Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Using two-sex life tables to determine fitness parameters of four Bactrocera species (Diptera: Tephritidae) reared on a semi-artificial diet

Abstract Fruit flies in the genus Bactrocera are global, economically important pests of agricultural food crops. However, basic life history information about these pests, which is vital for designing more effective control methods, is currently lacking. Artificial diets can be used as a suitable replacement for natural host plants for rearing fruit flies under laboratory conditions, and this study reports on the two-sex life-table parameters of four Bactrocera species (Bactrocera correcta, Bactrocera dorsalis, Bactrocera cucurbitae, and Bactrocera tau) reared on a semi-artificial diet comprising corn flour, banana, sodium benzoate, yeast, sucrose, winding paper, hydrochloric acid and water. The results indicated that the larval development period of B. correcta (6.81 ± 0.65 days) was significantly longer than those of the other species. The fecundity of B. dorsalis (593.60 eggs female−1) was highest among the four species. There were no differences in intrinsic rate of increase (r) and finite rate of increase (λ) among the four species. The gross reproductive rate (GRR) and net reproductive rate (R0) of B. dorsalis were higher than those of the other species, and the mean generation time (T) of B. cucurbitae (42.08 ± 1.21 h) was longer than that of the other species. We conclude that the semi-artificial diet was most suitable for rearing B. dorsalis, due to its shorter development time and higher fecundity. These results will be useful for future studies of fruit fly management.
Quality of life and longevity: a study of centenarians.

OBJECTIVE Interest in centenarians has focused on two particular aspects: the antecedents of extreme old age and the psychophysical well-being of the very old. Our study deals with the latter aspect and aims to assess the quality of life of Italian centenarians. METHOD Using data collected using two questionnaires designed to investigate quality of life in elderly people, three groups of 38 elderly subjects were compared: centenarians and subjects aged between 75 and 85 years and 86 and 99 years. RESULTS The centenarians complained less spontaneously about their health (maintained in part by medical treatments), but declared having greater functional disability. Their cognitive function appears to be reasonably well preserved and they have lower scores for anxiety and depression than the subjects in the two younger groups. They consider themselves religious, satisfied with their financial situation but no longer interested in sex or involved in recreational activities. They report greater satisfaction with life and with social and family relations than do less elderly individuals. CONCLUSIONS The centenarians we interviewed seem to be well adapted to their lives and to maintain a more positive attitude than the subjects in the two younger groups.
Ownership and M&A Performance in a Transitional Economy: The Case of the Chinese Real Estate Industry

ABSTRACT In a transitional economy such as China's, when resources are unevenly distributed across different sectors, the disadvantaged sector may seek a growth path that bypasses resource constraints. We investigated this phenomenon in the context of the Chinese real estate industry. By comparing the post–merger and acquisition (M&A) performance of acquiring firms between state-owned enterprises (SOEs) and privately-owned enterprises (POEs), we attempted to show that POEs are better performers in the market should they be granted equitable resources, and the superior performance is strengthened by market-oriented institutional environment. We used M&A events data of publicly listed real estate firms in China from 2004 to 2012, in conjunction with firm characteristics and province-level market environment data. We found the results to be consistent with our hypotheses. In particular, compared to SOEs, privately-owned acquiring firms tend to have better post-M&A performance when both the regions of the acquirer and the target have high level of marketization. The results suggest that the private sector in China's transitional economy is potentially more efficient than the state-owned sector, as long as the market environment is favorable.
The Neoliberal Restructuring of Agriculture and Food in Greece

While public debt has become the focal point of discussions of the Greek crisis, the Greek crisis has been used as an opportunity to extend a series of neoliberal reforms. I examine the agricultural and food sector of Greece since 1981 and I show how Greece’s integration into the European market, following Greece’s entry in the European Economic Community led to (a) the dismantling of agricultural and food production in Greece and (b) the increased power of middlemen in the Greek food system. The three structural adjustment programs that were implemented in Greece after 2010 increased the liberalization of Greek agriculture and the centralization of the food sector. These changes had adverse implications for both farmers and consumers: farmers faced liberalization and increased costs of production, while consumers saw increased food prices despite internal devaluation.
Posterior Pelvic Fixation Using a Transiliac 4.5-mm Reconstruction Plate: A Clinical and Biomechanical Study

Summary: Operative management of unstable pelvic fractures is directed toward stabilization of the posterior lesion. We describe a technique of posterior pelvic fixation that uses a 4.5-mm reconstruction plate as a transiliac tension band. The plate is inserted through the posterior superior iliac spines with screw fixation to the ilium. Our initial clinical experience was gained using this technique in 15 patients who had unstable pelvic ring injuries with sacral fractures. Stable fixation was achieved in all patients with this low-profile plate. There were no infections, no wound complications, and no failures of fixation. Comparative biomechanical testing using cadaveric and artificial pelvises demonstrated that the strength of the transiliac plate method was equal to that of other techniques of posterior pelvic fixation.
Control ambiental de diferenciación y crecimiento en cultivo in vitro

EL EFECTO DEL AMBIENTE IN VITRO, DETERMINADO POR LOS RECIPIENTES EMPLEADOS DURANTE EL CULTIVO, DEPENDE DE LA TASA DE INTERCAMBIO GASEOSO DEL RECIPIENTE, QUE CONDICIONA LA COMPOSICION DE LA ATMOSFERA DE CULTIVO Y EL POTENCIAL HIDRICO DEL MEDIO, AL INFLUIR EN SU DESECACION. SE HA COMPROBADO EN DOS CULTIVARES DE CLAVEL QUE LA TASA DE HIPERHIDRATACION SE INCREMENTA AL REDUCIR LA VENTILACION, PRODUCIENDO MAS ETILENO EL CULTIVAR MAS SENSIBLE, LA SITUACION SE INVERTIA AL AUMENTAR LA VENTILACION O ELIMINAR EL ETILENO PRODUCIDO, ESPECIALMENTE SI SE REALIZABA DURANTE LAS DOS SEMANAS SIGUIENTES A LA PUESTA EN CULTIVO, APUNTANDO A UNA ACCION DEL ETILENO RELACIONADA CON LA HIPERHIDRATACION DE LAS PLANTAS DURANTE LA MICROPROPAGACION. SE HA DEMOSTRADO QUE ES POSIBLE MICROPROPAGAR PLANTAS SENSIBLES A HIPERHIDRATACION EN MEDIO LIQUIDO, MEDIANTE EL EMPLEO DE SOPORTES SOLIDOS ALTERNATIVOS AL AGAR (FIBRAS DE CELULOSA). EL AMBIENTE DE MICROPROPAGACION PROVOCA EN EL KIWI UNA SERIE DE ALTERACIONES EN LA SUPERFICIE FOLIAR, QUE AFECTAN A LA TASA DE TRANSPIRACION, HACIENDO NECESARIA SU ACLIMATACION GRADUAL A LAS CONDICIONES EXTERIORES. LAS PLANTAS DE KIWI MICROPROPAGADAS PRESENTAN BAJOS VALORES DE RESISTENCIA FOLIAR A LA DIFUSION DEL VAPOR DE AGUA, LO QUE PUEDE RELACIONARSE CON SU INCAPACIDAD DE INCREMENTAR LOS NIVELES DE ACIDO ABSCISICO EN RESPUESTA A LA PERDIDA DE AGUA. LA CAPA DE CERAS EPICUTICULARES DE LAS HOJAS, EN CLAVEL Y EN KIWI, SE ENCUENTRA ALTERADA EN CANTIDAD Y COMPOSICION, EN PLANTAS MICROPROPAGADAS. TANTO LA TASA DE PERDIDA DE AGUA COMO DE FOTOSINTESIS, CONTENIDO DE PIGMENTOS FOTOSINTETICOS Y CANTIDAD DE CERA EPICUTICULAR SON MAS PARECIDAS A LAS PLANTAS NORMALES EN LOS NUEVOS SISTEMAS DE CULTIVOS VENTILADOS EN MEDIO LIQUIDO CON SOPORTES DE CELULOSA. MEDIANTE ESTOS SISTEMAS ES POSIBLE LA MICROPROPAGACION MIXOTROFICA O AUTOTROFICA DE LOS EXPLANTOS, DEPENDIENDO SU OPTIMIZACION DEL ESTABLECIMIENTO DE LOS REQUERIMIENTOS NUTRICIONALES REALES
Management Support of Workplace Health Promotion: Field Test of the Leading by Example Tool

Purpose. This study tested a repeated-measures application of the Leading by Example (LBE) questionnaire, a self-report instrument measuring organizational leadership support for health promotion. Design. The efficacy of the LBE was tested in a quasi-experimental health promotion intervention trial. Twelve worksites were assigned to three intervention conditions (i.e., control, moderate, high intensity). Setting. The worksites were selected from a large U.S.-based chemical company. Subjects. Baseline data were collected from employees in various job roles in 2005 (N = 125). Follow-up data were collected in 2006 (N = 114) and 2007 (N = 106). Response rates ranged from 54% to nearly three-fourths of potential respondents. Intervention. Worksites assigned to both treatment conditions received changes in the built environment via supports for weight management. Worksites assigned to the intense condition received additional elements designed to impact leadership's support for a positive health promotion climate. Measures. Four LBE factors measuring management support for health were assessed over time. Analysis. The Kruskal-Wallis H-test and analyses of variance/covariance were used to compare LBE scores. Results. Significant changes from baseline to 2006 were identified for the four factors (p = .000) of the LBE. No significant changes were found from 2006 to 2007. Conclusions. The LBE effectively captured perceptions of management support for health. Researchers and practitioners alike should consider using the LBE to track and evaluate perceptions of management support for health promotion.
A developmental fMRI study of self-regulatory control in Tourette's syndrome.

OBJECTIVE Disturbances in the maturation of neural systems that mediate self-regulatory processes may contribute to the development of Tourette's syndrome by releasing motor and vocal tics from regulatory control. The purpose of this study was to examine the age correlates of functional activity in neural circuits that subserve self-regulatory control in children and adults with Tourette's syndrome. METHOD The participants were 136 children and adults, which included 66 Tourette's syndrome patients and 70 healthy comparison subjects. During performance of the Stroop interference task, the authors compared the functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) blood-oxygen-level dependent response in patients with Tourette's syndrome with that of healthy comparison subjects. General linear modeling of Stroop-related activations was used to compare the differential effects of age and behavioral performance on changes in self-regulatory control between the two diagnostic groups. RESULTS Although the correlations of age with behavioral performance on the Stroop task were similar between patients with Tourette's syndrome and healthy comparison subjects, the two groups differed significantly in their correlations of age with the magnitude of regional brain activation during the task. Interactions of age with diagnosis were detected in the ventral prefrontal (Brodmann's areas 10 and 24) and posterior cingulate cortices (Brodmann's area 31), and post hoc analyses indicated that subjects with Tourette's syndrome deactivated these regions less with advancing age. Greater activation of bilateral frontostriatal regions (Brodmann's areas 9/46, 45/46; lenticular nucleus; and thalamus) accompanied poorer performance in the patient group, which-in the presence of normal behavioral performance on the Stroop task-suggests that greater activation of the frontostriatal systems helps to maintain task performance in individuals with Tourette's syndrome. CONCLUSIONS Normative developmental correlates of activity in frontostriatal circuits that subserve self-regulatory control are disturbed in persons with Tourette's syndrome. These aberrant developmental correlates are likely a consequence of greater anatomical and functional disturbances in these circuits in adults with Tourette's syndrome, which leads to impaired regulation of tic behaviors. Reduced default-mode processing in ventral prefrontal and posterior cingulate cortices in adults with Tourette's syndrome suggests the presence of greater difficulty in engaging mental processes that become active when freed from the demands of more challenging cognitive tasks. However, individuals with Tourette's syndrome appear to co-opt normal developmental processes in circuits that subserve age-related improvement in self-regulatory control while presumably struggling to maintain adequate task performance.
Examination of vigilance and disengagement of threat in social anxiety with a probe detection task

Abstract Selective attention for threat faces in social anxiety is commonly measured with a probe detection task. Various studies that have used this task show socially anxious individuals exhibit selective attention for threat faces (Mogg & Bradley, 2002; Mogg, Philippot, & Bradley, 2004b; Pishyar, Harris, & Menzies, 2004). Selective attention for threat when measured with a probe detection task is interpreted as an attentional shift toward threat (“vigilance”). Yet, there is data that show socially anxious individuals may have difficulty in shifting their attention away from threat (“disengagement”; Amir, Elias, Klumpp, & Przeworski, 2003). A step toward clarifying the extent to which selective attention for threat comprises vigilance or disengagement effects is described by Koster, Crombez, Verschuere, and de Houwer (2004). We adapted their modified probe detection task to examine vigilance and disengagement effects for threat and happy faces in individuals with and without social anxiety. The results indicate that socially anxious individuals exhibit vigilance for threat faces, but not for happy faces, compared to individuals without social anxiety. Our study is consistent with cognitive theories of anxiety that propose vigilance for threat may contribute to the maintenance of anxiety disorders.
Posterior-only surgical correction of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: an Egyptian experience

Introduction: The aim of this prospective case series study is to document safety and effectiveness of high density pedicle screws through posterior only approach with intraoperative wake-up test in correction of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). Methods: Between 2011 and 2015, all surgically treated patients for AIS were followed up for a minimum of 2 years. Clinical outcomes were evaluated using scoliosis research society-22 (SRS) questionnaire. All patients were classified according to Lenke classification. Major and minor curves Cobb angle as well as sagittal parameters were measured on whole spine X-rays. All patients underwent an intra-operative wake-up test after deformity correction and a minimum of 80% metal density of implants was used. Results: This study included 50 patients. The mean age at time of surgery was 16.8 years. The mean follow-up period was 38.1 months. The mean correction rate for the coronal Cobb angle of the major curve was 79.12%, while that of the minor curve was 68.9%. The mean thoracic kyphosis angle was 38.4° preoperatively, 29.76° postoperatively and 30.36° at the last follow-up. The mean SRS-22 questionnaire scores improved significantly at the last follow-up (P > 0.001). There were no neurological deficits at the wake-up test. No cases of pseudarthrosis or metal failure were encountered. Conclusion: This is a prospective study of at least 80% metal density pedicle screws technique and intra-operative wake-up test in Egyptian patients with AIS. It proved to be an effective and safe technique in correction of radiological parameters, with no neurological or implant related complications. It allowed excellent scoliotic and kyphotic curves correction with minimal loss of correction. On the whole it led to better quality of life.
Symmetrical and Asymmetrical Interactions between Facial Expressions and Gender Information in Face Perception

To investigate the interaction between facial expressions and facial gender information during face perception, the present study matched the intensities of the two types of information in face images and then adopted the orthogonal condition of the Garner Paradigm to present the images to participants who were required to judge the gender and expression of the faces; the gender and expression presentations were varied orthogonally. Gender and expression processing displayed a mutual interaction. On the one hand, the judgment of angry expressions occurred faster when presented with male facial images; on the other hand, the classification of the female gender occurred faster when presented with a happy facial expression than when presented with an angry facial expression. According to the evoked-related potential results, the expression classification was influenced by gender during the face structural processing stage (as indexed by N170), which indicates the promotion or interference of facial gender with the coding of facial expression features. However, gender processing was affected by facial expressions in more stages, including the early (P1) and late (LPC) stages of perceptual processing, reflecting that emotional expression influences gender processing mainly by directing attention.
Effects of metformin on early pregnancy loss in the polycystic ovary syndrome

RiassuntoLa sindrome dell’ovaio policistico rappresenta la causa più frequente di infertilità negli Stati Uniti. Oltre alle difficoltà nel concepimento la sindrome è associata a un elevato tasso di interruzioni di gravidanza (30–50%) durante il primo trimestre. Si ritiene che l’perinsulinemia e l’insulino-resistenza associate alla sindrome dell’ovaio policistico possano contribuire all’alta frequenza di interruzioni precoci di gravidanza e pertanto è stato ipotizzato che un miglioramento dell’insulino-resistenza con abbassamento dell’iperinsulinemia attraverso la somministrazione di metformina durante la gravidanza possa ridurre il numero di interruzioni del primo trimestre. Per questo motivo sono state retrospettivamente confrontate 65 donne che avevano ricevuto metformina durante la gravidanza, con 31 donne che non avevano ricevuto metformina (gruppo di controllo), in un gruppo di donne visitate presso gli ambulatori di endocrinologia negli ultimi 4–5 anni. Il tasso di interruzione di gravidanza nel gruppo con metformina era di 8,8% (6 di 68 gravidanze), mentre nel gruppo di controllo era 41,9% (13 di 31 gravidanze) (p<0,001). Nei sottogruppi di donne che avevano avuto precedenti aborti, il tasso di interruzione era di 11,1% (4 di 36 gravidanze) rispetto a quello del gruppo di controllo che era di 58,3% (7 di 12 gravidanze) (p=0,002). In conclusione nelle donne con la sindrome dell’ovaio policistico la somministrazione di metformina durante la gravidanza riduce la numero di interruzioni spontanee del primo trimestre di gravidanza.
Sedation for critically ill adults with severe traumatic brain injury: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials*

Objectives:To summarize randomized controlled trials on the effects of sedative agents on neurologic outcome, mortality, intracranial pressure, cerebral perfusion pressure, and adverse drug events in critically ill adults with severe traumatic brain injury. Data Sources:PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE, the Cochrane Database, Google Scholar, two clinical trials registries, personal files, and reference lists of included articles. Study Selection:Randomized controlled trials of propofol, ketamine, etomidate, and agents from the opioid, benzodiazepine, &agr;-2 agonist, and antipsychotic drug classes for management of adult intensive care unit patients with severe traumatic brain injury. Data Extraction:In duplicate and independently, two investigators extracted data and evaluated methodologic quality and results. Data Synthesis:Among 1,892 citations, 13 randomized controlled trials enrolling 380 patients met inclusion criteria. Long-term sedation (≥24 hrs) was addressed in six studies, whereas a bolus dose, short infusion, or doubling of plasma drug concentration was investigated in remaining trials. Most trials did not describe baseline traumatic brain injury prognostic factors or important cointerventions. Eight trials possibly or definitely concealed allocation and six were blinded. Insufficient data exist regarding the effects of sedative agents on neurologic outcome or mortality. Although their effects are likely transient, bolus doses of opioids may increase intracranial pressure and decrease cerebral perfusion pressure. In one study, a long-term infusion of propofol vs. morphine was associated with a reduced requirement for intracranial pressure-lowering cointerventions and a lower intracranial pressure on the third day. Trials of propofol vs. midazolam and ketamine vs. sufentanil found no difference between agents in intracranial pressure and cerebral perfusion pressure. Conclusions:This systematic review found no convincing evidence that one sedative agent is more efficacious than another for improvement of patient-centered outcomes, intracranial pressure, or cerebral perfusion pressure in critically ill adults with severe traumatic brain injury. High bolus doses of opioids, however, have potentially deleterious effects on intracranial pressure and cerebral perfusion pressure. Adequately powered, high-quality, randomized controlled trials are urgently warranted.
Effects of sodium nitroprusside upon cardiac work, efficiency, and substrate extraction in severe left ventricular failure.

SUMMARY In nine patients with severe left ventricular failure caused by coronary artery disease or congestive cardiomyopathy, left ventricular pressure, cardiac output, coronary sinus blood flow, and myocardial substrate extraction were measured before and during infusion of sodium nitroprusside. Infusion of 55 ,ug/min reduced left ventricular systolic and end-diastolic pressures, peripheral resistance, coronary sinus flow, and myocardial oxygen consumption. Left ventricular minute work increased slightly, but the large improvement in myocardial efficiency was mainly the result of decreased oxygen consumption. Doubling the infusion rate to 110 ,ug/min caused no further decrease in ventricular pressures depite further reduction of peripheral resistance; as myocardial oxygen consumption did not change, the further improvement in efficiency was due to increased external work, the result of increased stroke volume. Thus, nitroprusside appears to improve efficiency in low dose by reducing load (ventricular pressure and volume decrease) and in high dose by increasing work at constant load. The large reduction in coronary sinus flow during the infusion of 55 ,ug/min did not provoke angina or lactate production, and thus reflected decreased myocardial oxygen demand and not inadequate perfusion pressure. The improvement in efficiency during nitroprusside infusion was not accompanied by significant changes in arterial concentration, extraction ratio, or oxygen extraction ratio of any of the substrates measured, and substrate consumption fell in proportion to coronary flow. Six patients performed isometric exercise during and after nitroprusside infusion. Off nitroprusside exercise increased heart rate, systolic pressure, and peripheral resistance; end-diastolic pressure rose in five patients. Myocardial oxygen consumption increased proportionately more than work to produce a small but significant decrease in efficiency. Exercise during nitroprusside infusion