Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Selection of pepper cultivars ( Capsicum spp.) for the control of bruchids Callosobruchus maculatus (F.) on stored cowpea ( Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.) seeds

To minimize the impact on the environment caused by indiscriminate use of synthetic chemical pesticides, four pepper cultivars were evaluated on their insecticidal activities against Callosobruchus maculatus F. on cowpea seeds. Two studies were carried out. Treatments of the first study comprised dried and ground fruits of four pepper cultivars (‘Sombo’, ‘Nsukka Yellow’, ‘Tatashi’ and ‘Tanjarawa’), one conventional storage insecticide, Actellic 2% dust (Pirimiphos-methyl), no protectant control with three rates of each protectant at all possible combinations. The treatments were arranged in a completely randomized design (CRD) with three replications. To each treatment were admixed 20 g dry cowpea seeds and six adult bruchids in the ratio of 3 males: 3 females. The second study comprised mixed proportions of a promising but expensive pepper cultivars with a less promising and less expensive cultivar from the first study. The treatments were laid in a completely randomized design (CRD) with three replications. Dried and ground fruits of ‘Nsukka Yellow’ and ‘Tanjarawa’ were therefore selected and applied in the ratios of 100:0, 80:20, 60:40, 40:60, 20:80, 0:100 and 0:0 at the rate of 5% of the treated seed weight for this second study. Efficacy of the materials used were based on the number of adult bruchid survival and reduction of oviposition rate (number of eggs laid per seed.). ‘Nsukka Yellow’ and ‘Tanjarawa’ cultivars significantly reduced number of bruchid survivors earlier than other pepper cultivars but not lower and earlier than pirmiphos-methly powder treated seeds which caused 100% adult mortality of C. maculatus within 8 days after infestation (DAI). All the materials used significantly increased adult mortality of the insect earlier than the no protectant control (p<0.05). There was no ovicidal effect of the protectants used earlier than 6 DAI. At 6 DAI all the protectants significantly reduced number of eggs by the bruchids. Differences amongst the protectant rates and protectant interaction did not produce any significant effect both on adult survivors and number of eggs deposited. Mixture of 80% ‘Tanjarawa’ +20% ‘Nsukka Yellow Pepper’ fruits caused 100% mortality of the adult bruchids earlier than the other mixtures. Key words: selection; pepper cultvars, bruchids control, cowpea seeds.
MR neurography in Parsonage-Turner syndrome

Abstract Background and Aims: Parsonage Turner Syndrome is a well known clinical entity. Several excellent articles have succinctly described Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) findings in PTS. However, these articles have inferred neural involvement in PTS based on the patterns of denervation of muscles in the shoulder region. The aim of this study is to directly visualize the distribution and extent of abnormality in MR Neurography (MRN) of the brachial plexus in known cases of brachial plexus neuritis or Parsonage-Turner Syndrome (PTS). Methods: 15 patients who were diagnosed with PTS based on clinical and electrophysiological findings participated in the study. MRN of the brachial plexus was done in a 1.5T system using a combination of T1W (T1-weighted), T2W (T2-weighted) fat-saturated, STIR (Short Tau Inversion Recovery), 3D STIR SPACE (Sampling Perfection with Application Optimized Contrasts) and 3D T2W SPACE sequences. Findings were recorded and assessed. Results: The age range of our patients was 7-65 years (mean 37.87 years). Most of the patients had unilateral symptoms. All patients had weakness in shoulder abduction. Other common associated complaints included pain in the shoulder/neck/arm and preceding fever. MRN revealed the percentage of involvement of roots, trunks, cords and terminal branches was 53.3%, 46.7%, 40% and 13.3% respectively. Evidence of muscle denervation in the form of edema, fatty infiltration and atrophy was noted in 8 (53.3%) patients. Conclusion: Most of the patients in this study had unilateral involvement on MRN. The roots were the commonest site of involvement followed by the trunks, cords and terminal branches. C5 was the most commonly involved root.
Influence of sensation-seeking and impulsivity on drug use among youths in Ibadan

In this study, a cross-sectional approach was used to examine the relationships between sensationseeking and impulsivity on drug misuse using 200 participants. The study was conducted within Ibadan among youths especially adolescence who completed questionnaires assessing the influence of sensation-seeking and impulsivity on drug misuse. Results indicated that sensation-seeking and impulsivity as predicted in the first hypothesis independently and jointly influenced drug misuse among youths F (2, 197) = 22.9, p Key Words: Drug misuse, impulsivity, sensation-seeking and youths.
Platinum-Based Chemotherapy : A Three-Dimensional ( 3-D ) , Polyacrylamide Gel-Based DNA Microarray Predictive Effect of XPA and XPD Polymorphisms on Survival of Advanced NSCLC Patients Treated with

http://tct.sagepub. com/content/12/5/473 The online version of this article can be found at: DOI: 10.7785/tcrt.2012. 500337 2013 12: 473 Technol Cancer Res Treat Hongyan Cheng, Qin Qin, Xinchen Sun, Fan Li, Ning Sun, Lu Cheng, Zuhong Lu and Baoan Chen Method Platinum-Based Chemotherapy: A Three-Dimensional (3-D), Polyacrylamide Gel-Based DNA Microarray Predictive Effect of XPA and XPD Polymorphisms on Survival of Advanced NSCLC Patients Treated with
The role of c-myc and adiponectin receptors in prostate cancer metastases

Purpose: This study aims to analyze the relationship between c-myc and adiponectin receptor expressions to prostate cancer staging and prove the role of c-myc and adiponectin receptors as risk factors of metastatic prostate cancer. Materials and Methods: This was a comparative study. The study sample consisted of 35 cases of metastatic prostate cancer and 35 cases of organ-confined prostate cancer. c-myc and adiponectin receptor expressions were examined by using immunohistochemistry and histoscore assessment with the cutoff point of 4. Chi-square and Mann–Whitney U-test were used to assess differences in c-myc and adiponectin receptor expressions. Stratification test and multiple logistic regressions were used to assess the correlation between the variables. Results: There were significant differences of c-myc expression (P = 0.000; odds ratio [OR]: 67.16 [95% confidence interval (CI): 3.820–180.50]) and adiponectin receptor expression (P = 0.001; OR: 6.0 [95% CI: 2.1–17.5]) between the two groups. The stratification test revealed that when c-myc and adiponectin receptor expressions were positive, the OR was 7.50 (95% CI: 1.827–30.783). Conclusion: c-myc and adiponectin receptors play an essential role in prostate cancer metastases. Positivity of both parameters will increase the probability of metastases.
Technology Shock and the Business Cycle in the G7 Countries: A Structural Vector Error Correction Model

This paper investigates the importance of technology shock in explaining fluctuations over business cycles and its contractionary effects. Applying the SVEC model on quarterly data of G7 countries and accounting for long cycles in hours worked, there is evidence of a decline in employment as measured by hours worked and investment following a positive technology shock. Hours worked show a persistent decline in France and UK, and this lasts for seven years in Italy, three years in Japan, two years in the USA and Canada; and one year in Germany. However, our findings suggest that technology shocks may play only a limited role in deriving the business cycles in the G7 countries; for they only account for under 30 percent of the business cycle variation in hours and investment, under 35 percent of the business cycle variation in consumption, and under 50 percent of the business cycle variation in output of most of the G7 countries. Our findings do not support the conventional real business cycle interpretation; instead, they are consistent with the predictions of the sticky-price model.
Effect of Antioxidants and Oxidative Stress on Different Cancer Cell Types

Effect of Antioxidants and Oxidative Stress on Different Cancer Cell Types Gaytri Gupta Elera Department of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, BYU Master of Science Vaccinium cyanococcus, most commonly known as blueberry, is a fruit native to North America that is known for its unique taste and high antioxidant content. The skin, seed and juice of both organically and conventionally grown blueberry extract were analyzed for antioxidant content using both the Hydrophilic and Lipophilic Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC) assays. Results from the Hydrophilic ORAC test showed that conventionally grown blueberries had a higher antioxidant capacity across all samples, while the Lipophilic ORAC assay showed that the antioxidant concentration of organically cultivated blueberry juice was highest, but conventionally grown blueberry seed and skin extract showed higher antioxidant content. The vitamin C content of both conventional and organic blueberries were analyzed using High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC), where the organic blueberries showed a higher vitamin C concentration. In general, both organic and conventional blueberries are rich in antioxidants, and therefore, possess potential health benefits that require further study. Abbreviations: AAPH, 2,2'-azobis(2-aminidopropane) dihydrochloride; ORAC, oxygen radical absorbance capacity; ROS, Reactive Oxygen Species; TE, Trolox Equivalents; AUC, area under the curve.
How did a duplicated gene copy evolve into a restorer-of-fertility gene in a plant? The case of Oma1

Restorer-of-fertility (Rf) is a suppressor of cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS), a mitochondrion-encoded trait that has been reported in many plant species. The occurrence of CMS is considered to be independent in each lineage; hence, the question of how Rf evolved was raised. Sugar beet Rf resembles Oma1, a gene for quality control of the mitochondrial inner membrane. Oma1 homologues comprise a small gene family in the sugar beet genome, unlike Arabidopsis and other eukaryotes. The sugar beet sequence that best matched Arabidopsis atOma1 was named bvOma1; sugar beet Rf (RF1-Oma1) was another member. During anther development, atOma1 mRNA was detected from the tetrad to the microspore stages, whereas bvOma1 mRNA was detected at the microspore stage and RF1-Oma1 mRNA was detected during the meiosis and tetrad stages. A transgenic study revealed that, whereas RF1-Oma1 can bind to a CMS-specific protein and alter the higher-order structure of the CMS-specific protein complex, neither bvOma1 nor atOma1 show such activity. We favour the hypothesis that an ancestral Oma1 gene duplicated to form a small gene family, and that one of the copies evolved and acquired a novel expression pattern and protein function as an Rf, i.e. RF1-Oma1 evolved via neofunctionalization.
Activity and Thermal Biology of Blunt-Nosed Leopard Lizards (Gambelia sila) in the San Joaquin Desert of California

Abstract. Because lizards are ectotherms, their life-history traits are greatly influenced by variations in thermal regimes. The Blunt-nosed Leopard Lizard (Gambelia sila) is an endangered lizard that dominates the lizard community in the San Joaquin Desert. Because of the protected status of the species, census protocols are in place to ensure that censuses are conducted during optimal times for lizard activity, but the protocols have not been evaluated by a detailed study. Also, because of changing thermal regimes as a result of climate change, there is concern for lizard species worldwide. I studied the activity and thermal biology of G. sila in 2003 and 2004 on the Lokern area of the San Joaquin Desert using data from radio-collared lizards. I also gathered thermal data from cloacal temperatures of G. sila in 1991 from the Elkhorn Plain in another part of the desert. From these data, I found that survey protocols do not set optimal times or temperatures to most effectively census this species, and that despite projected rising temperatures, G. sila may not become imperiled by a moderate change in thermal regime.
Investigation into chemistry of new particle formation and growth in subtropical urban environment

The role of different chemical compounds, particularly organics, involved in the new particle formation (NPF) and its consequent growth are not fully understood. Therefore, this study was conducted to investigate the chemistry of aerosol particles during NPF events in an urban subtropical environment. Aerosol chemical composition was measured along with particle number size distribution (PNSD) and several other air quality parameters at five sites across an urban subtropical environment. An Aerodyne compact Time-of-Flight Aerosol Mass Spectrometer (c-TOF-AMS) and a TSI Scanning Mobility Particle Sizer (SMPS) measured aerosol chemical composition and PNSD, respectively. Five NPF events, with growth rates in the range 3.3-4.6 nm, were detected at two sites. The NPF events happened on relatively warmer days with lower humidity and higher solar radiation. Temporal percent fractions of nitrate, sulphate, ammonium and organics were modelled using the Generalised Additive Model (GAM), with a basis of penalised spline. Percent fractions of organics increased after the NPF events, while the mass fraction of ammonium and sulphate decreased. This uncovered the important role of organics in the growth of newly formed particles. Three organic markers, factors f43, f44 and f57, were calculated and the f44 vs f43 trends were compared between nucleation and non-nucleation days. f44 vs f43 followed a different pattern on nucleation days compared to non-nucleation days, whereby f43 decreased for vehicle emission generated particles, while both f44 and f43 decreased for NPF generated particles. It was found for the first time that vehicle generated and newly formed particles cluster in different locations on f44 vs f43 plot and this finding can be used as a tool for source apportionment of measured particles.
Vestibular Stimulation Modulates Neural Correlates of Own-body Mental Imagery

Abstract There is growing evidence that vestibular information is not only involved in reflexive eye movements and the control of posture but it also plays an important role in higher order cognitive processes. Previous behavioral research has shown that concomitant vestibular stimuli influence performance in tasks that involve imagined self-rotations. These results suggest that imagined and perceived body rotations share common mechanisms. However, the nature and specificity of these effects remain largely unknown. Here, we investigated the neural mechanisms underlying this vestibulocognitive interaction. Participants (n = 20) solved an imagined self-rotation task during caloric vestibular stimulation. We found robust main effects of caloric vestibular stimulation in the core region of the vestibular network, including the rolandic operculum and insula bilaterally, and of the cognitive task in parietal and frontal regions. Interestingly, we found an interaction of stimulation and task in the left inferior parietal lobe, suggesting that this region represents the modulation of imagined body rotations by vestibular input. This result provides evidence that the inferior parietal lobe plays a crucial role in the neural integration of mental and physical body rotation.
Fumigant Activity of Eight Plant Essential Oils Against Workers of Red Imported Fire Ant, Solenopsis invicta

Plant essential oils from eight plant species were tested for their insecticidal activities against the red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invcita , by using a fumigation bioassay. This study reveals that the mortalities after treatment of the workers of red imported fire ants varied according to the classification of workers, oil type, dosage, and exposure time. Among the essential oils tested, strong insecticidal activity was observed with the essential oils of camphor ( Cinnamomum camphora ), artemisia annua ( Artemisia annua ), eucalyptus ( Eucalyptus globulus ), mugwort ( Artemisia argyi ), and wintergreen ( Ilex chinensis ). Ant mortalities from chrysanthemum oil ( Dendranthema indicum ), turpentine oil ( Pinus massoniana ), and forsythia oil ( Forsythia suspense ) treatments were significantly lower than those from the previously mentioned five essential oil treatments. This study showed that camphor, artemisia annua, eucalyptus, mugwort, and wintergreen oils may have potential to be used as substitutes for chemical insecticides.
Self-organized criticality and homeostasis in atmospheric convective organization

AbstractAtmospheric convection has a tendency to organize on a hierarchy of scales ranging from the mesoscale to the planetary scales, with the latter especially manifested by the Madden–Julian oscillation. The present paper examines two major competing mechanisms of self-organization in a cloud-resolving model (CRM) simulation from a phenomenological thermodynamic point of view.The first mechanism is self-organized criticality. A saturation tendency of precipitation rate with increasing column-integrated water, reminiscent of critical phenomena, indicates self-organized criticality. The second is a self-regulation mechanism that is known as homeostasis in biology. A thermodynamic argument suggests that such self-regulation maintains the column-integrated water below a threshold by increasing the precipitation rate. Previous analyses of both observational data as well as CRM experiments give mixed results.In this study, a CRM experiment over a large-scale domain with a constant sea surface temperature is .
THE PROBLEMS OF THE ACCOUNT FOR ENERGY-MOMENTUM CONSERVATION LAW AND INTERFERENCE EFFECTS AT HADRON-HADRON SCATTERING

We present the new method for the calculation of inelastic scattering cross-section, which doesn’t require the use of any additional Regge-like assumptions and accurately accounts for energy-momentum conservation law. This leads to a new mechanism of cross-section growth, which has not been considered before, and is related to the behavior of hadrons longitudinal momenta. Second, it has been shown that interference diagrams, originating from the identity of final-state hadrons, put a significant contribution to the cross-section. The approximate method for taking into account such interference contributions has been developed. Altogether, this results in a fact that the dependence of the total and inelastic scattering cross-section on energy can be qualitatively reproduced by fitting only one single parameter of the model.
Eocene to present subduction of southern Adria mantle lithosphere beneath the Dinarides

We modeled global positioning system measurements of crustal velocity along a N13°E profile across the southern Adria microplate and south-central Dinarides mountain belt using a one-dimensional elastic dislocation model. We assumed a N77°W fault strike orthogonal to the average azimuth of the measured velocities, but we used a constrained random search algorithm minimizing misfit to the velocities to determine all other parameters of the model. The model fault plane reaches the surface seaward of mapped SW-verging thrusts of Eocene and perhaps Neogene age along the coastal areas of southern Dalmatia, consistent with SW-migrating deformation in an active fold-and-thrust belt. P-wave tomography shows a NE-dipping high-velocity slab to ∼160 km depth, which reaches the surface as Adria, dips gently beneath the foreland, and becomes steep beneath the Dinarides topographic high. The thrust plane is located directly above the shallowly dipping part of the slab. The pattern of precisely located seismicity is broadly consistent with both the tomography and geodesy; deeper earthquakes (down to ∼70 km) correlate spatially with the slab, and shallower earthquakes are broadly clustered around the geodetically inferred thrust plane. The model fault geometry and loading rate, ages of subaerially exposed thrusts in the fold-and-thrust belt, and the length of subducted slab are all consistent with Adria-Eurasia collision involving uninterrupted subduction of southern Adria mantle lithosphere beneath Eurasia since Eocene time.
Contagion and Regulation in Endogenous Bank Networks

We develop a simple model of endogenous bank networks to study financial contagion and how leverage regulation may affect it. Banks maximize expected profit by choosing the optimal allocation of resources between three different classes of assets. An interbank network arise as result of loans between banks, creating a direct channel of contagion in the financial system. Contagion may occur when the realized return of the risky asset is sufficiently low to make a bank insolvent, subsequently triggering a cascade effect that propagates through default in interbank loans. Contrary to what would be expected, our results show that despite forcing banks to deleverage, increasing minimum capital requirements may lead to a system with higher aggregate levels of default. Key-words: Contagion, banking networks, financial regulation.
EVALUATION OF PARENTS ’ DECISION-MAKING IN ONCOLOGIC PEDIATRIC TREATMENT

Introduction: Decision-making when facing a pediatric cancer treatment deserves a spotlight due to the amount of decisions that parents must deal with during this process, which may often generate emotional stress, doubts, uncertainties and anxieties. Thus, assessing how the health team influences the decision of parents is an important factor to evaluate how much autonomy they have to be able to choose on the numerous possibilities resulting from the treatment. Objective: To evaluate parents’ decisionmaking process in oncologic pediatric treatments and to analyze the perception of coercion, the level of moral-psychological development and other difficulties. Method: 10 participants were selected by convenience to conduct individual semi-structured interviews, applying the Scale of Perception of Coercion in Assistance and the Moral-Psychological Development Scale. Results: Nine mothers and one father were interviewed (n = 10), with an average age of 33.1 years. Six categories were identified from the analysis of content originated from the central theme. There was no perception of coercion by parents and all have shown psychological and moral levels suitable for decision-making. Conclusion: It was observed that, in spite of emotional difficulties, parents have proved able to decide on issues related to the treatment of their children, having enough autonomy for decision-making.