Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Transgenerational response to stress in Arabidopsis thaliana

Plants exposed to stress pass the memory of exposure to stress to the progeny. Previously, we showed that the phenomenon of transgenerational memory of stress is of epigenetic nature and depends on the function of Dicer-like (DCL) 2 and DCL3 proteins. Here, we discuss a possible role of DNA methylation and function of small RNAs in establishing and maintaining transgenerational responses to stress. Our new data report that memory of stress is passed to the progeny predominantly through the female rather than male gamete. Possible evolutionary advantages of this mechanism are also discussed.
Investigation of a Measles Outbreak in China to Identify Gaps in Vaccination Coverage, Routes of Transmission, and Interventions

Background A measles outbreak occurred in a western county of China in 2013, the year after China’s historic nadir of measles. We conducted a field investigation to identify gaps in measles vaccination coverage and immunization program weaknesses, and to provide recommendations for measles outbreak response and immunization program improvement. Methods We analyzed surveillance data from 2008 to 2013 to describe the measles epidemiology of the county. Measles-containing vaccine coverage was estimated using two methods: previously-reported administrative coverage and an estimation of coverage by clinic-kept vaccination records (n = 542). We conducted a rapid field coverage assessment in a migrant population village to evaluate coverage after emergency vaccination. We conducted a review of hospital records of measles cases to address the role hospital transmission played during the early stage of this outbreak. Results There were 153 cases in the outbreak, primarily among children too young to vaccinate, unvaccinated children less than 3 years old, and adults. Measles-containing vaccine coverage by the field assessment showed that 20% of children aged 8–17 months had zero doses, and 9% of ≥2 years old children had fewer than two doses. The vaccination statuses of all adult cases were either zero doses or unknown. At least 61% of cases had been hospitalized. The proportion of cases who had been hospital-exposed 7 to 21 days prior to rash onset decreased from 52% to 22% after hospitals strengthen their isolation measures. Conclusions This outbreak was a result of measles vaccination coverage gaps among young children and adults, and insufficient hospital isolation of cases. The lower coverage seen in the field estimation compared with reported coverage showed that reported coverage could have been overestimated. Hospitals were sites of transmission in the early stage of the outbreak. A strict hospital isolation policy could decrease spread of measles. Emergency vaccination was associated with stopping measles transmission in low coverage areas.
Palliative wound treatment promotes healing in hospice

Introduction: Wounds are a major problem at the end of life, affecting nearly one third of hospice patients. The main problems with these wounds are pain, infection and odor, making wound care often difficult. Method: A method of wound treatment invented in 2001 for palliative wound care was designed to meet the goals of pain relief, odor control, and prevention of infection. This method, which involved application of viscous lidocaine and topical polymyxin/bacitracin to gauze, was used on hundreds of hospice patients. A retrospective review of results was undertaken. Results: A descriptive retrospective observational review is presented here. This is a retrospective review of 323 wounds in hospice patients treated over a period of 30 months using the palliative wound treatment method. In this cohort over 40% of pressure ulcers healed to closure or were healing, 30% of ischemic ulcers were healed to closure or were healing and over 40% of neuropathic ulcers were healing, totaling nearly 40% of all wounds healing or healed to closure. Conclusion: While meeting palliative goals of reducing pain, preventing infection and controlling odor, use of this method also provided unexpected healing. Further investigation on use of this method is warranted.
Species Selection in Secondary Wood Products: Perspectives From Different Consumers

This study investigated adult consumer perceptions of several wood species to determine if word-based and appearance-based evaluations differed. The research replicated a 2001 study by the authors, which used undergraduate college students as a proxy for older and more experienced adult furniture consumers. The literature is somewhat inconclusive concerning the extent to which student samples represent "real" consumers. Using the mall intercept survey procedure at several furniture stores and trade shows in two Midwestern cites, participants were split into two groups and asked to rate six commercially important wood species on several semantic-differential items, based either on word association (word-based perception) or physical wood specimens (appearance-based perception). Results from the replicated adult consumer study were very similar to the student study suggesting that college students provide a reasonable picture of adult consumers' perceptions of wood species. The study confirmed that the word-based and appearance-based methods of evaluation sometimes produce different results. In general, the appearance-based respondents had difficulty identifying the species they were observing; however, the adult consumers were better at species identification than were the college students. This study provides further evidence that preconceived species perceptions play an important role in influencing the consumer's ultimate evaluation of wood. The research results can help secondary wood manufacturers better understand the implications of species on design and communication decisions.
Complex Hydrides Li 2 MH 5 (M = B, Al) for Hydrogen Storage Application: Theoretical Study of Structure, Vibrational Spectra and Thermodynamic Properties

Gaseous lithium complex hydrides Li2MH5 (M = B, Al) have been studied using DFT/B3P86 and MP2 methods with 6-311++G(d,p) basis set. High content of hydrogen by these materials accord them with good candidacy as a class of hydrogen storage materials. The optimized geometrical parameters, vibrational spectra and thermodynamic properties of the hydrides and the subunits LiH, Li2H+, Li2H2, MH3, MH4−, and LiMH4 have been determined. For the LiBH4 the equilibrium configuration was tridentate of C3v symmetry. For LiAlH4 two isomeric forms, bidentate (C2v) and tridentate (C3v), were confirmed to exist, and C2v isomer was shown to dominate in saturated vapor. For complex hydrides Li2MH5, different structural forms were considered but only one asymmetric form (C1) appeared to be equilibrium. Several possible channels of dissociation of Li2MH5 were considered; the enthalpies and Gibbs free energies of the reactions were computed. The enthalpies of formation ∆fH(0) of the complex hydrides in gaseous phase were determined: 60 ± 10 kJmol1 (Li2BH5) and 33 ± 10 kJmol1 (Li2AlH5). Heterophase decomposition of the gaseous Li2MH5 with solid products LiH and B/Al and hydrogen gas release was shown to be spontaneous at ambient temperature. Production of hydrogen gas via gaseous decomposition is highly endothermic and achievable at elevated temperatures. The complexes Li2MH5 are therefore proposed to be useful hydrogen storage materials under appropriate conditions.
Dispersal of marine meiofauna. Areview and conceptual model explaining passive transport and active emergence with implications for recruitment

A number of recent studies have shown that water-column processes exert an important influence on meiofaunal recruitment and colonization of new areas. T h ~ s paper reviews those studies which have investigated the water-column occurrence of meiofauna and the subsequent settlement process. Two distinct patterns exist for recruitment via water-column pathways: active entry of meiofauna into the water and passive erosion of meiofauna from the sediments. A conceptual model is proposed in which 4 factors interact to determine whether active vs passive mechanisms are most important for a given community: taxonomic con~position, hydrodynamics, aboveground structure, and disturbance. For the melofauna of areas which are hydrodynamically benign and dominated by actice swimmers (e. g , seagrass beds), water-column recruitment should involve substrate cholce through active swimming. In areas which are free of aboveground structure and more rigorous hydrodynamically (e. g. tidal flats, beaches) passive recruitment processes dominate and are modified by behaviors which may influence transport and settlement. In all habitats, structure probably acts to enhance active emergence to some extent while disturbance events may lead to increased suspension and possibly actlve emergence Future directions are discussed with an emphasis on the need for the development and standardization of new methodologies which can be used in a variety of habitats.
X-ray imaging of the ionisation cones in NGC 5252

Context. The physical conditions of the gas forming the narrow-line regions (NLR) in active galactic nuclei (AGN) have been extensively studied in the optical band. Recently detailed X-ray studies have shown how the emission in the 0.1–2 keV band detected in Seyfert 2 galaxies is associated to gas lying close to or associated with the NLR. Aims. We take advantage of the spectacular extension (∼15 �� ) of the NLR in the type II Seyfert galaxy NGC 5252 and of the complementary characteristics of XMM-Newton and Chandra to investigate the physical conditions of the gas in this galaxy. Methods. The X-ray data from XMM-Newton are used to define the spectral properties of the ionising nuclear source. The Chandra data are used to trace the spatial characteristics of the soft X-ray emission. This information is then compared to the optical HST characteristics of the NLR in NGC 5252. Results. The X-ray spectrum of the nucleus of NGC 5252 is intrinsically flat (Γ ∼ 1.4–1.5) and absorbed by neutral gas with a column density NH ∼ 10 22 cm −2 . B elow∼1 keV a soft excess is detected. The high-resolution spectrum obtained with the XMM-Newton RGS shows emission lines in the 0.2–1.5 keV range which strongly indicate that the soft X-ray component is essentially due to ionised gas. Moreover, the soft X-ray emission is spatially resolved around the nucleus and well overlaps the images obtained in narrow optical bands centred around the [Oiii] emission line at 5007 A. The [Oiii]/soft-X flux ratios along the ionisation cones are basically constant. This indicates that the electron density does not significantly deviate from the r −2 law (constant ionisation parameter) moving outward from the nucleus. Conclusions. This result combined with previous optical studies suggests two plausible but different scenarios in the reconstruction of the last ∼30 000 years of history of the central AGN. The most promising one is that the source is indeed a “quasar relic” with a steady and inefficient energy release from the accretion of matter onto the central super-massive black-hole. This scenario is suggested also by the flat nuclear X-ray spectrum that evokes an advection dominated accretion flow (ADAF) like emission mechanism.
Demixing, remixing and cellular networks in binary liquids containing colloidal particles

We present a confocal-microscopy study of demixing and remixing in binary liquids containing colloidal particles. First, particle-stabilized emulsions have been fabricated by nucleation and growth of droplets upon cooling from the single-fluid phase. We show that their stability mainly derives from interfacial particles; the surplus of colloids in the continuous phase possibly provides additional stability. Upon heating these emulsions, we have observed the formation of polyhedral cellular networks of colloids, just before the system remixes. Given a suitable liquid–liquid composition, the initial emulsions cross the binary-liquid symmetry line due to creaming. Therefore, upon heating, the droplets do not shrink and they remain closely packed. The subsequent network formation relies on a delicate balance between the Laplace pressure and the pressure due to creaming/remixing. As high concentrations of colloids in the cell walls inhibit film thinning and rupture, the networks can be stabilized for more than 30 min. This opens up an avenue for their application in the fabrication of advanced materials.
Mid-Tertiary paleoenvironments in Thailand: pollen evidence

Abstract. Only few well-dated records document the evolution of Southeast Asian paleoenvironments during the Cenozoic. Here we analyse continental pollen assemblages from Late Oligocene and Miocene fossil sites of Thailand. In agreement with previous studies, palynoflora from the Oligocene suggests warm temperate forested habitats at 24–26 Ma, whereas Middle Miocene assemblages are made of thermophilous taxa. This change can be linked to the major climate reorganization that brought warmer and wetter conditions over Southeast Asia around 22 Ma. This study also provides the first submillional records from the Middle Miocene of Thailand. Thirteen samples of lignite layers from the sivaladapid-bearing Mae Moh site, dated between 13.3 and 13.1 Ma, and six samples from the hominoid-bearing Chiang Muan deposit, dated between 12.4 and 12.2 Ma, document oscillations between tropical woodlands and grasslands in northern Thailand. These pollen records likely reflect climate variations linked to insolation variations. Late Miocene palynological assemblages from Khorat, northeastern Thailand, document fluviolacustrine paleoenvironments alternatively covered by thermophilous trees and grasslands. These records show that both sivaladapids and early hominoids from Thailand have evolved in tropical environments with high variability in the vegetation cover.
Effect of Health Care Accreditation Council survey site visit on perceived stress level among Jordanian healthcare providers

AIM To assess perceived stress levels among healthcare providers in public and private hospitals before and after Health Care Accreditation Council (HCAC) survey site visits. METHODS A cross-sectional, descriptive design was used in this study. A convenience sampling technique was used to recruit study participants. A self-administered questionnaire (PSS-10) was used to collect data. Descriptive statistics, dependent sample t test, independent sample t test, and multiple linear regression analysis were used to analyze data. RESULT The results showed that stress levels were higher before a HCAC survey site visit (M = 18.39, SD = 4.3) than after ( M = 14.09, SD = 6.1) ( t(210) = 8.7, P ≤ 0.000) among healthcare providers. Between hospitals, the perceived stress level of healthcare providers was higher in the public hospital ( M = 19.03, SD = 4.3) compared with the private hospital ( M = 17.8, SD = 4.2) ( t(209) = 2.16, P = 0.031) before the HCAC survey site visit. In contrast, there were no differences in perceived stress level for the public and private hospitals ( t(209) = 0.001, P = 0.999) after the HCAC survey site visit. Finally, the type of hospital was the only sociodemographic characteristic that predicted the perceived stress level before the HCAC survey site visit ( β = -0.157, P = 0.040). In contrast, there were no sociodemographic characteristics that predicted the perceived stress level after the HCAC survey site visit. CONCLUSIONS The current study indicated that hospital accreditation is a process associated with significant stress (P = 0.000) among healthcare providers in both hospitals before and after an HCAC survey site visit. Moreover, there was a significant level of stress before an HCAC survey site visit in the public hospital ( M = 19.03) compared with the private hospital ( M = 17.8, P = 0.031).
The Effect of Input-flood through Listening English Movies on Receptive Skills: A Case Study

The present study was conducted to probe The Effect of Input-flood through Listening English Movies on Receptive Skills. In this study the researcher analyzed the progress during the listening of movies according to the notes and diaries that recorded during the experiment. Progress on the results of the IELTS test, which includes listening and reading skills were compared. At first, the researcher was tested. Progress was compared based on the results of the listening and reading parts of the two IELTS tests that come at the beginning and of listening to movies. The results of analyzing diaries and comparing the scores of the two tests showed that Input-flood through listening English movies had impact on increasing listening skills, but no significant impact on reading skills.
Adoption and Benefits of Statistical Methods in Enterprises: Differences between Croatian Regions

Abstract This paper aims to address differences in the use of statistical methods by enterprises as one of the factors leading to the uneven level of economic development between different regions. For research purposes, a web survey was conducted on a sample of 667 Croatian enterprises in 2013. In order to better distinguish between Croatian regions, a complex sample survey design was used. The results show that the highest rates of statistical methods use among enterprises are in the Central and East region (36.96%). The conducted logistic regression analysis showed that the enterprises that use statistical methods have 63.5% greater odds of achieving positive net income than enterprises that do not. The research results point out the need for the adoption of statistical methods as a tool for achieving higher net income and for reducing economic dissimilarities between regions.
Mediating role of self-regulatory efficacy on the relationship between punishment certainty, punishment severity and organizational deviance

Several studies in the field of industrial and organizational psychology (I/O) have reported that workplace deviance is related to organization/work variables, such as organizational politics, perceived organizational support, job satisfaction, job stress, and organizational justice among others.However, relatively few studies have attempted to consider the relationship between organizational formal controls and workplace deviance.Even if any, they have reported mixed findings.Hence, a moderating variable is suggested.This paper proposes a moderating role of self-regulatory efficacy on the relationship between organizational formal controls and workplace deviance.
A comparison of purebred Holstein-Friesian and Holstein-Friesian × beef breed bulls for beef production and carcass traits

The objective of this study was to determine beef production traits of purebred Holstein-Friesian (Hol) and Hol×beef breed crossbred bulls. The data collected from slaughterhouses included observations of 87323 purebred Hol, 783 Hol×Aberdeen angus (Hol×Ab), 621 Hol×Blonde d’Aquitaine (Hol×Ba), 562 Hol×Charolais (Hol×Ch), 349 Hol×Hereford (Hol×Hf), 1691 Hol×Limousin (Hol×Li) and 570 Hol×Simmental (Hol×Si) bulls. For estimating valuable cuttings also a separate dataset was collected and included observations of 8806 purebred Hol, 57 Hol×Ab, 29 Hol×Ba, 22 Hol×Ch, 15 Hol×Hf, 111 Hol×Li and 58 Hol×Si bulls. Crossbreeding Hol cows with late maturing breeds (Ba, Ch, Li, Si) had favorable effects on carcass gain, conformation and proportion of high value joints of the progeny when compared to purebred Hol bulls. No advantages in proportion of valuable cuttings seemed to be obtained by crossbreeding with Ab or Hf breeds, while the improvements in gain and conformation were intermediate compared to the late maturing crossbreds.
Thermally-Conditioned Paleo-Permafrost Variations from Global Climate Modeling

The permafrost distribution under Quaternary climate conditions is investigated by a frozen ground classification method based solely upon the near surface air thermal indices as a diagnosing analysis of the Paleoclimate Model Intercomparison Project 2 (PMIP2) output. The methodology is constructed using the present-day distribution of the frozen ground and the thermal (freeze and thaw) index, and showed reasonable capability for large-scale mapping. The frozen ground distribution was reconstructed for 0 ka (pre-industrial), 6k a(mid-Holocene), and 21 ka (the last glacial maximum; LGM) conditions. The Holocene simulations (0 ka and 6 ka) produced largely similar results. The LGM outputs showed substantial increase of the permafrost area by 49.6% relative to the pre-industrial conditions in median among the models, but also showed insufficient cooling during the cold season in some regions. Acrossmodel variations illustrate the regions that need careful examination in using PMIP2 outputs for further subsurface thermal regime calculations.
Passiflora quadrangularis L. prevents experimental hypertension and vascular remodelling in rats exposed to nitric oxide deficit

Background: Passiflora quadrangularis L. is among the species used in Colombian folk medicine for hypertension, but until now it has not been studied in experimental models. Objectives: To assess the capacity of P. quadrangularis L. EtOH extract to prevent the hypertension and vascular remodelling induced by nitric oxide (NO) deficit in Wistar rats. Methods: The nitric oxide (NO) synthase inhibitor L-NAME (10 mg/kg, i.p (intraperitoneal), every 48h) was administered for seven weeks to the following groups of rats: P. quadrangularis L.75, 150 and 300 mg/kg/d, p.o. (oral route); enalapril as reference agent, 10 mg/kg/d, p.o. and vehicle as control (mixture of propylene glycol 10%, glycerine 10% and polysorbate 2%). Arterial blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR) were measured twice a week. After sacrifice, the aortic rings were isolated, contraction was triggered with phenylephrine (PE 10-6 M) and then the relaxant response achieved with cumulative concentrations of acetylcholine (ACh, 10-10 – 10-5 M) or sodium nitroprusside (SNP, 10-10 – 10-5 M) was assessed. Histopathologic measures of thickness/lumen ratio from both the left ventricle and aorta walls, as well as phytochemical screening, were also performed. Results: As for enalapril, all doses of P. quadrangularis L. prevented the hypertension induced by L-NAME (122±1.2 versus 155±1.3 mmHg at seventh week). P. quadrangularis L. significantly increased the relaxant effect induced by ACh in isolated aorta and decreased the thickness/lumen ratio of aorta wall specimens. Conclusions: P. quadrangularis L. prevents experimental hypertension induced in rats with nitric oxide deficits improving the endothelium vasodilatation response and protecting against vascular remodelling.
Productive and reproductive performance of crossbred and indigenous dairy cows under smallholder farming system

The present study was undertaken to investigate productive and reproductive performances of crossbreds and Indigenous dairy cows. A total of 400 dairy cows each are equal number of Friesian x indigenous (FI), Sahiwal x indigenous (SaI), Sindhi x indigenous (SiI) and indigenous (I) were selected from eight thanas in Jessore district. The study found that the daily milk yield from FI, SaI, SiI and I cows were 8.39 ± 2.01, 4.63 ± 0.96, 4.35 ± 1.12 and 2.38 ± 0.73 liters, respectively. The milk yield was found significantly (P<0.01) higher in first stage of lactation than that of second and third both in crossbreds and I dairy cows. The lactation period of crossbreds was significantly (P<0.01) higher than that of I cows. The service per conception was found higher in I cows and the gestation length was almost similar in all the groups. The post partum heat period and calving to first service were highest in SiI cows. The dry period and calving interval were higher in I cows. The age at first calving was almost similar in crossbreds but significantly (P<0.01) higher in I cows. The birth weight was significantly (P<0.01) lower in I than crossbred dairy cows. Considering all the parameters studied, FI showed better performance followed by SaI, SiI, and I.