Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Comparative Analysis of Using Isozyme and Issr-Pcr Markers for Population Differentiation of Cyprinid Fish

The article presents data on genetic variability and differentiation of three species of cyprinid fish - roach Rutilus rutilus, ide Leuciscus idus and dace Leuciscus leuciscus baikalensis in the rivers of Siberia, Russia. From the three species studied ide has the lowest indices of genetic variability and more pronounced population differentiation. About 40% of isozyme loci are polymorphic in this species and the same percent - for nuclear DNA inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR) markers; interpopulation component accounts for 62% of genetic variability. In roach indicators of genetic variability are higher, especially for DNA markers (67%), and interpopulation differentiation is less pronounced (FST = 0.550; GST = 0.214). Dace has the most significant genetic diversity and low differentiation of populations. 48% of the isozyme loci and 83% of multilocus DNA markers are polymorphic in this species, the interpopulation component accounts for 27% and 19% for two types of markers, respectively. In comparison with allozymes, ISSR markers provide higher estimates of genetic distances while making intrageneric comparisons and similar or somewhat lower values - while making a comparison of different groups. Isozyme markers provide more precise geographical differences of population groups of fish.
Screening of breast lesions: a comparative study between mammography, B-mode ultrasonography, sonoelastography and histological results *

Objective To compare the capacity of mammography, sonoelastography, B-mode ultrasonography and histological analysis to differentiate benign from malignant breast lesions. Materials and Methods A total of 12 histopathologically confirmed breast lesions were documented. The lesions were assessed by means of mammography, B-mode ultrasonography and sonoelastography, and histopathological analysis was utilized as a gold standard. Sensitivity and specificity were calculated. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was constructed to evaluate the diagnostic performance of the mentioned techniques. Results Sensitivity and specificity in the differentiation between benign and malignant lesions were respectively 100% and 50% for mammography, 100% and 71% for B-mode ultrasonography, and 67% and 83% for sonoelastography. The area under the ROC curve was calculated for the three imaging modalities and corresponded to 0.792 for mammography, 0.847 for B-mode ultrasonography, and 0.806 for sonoelastography. Conclusion Sonoelastography demonstrated higher specificity and lower sensitivity as compared with mammography and B-mode ultrasonography. On the other hand, B-mode ultrasonography had the largest area under the ROC curve. Sonoelastography has demonstrated to be a promising technique to detect and evaluate breast lesions, and could potentially reduce the number of unnecessary biopsies.
Resistance/Tolerance Mechanism under Water Deficit (Drought) Condition in Plants

Drought is one of the major abiotic stresses in the world. Water stress from anthesis to maturity affects numerous morphological and physiological activities of plant resulting extensively reduces in crop yield and productivity (Bray, 1997; Hallajian, 2016). An extended period of deficient rainfall compared to normal rainfall of the region is called drought. Depending on the criteria used, drought is called as meteorological, agricultural or hydrological drought. Agricultural drought refers to extended dry period in which lack of rainfall results in insufficient moisture in the root zone of the soil causing adverse effect on crops. Drought stress, the major constrain for crop productivity, is affecting 1/3 of arable land world-wide and will probably increase in the on-going climate changes. Therefore, future sustaining the productivity of land will be, at least partially, dependent on production of crops with increased drought tolerance or resistance. Drought resistance defined by Blum (1986) as “The mechanisms causing International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences ISSN: 2319-7706 Volume 6 Number 4 (2017) pp. 66-78 Journal homepage: http://www.ijcmas. com
Improved Charge Pump Design and Ex Vivo Experimental Validation of CMOS 256-Pixel Photovoltaic-Powered Subretinal Prosthetic Chip

An improved design of CMOS 256-pixel photovoltaic-powered implantable chip for subretinal prostheses is presented. In the proposed subretinal chip, a high-efficiency fully-integrated 4× charge pump is designed and integrated with on-chip photovoltaic (PV) cells and a 256-pixel array with active pixel sensors (APS) for image light sensing, biphasic constant current stimulators, and electrodes. Thus the PV voltage generated by infrared (IR) light can be boosted to above 1V so that the charge injection is increased. The proposed chip adopts the 32-phase divisional power supply scheme (DPSS) to reduce the required supply current and thus the required area of the PV cells. The proposed chip is designed and fabricated in 180-nm CMOS image sensor (CIS) technology and post-processed with biocompatible IrOx electrodes and silicone packaging. From the electrical measurement results, the measured stimulation frequency is 28.3 Hz under the equivalent electrode impedance load. The measured maximum output stimulation current is 7.1 μA and the amount of injected charges per pixel is 7.36 nC under image light intensity of 3200 lux and IR light intensity of 100 mW/cm2. The function of the proposed chip has been further validated successfully with the ex vivo experimental results by recording the electrophysiological responses of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) of retinas from retinal degeneration (rd1) mice with a multi-electrode array (MEA). The measured average threshold injected charge is about 3.97 nC which is consistent with that obtained from the patch clamp recording on retinas from wild type (C57BL/6) mice with a single electrode pair.
Competing Deactivation Channels for Excited π-Stacked Cytosines

The deactivation of π-stacked cytosine molecules following excitation by ultrashort laser pulses was studied using semiclassical dynamics simulations. Another deactivation channel was found to compete with a previously reported path that led to dimerization. For both pathways, the initial excited state was found to form a charge-separated neutral exciton state, which forms an excimer state by charge transfer. When the interbase distance becomes less than 3 A, charge recombination occurs due to strong intermolecular interaction, ultimately leading to an avoided crossing. Results indicate that the C2–N1–C6–C5 and ––– dihedral angles play a significant role in the vibronic coupling between the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) and the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO). Vibrational energy distribution determines the fate of the excimer at the avoided crossing. Higher-amplitude vibration of C5 or C6 atoms leads to a nonadiabatic transition to the electronic ground state (a photophysical pathway); otherwise, a chemical reaction leading to the formation of cyclobutane type dimer occurs as found in earlier studies. The S1 and S0 potential energy surfaces calculated at TD-DFT level and the simulated trajectories were found to be consistent with CASPT2 results.
Factors that contribute to psychological resilience to suicidal thoughts and behaviours in people with schizophrenia diagnoses: qualitative study

Background Suicide is a leading cause of premature death in people with a diagnosis of schizophrenia. Although exposure to stressors can play a part in the pathways to death by suicide, there is evidence that some people with a diagnosis of schizophrenia can be resilient to the impact of suicide triggers. Aims To investigate factors that contribute to psychological resilience to suicidal thoughts and behaviours from the perspectives of people with a diagnosis of schizophrenia. Method A qualitative design was used, involving semi-structured, face-to-face interviews. Twenty individuals with non-affective psychosis or schizophrenia diagnoses who had experience of suicide thoughts and behaviours participated in the study. The interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim and examined using inductive thematic analysis. Results Participants reported that psychological resilience to suicidal thoughts and behaviours involved ongoing effort. This ongoing effort encompassed: (a) understanding experiences (including reconciliation to mental health experiences and seeking reasons to live), (b) active behaviours (including talking to people and keeping occupied), and (c) relationship dynamics (including feeling supported by significant others and mental health professionals). Conclusions Psychological resilience was described as a dynamic process that developed over time through the experiences of psychosis and the concomitant suicidal experiences. Psychological resilience can be understood using a multicomponential, dynamic approach that integrates buffering, recovery and maintenance resilience models. In order to nurture psychological resilience, interventions should focus on supporting the understanding and management of psychosis symptoms and concomitant suicidal experiences. Declaration of interest None.
Clustering algorithms for fuzzy rules decomposition

This paper presents the development, testing and evaluation of generalized Possibilistic fuzzy c-means (FCM) algorithms applied to fuzzy sets. Clustering is formulated as a constrained minimization problem, whose solution depends on the constraints imposed on the membership function of the cluster and on the relevance measure of the fuzzy rules. This fuzzy clustering of fuzzy rules leads to a fuzzy partition of the fuzzy rules, one for each cluster, which corresponds to a new set of fuzzy sub-systems. When applied to the clustering of a flat fuzzy system results a set of decomposed sub-systems that will be conveniently linked into a Hierarchical Prioritized Structures.
The War on Prevention II: Battle Metaphors Undermine Cancer Treatment and Prevention and Do Not Increase Vigilance

ABSTRACT Bellicose metaphors for cancer are ubiquitous. But are they good metaphors for health communicators to use? Because metaphors can guide reasoning about abstract concepts, framing cancer with metaphors of battle, war, and enemies leads people to apply attributes of these concepts to cancer. The current research investigates how this affects inferences about cancer treatment, prevention, and monitoring. Battles and war are usually seen as being difficult. Indeed, reading about a person’s “battle” or “fight” against cancer makes cancer treatment seem more difficult (studies 1–4). One way to approach a battle is to surrender and give up control. Consistent with this implication, battle metaphors increase fatalistic beliefs about cancer prevention (e.g. believing that there is little one can do to prevent getting cancer; study 3). Finally, even though battles invoke vigilance and action, Study 4 failed to find that such metaphors motivate people to immediately see their doctor when imagining a cancer scare. These findings suggest that bellicose metaphors for cancer can influence the health beliefs of nonpatients in ways that may make them less willing to enact healthy behaviors
Associations of Leisure‐Time Physical Activity and Television Viewing With Life Expectancy Free of Nonfatal Cardiovascular Disease: The ARIC Study

Background High levels of physical activity have been associated with longer life expectancy free of cardiovascular disease (CVD), but specific types of CVD and sedentary behavior have not been examined. We examined associations of leisure‐time moderate‐to‐vigorous physical activity (LTPA) and television viewing with life expectancy free of 3 types of CVD. Methods and Results We included 13 534 participants from the ARIC (Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities) cohort. We used multistate survival models to estimate associations of LTPA in the past year (no LTPA, less than the median, equal to or greater than the median) and television viewing (often or very often, sometimes, seldom or rarely) with life expectancy at age 50 free of nonfatal coronary heart disease (CHD), stroke, and heart failure (HF). Over 27 years of follow‐up, 4519 participants developed one of the 3 nonfatal CVDs and 5475 deaths occurred. Compared with participants who engaged in no LTPA, participants who engaged in LTPA equal to or greater than the median had longer life expectancy free of nonfatal CHD (men: 1.5 years [95% CI, 1.0–2.0]; women: 1.6 years [95% CI, 1.1–2.2]), stroke (men: 1.8 years [95% CI, 1.2–2.3]; women: 1.8 years [95% CI, 1.3–2.3]), and HF (men: 1.6 years [95% CI, 1.1–2.1]; women: 1.7 years [95% CI, 1.2–2.2]). Compared with viewing more television, watching less television was associated with longer life expectancy free of CHD, stroke, and HF (≈0.8 year). Conclusions Higher levels of LTPA and less television viewing were associated with longer life expectancy free of CHD, stroke, and HF. Engaging in LTPA and watching less television may increase the number of years lived free of CHD, stroke, and HF.
Feeding habits of giant otters Pteronura brasiliensis (Carnivora: Mustelidae) in the Balbina hydroelectric reservoir, Central Brazilian Amazon

This study aimed to identify the diet of giant otters, Pteronura brasiliensis (Zimmermann, 1780) in the Balbina reservoir (01o55'S, 59o29'W), to compare it with literature data on the diet of giant otters from non-dammed areas, and to verify the effects of the seasonal changes in water levels on the feeding habits of Balbina otters. A total of 254 feces samples were collected and identified according to the lowest possible taxonomic level. Teleostei fish were present in 100% of the samples; two samples also presented monkey fur (n = 1) and sloth fur (n = 1), suggesting that the diet of P. brasiliensis, in the reservoir, is almost exclusively based on fish. Ten fish families were identified in our samples, six of which were exclusive to the Balbina Lake (not present in the diet of giant otters from non-dammed areas). These six fish families, however, were present in less than 3% of the samples. The fish families with highest representation in the diet of giant otters from non-dammed areas also appeared with higher frequencies in the Balbina Lake, suggesting that the otters have not changed their diet substantially after the implementation of the reservoir. During the high-water period, when the fish are dispersed into the flooded forest and are not very easy to catch, the otters seem to have an opportunistic feeding habit. By contrast, during the low-water period, when prey items are widely available and easier to catch in the reservoir, their feeding habits are more selective.
Excellence in elective hip and knee surgery: what does it look like? A positive deviance approach

Objectives Positive deviance is a way of examining variation across health care settings to understand how and why high-performing clinical teams or organizations achieve their results despite facing the same constraints as others. This study explores how exceptional performance is delivered within enhanced hip and knee elective surgery in England. We were particularly interested in non-clinical factors that may influence patient outcomes. Methods We used 28-day emergency readmissions and patient-reported outcomes to identify two hospitals providing enhanced elective hip and knee replacement surgery and who presented different levels of performance. We used ethnographic observations, in-depth interviews, focus groups and documentary analysis, conducted over eight months. The study involved 54 health care professionals from multiple professional backgrounds. Results Five key themes were identified, which may underpin the high performance in the site identified as a positive deviant: (i) leadership and engagement that adopts a distributed approach to sustain progress and engage team members; (ii) autonomy, in particular the ability for all clinical staff to make decisions about patient care; (iii) relationships and communication, which promote clear lines of communication and a climate of shared decision making within and across teams; (iv) patient empowerment, which supports patients in managing their behaviour before and after surgery; and (v) resilience, which enables the workforce to respond to threats to maintain high performance such as those that could reduce capacity and flow, or interfere with provision and coordination. Conclusions Our study demonstrates that it is possible to build an excellent service that meets the needs of the local population and the wider organization agenda despite constraints and rising demands. The findings can inform orthopaedic and other surgical departments on ways in which they can achieve high performance within existing resources.
High Dose of Intratympanic Steroids for Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss Salvage.

OBJECTIVE Intratympanic (IT) steroid administration for sudden sensorineural hearing loss is offered as salvage to patients who failed systemic steroid treatment. Our objective was to study the audiometric and clinical outcomes of patients given salvage therapy with high-dose IT steroids instilled via ventilation tube. STUDY DESIGN Retrospective case review. SETTING Academic secondary medical center. PATIENTS One hundred three patients >18 years of age with sudden sensorineural hearing loss who failed systemic steroids and received IT treatment between 2010 and 2018. INTERVENTION Following ventilation tube insertion, 1 ml of 10 mg/ml dexamethasone was instilled, twice daily, for 7 days. OUTCOME MEASURES Hearing assessment immediately before and after treatment. Tinnitus and vertigo complaints and risk factors were also retrieved. RESULTS Tinnitus had improved in 53 (52%) patients, vertigo in 4 (4%), and aural fullness sensation in 56 (55%) (p < 0.001, p = 0.344, p < 0.001, respectively). The mean pure-tone threshold difference across frequencies following treatment was between 0 and 6 dB. A significant improvement was observed at 250, 500, 1000 Hz (p < 0.001 in all), and at 2000 Hz (p = 0.035). No significant difference was found at 4000 and 8000 Hz (p = 0.055, p = 0.983 respectively). Mean pure-tone average improvement of 4.5 dB was detected in 61 (59%) patients (p = 0.001). The mean speech discrimination score improved by 7% (p = 0.001). Four (22%) diabetic and nine (20%) hypertensive patients had pure-tone average ≥10 dB improvement (p = 0.759, p = 0.852 respectively). CONCLUSION Although more than half of the patients improved clinically, the significance of the slight audiometric improvement should be weighed against the treatment protocol's complications.
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE AND FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE OF PUBLIC LISTED COMPANIES IN MALAYSIA

This study investigates a link between corporate governance and ownership structures on firm performance of 293 companies listed on the Main and Second Board of Bursa Malaysia from 20002006. A dynamic panel system generalized method of moment technique is applied to control the endogeneity effect. After controlling for size, gearing, industry and time, this study finds significant positive relationships between institutional and foreign shareholdings using both market and accounting performance measures. These results imply their positive roles in constraining any opportunistic behavior of management. Interestingly, role duality (positions of Chairman and CEO were the same person) was observed to be negatively related to both performance measures, thus supporting the recommendation by Malaysian Code of Corporate Governance (MCCG). However, contrary to agency theory and MCCG, firm performance decreases with the increase in proportion of independent directors in the board.
Heart rate and blood pressure in male Ts65Dn mice: a model to investigate cardiovascular responses in Down syndrome

Down syndrome (Ds) is the most common chromosomal cause of intellectual disability that results from triplication of chromosome 21 genes. Lower blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR) in response to exercise and other stressors are prevalent in Ds, and are mediated by autonomic dysfunction. The Ts65Dn mouse is a model of Ds that is commonly used in preclinical studies, but has not been formally investigated for cardiovascular responses in conscious mice. Based on human studies of Ds, we hypothesized Ts65Dn would have lower BP and HR, but similar arterial stiffness. BP was quantified in conscious wild‐type (WT) and Ts65Dn. A main effect for strain was observed for all BP measures (systolic, diastolic, mean, pulse pressure), with WT higher than Ts65Dn. Pulse wave velocity was similar between WT and Ts65Dn. High‐frequency power spectra was higher in WT suggesting autonomic differences between strains. Freely moving HR was higher in WT versus Ts65Dn in both the dark and light cycles, although a main effect of circadian cycle was also present (dark> light). Similar to what is observed in humans, Ts65Dn has a lower BP which may be attributed to autonomic differences and result in preservation of arterial function with advancing age. Ts65Dn thus appears to capture the Ds cardiovascular phenotype across the lifespan. These data support further use of Ts65Dn to investigate mechanisms that may lead to altered BP and HR responses in Ds.
Verification and Validation of EnergyPlus Conduction Finite Difference and Phase Change Material Models for Opaque Wall Assemblies

Phase change materials (PCMs) represent a potential technology to reduce peak loads and HVAC energy consumption in buildings. There are few building energy simulation programs that have the capability to simulate PCM but their accuracy has not been completely tested. This report summarizes NREL efforts to develop diagnostic tests cases to obtain accurate energy simulations when PCMs are modeled in residential buildings.
Effect of micronutrient application by different methods on yield, morphological traits and grain protein percentage of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) in greenhouse conditions

To study effects of different types of fertilization with elements of Iron, Zinc, Manganese and Cupper on quality and quantity performance of barley ( Hordeum vulgare L.) a pot style factorial experiment based on randomized block design with three replications was conducted in research greenhouse of Pardis-Saveh agricultural training center in 2010. Experimental factors were included in three levels of soil fertilization with Fe, Zn, Mn and Cu (Copper sulfate and Manganese sulfate 0, 2.5 and 5 mg/kg soil, and Iron sulfate and Zinc sulfate 0, 5 and 10 mg/kg soil) and two levels of solution spraying with these four elements (solutions of 0 and 0.002 Fe, Cu, Mn and Zn Chelate EDTA). None of the treatments used, showed any significant effect on grain protein percentage and number of tiller. Soil fertilization with Fe, Mn and Cu increased yield components significantly while soil fertilizing with Zn not only increased yield components significantly but also increased number of fertile tillers at level of 1%. Result analysis showed that application of Fe in form of solution spray increased grain yield and 1000 grain weight compared to the control while solution spraying of Zn increased grain yield significantly. Results derived from this experiment suggests that in order to increase yield components, number of tillers and number of fertile tillers in barley plant it is better to use soil fertilizing with Fe, Zn, Cu and Mn while for raising of grain protein percentage and improvement of grain yield qualitatively both method of soil fertilizing and solution spraying are recommended.