Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Safety of Bariatric Surgery during COVID-19 Pandemic, is there a need to screen low risk patients?

Background There seems to be a general consensus in the current published literature on postponing elective, non-urgent surgery on COVID-19-positive patients. But so far no recommendations have been published on when and how to start carrying out elective, non-urgent surgery on COVID-19-negative patients after the epidemic peak. Objective: to determine the best approach for reintroduction of elective procedures during COVID-19 based on their preoperative screening by the respiratory scoring system. Methodology: retrospective chart review of patients who underwent bariatric surgery between March to June in 2020, during the pandemic of Covid 19. The study was conducted in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in two different health institutions. Results: The total number of patients were 90. The mean age of the patients was 32.73 ± 7.81 years. Moreover, (n=36; 40.0%) of the patients presented with comorbidities. Only (n=1; 1.1%) of the patient was tested for Covid19 by RT-PCR before surgery and tested negative. Majority of the patients (n=80; 88.9% ) underwent Lap sleeve gasterecomy. Post surgery no patients developed any complications and none of them were admitted to the ICU. Post surgery only (n=2; 2.2%) of the patient were tested for Covid19 by RT-PCR and 100% tested negative. Conclusion: During COVID-19 pandemic before considering patients for elective surgery they should be screened. If their respiratory score is ≤ 3 indicating low risk of respiratory illness, elective procedures should continue. Strict precautionary measures should be followed and limited number of surgeries should be performed.
Clinical Evaluation of Postoperative Sensitivity in Class I Resin Composite Restorations

Objective: To evaluate the postoperative sensitivity in posterior restorations with different resin composites and adhesive systems as well as the influence of the depth and extent of the dental cavity. Material and Methods: A double-blind clinical trial was carried out with 80 class I restorations of 16 patients. The participants were divided into 4 groups according to the adhesive system + composite: F + P (Filtek P90™ + P90™); R + S (Rok™ + Stae™); P + A (P60™ + Adper SE PLUS™); E + X (Evolux™ + XPBond™ Adhesive). After 7, 15 and 30 days, the presence of postoperative sensitivity was evaluated and classified according to type and intensity. The data were submitted to Pearson's chi-square test, Fisher's exact teste, Student’s t-test and ANOVA. A significance level of 5% was used for all tests. Results: The presence of postoperative sensitivity was approximately 6% of the total sample. The sensitivity decreased with the evaluation time, with the smallest reduction occurring from the 7-day evaluation compared to the other evaluations. Conclusion: There was found no evidence of influence of the resin composite and adhesive type, depth and extension of the cavities for the presence of postoperative sensitivity. Keywords Dentistry; Dentin sensitivity; Adhesives; Composite resins.
Response of mungbean to NPK and lime under the conditions of Vindhyan Region of Uttar Pradesh

A field experiment was conducted for the management of soil acidity with fertility and lime levels to sustain the productivity of acid soil of Vindhyyan region of Uttar Pradesh (India). Results of the study demonstrated that significant improvement in plant height (49.23 cm), number of nodule (76.95), dry weight of nodule (49.75 mg), highest LAI (4.45), yield parameters, yields, protein (21.39%), nutrient content and total NPK uptake (96.68 kg/ha ) were recorded with 100% RDF. Similar results were observed for all growth and yield parameters such as protein (%), nutrient (%) and total NPK uptake by crop with application of 200 kg lime/ha. A significantly higher seed yield (6.22 q/ha) was recorded with 100 % RDF + 200 kg lime/ha as compared to other treatment combinations, which was at par with 100 % RDF + 300 kg lime/ha and 125 % RDF + 300 kg lime/ha.
Impact of Dust Shortwave Absorbability on the East Asian Summer Monsoon

Dust shortwave absorbability suffers from significant uncertainties. We investigated the radiative effects of dust aerosols from the circum‐Tibet region using four shortwave absorbability schemes and examined their impacts on the East Asian summer monsoon by using the Community Earth System Model (CESM). We adopted superspheroidal models to compute dust aerosol optical properties and found that more absorptive particles have larger asymmetry factor and lower single‐scattering albedo. Meiyu precipitation, as a part of the East Asian summer monsoon, is weakened by dust aerosols, particularly for the convective precipitation. The mechanism is that dust aerosols transported mainly from the Gobi desert radiatively heat the lower atmosphere to the north of the Meiyu rainband and decrease the meridional temperature gradient, leading to the weakening of the midtropospheric westerly jet over the Meiyu rainband, which is important for convection. More absorptive dust aerosols with a stronger radiative heating effect inhibit more convective Meiyu precipitation.
Effects of abiotic factors on co-occurring Carabus (Coleoptera: Carabidae) species

The members of the genus Carabus are among the most intensively studied beetle taxa, but many aspects of their autecology are still unexplored. We aimed to study the relationship between measured abiotic parameters and the spatial and temporal distribution of signature carabid species. Carabus assemblages were sampled by pitfalls at six sites belonging to two nearby locations, both forest habitats: in valley and in hill-top position. The sites showed variation in microclimatic and soil characteristics, to which the seven species caught showed specific spatial associations. Carabus scheidleri and C. coriaceus were ubiquitists, occurring at all sites. The habitat specialist C. violaceus germari indicated valley sites with high humidity, lower temperature, limy soil and higher pH, whereas the other specialists, C. nemoralis and C. convexus were strongly associated with the dry, warm, more acidic hill habitat. Remaining species were associated with specific sites and environmental features. The species also exhibited specific phenological patterns corresponding with their habitat preference. Hill habitat species exhibited peak activity density during the hottest summer period, whereas most other species had an activity depression during that period. The results suggest that although Carabus activity density patterns are species specific, they are largely affected by temperature both spatially and temporally.
Physiological and physico-chemical changes in 1-methylcyclopropene-treated
guava (Psidium guajava L. cv. Queso de Bola) fruit stored at ambient condition

The marketability of guava fruit is influenced by its quality attributes desired by consumers such as crispiness and crunchiness, green peel color, absence of defects, and better taste. ‘Queso de Bola’ guava fruits were treated with 600 nL L of 1methylcyclopropane (1-MCP) for 12 hrs then stored at ambient condition (29±2°C, 6080% RH). Reduced respiration rate with 1-MCP treatment was observed only starting on the 5 day of storage. Ethylene production, however, was not suppressed. The continuous decline in polygalacturonase activity with 1-MCP treatment coincided with firmness retention of the fruit until the 15 day. Higher firmness of 1-MCP-treated fruits than control fruits was further supported by higher sensory scores for crispiness and crunchiness particularly towards the later part of storage. 1-MCP treatment did not prevent peel browning as shown by similar polyphenol oxidase activity and pattern of change in total phenolic content. Total soluble solids, titratable acidity, and pH were not affected by 1-MCP treatment and did not markedly change during storage. Ascorbic acid content decreased in both treatments until day 6 followed by a slight increase with 1-MCP treatment exhibiting higher levels than the control. In general, 1-MCP treatment prolonged the marketability of guava by 3-4 days which was attributed to the maintenance of firmness, retention of green peel color, and reduced disease incidence.
Decomposing spatially dependent and cell type specific contributions to cellular heterogeneity

Both the intrinsic regulatory network and spatial environment are contributors of cellular identity and result in cell state variations. However, their individual contributions remain poorly understood. Here we present a systematic approach to integrate both sequencing-and imaging-based single-cell transcriptomic profiles, thereby combining whole-transcriptomic and spatial information from these assays. We applied this approach to dissect the cell-type and spatial domain associated heterogeneity within the mouse visual cortex region. Our analysis identified distinct spatially associated signatures within glutamatergic and astrocyte cell compartments, indicating strong interactions between cells and their spatial environment. Using these signatures as a guide to analyze single cell RNAseq data, we identified previously unknown, but spatially associated subpopulations. As such, our integrated approach provides a powerful tool for dissecting the roles of intrinsic regulatory networks and spatial environment in the maintenance of cellular states.
An in‐depth examination of maize yield response to fertilizer in Central Malawi reveals low profits and too many weeds

We examine the productivity of fertilizer used on maize in Central Malawi using field‐level panel data from over 1,200 observations on more than 500 fields over 4 harvest years. There are several novel aspects of this analysis compared to other on‐farm fertilizer efficiency studies, including (a) precise and accurate yield measurement using crop cuts, (b) estimating the impact of timely weeding, (c) the use of data on multiple soil characteristics from a panel of soil samples, and (d) the ability to control for field‐level fixed effects by tracking the same land over time. We find critical ecological and management threshold effects on fertilizer effectiveness at 0.94% soil carbon content, 57–58% sandiness, and weeding within 4 weeks of planting. Overall, we estimate lower yield response to fertilizer than reported in earlier studies: 2.6 maize kg/N kg under ideal circumstances, and statistically nil under many other conditions. We discuss the implications of our findings for farmers, policymakers, and researchers.
Sweet Corn (Zea mays) Hybrid Tolerance to Nicosulfuron

Tolerance of eight processing sweet corn hybrids to nicosulfuron was evaluated in field studies conducted at Arlington, Wis. in 1988 and 1989. Magnitude of sweet corn vigor reduction varied between years. Greater vigor reduction occurred to ‘Jubilee’ sweet corn than to the other seven hybrids. Injury to the hybrids increased as nicosulfuron rate increased. In 1988, some of the hybrids were stunted slightly by all of the herbicide rates, but within a hybrid there was no significant difference among herbicide rates. In 1989 none of the hybrids, including Jubilee, was stunted by even 140 g ai ha–1 nicosulfuron compared with the corresponding check. Effects of nicosulfuron on yields of the eight hybrids in 1988 and in 1989 are best described by a quadratic regression equation.
Knowledge-based resources in explaining service recovery performance: a multilevel investigation

ABSTRACT This paper investigates the role of customer orientation (CO), technology orientation (TO), and internal orientation (IO) in explaining firms’ service recovery performances. Multilevel analysis is used for data collected from 500 complaining customers nested in 100 firms to test the study’s hypotheses. Findings show that while the three knowledge-based resources (CO, IO, and TO) increase customers’ recovery satisfaction, only the human knowledge resources provide a buffer effect against the detrimental effects of service failures through the activation of their confirmatory biases. The result indicates the viability of TO as a recovery reactive resource rather than as a preventive resource.
Production of italian zucchini in response to N and P fertilization

The italian zucchini is a much-appreciated vegetable, besides being an economically viable alternative to the farmers. Nutrition with N and P is essential to produce vegetables, however, for the italian zucchini there are few scientific studies to guide fertilizing with these nutrients. The objective of this work was to evaluate the production of italian zucchini after N and P fertilization. The study was conducted in the agricultural area of the Irrigated Perimeter of Gorutuba, in the municipality of Nova Porteirinha-MG. A randomized block design with three replications was used. The treatments were arranged in a 5 × 4 factorial, using five doses of N (0, 50, 100, 150 and 200 kg ha-1) and four doses of P (0, 50, 100 e 150 kg ha-1 of P2O5), in the form of urea and monoammonium phosphate, respectively. NF was increased with N and P doses, and the combination of 150 kg ha-1 of P2O5 with 100 kg ha-1 of N was responsible for the highest number of fruits, with 17.52 fruits per plot. The combination of 100 kg ha-1 of N and 150 kg ha-1 of P2O5 resulted in the maximum PROD, corresponding to 10,834.67 kg ha-1. The elevation of P and N doses leads to an increase in the agronomic yield, without a marked change in the quality of the italian zucchini.
Characterisation of variables associated with the flight behaviour of the rust-red flour beetle (Tribolium castaneum)

iii Contributions by others to the thesis . vii Acknowledgements. viii Frontispiece. xi List of Figures . xvi List of Tables . xx List of Abbreviations used in the thesis . xxi CHAPTER 1 . 1 General introduction . 1 1.1. Impact of insect pest infestations on food security . 2 1.2. Study Species: Tribolium castaneum Herbst (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) . 3 1.3. Role of fumigants and their limitations . 5 1.3. 1. Phosphine . 6 1.4. Phosphine resistance – significance and management . 7 1.5. Characterization of Tribolium castaneum migrants – a step towards understanding its spatiotemporal dynamics . 9 1.6. Thesis structure and approaches to characterize flight in Tribolium castaneum . 11 1.6. 1. Genetic studies . 11 1.6. 2. Fecundity, morphometrics and fat content . 11 1.6. 3. Markers and why to use them . 12 1.6. 4. Markers used in this study . 12 1.6. 5. Thesis structure. 13 CHAPTER 2 . 15 Characterizing Tribolium castaneum adults that initiate flight in laboratory tests – generating predictions for the field. 15 2.
The effect of nisin and storage temperature on the quality parameters of processed cheese

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of nisin and storage temperature on the microbiological, physico-chemical and sensory properties of processed cheese. Processed cheese samples were prepared without and with 12.5 ppm nisin, stored at different temperatures (4, 8 and 20 degrees C). Research covered microbiological, physico-chemical and sensorial analysis of the samples. In processed cheese samples prepared without nisin, aerobic colony count (ACC) significantly increased over the experimental period, while in nisin supplemented samples no significant increase was determined. At lower storage temperature (4 degrees C), the effectiveness of nisin was more pronounced. Yeast and moulds (YM) and psychrotrophic colony count (PCC) were below the limit of quantification over the entire experimental period. Also, no significant changes in pH values and textural characteristics (firmness and stickiness) were determined. Sensory analyses confirmed that processed cheese samples became whiter and less yellow, compared to fresh samples. The viscosity of all samples decreased over the experimental period, which was in line with the results of baking stability. The obtained results confirmed the potential of using this type of processed cheese in baking industry.
Molecular Characterization of Hereditary Spherocytosis Mutants of the Cytoplasmic Domain of Anion Exchanger 1 and their Interaction with Protein 4.2

Anion exchanger 1 (AE1) is a red cell membrane glycoprotein that associates with cytoskeletal protein 4.2 in a complex bridging the cell membrane to the cytoskeleton. Disruption of this linkage results in unstable erythrocytes and hereditary spherocytosis (HS). Three HS mutations (E40K, G130R and P327R) in the cytoplasmic domain of AE1 (cdAE1) result in a decreased level of protein 4.2 in the red cell yet maintain normal amounts of AE1. Biophysical analyses showed the HS mutations had little effect on the structure and conformational stability of the isolated domain. However, the conformation of the cytoplasmic domain of the kidney anion exchanger, lacking the first 65 amino acids including a central -strand, was thermally destabilized relative to cdAE1 and had a more open structure. In transfected human embryonic kidney (HEK)-293 cells the HS mutants had similar expression levels as wild-type AE1, and protein 4.2 expression level was not dependent on the presence of AE1. Protein 4.2 localized to the plasma membrane with wild-type AE1, the HS mutants of AE1, the membrane domain of AE1 and kidney AE1, and to the ER with Southeast Asian ovalocytosis AE1. A fatty acylation mutant of protein 4.2, G2A/C173A, could not localize to the plasma membrane in the absence of AE1. Subcellular fractionation showed wild-type and G2A/C173A protein 4.2 were mostly
Are the Nurses Working in Tertiary Care Settings Ready to Deal with the Prevention and Control of COVID-19? A Knowledge and Attitude Assessment Study from Mangaluru, India

Introduction: Healthcare workers are the frontline warriors against the coronavirus disease (COVID)-19 pandemic and it is essential that they be armed with the right knowledge and attitude toward the disease. This study aims at assessing the level of knowledge and attitude regarding COVID-19 among the nurses of a tertiary care hospital. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in a Tertiary Care Hospital of Mangaluru, India, from February to April 2020. Complete enumeration of the nurses working in the hospital was done and a pre-tested, validated questionnaire was used to assess knowledge and attitude. Results were expressed as frequencies, proportions, and mean scores, and regression analysis was performed. Results: A total of 315 nurses participated in the study of which 62.2% nurses had undergone COVID-19 related training. Knowledge related to clinical features, mode of transmission, and incubation period was satisfactory whereas knowledge related to diagnosis, treatment, and vaccine for the disease was found to be poor. A satisfactory knowledge score of 6 and above of 12 was seen in 177 (56.2%) nurses and a favorable attitude score of 20 and above of 25 was seen in 231 (73.3%) nurses. Regression analysis revealed higher education, training on COVID-19, and higher knowledge scores had a significant effect on the average attitude score. Conclusion: Satisfactory knowledge on COVID-19 was observed in about 56% nurses who need to be further improved by training them. Favorable attitude toward COVID-19 was seen in most nurses. Better knowledge scores translated into favorable attitude among the nurses. Key words: COVID-19, Coronavirus, Nurse, Knowledge, Attitude, Healthcare workers
Recommender Systems Leveraging Multimedia Content

Recommender systems have become a popular and effective means to manage the ever-increasing amount of multimedia content available today and to help users discover interesting new items. Today’s recommender systems suggest items of various media types, including audio, text, visual (images), and videos. In fact, scientific research related to the analysis of multimedia content has made possible effective content-based recommender systems capable of suggesting items based on an analysis of the features extracted from the item itself. The aim of this survey is to present a thorough review of the state-of-the-art of recommender systems that leverage multimedia content, by classifying the reviewed papers with respect to their media type, the techniques employed to extract and represent their content features, and the recommendation algorithm. Moreover, for each media type, we discuss various domains in which multimedia content plays a key role in human decision-making and is therefore considered in the recommendation process. Examples of the identified domains include fashion, tourism, food, media streaming, and e-commerce.
Systematics and biogeography of sciophilous cyanobacteria; an ecological and molecular description of Albertania skiophila (Leptolyngbyaceae) gen. & sp. nov.

Abstract: Filamentous cyanobacteria grow as phototrophic biofilms in Maltese hypogea. Within these sheltered habitats, the prevailing relative humidity is high throughout the year, water seeps through the porous calcareous substrata and the irradiance is minimal. Isolated sciophilous cyanobacterial strains, adapted to tolerate and thrive in such environments, were studied using cytomorphological, ecological and genetic approaches. Light and electron microscopy revealed simple green trichomes 2–3 μm wide, made up of cells with parietal thylakoids, a rounded apical tip and surrounded by multistratified colourless sheaths. Phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S ribosomal RNA gene resulted in a new cluster of sequences that indicated a separate position at the generic level and justified the creation of the new genus Albertania. The strains were closely related (98% similarity or higher) and distantly related to other established cyanobacterial taxa (< 95%). The 16–23S internal transcribed spacer secondary folding structures were also unique. The clade consisted of six sequences isolated from phototrophic biofilms growing in five hypogea in Malta and Italy that are geographically isolated. The strains are described as Albertania skiophila gen. & sp. nov. since they form a monophyletic cluster made up of strains having a similar cytomorphology, ecology and molecular biology from two disjunct regions in Europe. Albertania skiophila strains are endemic to a specific habitat and distinct geographical region, leading to a defined biogeographical distribution in hypogea and caves around the Mediterranean region.
Effect of high planting density and foliar fungicide application on the grain maize and silage and methane yield

The research investigated ways to enhance maize yield in intensive maize cropping system by evaluating the effect of high planting densities combined with foliar fungicide treatments. The considered assessments were fungal leaf disease, biomass and grain yield and methane production through anaerobic fermentation. The experiment was conducted in the years 2012 and 2013. The treatments compared at each location were factorial combinations of two plant densities and three fungicide applications. A standard planting density (StD, 7.5 plants m–2 on a 0.75 m interrow spacing) was compared with the high density (HiD, 10 plants m–2 on narrow 0.5 m inter-row spacing). Two fungicides, pyraclostrobin at 0.2 kg AI ha–1 and a mixture of pyraclostrobin and epoxiconazole at 0.2 and 0.075 kg AI ha–1 respectively, were applied at the tassel emergence stage and compared with an untreated treatment. The HiD system positively increased the silage maize yield (+16%), grain (+17%) and methane yield per hectare (+19%) in comparison to the StD. The fungicide application significantly restrained foliar disease symptoms only in 2012. Fungicide did not affect plant silage composition (protein, starch or fibre content) and methane yield, conversely it significantly increased grain yield for both planting density systems (+5%). The overall boost in yield obtained by combining both strategies in an intensive system, HiD combined with the fungicide, was +24% for methane and +21% for grain yield compared to StD without fungicide application. This work proved that an intensive high planting system with up to 10 plants m–2, supported by leaf fungicide treatments, can lead to a real yield enhancement of both maize grain and silage.