
Hemodynamic changes in long-term diuretic therapy of essential hypertension. A comparative study of chlorthalidone, polythiazide and hydrochlorothiazide.

Thirty-eight men with untreated essential hypertension in WHO stage 1 or II, aged 19–57 years, all working, have been studied ambulatorily. Oxygen consumption, heart rate, cardiac output (Cardiogreen) and intra-arterial brachial pressure were recorded at rest in supine, sitting and standing position and during steady state work. At rest plasma volume and serum electrolytes were measured. The subjects were divided into four groups: I, untreated 7; II, chlorthalidone 100 mg every second day 9; III, polythiazide 1 mg every second day 7; and IV, hydrochlorothiazide 50 mg twice daily 15. The subjects were restudied after 8–12 months. In the untreated group none of the results at the second examination were significantly different from those at the first. In the treated groups the causal resting blood pressure and intra-arterial pressure at rest and during work were significantly lower after treatment than before. At rest when sitting, the mean arterial pressure was reduced 21, 15 and 18% in groups II, III and IV and during work a little less. Serum-K dropped significantly in all groups, the mean drop being about 0.7 mEq/1 in all groups. Plasma volume (hydrochlorothiazide group only) was 0.24 1 lower after therapy, but the difference was not significant. In the thiazide groups the pressure drop was usually associated with a drop in peripheral resistance, both at rest and during exercise. In the chlorothalidone group the pressure drop was usually caused by a reduction in cardiac index, with little or no effect on the peripheral resistance.