Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Infection fatality rate of SARS-CoV-2 infection in a German community with a super-spreading event

The world faces an unprecedented SARS-CoV2 pandemic where many critical factors still remain unknown. The case fatality rates (CFR) reported in the context of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic substantially differ between countries. For SARS-CoV-2 infection with its broad clinical spectrum from asymptomatic to severe disease courses, the infection fatality rate (IFR) is the more reliable parameter to predict the consequences of the pandemic. Here we combined virus RT-PCR testing and assessment for SARS-CoV2 antibodies to determine the total number of individuals with SARS-CoV-2 infections in a given population.A sero-epidemiological GCP- and GEP-compliant study was performed in a small German town which was exposed to a super-spreading event (carnival festivities) followed by strict social distancing measures causing a transient wave of infections. Questionnaire-based information and biomaterials were collected from a random, household-based study population within a seven-day period, six weeks after the outbreak. The number of present and past infections was determined by integrating results from anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG analyses in blood, PCR testing for viral RNA in pharyngeal swabs and reported previous positive PCR tests.Of the 919 individuals with evaluable infection status (out of 1,007; 405 households) 15.5% (95% CI: [12.3%; 19.0%]) were infected. This is 5-fold higher than the number of officially reported cases for this community (3.1%). Infection was associated with characteristic symptoms such as loss of smell and taste. 22.2% of all infected individuals were asymptomatic. With the seven SARS-CoV-2-associated reported deaths the estimated IFR was 0.36% [0.29%; 0.45%]. Age and sex were not found to be associated with the infection rate. Participation in carnival festivities increased both the infection rate (21.3% vs. 9.5%, p<0.001) and the number of symptoms in the infected (estimated relative mean increase 1.6, p=0.007). The risk of a person being infected was not found to be associated with the number of study participants in the household this person lived in. The secondary infection risk for study participants living in the same household increased from 15.5% to 43.6%, to 35.5% and to 18.3% for households with two, three or four people respectively (p<0.001). While the number of infections in this high prevalence community is not representative for other parts of the world, the IFR calculated on the basis of the infection rate in this community can be utilized to estimate the percentage of infected based on the number of reported fatalities in other places with similar population characteristics. Whether the specific circumstances of a super-spreading event not only have an impact on the infection rate and number of symptoms but also on the IFR requires further investigation. The unexpectedly low secondary infection risk among persons living in the same household has important implications for measures installed to contain the SARS-CoV-2 virus pandemic.
Joining Forces for Higher Precision and Recall of Design Pattern Detection

—Automated design pattern detection (DPD) is a challenging reengineering task that has been shown to require combination of complex structural and behavioural analyses for good results. Still, the detection quality (precision and recall) of existing tools has so far been insufﬁcient to make DPD integral part of current IDEs and development practices. In this paper we present a novel approach and a related tool, DPJF. For all implemented pattern detectors and all projects used for evaluation, DPJF provides competitive performance while achieving the best recall of all evaluated tools (with a median of 89%) and 100% precision. These results lay the basis for routine application of DPD in program comprehension and software quality assesment. The high detection quality is achieved by a well-balanced combination of structural and behavioural analysis techniques whereas the good performance is achieved by emprically validated simpliﬁcations of the individual techniques.
Reduction of selenate and selenite to elemental selenium by Wolinella succinogenes

Cultures of Wolinella succinogenes were adapted to grow in the presence of 1 mM or 10 mM . Both selenium salts were reduced to red, amorphous, elemental selenium but only after the culture reached the stationary growth phase. Bacterial cells taken from a culture actively reducing selenium were examined by transmission electron microscopy and were found to have large, electron-dense granules in the cytoplasm. These granules were verified by energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy to consist of selenium. Wolinella succinogenes was unable to grow with or as the final electron acceptor. Key words: Wolinella, selenium, cytology, selenate.
31-40 M Nazre.pmd

Garcinia is known for their edible fruit and a number of species from the wild have been selected and cultivated not just for their fruits but also for other uses such as vegetables and traditional medicine. Phylogenetic relationships of five locally cultivated and 12 wild species of Garcinia were determined using the sequence of the internal transcribed spacer region (ITS). Sequence analysis generated by both Parsimony and Bayesian inference resulted in almost identical tree topology containing five main monophyletic clades. The monophyly of these clades are congruent with previous taxonomic classification although a few clades require more representative samples to give clearer picture. Garcinia cowa (kandis) and G. atroviridis (asam gelugor) clustered within sect. Brindonia, G. hombroniana (beruas) and G. mangostana (mangosteen) fall within clade of sect. Garcinia and G. prainiana (kecupu) exhibit as basal clade of sect.
Starvation induced hypothyroidism involves perturbations in thyroid superoxide‐sod system in pigeons

This study investigated the influence of starvation over seven days on avian thyroidal superoxide radical levels and superoxide dismutase activity profiles in the Indian rock pigeon Columba fivia intermeida, in relation with iodine metabolism. The serum thyroid hormone profile was assayed to correlate the thyroidal redox status with the circulating thyroid hormone levels. The spin‐trapping results suggest a role for thyroidal superoxide anion (O2‐) in causing a hypothyroid state in pigeons during long term energy withdrawal. Pigeons starved for 1 day generated superoxide and iodide free radicals in their thyroids, with a significant decrease in SOD activity. Regain of SOD activity in 2nd‐ and 3rd‐day starved birds is marked by complete scavenging of radicals in the thyroid, suggesting the significance of SOD in thyroid glands as a potential antioxidant sink against reactive oxygen species, O2‐. Resurgence of 02‐ radicals with a parallel decrease in SOD activity in the thyroid gland on 5th‐ and 7th‐day of starvation provides evidence of disruption of homeostasis between pro‐oxidant and antioxidant states, leading to oxidative stress in avian thyroid during long‐term calorie crisis. Following starvation both thyroid hormones thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3) decreased, putting pigeons in a hypothyroidstate. We argue that oxidative inactivation of thyroid peroxidase and other thyroid proteins by radical attack during starvation invoked oxidative stress, which could be one of the factors responsible for the hypothyroid state in pigeons.
Problematizing College Internships: Exploring Issues With Access, Program Design, and Developmental Outcomes in Three U.S. Colleges

Internships are widely promoted as a 'high-impact' practice, yet the literature is limited by insufficient attention to the impacts of program format on student outcomes. In this mixed-methods study survey (n=1,129) and focus group (n=57) data from students in three US colleges were analyzed using inductive thematic analysis, chi-square, and hierarchical linear modeling to document intern characteristics, access-related problems, program structure, and impacts on student outcomes. Results indicate that internship participation varied significantly by race, institution, enrollment status and academic program, and that high degrees of supervisor support, supervisor mentoring, and relationship between internships and academic programs were significant predictors of students' satisfaction with internships and perceived value for their career development. Consequently, colleges and universities should work to ensure equitable access to internships and that additional research be conducted on how individual, institutional, and programmatic factors influence student participation in internships and their subsequent outcomes.
Settlement inhibition of fouling invertebrate larvae by metabolites of the marine bacterium halomonas marina within a polyurethane coating

The marine bacterium, Halomonas marina (ATCC 27129), was shown to inhibit settlement and development of the sessile invertebrates Balanus amphitrite and Bugula neritina. Different bacterial treatments were employed to investigate this interaction. Filmed bacteria and liquid suspensions of whole cells, lysed cells and culture filtrate all reduced settlement of B. amphitrite. Polyurethane coatings containing whole cells were partially inhibitory while lysed cells caused complete inhibition of B. amphitrite larval settlement. In contrast, culture filtrate in a polyurethane matrix stimulated settlement of B. amphitrite larvae. Whole cells, culture filtrate, and lysed cells embedded in a polyurethane coating also controlled B. neritina settlement and maturation.
Comparative Transcriptomics Allows for Rapid Development of Population-Level Nuclear Markers in Hesperoperla pacifica (Plecoptera:Perlidae)

Abstract: Lack of nonmicrosatellite nuclear markers that are informative at the intraspecific level has limited inferences about the phylogeography and phylogenetics of most aquatic insect taxa. Genomic resources are becoming available at an unprecedented rate and scale. Sequencing a single transcriptome (complementary deoxyribonucleic acid [cDNA] library corresponding to all messenger ribonucleic acid [mRNA] expressed at a single point in time) can generate tens of thousands of sets of overlapping DNA segments that together represent a consensus region of DNA (contigs) averaging >500 base pairs [bp] in length. A challenge posed by these large data sets is extraction of markers with population-level utility. We demonstrate proof-of-concept for using comparative transcriptomics to develop primers for multiple nuclear loci with population-level utility in Hesperoperla pacifica efficiently and cost effectively. We created a cDNA library from total RNA and assembled the resulting transcriptomes de novo with the computer program Trinity. We used a Basic Local Alignment Search Tool (BLAST)-based algorithm to identify and filter putative orthologs (homologous gene sequences in different species). Filtering with a minimum sequence length of 600 bp and nucleotide identity of ≥85% yielded >1800 ortholog alignments. We examined some of these alignments for suitability for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) primer design. We screened 40 primers for their ability to amplify the correct-size PCR product and to detect genetic variation in 4 populations across the Great Basin (USA). The large number of loci that can be identified with this technique will lead to more-robust estimates of population parameters and more-rigorous tests of phylogeographic hypotheses than can be done with fewer loci. The advantages of nuclear-sequence-based studies include better comparisons with mitochondrial DNA phylogenies because of shared statistical techniques and models of mutation and the potential for direct comparisons of genetic structure across taxa.
Determinants and Effects of Fiscal Stabilization: New Evidence from Time-Varying Estimates

This paper provides a novel dataset of time-varying measures of fiscal stabilization for an unbalanced panel of advanced and emerging market economies from 1980 to 2014. The use of time-varying measures of fiscal stabilization overcomes the major limitation of existing studies assessing the determinants and the effects of fiscal stabilization that rely on cross-country regressions and, therefore, are not able to account for country-specific as well as global factors. The key findings of the paper are: (i) fiscal stabilization has increased over time for many economies over the last two decades; (ii) fiscal stabilization is positively associated with financial deepening, the level of economic development, trade openness, government size as well as political factors; (iii) fiscal stabilization significantly reduces output volatility. The results are robust to various specifications and endogeneity checks.
PREVALENCE OF HYPERTENSION AND ITS RELATIONSHIP WITH BMI: A STUDY AMONG THE SUNNI MUSLIMS ADOLESCENTS OF LUCKNOW, UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA

Hypertension is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality world widely. Onset of hypertension occurs mainly in the younger phase. The increasing trend of hypertension in children and adolescents in India may be due to the changes in the life styles, food habits, mental stress, playing video games in leisure time, television and lack of physical exercise. Keeping these in mind, the objectives of the present study was to evaluate the prevalence of hypertension in school going adolescents and its relationship with various BMI indices. This cross-sectional study was conducted among the 159 school going Sunni Muslims adolescents aged between 12 to 18 years residing at Aurangabad Jagir and Chillawava (sub urban areas), adjacent to the Lucknow City. Variables like Height, weight and Blood pressure level were measured following standard method. Statistical Analysis like mean, SD, ttest, ANOVA, correlation and regression were done using SPSS (V.20). The mean Height (cm) and Weight (kg) among the studied boys were 157.9 (12.1) and 44.0 (11.3) respectively whereas, among girls these were 148.4 (7.2) and 39.0 (7.7). These differences based on sex were statistically highly significant. The mean BMI among girls was slightly higher and this was not significant. The mean Systolic Blood Pressure (SBP) among boys was 119.1 (13.8) and among girls this was 113.7 (12.5) and the difference was statistically significant (t = 2.46; p < 0.01). The mean (SD) Diastolic Blood Pressure (DBP) in boys and girls were 75.9(10.6) and 74.5(10.3) respectively, which was not significant. Age changes had a great impact on all the anthropometric variables when considered as sex combined. SBP was correlated with severe thinness, whereas, DBP was correlated with Thinness. In this study we also observed that mean BMI was increases as the age increases and mean SBP and DBP was increases as BMI increases. The study revealed the fact that hypertension is prevalent among both the thin and severely thin (BMI group) adolescents.
FOREIGN AID AND GOVERNANCE

This study analyzes the effect of foreign aid on governance in Pakistan by employing ARDL approach using annual data from 1984 to 2012. The study provides empirical evidence that foreign aid in Pakistan erodes the quality of governance, which has been measured by using indices of bureaucratic quality, corruption and rule of law in Pakistan. Aid dependence possibly damages the quality of governance by increasing corruption, weakening accountability, creating moral hazard, weakening policy learning, draining off talent and ability from the bureaucracy, and relieving burdens to restructure inefficient institutions and policies. Foreign aid programmes should be clearly understood and taken as a temporary and short-term development tool. There should be aid “exit strategy” and motivation for self-help.
Root-mediated allelopathic interference of nettle-leaved goosefoot (Chenopodium murale) on wheat (Triticum aestivum)

A study was conducted to determine the potential and nature of root-mediated allelopathic interference of Chenopodium murale on wheat. Early growth of wheat reduced significantly in agar medium where C. murale seedlings were previously growing as well as in rhizosphere soil of C. murale. The reduction in wheat growth was due to the presence of inhibitory metabolites released by roots of C. murale in the growth media. Even the soil incorporation of root residues also reduced the wheat growth in terms of seedling length and seedling dry weight. Only a partial amelioration in growth inhibition occurred upon charcoal supplementation or nitrogen fertilization in these amended soils. Root residues did not reduce the available nutrients in the soil, which was rather nutrient rich. These results indicated the definite role of allelopathy of C. murale roots in retarding wheat growth. Root amended soils contained significantly higher amount of phytotoxic phenolics as the putative allelochemicals, which were ferulic acid, vanillic acid, p-coumaric acid and benzoic acid. The study concluded that C. murale roots and their exudates exerted allelopathic effects on wheat by releasing water-soluble phenolic acids as putative allelochemicals in soil.
Morphological and anatomical development in the Vitaceae. VIII. Comparative development of three Cyphostemma (Vitaceae) species reveals important vegetative and reproductive differences among the species

Vegetative and floral development of Cyphostemma simulans (C.A. Small) Wild & Drummond, Cyphostemma juttae (Dinter & Gilg) Descoings, and Cyphostemma mappia (Lam) Galet were compared using epi-illumination light microscopy and paraffin sectioning. Cyphostemma simulans is a liana with leaf-opposed tendrils and inflorescences, which both arise from the shoot apical meristem, whereas the other two species are shrubs that lack tendrils and their main shoot terminates in an inflorescence. A shoot apical meristem of C. simulans can be overtopped by an inflorescence, making the architecture appear to develop like a sympodium, which is the architecture shared by the other two species. On the other hand, a terminal inflorescence of C. juttae or C. mappia can be placed in a leaf-opposed position by a precocious axillary branch, making the architecture appear to develop like a monopodium, which is the typical architecture of the Vitaceae. The floral development of all three species is similar in early ontogeny, exce.
Diagnostic value of self-report compared with Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II) in screening of depression

Background: Depression is a common cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide. To detect depression, we compared Beck Depression Inventory scoring as a valid tool with participants self-reporting depression.Methodology: This cross-sectional study aimed to explore the diagnostic values of self-reporting in patients' with depression comparing to Beck Depression Inventory scoring in Mazandaran Persian cohort study, with a total of 1300 samples. The sample size was determined to include 155 participants through the census method. In order to increase the test power, 310 healthy participants were included in the study through random selection. In order to evaluate the diagnostic value of self-reporting, BDI-II was completed by blind interviewing to the case group as well as to another group who reported that they were not depressed, as control. Results : sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, false positive, false negative, positive and negative predictive values of self-reporting was calculated 58.4%, 79.1%,73.4%, 20.8%, 41.6%, 51.8%, and 83.2% for the total population respectively, as well as, sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive and negative predictive values of self-report in males were 83.3%, 77.2%, 77.1%, 43.8% and 95.6% and 53.7%, 78.1%, 71.2% , 49.2% , and 81.1% for females, respectively. Conclusion: The positive predictive value and sensitivity of self-reporting are insufficient in total population and females, and therefore self-reporting cannot detect depressed patients, but regarding to its average positive predictive value, perhaps, it can be used to identify non-depressant individuals.
Schizogenous Secretory Cavities of Citrus limon (L.) Burm. F. and A Reevaluation of the Lysigenous Gland Concept

The lysigenous appearance of Citrus limon (L) Burm. f. secretory cavities is the result of fixation artifacts. The glandular epithelial cells of lemon glands undergo rapid destructive swelling when immersed in commonly used fixatives. The swelling is most evident with mature glands, causing a false impression that the epithelial cells undergo autolysis as they complete their development. Epithelial cells of secretory cavities sliced open during tissue preparation show more extensive swelling than those left intact during fixation, indicating a possible cause for inconsistencies among reports of Citrus gland development. Aqueous primary fixation of intact secretory cavities results in sufficient epithelial cell swelling to give a false impression of precocious senescence; osmium vapor-fixed glandular cells show less swelling, contain intact organelles, and appear living at gland maturity. Although the concept of lysigeny is very old, recent evidence for lysigeny is based on investigations that used standard aqueous fixatives. Since fixation requirements for glands from other species of plants could be similar to those for Citrus glands, we suggest that lysigeny, in general, could be a false category of gland development, representing misinterpretation of artifacts.
Disruption of the CCL5/RANTES-CCR5 Pathway Restores Immune Homeostasis and Reduces Plasma Viral Load in Critical COVID-19

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the causative agent of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), is now pandemic with nearly three million cases reported to date. Although the majority of COVID-19 patients experience only mild or moderate symptoms, a subset will progress to severe disease with pneumonia and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) requiring mechanical ventilation. Emerging results indicate a dysregulated immune response characterized by runaway inflammation, including cytokine release syndrome (CRS), as the major driver of pathology in severe COVID-19. With no treatments currently approved for COVID-19, therapeutics to prevent or treat the excessive inflammation in severe disease caused by SARS-CoV-2 infection are urgently needed. Here, in 10 terminally-ill, critical COVID-19 patients we report profound elevation of plasma IL-6 and CCL5 (RANTES), decreased CD8+ T cell levels, and SARS-CoV-2 plasma viremia. Following compassionate care treatment with the CCR5 blocking antibody leronlimab, we observed complete CCR5 receptor occupancy on macrophage and T cells, rapid reduction of plasma IL-6, restoration of the CD4/CD8 ratio, and a significant decrease in SARS-CoV-2 plasma viremia. Consistent with reduction of plasma IL-6, single-cell RNA-sequencing revealed declines in transcriptomic myeloid cell clusters expressing IL-6 and interferon-related genes. These results demonstrate a novel approach to resolving unchecked inflammation, restoring immunologic deficiencies, and reducing SARS-CoV-2 plasma viral load via disruption of the CCL5-CCR5 axis, and support randomized clinical trials to assess clinical efficacy of leronlimab-mediated inhibition of CCR5 for COVID-19.