Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The damage caused by Callosobruchus maculatus on cowpea grains is dependent on the plant genotype.

BACKGROUND Beans from cowpea cultivars fertilized with mineral N or inoculated with various rhizobium strains may contain different nitrogen concentrations and nitrogen metabolite composition, which affects the beans' defense mechanisms against pests. In this study, the population growth of Callosobruchus maculatus reared on beans from four cowpea cultivars fertilized with different nitrogen sources was evaluated. The factors tested were beans from four cowpea cultivars and seven different nitrogen sources: mineral N fertilization, inoculation with five strains of symbiotic diazotrophic bacteria, and soil nitrogen (absolute control). RESULTS BRS Tapaihum and BRS Acauã cultivars had lower cumulative emergence and instantaneous rate of population growth of the insects compared with other cultivars, indicating antixenosis resistance against C. maculatus. Inoculation of BRS Acauã cultivar with the diazotrophic bacteria strain BR 3299 resulted in higher mortality of C. maculatus. For BRS Tapaihum cultivar, inoculation with diazotrophic bacteria strains BR3267, BR 3262 and BR 3299, and nitrogen fertilization resulted in higher mortality among C. maculatus. CONCLUSION BRS Tapaihum and BRS Acauã cultivars showed the lowest cumulative insect emergence and instantaneous rates of population growth, and the highest insect mortality, mainly when the grains were obtained from plants inoculated with rhizobial strains. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry.
A Case Report of Opium Body Packer; Review of the Treatment Protocols and Mechanisms of Poisoning

ABSTRACT Body packers are people who illegally carry drugs, mostly cocaine as well as opium and/or heroin, concealed within their bodies. The packets are inserted in the mouth, rectum, or vagina in order to get across borders without being detected. In this presentation we report a case of an opium body packer and review the available scientific literature by focusing on mechanisms of toxicity and treatment approach. The patient was a 35-year-old man who had lethargy, respiratory depression, tachycardia, normal blood pressure, hyperthermia, and pinpoint pupils on presentation. No past medical history was obtained and the only positive history was his travel from Afghanistan 2 days earlier, which he had given to emergency personnel before arriving at our hospital. Complete blood cells and kidney and liver tests were all in normal range. In the emergency department, the patient was treated with oxygen, naloxone, and hypertonic glucose. One dose of activated charcoal (1 g/kg) was administered orally. After intravenous injection of naloxone (4 mg), the lethargy, respiratory depression, and miosis were resolved. The patient was admitted to the intensive care unit and 90 min after admission, the patient redeveloped respiratory distress and lost consciousness. He was intubated and mechanically ventilated due to the suspicious of body packing. Plain abdominal x-ray showed multiple packets throughout the gastrointestinal tract; 81 packets were removed by surgery and three of them were left due to leaking. After removing the packets, the patient was treated conservatively. He suffered a pulmonary infection (aspiration pneumonia) and he regained consciousness after 4 days. Upon recovery the patient was seen by a psychiatrist prior to going to prison. Surgery is recommended for body packers who have significant signs or symptoms.
Fabrication and Characterization of ZnO Thin Films by Sol-Gel Spin Coating Method for the Determination of Phosphate Buffer Saline Concentration

The fabrication, characterization and application of nanostructured zinc oxide (ZnO) thin films on interdigitated silver elec- trodes were described for the determination of phosphate buffer saline (PBS) concentration. The ZnO thin films were synthesized on a silicon dioxide wafer using a sol-gel spin coating technique. Two different seed solutions were prepared by dissolving Zn-acetate dihy- drate in methanol and isopropanol in presence of a stabilizer, monoethanolamine. The field emission scanning electron microscope, atomic force microscope, X-ray diffractometer and Fourier transform infrared characterization revealed the presence of hexagonal ZnO nano-crystals in all thin films. However, the smaller sized and homogeneous ZnO nano-crystals were observed in isopropanol derived thin films. These thin films were used to discriminate the concentrations of different PBS solutions and the discriminatory signals were captured using a low-cost dielectric analyzer and a source meter. The frequency-capacitance curve reflected 2.85 fold increase in capaci- tance values when the sensor was exposed to 1000-fold diluted PBS in deionized water. A change in PBS concentration from 1000 fold to 10 fold increased the current flow from 6uF to 122uF. Thus the capacitance and current flow demonstrated a proportional relationship with the concentration of PBS, suggesting the application of the fabricated sensor in the determination and discrimination of chemical- species concentration in various solutions.
Insertional Mutagenesis of a Fungal Biocontrol Agent Led to Discovery of a Rare Cellobiose Lipid with Antifungal Activity

ABSTRACT Insertional mutagenesis was applied for the first time to a fungal biocontrol agent, Pseudozyma flocculosa, in an attempt to obtain mutants with altered antagonistic properties. Transformants were obtained via DNA-mediated transformation. Molecular analyses of the transformants revealed that multiple copies of the plasmid were integrated in tandem at one to many chromosomal loci. The transformants were screened for their biocontrol properties using standard bioassays, and the 160 tested transformants were classified into four groups: group I mutants (22 transformants) showed a stronger antagonistic effect than the wild type (WT) while those of group II (107 transformants) had a comparable antagonistic effect; group III mutants (17 transformants) had a decreased antagonistic effect relative to WT and group IV mutants (14 transformants) had lost their biocontrol properties. Culture extracts of the mutants (group IV) and WT were analyzed and compared for the presence of active metabolites which were then separated by solid-phase extraction and purified using conventional methods. Nuclear magnetic resonance experiments and analytical studies on a metabolite specifically produced by the WT revealed the presence of 2-(2′,4′-diacetoxy-5′-carboxy-pentanoyl) octadecyl cellobioside (flocculosin), a novel glycolipid with strong antifungal properties; the production of this compound would account for the biocontrol activity of P. flocculosa.
Satisfaction levels of paediatric surgeons in Canada.

BACKGROUND Surgeons' satisfaction levels may affect patient care and the stability of the surgical workforce. METHODS A detailed Internet-based satisfaction survey was administered to paediatric surgeons in Canada in 2005 and 2012. Satisfaction was rated 1 (most) to 5 (least), in five areas: quality of life, financial compensation, work environment, academics and patient care. RESULTS Responses were received from 21 surgeons in 2005 and 61 in 2012, representing 43% and 98% of practicing paediatric surgeons in Canada, respectively. Satisfaction levels were generally moderate to high in most areas during both years. In academics, surgeons were more satisfied in 2012 with the amount of teaching they provided (1.8 versus 2.2; P=0.02), and clinical research they performed (2.5 versus 3.0; P=0.04). In patient care, there was higher satisfaction with the ability to provide elective services without impediment (2.5 versus 3.0; P=0.02). Over the seven-year period, surgeons increasingly preferred the Canadian health care system over that of the United States (1.7 versus 2.2; P=0.02). In the 2012 survey, no differences in levels of satisfaction were found between male and female surgeons. CONCLUSIONS During the recent seven-year period, satisfaction levels of paediatric surgeons in Canada have been stable with regard to quality of life, compensation and work environment, and improving in areas of academics and patient care. Male and female surgeons are equally satisfied. The Canadian health care system is preferred over that of the United States.
DARWIN dark matter WIMP search with noble liquids

DARWIN (dark matter wimp search with noble liquids) is a design study for a next-generation, multi-ton dark matter detector in Europe. Liquid argon and/or liquid xenon are the target media for the direct detection of dark matter candidates in the form of weakly interacting massive particles (WIMPs). Light and charge signals created by particle interactions in the active detector volume are observed via the time projection chamber technique. DARWIN is to probe the spin-independent, WIMP-nucleon cross section down l0−48cm2 and to measure WIMP-induced nuclear recoil spectra with high-statistics, should they be discovered by an existing or near-future experiment. After a brief introduction, I will describe the project, selected R&D topics, expected backgrounds and the physics reach.
Two decades of genetic profiling yields first evidence of natal philopatry and long‐term fidelity to parturition sites in sharks

Sharks are a globally threatened group of marine fishes that often breed in their natal region of origin. There has even been speculation that female sharks return to their exact birthplace to breed (‘natal philopatry’), which would have important conservation implications. Genetic profiling of lemon sharks (Negaprion brevirostris) from 20 consecutive cohorts (1993–2012) at Bimini, Bahamas, showed that certain females faithfully gave birth at this site for nearly two decades. At least six females born in the 1993–1997 cohorts returned to give birth 14–17 years later, providing the first direct evidence of natal philopatry in the chondrichthyans. Long‐term fidelity to specific nursery sites coupled with natal philopatry highlights the merits of emerging spatial and local conservation efforts for these threatened predators.
Clinicopathologic Characteristics of Peripheral Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Lung

Squamous cell carcinoma of the lung can be divided into two types according to the location of the primary site: the central type and the peripheral type. The clinicopathologic factors in the peripheral type of lung squamous cell carcinoma have not yet been fully evaluated. A total of 204 surgically resected lung squamous cell carcinomas were reviewed with special reference to their location, histologic characteristics based on tumor growth patterns, and clinicopathologic factors. The central type and the peripheral type accounted for 95 and 109 cases, respectively. Although the patient population of the peripheral type was older, with a lower pathologic stage, lower lymphatic vessel involvement, and lymph node metastasis, the Kaplan-Meier survival proportions did not differ significantly between these two groups. Based on the histologic growth pattern, the peripheral type was classified under three subgroups as follows: 1) the alveolar space-filling type, 2) the expanding type, and 3) the combined type. Among these three types, the alveolar space-filling type showed neither lymphatic vessel invasion nor lymph node metastasis and had the most favorable prognosis. The central and peripheral types of lung squamous cell carcinoma have different clinicopathologic characteristics and should be classified under respectively different categories.
Fear, excitement, and financial risk-taking

Can fear trigger risk-taking? In this paper, we assess whether fear can be reinterpreted as a state of excitement as a result of contextual cues and promote, rather than discourage, risk-taking. In a laboratory experiment, the participants' emotional states were induced (fear vs. control), followed by a purportedly unrelated financial task. The task was framed as either a stock market investment or an exciting casino game. Our results showed that incidental fear (vs. control) induced risk-averse behaviour when the task was framed as a stock investment decision. However, fear encouraged risk-taking when the very same task was framed as an exciting casino game. The impact of fear on risk-taking was partially mediated by the excitement felt during the financial task.
MINIMAL VECTORS OF POSITIVE OPERATORS

We use the method of minimal vectors to prove that certain classes of positive quasinilpotent operators on Banach lattices have invariant subspaces. We say that a collection of operators F on a Banach lattice X satisfies condition ( ) if there exists a closed ball B(x0,r) in X such that x0 > 0 and kx0k > r, and for every sequence (xn) in B(x0,r) \ (0,x0) there exists a subsequence (xni) and a sequence Ki 2 F such that Kixni converges to a non-zero vector. Let Q be a positive quasinilpotent operator on X, one-to-one, with dense range. Denote hQ) = {T > 0 : TQ 6 QT}. If either the set of all operators dominated by Q or the set of all contractions in hQ) satisfies ( ), then hQ) has a common invariant subspace. We also show that if Q is a one-to-one quasinilpotent interval preserving operator on C0(), then hQ) has a common invariant subspace. Lomonosov proved in (Lom73) that if T is not a multiple of the identity and com- mutes with a non-zero compact operator K, then T has a hyperinvariant subspace, that is, a proper closed nontrivial subspace invariant under every operator S in the commutant {T} 0 = {S 2 L(X) : ST = TS}. There has been numerous extensions and generalizations of the result of Lomonosov. In particular, Abramovich, Aliprantis, and Burkinshaw produced several generalizations of Lomonosov's theorem for Banach lattice setting (AAB93, AAB94, AAB98), see also (AA02). In these generalizations commutation relations are substituted by a super-commutation relation ST 6 TS or ST > TS and domination 0 6 K 6 T. They proved a series of results of the fol- lowing type: if S is related to a compact operator via a certain rather loose chain of super-commutations and dominations, then S has an invariant subspace. Ansari and Enflo (AE98) have recently introduced the so-called technique of minimal vectors in order to prove the existence of invariant subspaces for certain classes of operators on a Hilbert space. The method was later modified so that it could be used in arbitrary Banach spaces in (JKP03, And03, CPS04, Tr04). In particular, the method of minimal vectors allows to prove Lomonosov-type results where a compact operator is replaced with a family of operators that "mimic" a compact operator.
Did the American Medical Association make the correct decision classifying obesity as a disease?

The American Medical Association (AMA) recently classified obesity a disease, defining obesity as having a Body Mass Index (BMI) measure above 30.1 This decision went against the advice of its own Public Health and Science Committee, and has sparked widespread discontent and discussion amongst medical and healthcare communities. The fact that this classification has been made has potential ramifications for health care around the world, and many factors need to be considered in deciding whether the decision to make obesity a disease is in fact appropriate.
Osteogenic potential of cissus qudrangularis assessed with osteopontin expression

Purpose: Fracture healing involves complex processes of cell and tissue proliferation and differentiation. Many factors are involved, including growth factors, inflammatory cytokines, antioxidants, bone breakdown (osteoclast) and bone building (osteoblast) cells, hormones, amino acids, and uncounted nutrients. We studied the osteogenic potential of Cissus quadrangularis (CQ), a plant that has been customarily used in the Indian subcontinent to hasten the process of healing in bone fractures. Materials and Methods: Total of 60 patients (age, 20-35 years) of mandible fracture was divided in two groups. Patients of group 1 were given capsules of CQ and fracture healing was assessed with osteopontin expression during treatment. Group 2 was control group. Results: Clinical and radiological analysis in our study was suggestive of better healing of fractures in group 1. All the samples of group 1 examined for osteopontin expression using western blot analysis and flow cytometry showed significant levels of expression of osteopontin protein and CD4+ T cells expressing osteopontin, respectively. Conclusion: We conclude that CQ accelerates fracture healing and also causes early remodeling of fracture callus.
Conservation implications of historic sea turtle nesting beach loss

Populations of endangered Caribbean sea turtles are far more depleted than realized because current conservation assessments do not reflect historic nesting data. We used historical sources to analyze changes in the numbers of nesting populations and population sizes for green and hawksbill turtles on all known nesting beaches in the Caribbean over the past millennium. We present the first maps of historic nesting populations, which provide the basis for an objective measure of changes in distribution and abundance. Our results indicate that 20% of historic nesting sites have been lost entirely and 50% of the remaining nesting sites have been reduced to dangerously low populations. Recent conservation efforts have resulted in large population increases at several nesting sites, but loss of widespread nesting throughout the Caribbean and reductions in the Caribbean-wide population since human hunting began indicate that Caribbean turtles are far from recovered. Focusing attention on a small number of nesting populations is a risk-prone strategy; conservation programs should instead broaden their scope to protect both large and small nesting populations throughout the Caribbean.
Electroweak symmetry breaking in supersymmetric gauge-Higgs unification models

We examine the Higgs mass parameters and electroweak symmetry breaking in supersymmetric orbifold field theories in which the 4-dimensional Higgs fields originate from higher-dimensional gauge supermultiplets. It is noted that such gauge-Higgs unification leads to a specific boundary condition on the Higgs mass parameters at the compactification scale, which is independent of the details of supersymmetry breaking mechanism. With this boundary condition, phenomenologically viable parameter space of the model is severely constrained by the condition of electroweak symmetry breaking for supersymmetry breaking scenarios which can be realized naturally in orbifold field theories. For instance, if it is assumed that the 4-dimensional effective theory is the minimal supersymmetric standard model with supersymmetry breaking parameters induced mainly by the Scherk-Schwarz mechanism, a correct electroweak symmetry breaking can not be achieved for reasonable range of parameters of the model, even when one includes additional contributions to the Higgs mass parameters from the auxiliary component of 4-dimensional conformal compensator. However if there exists a supersymmetry breaking mediated by brane superfield, sizable portion of the parameter space can give a correct electroweak symmetry breaking.
Modulation of Monsoon Circulations by Cross-Equatorial Ocean Heat Transport

Motivated by observations of southward ocean heat transport (OHT) in the northern Indian Ocean during summer, the role of the ocean in modulating monsoon circulations is explored by coupling an atmospheric model to a slab ocean with an interactive representation of OHT and an idealized subtropical continent. Southward OHT by the cross-equatorial cells is caused by Ekman flow driven by southwesterly monsoon winds in the summer months, cooling sea surface temperatures (SSTs) south of the continent. This increases the reversed meridional surface gradient of moist static energy, shifting the precipitation maximum over the land and strengthening the monsoonal circulation, in the sense of enhancing the vertical wind shear. However, the atmosphere’s cross-equatorial meridional overturning circulation is also weakened by the presence of southward OHT, as the atmosphere is required to transport less energy across the equator. The sensitivity of these effects to varying the strength of the OHT, fixing the OHT at its annual-mean value, and to removing the land is explored. Comparisons with more realistic models suggest that the idealized model used in this study produces a reasonable representation of the effect of OHT on SSTs equatorward of subtropical continents, and hence can be used to study the role of OHT in shaping monsoon circulations on Earth.
Late complications from posterior segment intraocular foreign bodies with particular reference to retinal detachment.

During the first half of the 20th century there was a strong controversy over the route for removal of an intraocular foreign body (IOFB) lying in the posterior segment of the eye. In the early years the anterior route was substantially the method of choice (Barkan and Barkan, 1927; Verhoeff, 1932; Duggan, I933; Trevor-Roper, i944; and others). The posterior route had been advocated by Stieren (I932) since i902, and gradually with control of infection and inflammation, the pendulum swung until this became substantially the method of choice (Roper-Hall, I954; Rubinstein, 1954; and others). It is not the intention now to consider arguments of the past, but rather to consider the method of posterior route removal in the light of ensuing complications, and to discuss certain factors relating to the complication of retinal detachment.
Imaging properties of high aperture multiphoton fluorescence scanning optical microscopes

A theory for multiphoton fluorescence imaging in high aperture scanning optical microscopes employing finite sized detectors is presented. The effect of polarisation of the fluorescent emission on the imaging properties of such microscopes is investigated. The lateral and axial resolutions are calculated for one‐, two‐ and three‐photon excitation of p‐quaterphenyl for high and low aperture optical systems. Significant improvement in lateral resolution is found to be achieved by employing a confocal pinhole. This improvement increases with the order of the multiphoton process. Simultaneously, it is found that, when the size of the pinhole is reduced to achieve the best possible resolution, the signal‐to‐noise ratio is not degraded by more than 30%. The degree of optical sectioning achieved is found to improve dramatically with the use of confocal detection. For two‐ and three‐photon excitation axial full width half‐maximum improvement of 30% is predicted.
Intermediate-node initiated reservation (IIR): a new signaling scheme for wavelength-routed networks with sparse conversion

In this work, we propose a new distributed signaling scheme, within the GMPLS framework for establishing lightpaths in wavelength-routed networks with sparse wavelength conversion. Analytical models are developed to evaluate the performance of the proposed scheme. Theoretical and simulation results show that compared to the classic schemed designed primarily for networks with no wavelength conversion, the proposed signaling scheme can achieve much lower blocking probability.
Recurrent mixed tumors of the parotid gland—results of surgical therapy

The clinical courses and methods of therapy of 26 patients with recurrent tumors of the parotid gland treated at the Stanford University and University of California at Los Angeles Medical Centers between 1955 and 1973 are reviewed. Seven approaches to the management of complete tumor removal and avoidance of permanent facial nerve injury are discussed. After analysis of 44 recurrences in 26 patients with mixed parotid tumors treated surgically and/or with radiation therapy, we concluded the following: The mean interval to first recurrence was 7.7 years (range 3–21 years), while that of the second was only 2.1 years. The mean time to third recurrence was 4.3 years. Surgery designed to spare the facial nerve resulted in transitory facial paresis or paralysis in 52% of the patients and permanent impairment persisted in 29% (minimum 3 year follow‐up); however, only 8% had a permanent facial paralysis involving greater than 20% of the facial nerve.