Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Seasonal trends in Ceratitis capitata reproductive potential derived from live‐caught females in Greece

Reproductive data of individual insects are extremely hard to collect under natural conditions, thus the study of research questions related to oviposition has not advanced. Patterns of oviposition are often inferred only indirectly, through monitoring of host infestation, whereas the influence of age structure and several other factors on oviposition remains unknown. Using a new approach, in this article, we live‐trapped wild Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Tephritidae) females on the Greek island of Chios during two field seasons. For their remaining lifetime, these females were placed individually in small cages and their daily oviposition was monitored. Reproduction rates between cohorts from different collection dates were then compared. The results showed that in the different captive cohorts the average remaining lifetime and reproduction were highly variable within and between seasons. Multivariate regression analysis showed that the month of capture had a significant effect on captive life span, average daily reproduction, and patterns of egg laying. The effect of year was significant on reproduction, but not on captive life span. These differences between sampling periods probably reflect differences in the availability of hosts and other factors that vary during the season and affect age structure and reproduction. Using a non‐parametric generalized additive model, we found a statistically significant correlation between the captive life span and the average daily reproduction. These findings and the experimental approach have several important implications.
EFFECT OF CADMIUM ON SEED GERMINATION AND SEEDLING GROWTH OF FOUR WHEAT (TRITICUM AESTIVUM L.) CULTIVARS

Cadmium (Cd) is extremely toxic metal and reduces plant growth. Therefore, study was conducted to evaluate the effect of various Cd levels 0, 5, 20, 50 and 80 mg L -1 on seed germination and seedling growth of four wheat cultivars (Sehar-06, Fareed-06, Inqlab-91, Chakwal-50). Cadmium showed toxicity at 5 mg L -1 in case of root and shoot growth whereas 20 mg L -1 in case of seed germination and germination energy which is aggravated on further addition of Cd from 50 to 80 mg L -1 . Sehar-06 performed better under Cd stress while Inqlab-91 had poor performance. Later had maximum decrease in root length (70.4%), shoot length (81.2%), percent germination (68%) and germination index (76.8%) at 80 mg L -1 Cd compared to control. Tolerance index varied among different cultivars, maximum tolerance was observed in Sehar-06 followed by Fareed-06, Chakwal-50 and Inqlab-91. From these results it is evident that cv. Sehar-06 could germinate well on soils contaminated with Cd, however, more studies are required to signify its effects on growth and yield of wheat.
Sperm transport and distribution during the puberal transition in ewe lambs.

Sperm transport through and distribution within the anterior reproductive tract were evaluated at either 2 or 22 h after artificial insemination in ewe lambs at first (1E; n = 15) or third (3E; n = 14) estrus and in mature (MAT; n = 12) ewes. Each ewe was inseminated immediately upon detection of estrus with 7.5 x 10(8) progressively motile sperm placed into the external os cervix. Ewes were hysterectomized at either 2 or 22 h after insemination. Sperm were recovered from the uterus, isthmi, and ampullae by flushing with sterile . 9% saline. The distribution of sperm recovered from the uterus, isthmus, and ampulla did not differ (P > .10) among 1E, 3E, and MAT ewes at either 2 or 22 h. However, there was a tendency (P = .08) for more sperm to be recovered from the anterior reproductive tract in 3E and MAT ewes than from that in 1E ewes. There was a time of hysterectomy x anatomical segment interaction (P < .05) for percentage of sperm recovered of the total number of sperm in the inseminate because more sperm were recovered from the isthmus and ampulla at 22 h than at 2 h after insemination. Percentages of 1E, 3E, or MAT ewes from which sperm were recovered from the anterior reproductive tract did not differ (P > .10). However, sperm were recovered from the oviducts in a greater (P < .05) percentage of ewes at 22 h after insemination than at 2 h. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Seasonal dynamics of Rhipicephalus sanguineus (Acari: Ixodidae) in dogs from a police unit in Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil

The seasonal dynamics of Rhipicephalus sanguineus ticks was developed in dogs from a Police Unit in Goiânia, Goias, Brazil, from July 2001 to July 2002. The study was carried out on seven naturally infested dogs (two English Cocker Spaniels and five mongrel dogs), with ages between six months and 10 years. Every two weeks, the numbers of feeding larvae, nymphs, and adults were determined. Dogs showing infestation levels above 500 adult ticks received three acaricide treatments. Considering that the treatments had affected the development of some peaking populations of ticks, it was inferred the occurrence of the following peaks: - larvae (four peaks): from August to November, from November to February, from March to May, and from May to July; - nymphs (five peaks): from July to September, from October to December, from December to February, from March to May, and from June to July; - adults (four peaks): from July to October, from October to January, from January to March, and from April to July. The occurrence of these consecutive peaks of activity of each stage of R. sanguineus may indicate that this tick can develop up to four generations per year in Goiânia. On the other hand, if the acaricide treatment did not interfere with the development of R. sanguineus peaks, more than four peaks of each stage have occurred on the dogs. In this case, it is acceptable to infer that more than one population of R. sanguineus was developing within the kennel concomitantly. The mean numbers of each tick stage was similar in the different seasons. The main attachment sites were located on the neck, chest, forelegs, armpits, ears, between toes and on the head. The number of adult ticks feeding on English Cocker Spaniel dogs was 1.4 to 11.5 times higher than that feeding on mongrel dogs.
Evaluation of Moringa oleifera Seeds for Prophylactic and Curative Effects in CCl 4 Induced Rat Liver Injury

The present research work was designed to establish the possible preventive and curative hepatoprotective efficacy on CCl 4 poisoned rat liver toxicity. Fresh mature seeds were shade dried at room temperature, coarse powdered and extracted with 70% hydroalcohol by Soxhlet’s extraction method. Thereafter, the extract was concentrated using rotary flash evaporator to obtain semisolid crude extract with the yield of 10.52%. Moringa oleifera seeds extract was investigated in graded doses (100, 250 and 500 mg/kg) on CCl 4 mediated liver injury in rats. Antihepatotxic potential was assessed by the estimation of biochemical markers viz. SGPT, SGOT, ALP, ACP and bilirubin (Direct & Total). In addition, liver GSH and MDA levels and histopathological examination were also studied. The dose dependent significant reduction of biochemical markers and bilirubin levels were seen in rats subjected to both pre and post treatments of test extract. Though, the extract at a dose of 100 mg/kg exhibited considerable reduction in concentration of ACP, TB and DB in pre and post treatment modes, but the results were found to be statistically not significant. Hepatic control rats showed significant decrease in hepatic GSH content and elevation of MDA (Malondialdehyde) level compared to normal control group. Pre and post treatment of text extract dose dependently reversed the CCl 4 mediated altered hepatic GSH and MDA levels. The histopathological examination of rat liver sections were supported the hepatoprotective activity of the test extract. The findings of the present investigation suggest that seeds extract of the title plant possesses equally potent prophylactic and curative hepatoprotective efficacy against CCl 4 rendered liver injury in rats.
Prevalence of ocular injuries, conjunctivitis and use of eye protection among dental personnel in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

AIMS To find out the prevalence of ocular injury and infection among dental personnel in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. PARTICIPANTS Two hundred and four dental personnel. METHOD A questionnaire completed by researchers and observation during practice. RESULTS The response rate was 81%. Dentists and dental technicians had a similar prevalence (42.3%) of foreign bodies in their eyes during the period of one month. Almost 50.5% of dentists rarely had foreign bodies in their eyes, while only 22.2% of dental technicians claimed the same. The majority of dental surgery assistants (73.6%) never experienced foreign bodies in their eyes. Only 27.0% of female personnel had foreign bodies in their eyes as compared to 73.0% of male personnel, while only 28.5% of females had conjunctivitis as compared to 71.4% among male personnel. 75% of regular eye protector wearers (EPW) never had foreign bodies while 67.2% EPW never had conjunctivitis. Dental technicians were more prone to ocular injury, 13.8% as compared to 4.4% of dentists. Only 30% of the regular eye protector wearers suffered ocular injury. CONCLUSIONS Protection of the eyes should be emphasised and practised at undergraduate level. The awareness of eye protection should be highlighted at all clinical and research symposia. Further studies should be conducted to assess the financial implications of ocular injuries and infections in dental institutions and practices. Recommendations are made for universal precautions and the observation of safety at work guidelines by all dental team members.
The cell cycle control protein cdc25C is present, and phosphorylated on serine 214 in the transition from germinal vesicle to metaphase II in human oocyte meiosis

Cdc25C is a dual specificity phosphatase essential for dephosphorylation and activation of cyclin‐dependent kinase 1 (cdk1), a prerequisite step for mitosis in all eucaryotes. Cdc25C activation requires phosphorylation on at least six sites including serine 214 (S214) which is essential for metaphase/anaphase transit. Here, we have investigated S214 phosphorylation during human meiosis with the objectives of determining if this mitotic phosphatase cdc25C participates in final meiotic divisions in human oocytes. One hundred forty‐eight human oocytes from controlled ovarian stimulation protocols were stained for immunofluorescence: 33 germinal vesicle (GV), 37 metaphase stage I (MI), and 78 unfertilized metaphase stage II (MII). Results were stage dependent, identical, independent of infertility type, or stimulation protocol. During GV stages, phospho‐cdc25C is localized at the oocyte periphery. During early meiosis I (MI), phosphorylated cdc25C is no longer detected until onset of meiosis I. Here, phospho‐cdc25C localizes on interstitial microtubules and at the cell periphery corresponding to the point of polar body expulsion. As the first polar body reaches the periphery, phosphorylated cdc25C is localized at the junction corresponding to the mid body position. On polar body expulsion, the interior signal for phospho‐cdc25C is lost, but remains clearly visible in the extruded polar body. In atresic or damaged oocytes, the polar body no longer stains for phospho‐cdc25C. Human cdc25C is both present and phosphorylated during meiosis I and localizes in a fashion similar to that seen during human mitotic divisions implying that the involvement of cdc25C is conserved and functional in meiotic cells. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 75: 1176–1184, 2008. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The Ethical Sensitivity of Nurses in Turkey

In this study we tried to gain information about the ethical sensitivity (as well as the ethical knowledge) of nurses working at the bedside in our country. Four scenarios were presented to 165 nurses working in hospital wards in Kocaeli. More than half of the nurses can be considered to have made decisions based on beneficence for the first scenario, while more than half of them preferred to make decisions based on autonomy for the second and the fourth scenarios. For the third scenario, most of the nurses (76.4%) can be said to have based their decisions on veracity. These results suggest that these nurses were sensitive to issues of confidentiality, truth telling and beneficence; however, they were not equally sensitive when the right to refuse treatment was concerned.
Phonological content impact on wrongful convictions in Forensic Voice Comparison context

Forensic Voice Comparison (FVC) is increasingly using the likelihood ratio (LR) in order to indicate whether the evidence supports the prosecution (same-speaker) or defender (different-speakers) hypotheses. Nevertheless, the LR accepts some practical limitations due both to its estimation process itself and to a lack of knowledge about the reliability of this (practical) estimation process. It is particularly true when FVC is considered using Automatic Speaker Recognition (ASR) systems. Indeed, in the LR estimation performed by ASR systems, different factors are not considered such as speaker intrinsic characteristics, denoted “speaker factor”, the amount of information involved in the comparison as well as the phonological content and so on. This article focuses on the impact of phonological content on FVC involving two different speakers and more precisely the potential implication of a specific phonemic category on wrongful conviction cases (innocents are send behind bars). We show that even though the vast majority of speaker pairs (more than 90%) are well discriminated, few pairs are difficult to distinguish. For the “best” discriminated pairs, all the phonemic content play a positive role in speaker discrimination while for the “worst” pairs, it appears that nasals have a negative effect and lead to a confusion between speakers.
4. Cycles of resistance in Escherichia coli and their bearing on variations in resistance in cultures.

SUMMARY: Small amounts of proflavine were added at intervals of 30 min. to growing cultures of Escherichia coli. Additions during the logarithmic phase gave an increase of resistance of two- or threefold in a high proportion of organisms. Additions in the lag or late logarithmic phase gave no such increase, although the resistance of the organisms themselves was higher in these phases. Whether organisms were able to grow in the presence of proflavine, therefore, depended not only on their resistance but on the conditions in the culture medium. The increase in proflavine resistance, which occurred when drug was added to growing cultures, was not accompanied by increase of cross-resistance to other drugs. The resistance was lost on growth in the absence of drug. For these reasons, the increase is held to be a phenotypic adaptation. There was also an increase in the number of organisms with a high resistance, of the order of that of mutants. These organisms showed cross resistance with other drugs. Partial synchronization of division was achieved by the temporary cooling of cultures. These synchronized cultures showed cycles of division of about 30 min. They also showed cycles of resistance of c. 20 min. Evidence is presented for the view that the organisms undergo cycles of varying adaptability to proflavine resistance. It is suggested that this variation in adaptability can explain the range of resistance found in an ordinary sensitive culture. It can also explain the effect of proflavine additions in raising the resistance of a high proportion of organisms in a growing culture.
Dedifferentiated Liposarcoma Clinicopathologic Analysis of 32 Cases Suggesting a Better Prognostic Subgroup Among Pleomorphic Sarcomas

Dedifferentiated liposarcoma is uncommon, and only a small number of cases have been documented. We describe the clinicopathologic features in a series of 32 cases. All patients were adults (age range, 37–83 years; median, 67 years); 20 were men and 12 were women. Commonest site was the retroperitoneum (fifteen cases); six cases arose in the limbs, four in the paratesticular region, three in the peritoneal cavity, two on the trunk, and one each in the buttock and larynx. One primary tumor was subcutaneous. Thirty tumors arose de novo (i.e., combined with well-differentiated tumor in the primary lesion), while two developed in recurrences of a previously well-differentiated liposarcoma. The well-differentiated component was most often lipoma-like and typically there was a histologically abrupt transition to spindle celled nonlipogenic tumor. The dedifferentiated component most often resembled either storiform “malignant fibrous histiocytoma” (“MFH”) with limited pleomorphism or myxofibrosarcoma (myxoid “MFH”); the latter pattern is rarely otherwise seen in the retroperitoneum. A small number of cases showed appearances reminiscent of myxoid embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma. An unusual feature in three cases was the occurrence of a discontinuous micronodular pattern of dedifferentiation. Average follow-up of 5.6 years (range, 3 months to 33 years) in 27 cases have revealed local recurrence in 14 patients and systemic metastases in only four patients. The primary sites of the metastasising cases were upper back, thigh, retroperitoneum, and paratesticular region. There have been only seven tumor-related deaths. Good prognosis in de novo dedifferentiated liposarcomas seems unrelated to the extent or morphologic pattern of dedifferentiation. However, high mitotic activity in the dedifferentiated component was associated with a more aggressive clinical course. Our study underlines that dedifferentiation in peripherally located or even subcutaneous liposarcomas does occur, albeit rarely, and that dedifferentiated liposarcomas of the limbs may metastasize. The results suggest that dedifferentiated liposarcomas, as a subgroup among the “MFH-like” sarcomas, have a better prognosis than pleomorphic sarcomas as a whole.
Evidence that putrescine acts as an extracellular signal required for swarming in Proteus mirabilis

In a search for Proteus mirabilis genes that were regulated by cell‐to‐cell signalling, a lacZ fusion (cmr437::mini‐Tn5lacZ) was identified that was repressed 10‐fold by a self‐produced extracellular signal from wild‐type cells. However, the cmr437::mini‐Tn5lacZ insertion itself led to a marked reduction in this extracellular repressing signal. The cmr437::mini‐Tn5lacZ insertion was mapped to a speA homologue in P. mirabilis. Sequence analysis indicated that a speB homologue was encoded downstream of speA. Products of the SpeA and SpeB enzymes (agmatine and putrescine) were tested for repression of cmr437::lacZ. Agmatine did not have repressing activity. However, putrescine was an effective repressing molecule at concentrations down to 30 µM. A second prominent phenotype of the cmr437 (speA)::mini‐Tn5lacZ insertion was a severe defect in swarming motility. This swarming defect was also observed in a strain containing a disruption of the downstream speB gene. Differentiation of the speB mutant to swarmer cells was delayed by two hours relative to wild‐type cells. Furthermore, the speB mutant was unable to migrate effectively across agar surfaces and formed very closely spaced swarming rings. Exogenous putrescine restored both the normal timing of swarmer cell differentiation and the ability to migrate to speB mutants.
Networking Software Studies with the Structured Testing Methodology

The results of systematic software analyses with McCabe’s and Halstead’s metrics are presented for designing and testing three networking systems: the Carrier Internetworking switched routing solution, which allows managing the Internet-based virtual private networks over a multiservice asynchronous transfer mode infrastructure; Carrier Networks Support system that provides both services of conventional Layer-2 switches and the routing and control services of Layer-3 devices; and a system for providing different networking services (IP-VPNs, Firewalls, Network Address Translations, IP Quality-of-Service, and Web steering). The graph-based metrics (cyclomatic complexity, essential complexity, module design complexity, system design complexity, and system integration complexity) have been applied for studying the decision-structure complexity of code modules, code quality (unstructured logic), the amount of interaction between modules, and the estimated number of integration tests that are necessary to guard against errors. Nine protocolbased areas of the code (2,447 modules written in 149,094 lines of C-code) have been analyzed for BGP, Frame Relay, IGMP, IP, ISIS, OSPF, PPP, RIP, and SNMP networking protocols. It has been found that 511 modules (19.4% of the protocolbased code) are both unreliable and unmaintainable, including 27% of the BGP, IP, and OSPF code modules. Only the Frame Relay part of the code is well designed and programmed with a few possible errors. The number of unreliable code modules (29%) correlates well with the number of customer requests, error-fixing submits, and a number of possible errors (1,473) that have been estimated with the Halstead’s metrics. Following the McCabe’s approach of structured testing, 14,401 unit tests and 11,963 module integration tests have been developed to cover the protocol-based code areas. Comparing different Code Releases, it is shown that the reduction of the code complexity leads to significant reduction of the errors and maintainability efforts. The test and code coverage issues for embedded networking systems are also discussed.
Characterization of the Neurotoxin Produced by Isolates Associated with Avian Botulism

Abstract Several varieties of birds are affected by type C botulism. We conducted neutralization tests of culture supernatants of isolates from cases of avian botulism. Whereas the toxin produced by isolates derived from mammalian botulism was neutralized only with type C antitoxin, the toxins of all isolates related to avian botulism were neutralized with both type C and D antitoxins. An analysis of nucleotide sequences with several strains revealed that the neurotoxin gene in the isolates from avian botulism comprises two thirds of the type C neurotoxin gene and one third of the type D neurotoxin gene. This indicates that the neurotoxin of avian isolates is a mosaic of type C and D neurotoxins. We prepared three sets of primers to differentiate the gene for the mosaic form from the conserved genes of type C and D neurotoxins. The results of polymerase chain reaction with these primers indicated that all avian botulism–related isolates and specimens possess the gene for the mosaic form of the neurotoxin. The toxins purified from avian and mammalian isolates exhibited the same degree of lethality in mice, but the former showed greater toxicity to chickens than the latter. These results indicate that the mosaic neurotoxin is probably a pathogenic agent causing some forms of avian botulism.
Imiquimod as a dermatological therapy

Imiquimod is the first of a new class of drugs (immune response modifiers) to become commercially available. It is approved in many countries for the treatment of genital warts caused by the human papilloma virus infection. However, there are reports of its use in a variety of dermatological conditions, such as basal cell carcinomas, actinic keratoses, lentigo maligna, common warts and molluscum contagiosum. Its mechanism of action is through stimulation of the T helper cell Type 1 (Th1) immune response via activation of cell surface pathogen recognition receptors (mainly toll-like receptor 7). This activation stimulates the immune system’s own defence mechanism against both virally infected and tumour cells. Imiquimod and other analogues show promise in the prophylactic treatment of skin tumours in some patients, especially those who are immunocompromised.