Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Optimization of Medium Conditions and Auxins in the Induction of Adventitious Roots of Pokeweed (Phytolacca americana L.) and Their Phytochemical Constituents

Pokeweed, Phytolacca americana L. , is considered a widely spreading invasive plant, while saponin contents accumulated in the roots have pharmaceutical uses, such as rheumatism treatments and anti-inflammation. Adventitious root cultures are an important source of diverse secondary metabolites, which have significant applications in various fields. This study focused on the optimization of parameters for root induction using different medium states and treatments with auxins on a pokeweed leaf. Semisolid and liquid MS (Murashige and Skoog, 1962) media were supplemented with indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) and 1-naphthylacetic acid (NAA) at 0.5, 1, 2, and 4 mg/L. Root growth parameters, e.g., induction percentage, root numbers, length, and weight, were measured to determine the adventitious root induction efficiency. Total phenolic content, total flavonoid content, total saponin content, and antioxidant activity were recorded. Results showed that adventitious roots induced in semisolid MS medium supplemented with 0.5 mg/L NAA exhibited a high density of lateral roots. Appropriate medium state and auxin for adventitious root induction in pokeweed were determined as semisolid medium supplemented with 2 mg/L NAA. Considering phytochemicals, adventitious roots induced in liquid medium containing 0.5–1 mg/L NAA had the highest yield extract percentage. Additionally, adventitious roots cultivated in a liquid medium enriched with 1 mg/L NAA exhibited the highest phenolic and saponin contents. A principal component analysis (PCA) biplot and hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) heatmap demonstrated different response patterns between semisolid and liquid media applied with NAA. The results of the semisolid media were grouped together due to high expression levels of the root induction parameters, while elevated phytochemical values were observed in the liquid media treatments. The results suggested two different media that provide the highest adventitious root induction efficiency and the greatest phytochemical contents: semisolid medium with 2 mg/L NAA and liquid medium with 1 mg/L NAA, respectively. These culture media can be applied to optimize adventitious root culture of pokeweed and in vitro phytochemical production.
Oclacitinib and Myxoma Virus Therapy in Dogs with High-Grade Soft Tissue Sarcoma

Human rhabdomyosarcomas are rarely cured by surgical resection alone. This is also true for high-grade soft tissue sarcomas in dogs. Dogs with spontaneous sarcoma are good models for clinical responses to new cancer therapies. Strategic combinations of immunotherapy and oncolytic virotherapy (OV) could improve treatment responses in canine and human cancer patients. To develop an appropriate combination of immunotherapy and OV for dogs with soft tissue sarcoma (STS), canine cancer cells were inoculated with myxoma viruses (MYXVs) and gene transcripts were quantified. Next, the cytokine concentrations in the canine cancer cells were altered to evaluate their effect on MYXV replication. These studies indicated that, as in murine and human cells, type I interferons (IFN) play an important role in limiting MYXV replication in canine cancer cells. To reduce type I IFN production during OV, oclacitinib (a JAK1 inhibitor) was administered twice daily to dogs for 14 days starting ~7 days prior to surgery. STS tumors were excised, and MYXV deleted for serp2 (MYXV∆SERP2) was administered at the surgical site at two time points post-operatively to treat any remaining microscopic tumor cells. Tumor regrowth in dogs treated with OV was decreased relative to historical controls. However, regrowth was not further inhibited in patients given combination therapy.
Learning-dependent structural plasticity of intracortical and sensory connections to functional domains of the olfactory tubercle

The olfactory tubercle (OT), which is a component of the olfactory cortex and ventral striatum, has functional domains that play a role in odor-guided motivated behaviors. Learning odor-guided attractive and aversive behavior activates the anteromedial (am) and lateral (l) domains of the OT, respectively. However, the mechanism driving learning-dependent activation of specific OT domains remains unknown. We hypothesized that the neuronal connectivity of OT domains is plastically altered through olfactory experience. To examine the plastic potential of synaptic connections to OT domains, we optogenetically stimulated intracortical inputs from the piriform cortex or sensory inputs from the olfactory bulb to the OT in mice in association with a food reward for attractive learning and electrical foot shock for aversive learning. For both intracortical and sensory connections, axon boutons that terminated in the OT domains were larger in the amOT than in the lOT for mice exhibiting attractive learning and larger in the lOT than in the amOT for mice exhibiting aversive learning. These results indicate that both intracortical and sensory connections to the OT domains have learning-dependent plastic potential, suggesting that this plasticity underlies learning-dependent activation of specific OT domains and the acquisition of appropriate motivated behaviors.
Political Domination In Africa: Civil society in Africa

One of the crucial issues in the unstable political life of Africa is the recurrence of authoritarian, totalitarian or despotic situations in more or less rapid institutional cycles, rather like the heavy and unequal sistema which is said to exist in Brazil. This is not as ethnocentric a question as some might like to think. In Gabon, Zaire and Kenya, Africans run high risks defending the ideal of representative and competitive democracy in the face of unyielding power. In Senegal, the Gambia, Mauritius and Madagascar, there is some form of multi-party political system. And in Nigeria, Upper Volta and Ghana, democracy remains at the heart of the continuing constitutional debate. Even in countries such as Kenya or Sierra Leone, where representative politics is being eroded, some institutions like the press or the judiciary find in liberal ideas their inspiration to resist. Equally, the internal organisation of authoritarian regimes, like those in Cameroon and the Ivory Coast, is often spoken of in terms of ‘democratisation’. In point of fact, the immense majority of African political actors claim to be democrats. Is this merely the tribute vice pays to virtue? That was certainly the case in the patrimonial tyrannies of Guinea, the Central African Republic and Equatorial Guinea. But it is much less certain in almost all other cases where the claims of those in power to a democratic legitimacy are not merely cynical manipulation. Not that the old culturalist justification for political unanimity is any longer credible.
Elucidating Genetic Variability of Brassica napus L. Progenitors and Their Crosses for Enhanced Qualitative Traits

Evaluation of the breeding population is crucial for the selection of a superior genotype. Hence, the present study was conducted to assess genetic variation among five Brassica napus L. parents and their diallel hybrids to identify the best-performing parents and crosses. Heterosis and inbreeding depression were also assessed for the qualitative traits. Among the parental genotypes, Ancestor 2702 was identified as the best general combiner for protein (1.41%) and oleic acid content (1.21%). 2702×DUNCLED was the best specific combiner for oil content (0.78%), while 2702×2722 was recognized as best cross for linoleic acid content (1.3%). Similarly, DUNCLED×2702 was the best reciprocal cross for oil content (2.4%) and linoleic acid content (0.4 %), while P1-801×2702 was considered the best cross for protein content (2.2%) and oleic acid (1.7%). All the qualitative traits revealed a broad sense of heritability and non-additive type of gene action, which indicated the later generation selection for further improvement. High oleic acid content, preferred negative mid and best parent heterosis for erucic acid, glucosinolate and moisture contents was reported for 2702×DUNCLED. The favorable cross combination for protein and oil content was 2702×2722, which also yielded the positive mid and best parent heterosis. Inbreeding depression for qualitative traits ranged from -20.8% to 22.9%. It was concluded that among all the genotypes, accession 2702 was the best general, specific and reciprocal combiner, and the best parent heterosis for all traits when crossed with genotypes DUNCLED, P1-119 and 2722. It is also suggested that the screened crosses be carried to further generations to improve the quality related traits of Brassica napus. L.
Continental-scale variations in precipitation chemistry: ion concentrations are dominated by land use and proximity to man-made emissions

Available data on precipitation chemistry in North America have been assembled and used to generate isopleth maps of ion concentrations in precipitation. Despite some deficiencies in the data and problems with combining data from different sources, the resultant isopleths can be used to identify regional patterns of major ions in North American precipitation. The information on trace-metal concentrations is less complete. The major conclusion of the peper is that precipitation chemistry is dominated by local and regional land use patterns and proximity of anthropogenic emissions. Acidity is highest in precipitation where emissions of precursor anthropogenic gases are highest and the concentrations of neutralizing soil components are the lowest. (JMT)
Predictive Factors for Two-Year Survival in Dogs with Hepatobiliary Diseases: Importance of Clinical and Laboratory Monitoring

Simple Summary Idiopathic chronic hepatitis, liver fibrosis, and vacuolar hepatopathy are the most common liver histological diagnoses of dogs with hepatobiliary diseases in Thailand. Clinical parameters and survival predictors that can forecast survival in dogs are poorly described. This research described clinical factors that help predict two-year survival in dogs after diagnosis of liver abnormalities following liver biopsy. Abstract Long-term outcomes and survival predictors for different clinicopathologies (idiopathic chronic hepatitis, liver fibrosis, vacuolar hepatopathy) in dogs with hepatobiliary diseases are poorly described. In this study, ninety dogs were followed up for up to five years to investigate clinical factors that predict two-year survival in canine patients after liver biopsy. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed based on clinical and laboratory data to determine the association between clinical and laboratory data and mortality rates. Overall, the one-, two-, and five-year mortality rates were 28.9%, 45.6%, and 78.9%, respectively. Univariate analysis indicated that male gender, ascites, elevated serum gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT), hypercholesterolemia, hypoalbuminemia, prolonged activated partial thromboplastin clotting time (aPTT), and prolonged thrombin clotting time (TT) were associated with an increased two-year mortality rate. Results from multivariate analysis demonstrated a significant association between male gender (p = 0.022), elevated serum GGT (p < 0.001), hypoalbuminemia (p < 0.001), and prolonged aPTT (p < 0.001) and an increased two-year mortality rate, regardless of the specific type of liver pathology. Elevated GGT was associated with the highest risk for increased two-year mortality (95% CI: hazard ratio 6.02–41.21). In conclusion, various clinical factors in dogs with liver diseases are useful for prognosis prediction.
With Friends like These, Who Needs Enemies? Aiding the World's Worst Dictators

Despite rhetoric supporting liberal values and institutions, the governments of developed countries provide continued development and military assistance to the world's worst dictators. This aid sustains the status quo and imposes significant costs on ordinary citizens. This paper reviews the foreign aid provided to the worst living dictators. We consider arguments for the continued provision of aid as well as reasons why aid fails to improve the situations in countries ruled by these dictators. The main conclusion is that if the goal of developed countries is to foster liberal economic, political and social institutions abroad, they should cease providing aid to the world's worst dictators.
The landscape of lncRNAs in gastric cancer: from molecular mechanisms to potential clinical applications

Gastric cancer (GC) is a highly prevalent and deadly malignant neoplasm worldwide. Currently, long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have recently been identified as crucial regulators implicated in GC development and progression. Dysregulated expression of lncRNAs is commonly associated with enhanced tumor migration, invasiveness, and therapy resistance, highlighting their potential as promising targets for clinical applications. This review offers a comprehensive historical overview of lncRNAs in GC, describes the molecular mechanisms, and discusses the prospects and challenges of establishing lncRNAs as precision biomarkers.
Prospective Study of Vonoprazan-Based First-Line Triple Therapy with Amoxicillin and Metronidazole for Clarithromycin-Resistant Helicobacter pylori

Aim: This was a prospective, multicenter, single-arm intervention, against historical controls, study of the efficacy of a vonoprazan-based 7-day triple regimen with metronidazole (VPZ-AMPC-MNZ) as a first-line therapy for eradicating clarithromycin-resistant Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori). Methods: We enrolled 35 patients positive for clarithromycin-resistant H. pylori, as assessed by culture, without a history of eradication. These 35 patients were prospectively eradicated with VPZ-AMPC-MNZ. As historical controls, we also assessed 98 patients with clarithromycin-resistant H. pylori from our prior prospective studies, who achieved H. pylori eradication with a 7-day triple regimen including clarithromycin (VPZ-AMPC-CAM). A preplanned analysis was performed as a superiority study against the historical controls (VPZ-AMPC-MNZ compared to VPZ-AMPC-CAM). In each regimen, vonoprazan was used at 20 mg bid, amoxicillin at 750 mg bid, metronidazole at 250 mg bid, and clarithromycin at 200 mg or 400 mg bid for 7 days. We assessed the outcome of eradication therapy using a 13C-urea breath test or H. pylori stool antigen test. We evaluated safety using patient questionnaires. Results: The intention-to-treat (ITT) and per-protocol (PP) eradication rates of VPZ-AMPC-MNZ were both 100% (95% confidence interval (95% CI) 90.0–100%, n = 35). The eradication rates of VPZ-AMPC-CAM were 76.5% (95% CI 66.9–84.5%, n = 98) in the ITT analysis and 77.3% (95% CI 67.7–85.2%, n = 97) in the PP analysis. The eradication rate of VPZ-AMPC-MNZ was significantly higher than that of VPZ-AMPC-CAM in both the ITT (p = 0.00052) and PP (p = 0.00095) analyses. Conclusions: The findings suggest that 7-day VPZ-AMPC-MNZ was superior to 7-day VPZ-AMPC-CAM as a first-line regimen for eradicating clarithromycin-resistant H. pylori. We suggest VPZ-AMPC-MNZ as the standard first-line regimen for eradication of clarithromycin-resistant H. pylori in Japan.
THE INFLUENCE OF INFLATION, CRUDE OIL PRICES, AND THE RAMADAN EFFECT ON STOCK RETURN

This study aims to examine the effect of Inflation, Crude Oil Prices, and Ramadan Effect on Stock Return of manufacturing companies in Indonesia listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX) during 2020. In this study, the sample selection technique used was purposive sampling with some predetermined criteria. This study shows that the independent variables in the form of Inflation and Crude Oil Prices have no effect on Stock Return. The other independent variable, Ramadan Effect shows a positive effect on Stock Return.
Moving back or moving forward? Return migration, development and peace-building

This article addresses under which circumstances migrants returning from European to (post-) conflict countries are willing and able to contribute to development and peace-building in their countries of origin. Based on comparative research in six countries world-wide and an in-depth study in Afghanistan, we explore (1) the heterogeneity of the post-return experience, (2) the complex meanings and motivations of return migration, and (3) the expectations of the characteristics of migrants, on which the link between return migration, development and peace-building is based. Based on these findings, we (4) explore return migrants’ potential to be agents of change. We find that while the expectations on which migration and development policies are based only count for a small minority of returnees, this is not the group that is targeted by policy. In order to formulate adequate policies that do address the needs and potential of returnees, we propose two modifications to current policy: First, de facto voluntary and involuntary return should be redefined into more relevant terms that cover the matter. Second, we propose to re-evaluate and disentangle the different goals that inform migration and development policies
Yield and energy efficiency of biomass production of some species of plants grown for biogas.

The most often used substrate in agricultural biogas plants is maize. Due to an increase in the area of maize acreage and the necessity of use proper crop rotation in the plant cultivation, alternative raw materials should be looked for. Apart from the high biomass yield, alternative plants for biogas production should be characterized by a favourable energy efficiency index. The favourable value of this index can be obtained by reduction of energy outlays incurred for biomass production and high energy efficiency in the yield. The aim of this study was to compare the yield and energy efficiency of biomass production of some species of plants grown under different conditions of energy outlays. The study was conducted in the years 2009-2011 at the Production and Experimental Station at Ba cyny near Ostróda (53°35’ N; 19°51’ E) of the University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn. The study was based on the strict two-factorial experiment established in soil of 4. soil agricultural suitability complex, where three plant species were compared (maize cv. LG 2244, sorghum cv. Sucrosorgo 506, Virginia fanpetals) cultivated according to two technologies – high-input (intensive) and medium-input (with reduced outlays for means of production in relations to the intensive technology). Among the studied plants, the highest efficiency of biomass (21.4 Mg ha d.m.) and energy in yield (390 GJ·ha) and the most favourable index of energy consumption per unit (1.02 GJ·t) and energy efficiency (18.4) were provided by maize. Sorghum and Virginia fanpetals gave significantly lower yields than maize (by 40 and 54%, respectively) and were not equal in respect of energy discriminants in yield, energy consumption per unit or energy efficiency. The high-input technology provided a significantly higher biomass yield on average for 3 studied species (15.8 Mg ha d.m.) than medium-input (13.6 Mg ha d.m.). In the medium-input technology, reduction in energy outlays by 27%, mainly of mineral fertilization, caused a significant decrease in biomass yield by 14%, but it provided a higher energy efficiency of its production (15.3). The most favourable energy efficiency index of biomass production was obtained by maize cultivated in the medium-input technology (19.7). Lower energy assessment value of sorghum and Virginia fanpetals does not eliminate possibility of using the biomass of these plants as supplementing substrates for biogas production. Corresponding author – Adres do korespondencji: dr hab. W adys aw Szempli ski, prof. UWM, Department of Agrotechnology and Crop Management, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, M. Oczapowskiego 8/114, 10-719 Olsztyn, e-mail: wladyslaw.szemplinski@uwm.edu. pl 68 W. Szempli ski, A. Parzonka, T. Sa ek Acta Sci. Pol.
Endometrial thickness and early pregnancy complications after frozen-thawed embryo transfers

Background The relationship between endometrial thickness and pregnancy safety after in vitro fertilization treatment is an important topic that should provoke attention. The aim of this study was to demonstrate the relationship between endometrial thickness on day of embryo transfer and early pregnancy complications, including ectopic pregnancy and early miscarriage, in frozen thawed embryo transfer (FET) cycles. Methods Patients undergoing their first FET cycles were included into this study from January 2010 to December 2021. Patients were divided into three groups according to endometrial thickness on day of embryo transfer: Thin, ≤ 7 mm; Medium, 7-14 mm; Thick, ≥ 14 mm. Ectopic pregnancy and early miscarriage were the two primary outcomes. Endometrial thickness was the main measured variable. The risk factors of these two compilations were determined based on univariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression analysis. Results A total of 11138 clinical pregnancies were included. The overall ectopic pregnancy and early spontaneous miscarriage rates were 2.62% and 13.40%. The ectopic pregnancy and early spontaneous miscarriage rates were significantly higher in patients with thin endometrium as compared with those in the other two groups (ectopic pregnancy rate: 5.06% vs. 2.62% vs. 1.05%; P < 0.001; early spontaneous miscarriage rate: 15.18% vs. 13.45% vs. 11.53%; P < 0.001). In multivariate logistic regression analysis, thin endometrium was an independent factor to predict ectopic pregnancy [adjusted odds ratio (aOR): 5.62; 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.51–12.58, P < 0.001], and to predict early spontaneous miscarriage rate (aOR: 1.57; 95% CI: 1.21–1.74, P < 0.001). Conclusion Thin endometrium on day of embryo transfer in FET cycles is an independent predictor for early pregnancy compilations, including ectopic pregnancy and early spontaneous miscarriage.
Background Acoustics in Terrestrial Ecology

The way in which terrestrial organisms use the acoustic realm is fundamentally important and shapes behavior, populations, and communities, but how background acoustics, or noise, influence the patterns and processes in ecology is still relatively understudied. In this review, we summarize how background acoustics have traditionally been studied from the signaling perspective, discuss what is known from a receiver's perspective, and explore what is known about population- and community-level responses to noise. We suggest that there are major gaps linking animal physiology and behavior to fitness; that there is a limited understanding of variation in hearing within and across species, especially in the context of real-world acoustic conditions; and that many puzzling responses to noise could be clarified with a community-level lens that considers indirect effects. Failing to consider variation in acoustic conditions, and the many ways organisms use and interact via this environmental dimension, risks a limited understanding of natural systems. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Ecology, Evolution, and Systematics, Volume 54 is November 2023. Please see http://www.annualreviews. org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.