Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Induction of resistance against downy mildew on sunflower by rhizobacteria

Abstract Induction of resistance to downy mildew caused by Plasmopara halstedii in sunflower was studied after treatment with PGPR (plant growth promoting rhizobacteria) strain INR7 (Bacillus spp). Treatment of sunflower seeds with 1×108cfu/ml of PGPR strain INR7 resulted in decreased disease severity and offered 51 and 54% protection under green house and field conditions, respectively. The induction of resistance to P. halstedii by PGPR strain INR7 was accompanied by the accumulation of various host defense-related enzymes in susceptible sunflower seedlings. Enhanced activation of catalase (CAT), phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL), peroxidase (POX), polyphenol oxidase (PPO) and chitinase (CHI) was evident at 6, 9, 12, 12 and 12h post inoculation, respectively, in sunflower seedlings raised from seeds treated with PGPR strain INR7. This enhanced and early activation of defense-related responses in the susceptible cultivar after treatment with PGPR strain INR7 was comparable to that in the resistant cultivar. The results indicate that PGPR strain INR7 induced resistance against P. halstedii in sunflower is mediated through enhanced expression of defense mechanism.
Intravenous administration of Milrinone, as an alternative approach to treat vasospasm in subarachnoid hemorrhage: A case report of transcranial Doppler monitoring

This case illustrates the importance and potential of having TCD monitoring in intensive care. This easy‐to‐use, safe, low‐cost, and bedside tool allows evaluation of the safety and feasibility of an alternative treatment of VSP in SCH and demonstrates the potential to avoid the use of angiography, a high cost, invasive procedure.
Foam sclerotherapy of venous malformations.

Venous malformations may occur either as localized or segmental lesions. Radiologic imaging defines the extent of involvement but magnetic resonance imaging is the best modality: it gives a bright hypersignal on T2-weighted spin-echo sequences.During a 30-month period, 1427 patients were investigated for venous disorders and 1% were found to have venous angiomata (9 women and 5 men). The age range was 15 to 76 years (mean 30.8 ± 18.6 years). Foam was produced by the Tessari technique using 1% or 2% concentration of polidocanol. The duplex Doppler was used for ultrasound guidance to insure intravenous flow of foam and to monitor effects of treatment.A goal of pain-free healing of ulcers or cosmetic improvement was set for each patient. The mean number of treatments was 3.6 ± 2.8 (range 1–10). Pain-free healing was achieved in patients with non-healing ulcerations and cosmetically, all of the patients were improved. Sclerosant foam is useful in treating low-flow venous malformations.
Clinical comparison between neuroendocrine and endometrioid type carcinoma of the uterine corpus

Objective To compare the clinicopathologic features and survival outcomes of neuroendocrine tumor of the uterine corpus (NET-U) to endometrioid type endometrial carcinoma (EC). Methods From 1993 to 2012, the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results cancer registry was queried for women diagnosed with EC or NET-U. Data regarding stage, grade, presence of extra-uterine disease, lymph node metastasis, receipt of adjuvant radiation, surgical intervention and overall survival (OS) was extracted. Chi-square tests, t-tests and Kaplan Meir curves were used for statistical analysis. Results A total of 98,363 patients were identified: 98,245 with EC and 118 with NET-U. The mean age at diagnosis for EC was 61.7 years and 64.8 years for NET-U (p=0.01). NET-U cases were more likely to be poorly differentiated (97.0% vs. 15.6%; p≤0.01) and have nodal metastasis (56.4% vs. 11.1%; p≤0.01) when compared to EC. Presence of extrapelvic disease at the time of diagnosis was observed more frequently in NET-U compared to EC, 49.1% vs. 4.8%, respectively (odds ratio=18; 95% confidence interval=13.1–27.2; p≤0.01). Significant improvement in OS was observed in NET-U patient who received radiation (OS: 7.7 vs. 3.3 years; p≤0.01) or underwent surgical management (5.6 vs. 0.9 years; p≤0.01). The OS for EC was 14.4 vs. 4.6 years for NET-U (p≤0.01). Conclusion NET-U represents an aggressive form of uterine malignancy. When compared to EC, patients with NET-U present at more advanced stage, have more frequent extra-uterine disease and lower OS.
Bulimia nervosa in obese patients qualified for bariatric surgery – clinical picture, background and treatment

Eating is a basic human physiological need which is necessary to keep the body alive. Eating disorders are diagnosed when eating (or not eating) and associated body weight gain anxiety become the main interest of an individual and all other spheres of life depend on it. Bulimia nervosa is a psychiatric disorder which is more and more commonly diagnosed in patients suffering from obesity and in patients after surgical treatment of obesity. In patients eligible for bariatric surgery this disorder should be diagnosed appropriately early and treated successfully before the procedure, because bulimia nervosa does not regress spontaneously. When untreated, it may last for years, reducing the efficacy of a surgical treatment of obesity, or even lead to complications that are health- and life-threatening for patients.
The Paradox of the Pill: Heterogeneous Effects of Oral Contraceptive Access

The twentieth century saw dramatic increases in nonmarital births, concentrated heavily among poor and working‐class women. In this paper, we investigate whether the oral contraceptive pill played a causal role in the rise of nonmarital births. Exploiting exogenous variation in laws governing access to the pill, we find that changes in marital access to the pill increased the nonmarital birthrate by between 15% and 18%, accounting for about one‐third of the overall increase in nonmarital births. These effects are concentrated almost entirely among women whose fathers did not graduate high school and among minority women. We also document that the pill increased spacing between first and second births, and lowered the probability that a woman obtained a high‐school diploma, consistent with increases in nonmarital births. We find no evidence that postsecondary education levels were influenced by pill access, and no evidence that nonmarital births move with male employment patterns. Our findings add to a growing literature which documents the power of the pill to shape women's lives in broadly heterogenous ways, with minority and less‐well‐educated women bearing the brunt of the losses, a phenomenon we call the paradox of the pill. (JEL J12, J13, I24)
Detection of tree roots and root biomass estimation based on ground penetrating radar with high accuracy positioning system

A new procedure for detection of tree roots and root biomass estimation by using a promising Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) system with high accuracy positioning system was proposed. This system acquires the accurate antenna position and fuses it with the GPR data, and then a three dimensional (3D) data cube can be obtained. After analysing the acquired 3D cube in field measurement, some specific reflection characteristics of roots were summarized, and then a detection procedure was proposed to detect the root extension starting from the tree stump. This detection procedure could exclude the influence of the strong clutters and overcome the weak reflection from one part of the root which resulted from the error of antenna operation in the survey. In order to validate the performance of detection and estimation, one tree was excavated after the measurement. The detection result shows that the coarse roots whose diameters were more than 5cm could be detected correctly, and the extension of the detected roots was corresponding to the true scene. The diameter of roots was over estimated, and the detection procedure needs to be improved in order to reduce the biomass estimation error within 30 percent.
Abstract. The aim of the present study was to determine the role of nucleolar and spindle-associated protein 1 (NuSAP1) in human liver cancer. NuSAP1 expression was determined by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), western blotting and immunohistochemistry in hepa

The aim of the present study was to determine the role of nucleolar and spindle-associated protein 1 (NuSAP1) in human liver cancer. NuSAP1 expression was determined by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), western blotting and immunohistochemistry in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and adjacent tissues. The expression of NuSAP1 gene was detected by RT-qPCR in liver cancer cell lines. Expression information for NuSAP1 was determined using the UALCAN and Oncomine databases. The Kaplan-Meier plotter and The Cancer Genome Atlas databases were used to obtain overall survival data for liver cancer. Liver cancer cell lines HepG2 and Huh-7 were transfected with lentiviral particles to silence the endogenous NuSAP1 gene expression. RT-qPCR and western blotting were performed to confirm the silencing efficiency. Cell Counting Kit-8 was used to estimate the effects of NuSAP1 silencing on HepG2 and Huh-7 cell proliferation. Cell cycle and apoptosis analyses were performed using flow cytometry. Cell invasion was assessed using the Transwell assay with microscopy imaging. The results revealed that the NuSAP1 expression levels in HCC tissues were significantly increased compared with the adjacent tissues. The survival time of patients with HCC with a high NuSAP1 expression was markedly decreased compared with that of patients with HCC with a low expression level of NuSAP1. Functional studies revealed that NuSAP1 silencing significantly reduced HepG2 and Huh-7 cell proliferation and invasion. Increased apoptosis and cell cycle arrest at the G1 phase were observed following NuSAP1 knockdown. NuSAP1 silencing significantly inhibited the mRNA expression of DNA methyltransferase but not glioma-associated oncogene. NuSAP1 contributed to liver cancer development by reducing apoptosis and promoting cell cycle progression. The abnormal expression level of NuSAP1 may serve a role in promoting liver cancer progression.
A Putative ECF σ Factor Gene, rpoI, Regulates Siderophore Production in Rhizobium leguminosarum

A cloned Rhizobium leguminosarum gene, termed rpoI, when transferred to wild-type strains, caused overproduction of the siderophore vicibactin. An rpoI mutant was defective in Fe uptake but was unaffected in symbiotic N2 fixation. The RpoI gene product was similar in sequence to extra-cytoplasmic σ factors of RNA polymerase. Transcription of rpoI was reduced in cells grown in medium that was replete with Fe.
Symptom Burden of Patients with Advanced Pancreas Cancer (APC): A Provincial Cancer Institute Observational Study

Patients with advanced pancreatic cancer (APC) experience many disease-related symptoms. ESAS-r measures the severity of 9 symptom domains and has been validated for use in the ambulatory oncology setting. We aimed to describe symptom burden at baseline for patients with APC treated with modern chemotherapy (CT), and to determine whether symptom burden at baseline is prognostic. Patients diagnosed with APC between 2012–2016, treated with ≥1 cycle of CT, who completed ≥1 ESAS-r were identified. Descriptive statistics were used to report symptom burden and common moderate-to-severe symptoms. A joint model was used to describe the trajectory of ESAS-r during follow-up while controlling for death. Multivariable Cox regression was used to identify independent predictors of death. Of 123 patients identified, the median age was 65 and 61% had metastatic disease. The median baseline ESAS-r total symptom distress score (TSDS) was 24. A total of 86% of patients had at least one symptom score of ≥4 at baseline, with the most common being: fatigue, nausea, anxiety, and shortness of breath. Median overall survival was 10.2 months. Baseline TSDS was not predictive for worse survival in the era of modern CT. Patients with APC have a high burden of cancer-associated symptoms and a high prevalence of moderate-to-severe symptoms. Early intervention has the potential to improve quality of life in this group of patients and should be investigated.
Variabilidade patogênica e efeito de carboidratos no crescimento micelial, esporulação e agressividade de Colletotrichum gloeosporioides da pupunheira

The aggressiveness of 17 Colletotrichum gloeosporioides isolates associated with anthracnose on leaves of peach palm (Bactris gasiapes) from Northern, Southeastern and Southern States of Brazil was evaluated through a bioassay using detached leaves of peach palm, at three stages: young, intermediate and fully expanded leaves. Differences on aggressiveness among isolates were significant only on fully expanded and intermediate leaves. Different sources of carbohydrates such as glucose, maltose and starch, added to potato-agar medium affected mycelial growth and sporulation of some isolates. Among five isolates tested, only two had their aggressiveness increased when conidia were produced on potato-agar medium supplemented with starch.
DNA Methylation Reprogramming e o in the Germ Line

In mammals, methylation occurs almost exclusively on the CpG dinucleotide in DNA and shows no preference for sequence context surrounding this target. CpGs are found on many different sequence classes and methylation of this dinucleotide is associated with repression of transcription. Reprogramming methylation in the primordial germ cells establishes monoallelic expression of imprinted genes which exhibit monoallelic expression throughout the lifetime of an organism, maintains retrotransposons in an inactive state and inactivates one ofthe two X chromosomes. In addition to direct transcriptional silencing, DNA methylation is important for suppression of recombination, and resetting this information is therefore necessary for maintenance of genomic stability. In this chapter, we will review the recent progress in our understanding ofthe time course and extent of DNA methylation reprogramming of many different sequence classes. We focus on the mouse germline, since this has been the model System from which we have gained the most knowledge ofthe process. In addition we will examine some ofthe evidence suggesting a link between repeat methylation and methylation of epigenetically controlled single-copy genes. To do this, we will look at the temporal sequence of methylation events from the time the germ colls become recognizable as a discrete population until the mature mole and female gametes fuse and form the early embryo.
Genetic polymorphisms of osteopontin (OPN), prolactin (PRL) and pituitary-specific transcript factor-1 (PIT-1) in South Anatolian and East Anatolian Red cattle

Abstract The objective of the present study was to determine the genotype and allele frequencies for osteopontin (OPN), prolactin (PRL) and pituitary-specific transcription factor-1 (PIT-1) that are claimed to be associated with milk production traits in cattle in South Anatolian Red (SAR) and East Anatolian Red (EAR) cattle. In this study, 40 cattle for each of SAR and EAR were used. OPN in intron 4, PRL in exon 3 and PIT-1 in exon 6 were amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and the resulting PCR products were subjected to digestion using BseNI, RsaI and HinfI enzymes, respectively, to determine the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Results showed that frequencies of the OPN allele C, PRL allele B, and PIT-1 allele A which are associated with milk production tarits were found low in SAR and EAR. As a result, SAR and EAR cattle breeds have the lower allel frequencies that influence the milk production traits for three genes than high-yielding European dairy cattle breeds.
Natural Selection and a Cost Ceiling on Reproductive Effort

Where reproductive effort subjects the parent to a risk, the benefit of some breeding activity's contribution to present fitness must be weighed against the loss to future fitness. With risk and benefit defined in terms of life-table parameters, a simple model for a long-lived iteroparous organism permits calculation of the quantitative relation between risk and benefit necessary if an increase in reproductive effort is to be selected for. Constraints on the maximal real benefit establish a corresponding risk ceiling which represents that lowest increment to reproductive cost which can not be compensated by any realizable cost-benefit ratio. Application of this model to data for some offshore-feeding seabirds indicates that an increased reproductive effort will be selected for in these organisms only if the fractional amount by which fledging success increases is at least 19 times greater than the fractional amount by which parental survivorship is decreased. The calculated margin of possibly compensable mortality increment is . 28 deaths per capita. These rather stringent conditions on reproductive effort help account for some otherwise puzzling features of the reproductive strategy of oceanic seabirds: namely, deferred maturity, delayed resumption of breeding after a failed attempt, and nest desertion and abondonment of courtship and nest building during periods of stress. While the model only considers Darwinian fitness at the level of the individual, the demographic properties selected for in this particular instance may significantly stabilize the population and create a misleading impression of selection for stability and reproductive restraint.
Asymptotic Distribution Free Interval Estimation for an Intraclass Correlation Coefficient with Applications to Longitudinal Data

Confidence intervals for the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) have been proposed under the assumption of multivariate normality. We propose confidence intervals which do not require distributional assumptions. We performed a simulation study to assess the coverage rates of normal theory (NT) and asymptotically distribution free (ADF) intervals. We found that the ADF intervals performed better than the NT intervals when kurtosis was greater than 4. When violations of distributional assumptions were not too severe, both the intervals performed about the same. The point estimate of the ICC was robust to distributional violations. We provide R code for computing the ADF confidence intervals for the ICC.
How to measure financial reporting quality internationally

This article develops an index to measure financial reporting quality at country level, i.e., financial reporting quality index. This index is applied in eight Asian-Pacific countries for year 2004 and 2005. The results suggest that Australia and New Zealand are among the best financial reporting quality countries in this area. Further analysis shows that financial reporting quality in the group as a whole was stable during the two years time period.
Evaluation of Immunization Coverage in the Rural Area of Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

Background: In children, the leading cause of morbidity and mortality is infectious disease. Immunization is one of the most cost-effective methods for child survival. The purpose of the survey is to assess access and coverage of immunizations in the rural areas of the District Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Methods: A cross‑sectional study was conducted in a rural population area of District Peshawar from February 2016 to April 2016 using the WHO’s 30 cluster sampling method for evaluation of immunization coverage. Results: A total of 390 children aged 12-23 months were included in the study. It was found that 67.94% of the children were fully immunized against vaccine-preventable diseases. Thirty percent of the children were partially immunized; the percentage of unimmunized children was 2.06%. Immunization cards were issued to and available with 58.8% of the subjects. The most common cause of partial immunization was a lack of information regarding vaccinations (27%). Immunization against measles was found to be low (67%). Those using private facilities were more likely to be completely immunized as compared to government facilities. Conclusions: Immunization coverage in our survey was 68%. Sustained efforts are required to achieve universal coverage of immunization. Significant interventions are required, especially in areas that are more rural and less educated.
Effects of ginger ( Zingiber officinale ) on cadmium toxicity

Thirty six Winstar rats were divided into six equal groups and investigated for induced cadmium toxicity, and the detoxicating action of ginger on liver-accumulated cadmium. Group 1, the control, were fed with normal rat chow and water for six weeks. Group 2 were fed with normal rat chow and cadmium water (200 ppm Cd in water). Group 3 were fed with rat chow-ginger concentrate (95:5, w/w ratio) and water, while Group 4 were fed with rat chow-ginger concentrate and cadmium water, all for six weeks. Group 5 were fed with normal rat chow and cadmium water initially for one week, followed by rat chowginger concentrate and water for five weeks; while Group 6 were fed with rat chow-ginger concentrate for one week, followed by normal rat chow and cadmium water for five weeks. Cadmium accumulated highly in rat livers without ginger administration, and raised serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (GOT) and glutamate pyruvate transaminase (GPT), while ginger lowered these parameters. Ginger had better therapeutic than prophylactic detoxication effects on liver cadmium accumulation, especially as further cadmium intake was stopped. It was concluded that cadmium detoxication by ginger was more effective therapeutically, than prophylactically, as further cadmium intake was avoided.
Gender based comparison of intercanine distance of Mandibular permanent canine in different populations

Teeth are the most indestructible part of the body, exhibit the least turnover of natural structure, are readily accessible for examination and do not need special dissection. Hence teeth provide excellent material in living and non-living populations for anthropological, genetic, odontological and forensic investigations. Amongst all the teeth, the mandibular canines are found to exhibit greatest sexual dimorphism. In the present study, inter canine distance of the mandibular canines was measured in 60 North Indian subjects (M: F: 30: 30) in the age group of 17–21 years. Inter canine distance of the Indian population was compared with that of different populations. It was found that in all the populations, inter canine distance of the males exceeded that of the females.
Effects of water temperature on embryonic development in the northern Pacific asteroid, Asterias amurensis, from the southern coast of Korea

Summary Although the starfish, Asterias amurensis, has been known to cause severe damage to benthic shellfish populations through predation, few studies have been made of the basic biology of this species in Korean waters. Laboratory experiments were performed to obtain information on the effects of temperature on the embryonic development during the early life stage of A. amurensis. Developmental time decreased as temperature increased, and the elapsed time to develop to the bipinnaria larva at 10,15, and 20°C was 120,72, and 60 h, respectively. The average biological minimum temperature was estimated to be 0.97°C. The cumulative water temperatures for some developmental stages from 2-cell to bipinnaria larva were calculated. Temperature did not affect the fertilization rate (p = 0.866), while it significantly affected the rate of hatching and larval normality (p <0.001). Between 10 and 15°C, there was no significant difference in the rate of hatching (p = 0.157) and larval normality (p = 0.437). However, at 20°C, major reduction in rates of hatching and larval normality were found. We therefore suggest that the optimal temperature for embryonic development of A. amurensis is 15°C.