Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of Cultivation Methods on the Emergence of Weeds and the Growth and Yield of Paddy Rice, with Special Reference to using Aigamo Ducks

The purpose of this experiment is to clarify the effect of Aigamo ducks on the prevention of weeds, and the grain yield and culm of paddy rice (Oryza sativa L.). The plots prepared in this experiment were an untreated plot, an Aigamo plot and habitual culture plot. The emergence of weeds was decreased by Aigamo duck herding. There was no difference in the grain yields of the Aigamo and habitural culture plots. The reason why the emergence of weeds was decreased in the Aigamo plot is that the Aigamo ducks ate the weeds and the water of the paddy field became clouded. If the Aigamo ducks were herded for a long term, the number of weeds would decrease. The culm of the paddy rice was not affected even though the Aigamo ducks were herded in the field. However, compared with the habitual culture plot, the lengths of the 4th and 5th internodes (The 1st internode was the top internode) became shorter, the short diameter of the 3rd internode became thicker and breaking resistance became larger, and the lodging index became smaller in the Aigamo plot. As a result, the lodging resistence of the paddy rice in the untreated and Aigamo plots increased as compared with the habitual culture plot.
Adherence to oral chemotherapy: Evidence from a randomised clinical trial.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the efficacy of a reinforcement message (RM) administered by a hospital pharmacist on adherence, through a randomised study involving patients undergoing oral chemotherapy from which an objective outcome measure and patients' subjective opinions were collected. A secondary aim was to detect which psychological or clinical factors influence adherence. METHODS Forty patients were enrolled and randomised to an experimental group (EG) or a control group (CG). The EG received a 10-minute RM provided by a hospital pharmacist with a doctor and a nurse. The CG received the standard of care. To measure adherence, plasma drug concentration and subjective evaluation were taken during the visits, in addition to a psychological assessment (coping strategies, psychological distress and personality traits). RESULTS The EG reported higher drug levels and a statistically significant higher mean score on the subjective evaluation. A linear regression model highlighted statistically significant differences in the plasma drug concentration, after considering toxicity and dose reduction and controlling for the Reward Dependence Scale of the Temperament and Character Inventory between the EG and the CG. CONCLUSION Adequate information and education on the therapy, using an RM strategy provided by a hospital pharmacist, seems to positively influence adherence to the treatment.
Impact of MyDiabetesPlan, a Web-Based Patient Decision Aid on Decisional Conflict, Diabetes Distress, Quality of Life, and Chronic Illness Care in Patients With Diabetes: Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial

Background Person-centered care is critical for delivering high-quality diabetes care. Shared decision making (SDM) is central to person-centered care, and in diabetes care, it can improve decision quality, patient knowledge, and patient risk perception. Delivery of person-centered care can be facilitated with the use of patient decision aids (PtDAs). We developed MyDiabetesPlan, an interactive SDM and goal-setting PtDA designed to help individualize care priorities and support an interprofessional approach to SDM. Objective This study aims to assess the impact of MyDiabetesPlan on decisional conflict, diabetes distress, health-related quality of life, and patient assessment of chronic illness care at the individual patient level. Methods A two-step, parallel, 10-site cluster randomized controlled trial (first step: provider-directed implementation only; second step: both provider- and patient-directed implementation 6 months later) was conducted. Participants were adults 18 years and older with diabetes and 2 other comorbidities at 10 family health teams (FHTs) in Southwestern Ontario. FHTs were randomly assigned to MyDiabetesPlan (n=5) or control (n=5) through a computer-generated algorithm. MyDiabetesPlan was integrated into intervention practices, and clinicians (first step) followed by patients (second step) were trained on its use. Control participants received static generic Diabetes Canada resources. Patients were not blinded. Participants completed validated questionnaires at baseline, 6 months, and 12 months. The primary outcome at the individual patient level was decisional conflict; secondary outcomes were diabetes distress, health-related quality of life, chronic illness care, and clinician intention to practice interprofessional SDM. Multilevel hierarchical regression models were used. Results At the end of the study, the intervention group (5 clusters, n=111) had a modest reduction in total decisional conflicts compared with the control group (5 clusters, n=102; −3.5, 95% CI −7.4 to 0.42). Although there was no difference in diabetes distress or health-related quality of life, there was an increase in patient assessment of chronic illness care (0.7, 95% CI 0.4 to 1.0). Conclusions Use of goal-setting decision aids modestly improved decision quality and chronic illness care but not quality of life. Our findings may be due to a gap between goal setting and attainment, suggesting a role for optimizing patient engagement and behavioral support. The next steps include clarifying the mechanisms by which decision aids impact outcomes and revising MyDiabetesPlan and its delivery. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02379078; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02379078
Effect of different levels of pomegranate peel powder and probiotic supplementation on growth, carcass traits, blood serum metabolites, antioxidant status and meat quality of broilers

Abstract The present study aimed to investigate the effect of dietary pomegranate peel powder (PPP) and probiotic bacteria (PB) on the growth rate, carcass traits, blood serum metabolites, and meat quality of Ross broiler chickens during 1–5 weeks of age. A total of 480 unsexed Ross broiler chicks 7-days old with the beginning bodyweight of 110.58 ± 0.17 g were employed in a complete randomized purpose trail with eight groups; 60 chicks in six replicates (8 × 6 × 10). The dietary treatments were as follows: NC: negative group (without additives) group one; PC: positive control (main diet + 0.5 g Colostin antibiotic/kg feed); PPP 3–5: basal diet + 2, 3, 4 g pomegranate peel powder/kg diet and PPP 6–8: basal diet + 2, 3, 4 g pomegranate peel powder + 1 cm3 probiotic (Bacillus toyonensis (BT)/kg diet, respectively. The results showed that live body weight (LBW) at five weeks and body weight gain (BWG) during 1–5 weeks of age were affected by adding PPP in the ration and the good grads of PPP were 2 and 4 g PPP without PB/kg diet compared to NC and PC, respectively. Otherwise, daily feed conception (DFC) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were not affected by adding the different grads of PPP with or without PB, except the first period of DFC (1–3 weeks of old) were affected. Results showed a significant effect on all carcass characteristics studied, except gizzard and abdominal fat ratio were not influenced by the treatment used. Likewise, the addition of PPP to broiler chicken diets has a good effect on almost the blood serum metabolites, immunological parameters and quality of meat studied. In the end, the outcome of this study concluded that the addition of PPP to broiler diets has a good effect on the growth rate, blood serum metabolites, immunological parameters and the quality of meat as well as the health aspects.
Low‐dose alcohol: Interoceptive and molecular effects and the role of dentate gyrus in rats

Alcohol abuse and dependence are world‐wide health problems. Most research on alcohol use focuses on the consequences of moderate to high levels of alcohol. However, even at low concentrations, alcohol is capable of producing effects in the brain that can ultimately affect behavior. The current studies seek to understand the effects of low‐dose alcohol (blood alcohol levels of ≤10mM). To do so, these experiments utilize a combination of behavioral and molecular techniques to (1) assess the ability of the interoceptive effects of a low dose of alcohol to gain control over goal‐tracking behavior in a Pavlovian discrimination task, (2) determine brain regional differences in cellular activity via expression of immediate early genes (IEGs), and (3) assess the role of the dentate gyrus in modulating sensitivity to the interoceptive effects of a low dose of alcohol. Here, we show that intragastric administration of a dose of 0.8 g/kg alcohol produces blood alcohol levels ≤10mM in both male and female Long‐Evans rats and can readily be trained as a Pavlovian interoceptive drug cue. In rats trained on this procedure, this dose of alcohol also modulates expression of the IEGs c‐Fos and Arc in brain regions known to modulate expression of alcohol interoceptive effects. Finally, pharmacological inactivation of the dentate gyrus with GABA agonists baclofen and muscimol disrupted the ability of a low dose of alcohol to serve as an interoceptive cue. Together, these findings demonstrate behavioral and molecular consequences of low‐dose alcohol.
Long-term tracking of fasting blood glucose variability and peripheral artery disease in people without diabetes

Introduction Long-term changes of fasting blood glucose (FBG) in relation to lower-extremity peripheral artery disease (lower-extremity PAD) in people without diabetes has barely been reported. Our study aimed to investigate the association between FBG variability and the incidence of lower-extremity PAD in people without diabetes. Research design and methods We included 7699 participants without prior lower-extremity PAD and diabetes from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities study in the final analysis. At least two measurements of FBG were required during follow-up. Variability of FBG was identified using SD, coefficient of variation (CV), variability independent of the mean (VIM) and average real variability. Lower-extremity PAD was defined as an ankle brachial index <0.9, or hospitalization with a lower-extremity PAD diagnosis. Cox regression model was used to calculate HR for incidence of lower-extremity PAD and FBG variability. Results During a median follow-up of 19.5 years, 504 (6.5 %) lower-extremity PAD events were observed, 54.4% (n=274) were male, and 17.5% (n=88) were African-American. FBG variability was positively associated with incident lower-extremity PAD, with a linear relationship. HRs for CV and VIM were 1.015 (95% CI: 1.001 to 1.03; p=0.023), and 1.032 (95% CI: 1.004 to 1.06; p=0.022) for lower-extremity PAD, respectively. Participants in the lowest quartile of CV were at lower lower-extremity PAD risk compared with the highest ones (HR: 1.499, 95% CI: 1.16 to 1.938; p=0.002). Conclusions Higher FBG variability was independently associated with increased prevalence of lower-extremity PAD in people without diabetes. Trial registration number NCT00005131.
Free Vascularized Fibula Flap Reconstruction of Total and Near-total Destabilizing Resections of the Sacrum

Background Vascularized bone grafts (VBGs) are associated with improved union and fewer instrumentation complications in the mobile spine. It is not known if VBGs are similarly efficacious after sacrectomy. Methods We conducted a retrospective chart review of all patients who underwent total sacrectomy and immediate reconstruction with VBG between 2005 and 2019. Patient and surgical characteristics in addition to union and functional outcomes were analyzed. Results We identified 10 patients (6 women and 4 men) with a mean age of 42 years (range, 12–71 years). All patients received iliolumbar instrumentation as well as a free fibula flap as a VBG. There were no complications at the fibula flap donor site or specifically related to the VBG. Bony union was achieved in 7 (88%) of 8 patients with an average union time of 6.3 months (range, 2–10 months). Surgical complications occurred in 5 patients, 4 patients required reoperation for wound dehiscence, and 1 patient required conversion to a 4-rod construct and bone grafting for instrumentation loosening and partial nonunion. Instrumentation failure developed in 1 patient, but no surgical intervention was required. One patient was able to walk independently without any limitation, 5 patients required a walker, 2 were wheelchair-bound except for short (<15 ft) distances, and 2 were lost to follow-up. Conclusions The free vascularized fibula flap is a safe and effective option for supplementing spinal reconstruction after destabilizing sacrectomy.
Taxonomic status of the Taiwanese Gekko, with comments on the synonymy of Luperosaurus amissus Taylor

Pope (1928) described Gekko japonicus hokouensis based on 15 specimens collected from the southeastern part of continental China (Kiangsi and Ch'ungan provinces). In that article, he noted that this subspecies differs from the nominal subspecies in having a single large tubercular scale at the base of the tail (i.e., cloacal spur sensu Kluge, 1967). Later, Stejneger (1932) tentatively adopted this account. Pope (1935), however, listed G. j. hokouensis as a junior synonym of G. japonicus (Dumeril et Bibron, 1836), and all the subsequent authors, treating the form with a single pair of cloacal spurs, did not refer to the subspecific name hokouensis (e.g., Okada, 1936; Liu, 1970; Liang and Wang, 1975; Shibata, 1981). Recently, Zhou et al. (1982) reported that typical "G. japonicus," with two to three pairs of cloacal spurs and tubercles on limbs, occur sympatrically in some localities of continental China with populations exhibiting a single pair of spurs and without the tubercles. They redescribed the latter as a good species, G. hokouensis. Their conclusion was confirmed by Chen et al. (1986) who demonstrated karyological differences between the two forms. In discussing distributions of the two species, Zhou et al. (1982) examined large series of specimens from various localities within the continent. On the other
Assessment of Human Visual Acuity Using Visual Evoked Potential: A Review

Visual evoked potential (VEP) has been used as an alternative method to assess visual acuity objectively, especially in non-verbal infants and adults with low intellectual abilities or malingering. By sweeping the spatial frequency of visual stimuli and recording the corresponding VEP, VEP acuity can be defined by analyzing electroencephalography (EEG) signals. This paper presents a review on the VEP-based visual acuity assessment technique, including a brief overview of the technique, the effects of the parameters of visual stimuli, and signal acquisition and analysis of the VEP acuity test, and a summary of the current clinical applications of the technique. Finally, we discuss the current problems in this research domain and potential future work, which may enable this technique to be used more widely and quickly, deepening the VEP and even electrophysiology research on the detection and diagnosis of visual function.
Optimal Time of Thermotherapy for Reducing Pain, Anxiety, and Side Effects in Arteriovenous Fistula Puncture Patients: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Chronic renal failure patients undergoing hemodialysis complain of moderate pain from repeated punctures of the arteriovenous fistula. This study examined the optimal application time of thermotherapy for reducing pain, anxiety, and side effects during arteriovenous fistula puncture. This study was conducted as a single-blinded randomized controlled trial. The participants were arteriovenous fistula puncture patients with chronic renal failure who were divided into two thermotherapy groups and one control group. This study was approved by the institutional review board and registered with the Clinical Research Information Service (KCT0003768). Differences between groups regarding pain, anxiety, and side effects were analyzed using one-way ANOVA, the χ2 test, and the Scheffé test. A significant difference was observed between the 10-min and 20-min thermotherapy groups and the control group in terms of the pain they experienced. Additionally, more side effects were encountered in the 20-min thermotherapy group than in the 10-min group. The 10-min application of thermotherapy for an arteriovenous fistula puncture showed the same pain-reducing effect as the conventional 20-min application. The study confirmed a 10-min application of thermotherapy to be an effective nursing intervention for pain relief without side effects.
[Use of medicinal plants in patients with symptoms of generalized anxiety].

BACKGROUND Anxiety is one of the most common mental disorders. It has an impact on the decrease of productivity, the affectation of quality of life, and the increase in health care costs. The study of plant species with medicinal properties to treat anxiety has made significant progress, since they have been evaluated through in vitro, in vivo and clinical studies. OBJECTIVE To identify the use of medicinal plants among patients with symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). MATERIAL AND METHODS A diagnostic questionnaire, including the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale, and another related with the use of medicinal plants, was applied. It was designed specifically for this study, and it was used in subjects and/or their companions, who visited an Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social hospital. RESULTS The study had 985 subjects, 802 women, with a median age of 37.1 ± 15.17; anxiety symptoms were identified in 95.9% (940); according to the number of signs and symptoms, 53.1% (523) of subjects may have suffered a moderate or severe degree of anxiety. 23.09% (187) used medicinal plants to treat their symptoms. 39 plant species were identified as used by patients with GAD symptoms. Of these, 76.3% (29) had a history of ethnomedical use on mental disorders. CONCLUSIONS A high percentage of the population in Mexico presents symptoms of GAD. A significant number of patients use medicinal plants to treat the symptoms of anxiety, even when they do not know that their symptomatology is part of a mental disorder.
Physiologic specialization of Puccinia recondita f. sp. tritici in Canada in 1993

En 1993, la rouille de la feuille du ble (Triticum aestivum) due au Puccinia recondita f. sp. tritici a ete observee pour la premiere fois pendant la deuxieme semaine du mois de juin dans les champs de ble d'hiver au sud du Manitoba. Les temperatures d'ete plus basses que normales ont reduit le developpement de la maladie sur le ble de printemps a l'ouest du Canada en 1993. Les cultivars de ble Columbus, Roblin, Pasqua, et Minto sont restes hautement resistants a la rouille de la feuille en 1993. Les pertes dues a la rouille de la feuille dans ces cultivars etaient minimales. Il y avait des infestations legeres dans les champs de Biggar et Katepwa. Au Canada, on a detecte un total de 36 phenotypes virulents du champignon en utilisant 16 lignees isogenes Thatcher comme hotes differentiels. Les frequences du virulence aux Lr2a, Lr11, Lr24, and Lr26 etaient 40-60% au Manitoba et en Saskatchewan en 1993. Les phenotypes les plus communs au Quebec et en Ontario n'ont guere change des annees precedentes, avirulents a Lr2a et virulents a Lr3ka.
Increasing kinase domain proximity promotes MST2 autophosphorylation during Hippo signaling

The Hippo pathway plays an important role in developmental biology, mediating organ size by controlling cell proliferation through the activity of a core kinase cassette. Multiple upstream events activate the pathway, but how each controls this core kinase cassette is not fully understood. Activation of the core kinase cassette begins with phosphorylation of the kinase MST1/2 (also known as STK3/4). Here, using a combination of in vitro biochemistry and cell-based assays, including chemically induced dimerization and single-molecule pulldown, we revealed that increasing the proximity of adjacent kinase domains, rather than formation of a specific protein assembly, is sufficient to trigger autophosphorylation. We validate this mechanism in cells and demonstrate that multiple events associated with the active pathway, including SARAH domain–mediated homodimerization, membrane recruitment, and complex formation with the effector protein SAV1, each increase the kinase domain proximity and autophosphorylation of MST2. Together, our results reveal that multiple and distinct upstream signals each utilize the same common molecular mechanism to stimulate MST2 autophosphorylation. This mechanism is likely conserved among MST2 homologs. Our work also highlights potential differences in Hippo signal propagation between each activating event owing to differences in the dynamics and regulation of each protein ensemble that triggers MST2 autophosphorylation and possible redundancy in activation.
Evaluation of circulating tumor DNA as a biomarker for gynecological tumors

Department of Clinical Laboratory, Women’s Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210029, China; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Women’s Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210029, China; Department of Neuro-Psychiatric Institute, The affiliated Brain Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210029, China.
Yield performance and nutrient uptake as influenced by integrated weed management in clusterbean

A field experiment was conducted to study the effect of integrated weed management practices on growth, yield, quality of clusterbean and nutrient uptake by crop and weeds at Bikaner during Kharif 2013. Higher yield were recorded under weed-free treatment. Weed biomass was reduced significantly by pendimethalin 0.75 kg/ha as pre-emergence as well as imazethapyr and imazethapyr + imazamox as post-emergence. The highest total uptake of N (88.2 kg), P (17.9 kg) and K (70.8 kg/ha) by the crop was recorded under weed-free conditions.
Spatiotemporal histological changes observed in mouse subcutaneous tissues during the foreign body reaction to silicone.

We investigated spatiotemporal changes in host tissues during foreign body reactions. Silicone tube was subcutaneously embedded into ICR mice, and tissue surrounding silicone (TSS) was observed at 2, 7, 14, 21, 28, 43, and 70 days (D) post-surgery. The thin layer (TL) and loose connective tissues (LCTs) (inside and outside the TSS) developed until D21 and densified afterward. Neutrophils infiltrated the TSS until D14 and formed neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) in the TL during D7-21. In the LCTs, mast cell counts increased until D21, and macrophage numbers peaked at D14. Several macrophages showed LYVE-1 expression, supporting a tissue-remodeling role. Developmental indices of collagen fibers (CFs) and reticular fibers (RFs) increased during D2-21. NETs, but not neutrophils, were detected after D28. Mast cell numbers peaked at D43 and were maintained until D70. Myofibroblasts consistently localized to the TL from D14. During D21-28, the area of connective tissue (CNT), and CFs and RFs decreased and increased, respectively, and both remained constant during D28-70. The CF density remained constant from D21 and increased at D70. Thus, TSS showed two phases: inflammation and CNT development (D2-21), and inflammation convergence and CNT stabilization (D28-70). These results provide insights into foreign body reactions in clinical cases. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.