Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Functional Marker Assisted Improvement of Stable Cytoplasmic Male Sterile Lines of Rice for Bacterial Blight Resistance

Bacterial blight (BB), caused by Xanthomonas oryzae pv.oryzae is one among the major diseases in rice, which in severe condition cause losses up to 60% in total yield. Marker assisted pyramiding of three broad spectrum BB resistance genes (xa5, xa13, and Xa21) in prominent rice varieties is the most economical and effective strategy for the management of the BB disease. We report here the pyramiding of three genes (xa5, xa13, and Xa21) in maintainer lines (CO 2B, CO 23B, and CO 24B) of three promising wild abortive cytoplasmic male sterile lines (CO 2A, CO 23A, and CO 24A) through functional markers assisted back cross breeding. IRBB60 with xa5, xa13, and Xa21 genes is used as a donor parent. BC2F1 and BC2F2 generations from a cross of CO 2B, CO 23B, and CO 24B with IRBB60 were evaluated for bacterial blight and non-fertility restoration. In BC2F1, plants with all three resistance genes (xa5, xa13, and Xa21) and high parent genome recovery was identified. In BC2F2, plants with all resistance genes and without fertility restorer (Rf3 and Rf4) were selected. Based on agronomic traits, BB resistance and maintenance of sterility, two plants each in CO 2B × IRBB60, CO 24B × IRBB60 and one plant in CO 23B × IRBB60 combinations were identified. The identified lines were crossed with respective male sterile lines for conversion of improved B line into CMS line through back-crossing, in addition to selfing. The plants with high recurrent genome and phenotypically similar to parental lines and sterile are being used for the hybrid rice development program. Currently, using these lines (improved CMS line), test crosses were made to develop new rice hybrids. Hybrids combinations viz., CO 23A × AD08009R and CO 24A × IET20898R were found to be stable at different locations with high yield. The R line used in this study has been introgressed with xa5, xa13, and Xa21 genes in a separate breeding program. These new hybrids with resistance against bacterial blight will increase the crop production at BB environment.
Circularly polarized antenna array for automotive applications

A circularly polarized antenna array for the automotive radar frequency band at a center frequency of 79.5 GHz is proposed. The antenna array consists of 10 dual-linearly polarized square microstrip patch elements in 50 Ω series-feed configuration. Amplitude tapering is applied in order to reduce the sidelobe level. The antenna array is fed from a WR10 rectangular waveguide and a transition which transforms the waveguide mode into a microstrip line mode. A 3 dB power splitter and a phasing line are used to feed the two channels of the dual-linearly polarized antenna array with equal magnitudes and 90° phase offset. As a result, the antenna radiates a circularly polarized wave over the complete frequency band from 78 to 81 GHz with an axial ratio in boresight direction of lower than 3 dB.
A Study of Serum Magnesium , Zinc , Copper and Glycohemoglobin In Children With Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus

Magnesium and some trace elements known to act as antioxidants or to be related directly to glucose metabolism may be altered in diabetes mellitus. The aim of the present work is to study the state of these elements in relation to disease duration, control and complications. The study included 25 children with type 1 diabetes and 13 apparently healthy controls studied for serum magnesium, zinc, copper and blood HbA1c. Serum magnesium, zinc and copper were significantly lower in diabetic children than in controls. Serum magnesium was significantly lower in cases with longer duration of disease (>5years). Serum magnesium level negatively correlated with the duration of diabetes. Serum zinc was significantly lower in uncontrolled than in controlled and in complicated than in uncomplicated cases. Serum zinc level correlated negatively with the degree of disease control (HbA1c). It is to be concluded that serum magnesium, zinc and copper are deficient in diabetic children. This deficiency may be related to disease control and/or complications. Supplementation of diabetic children with these nutrients may help in control of the disease and its complications.
Multivariate Curve Resolution Applied to Hyperspectral Imaging Analysis of Chocolate Samples

This paper shows the application of Raman and infrared hyperspectral imaging combined with multivariate curve resolution (MCR) to the analysis of the constituents of commercial chocolate samples. The combination of different spectral data pretreatment methods allowed decreasing the high fluorescent Raman signal contribution of whey in the investigated chocolate samples. Using equality constraints during MCR analysis, estimations of the pure spectra of the chocolate sample constituents were improved, as well as their relative contributions and their spatial distribution on the analyzed samples. In addition, unknown constituents could be also resolved. White chocolate constituents resolved from Raman hyperspectral image indicate that, at macro scale, sucrose, lactose, fat, and whey constituents were intermixed in particles. Infrared hyperspectral imaging did not suffer from fluorescence and could be applied for white and milk chocolate. As a conclusion of this study, micro-hyperspectral imaging coupled to the MCR method is confirmed to be an appropriate tool for the direct analysis of the constituents of chocolate samples, and by extension, it is proposed for the analysis of other mixture constituents in commercial food samples.
Protective effects of propofol against ischemia/reperfusion injury in rat kidneys

Aim: The purpose of this study was to investigate and compare the efficiency of propofol in the reduction of injury induced by free radicals in a rat model of renal ischemia/reperfusion (I/R). Method: Twenty-four Wistar rats were divided into four groups in our study. Rats in the sham group underwent laparotomy and were made to wait for 120 min without ischemia. Rats in the control group were given nothing with ischemia–reperfusion. Rats in the I/R groups were given propofol (25 mg/kg) and 10% intralipid (250 mg/kg) ip, respectively, 15 min before the ischemia for 60 min followed by reperfusion for 60 min. The kidney tissues of the rats were taken under anesthesia at the end of the reperfusion period. Evaluation of biochemical malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase, and catalase activities and histopathological analysis were performed with these samples. Results: I/R significantly increased MDA levels (p < 0.05). Histopathological findings of the control group confirmed that there was renal impairment by tubular cell swelling, interstitial edema, medullary congestion, and tubular dilatation. MDA levels were lower in the propofol group compared to control group (p < 0.05). In the propofol group, the level of histopathological scores is significantly decreased than control and intralipid groups in ischemia–reperfusion. Conclusion: Our results demonstrate that I/R injury was significantly reduced in the presence of propofol. The protective effects of propofol may be due to their antioxidant properties. These results may indicate that propofol anesthesia protects against functional, biochemical, and morphological damage better than control in renal I/R injury.
A radiographic recall evaluation of 894 endodontic cases treated in a dental school setting.

A radiographic recall evaluation of 894 endodontic cases treated by dental students at the University of Oklahoma College of Dentistry was conducted by faculty. The purpose of this study was to determine the success of standardized nonsurgical endodontic treatments by using radiographic techniques of determination and to compare the results to similar studies at other dental schools. Cases were labeled as successful, acceptable, questionable, and failing. Observations included time since treatment, age, gender, and tooth type. The combined percentage of successful and acceptable cases was 91.05%. Differences in percentage of success among recall time intervals were statistically significant (p < 0.01), as were the percentages of success between tooth types treated (p < 0.05). Success rate was not affected by age or gender (p > 0.05). The overall rate of successful and acceptable cases in this study was found to compare favorably with those from recall studies conducted at other dental schools.
Posttraumatic stress disorder and cognitive function: findings from the mind your heart study.

OBJECTIVE Prior studies have found that the patients with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have poorer performance on cognitive tests than patients without PTSD, but the underlying mechanisms remain unknown. We examined the association between PTSD and cognitive function in a large cohort and evaluated the role of potential biological and behavioral mediators. METHOD A cohort of 535 adult outpatients (≤ 65 years) without dementia, stroke, or other neurologic disorders was recruited from 2 Veterans Affairs medical centers between February 2008 and June 2010. PTSD was assessed with the Clinician Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS) using DSM-IV-TR criteria. Cognitive function tests included processing speed, Trails A and B, letter fluency, category fluency, and verbal learning and recognition. Linear regression was used to evaluate the association between PTSD and cognitive function test scores and to assess potential mediators of the association. RESULTS For our analyses of PTSD and cognitive function, we combined 178 participants who met criteria for full PTSD and 18 who met criteria for partial PTSD and had a CAPS score > 40. After adjusting for demographics, these participants with PTSD scored significantly worse on processing speed (0.30 standard deviations [SDs], P ≤ .001), category fluency (0.23 SDs, P = .01), verbal learning (0.30 SDs, P = .001), and verbal recognition (0.18 SDs, P = .048) than those without PTSD. These associations were largely accounted for by health behaviors, vascular risk factors, and depression. CONCLUSIONS In this cohort of veterans under age 65 years without known neurologic disease, patients with versus without PTSD had significantly poorer performance in several domains of cognitive function, particularly in tests involving processing speed, executive function, and learning. These cognitive deficits were largely explained by modifiable risk factors. Interventions targeted at these risk factors might minimize the impact of PTSD on cognitive decline and dementia risk as patients age.
Transition Probability/Markov Chain Analyses of DNAPL Source Zones and Plumes

At sites where a dense nonaqueous phase liquid (DNAPL) was spilled or released into the subsurface, estimates of the mass of DNAPL contained in the subsurface from core or monitoring well data, either in the nonaqueous or aqueous phase, can be highly uncertain because of the erratic distribution of the DNAPL due to geologic heterogeneity. In this paper, a multiphase compositional model is applied to simulate, in detail, the DNAPL saturations and aqueous‐phase plume migration in a highly characterized, heterogeneous glaciofluvial aquifer, the permeability and porosity data of which were collected by researchers at the University of Tübingen, Germany. The DNAPL saturation distribution and the aqueous‐phase contaminant mole fractions are then reconstructed by sampling the data from the forward simulation results using two alternate approaches, each with different degrees of sampling conditioning. To reconstruct the DNAPL source zone architecture, the aqueous‐phase plume configuration, and the contaminant mass in each phase, one method employs the novel transition probability/Markov chain approach (TP/MC), while the other involves a traditional variogram analysis of the sampled data followed by ordinary kriging. The TP/MC method is typically used for facies and/or hydraulic conductivity reconstruction, but here we explore the applicability of the TP/MC method for the reconstruction of DNAPL source zones and aqueous‐phase plumes. The reconstructed geometry of the DNAPL source zone, the dissolved contaminant plume, and the estimated mass in each phase are compared using the two different geostatistical modeling approaches and for various degrees of data sampling from the results of the forward simulation. It is demonstrated that the TP/MC modeling technique is robust and accurate and is a preferable alternative compared to ordinary kriging for the reconstruction of DNAPL saturation patterns and dissolved‐phase contaminant plumes.
THE EFFECT OF FLY ASH ON THE FLUIDITY OF CEMENT PASTE, MORTAR, AND CONCRETE

High performance concrete is currently used widely due to its technical and economical advantages. This paper examines the effect of fineness and replacement levels of fly ash on the fluidity of cement paste, mortar, and concrete. The fly ash is collected by electro-static precipitators and airflow classing technology. Three different finenesses were chosen, with replacement levels of 20%, 30%, and 40%. The results demonstrated that particle size distribution, Zeta potential, density and particle morphologies of fly ash are the major factors affecting their fluidity.
Association between hearing and vision impairments in older adults

Citation information: Schneck ME, Lott LA, Haegerstrom‐Portnoy G & Brabyn JA. Association between hearing and vision impairments in older adults. Ophthalmic Physiol Opt 2011. doi: 10.1111/j.1475‐1313.2011. 00876.x
DNA replication‐coupled inactivation of DnaA protein in vitro: a role for DnaA arginine‐334 of the AAA+ Box VIII motif in ATP hydrolysis

The DnaA protein, which initiates chromosomal replication in Escherichia coli, is negatively regulated by both the sliding clamp of DNA polymerase III holoenzyme and the IdaB protein. We have found that, when the amount of minichromosome is limited in an in vitro replication system, minichromosomal replication‐stimulated hydrolysis of DnaA‐bound ATP yields the ADP‐bound inactive form. The number of sliding clamps formed during replication was at least five per minichromosome, which is 2.7‐fold higher than the number formed during incubation without replication. These results support the notion that coupling of DnaA‐ATP hydrolysis to DNA replication is the outcome of enhanced clamp formation. We have also found that the amino acid substitution R334H in DnaA severely inhibits the hydrolysis of bound ATP in vitro. Whereas ATP bound to wild‐type DnaA is hydrolysed in a DNA‐dependent intrinsic manner or in a sliding clamp‐dependent manner, ATP bound to DnaA R334H protein was resistant to hydrolysis under the same conditions. This arginine residue may be located in the vicinity where ATP binds, and therefore may play an essential role in ATP hydrolysis. This residue is highly conserved among DnaA homologues and also in the Box VIII motif of the AAA+ protein family.
Regular factors in K1, n free graphs

A graph is said to be K1,n-free, if it contains no K1,n as an induced subgraph. We prove that for n ⩾ 3 and r ⩾ n −1, if G is a K1,n-free graph with minimum degree at least (n2/4(n −1))r + (3n −6)/2 + (n −1)/4r, then G has an r-factor (in the case where r is even, the condition r ⩾ n −1 can be dropped).
CYCLICAL MOOD CHANGES AS IN THE PREMENSTRUAL TENSION SYNDROME DURING SEQUENTIAL ESTROGEN‐PROGESTAGEN POSTMENOPAUSAL REPLACEMENT THERAPY

Abstract. The etiology of the cyclical mood changes seen in the premenstrual syndrome is still unknown. A close relation to the luteal phase has been shown. One of the differences between the follicular and the luteal phase is the higher plasma progesterone concentration during the luteal phase. The present investigation has been conducted to study the effect of exogenously administered estrogen/gestagen sequential postmenopausal replacement therapy on mood and physical signs.
Risk factors for early recurrence of small hepatocellular carcinoma after curative resection.

BACKGROUND Poorer prognosis is seen in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after curative hepatic resection with early recurrence (<or=1 year) than in those with late recurrence (>1 year). This study aimed to identify risk factors for postoperative early recurrence of small HCC (<or=3 cm in diameter). METHODS The study population consisted of 158 patients who underwent curative resection for small HCC between January 2002 and July 2004. Risk factors for early recurrence were analyzed. RESULTS Thirty-three (20.8%) patients developed early recurrence after surgery. Univariate analysis showed the following significant risk factors for early recurrence in small HCC: serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) level >100 ng/ml, lack of tumor capsule formation, microscopic vascular invasion, high Edmonson-Steiner grades, and cytokeratin-19 (CK-19) expression (P<0.05). Multivariate stepwise logistic regression analysis showed that serum AFP level >100 ng/ml (odds ratio 2.561, 95% confidence interval 1.057 to 6.206, P=0.037) and microscopic vascular invasion (odds ratio 4.549, 95% confidence interval 1.865 to 11.097, P=0.001) were independent factors. CONCLUSIONS Postoperative early recurrence is related to serum AFP level >100 ng/ml and microscopic vascular invasion in patients with small HCC. Adjuvant therapy and careful follow-up are required for patients with these risk factors.
Comparative Effects of Selected Azole Compounds on Trophic and Cystic Stages of Acanthamoeba polyphaga

ABSTRACT. A clinical isolate of Acunthamoeba polyphagu, associated with Acunthamoebu keratitis, was used for in vitro evaluation of antiamebic activity of selected azole compounds. Those antimicrobials tested included clotrimazole, bifonazole, fluconazole, itraconazole, and ketoconazole. The drugs were tested at varying concentrations on axenic trophic amebas and MgC12,‐induced cysts. On the basis of their effects on the two stages in the ameba life‐cycle, clotrimazole and bifonazole were the more promising of the azoles screened but, at concentrations tested, were amebastatic rather than amebicidal. Other strains of A. polyphaga and species of Acunthamoebu were used for comparing variation in response to these and other antimicrobial agents.
Real Time Image Saliency for Black Box Classifiers

In this work we develop a fast saliency detection method that can be applied to any differentiable image classifier. We train a masking model to manipulate the scores of the classifier by masking salient parts of the input image. Our model generalises well to unseen images and requires a single forward pass to perform saliency detection, therefore suitable for use in real-time systems. We test our approach on CIFAR-10 and ImageNet datasets and show that the produced saliency maps are easily interpretable, sharp, and free of artifacts. We suggest a new metric for saliency and test our method on the ImageNet object localisation task. We achieve results outperforming other weakly supervised methods.
Do Women Really Face Wage Discrimination on the Labour Market? An Analysis Using Intra-household Specialization

This study aims to estimate the gender pay gap, cleansed at least partially of the effect of intra-household specialization on productivity. The estimate is based on EU-SILC data for 19 member countries of the European Union. We use an estimate of the average treatment effect on the treated, supplemented by a matching procedure to estimate the unexplained part of the gender pay gap and use a subsample of employees earning more than their partners, thus minimizing the impact of child- and family-care on the gender pay gap. We conclude that the unexplained gender pay gap amounts approximately 10 percent working to the disadvantage of women. If we assume that the dominant role in family- and child-care is taken up by the partner earnings a lower wage, then this difference could neither be explained by differences in the observed personal and company characteristics nor by the dominant role of women in care for the household and children and could actually be due to wage discrimination against women.
Information <-> Democracy: An Examination of Underlying Assumptions

This article assumes a widely accepted narrative, with myth-like status, which binds together dominant conceptions of the information democracy relationship. The article aims to “deconstruct” this narrative by examining it in the framework of six sets of assumptions regarding ontology (views of the nature of reality and human beings) and epistemology (views of the nature of knowing and the standards of judging knowing as informative). The six sets of assumptions are presented as stereotypes, or ideal type extractions, of literatures relevant to discussions of information in the sciences and humanities. The six sets are labeled: dogma, naturalism, cultural relativity, constructivism, post-modernism, and communitarianism. Each set is examined in terms of how it serves the information democracy narrative and how it leaves spaces for power to exert forces which in effect defy the narrative. Implications for the design and implementation of information/communication systems are discussed.
The content of high-intensity sweeteners in different categories of foods available on the Polish market

The objective of this study was to measure the concentrations of nine high-intensity sweeteners (acesulfame-K, aspartame, alitame, cyclamate, dulcin, neohesperidin DC, neotame, saccharin and sucralose) in different categories of food available on the Polish market. Over 170 samples of different brands of beverages, yoghurts, fruit preparations, vegetable preserves and fish products were analysed using an analytical procedure based on SPE and LC/MS. The results indicated that foodstuffs under the study generally comply with European Union legislation in terms of sweetener content. However, a few cases of food product mislabelling were detected, i.e. the use of cyclamate for non-approved applications.
A Review of the Clinical Uses of Dexmedetomidine

Dexmedetomidine is highly selective α2A adrenergic receptor agonist approved for shortterm sedation in an intensive care unit (ICU) setting or in non-intubated patients prior to and/or during surgical and other procedures. Dexmedetomidine is the dextro isomer of medetomidine with eight times greater selectivity for α2adrenergic receptors than clonidine. This action in the central and peripheral nervous systems results in sedation and analgesia (sedoanalgesia). Dexmedetomidine is devoid of opioid and gabaergic activity and is not associated with respiratory depression resulting in cooperative and conscious (semi-arousable) sedation. The inhibition of sympathetic stress response mediated via α2 adrenergic receptor reduces heart rate and blood pressure, which promotes cardiovascular stability and protection. When given by continuous intravenous infusion it has a rapid onset and a relatively short duration of action (offset is secondary to infusion duration). Dexmedetomidine has been associated with decreased ICU costs in adult patients due to reduced time on mechanical ventilation and length of stay. The lack of respiratory depression allows for rapid extubation despite sedative therapeutic plasma concentrations. Dexmedetomidine possesses some analgesic activity; other applications include as a premedication, in the prevention of emergence delirium or agitation, and for the control of shivering. Use of dexmedetomidine is associated with reduced requirements for analgesics, sedatives and general anesthetics. There are no significant drug-drug interactions due to protein binding or metabolism. Biotransformation is almost complete to inactive metabolites. Dexmedetomidine has been reported to cause higher rates of bradycardia and hypotension, but a lower incidence of neurocognitive dysfunction including delirium. Inhibition of inflammation and activation of protective signaling pathways suggest a possible neuro protective effect. Dexmedetomidine has a very low incidence of withdrawal effects, even after prolonged use. Intranasal, buccal and oral formulations have been developed. Dexmedetomidine is not known as a substance of abuse and it is not a controlled substance.