Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Response of Tomato Variety (Roma F) Yield to Different Mulch Materials and Staking in Kabba, Kogi State, Nigeria

This experiment was carried out at student’s experimental field, Kabba College of Agriculture, Horticultural Section to investigate the response of tomato variety (Roma F) yield to different mulch materials and staking. A split plot experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications to randomize the staking levels and mulch materials in the main and sub-plots, respectively. The experiment comprised of two staking levels, i.e. stick staking (SST) and no- stick staking (NST) and six mulch materials, i.e. black polyethylene, white polyethylene, maize straw, palm fronts, grasses and no mulch. The parameters taken on soil physical and chemical properties are soil moisture content (%), soil temperature ( O C), soil pH, total nitrogen, available phosphorus and soil organic matter. Growth and yield parameters taken are as follows: average plant height, number of leaves, and number of fruits, stem girth, number of fruit per plant, fruit length, fruit diameter and yield per land area. Weeds were identified and their dry weights were measured. Data were collected from ten randomly selected plants in each plot. The data were statistically analyzed using GENSTAT. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed to find out the significance of variation among the treatments while the significant difference between mean treatments were separated using Duncan’s multiple range test (DMRT) at 5% level of probability. The result obtained from this study indicated that mulch materials and stick staking affect significantly growth parameters of tomato, yield per plant and yield per land area. The result also, indicated that plot mulch with black polythene performance best in terms of growth and yield and also improved soil physical properties better than either white polythene or organic mulch in the study area. It is therefore recommended that black polyethylene should be used as mulch materials for tomato production. However, better and stable fruit yield of tomato could be obtained with the practice of mulching in combination with staking. It is recommended that mulching should be carried out together with staking for higher fruit yield and black polyethylene should be use as mulch material in the study area.
Conditions effecting the passage of spermatozoa through the utero‐tubal junction of the rat

I n accounts of the transport of spermatozoa through the female reproductive tract of mammals, the conditions governing the passage of sperms from the uterus into the oviduct have not been adequately treated. Anatomical studies of the utero-tuba1 region of the genital tract indicate that, in many species, including the rat
Dissemination of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococci among Healthy Japanese Children

ABSTRACT Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), regarded as a tenacious pathogen in the hospital, has recently become increasingly prevalent as a community pathogen. We evaluated the prevalence and characteristics of methicillin-resistant staphylococci in the Japanese community by testing nasal samples of 818 children of five day care centers and two kindergartens in three districts. We found that methicillin-resistant staphylococci are already prevalent among healthy children. Among 818 children, 35 children (4.3%) carried MRSA and 231 children (28.2%) carried methicillin-resistant coagulase-negative staphylococci (MRC-NS). The types of staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec) found among 44 MRSA isolates were as follows: type IIa, 11 isolates; type IIb, 19 isolates; and type IV, 14 isolates. The type IIb SCCmec element was a new SCCmec element found in this study. Eleven (25%) strains which belonged to clonal complex 5 (CC5) carried type IIa SCCmec, and they produced type 2 coagulase and toxic shock syndrome toxin 1. They were indistinguishable from health care-associated MRSA (H-MRSA) strains in Japan, represented by strain N315. On the other hand, 33 (75%) strains, most of which belonged to CC78 or CC91, carried small SCCmec elements, such as type IIb or type IV, and they produced type 1 or type 3 coagulase and exfoliative toxin. The data indicated that MRSA clones distinct from H-MRSA have disseminated in healthy children. The fact that MRC-NS strains were prevalent in the community suggested that they might serve as a reservoir for the SCCmec element carried by MRSA strains disseminated in the community.
Stress reactions of cattle undergoing ritual slaughter using two methods of restraint

Studies were made of the behavioural and physiological reactions of cattle undergoing ritual slaughter in the Weinberg holding pen, in which the animal is inverted, and in the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) pen, in which the animal is standing. Behaviour was analysed with reference to the duration of the slaughter procedures by recording activities on an ethogram. Blood samples taken at slaughter were analysed for cortisol levels and haematocrit, and intramuscular pH was measured 45 minutes and 24 hours after slaughter. A wide range of activities was displayed in the ritually slaughtered cattle and these were particularly pronounced in the Weinberg pen. The mean time spent in the Weinberg pen was eight times longer than the time spent in the ASPCA pen. The cortisol and haematocrit values of cattle slaughtered in the Weinberg pen were significantly greater than those of cattle slaughtered in the ASPCA pen or cattle slaughtered conventionally. The results indicate that animals in the Weinberg pen experienced more stress than those in the ASPCA pen.
Dietary factors in the development of type 1 diabetes

There are several indicators concerning the putative importance of dietary factors during the fetal period lactation, infancy and childhood in the etiology of type 1 diabetes. Among foods, cow's milk consumption has been associated with an increased risk of preclinical and/or clinical type 1 diabetes and sugars with a progression from preclinical to clinical disease. Breast milk, on the other hand, may be protective. Processed foods may be related to a greater risk of type 1 diabetes because they contain higher amounts of advanced glycation end‐products. Nitrites or N‐nitroso compounds in processed meat products could increase the risk of this disease. Among nutrients, n‐3 fatty acids, vitamins D and E, and zinc may protect from preclinical and/or clinical type 1 diabetes. The microbial composition of foods or food's other effects on gut microbiota are receiving increasing attention, also due to their putative role in the development of type 1 diabetes. Still the number of prospective studies in this research field is limited and most of the findings remain to be replicated.
A Dimmable Light-Emitting Diode (LED) Driver With Mag-Amp Postregulators for Multistring Applications

Current imbalance should be avoided when multiple LED strings are connected in parallel. In this paper, a dimmable LED driver with magnetic-amplifier postregulators for multistring applications is presented. Powered by a common master source, parallel LED strings are individually regulated by their corresponding adaptive slave sources for current balancing in this proposal. Without linear current regulators, the proposed driver offers relatively high efficiency. Its structure is simpler than multiconverter structures for red, blue, and green LED applications, and is particularly suitable for LEDs with wide parameter variations. The performance of the proposed driver is experimentally verified by a 16.5-W prototype with a load of three 5.5-W LED strings.
Evidence that a Novel Thioesterase is Responsible for Polyketide Chain Release during Biosynthesis of the Polyether Ionophore Monensin

Polyether ionophores, such as monensin A, are known to be biosynthesised, like many other antibiotic polyketides, on giant modular polyketide synthases (PKSs), but the intermediates and enzymes involved in the subsequent steps of oxidative cyclisation remain undefined. In particular there has been no agreement on the mechanism and timing of the final polyketide chain release. We now report evidence that MonCII from the monensin biosynthetic gene cluster in Streptomyces cinnamonensis, which was previously thought to be an epoxide hydrolase, is a novel thioesterase that belongs to the α/β‐hydrolase structural family and might catalyse this step. Purified recombinant MonCII was found to hydrolyse several thioester substrates, including an N‐acetylcysteamine thioester derivative of monensin A. Further, incubation with a hallmark inhibitor of such enzymes, phenylmethanesulfonyl fluoride, led to inhibition of the thioesterase activity and to the accumulation of an acylated form of MonCII. These findings require a reassessment of the role of other enzymes implicated in the late stages of polyether ionophore biosynthesis.
Willingness to pay for a quality-adjusted life-year: the individual perspective.

OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to elicit the individual willingness to pay (WTP) for a quality-adjusted life-year (QALY). METHODS In a Web-based questionnaire containing contingent valuation exercises, respondents valued health changes in five scenarios. In each scenario, the respondents first valued two health states on a visual analog scale (VAS) and expressed their WTP for avoiding a decline in health from the better health state to the worse, using a payment scale followed by a bounded open contingent valuation question. ANALYSIS WTP per QALY was calculated for QALY gains calculated using VAS valuations, as well as the Dutch EQ-5D tariffs, the two steps in the WTP estimations and each scenario. Heterogeneity in WTP per QALY ratios was examined from the perspective of: 1) household income; and 2) the level of certainty in WTP indicated by respondents. Theoretical validity was analyzed using clustered multivariate regressions. RESULTS A total of 1091 respondents, representative of the Dutch population, participated in the survey. Mean WTP per QALY was € 12,900 based on VAS valuations, and € 24,500 based on the Dutch EuroQoL tariffs. WTP per QALY was strongly associated with income, varying from € 5000 in the lowest to € 75,400 in the highest income group. Respondents indicating higher certainty exhibited marginally higher WTP. Regression analyses confirmed expected relations between WTP per QALY, income, and other personal characteristics. CONCLUSION Individual WTP per QALY values elicited in this study are similar to those found in comparable studies. The use of individual valuations in social decision-making deserves attention, however.
Requirement for Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor 2 Expression on Vascular Cells To Induce Experimental Cerebral Malaria

ABSTRACT Using tumor necrosis factor receptor type 2 (TNFR2)-deficient mice and generating bone marrow chimeras which express TNFR2 on either hematopoietic or nonhematopoietic cells, we demonstrated the requirement for TNFR2 expression on tissue cells to induce lethal cerebral malaria. Thus, TNFR2 on the brain vasculature mediates tumor necrosis factor-induced neurovascular lesions in experimental cerebral malaria.
Studies of the Toxicological Potential of Capsinoids XIV: A 26-week Gavage Toxicity Study of Dihydrocapsiate in Rats

To further evaluate the safety of dihydrocapsiate (4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzyl 8-methylnonanoate, CAS No. 205687-03-2), a 26—week gavage toxicity study was conducted in Sprague-Dawley rats (20/sex/group). Test animals received either dihydrocapsiate, 100, 300, or 1000 mg/kg/day, or vehicle (medium-chain triglyceride) by gavage and were observed for antemortem and postmortem signs of toxicity including changes in clinical signs, body weights, food consumption, water intake, ophthalmology, clinical pathology (clinical chemistry, hematology, urinalysis), tissue findings (macroscopic and microscopic examination), as well as organ weights. After the end of the dosing period, reversibility was assessed (10/sex/group for the control and 1000 mg/kg groups) following a 4-week recovery period. There were no adverse or toxicological changes observed in clinical signs, body weight, food consumption, water intake, ophthalmology, urinalysis, hematology, blood chemistry, organ weights, or histopathology. It was concluded that the no observable adverse effect level (NOAEL) of dihydrocapsiate was 1000 mg/kg/day for both sexes in this 26—week gavage study.
Capillary response to skeletal muscle contraction: evidence that redundancy between vasodilators is physiologically relevant during active hyperaemia

The current theory behind matching blood flow to metabolic demand of skeletal muscle suggests redundant interactions between metabolic vasodilators. Capillaries play an important role in blood flow control given their ability to respond to muscle contraction by causing conducted vasodilatation in upstream arterioles that control their perfusion. We sought to determine whether redundancies occur between vasodilators at the level of the capillary by stimulating the capillaries with muscle contraction and vasodilators relevant to muscle contraction. We identified redundancies between potassium and both adenosine and nitric oxide, between nitric oxide and potassium, and between adenosine and both potassium and nitric oxide. During muscle contraction, we demonstrate redundancies between potassium and nitric oxide as well as between potassium and adenosine. Our data show that redundancy is physiologically relevant and involved in the coordination of the vasodilator response during muscle contraction at the level of the capillaries.
Extracorporeal blood therapy in sepsis and acute respiratory distress syndrome: the “purifying dream”

Objective To discuss the rationale, hypothesis, modality of extracorporeal blood purification (EBP) techniques for the critically ill animal models or patients, and to summarize the experimental and clinical studies with inconsistent data which explored the EBP's efficacy in the areas of critical care medicine. Data sources Articles referred in this review were collected from the database of PubMed published in English up to June 2014. Study selection We had done a literature search by using the term “(sepsis OR acute lung injury OR acute respiratory distress syndrome) AND (extracorporeal blood purification OR hemofiltration OR hemoperfusion OR plasma exchange OR plasmapheresis OR adsorpiton)”. Related original or review articles were included and carefully analyzed. Results Acute cellular and humoral immune disturbances occur in both sepsis and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Treatments aimed at targeting one single pro‐/anti‐inflammatory mediator have largely failed with no proven clinical benefits. Such failure shifts the therapeutic rationale to the nonspecific, broad‐spectrum methods for modulating the over‐activated inflammatory and anti‐inflammatory response. Therefore, EBP techniques have become the potential weapons with high promise for removing the circulating pro‐/anti‐inflammatory mediators and promoting immune reconstitution. Over the years, multiple extracorporeal techniques for the critically ill animal models or patients have been developed, including hemofiltration (HF), high‐volume hemofiltration (HVHF), high‐cutoff hemofiltration (HCO‐HF), hemo‐perfusion or ‐adsorption (HP/HA), coupled plasma filtration adsorption (CPFA), and plasma exchange (PE). These previous studies showed that EBP therapy was feasible and safe for the critically ill animal models or patients. However, data on their efficacy (especially on the clinical benefits, such as mortality) were inconsistent. Conclusions It is not now to conclude that EBP intervention can purify septic or ARDS patients with high clinical efficacy from current experimental and clinical practice. Prospective, randomized controlled, and well‐designed clinical or experimental studies and most suitable EBP modalities should be further developed.
Central factors contributing to para-contrast modulation of contour and brightness perception

Following up on a prior study of contour and brightness processing in visual masking (Breitmeyer et al., 2006), we investigated the effects of a binocular and dichoptic para-contrast masking on the visibility of the contour and brightness of a target presented to the other eye. Combined, the results support the contributions of several cortical processes to para-contrast: (1) two central sources of inhibition, one long-latency and prolonged and the other short-latency and brief; (2) binocular rivalry suppression; and (3) a facilitatory effect peaking at different SOAs for the contour and the brightness tasks, reflecting; (4) known properties of two separate cortical systems, one a fast contour-processing pathway and the other a slower brightness-processing pathway.
An exploratory study of the information‐seeking activities of adolescents in a discussion forum

The aim of this study is to understand how teenagers use Internet forums to search for information. The activities of asking for and providing information in a forum were explored, and a set of messages extracted from a French forum targeting adolescents was analyzed. Results show that the messages initiating the threads are often requests for information. Teenagers mainly ask for peers' opinions on personal matters and specific verifiable information. The discussions following these requests take the form of an exchange of advice (question/answer) or a coconstruction of the final answer between the participants (with assessments of participants' responses, requests for explanations, etc.). The results suggest that discussion forums present different advantages for adolescents' information‐seeking activities. The first is that this social medium allows finding specialized information on topics specific to this age group. The second is that the collaborative aspect of information seeking in a forum allows these adolescents to overcome difficulties commonly associated with the search process (making a precise request, evaluating a result).
Antiretroviral therapy: reverse transcriptase inhibition

a great extent this is still the case, as AZT remains the drug most commonly prescribed as the initial treatment and the agent with which new therapies are typically compared. However, in most other respects the field has grown enormously, with major changes having occurred in both practical and theoretical drug development. Clinically, dideoxynucleoside reverse transcriptase (RT) inhibitors remain the mainstay of practice. The results of landmark clinical trials have changed the indications and dose recommendations for AZT, and the alternative agents dideoxyinosine (ddl) and dideoxycytidine (ddC) are now available to physicians even while clinical trials to define their precise roles are ongoing. Information derived from studies of newer, nonnucleoside RT inhibitors, agents which act at other stages in the viral life cycle, and combination therapies will likely produce major changes in the chemotherapeutic approach to the control of established HIV infection. Antiviral agent development in the field of human retrovirology is a particular challenge. In addition to the basic but often difficult principle of developing an agent that will attack a unique target in the viral life cycle but be relatively nontoxic for the human host, there are the additional hurdles posed by the integration of HIV into the host cell genome, its capacity for persistence and latency, the complexity of the viral replication scheme, and the potential for antiviral agent resistance. This challenge, however, is being met by an intensive basic research effort which has resulted in a fundamental understanding of the molecular biology of HIV (31). The present knowledge of the viral life cycle and the complex genomic organization of HIV have created opportunities for rational and unique drug design which are among 'he most hopeful avenues for current and future drug development. A familiarity with the replication scheme of HIV is thus crucial to a full appreciation of antiviral chemotherapy.
Increase in left ventricular torsion‐to‐shortening ratio in children with valvular aortic stenosis

Perfusion of left ventricular (LV) subendocardium in valvular aortic stenosis (AS) patients is impaired. It was expected that this may lead to a reduction of subendocardial fiber contraction and, consequently, to an increase of LV torsion per amount of ejection. Using MR tagging (MRT), it was investigated whether the torsion‐to‐shortening ratio (TSR) is elevated in valvular AS patients. Six asymptomatic children with valvular AS were investigated using echo Doppler, ECG, exercise test, and MRT. LV torsion and natural strain of the inner diameter were determined from measured tag displacements in two short‐axis slices of the LV. In all AS patients TSR was ∼40% increased (0.62 ± 0.04 rad; mean ± SD) as compared to pediatric (0.44 ± 0.08 rad; n = 5) and adult controls (0.46 ± 0.08 rad; n = 9), indicating subendocardial contractile dysfunction. With other techniques hitherto used this type of dysfunction could not be detected. Magn Reson Med 51:135–139, 2004. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The effect of vascular plants on carbon turnover and methane emissions from a tundra wetland

This paper investigates how vascular plants affect carbon flow and the formation and emission of the greenhouse gas methane (CH4) in an arctic wet tundra ecosystem in NE Greenland. We present a field experiment where we studied, in particular, how species‐specific root exudation patterns affect the availability of acetate, a hypothesized precursor of CH4 formation. We found significantly higher acetate formation rates in the root vicinity of Eriophorum scheuchzeri compared with another dominating sedge in the wetland, i.e. Dupontia psilosantha. Furthermore a shading treatment, which reduced net photosynthesis, resulted in significantly decreased formation rates of acetate. We also found that the potential CH4 production of the peat profile was highly positively correlated to the concentration of acetate at the respective depths, whereas it was negatively correlated to the concentration of total dissolved organic carbon. This suggests that acetate is a substrate of importance to the methanogens in the studied ecosystem and that acetate concentration in this case can serve as a predictor of substrate quality. To further investigate the importance of acetate as a predecessor to CH4, we brought an intact peat‐plant monolith system collected at the field site in NE Greenland to the laboratory, sealed it hermetically and studied the decomposition of 14C‐labelled acetate injected at the depth of methanogenic activity. After 4 h, 14CH4 emission from the monolith could be observed. In conclusion, allocation of recently fixed carbon to the roots of certain species of vascular plants affects substrate quality and influence CH4 formation.
Uniqueness for SQG patch solutions

This paper is about the evolution of a temperature front governed by the Surface quasi-geostrophic equation. The existence part of that program within the scale of Sobolev spaces was obtained by one of the authors [10]. Here we revisit that proof introducing some new tools and points of view which allow us to conclude the also needed uniqueness result.
Atomic data for opacity calculations. XVIII. Photoionization and oscillator strengths of Si-like ions Si0, S2+, Ar4+, Ca6+

Photoionization cross sections, oscillator strengths and energy levels of the silicon-like ions, Si0, S2+, Ar4 and Ca6+ are calculated in the close coupling approximation using the R-matrix method. A large number of bound states with n<or=10 have been considered and oscillator strengths for transitions among all these states and photoionization cross sections of all the bound states are obtained. Partial photoionization cross sections of the ground state into various excited states of the residual ion are also obtained for each ion. Detailed comparisons have been made for the calculated energies, oscillator strengths and photoionization cross sections with available theoretical and experimental values.