Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of Smoking on Oral and Faecal Microbial Flora Studied by Gas–Liquid Chromatography of Bacterial Cellular Fatty Acids

Because smoking negatively affects oral health, we investigated whether this could be due to adverse effects of smoking per se on human oral microflora. Faecal microflora was also analysed for comparison. Samples of whole saliva, dental plaque, pharynx and faeces were collected from 48 healthy young military conscripts, 24 smokers and 24 non-smokers, and studied by gas-liquid chromatography of bacterial cellular fatty acids. The method has proved to be fast and sensitive in detecting microfloral differences and their magnitudes. The results showed significant differences in microflorae between the different sample types (saliva, dental plaque, pharyngeal or faecal). However, there were no significant differences within any sample type between smokers and non-smokers. When oral health is good, smoking history short (mean 5.4 years) and groups otherwise uniform, moderate daily smoking does not seem to change human microbial florae.
A Dynamic Systems Approach for Detecting and Localizing of Infarct-Related Artery in Acute Myocardial Infarction Using Compressed Paper-Based Electrocardiogram (ECG)

Timely evaluation and reperfusion have improved the myocardial salvage and the subsequent recovery rate of the patients hospitalized with acute myocardial infarction (MI). Long waiting time and time-consuming procedures of in-hospital diagnostic testing severely affect the timeliness. We present a Poincare pattern ensemble-based method with the consideration of multi-correlated non-stationary stochastic system dynamics to localize the infarct-related artery (IRA) in acute MI by fully harnessing information from paper-based Electrocardiogram (ECG). The vectorcardiogram (VCG) diagnostic features extracted from only 2.5-s long paper ECG recordings were used to hierarchically localize the IRA—not mere localization of the infarcted cardiac tissues—in acute MI. Paper ECG records and angiograms of 106 acute MI patients collected at the Heart Artery and Vein Center at Fresno California and the 12-lead ECG signals from the Physionet PTB online database were employed to validate the proposed approach. We reported the overall accuracies of 97.41% for healthy control (HC) vs. MI, 89.41 ± 9.89 for left and right culprit arteries vs. others, 88.2 ± 11.6 for left main arteries vs. right-coronary-ascending (RCA) and 93.67 ± 4.89 for left-anterior-descending (LAD) vs. left-circumflex (LCX). The IRA localization from paper ECG can be used to timely triage the patients with acute coronary syndromes to the percutaneous coronary intervention facilities.
Growth, wood density, and ethylene production in response to mechanical perturbation in Pinus taeda.

Ethylene, emitted by the first internode of intact stems of 3-year-old Pinustaeda L. (loblolly pine), was trapped before and after mechanical perturbation. The analysis was conducted as a 2 × 2 design on eight different half-sib families grown (i) without exposure to shaking (control) or (ii) with preconditioning to mechanical perturbation for a 2-year period. Ethylene production was determined per gram fresh weight of stem tissue and per square centimetre of cambial tissue. Ethylene produced over a 14-h period varied from 0.15 to 0.55 nmol/g fresh weight among families in the control group prior to mechanical perturbation. Mechanical perturbation increased ethylene emission from all stems of control and preconditioned trees from all families. Ethylene production per gram fresh weight correlated positively with juvenile wood density (p < 0.005, r2 = 0.76) and negatively with stem diameter (p < 0.032, r2 = 0.56) in the control trees. Ethylene production per square centimetre of vascular cambium correlated .
The Successor Factor

Do voters sanction incumbent parties collectively for the performance of the government, or do they hold politicians accountable individually? Most economic voting studies assume that voters hold the incumbent party collectively accountable and that candidate-specific factors do not have an independent effect on how voters punish and reward incumbents. This article argues that voters weigh the past executive’s performance differently, depending on the degree to which the presidential candidate is identified with the performance of the government. It differentiates between presidents running for re-election, successors—political allies of the outgoing president—and non-successors—party-internal opponents of the president. The article shows that re-running presidents are held more accountable than the other two and that successors are subject to greater electoral sanctioning than non-successors. Empirically, the article estimates multi-level models on an original data set that combines information on candidate types with individual-level observations from 51 election years in Latin America.
Gill histopathological alterations in Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus exposed to treated sewage Water

Adult Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus, of both sexes were exposed in wastewater from a sewage treatment plant for a period of 4 days. Gill samples were collected after 24, 48, 72 and 96 h and histopathological changes were analyzed by light and scanning electronic microscopy. Gill epithelium of control O. niloticus (freshwater group) was similar to that of other teleosts, while histopathological lesions were observed in exposed fishes. The main histopathological changes were edema, lifting of lamellar and filamentar epithelia and lamellar fusion. Cell proliferation with consequent thickening of the filament epithelium was also found in fishes exposed to the treated sewage water. The severity of the lesions increased with the time of exposure, namely the hyperplasia of the epithelial cells with proliferation of filamentar epithelium and fusion of lamellae observed at 96 h. Additionally, several histopathological results obtained by light microscopy were confirmed through scanning microscopy.
Contribution to cytotaxonomy of Silene: chromosome pairing and unreduced pollen grain formation in sec. Sclerocalycinae

Meiotic studies of ploidy level, chromosome paring and chiasma frequency were performed on 24 populations of nine Silene species belonging to the section Sclerocalycinae growing in Iran. The species studied are: 1- Silene bupleuroides L. , 2- S. eremitica Boiss. , 3- S. stapfii Melzh. , 4- S. shahrudensis Rech. (two populations), 5- S. peduncularis Boiss. (two popula- tions), 6- S. avromana Boiss. (three populations), 7- S. caesarea Boiss. (seven populations), 8- S. chlorifolia SM. , 9- S. swertiifolia Boiss. (six populations). The species studied showed 2n = 2x = 24. The chromosome numbers of all species are reported here for the first time. The species and populations studied differed significantly in chiasma frequency and chromosomes pairing indicat- ing partly their genetic differences. When the species were subjected to cluster analysis based on meiotic characters almost the populations of each species were grouped together indicating their distinctness. Meiotic abnormalities including multipolar cell formation formed unreduced pollen grains in some of the species while B-chromosomes occurred in some others.
Optimizing Server Flexibility in Just-in-Time Systems

Providing server flexibility is an important part of the Just-in-Time (JIT) philosophy. One way to increase flexibility is to allow more service facilities (i.e. work cells) than servers. Servers are assigned to service facilities with high priority waiting jobs. Increasing flexibility in these dualresource constrained (DRC) systems can reduce job wait times. However, in this simulation study it is shown that server transfer delays (i.e. walking, setup, etc.) can mitigate the positive effects of increasing server flexibility. Flexibility is the most important factor when server transfer times are low. Sequencing-assignment becomes more important when transfer times are high.
A Systematic Review and Recommendation for Reporting of Surrogate Endpoint Evaluation Using Meta-analyses

Abstract Background Meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) has been widely conducted for the evaluation of surrogate endpoints in oncology, but little attention has been given to the adequacy of reporting and interpretation. This review evaluated the reporting quality of published meta-analyses on surrogacy evaluation and developed recommendations for future reporting. Methods We searched PubMed through August 2017 to identify studies that evaluated surrogate endpoints using the meta-analyses of RCTs in oncology. Both individual patient data (IPD) and aggregate data (AD) meta-analyses were included for the review. Results Eighty meta-analyses were identified: 22 used IPD and 58 used AD from multiple RCTs. We observed variability and reporting deficiencies in both IPD and AD meta-analyses, especially on reporting of trial selection, endpoint definition, study and patient characteristics for included RCTs, and important statistical methods and results. Based on these findings, we proposed a checklist and recommendations to improve completeness, consistency, and transparency of reports of meta-analytic surrogacy evaluation. We highlighted key aspects of the design and analysis of surrogate endpoints and presented explanations and rationale why these items should be clearly reported in surrogacy evaluation. Conclusions Our reporting of surrogate endpoint evaluation using meta-analyses (ReSEEM) guidelines and recommendations will improve the quality in reporting and facilitate the interpretation and reproducibility of meta-analytic surrogacy evaluation. Also, they should help promote greater methodological consistency and could also serve as an evaluation tool in the peer review process for assessing surrogacy research.
Common reeds (Phragmites australis) as sustainable energy source: experimental and modelling analysis of torrefaction and pyrolysis processes

The aim of this study is to apply advanced analytical techniques and kinetic modelling to common reeds (Phragmites australis) to characterize its pyrolysis and torrefaction as possible environmental friendly and sustainable pathways of fuel upgrading. Simultaneous thermogravimetric and differential scanning calorimetry analysis have been carried out on common reeds. The evolved gases during the decomposition process have been analysed by a coupled infrared gas analyser and gas chromatograph/mass spectrometer. Different reed origins (China and Italy) and plant parts (stem and leaves) have been compared. The results have been used to calibrate a torrefaction kinetic model. The model has also been tested simulating a reed torrefaction run occurring in a bench‐scale apparatus, supplementing the chemical analysis with a thermal simulation of the reactor carried out through a finite elements approach. The results show that the proposed modelling approach allows the prediction of the reaction products with a satisfying degree of accuracy. Besides its phytodepuration potential, P. australis has proven to be an interesting natural biomass resource for thermochemical conversion processes and energy production both for its suitability and availability.
Regeneration of an Indigenous Orchid, Vanda teres (Roxb.) Lindl. Through In vitro Culture

A protocol for regeneration of Vanda teres through long term culture of protocorms obtained from germinated seeds has been achieved in Vacin and Went medium. Seeds germinated within 40 - 45 days in Vacin and Went medium with 1.0 mg/l BAP + 0.5 mg/l NAA + 2% sucrose + 2 g/l peptone. Best shoot regeneration from the protocorm was found on the same medium containing 10% coconut water. For the production of strong elongated shoots and their multiplication 2 g/l banana powder + 100 mg/l casein hydrolysate were added to the medium. Identical plantlets with stout shoot and roots were obtained by subculturing shoots of same size in half strength MS medium without plant growth regulator. Enough quantity of regenerated plantlets were acclimatized in natural environment which flowered at the age of two - three years.
Control of Islet Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 Expression by Interferon-α and Hypoxia

The ability of interferon-α (IFN-α) to induce the adhesion molecules that characterize the islets of patients with type I diabetes has been investigated. We have found that all tested recombinant IFN-as will induce major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I on arterial endothelial cells. Some but not all IFN-as will induce intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1). However, there is only a transient and modest increase in VCAM on arterial endothelial cells. IFN-α has very little effect on endothelial MHC class II expression but will induce these proteins on monocytes. Thus, there is a close concordance between the biological actions of IFN-α and the appearance of those adhesion molecules induced in the islets of patients with type I diabetes. IFN-α is also produced in normal human islets during short-term cultures, probably as a result of the ischemia present at the center of the islet. This induction of IFN-α by hypoxia may explain the previously reported spontaneous induction of ICAM-1 in human islets and may also be a contributing factor to the failure of islet grafts.
Ergopeptine alkaloids and Neotyphodium lolii-mediated resistance in perennial ryegrass against adult Heteronychus arator (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae)

Heteronychus arator F. adults are deterred from feeding on perennial ryegrass, Lolium perenne L. , infected with the endophytic fungus Neotyphodium lolii, which produces many alkaloids and other mycotoxins in the host grass. This article examines the effects of a number of these compounds on adult H. arator feeding. Pure mycotoxins at several concentrations were incorporated into a carrot-based artificial diet developed specifically for this study. The mycotoxins tested were either compounds commonly found in N. lolii-infected perennial ryegrass (peramine, lolitrem B, paxilline, ergovaline, and ergovalinine), or compounds structurally similar to those occurring in N. lolii/perennial ryegrass associations (ergotamine, alpha-ergosine, alpha-ergocryptine, festuclavine, lysergol, lysergic acid amide, ergonovine, dihydroergotamine, alpha-bromoergocryptine, and dihydroergocrystine). Peramine, a Listronotus bonariensis (Kuschel) feeding deterrent, did not affect adult H. arator feeding. Lolitrem B, a mycotoxin involved in livestock health problems, and its structurally related precursor, paxilline, had no effect. The ergot alkaloids festuclavine, lysergol, and lysergic acid amide also did not deter adult H. arator feeding. Ergonovine was the only nonergopeptine ergot alkaloid to deter adult H. arator, though only moderately. The greatest antifeedant effects were observed with the ergopeptine alkaloids ergotamine, ergovaline, alpha-ergosine, and alpha-ergocryptine, all of which significantly reduced feeding at 5.0 micrograms/g. The ergopeptine epimer ergovalinine, and the ergopeptine alkaloid derivatives dihydroergotamine, dihydroergocrystine, and alpha-bromoergocryptine were also active, although less so than the parent ergopeptines. Thus ergopeptine alkaloids are likely to be a major factor in the N. lolii-mediated resistance to H. arator. It was further observed that perennial ryegrass seed containing an endophyte strain that did not produce ergot alkaloids, but did produce other mycotoxins normally associated with N. lolii infection, did not deter H. arator feeding, whereas an ergot alkaloid producing N. lolii/perennial ryegrass association did. The implications of these findings in relation to the toxicity of ergot alkaloids to mammals, and in relation to the definition of a desirable endophyte, are discussed.
Larval and early juvenile stages of Pirimela denticulata (Montagu, 1808) (Crustacea, Brachyura, Pirimelidae) reared in the laboratory

Former larval descriptions of Pirimela denticulata are incomplete and do not include information on appendage setation among other important data. Plankton-caught material provided further morphological data, but complete descriptions of larval stages were still lacking. In this study, the four zoeal stages and the megalop are fully described, and the general morphology of early crab stages is examined. Comparing the zoeal appendage setation suggests that P. denticulata is closely related to carcinine portunids, as previous studies based on gross zoeal morphology had once indicated. The megalop of P. denticulata is very similar to those of Necora puber, Carcinus maenas and C. mediterraneus but both setation of appendages and the presence or absence of coxal spines on walking legs may be used to distinguish these species. First and second juvenile stages can be readily identified to species but genital openings are still not visible, making impossible sex determination at this stage.
Responses of wheat genotypes to phosphorus fertilization under rainfed conditions in the Mediterranean region of Turkey.

Phosphorus (P) deficiency is a common crop growth-limiting factor in Mediterranean climatic and soil conditions because of low availability of native and added P, with consequent low use efficiency. Adaptation to such conditions is a function of the type of crop and also varies with genotypes within crops. The study evaluated responses of some of wheat genotypes to P application rates under typical rainfed Mediterranean climatic conditions in southern Turkey. Five wheat genotypes (Genc-99, Balatilla, Adana-99, Golia, and Panda) and five P application rates (0, 9, 17, 35 and 70 kg P ha ) were used in a 2year (2002/03, 2003/04) field experiment. In general, increasing P application level enhanced the leaf (0.18 0.44 %) and grain P (0.08 0.18%) concentrations of the genotypes. Grain yields values ranged from 1.48 4.85 t ha and optimum yields were achieved with 35 kg P ha -1 application rate in both years. The relationship between leaf P and grain yield was significant in the first year, but grain P and grain yield were not significantly related. Thus, leaf P (flag leaves) concentration can be used for identification of genotypes that could be adapted to low or high soil P availability under rainfed conditions. The relative yield changed among the genotypes, especially Balatilla and Adana-99 were different from the other genotypes and had a fairly good performance. While yield and drought efficiency are major objectives in wheat breeding programs in the Mediterranean region, the study indicates that attention should also be given to crop P efficiency.
Response of female broiler breeders to qualitative feed restriction with inclusion of soluble and insoluble fiber sources

SUMMARY To alleviate the feeling of hunger in broiler breeder hens, different types of fiber sources were used to increase feed quantity in Cobb 500 broiler breeder hens from 24 to 38 wk of age. Dietary treatments were a control diet and low-density diets through inclusion of wheat bran (WB), cellulose (CEL), pectin, and cottonseed meal. All diets were supplied an equal amount of AME, CP, Ca, P, and amino acids. Providing a diet with insoluble and soluble fiber sources increased the duration of feeding 2.4 and 3.8 times more than control group, respectively. For the entire experimental period, proportion of insoluble fiber sources (CEL and WB) resulted in more egg production than the control group. Cottonseed meal-fed birds displayed higher plasma triacylglycerol, cholesterol, and greater abdominal fat weight. Inclusion of insoluble fiber sources (CEL and WB) significantly decreased plasma corticosterone concentration, which is an indicator of hunger and frustration in birds. In spite of total nutrient intakes being equal once laying commenced, providing high-fiber diets with insoluble fiber sources can improve the reproductive performance of broiler breeder hens in early cycle of production period.
Flexible oviposition strategies in túngara frogs and their implications for tadpole spatial distributions

Because oviposition site selection is often studied in a single ecological context, little is known about flexibility in oviposition strategies. We studied the oviposition site selection strategies of tungara frogs (Physalaemus pustulosus) with respect to conspecific eggs and larvae in two different ecological contexts-arrays of artificial ponds and natural stream pools. We fit maximum likelihood models to sequential pond use data for both systems and found that strategies for oviposition differed greatly between the two systems. Within arrays of artificial ponds, tungara frogs avoided both conspecific egg masses and conspecific larvae. However, within a set of natural stream pools, tungara frogs consistently oviposited in the same pools from night to night, while many nearby ponds went unused. These variable strategies produced very different distributions of tadpoles among ponds, such that tadpoles tended to be evenly spread among artificial ponds, but highly clumped within stream pools. The difference between the two strategies appears to be an overriding effect of habitat quality. Surface area and the amount of leaf litter were all significant predictors of whether stream pools were used. Additionally, an experiment in which egg masses were either transplanted to, or removed from, selected stream pools provided no evidence that frogs in these pools used egg masses per se as a cue for oviposition. These results illustrate that oviposition strategies may be very flexible, allowing species to adjust strategies to different ecological contexts. Furthermore, they demonstrate that variation in oviposition strategies may have strong effects on egg and larval spatial distributions in patchy environments.
The Measurement of Ribulose 1, 5-bisphosphate Carboxylase/Oxygenase Concentration in the Leaves of Potato Plants by Enzyme Linked Immunosorbtion Assays

Catt, J. W. and Millard, P. 1988. The measurement of ribulose 1,5-hisphosphate carboxylase/ oxygenase concentration in the leaves of potato plants by enzyme linked immunosorbtion assays. — J. exp. Bot. 39: 157-164. An enzyme linked immunosorbtion assay (ELISA) has been developed for the measurement of ribulose 1,5-Wsphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (RUBISCO) concentrations in potato leaves. Extracts of leaves were made using a buffer containing detergent and used to coat ELISA plates. The amount of RUBISCO binding was estimated using a double antibody technique. Various methods of extraction were used and assessed and the efficiency of the assay was tested using purified RUBISCO. The method is applicable to the determination of RUBISCO from diverse sources.
THE DETERMINATION AND VERIFICATION OF A BASELINE TEMPERATURE FOR THE GROWTH OF WESTAR SUMMER RAPE

Controlled environment growth cabinets set at mean temperatures of 10, 13.5, 15, 17, 20, 22 and 25 °C were used to determine a baseline temperature of 5 °C for the growth of Westar summer rape (Brassica napus L.). Temperatures in excess of 25 °C caused whole plant sterility. Phenological data obtained from ten field sites, collected over three years, was used to verify the 5 °C baseline temperature. Field growing degree days (GDD) and cabinet GDD were not significantly different. The percent development to physiological maturity (% DPM) of field grown Westar summer rape, as influenced by temperature, was not significantly different from that predicted by the cabinet determined equation. The agreement between field and cabinet GDD and observed and predicted % DPM verified the use of a 5 °C baseline temperature in field GDD equations. % DPM and GDD were found to be better estimators of phenological development in the field than calendar days. A simple linear model, relating % DPM to GDD was developed. It wa.