Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of Onion Cultivars for Resistance to Onion Thrips (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) and Iris Yellow Spot Virus

ABSTRACT Onion thrips, Thrips tabaci Lindeman (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), a worldwide pest of onion, Allium cepa L. , can reduce onion yield by >50% and be even more problematic when it transmits Iris yellow spot virus (family Bunyaviridae, genus Tospovirus, IYSV). Because T. tabaci is difficult to control with insecticides and other strategies, field studies on onion, Allium cepa L. , resistance to T. tabaci and IYSV were conducted in 2007 and 2008 in two locations in New York state. Forty-nine cultivars were evaluated for resistance by counting the number of larvae weekly and recording leaf damage. In another experiment, the impact of T. tabaci and IYSV on plant growth and yield was examined by spraying half of the plants with an insecticide. Eleven of the 49 cultivars had very little leaf damage and were considered resistant to T. tabaci. Visual assessment indicated that all resistant cultivars had yellow-green— colored foliage, whereas the other 38 had blue-green—colored foliage. The visual assessment of color agreed with data on color taken with a HunterLab Ultra Scan XE colorimeter. The onions ‘Colorado 6’ and ‘NMSU 03-52-1’ had the lowest numbers of T. tabaci, suggesting strong antibiosis and/or antixenosis. The other nine cultivars had variable numbers of T. tabaci, indicating a possible combination of categories of resistance. In the nonprotected treatments there were significant reductions in plant height and plant weight in most of the resistant cultivars, but there were reductions in bulb weight only in a few of them. The average of plants infected with IYSV was 10% in 2007 and 60% in 2008. Our findings indicate potential for developing onion resistance to T. tabaci as part of an overall integrated pest management strategy but suggest difficulties in identifying resistance to IYSV.
The Demand for Alcoholic Beverages: Economic and Demographic Effects

Recent proposals for revenue enhancement have called for increased taxation of alcoholic beverages. Knowledge of the structure of demand for an item is, of course, a primary ingredient in appraising any proposed tax plan. Although a number of studies have been conducted on data from other countries, very little is known about the demand for alcoholic beverages in the United States. This is particularly true for beverage specific studies. There has been no recent study treating the demand for alcoholic beverages in the U.S. as a complete system and most studies on specific beverages are also quite dated. Equally important has been the absence of demographic effects in the studies of demand for various alcoholic beverages. This paper attempts to remedy this shortcoming by providing estimates of the demand for beer, wine and spirits based on cross-section data.
The Ganglionic Eminence May Be an Intermediate Target for Corticofugal and Thalamocortical Axons

In the nervous system of many species, growing axons associate transiently with cellular groupings along their path. Whether this mechanism applies to the development of corticothalamic and thalamocortical projections is unknown. Using carbocyanine dyes, we studied the early growth of both corticofugal and thalamocortical fibers in hamster embryos. At embryonic day 11.5 (E11.5), corticofugal fibers invade the lateral ganglionic eminence (LGE), and thalamocortical fibers invade the medial ganglionic eminence (MGE). At this age, both sets of fibers are not yet in contact with each other. At the same time, neurons in each subdivision of the GE grow toward the cortex and thalamus. During the next 24 hr, corticofugal and thalamocortical fibers remain within the confines of the GE, where they course at different radial levels and bear large and complex growth cones. In the LGE, corticofugal fibers are often found in close association with cells that are likely to be neuronal. Starting on E13.5, both early projections from the GE decrease, and corticothalamic and thalamocortical fibers invade their definitive target regions. To test whether the GE specifically orients the growth and trajectories of cortical fibers even in the absence of the reciprocal thalamic projection, we cocultured explants of cortex and GE from either hamster or mouse embryos. These experiments showed that the GE, but not other tested brain regions, is able specifically to orient the growth of cortical axons. We therefore suggest that the GE may be an intermediate target in the pathfinding of axons between the cortex and the thalamus.
Role of plasma membrane estrogen receptors in mediating the estrogen induction of progesterone receptors in hypothalamic ventromedial neurons

Progesterone is well known for its role in the modulation of sexual behavior. In the ventromedial nucleus (VMN), a part of the mediobasal hypothalamus that regulates sexual behavior in female rodents, estrogens induce the expression of progesterone receptors (PRs). This effect is known to be dependent on the activation of nuclear estrogen receptors (ERs). However, recent studies have documented estrogen activation of genomic transcription triggered by protein–protein phosphorylation cascades initiated at membrane receptors. The aim of this study was to examine if membrane‐initiated estradiol (E2) stimulation is able to induce PR expression in the VMN or, at least, to modulate nuclear ER action. To achieve this goal, 2‐month‐old ovariectomized Wistar rats were injected bilaterally, in the vicinity of VMN, with free E2 and with E2 conjugated with bovine serum albumin (E2BSA), alone or in sequence, by using a two‐pulse injection paradigm. Stereological methods and western blot analysis were used to estimate the total number of PR‐immunoreactive neurons in the VMN and the PR protein content of the VMN, respectively. The results showed that the administration of E2BSA alone increases the number of PR‐immunoreactive neurons and the expression level of PR protein to values similar to those resulting from E2 administration. They also showed that the sequential administration of E2 and E2BSA potentiates the effects resulting from the injection of E2 or E2BSA alone. These data provide the first evidence that membrane‐initiated E2 stimulation is able to induce and to potentiate the genomic activation of PR expression in the VMN. J. Comp. Neurol. 522:298–307, 2014. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
UHF RFID in Automatic Vehicle Identification: Analysis and Simulation

In this paper, the application of UHF RFID in automatic vehicles identification is studied by the means of a new simulation framework. The system under study consists of the stationary readers with antennas mounted over the road lanes and vehicles license plates equipped with passive EPC Class 1 Generation 2 UHF RFID tags. The simulation includes protocol settings, antennas parameters, and propagation media conditions. Propagation analysis considers Doppler shift to compute the path loss of moving tags properly. The estimations of an inventory round duration, the number of rounds the tag participates in and the tag identification probability are provided. The paper presents vehicles identification probabilities computed for different protocol settings and movement speeds. In particular, it was shown that a vehicle could be identified with 0.9 probability by EPC values only when the vehicle speed is 120 km/h or even more. If the vehicle is identified with both EPC and TID banks values, the same 0.9 probability is achievable when the vehicle speed is under 90 km/h. The results of the simulation coincide with the experiment results involving the city buses.
Gilthead sea bream liver proteome altered at low temperatures by oxidative stress

Gilthead sea bream exposed to the cold show multiple physiological alterations, particularly in liver. A typical cold‐stress response was reproduced in gilthead sea bream acclimated to 20°C (Warm group) when the water temperature was lowered to 8°C (Cold group). After 10 days, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances in the liver had increased by 50%, and nitric oxide had increased twofold. This indicates that lipid peroxidation and oxidative stress had occurred. Protein profiles of liver from fish in warm and cold environments were obtained by 2‐DE. Quantification of differential expression by matching spots showed that a total of 57 proteins were altered significantly. Many proteins were downregulated following cold exposure, including actin, the most abundant protein in the proteome; enzymes of amino acid metabolism; and enzymes with antioxidant capacity, such as betaine‐homocysteine‐methyl transferase, glutathione‐S‐transferase and catalase. Some proteins associated with protective action were upregulated at low temperatures, including peroxiredoxin, thioredoxin and lysozyme; as well as enzymes such as aldehyde dehydrogenase and adenosin‐methionine synthetase. However, the upregulation of proteases, proteasome activator protein and trypsinogen‐like protein indicated an increase in proteolysis. Increases in elongation factor‐1α, the GAPDH oxidative form, tubulin and Raf‐kinase inhibitor protein indicated oxidative stress and the induction of apoptosis. These data indicate that cold exposure induced oxidative damage in hepatocytes.
Differences in Neuropsychological Functioning Between Homicidal and Nonviolent Schizophrenia Samples

Few studies have compared performance on neurocognitive measures between violent and nonviolent schizophrenia samples. A better understanding of neurocognitive dysfunction in violent individuals with schizophrenia could increase the efficacy of violence reduction strategies and aid in risk assessment and adjudication processes. This study aimed to compare neuropsychological performance between 25 homicide offenders with schizophrenia and 25 nonviolent schizophrenia controls. The groups were matched for age, race, sex, and handedness. Independent t‐tests and Mann–Whitney U‐tests were used to compare the schizophrenia groups’ performance on measures of cognition, including composite scores assessing domain level functioning and individual neuropsychological tests. Results indicated the violent schizophrenia group performed worse on measures of memory and executive functioning, and the Intellectual Functioning composite score, when compared to the nonviolent schizophrenia sample. These findings replicate previous research documenting neuropsychological deficits specific to violent individuals with schizophrenia and support research implicating fronto‐limbic dysfunction among violent offenders with schizophrenia.
Diagnosis and cure experience of hepatolithiasis-associated intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma in 66 patients.

BACKGROUND The management of hepatolithiasis combined with intrahepatic cholangicarcinoma (IHHCC) remains a challenge due to poor prognosis. The aim of this study was to summarize our diagnosis and cure experience of IHHCC over the recent 10 years. METHODS From January 1996 to January 2006, 66 patients with IHHCC were reviewed retrospectively. RESULTS Of the 66 patients, 52 underwent surgical resection (radical resection in 38 and palliative in 14) and 8 patients abdominal exploration, while the other 6 cases received endoscopic retrograde biliary internal drainage and stent implantation. In this series, correct diagnosis of advanced stage was made during operation in 8 cases (8/60, 13.3%) and all of them (underwent unnecessary abdominal exploration, among them the positive rate of CA19-9 was 100%, and the positive rate of CEA was 87.6% (7/8), incidence rate of ascites was 100% and short-term significant weight loss was 100%, with median overall survival of only 4 months. CONCLUSION Radical resection is mandatory for IHHCC patient to achieve long-term survival, the CT and MR imaging features of IHHCC being concentric enhancement. Patients with IHHCC have significant higher CA199 and significant higher CEA and short-term significant weight loss and ascites should be considered with advanced stage of IHHCC and unnecessary non-therapeutic laparotomies should be avoided.
Improved semiselective medium for isolation of Legionella pneumophila from contaminated clinical and environmental specimens

Eighteen types of media, all of which used charcoal yeast extract medium as a base, were tested for their ability to support the growth of a stock strain of Legionella pneumophila. Fifteen of these contained antimicrobial agents. Five antibiotic-containing media which performed best in growing the stock strain were then tested for the ability to grow L. pneumophila from clinical respiratory tract specimens. One of the media, BMPA alpha, which contained cefamandole, polymyxin B, anisomycin, an organic buffer, and alpha-ketoglutarate, performed from contaminated clinical specimens and, in conjunction with an acid wash treatment, facilitated recovery of the bacterium from potable water.
MICROSATELLITES REVEAL HIGH POPULATION VISCOSITY AND LIMITED DISPERSAL IN THE ANT FORMICA PARALUGUBRIS

We used microsatellites to study the fine‐scale genetic structure of a highly polygynous and largely unicolonial population of the ant Formica paralugubris. Genetic data indicate that long‐distance gene flow between established nests is limited and new queens are primarily recruited from within their natal nest. Most matings occur between nestmates and are random at this level. In the center of the study area, budding and permanent connections between nests result in strong population viscosity, with close nests being more similar genetically than distant nests. In contrast, nests located outside of this supercolony show no isolation by distance, suggesting that they have been initiated by queens that participated in mating flights rather than by budding from nearby nests in our sample population. Recruitment of nestmates as new reproductive individuals and population viscosity in the supercolony increase genetic differentiation between nests. This in turn inflates relatedness estimates among worker nestmates (r = 0.17) above what is due to close pedigree links. Local spatial genetic differentiation may favor the maintenance of altruism when workers raise queens that will disperse on foot and compete with less related queens from neighboring nests or disperse on the wing and compete with unrelated queens.
A study of CD33 (SIGLEC‐3) antigen expression and function on activated human T and NK cells: two isoforms of CD33 are generated by alternative splicing

The expression of CD33, a restricted leukocyte antigen considered specific for myeloid lineage, has been studied extensively on lymphoid cells. We demonstrated that wide subsets of mitogen‐ or alloantigen‐activated human T and natural killer (NK) cells express CD33 at protein and nucleic acid levels. CD33+ and CD33– T and NK cell populations showed identical surface expression of activation markers such as CD25, CD28, CD38, CD45RO, or CD95. Myeloid and lymphoid CD33 cDNA were identical. However, lymphoid CD33 protein had lower molecular weight, suggesting cell type‐specific, post‐translational modifications. Additionally, reverse transcriptase‐polymerase chain reaction and Northern blot analysis showed an unknown CD33 isoform (CD33m) expressed on all CD33+ cell lines or T cell clones tested. CD33m was identical to CD33 (CD33M) in the signal peptide, the immunoglobulin (Ig) domain C2, the transmembrane, and the cytoplasmic regions but lacked the extracellular ligand‐binding variable Ig‐like domain encoded by the second exon. CD33m mRNA was mostly detected on NKL and myeloid cell lines but poorly expressed on B cell lines and T lymphocytes. The CD33m extracellular portion was successfully expressed as a soluble fusion protein on transfected human cells, suggesting a functional role on cell membranes. Cross‐linking of CD33 diminished the cytotoxic activity of NKL cells against K562 and P815 target cells, working as an inhibitory receptor on NK cells. These data demonstrate that CD33 expression is not restricted to the myeloid lineage and could exist as two different splicing variants, which could play an important role in the regulation of human lymphoid and myeloid cells.
Bacteriologic findings in tonsillitis and pericoronitis.

Bacteriologic samples from 31 young men were cultured quantitatively for aerobes and anaerobes; these samples included 31 specimens of tonsils (16 infected and 15 healthy), 16 specimens from pericoronal pockets of lower third molars (11 infected and 5 symptom-free), and 6 postoperative specimens from lower-third-molar extraction sockets. Anaerobes were isolated more often from infected third molars than from infected tonsils (14.5 isolates vs. 8.4 isolates, respectively; P < .001). Infected tonsil samples contained significantly more anaerobic species if an adjacent partly erupted lower third molar was present rather than absent (10.3 isolates vs. 6.9 isolates, respectively; P < .05). Eubacterium aerofaciens, Clostridium species, Peptostreptococcus micros, and Prevotella oris were frequently isolated. Streptococcus salivarius was found more frequently in tonsillar specimens, whereas Corynebacterium species, Prevotella denticola, Capnocytophaga species, Peptostreptococcus anaerobius, and Lactobacillus species were more common in pericoronal pocket samples. Thus, partial eruption of lower third molars increases the number of anaerobic bacterial species on tonsils and many species can be isolated simultaneously from both tonsils and lower third molars.
The influence of organic matter content and media compaction on the dispersal of entomopathogenic nematodes with different foraging strategies

SUMMARY In laboratory experiments, we investigated how media with varying ratio of peat:sand and two levels of compaction influence dispersal success of entomopathogenic nematode (EPN) species with different foraging strategies: Steinernema carpocapsae (ambusher), Heterorhabditis downesi (cruiser) and Steinernema feltiae (intermediate). Success was measured by the numbers of nematodes moving through a 4 cm column and invading a wax moth larva. We found that both compaction and increasing peat content generally decreased EPN infective juvenile (IJ) success for all three species. Of the three species, H. downesi was the least affected by peat content, and S. carpocapsae was the most adversely influenced by compaction. In addition, sex ratios of the invading IJs of the two Steinernema species were differentially influenced by peat content, and in the case of S. feltiae, sex ratio was also affected by compaction. This indicates that dispersal of male and female IJs is differentially affected by soil parameters and that this differentiation is species-specific. In conclusion, our study shows that organic matter: sand ratio and soil compaction have a marked influence on EPN foraging behaviour with implications for harnessing them as biological pest control agents.
Complex karyotype including ring chromosome 11 in a patient with acute myeloid leukemia: case report

ABSTRACT CONTEXT: Complex karyotypes in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) are characterized by an overall low response rate with frequent relapses after clinical treatment. CASE REPORT: Here, we describe the case of a 61-year-old obese female with clinically diagnosed AML who presented a complex karyotype involving an uncommon abnormality: ring chromosome 11. Immunophenotypic analysis confirmed the diagnosis. Classical and molecular cytogenetic analyses, using GTG banding and FISH (fluorescence in situ hybridization), revealed the presence of complex structural rearrangement involving r(11), add(12)(p13), der(5) and der(13). CONCLUSION: Molecular cytogenetic analysis is suitable for better identification and characterization of chromosomal rearrangements in AML. Case reports like this, as well as population-based studies, are necessary for understanding the karyotypic changes that occur in humans.
Gender difference in the neuroprotective effect of rat bone marrow mesenchymal cells against hypoxia-induced apoptosis of retinal ganglion cells

Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells can reduce retinal ganglion cell death and effectively prevent vision loss. Previously, we found that during differentiation, female rhesus monkey bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells acquire a higher neurogenic potential compared with male rhesus monkey bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells. This suggests that female bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells have a stronger neuroprotective effect than male bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells. Here, we first isolated and cultured bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells from female and male rats by density gradient centrifugation. Retinal tissue from newborn rats was prepared by enzymatic digestion to obtain primary retinal ganglion cells. Using the transwell system, retinal ganglion cells were co-cultured with bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells under hypoxia. Cell apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry and caspase-3 activity assay. We found a marked increase in apoptotic rate and caspase-3 activity of retinal ganglion cells after 24 hours of hypoxia compared with normoxia. Moreover, apoptotic rate and caspase-3 activity of retinal ganglion cells significantly decreased with both female and male bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell co-culture under hypoxia compared with culture alone, with more significant effects from female bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells. Our results indicate that bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells exert a neuroprotective effect against hypoxia-induced apoptosis of retinal ganglion cells, and also that female cells have greater neuroprotective ability compared with male cells.
NORTHERN IRISH ADOLESCENTS’ ATTITUDES TOWARDS LEARNING A FOREIGN LANGUAGE: WHAT CAN WE LEARN FROM THEM?

Over the last few decades, scholars concerned with language and education have studied the relationship between adolescents’ attitudes and foreign language learning. This topic has been an important area of study in the field of applied linguistics predominantly from a psychological perspective. This research used secondary data from the Young Life and Times (YLT) and employed a descriptive qualitative research with a cross-sectional design. The Chi-Square test was used in order to test the five hypotheses proposed in this study. This present study found that gender and residential locations were significant factors relating to the 16-year old adolescents’ attitudes toward learning a foreign language. Conversely, this study found that there was no statistically significant evidence of differences among the other three variables (the family affluence, school types attended and religions) in relation to the young people’s attitudes to the foreign language. This finding may be useful as a reflection of how the current modern language learning policy is implemented and how teenagers, especially in the context of Northern Ireland, respond to the policy.Keywords: Adolescents’ Attitudes, Learning, foreign language learning