Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Establishment and Characterization of Acquired Resistance to the Farnesyl Protein Transferase Inhibitor R115777 in a Human Colon Cancer Cell Line 1

R115777 (Zarnestra) is a farnesyl protein transferase inhibitor currently undergoing worldwide clinical trials. As acquired drug resistance may limit the efficacy of the drug, a model of acquired resistance has been established in vitro by continuous drug exposure of the human colon cancer cell line KM12. A stably resistant cell line possessing 13-fold resistance to R115777 was generated. The resistant cells showed cross-resistance to another, structurally different farnesyl transferase inhibitor-277, but not to GGTI-298. A lack of cross-resistance was observed to a variety of other agents, which included clinically used drugs, such as doxorubicin, etoposide, cisplatin, and paclitaxel, as well as signal transduction blockers, such as the mitogen-activated protein/extracellular signal-regulated kinase kinase inhibitor UO126, the phosphatidylinositol 3 (cid:1) -kinase inhibitor LY294002, and the epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor PD153035. Resistance did not appear to be related to differences in drug efflux pumps, such as P-glycoprotein or in drug accumulation. Total levels of farnesyl transferase protein subunits were similar in the parent and resistant cells, but, notably, the enzyme activity was markedly reduced in the resistant cell line compared with the parent cells. This was not because of a mutation in the enzyme or a difference in activation of the (cid:1) -subunit of farnesyl transferase by phosphorylation.
Caudal vena cava collapsibility index in healthy cats by ultrasonography

The objective of this study was to calculate the collapsibility index (CI) in a group of 15 healthy adult mixed breed cats via right hepatic intercostal ultrasound view. The minimal and the maximal diameters of the caudal vena cava (CVC) were obtained during inspiration and expiration, respectively, then CI was calculated. The mean diameter of the CVC was 0.5cm. The mean CI was 28±3% and CI was not significantly associated with gender. As in human medicine, there is a growing need for less invasive monitoring in small animal practice. The CI enables the assessment of estimated volemia without the need for a central venous catheter. This is the first reported study investigating CI in cats.
A LLELOPATHIC I NFLUENCE OF S ORGHUM A QUEOUS E XTRACTS AND S ORGHUM P OWDER ON G ERMINATION I NDICES AND S EEDLING V IGOR OF H YBRID C ORN AND

- Allelopathy has become a paramount tool for controlling weeds in crop plants without deteriorating the environment. Allelopathic effects of sorghum aqueous extracts and sorghum powder on a single cross maize ( Zea mays L.) hybrid “HC-8080” and a summer weed, jungle rice ( Echinochloa colona L.) were assessed in the research laboratory of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, Gomal University, Dera Ismail Khan, KPK, Pakistan. The treatments included: T1: control (untreated check), T2: sorghum aqueous extract at a rate of 5 mL kg -1 soil, T3: sorghum aqueous extract at a rate of 10 mL kg -1 soil, T4: sorghum aqueous extract at a rate of 15 mL kg -1 soil, T5: sorghum powder at a rate of 5 g kg -1 soil, T6: sorghum powder at a rate of 10 g kg -1 soil and T7: sorghum powder at a rate of 15 g kg -1 soil. The results unveiled that sorghum aqueous extract at a rate of 15 mL kg -1 soil was the most deleterious treatment which reduced the germination percentage (GP) in maize and E. colona by 23.57% and 47.03%, germination index (GI) by 22.30% and 42.14%, root length by 32.25% and 62.54% and shoot length by 23.22% and 62.76%, respectively over control. Similarly, 15 g kg -1 soil sorghum powder reduced the same parameters respectively by 18.85% and 41.09%, 15% and 33.53%, 9.3% and 54.69% and 15.88% and 45.34% in maize and E. colona, respectively and stood better than other powder treatments. Therefore it is concluded that sorghum extracts and powder can both be used to control weeds efficiently but their deleterious effect on the corresponding crop should also be an important consideration. study aimed at examining the allelopathic potential of sorghum aqueous extracts and sorghum powder on maize and Echinochloa colona seeds and to figure out the comparative degree of allelopathic impact of sorghum extract and powder on maize and Echinochloa colona seeds via different germination and growth indices.
An Investigation of Individual Differences in Expected Utility Violations From the Dual Process Perspective

Individual differences in 5 different types of expected utility (EU) violations are investigated using thinking orientation, a construct of dual process theories, as the predictor variable. The effect on choice performance of increasing the relative access of one thinking system or the other is also explored. The key findings are: (a) EU violations are independent of rational thinking; (b) experiential thinking correlates positively with the impossibility effect and negatively with ambiguity aversion; (c) increasing access to both systems improves performance for all participants, except those high on both thinking dimensions; (d) greater deliberation does not lead to lower violations; (e) the common consequence effect and certainty effect are positively correlated and the impossibility effect and ambiguity aversion are negatively correlated; and (f) men are more rationally oriented while women are more experientially oriented, women violate EU more than men, and both sexes show maximum improvement when primed on their respective thinking orientations. Results show that individual differences from the dual process perspective can have predictive implications for decision making under risk. An elementary model of dual process thinking is also proposed.
Incorporating geologic information into hydraulic tomography: A general framework based on geostatistical approach

Hydraulic tomography (HT) has become a mature aquifer test technology over the last two decades. It collects nonredundant information of aquifer heterogeneity by sequentially stressing the aquifer at different wells and collecting aquifer responses at other wells during each stress. The collected information is then interpreted by inverse models. Among these models, the geostatistical approaches, built upon the Bayesian framework, first conceptualize hydraulic properties to be estimated as random fields, which are characterized by means and covariance functions. They then use the spatial statistics as prior information with the aquifer response data to estimate the spatial distribution of the hydraulic properties at a site. Since the spatial statistics describe the generic spatial structures of the geologic media at the site rather than site‐specific ones (e.g., known spatial distributions of facies, faults, or paleochannels), the estimates are often not optimal. To improve the estimates, we introduce a general statistical framework, which allows the inclusion of site‐specific spatial patterns of geologic features. Subsequently, we test this approach with synthetic numerical experiments. Results show that this approach, using conditional mean and covariance that reflect site‐specific large‐scale geologic features, indeed improves the HT estimates. Afterward, this approach is applied to HT surveys at a kilometer‐scale‐fractured granite field site with a distinct fault zone. We find that by including fault information from outcrops and boreholes for HT analysis, the estimated hydraulic properties are improved. The improved estimates subsequently lead to better prediction of flow during a different pumping test at the site.
EFFECT OF HEAT STRESS ON PHYSIOLOGICAL AND SOME BLOOD PARAMETERS OF THREE LOCAL CHICKEN AND A BROILER GENOTYPES REASED IN HUMID SUBTROPICAL CLIMATE OF CÔTE D’IVOIRE.

The present study was carried out for evaluating the response of chickens from four genotypes such as naked-neck, frizzle, normal feather and broiler subject to heat stress in order to show the best bird genotype. Thus, for achieving that purpose, the study was conducted in a private farm located in the locality of Tiéplé, precisely in the center of Côte d'Ivoire in the department of Bouaké. The experimental chickens were selected randomly from a group of chickens genotypes identified and were exposed to ambient temperature and warm temperature. Results showed that temperature had a significant effect onto breath rates of broiler and frizzle genotypes, but it had no significant effect on that of the normal and naked-neck genotypes. Moreover, temperature influences significantly the white blood cell and hemoglobin
CFD Investigation of Complex Phenomena in S-Shape Region of Reversible Pump-Turbine

Pumped Storage Plants (PSP) using reversible pump-turbines offer the possibility to store large amounts of energy with high efficiency and at reasonable cost. For reversible high head pump-turbines, the characteristic curves exhibit an S-shape in the turbine, turbine break and reverse pump quadrants. This S-shape leads to unstable behaviour of the turbine when coupling to the grid (for small guide vane opening) or to surge transient phenomena in case of emergency shutdown (for large guide vane opening). Typically the piping system can be exposed to severe pressure oscillations. Furthermore, the flow inside the pump-turbine is characterized by unsteady complex hydrodynamic phenomena. These phenomena have to be deeply investigated to improve the behaviour of the pump-turbine in such operating conditions. This paper focuses on the numerical analysis of the flow in a reversible pump-turbine in the S- shape region. For this application, we used unsteady computation applying the SAS-SST turbulence model and considered a full computational domain that includes all the component of the pump-turbine. The study highlights the evolution of the flow behaviour for a large range of operating conditions: from the optimal efficiency point to the zero discharge condition, for a given constant guide vane opening.
Improving microcredit and firm performance in Jamaica: a case study of the development bank of Jamaica

ABSTRACT While micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) have been identified as major economic drivers, they continue to face substantial financial constraints that limit their performance. The Impact Financing Envelope (IFE) of the European Investment Bank (EIB) seeks to improve credit access across developing countries through institutions such as the Development Bank of Jamaica (DBJ). This study sought to examine the ultimate impact of EIB funding through the DBJ on final beneficiaries (MSMEs) in Jamaica. Data was collected from 426 sampled final beneficiaries of the DBJ programme. To estimate the impact of credit received from microfinance institutions on the performance (sales/profits) of MSMEs, we used the instrumental variable (IV) technique, recognising potential endogeneity problems in our variable of interest (credit amount received). We also disaggregate our findings by loan recency, sex, and age of owners. The results generally indicate that the amount of credit obtained is positively associated with the performance of MSMEs. A 1% increase in the credit amount received is associated with a 0.226% increase in firm profits. The effect is lower for female-owned than for male-owned businesses and is significant only for MSMEs whose most recent credit was received within a year of the survey.
A new method to determine the desired minimum railway embankment dimensions

The dimensions of a railway embankment have a significant impact on the investment costs of a railway track. Due to the cold climate and the consequent harmful effects of seasonal frost in northern regions, embankments are typically constructed of relatively thick structural layers. The embankments have also traditionally had fairly steep slopes and narrow widths in order to cut construction costs. Introduction of higher allowable axle loads and traffic speeds is, however, exposing the embankment structures to a continuously increasing intensity of repeated loading which respectively increases the rate of permanent deformations taking place in the embankment structure. The problem described above has been studied at the Laboratory of Earth and Foundation Structures of Tampere University of Technology. The study is divided into four main parts: monitoring of full-scale test embankment sections located in the southwestern part of Finland, loading of laboratory scale instrumented test embankments, FEM-modeling and evaluation of the long-term deformation behaviour of an actual railway track line based on laser scanner measurements. This paper focusses on introducing the new method for determining the required embankment dimensions and describing a case study of the first practical application of the new method in Finland. In addition, the paper briefly discusses the most significant findings of the project, but a detailed analysis of the test results is presented elsewhere. The new method for assessing the required minimum embankment width is based on the amount of recoverable vertical displacement of the railway track measured from sleepers under a moving train load. So far, the new method has been tested in a renovation project between the cities of Tampere and Kokemaki where the suggested limit values have been observed to be realistic.
Intestinal Intussusception: A Shocking Diagnosis

Intussusception is a rare condition diagnosed in adults, with few cases reported as idiopathic. It is defined as the invagination of an intestinal segment into another adjacent one, due to the presence of a lead point, or in some cases, without identifiable causative lesions. The presentation is non-specific, even with careful evaluation, and most of the time, the diagnosis is made during surgery. We hereby present the case of a 73-year-old woman with idiopathic intussusception who presented in the emergency room. She was taken to the operating theatre, where intestinal resection was performed. Few cases of true idiopathic intestinal intussusception in adults are seen, and literature on this topic remains scarce. We discuss diagnostic and therapeutic options and do a brief review of the literature.
High repetition rate actively mode-locked Er:fiber laser with tunable pulse duration

An actively mode-locked fiber laser with controllable pulse repetition rate and tunable pulse duration is presented, in which an optical delay line (ODL) is used to adjust the cavity length precisely for regulating the repetition rate, and a semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA) is introduced for enabling the pulse duration control. Experimentally, continuous tuning of the repetition rate from 2 GHz to 6 GHz is realized, which is limited by the availability of an even higher repetition rate radio-frequency (RF) source. Specifically, when the repetition rate is fixed at 2.5 GHz, the pulse duration can be tuned from 4 ps to 30 ps, which is, to the best of our knowledge, the widest tuning range of pulse duration ever achieved in a gigahertz (GHz) repetition rate actively mode-locked 1.5 μ m fiber laser oscillator.
Comparison of the Accuracy of Two Different Molecular Tests for the Diagnosis of Tuberculous Lymphadenitis Using Core Needle Biopsy Specimens: A Diagnostic Accuracy Study

Purpose To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of the CapitalBio Mycobacterium real-time polymerase chain reaction assay (CapitalBio test) testing of core needle biopsy (CNB) specimens for tuberculous lymphadenitis (TBL) and to compare it with Xpert MTB/RIF. Methods We retrospectively analyzed the medical data on patients with suspected peripheral TBL. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), and area under the curve (AUC) of the CapitalBio test, Xpert MTB/RIF, and parallel test (positive result for either of these two tests) were calculated to evaluate their diagnostic efficacy compared with the final clinical diagnosis. Results The study included 114 patients. For diagnosing TBL using CNB samples, the sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV, and AUC were 65.0%, 100.0%, 100.0%, 28.6%, and 0.83, respectively, for the CapitalBio test; 72.0%, 100.0%, 100.0%, 33.3%, and 0.86, respectively, for Xpert MTB/RIF; and 82.0%, 100.0%, 100.0%, 43.8%, and 0.91, respectively, for the parallel test. Conclusion The accuracy of the CapitalBio test and Xpert MTB/RIF for diagnosing TBL using CNB specimens was moderate, while the sensitivity and NPV of these two tests were relatively low. The diagnostic accuracy of the CapitalBio test was slightly lower than that of Xpert MTB/RIF, but the difference between the two was not statistically significant. Parallel test might improve the diagnostic accuracy but not substantially over a single test.
The influence of genotype and sex on carcass characteristics at broiler chickens.

In this experiences was studied the influence of genotype and sex on carcass characteristics (slaughter yield, participation percentage of the cut parts from the whole carcasses structure, the meat:bone ratio from carcass and from major parts of the carcass) at broiler chickens reared in identical conditions and slaughtered at 42 days old. The genetic material was represented of broiler chickens that belonged hybrids: „Ross-308” (control batch-Lc) and „Lohmann Meat” (experimental batch-Lexp). After slaughter, from each group were sampled 30 carcasses (15 per sex), was determined slaughter yield and participation percentage of the cut parts from the whole carcasses structure using gravimetric measurements. The meat:bone ratio was determined on 10 carcases from each batch (five per sex) that were manually deboned. For analysis of variance was used Mann Whitney test. The results of this experiment showed that sex influenced the slaughter yield (P≤0.05), participation percentage of the wings (P≤0.001, at Lc and P≤0.01, at Lexp) and thighs (P≤0.001) and meat:bone ratio from thighs (P≤0.05), at Lexp; while the genotype influenced slaughter yield (P≤0.001), participation percentage from the breast (P≤0.001) and thighs (P≤0.01), meat:bone ratio from breast (P≤0.001) and legs (P≤0.05).
THE ROLE OF FOLIAR SPRAYING OF SOME MICRO· ELEMENTS ON PEANUT LEAVE SPOT, ROOT AND POD ROT DISEASES INCIDENCE AND YIELD

The linear growth ot the lested fungi (Macrophom! na phaseolina, Sclerotium roIfs/i and Fusarium monilifonnej the cause of peanut rool rot and pods disease increased by increasing the concentration of the applied microelements /manganese,zinc and cupper as sulphatesj at 25-100 ppm, then decreased after wards at 25(). 1 000 ppm. Whlle. the linear growth of Aspergillus navus, decreased by Increasing Ihe concentration of all microelements tested. On the other hand, sporulation and sclerotial fOnTIalion of the tested fungi of all mlcroelemenls increased by Increasing the concentration then decreased after wards at 500·1000 ppm. Generally. cupper sulfate followed by zinc sulphate were the most effecUve I n this respect. especially when the concentrations were high with all tested fungI. Under field conditions, three concentrations I.e. 250,500 and 1000 ppm of each aforementioned microelements were applied. Mlcroclements were sprayed twice after . 60 and 90 days of SOwing slgniflcanUy reduced leaf spol diseases compared 10 the untreated con trot in both Locations : Ismailia and Behera Governorale(soulh l ahrlr) during season 2003. The same trend was found In peanut rool rol diseases except in 250, and 500 ppm. of Znso, and 250 ppm of CUS04. Foliar application at all lested mlcroelements (1000 and 500 ppm respectively were effective against pod rot diseases (brown lesions. pink djscoloration and breakdoY.,,). All microelemenls significantly increased pod yield ( gmlplant) compared to the untreated ones. Generally, CuSO, at 1000 and 500 ppm foUowedbyZnSO,al 1 000 ppm were the best in reducing leaf spot. root and pod rot diseases and increased the yield (om/plant). while MnSO, at 250 and 500 ppm were the least In this respect. effect on linear growth and sporulation sclerotial formation on the mentioned fungi. Data and statistically
The structure of craniometrical diversity of grey voles Microtus subgenus Alexandromys

The sample of 1671 intact skulls (15 measurements) of grey voles from Alexandromys subgenus and Microtus oeconomus was studied. Representatives of M. oeconomus and M. middendorffii are very similar in craniometrical features. The race M. o. kharanurensis is morphologically distant from other representatives of M. oeconomus, and possibly should not be included into this species. M. sachalinensis morphologically is similar to M. fortis. The specimens of M. gromovi are located inside the limits of internal variation of M. middendorffii. The both latter species are similar to M. mongolicus. There are western and eastern groups found inside M. mongolicus. The level of morphological differences between M. maximowiczii, M. mujanensis and M. evoronensis does not differ from the same between two groups of M. mongolicus or between races of M. fortis. The Russian part of the range of M. maximowiczii should be enlarged due to finding of the population of this species from the floodmeadows of Ussuri River. The morphological similarity between M. limnophilus and M. mongolicus is revealed. The voles M. l. malygini does not display similarity with the type specimen of M. limnophilus. The propriety for considering malygini as a race of M. limnophilus should be questioned.
Cross-sectional Analyses of Self-employed & Directly Employed Workers’ Job-specific Well-being In Creative and Corporate Workplaces

The current mixed-methods study explored differences in Job Specific Well-being (JSWB) amongst self-employed and directly-employed workers in creative and corporate workplaces. A descriptive, cross-sectional design with open ended questions, employing purposive sampling, was used. A self-report, mixed method, digital questionnaire was used for data collection and respondents (N=230) were sourced globally. Analyses showed a significant difference in JSWB for overall self-employed compared with overall directly-employed workers. An effect of supervisory responsibility on JSWB was observed among groups of directly-employed workers. For self-employed workers, no significant effect of supervisory responsibility was seen for levels of JSWB. Additionally for self-employed workers, no significant difference in JSWB was seen based on “necessity” or “opportunity” self-employment. Generally, findings showed that both self-employed and directly employed workers in the current sample were dissatisfied with daily work. Findings were mixed, and results prompt important considerations for existing research.
Phytochemical distribution, antimicrobial activity, enzyme production of phylogenetically differentiated endophytes from Solanum violaceum Ortega fruits

The aim of the present work is to isolate, identify endophytic fungi from edible fruits and to test the efficacy on nosocomial microbes. Healthy and asymptomatic unripe and ripe fruits of Solanum violaceum were studied for the presence of endophytes. Twelve endophytic fungi were isolated and identified on the basis of Internal Transcribed Spacer sequences. Screened the fungi for presence and absence of phytochemicals and enzymes; and antimicrobial activity of endophytes was studied by testing against human nosocomial pathogens. Diversity of fungal endophytes was more in ripe fruits as evidenced by diversity indices viz . , Simpson’s diversity (0.834) and Shannon– Weiner indices (H’- 0.474). Phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of alkaloids, saponins, glycoside, gum and mucilage. Isolates produced amylases (33.33%), lipases (58.32) and asparaginase (80%) but not laccase and protease enzymes. Alternaria sp, Cladosporium tenuissimum , Mycosphaerellaceae sp. , Curvularia beasleyi and Alternaria alternata showed activity against S. aureus , E. coli and K. pneumoniae . Curvularia beasleyi exhibited similar antifungal activity against C. albicans and C. tropicalis (20±2mm). Morphological changes of mycelia were noted after 96 h of treatment. To conclude, fungal endophytes might be potential agents for production of useful enzymes and to control microbes.