Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Characterization of Plasmodiophora brassicae pathotypes from western Canada in 2019–2020

Abstract Clubroot, caused by Plasmodiophora brassicae, is a major soilborne disease of canola (Brassica napus) on the Canadian Prairies. Most canola cultivars carry what is now referred to as ‘first-generation’ resistance, which represents the most widely used clubroot management tool. Unfortunately, new pathotypes of P. brassicae have emerged that can overcome this resistance. By 2018, 36 unique pathotypes of P. brassicae had been identified on the Prairies based on their virulence on the Canadian Clubroot Differential (CCD) set, with pathotypes 3A, 3D and 3 H being predominant. Since the virulence of P. brassicae populations can shift rapidly in response to host selection pressure, continued pathotype monitoring is important for resistance stewardship. Clubbed roots were collected from 133 canola crops (126 in Alberta, 6 in Saskatchewan, 1 in Manitoba) in 2019 and 127 crops (113 in Alberta, 13 in Saskatchewan, 1 in Manitoba) in 2020, and evaluated for their CCD pathotype designations. Twenty-five unique pathotypes were identified across the sampled crops over the two years of the study; these included seven novel pathotypes, six of which could overcome first-generation resistance (3C, 8 G, 8I, 9D, 9E and 9F). While pathotypes 3A, 3D and 3 H continued to be identified frequently in 2019 and 2020, several others, most notably pathotype 8E (virulent on hosts with first-generation resistance), had also become more common by 2020. The results indicate the continued emergence of new P. brassicae pathotypes on canola.
The Impact of Question Format, Context, and Content on Survey Answers in Early and Late Adolescence

Abstract Self-reports in surveys are often influenced by the presented question format and question context. Much less is known about how these effects influence the answers of younger survey respondents. The present study investigated how variations in response format, answer scale frequency, and question order influence self-reports of two age groups: younger (11–13 years old) and older (16–18 years old) adolescents. In addition, the impact of the respondents’ level of familiarity with the question content was taken into account. Results indicated that younger adolescents are more strongly influenced by the presented question format and context than older adolescents. This, however, was dependent on the particular question content, implying that response effects are more pronounced when questions deal with issues that lie outside of the respondents’ field of experience. Implications of these findings in survey research with younger respondents are discussed.
Collarless Polished Tapered Stems of Identical Shape Provide Differing Outcomes for Stainless Steel and Cobalt Chrome: A Biomechanical Study

Cemented polished tapered femoral stems (PTS) made of cobalt–chrome alloy (CoCr) are a known risk factor for periprosthetic fracture (PPF). The mechanical differences between CoCr-PTS and stainless-steel (SUS) PTS were investigated. CoCr stems having the same shape and surface roughness as the SUS Exeter® stem were manufactured and dynamic loading tests were performed on three each. Stem subsidence and the compressive force at the bone–cement interface were recorded. Tantalum balls were injected into the cement, and their movement was tracked to indicate cement movement. Stem motions in the cement were greater for the CoCr stems than for the SUS stems. In addition, although we found a significant positive correlation between stem subsidence and compressive force in all stems, CoCr stems generated a compressive force over three times higher than SUS stems at the bone–cement interface with the same stem subsidence (p < 0.01). The final stem subsidence amount and final force were greater in the CoCr group (p < 0.01), and the ratio of tantalum ball vertical distance to stem subsidence was significantly smaller for CoCr than for SUS (p < 0.01). CoCr stems appear to move more easily in cement than SUS stems, which might contribute to the increased occurrence of PPF with the use of CoCr-PTS.
9-Methoxyellipticine: Antibacterial Bioactive Compound Isolated from Ochrosia elliptica Labill. Roots

Antibacterial resistance bears a major threat to human health worldwide, causing about 1.2 million deaths per year. It is noteworthy that carbazole derivatives have shown a potential antibacterial activity, for example, 9-methoxyellipticine, which was isolated from Ochrosia elliptica Labill. roots (Apocynaceae) in the present study. An in vitro screening of the antibacterial activity of 9-methoxyellipticine was investigated against four multidrug-resistant (MDR) Klebsiella pneumoniae and Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC O157) as Gram-negative bacteria, in addition to Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) with Bacillus cereus as Gram-positive bacteria. The compound had significant antibacterial activity against the two Gram-negative isolates and lower activity against the Gram-positive ones. The synergistic use of 9-methoxyellipticine and antibiotics was successfully effective in reducing the MDR microorganisms. Lung pneumonia and kidney infection mice models were used to investigate the compound’s efficacy in vivo for the first time. Noteworthy reductions in K. pneumoniae and STEC shedding and the colonization were observed, with a reduction in pro-inflammatory factors and immunoglobulin levels. Other related lesions such as inflammatory cell infiltration, alveolar interstitial congestion, and edema were noticed to occur, lessened to different limits. The anti-STEC and anti-K. pneumoniae activities of 9-methoxyellipticine were revealed, providing a new alternative against MDR nosocomial infections.
English Club to Improve Students’ Speaking Skills: A Case Study of an Indonesian Islamic Senior High School

This research aimed to investigate the role of English Club toward successful students. This was qualitative research in the form of a case study. It took place at an Islamic Senior High School in Sungai Penuh, Jambi Province, Indonesia. It involved 4 participants: 1 teacher and 3 students. It employed an interview, observation checklist, and audiovisual recording. The findings of this research revealed that: first, the students did not maximize their chances to speak English. It was caused by the function of English Club itself which was a preparation to face debate and speech competition. However, the students got their self-confidence and speaking skills: vocabulary and fluency. Second, the teacher applied a student-centered approach. In content selection, she selected content related to national values, students’ experiences, and appropriate to the level of learning. But, she ignored local values. In teaching, she used six strategies: setting goals, providing tasks that stimulate thinking, giving responsibility, working in a group, managing time in flexible ways, and refined understanding by using critical thinking. In helping to speak English, she polished and corrected students’ language. Further, she applied peer learning. Third, the learning environments in English Club were good enough. But, cultivating responsibility in the learner was not catered. Based on the findings, it can be concluded that the role of English Club was preparation to face competitions however it also improved the students’ speaking skills which increased their vocabulary, self-confidence, and fluency.
PUFAs and Their Derivatives as Emerging Players in Diagnostics and Treatment of Male Fertility Disorders

About 15% of couples worldwide are affected by infertility, with the male factor responsible for approximately 50% of reproductive failures. Male fertility can be influenced by various factors, including an unhealthy lifestyle and diet, often associated with oxidative stress. These changes are frequently the reason for spermatozoan dysfunction, malformations, and lowered count. However, sometimes even with proper semen parameters, fertilization does not occur, and this is referred to as idiopathic infertility. Of particular importance may be molecules contained in the spermatozoan membrane or seminal plasma, such as polyunsaturated fatty acids, including omega-3 (docosahexaenoic and eicosapentaenoic acids) and omega-6 (arachidonic acid) fatty acids and their derivatives (prostaglandins, leukotrienes, thromboxanes, endocannabinoids, isoprostanes), which are vulnerable to the effects of oxidative stress. In the present review, we discuss the influence of these molecules on human male reproductive health and its possible causes, including disrupted oxidative–antioxidative balance. The review also discusses the potential use of these molecules in the diagnostics and treatment of male infertility, with a particular focus on the innovative approach to isoprostanes as biomarkers for male infertility. Given the high occurrence of idiopathic male infertility, there is a need to explore new solutions for the diagnosis and treatment of this condition.
Predictors of Quality of Life Among Omani Family Caregivers of Patients With Traumatic Brain Injury

Objectives This study aimed to explore the quality of life (QoL) of Omani family caregivers (FCs) of patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI). After acute care, the burden of caring for patients with TBI is mainly shouldered by FCs. Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted at Khoula Hospital, Muscat, Oman. Patient data were collected at the time of discharge and 8 weeks post-discharge between April 2019 and December 2021. The SF-12 General Health Survey and Preparedness for Caregiving scale were used to measure the caregivers’ QoL and preparedness, respectively. The Disability Rating and TBI Symptom scales were used to measure the patients’ disability and symptoms, respectively. Results A total of 36 FCs and patients with TBI were recruited. Most caregivers were the parent (41.7%) or child (27.8%) of the patient with TBI. Overall, the caregivers had good physical QoL (PQoL) and mental health QoL (MHQoL) but low caregiving preparedness at the time of discharge. At 8 weeks post-discharge, there were significant improvements in caregiving preparedness (P <0.01) and patient disability (P <0.05) but a depreciation in caregivers’ MHQoL (P <0.05), with no change in their PQoL. The caregiver’s employment status and the severity of the patient’s sleep and mood problems were modifiable predictors of the caregivers’ PQoL. Caregiver’s preparedness, the patient’s inability to live independently, and the severity of the patient’s mood and behavioural problems were predictors of caregivers’ MHQoL. Conclusion Caring for patients with TBI negatively impacts the QoL of Omani FCs; this correlates with the physical, emotional, and mental health symptoms of the patient.
A Survey of the Riordan Group

1 Included are many examples, 20 exercises with solutions, a good number of open problems. We hope that this is an engaging up to date, but not encyclopedic, presentation of both a useful tool and a fresh perspective on some core combinatorics. We start with some results that will turn out to be connected to the Riordan group and are of independent interest. Question 1.1 : How many Dyck paths (or mountain ranges) are there? The Answer is given by the Catalan numbers, Cn = 1 n+1 ( 2n n )
Lazy lizards in a drought: Science modeling and English learners

Abstract The use of modeling-based instruction is very effective when learning science content in multiple disciplines for native speakers. However, the benefits of using this pedagogy with students learning English as a second language or English Learners (ELs) have not been widespread, especially at the upper secondary level. This article discusses the use of a modeling-based natural selection unit that was developed for 14–16-year-old ELs in a sheltered EL biology class in the United States. The activity described for ELs includes not only activity details but also specifics about the inclusion and use of research-based scaffolding techniques. The efficacy of the unit was assessed in terms of changes to both conceptual understanding and scientific reasoning skills for the ELs and two inquiry-based non-EL biology classrooms. This modeling-based pedagogy allowed the ELs to not only increase their conceptual understanding of evolution but also their reasoning skills while also removing any knowledge gap with their non-EL peers in terms of evolution. The implication is that modeling-based science activities might hold the key to allowing EL students to achieve at the same conceptual levels as their non-EL peers.
Apremilast or Methotrexate: The Arrows in the Quiver for Psoriasis

Background and objectives: In the Indian subcontinent, psoriasis cases have skyrocketed in the last decade. Dry and hot weather aggrandizes the annual incidences. Nowadays, dermatologists harness methotrexate and apremilast to manage chronic plaque psoriasis. There needs to be more comparative studies on these drugs. The primary objective was change in Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) at six months from the baseline. Change in Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) at six months from the baseline and incidences of adverse events served as the secondary objectives. Methods: This randomized, open-label, 24-week study was executed in Srirama Chandra Bhanja (SCB) Medical College, Cuttack, India, from June 2021 to October 2022. The participants were randomized in a 1:1 ratio to receive tablets of either methotrexate 10-15mg weekly once or apremilast 10-30mg twice daily. Efficacy and safety analyses were performed at baseline, eight, 16, and 24 weeks. We used R software (version 4.1.1; R Foundation for Statistical Computing, Vienna, Austria) for data analysis. Results: Seventy (82.3%) of 85 enrolled participants completed the study. The mean age of the study population was 41.08±5.17 years. Twenty-two (31.4%) of them were females. The median change in PASI from baseline was -37.25 (-39.00 to -34.25) for apremilast and -34.75 (-37.75 to -31.75) for methotrexate (p=0.006). The median change in DLQI from baseline was -19.50 (-22.00 to -17.00) for apremilast and -21.00 (-25.50 to -17.50) for methotrexate (p=0.079). No serious adverse events were noticed. Conclusion: Apremilast was more effective than methotrexate in psoriasis treatment. The statistically significant difference was found only in PASI scores.
The Multiplicative Dual for Multiple-Exercise Options

We derive the first known multiplicative dual for Bermudan type options that can be exercised more than once. Our multiplicative dual possesses the almost sure property, thus making it a viable alternative to the additive one. A method to compute the multiplicative upper bound is presented and the primal-dual algorithm is naturally extended to the multiplicative multiple-exercise case.
Xanomeline-Trospium and Muscarinic Involvement in Schizophrenia

Abstract Schizophrenia is a severe mental illness that has its onset in late adolescence or early adulthood and is associated with significant dysfunction across multiple domains. The pathogenesis of schizophrenia remains unknown, but physiologic understanding of the illness has been driven by the dopamine hypothesis. However, acetylcholine (ACh) clearly plays a role with mixed results regarding effect on psychosis. Selective muscarinic M1 and M4 agonists, such as xanomeline, originally developed to aid in cognitive loss with Alzheimer’s, showed promise in proof-of-concept study in 20 patients with schizophrenia. Unfortunately, tolerability problems made muscarinic agonists impractical in either condition. However, coadministration of trospium, a lipophobic, non-selective muscarinic antagonist previously used for the treatment of overactive bladder, with xanomeline resulted in a significant reduction of cholinergic adverse effects. A recent randomized, placebo-controlled study of the antipsychotic effects of this combination in 182 patients with acute psychosis revealed improved tolerability with 80% of subjects staying to the end of the 5 weeks study. At the end of the trial, the treatment group saw a −17.4 change in the positive and negative symptom scale (PANSS) score from baseline compared to a −5.9 change in the placebo arm (P < 0.001). Furthermore, the negative symptom subscore, was also superior in the active arm (P < 0.001). These early studies are exciting because they suggest that the cholinergic system may be recruited to treat a severe and disabling disorder with suboptimal treatment options. Xanomeline-trospium combination is currently in phase III studies.
Thermodynamic quasi-equilibria in high power magnetron discharges: a generalized Poisson–Boltzmann relation

The Poisson–Boltzmann (PB) equation is a nonlinear partial differential equation that describes the equilibria of conducting fluids. Using a thermodynamic variational principle based on the balances of particle number, entropy, and electromagnetic enthalpy, it can also be justified for a wide class of unmagnetized technological plasmas (Köhn et al 2021 Plasma Sources Sci. Technol. 30 105014). This study extends the variational principle and the resulting PB equation to high power magnetron discharges as used in planar high power pulsed magnetron sputtering. The example in focus is that of a circular high power magnetron. The discharge chamber and the magnetic field are assumed to be axisymmetric. The plasma dynamics need not share the symmetry. The domain is split into the ionization region close to the cathode where electrons are confined, i.e. can escape from their magnetic field lines only by slow processes such as drift and diffusion, and the outer region , where the electrons are largely free and the plasma is cold. With regard to the dynamics of the electrons and the electric field, a distinction is made between a fast thermodynamic and a slow dissipative temporal regime. The variational principle established for the thermodynamic regime is similar to its counterpart for unmagnetized plasmas but takes magnetic confinement explicitly into account by treating the infinitesimal flux tubes of as individual thermodynamic units. The obtained solutions satisfy a generalized PB relation and represent thermodynamic equilibria in the fast regime. However, in the slow regime, they must be interpreted as dissipative structures. The theoretical characterization of the dynamics is corroborated by experimental results on high power magnetrons published in the literature. These results are briefly discussed to provide additional support.
bmtest: A Jamovi Module for Brunner–Munzel’s Test—A Robust Alternative to Wilcoxon–Mann–Whitney’s Test

In psychological research, comparisons between two groups are frequently made to demonstrate that one group exhibits higher values. Although Welch’s unequal variances t-test has become the preferred parametric test for this purpose, surpassing Student’s equal variances t-test, the Wilcoxon–Mann–Whitney test remains the predominant nonparametric approach despite sharing similar limitations with Student’s t-test. Specifically, the Wilcoxon–Mann–Whitney test is associated with strong, unrealistic assumptions and lacks robustness when these assumptions are violated. The Brunner–Munzel test overcomes these limitations, featuring fewer assumptions, akin to Welch’s t-test in the parametric domain, and has thus been recommended over the Wilcoxon–Mann–Whitney test. However, the Brunner–Munzel test is currently unavailable in user-friendly statistical software, such as SPSS, making it inaccessible to many researchers. In this paper, I introduce the bmtest module for jamovi, a freely available user-friendly software. By making the Brunner–Munzel test accessible to a wide range of researchers, the bmtest module has the potential to improve nonparametric statistical analysis in psychology and other disciplines.
Linearised implicit time-advancing applied to sediment transport simulations

The numerical simulation of sediment transport problems is considered.The problem is modeled through the shallow-water equations coupled with the Exner equation to describe the time evolution of the bed prole. The Grass model is used for the sediment transport. The governing equations arediscretized by using two different finite-volume methods, the SRHN predictorcorrector scheme and a Modied Roe scheme for non conservative systems of equations. As for the time advancing, starting from the explicit versions, linearised implicit schemes are generated, in which the fl ux Jacobians are computed through automatic dierentiation. This allows the complexity of the analytical differentiation of the numerical schemes to be avoided. Second-order accuracy in space and time is obtained through MUSCL reconstruction together with a defect-correction approach. Finally the considered numerical ingredients are compared in terms of accuracy and computational time using different one dimensional and two dimensional sediment transport problems, characterised by different time scales for the evolution of the bed and of the water flow.
Not All Social Capital Is Equal: Conceptualizing Social Capital Differences in Cities

Social capital is the basis of community-based action and constitutes an important resource for the poor in urban areas. However, social class, age, ethnicity and gender play an important role in shaping social capital outcomes. This article provides a literature-based framework for the qualitative analysis of the differences in social capital between social groups. This study defines and distinguishes social capital functions and resources and highlights the importance of taking negative effects of social capital and social capital needs into account. To test the framework, the social capital portfolios of two exemplary social groups, namely young people and ethnic minorities in urban areas, are presented. The analysis shows that the social capital resources and functions of the different groups as well as the specific needs vary in quality. The study provides a conceptual enhancement to the concept of social capital and recommends that strategies aiming at improving social capital must acknowledge the differences in social capital according to specific groups and environments.
Theoretical Evaluation of Twenty-Cannabinoid Derivatives on Either Androgen Receptor or 5α-Reductase Enzyme

There are studies which suggest that some cannabinoids derivatives can produce effects on prostate cancer; however, the effect exerted on androgen receptor and 5  -reductase is very confusing; perhaps, this phenomenon is due to differences in the chemical structure of cannabinoids. The aim of this theoretical research was to evaluate the possible interaction of twenty-cannabinoids derivatives (compounds 1 to 20) with either androgen receptor or 5  -reductase enzyme using either 3L3X or 7BW1 proteins as the theoretical models. Besides, testosterone, dihydrotestosterone, dutasteride, finasteride and flutamide drugs were used as theoretical tools. The results showed higher affinity of cannabinoid derivatives 6, 13, 16 and 20 for the androgen receptor surface compared to testosterone, dihydrotestosterone and flutamide. In addition, other data indicate that cannabinoid derivatives 1, 3, 14 and 18 could have higher affinity by 5  -reductase enzyme compared with dutasteride and finasteride. All these data suggest that cannabinoid derivatives 6, 13, 16 and 20 could act as androgen receptor inhibitors. In addition, the cannabinoid analogs 1, 3, 14 and 18 could exert their biological activity as 5  -reductase enzyme inhibitors. This phenomenon could be translated as good candidates for the treatment of prostate cancer.
Time Truncated Chain Sampling Plans for Marshall-Olkin Extended Exponential Distributions

Chain sampling plan for marshall olkin extended exponential distribution when the life-test is truncated at a pre-specified time are provided in this manuscript. The design parameters such as the minimum sample size and the acceptance number are obtained by satisfying the producer’s and consumer’s risks at the specified quality levels, under the assumption that the termination time and the number of items are pre-fixed.