Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Involvement of C 6 -volatiles in quality formation of herbal medicine: A case study in Astragalus membranaceus var. mongholicus

In this study, the effects of exogenous C6-volatiles on Astragalus membranaceus var. mongholicus growth and secondary metabolism were explored. Five-week old seedlings of A. membranaceus var. mongholicus were exposed to different concentrations of soil-borne hexanal (10, 50, 100 μM) twice/week for 4 weeks. Non-treated plants serve as control. Growth, bioactive compounds and gene expression were measured by conventional and “omic” approaches. The results demonstrated: (1) all doses of hexanal significantly decreased chlorophyll a/b contents; (2) 10 and 100 μM hexanal significantly decreased the shoot length while 50 μM hexanal kept the value at the same level as it was in the control; (3) 50 μM hexanal effectively enhanced the contents of bioactive compounds in roots and the others had no obvious effect; (4) 50 μM hexanal induced more dysregulated metabolites in leaves than in roots, especially those associated with lipid metabolism; (5) expression of unigenes annotaed as “plant-pathogen interaction”, “secondary metabolism” and “lipid metabolism” were largely induced as well as those classified into multiple growth and defense signaling pathways. Taken together, C6-volatiles can serve as potential elicitors for quality formation of herbal medicines. The online version of this article (doi: 10.5073/JABFQ.2017.090.027) contains supplementary files.
Detection and molecular characterization of tomato big bud disease in Qazvin province

Some samples were collected from tomato fields in Qazvin from tomato plants with big bud symptoms such as plant droop and purplish vein under the leaf, enlarged and sac-like pistils and malformed buds. DNA was extracted from the veins and vascular tissues of the plant with CTAB-based methods. In symptomatic plants, DNA fragments of 1800 and 1200bp were amplified by PCR using P1/P7, R16F2n/R16R2 primers. Restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis of nested R16F2n/R16R2 primed PCR product (1200bp) showed that the tomato big bud phytoplasma from Qazvin (TOM-Qazvin) is a member of clover proliferation (16SrVI). Phylogenetic analysis of 16SrRNA and putative restriction site analysis of the R16F2n/R16R2 primed sequence classified TOM phytoplasma in clover proliferation (16SrVI) group and belonged to subgroup 16SrVI-A. Virtual RFLP by using 1200bp sequencing of 16SRNA and 17 restriction enzymes confirmed that TOM-Qazvin belonged to the subgroup 16SrVI-A and16SrVI group. To our knowledge, this is the first report of tomato big bud disease in Qazvin province.
Determinants of loss of glycemic control in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus. Prospective cohort study from Iraq

Background: Despite advances in insulin therapeutics during the past 25 years, only a few individuals with type 1 diabetes achieve glycemic control. The aim of this study is to assess the determinants of loss of glycemic control in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus in Basrah, Iraq. Methods: The data presented are derived from the Al-Faiha Diabetes Endocrine and Metabolism Center (FDEMC) in Basrah. Eligible patients were those with type 1 diabetes. Follow-up started from August 2008 to the end of February 2012. Seven hundred and forty one patients completed the study. Results: Deterioration of glycemic control was seen in 42.8%. Those who achieved age group specific target HbA1c were 12.4%. Those with worse glycemic control are younger age (21.0±10.4 vs. 23.1±10.9; p=0.01), have lower education level (9.45±2.0 vs. 11.75±2.6; P=0.01) and lower baseline HbA1C percent (9.45±2.048 vs. 11.75±2.619; p <0.0001) than those with more optimal glycemic control. Conclusion: Factors contributing to worse glycemic control were lower age, less education level, and lower baseline HbA1c. Factors that do not contribute to loss of glycemic control are: gender, number of visits, urban/rural, family history, duration of diabetes, self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) use, Body mass index (BMI) or use of pen for insulin delivery.
Blastocystis Hominis Infection Among Hospitalized Children Due to Diarrhea in Hajar Hospital, Shahre-Kord, Iran

Background : Blastocystis hominisis is an intestinal protozoan, recently known as a potential pathogen, which causes intestinal disorders, especially in children. The parasite has a worldwide distribution, ranged from 2% up to 30% in some regions. Objectives : Given no specific study focused on infection rate of B. hominis in children with diarrhea in Iran, this study was carried out to detect frequency of the parasite in children with diarrhea. Patients and Methods: In a cross-sectional study from September 2009 to July 2010, one hundred and sixty hospitalized children with diarrhea in Hajar Hospital, Shahre-Kord, Iran were enrolled. Stool samples were collected and were examined microscopically in wet direct smear using normal saline and iodine solution (Lugol). Furthermore, permanent trichrome stain was performed and all stools were stained and studied with oil immersion's lens (100 ×). Results: Out of 160 stool samples were examined, in 37 cases (23%) including 25 boys and 12 girls, B. hominis was the most frequent protozoa, followed by Giardia lamblia in 19 cases (12%). E. histolitica/dispare were detected only in two cases (1%). Conclusions: The frequency of B. hominis in the study was more than other reports from Iran. This study revealed that among hospitalized children with diarrhea, B. hominis was the most common protozoon
Psychological Factors Affecting Students Academic Performance Among Freshman Psychology Students in Dire Dawa University

The purpose of this study was to investigate the psychological factors affecting students’ academic performance among freshman psychology students in Dire Dawa University. The participants of the study were 16 first year students. The sample of this study was taken through purposive sampling technique. To collect data, questionnaire and observation check lists were used. The findings of this study also revealed that there was significant relationship between psychological factors and students’ academic performance. There is statistically significant relationship between students self-efficacy and students intrinsic motivation (r=.206; P<0.05) and also there is strong correlation between students stress level and intrinsic motivation (r=.540; P<0.05) and there is also statistically significant relationship between students stress level and extrinsic motivation (r=.265; P<0.05). Keywords: Psychological Factors; Academic Performance; Freshman Students; Dire Dawa University.
CFD Simulation of Particle Residence Time in Small and Industrial Scale Spray Dryer

This paper presents a CFD study of short and tall spray dryers. The simulations were performed using turbulent model; standard k-e (SKE), realizable k-e (RKE) and the Detached Eddy Simulation (DES). The predicted axial velocity, temperature and humidity profile inside the spray drying chamber were found to be in fair agreement to the experimental data adapted from literature for model tested in this work. The Detached Eddy Simulation provides more accurate prediction of fluid flow in a co-current spray dryer. Moreover, particle tracking has been included using the source-in-cell method to enable calculation of particle residence time (RTD) and their impact positions in the drying chamber. This study suggests that the tall spray dryer has less overall residence time than the shorter one due to lesser recirculation.
Synergistic Chemotherapy Drug Response Is a Genetic Trait in Lymphoblastoid Cell Lines

Lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCLs) are a highly successful model for evaluating the genetic etiology of cancer drug response, but applications using this model have typically focused on single drugs. Combination therapy is quite common in modern chemotherapy treatment since drugs often work synergistically, and it is an important progression in the use of the LCL model to expand work for drug combinations. In the present work, we demonstrate that synergy occurs and can be quantified in LCLs across a range of clinically important drug combinations. Lymphoblastoid cell lines have been commonly employed in association mapping in cancer pharmacogenomics, but it is so far untested as to whether synergistic effects have a genetic etiology. Here we use cell lines from extended pedigrees to demonstrate that there is a substantial heritable component to synergistic drug response. Additionally, we perform linkage mapping in these pedigrees to identify putative regions linked to this important phenotype. This demonstration supports the premise of expanding the use of the LCL model to perform association mapping for combination therapies.
Clinicopathologic Profile and Outcome of Extranodal Diffuse Large B-Cell NHL: Egyptian National Cancer Institute Experience

Abstract Background: Primary extranodal diffuse large B-Cell lymphoma (PE-DLBCL) accounts for about one-third of all cases of DLBCL. We reviewed the clinical and pathological characteristics of cases with PE-DLBCL presented to NCI, Egypt. Patients and methods: We retrospectively studied patients with pathologically documented PE-DLBCL presented to the National Cancer Institute between January 2008 and December 2010. Revision of histopathology and sub-classification of patients to germinal centre (GC) DLBCL and non-GC-DLBCL through immunostaining of CD10, BCL-6 and MUM-1 were done. Cases that were CD10+/BCL-6±/ MUM-1- were categorised as GC-DLBCL, while cases that were CD10-/BCL-6±/MUM-1+ were categorised as non-GC-DLBCL. Clinical data regarding baseline characteristics, chemotherapy given and the response to chemotherapy was collected. Results: A total of 57 patients of PE-DLBCL were included in the study. Mean age was 48.9 years (range 21-78), and 32 patients (56.1%) were females. Most frequent locations were gastrointestinal and liver (29.9% and 22.9 %; respectively). Forty-two patients (73.7%) were sub-classified as non-GC-DLBCL. The patients who were stage III/IV were more common (52.6%). Fifty-two patients received CHOP, 5 received CVP, and 6 patients received radiotherapy after finishing chemotherapy. Complete response rate (CR) was 64.9%, there was no difference in the CR (66.7%, 64.3%) and Overall Survival (53.3%, 52.4%) in GC-DLBCL group in comparison to non-GC-DLBCL group (p = 0.24 and 0.6; respectively). The CR and OS for patients with low international prognostic index (IPI) were significantly better than patients with intermediate or high IPI (p = 0.008 and 0.08, respectively). Conclusion: Non-GC-DLBCL is more common than GC-DLBCL in PE-DLBCL in Egyptian population. The most affected sites are gastrointestinal and liver reflecting the association between high frequency of hepatitis B and C and hepatic non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL). Stage of the disease and IPI remains the most important prognostic factor for PE-DLBCL.
Remnant planetary systems around bright white dwarfs

Additional Supporting Information may be found in the online version of this article: Table 3. IRAC Ch 1 and Ch 2 photometry. (http://www.mnras.oxfordjournals.org/lookup/suppl/doi:10.1093/ mnras/stw683/-/DC1).
Capital Structure and Firm’s Performance in Ghana. Do Macroeconomic Factors Matter?

The paper seeks to investigate how macroeconomic factors affect the relationship between capital structure and bank performance from 2004 to 2014. In this context we try to condition the postulated relations between capital structure and firm performance on the dynamics of the macroeconomic environment of Ghana. We considered the impact of some macroeconomic variables such as inflation and GDP growth. Panel data methodology is adopted in this study. This combines simultaneous cross-section and time series data. The paper employs samples of banks in Ghana. Using fixed effect regression estimation model, a relationship was established between performance (proxied by return on asset and return on equity) and the firms capital structure over a period of ten years. Hausman chi-square test was conducted in each equation.The macroeconomic variables, GDP growth were registered to be significant in both models. This signifies that macroeconomics matter in the bank’s capital structure and performance. Inflation however were found to be insignificant. We therefore recommend that macroeconomic policies should provide a conducive environment for banks operations, in addition the government should develop the bond market.
Dopamine waves as a mechanism for spatiotemporal credit assignment

Significant evidence supports the view that dopamine shapes reward-learning by encoding prediction errors. However, it is unknown whether dopamine decision-signals are tailored to the functional specialization of target regions. Here, we report a novel set of wave-like spatiotemporal activity-patterns in dopamine axons across the dorsal striatum. These waves switch between different activational motifs and organize dopamine transients into localized clusters within functionally related striatal subregions. These specific motifs are associated with distinct task contexts: At reward delivery, dopamine signals rapidly resynchronize into propagating waves with opponent directions depending on instrumental task contingencies. Moreover, dopamine dynamics during reward pursuit signal the extent to which mice have instrumental control and interact with reward waves to predict future behavioral adjustments. Our results are consistent with a computational architecture in which striatal dopamine signals are sculpted by inference about instrumental controllability and provide evidence for a spatiotemporally “vectorized” role of dopamine in credit assignment.
Single Cell RNAseq Reveals A Critical Role of Chloride Channels in Airway Development

The conducting airway forms a protective mucosal barrier and is the primary target of airway disorders. To better understand how airway developmental programs are established to support air breathing and barrier functions, we constructed a single-cell atlas of the human and mouse developing trachea. In this study, we uncover hitherto unrecognized heterogeneity of cell states with distinct differentiation programs and immune features of the developing airway. In addition, we find ubiquitous expression of CFTR and ANO1/TMEM16A chloride channels in the embryonic airway epithelium. We show that genetic inactivation of TMEM16A leads to airway defects commonly seen in cystic fibrosis patients with deficient CFTR, alters the differentiation trajectory of airway basal progenitors, and results in mucus cell hyperplasia and aberrant epithelial antimicrobial expression. Together, our study illuminates conserved developmental features of the mammalian airway and implicates chloride homeostasis as a key player in regulating mucosal barrier formation and function relevant to early onset airway diseases.
Vascular morphogenesis in Warthin’s tumor and insights into its origin

Although the morphological aspect of Warthin’s tumor (WT) is known since 1895, its pathogenesis is still unclear. Because neovascularization in a tumor is considered the main mechanism for its development, in this study we analyzed the immunoexpression of CD31, D2-40 and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) antibodies in 10 cases of WT. We found a significantly elevated vascular density (p=0.000) in all the 10 WT as compared to the surrounding normal parotid gland and VEGF expression in the oncocytic epithelial component of WTs (9/10 cases). Our results highlight the importance of studying the vascularization in WTs, the role of the epithelial component in the tumorigenesis of WTs and support the hypothesis that these tumors develop in lymph nodes, on heterotopic salivary gland tissue. To the best of our knowledge, our study is the first study to analyze and correlate the immunoexpression of the three specific vascular and angiogenic markers on a series of WT cases and with results that underline the similar morphological aspects between the histopathological characteristics of WTs and the changes that appear in the context of a neoplastic process in lymph nodes.
Numerical Simulation of Interacting Magnetic Flux Ropes

A 212‐D MHD numerical model is used to investigate the dynamic interaction between two flux ropes (clouds) in a homogeneous magnetized plasma. One cloud is set into motion while the other is initially at rest. The moving cloud generates a shock which interacts with the second cloud. Two cases with different characteristic speeds within the second cloud are presented. The shock front is significantly distorted when it propagates faster (slower) in the cloud with larger (smaller) characteristic speed. Correspondingly, the density behind the shock front becomes smaller (larger). Later, the clouds approach each other and by a momentum exchange they come to a common speed. The oppositely directed magnetic fields are pushed together, a driven magnetic reconnection takes a place, and the two flux ropes gradually coalescence into a single flux rope.
Transaction costs and smallholder household access to maize markets in Zambia

After liberalization of the Zambian economy, farmers were faced with the responsibility of finding the right buyers, negotiating prices and delivering produce leading to them incurring transaction costs. This study aimed at identifying and quantifying transaction costs factors and their impact on maize market participation for small holder farmers in Zambia. The study used primary data collected from a sample of 240 randomly selected households from Zambia’s central Province. The Heckman’s procedure was used to analyze factors affecting the likelihood and extent of participation in maize markets. The logit results (from the Heckman’s two-stage process) show that ownership of assets such as radios and having access to alternative marketing channels increased the likelihood of market participation while the heckit results (OLS corrected for selectivity bias) shows that ownership of ox-carts, increased family size and experience in maize marketing were the factors that increased quantities of maize marketed. The study recommends provision of market information, improving accessibility to markets as well as increasing access to productive assets as means of alleviating impact of transaction costs. Key words: Transaction costs, maize, market access, Zambia.
When Does Regula6on Distort Costs? Lessons from Fuel Procurement in U.S. Electricity Genera6on

Under what conditions does cost-of-service regulation lead firms to distort costs? This paper analyzes changes in fuel procurement practices by coaland natural gas-fired electricity generating plants in the United States following state-level legislation that ended cost-of-service regulation among investor-owned electric utilities in the late 1990s. I construct a detailed dataset that links confidential, shipment-level data on the price of virtually all of the fuel delivered to coaland gas-fired electricity plants in the United States from 1990-2009, with plant-level data on operations and regulatory status. Using a matched difference-in-difference estimation strategy to account for confounding shipping costs, I find the price of coal drops by 12% at deregulated plants relative to matched plants that were not subject to any regulatory change, whereas there was no relative drop in the price of gas. Deregulated plants disproportionately switch to burning low-sulfur coal rather than install capital-intensive abatement equipment to comply with environmental regulations, and expand imports from out of state by 25% if they were initially burning in-state coal. I show how these results lend support to theories of asymmetric information between generators and regulators, regulatory capture, and capital-bias as important sources of distortion under cost-of-service regulation. I then show that the drop in the price of coal is associated with a reallocation of purchases to more productive mines, rather than simply a transfer of regulatory rents from coal producers to electricity generators. Although only one quarter of U.S. coal-fired capacity has been deregulated, the end of cost-of-service regulation has reduced the price of fuel by about one billion dollars per year for these plants. ∗I am grateful to Joseph Aldy, Thomas Covert, Lucas Davis, Meredith Fowlie, Tim Ganser, Matthew Gentzkow, Edward Glaeser, Joshua Gottlieb, David Hémous, William Hogan, Richard Hornbeck, Lawrence Katz, Greg Lewis, Morten Olsen, Ariel Pakes, Jesse Shapiro, Andrei Shleifer, Robert Stavins, Ariel Dora Stern, Richard Sweeney, Andrew Waxman, Stan Veuger and seminar participants at Harvard, The EEE session of the 2013 NBER Summer Institute, UC Energy Institute, The Northeast Workshop on Energy Policy and Environmental Economics, The Harris School at The University of Chicago, The American Enterprise Institute, Resources for the Future, George Mason, IESE, UC-Irvine, and Arizona State for helpful comments and suggestions, and Jacob Bournazian at the Energy Information Administration for help with data access. This work has been reviewed by EIA to ensure that no confidential data is disclosed. All errors remain my own. E-mail: scicala@uchicago.edu
Xylanase, Glucanase, and Phytase in the Diet of Light Laying Hens

SUMMARY The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of enzymes (endo-1,4-β-xylanase [EC 3.2.1.8], endo-1,3(4)-β-glucanase [EC 3.2. 1.6], and 6-phytase [EC 3.1. 3.26]) in light layer hen diets during the second production cycle (75–95 wk old). Five treatments were used: positive control (PC); negative control 1 (NC1): reduction of dietary nutritional load, as of 100% of the nutritional matrix that the enzymes provide; negative control 2 (NC2): reduction of dietary nutritional load, as of 125% of the nutritional matrix that the enzymes provide; NC1+100% enzymes (NC1–100%): 100% of the matrix, enzymes provide, reformulated and, NC1+125% enzymes (NC2–125%): 125% of the matrix, enzymes provide, reformulated, with 8 replicates and 8 hens for each. Feed intake (P = 0.0059), egg production (P = 0.0096), egg mass (P = 0.0280), feed conversion per egg mass (P = 0.007), and feed conversion per dozen of eggs (P = 0.003) were significantly different with enzyme supplementation. The eggshell weight (P = 0.975), shell thickness (P = 0.920), specific gravity (P = 0.198), and yolk color (P = 0.639) were not affected; however, the relative weights of albumen (P = 0.075) and yolk (P = 0.021) were affected. In conclusion, the use of a multi-carbohydrase complex containing phytase is able to compensate the negative impact of lower nutrient levels, improving the productive performance of layer hens in the second production cycle.