Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Replacement control of Mikania micrantha in orchards and its eco-physiological mechanism

Mikania micrantha is one of the most notorious invasive weeds in south China, especially in orchard habitats. Based on the principle of niche competition, screening plants with strong competitiveness and managing vacant niches through natural alternative methods (replacement control) were expected to achieve sustainable ecological management of invasive species. To this end, two legumes, Desmodium heterocarpon and Senna tora, were selected to conduct field competition experiments with M. micrantha to investigate the interspecific competitiveness of these two legumes and M. micrantha from the aspects of adaptability to low light and response to drought stress. We found that the relative interaction indexes of D. heterocarpon and S. tora to M. micrantha were both negative and the competitive inhibition of S. tora on M. micrantha was higher than that of D. heterocarpon. Compared with M. micrantha, D. heterocarpon and S. tora have higher photosynthetic efficiency and lower dark respiration efficiency under low-light conditions, thus maintaining positive plant carbon balance capacity in the low-light understory and becoming more shade-tolerant. Besides, the water stress experiment found that M. micrantha had the lowest tolerance to drought stress, followed by S. tora, and D. heterocarpon was the most drought tolerant. These results showed that D. heterocarpon and S. tora can effectively prevent and control M. micrantha, mainly due to their higher competitiveness, shade tolerance, and drought tolerance. The control effect of D. heterocarpon is better than that of S. tora which is an alien species. Therefore, we believed that the replacement control of the invasive weed M. micrantha by D. heterocarpon is expected to be a sustainable ecological management strategy for M. micrantha biocontrol in the dryland orchard habitat. These findings provide a theoretical basis for the selection of species for alternative control in the future and provide new ideas for solving the problem of repeated regeneration in the existing M. micrantha control process.
Emerging Resistance to Commonly Used Carbapenem (Imipenem and Meropenem) among the Gram Negative Bacteria in A Tertiary Care Centre of Central India

Carbapenems are well known for their broadest spectrum of clinical activity and utmost potency among the different β-lactam antibiotics. Unfortunately, the recent emergence of multidrug-resistant pathogens seriously threatens this class of lifesaving drugs. To evaluate the pattern and extent of resistance to carbapenem among gram negative bacteria isolated from blood culture at tertiary care centre. Method and material: A cross sectional observational study was conducted in a tertiary care centre. Data regarding culture and sensitivity was obtained from Microbiology department. Resistance to carbapenem was observed to be in 78.35% of gram negative isolates. Imipenem was found to be resistant in around 76.97% while meropenem was resistant in 79.74% of isolates. Terrific high level of resistance to the carbapenem is found among GNB, this is indeed is hazardous not only to patient but also to community.
Urban living and chronic diseases in the presence of economic growth: Evidence from a long-term study in southeastern China

High-speed urban development has brought about an increase in per capita income in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) as well as the high prevalence rate of chronic diseases. Based on a study of chronic diseases from 2011 to 2021 in southeastern China, we used multivariate adjusted logistic regression method to analyze the effect of urban living on the incidence of typical chronic diseases and the trend of such effect with the improvement of public healthcare system. We adopted potential mediating risk factors of urban lifestyles including body mass index (BMI), frequency of dining out, sedentary time, and psychological distress in the adjusted estimation. Baseline results indicate a positive relationship between living in urban areas and the prevalence of type 2 diabetes, hyperlipidemia, and hypertension. Regarding the mediating factors, psychological distress had the highest positive coefficient (Cr) on type 2 diabetes, hyperlipidemia, and hypertension (Cr: 0.4881–0.7084), followed by BMI (Cr: 0.1042–0.1617) and frequency of dining out (Cr: 0.0311–0.0478), and finally, sedentary time (Cr: 0.0103–0.0147). However, regression results on the follow-up survey reveal that trend in the impact of living in urban areas on chronic disease diminished as the level of the healthcare system improved. Additionally, urban living was more positively correlated with the incidence of metabolic disease than with the incidence of cardiovascular disease and cancer. Our findings provide empirical evidence that future urban health planning in LMICs should pay sustained attention to upgrading the level of public health infrastructure covering urban residents as well as rural-to-urban migrants, constructing a long-term dynamic system of chronic disease prevention and control, and regularly monitoring the mental health problems of residents in order to interrupt the process of urban chronic disease prevalence in an early stage.
Effects of sea ice retreat and ocean warming on the Laptev Sea continental slope ecosystem (1993 vs 2012)

The central Arctic Ocean is rapidly changing due to amplified warming and sea ice retreat. Nonetheless, it remains challenging to document and decipher impacts on key ecosystem processes such as primary production and pelagic-benthic coupling, due to limited observations in this remote area. Here we investigated environmental changes at the Laptev Sea continental slope (60-3400 m water depth) from the surface to the seafloor, by replicating sample transects two decades apart. Mean break-up of sea ice occurred earlier and mean freeze-up occurred later in 2012 compared to 1993, extending the ice-free period by more than 30 days. On average, observations and model results showed an annual increase in primary production of 30% and more in the study area in 2012. In contrast, calculated and modelled fluxes of particulate organic carbon (POC) to the seafloor were only slightly higher in 2012 and did not extend as far into the deep Laptev Sea as the increase in primary production, possibly due to a more developed retention system. Nevertheless, benthic surveys revealed a substantial increase in phytodetritus availability at the seafloor along the entire transect from the shelf edge to the deep sea. This calls for carbon input by lateral advection from the shelves, additional input from sea ice, and/or a late summer bloom. We also investigated the composition and activity of bacterial communities at the seafloor and potential linkages to the observed environmental changes. While bacterial abundance, biomass and overall community structure showed no systematic differences between the two contrasting years at all depths, extracellular enzymatic activities had increased as a result of higher food availability. This was partly reflected in higher benthic oxygen uptake, indicating a moderate impact on benthic remineralization rates at the time of sampling. Our results show considerable effects of ocean warming and sea ice loss on the ecosystem from the surface ocean to the seafloor in the Laptev Sea, which are likely to continue in the coming decades.
Influence of process variables on the kinetic parameters of a Langmuir-Hinshelwood expression for E.coli inactivation during the photocatalytic disinfection of water

ABSTRACT This research describes the effect of the photocatalyst concentration, irradiation power, concentration of inorganic salts and the initial pH on the three parameters of a Langmuir-Hinshelwood-model: inactivation kinetic constant; k, dimensionless interaction coefficient; K*, and inhibition coefficient; n, which was applied to the photocatalytic disinfection of water with TiO2. In general, there is a qualitative finding in the effects on parameters of some variables since an increase in k was always related to a decrease in K*. Such relation was observed for the amount of TiO2, the irradiation power and the increase in concentration of inorganic salts: NaCl and CaCO3. Moreover, increase in MgSO4 concentration do not cause a tendency of change on the described parameters. As for pH of the reaction media, an increasing effect on k is observed when its value promotes proximity between bacteria and TiO2 particles. Finally, small changes were observed for n with the studied variables, but indeed significant for mathematical fitting. Thus, these findings led to the formulation of a mathematical description of the effects of the most important variables and their interactions on the kinetic parameters. This last hypothesis was validated by comparison of experimental and predicted data with high correlations.
Postoperative atrial fibrillation and oxidative stress Editorial / Editöryal Yorum

Postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) is the most common arrhythmia associated with coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery and is an important factor contributing to postoperative morbidity and mortality. While its pathogenesis is multifactorial, increasing evidence supports that inflammation and oxidative stress[1] caused by ischemia-reperfusion during cardiac surgery may play an important role in the pathogenesis of POAF. [2]
Perceived Influence of Health Education on Occupational Health of Factory Workers in Lagos State, Nigeria

The study examined the perceived influence of health education on occupational health of factory workers in Food and Beverage industry in Lagos State, Nigeria. Survey research design was adopted using questionnaire as the major instrument. Purposive sampling method was employed to select 160 respondents from ten organisations. Two hypotheses were tested at 0.05 alpha level, using chi-square and t-test. The findings showed that there is a significant relationship between health education and occupational health of the respondents. The result equally revealed a significant difference between the vulnerability to occupational health hazards of factory workers that undergo regular health education programme and the factory workers that do not. Based on the findings, it was suggested among other things that factory owners should put in place adequate health provisions and conduct regularly health education programme for their workers. Also, workers should endeavour to comply strictly with health and safety rules of their workplace. Factory inspectors, on their part should be more diligent and conscientious in the discharge of their statutory duties.
Soil fertility assessment and management from the perspective of farmers in four villages of eastern South Africa

Understanding farmer perceptions of soil fertility is necessary for the development of appropriate assessment methods for sustainable agro‐ecosystems. This study investigated farmer perceptions of soil fertility and management in four villages of eastern South Africa. A questionnaire was administered to 50 farmers from each village to obtain a general overview of local soil knowledge as well as soil fertility perceptions and assessment. Ten farmers were then chosen from each village for in‐field walks and to gather in‐depth knowledge of local soil fertility concepts, soil‐crop associations and soil management. During in‐field walks, farmers were asked to identify fertile, moderately fertile and low soil fertility plots in their fields from which topsoil samples were taken for laboratory fertility analysis. Local soil fertility descriptors included crop performance and yield, soil texture, stoniness and consistence. Using these descriptors, farmers have developed specific soil use and management practices. There was generally poor agreement between farmer qualitative assessment and measured chemical fertility parameters. However, the study revealed that the generally ignored local qualitative soil knowledge of farmers could be linked to crop performance and potentially supports laboratory soil analysis in terms of its implication for smallholder agriculture in remote areas. The descriptors identified and overall assessment used by farmers in this study reflected considerable soil knowledge employed in daily decision‐making. Action learning and research that links local soil fertility descriptors to soil acidity and specific soil nutrient levels is thus recommended for effective identification of yield‐limiting factors for sustainable crop production in low‐input agriculture.
Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy for Acute Renal Failure in Critically Ill Patients and Early Predictive Factors

Background. Acute renal failure (ARF) requiring renal replacement therapy (RRT) in critically ill patients is associated with high mortality and continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) is one of modalities to treat it. The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of CRRT, the outcome and early predictive factors of patients with Multiple Organ Dysfunction Syndrome (MODS) and ARF treated with CRRT. Methods. This study was a prospective observational study conducted between October 05 and March 06. We collected data on all patients admitted in the cardiovascular ICU, Umberto I Hospital, “La Sapienza” University who developed ARF after cardiovascular interventions and were treated with CRRT. In addition to demographics, we collected: severity of illness (APACHE II), severity of illness (SOFA score), 24-48 hour from the start of CRRT treatment. Clinical outcomes assessed were, mortality, recovery of renal function, cardiovascular stability, complications of therapy, hemodynamic instability. We analysed the presence of Coma (GCS<8), vasopressor support, mechanical ventilation, oliguria, sepsis and jaundice as prognostic factors. Results. During this period 30 (24 M, 6 F) patients underwent CRRT (CVVH, CVVHD, CVVHDF) for acute renal failure (ARF) after coronary artery bypass (46.6%), dissecting aortic aneurysm (30%), valvular surgery (6.7%), combined operations (6.7%), other (10%). The mean patient age was 64.6±11.8 years. 19 (63.3%) patients had oliguric ARF, vasopressor support occurred in 86.7% of patients and mechanical ventilation in 93.3%. At the time of start CRRT mean arterial pressure was 74.5±17.2 mmHg, BUN 93.6±40 mg/dl, serum creatinine concentration 5.5±2mg/dl, SOFA score 13.6±2.9, APACHE II score 31.7±6.6. Average length of treatment was 14.2±14.3 days (range 2-56). After 48 h of CRRT we had BUN decreased below 50 mg/dl, and a good control of fluid and electrolyte balance, and acid base homeostasis. There was no complication of therapy. 11 patients (36.7%) survived, 19 (63.3%) died. Recovery of renal function as possibility to interrupt RRT was in 53.3% of patients (100% survivors, 35.7% non surviving patients). There was no significant difference in mean age, BUN, serum creatinine concentration, APACHE II score at the start of CRRT between those who survived and those who died. It was a significant difference in mean SOFA score between the two groups (12.1±2.5 vs 14.5±2.9; p=0.027). Univariate analysis (X 2 test) showed as important factors associated with mortality the presence of Coma (survival rate 13.3% vs 60%; p=0.008) and Oliguria at the time of initiation CRRT (survival rate 21% vs 63.6%; p<0.02). Conclusion. We concluded that CRRT was found to improve hemodinamic and cardiovascular stability with a good fluid and electrolyte balance and control of biochemical status, increased nutritional intake. The presence of Coma and oliguric ARF, the higher SOFA score, were found to be the most important predictive factors.
Interim results of the Multicenter Selective Lymphadenectomy Trial (MSLT-I) in clinical stage I melanoma

7500 Background: Regional node management remains controversial because 80% of patients undergoing routine elective complete lymph node dissection (CLND) do not have nodal metastases. We developed lymphatic mapping and sentinel node biopsy (LM/SNB) to detect occult nodal metastases and thereby identify patients who might benefit from CLND. MSLT-I is an international, 17-center randomized trial to evaluate the accuracy and clinical impact of LM/SNB in patients with clinically localized cutaneous melanoma. Methods: Patients with primary melanoma were stratified by Breslow thickness ( 3.5 mm) and randomly assigned in a 40:60 ratio to wide excision (WE) followed by nodal observation (WEO), or to WE plus LM/SNB followed immediately by CLND only if the sentinel node (SN) contained tumor (SN+) by hematoxylin/eosin or immunostaining. Results: From 1/1/94 to 3/31/02, 797 patients were assigned to WEO and 1204 patients were assigned to LM/SNB. The third of 5 planned analyses was completed in Octob.
Final analysis: A randomized, blinded, placebo (P)-controlled phase III study of adjuvant postoperative lapatinib (L) with concurrent chemotherapy and radiation therapy (CH-RT) in high-risk patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN).

6005 Background: Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and ErbB2 are overexpressed in up to 90% and 40% of SCCHN, respectively. L, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) of both EGFR and ErbB2, demonstrates tumor responses in SCCHN. Methods: Patients with resected stage II-IVA SCCHN, with a surgical margin ≤5mm and/or extracapsular extension were randomized to CT-RT with either P or L. RT was 66Gy (2Gy per day, 5 days per week). 100 mg/m2of cisplatin was administered on days 1, 22 and 43 of RT. P or L 1500 mg/day was given for up to one week prior to CT-RT, during CT-RT and for up to 12 months as monotherapy maintenance. Patients were stratified by nodal status, primary tumor location, geographical region and ErbB1 expression. The study had 80% power to detect a 10% absolute difference in disease free survival (DFS) rate (55% to 65%). Results: 688 patients were in the ITT population, 346 L and 342 P. Treatment arms were well balanced for prognostic factors. Median total doses of cisplatin (266.5 and 280 mg/m2.
An evaluation of the primary South African standard and guideline for the provision of water for firefighting

In South Africa, as is mostly the norm globally, national legislation and guidelines specify that potable water distribution networks maintain the capacity to provide specified quantities of water for firefighting. This paper addresses the question: is the South African standard and guideline pertaining to fire-flow provision appropriate for firefighting and do these ensure the most efficient balance between providing sufficient fire protection and promoting sustainable water use? In answering this question, this study: (i) reviewed national and international design standards and guidelines; and (ii) captured and analysed 10 years of billable fire incident reports representing 3 859 fire events within the City of Johannesburg. Highlights from the study include: inconsistencies in categories when comparing the SANS 10090 and The Red Book fire tables and violations (in The Red Book) of stipulated Minimum Fire Flows; over the 10 year period, 75% of fire incidents within the City of Johannesburg were extinguished using less than 6.6 kL of water – less than the capacity (6.9 kL) of the City’s conventional pumping tanker during the period; 99.9% of fire incidents within the City were quenched using an average fire flow rate of less than 1 200 L/min, which is the minimum hydrant flow rate for the lowest fire risk category in SANS 10090; and peak fire occurrence did not correspond with typical peak residential water use. Recommendations are proffered in respect of the above.
The Effect of Education Based on Health Belief Model on Preventive Factors of Osteoporosis among Postmenopausal Women

Background and Aim: Osteoporosis and the fractures associated with are a major public health concern, because of related morbidity and disability, diminished quality of life, and mortality. Evidence suggests that to adopt changes on some life styles can prevent or delay development of osteoporosis. Most important modifiable risk factors of osteoporosis are receiving inadequate calcium intake and not doing weight-bearing exercises such as walking. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of an educational program based on health belief model on preventive factors of osteoporosis among postmenopausal women. Material and Method : This study was a quasi-experimental research with two groups, experimental (n=43) and control (n=41) selected from 4 mosques situated in ray city. The subjects in experimental group participated in a 6-week educational program (each session 60-90 minutes) based on health belief model. Data collection tools included demographic information form, knowledge questionnaire, health belief scale and food frequency questionnaire which were completed by the subjects of two groups before and after intervention. The authors declare that they have no conflict of interests. Results : Before intervention, there was no statistically significant difference between two groups regarding demographic characteristics, knowledge, health belief constructs, calcium intake and walking. After intervention, t-test showed a statistically significant difference between two groups in perceived susceptibility and severity (P<0.0001), barriers of calcium intake (P<0.0001), and barriers of exercise (P<0.0001). Perceived benefits of calcium intake and exercise were not significantly different between groups after intervention (P=0.06). Dietary Calcium intake increased to 906.55 (cid:2) 282.45 mg/day in experimental group, but there was not statistically significant difference between two groups (P=0.40). Changes in frequency of weekly walking was statistically significant (p=0.005) between groups, but the total time of walking wasn’t statistically significant between them (P=0.07). Conclusion : Educational program based on health belief model was effective in increasing health belief constructs and walking frequency but not in dietary calcium intake.
DEVELOPING AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE EXPERIENCES OF PARENTS WHOSE CHILD HAS COME OUT OF THE CLOSET

This research study was completed to develop a better understanding of the experiences that parents with lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people have. A qualitative research study was conducted because of the lack of research and literature about parents who have LGBT children. Data was collected through face-to-face interviews with parents from rural areas and a small city. This paper will provide a literature review about parents with LGBT children. It will also address the themes identified including the initial reactions, the coming out process for parents, awareness and support, dealing with societal attitudes, religion, strengths and benefits of having an LGBT child.