Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Acute intestinal obstruction: small intestine vs. large intestine: an analysis

Background: Bowel obstruction is one of the most common causes of acute abdomen and also a common surgical emergency. The causes of IO vary significantly depending on geographical location. The aim of this study was to identify the etiology, clinical presentation, management and outcomes of patients with acute mechanical IO presenting in Jodhpur, Rajasthan. Methods: A prospective study was conducted at Mahatma Gandhi Hospital and Mathura Das Mathur Hospital (associated with Dr. SN Medical College), Jodhpur, Rajasthan. 100 patients with acute intestinal obstruction were admitted and evaluated. Blood routine, X-Ray abdomen, USG abdomen and CECT (if required) were done. A preoperative diagnosis was made. Intra-operative findings and Post-operative complications were noted and follow up was done till the patient was discharged from the hospital. Results: A total of 69 male and 31 female patients, presented with acute mechanical IO during the period of the study. Mean patient age was 48.5 years with peak incidence in those aged 31-45 years. The foremost signs and symptoms were abdominal distension (88%), obstipation (87%), abdominal pain (81%) and nausea/ vomiting (47%). Adhesions and bands (29%), hernia (13%), neoplasm (9%) and pseudo-obstruction (8%) were the leading causes of intestinal obstruction. The sensitivity of X-ray and USG in present study was 67% and 75% respectively. Most common complication associated was wound infection (17%) followed by paralytic ileus (7%) and respiratory tract infections (6%). Late presentation was associated with poor prognosis. 4 patients expired before surgery. Postoperative mortality was associated with 6 patients and was more common in cases which presented with gangrenous bowel. Conclusions: The most common causes of IO in this study were adhesions and bands, hernia, neoplasm and pseudoobstruction. Presence of bowel gangrene was associated with higher morbidity and mortality.
Effect of Foliar Spraying with Algae Extract and Potassium Nitrate on Yieldand Fruit Quality of cv. Medjool Date Palm.

The objective of the present study is to investigate the impact of spraying algae extract and / or potassium nitrate on yield and fruit quality of cv. Medjool date palm. This study was carried out during 2014 and 2015 growing seasons. Inflorescences were sprayed with algae extract at (0.5 and 1%) and potassium nitrate at (1 and 2%) as individual application or in a combination between them. In general, results indicated that spraying inflorescences date palm with algae extract and / or potassium nitrate had a significant effect on yield, fruit physical and chemical characteristics of Medjool date palm when compared to the check treatment. The effective was in proportional to the increase in concentrations of both materials. The superior treatment concerning yield and fruit quality was spraying Medjool date palms two times with high doses of combined treatment (1% algae extract + 2% potassium nitrate) in the two experimental seasons
Prevalence and factors associated with binge drinking among Brazilian young adults, 18 to 24 years old.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the prevalence and factors associated with binge drinking (BD) among young Brazilians. METHODS This cross-sectional study used data from the 2013 National Health Survey. The sample consisted of 7,823 young people aged between 18 and 24 years. The outcome was BD: four or more doses on one occasion for women and five doses or more for men. Sociodemographic, health and behavioral explanatory variables were considered. Binary Logistic Regression was used, with estimation of odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CI). RESULTS The prevalence of BD among young Brazilians was 17%, with regional differences. The associated factors with a higher chance of BD were: 21 and 24 years old (OR = 1.35; 95%CI 1.08 - 1.70); employed (OR = 1.27; 95%CI 1.01 - 1.61); report tiredness (OR = 1.53; 95%CI 1.19 - 1.97) and currently smoking (OR = 4.10; 95%CI 2.95 - 5.70). Women (OR = 0.43; 95%CI 0.34 - 0.54) and participating in religious activities (OR = 0.67; 95%CI 0.53 - 0.84) were associated with a lower chance of BD. CONCLUSIONS A national study evaluating the profile of young Brazilians who present episodes of binge drinking is important to favor the implementation of public prevention policies aimed at this specific population.
In vitro regeneration of an endangered tree - Elaeocarpus blascoi Weibel. (Rudraksha) from Southern Western Ghats, Tamil Nadu, India

Elaeocarpus blascoi Weibel. A relative species of Rudraksha, of Elaeocarpaceae is an endemic and endangered evergreen forest tree from Palni hills, Southern Western Ghats. In vitro regeneration protocol from nodal segments of E. blascoi for clonal propagation was developed by employing different tissue culture media. Woody plant medium (WPM) was found to be suitable for E. blascoi shoot multiplication and regenerations. Phenolic secretion makes the explants recalcitrant and was overcome by supplement of 0. 3% charcoal / 0.5% polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP). Nodal segments were cultured in WPM medium supplemented with cytokinins including Thidiazuron (TDZ), 6-Benzylaminopurine (BAP), and Kinetin (KIN). Among the three plant growth regulators, TDZ induced multiple shoots. Shoot elongation was achieved by addition of 10 mg/l silver nitrate in the shoot elongation medium, and an average of 6 ± 0.47 shoots are produced per explants. The regenerated micro shoots were subsequently rooted in half-strength WPM supplemented with 2 mg/l Indole -3 Butyric Acid (IBA). Thus the protocol developed is utilised for successful conservation of the IUCN red listed species E. blascoi.
Identification of meteorological conditions in the growth of Robinia pseudoacacia on the basis of pointer years in urban conditions

This study assessed changes in air temperature and rainfall during the growth of black locusts (Robinia pseudoacacia L.) in urban conditions in the city of Wroclaw based on pointer years. Materials consisted of 54 wooden discs taken from felled straight-trunked trees at a height of 1.3 m from the ground at four sampling sites in the area of a defunct garden established at the turn of the 20th century. Meteorological indicators were calculated based on monthly data obtained from the Wroclaw meteorological station, part of the national atmospheric monitoring network. Tree ring widths were determined using LINTABTM 6 and TSAP-Win software. A set of meteorological elements describing temperature and rainfall conditions during the growth of the black locusts significantly affecting the tree ring widths, were selected using cluster analysis. Pointer years were defined as the years when a unidirectional change (e.g. an increase) in tree ring width compared to a previous year was observed in at least 75% of the trees. In the multiannual period 1955–2014 we found seven pointer years, comprising three positive years (tree ring wider than in the year before): 1986, 1989, 1996, and four negative years (tree ring narrower than in the year before): 1963, 1983, 1990, 1991. The width of the tree rings were formed under the influence of different unique thermal and rainfall systems each year. Within the groups of positive and negative pointer years, individual months differed in the impact of air temperature and rainfall conditions on tree ring widths.
Electronic properties of carotenoids in natural and artificial photosynthesis

Carotenoids play an essential role in the first steps of photosynthesis. They absorb light and they transfer the resulting excitation energy to the neighboring molecules, guaranteeing the correct order of the photosynthetic events. Additionally, carotenoids are able to protect the photosynthetic apparatus from the oxidative stress occurring in high light condition. Biological functions of carotenoids involving interaction with light, such as photosynthesis, are determined by the electronic properties of the conjugated polyene chain that is characteristic of carotenoid molecules. Understanding how these properties are tuned, is essential for understanding the mechanisms underlying carotenoid functions. Here we show that, by using a combination of different spectroscopic and biochemical approaches, these characteristics can be assessed in different kind of samples having the carotenoid molecules as common denominator. In this thesis four major studied have been performed in order to study how: the absorption properties of the two -carotenes molecules in PSII-RC and those of the two luteins in LHCII are tuned in vivo by their protein binding site, the alteration of the genes involved in the biosynthetic pathway of carotenoids has a pleiotropic effect on the photosynthetic organisms, artificial constructs are able to reproduce the photoprotective mechanism of triplet-triplet energy transfer between chromophores by mimicking the naturally occurring photosynthetic proteins, the structural flexibility of the major light harvesting complex can be probed by modifying its surrounding environment.
Compliance to Brazil's Forest Code will not protect biodiversity and ecosystem services

In striking contrast to heartening events in the adjacent Amazon, Brazil's Cerrado biome has seen continued deforestation over the past decade. Though approved in 2012, no study evaluated the impacts of new Brazilian Forest Code (FC) revision on biodiversity and ecosystem services. Here, we report the first assessment of the likely loss and gain in biodiversity and ecosystem services expected if the FC is properly enforced across 200 million hectares of the Cerrado. We also discuss the challenges associated to compliance with the law and present opportunities for conservation. Establishing restoration programmes in private properties with currently less native vegetation than required by the FC could create habitat for 25% more threatened species than now found in these places and could also increase water security and carbon stock in 56.6 MtC. More important, trading environmental reserve quotas coupled with the strategic expansion of protected areas on private and public land could definitely rescue the Cerrado from the brink.
Dendroarchaeology Reveals Influence of Early-European Settlement on Forest Disturbance Regimes in the Appalachian Mountains, USA

ABSTRACT Dendroarchaeological samples archived in historical wooden artifacts can be used to reconstruct forest conditions during European settlement of North America. In this study, we dated and examined tree-ring records of white oak (Quercus alba L.) logs sampled from a kitchen and slave quarters from a historical plantation in western Virginia. The kitchen was constructed from logs harvested after the 1845 growing season. The slave quarters was constructed from logs harvested after the 1864 growing season. White oak establishment in the study area parallels a general pattern of forest expansion into clearings following the depopulation of Native Americans from the eastern United States between 1720 and 1789. Synchronized canopy openings in the 1770s and 1780s could be due to increased tree cutting by European settlers to erect wooded palisades for protection against Native Americans.
Discovery and Metabolic Engineering of Steroid Alkaloid Biosynthetic Genes from ( Veratrum californicum )

The steroid alkaloid cyclopamine has shown much promise as a treatment for cancers in which aberrant hedgehog signaling plays a role. The compound, originally discovered due to its teratogenic effects in sheep, binds to the hedgehog signaling receptor Smoothend and prevents downstream activation. As this pathway is primarily active during embryonic development, overactivation later in life can lead to tumor formation and proliferation. Several studies have shown that cyclopamine can inhibit and even reverse tumor growth, but limited supply will prevent widespread use upon FDA approval of it or any of its semi-synthetic analogs. As high value plant medicinal compounds are in demand, producing them at industrially feasible levels is not always possible. Many plant natural products are originally produced in low quantities and often from species that are not amendable to cultivation. Production of these compounds in a heterologous system is ideal, but first the underlying genes that encode biosynthetic enzymes must be discovered. Cyclopamine is produced in one of these non-ideal sources, the slow growing Veratrum californicum, a species that has not been successfully cultivated. Our goal was to discover the underlying genes in the biosynthetic pathway to cyclopamine and express them in the emerging heterologous production system Camelina sativa. Herein, the first four genes in the biosynthetic steroid alkaloid pathway to verazine, a hypothesized intermediate of cyclopamine, have been discovered by correlating gene expression and alkaloid accumulation. In addition, the genes have been successfully introduced into C. sativa under the control of seed specific promoters for the production of V. californicum secondary metabolites in seed. Future work requires discovery of the remaining cyclopamine biosynthetic genes and metabolic fine tuning for increased metabolite yield, but the groundwork has been set for future work using C. sativa as a production system for high value, medicinally significant, plant natural products. Augustin, Megan, 2015, UMSL, p.3
Sequencing characterization and expression analysis of interferon gamma (IFN-γ) in Rusa deer (Rusa timorensis) and Thai cervidae

To date, the interferon gamma (IFN-γ) assay has become an important diagnostic tool which is applied alternatively to define infection of intracellular pathogens. In this study, the molecular characteristics of IFN-γ in Rusa deer (Rusa timorensis), Hog deer (Axis porcinus), Sambar deer (Rusa unicolor) and Eld’s deer (Rucervus eldii) were determined. Among the cervid family, the analysis of IFN-γ cDNA sequences indicated 5 polymorphism nucleotide positions. Deduced IFN-γ amino acid compositions among the cervid group were negligibly different (98-100% homology). Preliminary quantification of IFN-γ mRNA expression in the cervidae by reverse transcription quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) was demonstrated. qPCR primers were designed and tested for their ability to quantify IFN-γ mRNA with a suggested detection limit at 103 target molecules. Intra- and inter-assay variations of RT-qPCR for IFN-γ were 1.41 and 4.57, respectively. Expression ratio of IFN-γ mRNA in mitogen-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) relative to non-stimulated cells after normalization against β2-microglobulin (β2M) in the Rusa deer, Eld’s deer and Hog deer were 6.47±3.39, 22.91±7.21 and 17.66±1.30, respectively. This preliminary demonstration may serve as the basic instrument for further development of rapid, simple and reliable immunodiagnostic methods for the study of cervidae in Thailand.
Bees of Maine, with a State Species Checklist

Abstract We present a new county checklist developed from bee research in Maine since the 1800s. The list contains 278 bee species in 37 genera and 6 families, of which all but 8 are native, with ≥50 taxa each in Andrena and Lasioglossum. Data for 16 counties from publications, museum collections, and recent surveys varied in number of species from 8 (Androscoggin) to 197 (Hancock). Research since 1930 on Vaccinium angustifolium (Lowbush Blueberry) led to many records. Twenty-one species are considered unusual, including 3 first recorded in 2016: Epeoloides pilosulus, Melitta melittoides, and Holcopasites calliopsidis. Maine records provide evidence of declines in Bombus affinis, decline in B. terricola followed by partial recovery, and increase in B. impatiens. Crops that should be studied regarding associated bees are Malus pumila (Apple), Vaccinium corymbosum (Highbush Blueberry), Vaccinium macrocarpon (American Cranberry), and Curcurbitaceae (cucurbits). Montane, sandy, and island habitats were identified as priorities for future sampling. We discuss records of bee species from New England relevant to understanding the Maine fauna, bee diversity, changes in abundance, cleptoparasitism, pesticide impacts, habitat requirements, and climate change.
Radiological toxicity of some fish and meat tissues consumed in southwestern Nigeria

ABSTRACT The activity concentrations of natural radionuclides in 30 fish tissues and 30 meat organs have been determined using high purity germanium (HPGe) detector. For the fish tissues, the mean activity concentrations of 238U and 232Th were highest in Catfish (Clarias gariepinus) with values of 5.31 ± 1.30 and 6.09 ± 0.91 Bq/kg, respectively. The lowest mean activity concentrations of 238U and 232Th were seen in Titus (Scomberomorus tritor) and Croaker (Micropogonias undulatus), Croaker with values of 1.51 ± 2.08 and 64.42 ± 6.33 Bq/kg, respectively. The mean activity concentration of 40K was highest in Micropogonias undulatus and lowest in Tilapia (Oreohronis niloticus) with values of 64.42 ± 6.33 and 6.53 ± 0.98 Bq/kg. For the meat organs, the highest mean activity concentration of 238U, 232Th, and 40K was highest in kidney, liver, and heart, respectively with values of 2.82 ± 0.47, 4.57 ± 0.69, and 52.07 ± 7.81 Bq/kg. Small intestine had the lowest mean activity concentrations of 238U and 232Th with values of 1.14 ± 0.16 and 0.89 ± 0.08 Bq/kg, respectively. Beef had the lowest mean activity concentration of 40K with a value of 17.61 ± 2.14 Bq/kg.
Prevalence of Eimeria Species in Sheep in Sulaimaniya Province, Iraq

The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of Eimeria species in sheep in Sulaimaniya province, Iraq-region, between August-2012 - March 2013. The material collected for the present study was comprised of 150 sheep at nine different locations. The faecal samples consist of 28 lambs (0-6 month-old), 55sheep (6-12 month-old) and 67 sheep (˃12 month old). The faecal samples were taken directly from the rectum. Oocysts of Eimeria species were found in 108 (72%) of sheep and were infected with a total of 11 species. According to the age groups 0-6 month-old lambs were recorded with highest rate. In this study 150 sheep were examined, among them 28% was not infected, 6.48 %infected with single species of Eimeria, and 67.33 %were mixed infection, and highest rate of mixed infection include 6 Eimeria species. As a result this study was to determine the prevalence of coccidiosis in sheep in Sulaimaniya province.
Crustáceos planctônicos de um reservatório oligotrófico do Nordeste do Brasil

Este estudo apresenta a composicao e abundância de crustaceos planctonicos do reservatorio de Jucazinho ( Pernambuco, Brasil ), durante o periodo chuvoso e seco. As amostras de zooplancton foram obtidas numa estacao fixa da regiao pelagica, com o auxilio de uma rede de plâncton com 125um de abertura de malha, atraves de arrastos horizontais de aproximadamente 5 minutos. Variaveis ambientais foram coletadas simultaneamente na mesma estacao. Foram registradas 3 especies de Cladocera ( Diaphanosoma spinulosum Herbst, 1967, Moina micrura Kurz, 1874 e Ceriodaphnia cornuta Sars, 1886 ) e 2 de Copepoda ( Thermocyclops decipiens ( Kiefer, 1929 ) e Notodiaptomus cearensis ( Wright, 1936 )). O baixo numero de especias e as elevadas densidades de M. micrura resultaram em baixos indices de diversidade especifica, principalmente durante o periodo seco. Os valores maximos de diversidade especifica e equitabilidade foram registrados durante o periodo chuvoso ( 1.461 bits.ind Normal 0 21 false false false PT-BR X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Tabela normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0cm; mso-para-margin-right:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0cm; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} ? ¹ e 0.676, respectivamente ). As variaveis abioticas, a composicao e os padroes de distribuicao das especies revelaram caracteristicas tipicas de um ecossistema oligotrofico. Nao houve diferencas sazonais significativas ( p > 0,05 ) entre as variaveis abioticas, mostrando que as flutuacoes populacionais dos crustaceos planctonicos foram causadas, possivelmente, por competicoes intra- e/ou interespecificas.
Effects of elevated pH on marine copepods in mass cultivation systems: practical implications

Female tolerance to pH (8.0–9.5) by six marine copepods, Oithona similis, Temora longicornis, Acartia spp. , Centropages typicus, Pseudocalanus elongatus and Eurytemora affinis was investigated to identify robust species for live feed production. The species with the most oceanic-neritic distribution, O. similis, exhibited 72 h LC50 at pH 8.39 ± 0.11 (±95% CL) whereas the most estuarine E. affinis had LC50 at pH 9.51 ± 0.04. The rest had LC50 at intermediary pH’s. Egg hatching by a selection of species, Acartia spp. , C. typicus and E. affinis, was unaffected by pH up to 9.0–9.5. Nauplii from both Acartia spp. and C. typicus had higher mortality at pH 9.5 than at the other pH regimes while E. affinis nauplii were not affected by pH. Wild Acartia spp. and A. tonsa from a culture showed some differences in response although of minor practical importance for aquaculture; both produced no eggs at pH 9.5, A. tonsa exhibited significantly higher egg production at all other pH’s than 9.5, both showed egg hatching invariant of pH, but gradually increasing nauplii mortality with pH. We suggest active/passive selection to obtain the most pH robust species able to cope with accidently, but frequently, elevated pH in aquaculture systems.
Inferences about seston composition and phytoplankton limiting factors during recovery of a large shallow lake from hurricane impacts

Abstract We evaluated the effects of 3 successive major hurricanes that impacted Lake Okeechobee, Florida, in 2004 and 2005. Impacts and recovery were compared to a pre-hurricane period, focusing on inferred seston composition and potential phytoplankton limiting factors based on deviations between Carlson’s trophic state index values. Before the hurricanes, the lake was seasonally and spatially variable. At 4 sites examined, summers had larger seston and nitrogen limitation, whereas winters had smaller seston and light limitation. This seasonality was strongest at south and west sites closer to the lake shore in shallower water and weakest at deeper central and north sites overlying flocculent mud sediments. Hurricanes homogenized the lake spatially and seasonally, and for 2 years there was lake-wide light limitation and small seston in summer and winter. Four years after the last hurricane, the composition of seston and nature of limiting factors had recovered to conditions nearly identical to those in a pre-hurricane period, with some localized seasonal exceptions, possibly explained by migration of sediments or differences in submerged plant density. Lakes such as Okeechobee, with a large surface to depth ratio, high nutrient concentrations, and fine flocculent sediments, can recover from hurricanes over time, but a long duration of recovery could make them vulnerable to repeated hurricane impacts, which could keep nutrient concentrations high, transparency low, and work against efforts aimed at lake rehabilitation.