Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Response of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) hybrids to population of different insect pests and their bio-control agents

A study was conducted at Entomological Research Institute, AARI, Faisalabad, Pakistan during the year 2008 and 2009 to investigate response of five sunflower hybrids (FH-37, FH-331, FH-259, FH-106 and Hysun-33) to insect pests population and their bio-control agents. On the basis of two years average, sunflower hybrid FH-37 was found as comparatively resistant (1.105/leaf) to aphid (Aphis gossypii Glov.) whereas FH-259 (1.922/leaf) was found to be susceptible. All genotypes showed non-significant differences regarding jassid (Amrasca biguttula biguttula Ishida). FH-259 proved as susceptible (0.393/leaf) to whitefly (Bemisia tabaci Gen.) and did not differ significantly to Hysun-33 (0.337/leaf), FH-106 (0.154/leaf) and FH-331 (0.107). The sunflower hybrid FH-37 (0.02/plant) was found as comparatively resistant to larval population of head borer (Helicoverpa armigera Hb.) and did not differ significantly to FH-259 (0.04/plant), Hysun-33 (0.03/plant) and FH-331 (0.03/plant), except FH-106 (0.07/plant). The hybrid FH-259 showed resistance (0.003/plant) to larval population of armyworm (Mythimina separata Walk.) while FH-106 proved as susceptible (0.05/plant). Whitefly and semi-looper exerted negative and significant effect on sunflower yield while aphid, jassid, cotton bollworm and armyworm had negative but non-significant correlation with yield. Spotted beetle (Coccinella spp.) had a significant impact on population fluctuation of aphid, jassid and head borer while syrphid fly (Episyrphis balteatus) had non-significant contribution in population fluctuation of all insect pests studied.
Measuring aniseikonia tolerance range for stereoacuity – a tool for the refractive surgeon

No method exists to measure aniseikonia tolerance in stereoacuity. The brain can compensate for 2%–3% aniseikonia (i.e. 2–3 dioptres of anisometropia) without impairing stereoacuity; however, a substantial proportion of anisometropic patients experience problems caused by disruptions of sensory fusion due to surgically induced aniseikonia. We hypothesized that individual differences in tolerance to aniseikonia exist and sought to develop a method to measure aniseikonia tolerance.
Review Absorption, Availability, Metabolism and Excretion of Phosphorus in Ruminants

This paper describes absorption, metabolism, excretion and availability of phosphorus in ruminants. Phosphorus is an important constituent of various body parts of animals. Deficiency of phosphorus has been reported at global level leading to disorders of skeletal, muscular and nervous systems, decreased efficiency in terms of reproduction and milk production and intravascular hemolysis. Salivary glands having a higher concentration of P compared with the blood plasma play an important role in P homeostasis. Recycling of P is stimulated by parathyroid hormone. Phosphorus may be absorbed from the small intestine via a vitamin D dependent active transport system and/ or passive absorption system. Livestock forages contain an organic form of P (phytate) which must by hydrolyzed to make P available to be absorbed. Absorption of P depends upon its solubility, pH, concentration of available P, forage source, plasma level of Ca, age of animal and genetics. Major route of excretion of P is feces. However, when dietry P is in excess, urinary P excretion is increased. Availability of minerals varies from soil to plansts. In Pakistan, marginal to severe deficiency of P has been documented in Sahiwal and Okara. Berseem (Trifolium alexandrinum) has been found notoriously low in phosphorus. To improve the P contents in roughages, superjuice prepared from superphosphate appears the cheapest source of P for livestock feeding in Pakistan.
Expression of Podoplanin in Sinonasal Squamous Cell Carcinoma and Its Clinical Significance

Background It was recently suggested that the upregulation of podoplanin (PDPN) in cancer cells plays a significant role in tumor invasion and metastasis and that it is significantly associated with poor prognosis in oral, cutaneous, and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression pattern of PDPN in sinonasal squamous cell carcinoma (SNSCC) and to evaluate its role as a prognostic factor for survival outcome. Patients and methods This study included 59 subjects with SNSCC. We retrospectively collected the clinical features of these patients from medical records and retrieved the associated formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues for PDPN immunohistochemical staining. Furthermore, PDPN expression was analyzed in relation to the patients’ clinicopathological features and prognosis. Results We observed positive staining for PDPN in both cancer cells and stromal cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs). Positive expression of PDPN in cancer cells of patients with SNSCC was significantly correlated with the primary tumor site (p = 0.009) and local recurrence (p = 0.024). In addition, patients with PDPN-positive cancer cells had significantly lower overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) rates than did patients with PDPN-negative cancer cells (both p < 0.05). Multivariate analysis revealed that PDPN expression in cancer cells was an independent prognostic factor for both OS (p = 0.038) and DFS (p = 0.039). Conclusions Our findings demonstrated that PDPN overexpression may be both an independent prognostic biomarker and a therapeutic target in SNSCC.
Reserve size, dispersal and population viability in wide ranging carnivores: the case of jaguars in Emas National Park, Brazil

Protected areas may be important refuges for large carnivores, but many are not large enough to sustain viable populations. Without sufficient dispersal between protected areas, large carnivore populations inside them are at risk of becoming genetically isolated and demographically vulnerable. In this study, we use the jaguar population in and around Emas National Park in the Brazilian Cerrado as a case study to evaluate the demographic sustainability of a large carnivore population within a small and potentially isolated protected area. We used camera trapping data and spatially explicit capture‐recapture models to estimate density and corresponding population size of jaguars in Emas National Park. We then used a matrix‐based age and sex structured stochastic population model to evaluate the demographic viability of jaguar populations across a range of population sizes, including those estimated for Emas. We detected 10 individual jaguars during our survey with a total of 74 detections. Our density estimation became unbiased using a buffer width of 30 km and produced a density of 0.17 jaguars per 100 km2. The estimated population sizes of 10–60 animals suffered extinction risks of 70–90% without net immigration. However, only a low number of immigrants were required to suppress extinction risk towards zero. Our density estimate for jaguars was lower than in previous studies, and our simulations suggested that this population may have a substantial extinction risk. Ensuring dispersal and connectivity outside of protected areas, through the implementation of habitat corridors, can greatly reduce this extinction risk, and we suggest that this scenario is potentially applicable to many other large carnivore populations.
Analyzing Rice Farmers’ Intention to Adopt Modern Rice Technologies Using Technology Acceptance Model (TAM)

This paper analyzes rice farmers’ intention to adopt modern rice technologies using the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM). Quantitative data were gathered through a survey among 404 rice farmers selected using three-stage sampling design. The empirical analysis was done using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) via WARP PLS software version 3.0. The outcome of the hypothesized framework shows that perceived usefulness and relative advantage have a direct and significant influence on farmers’ attitude towards modern rice technologies. This implies that the perceived usefulness and relative advantage of the technology influences the positive or negative attitude of the farmers toward the technology. On the other hand, the model suggests that perceived convenience of the technology does not influence farmers’ attitude. Nevertheless, the hypothesized model demonstrates that farmers’ intention influences their decision to adopt modern rice technologies. The paper suggests that further studies be conducted to incorporate external variables in TAM. Original Research Article Ambong and Paulino; ARJA, 13(1): 21-30, 2020; Article no.ARJA. 57564 22
Social Media News Consumption and Opinion Polarization on China’s Trade Practices: Evidence from a U.S. National Survey

Drawing on a national survey among American adults, this study focuses on the trade dispute between the U.S. and China and explores the relationship between social media use and opinion polarization about China’s trade practices. The results reveal that the time spent on social media is indirectly associated with opinion polarization on China’s trade practices through news consumption on social media. Furthermore, the mediating effect of social media news consumption is found to be particularly stronger among those who frequently encounter like-minded information related to the U.S. government’s action during the trade dispute. Implications are discussed for the interaction between foreign policy and public opinion in the contemporary media environment.
Effects of the menstrual cycle on oxidative stress and antioxidant response to high-intensity intermittent exercise until exhaustion in healthy women.

BACKGROUND This study aimed to investigate the effects of the menstrual cycle on the oxidative stress and antioxidant response during high-intensity intermittent exercise until exhaustion in healthy women who habitually exercised. METHODS Ten women with normal menstrual cycle completed 10 menstrual cycle phases, including the early follicular phase (FP) and the midluteal phase (LP). High-intensity exercise until exhaustion was performed on each test day. Blood samples were collected before the exercise (Pre), immediately after the exercise (Post0), and 60 minutes after the exercise (Post60). The levels of estradiol; progesterone; oxidative stress, which was measured as diacron reactive oxygen metabolites (d-ROMs); and antioxidant capacity, which was measured as the biological antioxidant potential (BAP), were assessed. RESULTS The levels of serum estradiol and progesterone at Pre were significantly higher in the LP than in the FP (p <0.01). There were no significant differences in the d-ROMs, BAP, and BAP/d-ROMs between the FP and the LP at Pre, Post0, and Post60. Compared with the FP, the LP had significantly lower d-ROMs change rate from Pre at Post0 and Post60 (p <0.05). Moreover, the BAP/d-ROMs change rate from Pre showed a significantly higher trend in the LP than in the FP at Post0 and Post60 (p = 0.06). CONCLUSIONS In women with regular menstrual cycle, oxidative stress during exercise and recovery may be eliminated during the LP, when the estradiol and progesterone levels are higher, compared with those during the FP.
Response of the oxygen uptake efficiency slope to exercise training in patients with chronic kidney disease

Background Chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients have poor cardiorespiratory fitness. Although cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) is a universal assessment of cardiorespiratory fitness, values taken at ‘peak’ effort are strongly influenced by motivation and the choice of test endpoint. The oxygen uptake efficiency slope (OUES) integrates cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, and respiratory function into a single index to provide a more pragmatic and safer alternative to maximal testing. No research has explored whether exercise can improve the OUES in CKD patients. Methods Thirty-two patients with non-dialysis CKD were recruited into a 12-week exercise program consisting of mixed aerobic and resistance training three times a week. CPET was conducted at baseline, and then, following a 6-week control period, at pre- and post-exercise intervention. Direct measurements of oxygen consumption (⩒O2) and ventilatory parameters were collected. The OUES was calculated as the relationship between ⩒O2 and the log10 of minute ventilation (⩒E). Results No changes were observed in any variable during the control period, although modest increases in ⩒O2peak were observed. No meaningful changes were observed as a result of exercise in any cardiorespiratory value obtained. The OUES calculated at 100%, 90%, 75%, and 50% of exercise duration did not change significantly after 12 weeks of exercise training. Conclusion Our results show that 12 weeks of exercise training had no beneficial effects on the OUES, which supports the modest change observed in ⩒O2peak. The lack of change in the OUES and other parameters could indicate a dysfunctional cardiorespiratory response to exercise in patients with CKD, likely mediated by dysfunctional peripheral metabolic mechanisms.
Isolation and Characterization of Crude Oil Degrading Bacteria in Association with Microalgae in Saver Pit from Egbaoma Flow Station, Niger Delta, Nigeria

The capability of indigenous bacteria and microalgae in crude oil effluents to grow in and utilize crude oil as their sole source of carbon and energy provides an environmentally friendly and economical process for dealing with crude oil pollution and its inherent hazards. In view of the toxicity of crude oil spillages to indwellers of the affected ecosystems and the entire affected environment, the isolation of pure bacterial and microalgae cultures from crude effluents is a step in the right direction, particularly for bio-augmentation or bioremediation purposes. The total heterotrophic bacteria count and hydrocarbon utilizing bacteria count, as well as the microalgae count, were determined with the pour plate technique. The physicochemical properties of the effluent samples were also analyzed. Identification of the hydrocarbon utilizing bacteria was performed with phenotypic techniques. The result shows a mean total heterotrophic bacterium count of 5.91 log CFU/ml and a mean microalga count of 4.77 log cells/ml. When crude oil and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) were used as sole carbon sources, total hydrocarbon utilizing bacteria counts were respectively estimated at 3.89 and 2.89 log CFU/ml. Phenotypic identification of hydrocarbon utilizing bacteria in the crude oil effluents revealed the presence of two main bacterial genera: Streptococcus and Pseudomonas. Data obtained from this study confirmed the biodegradative abilities of indigenous bacterial species, thus, ultimately resulting in the amelioration of the toxicity associated with the crude oil effluents.
A scale development study on measuring science teachers' autonomy on curriculum

The purpose of this study is to develop a Teachers' Autonomy on Curriculum Scale. For this aim, an item pool consisted of 50-item was prepared for the study. These scale items were reduced to 29 items after expert review and pilot implementation. This preliminary form was applied to 178 science teachers working in secondary schools in Izmir, Turkey. Validity and reliability studies have been done and Cronbach's Alpha internal consistency coefficient was calculated as . 82. The scale is four-dimensional and reveals 67.4% of the total variance. The scale has four sub-scales (Professional Autonomy, Process Autonomy, Assessment Autonomy, and Planning Autonomy). Confirmatory factor analysis results support that the scale consisted of four subscales (RMSEA= .05, CFI= .98, AGFI= .89, RMR= .05, GFI= .93, SRMR= .06).
Two new genera and nine new species of hydroids (Cnidaria: Hydrozoa) from off New Caledonia

Two new genera and nine new species of hydroids are described based on deep-water material collected from off New Caledonia during various expeditions of the French Tropical Deep-Sea Benthos program. Caledoniana gen. nov., provisionally included in the family Sertulariidae Lamouroux, 1812, presently comprises three new species, viz . C. alata sp. nov., C. decussata sp. nov., and C. microgona sp. nov., while an additional group of three new species, is accommodated in the new sertulariid genus Solenoscyphus gen. nov.: S. candelabrum sp. nov., S. decidualis sp. nov., and S. striatus sp. nov. Furthermore, three new species of Hincksella Billard, 1918 (family Syntheciidae Marktanner-Turneretscher, 1890) are described, namely H. cornuta sp. nov., H. neocaledonica sp. nov., and H. similis sp. nov.
Can Non-Invasive Methods Be Clinically Useful for Diagnosis and Severity of Portal Hypertension?

Context: Current gold standard methods of diagnosing portal hypertension (endoscopy and hepatic vein pressure gradient) are not only invasive but also very expensive. Consequently, new non-invasive methods have been studied over the years to assess their Applicability in replacing current invasive procedures. This review explores the current use of abdominal ultrasonography, Doppler ultrasonography, contrast-enhanced ultrasonography, various elastography techniques, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging in evaluating portal hypertension while exploring their advantages and disadvantages. Evidence Acquisition: We gathered data from international papers published in Pubmed/Medline, Cochrane Library, Google Scholar, Web of Science, Wiley Online Library, and Research Gate databases until October 2019. Papers analyzing the associations between non-invasive tests and either portal hypertension or its complications were included in the study. Results: Liver stiffness (LS) and spleen stiffness (SS), regardless of the used elastography method, have shown promising results, with liver stiffness already included in current guidelines to avoid screening endoscopy. Overall, the results suggest that SS is superior to LS for screening for portal hypertension and the presence of EV, but there is a need for additional studies to certify the data and further evaluate which would provide the most accurate assessment and if other parameters need to be included to better diagnose portal hypertension. Conclusions: Liver stiffness and spleen stiffness are the best currently available methods of detecting portal hypertension but require further research. They may reduce the number of hepatic vein pressure gradient measurements and endoscopies needed for the diagnosis and follow-up of patients with portal hypertension in the future.
Human white-fat thermogenesis: Experimental and meta-analytic findings

ABSTRACT White adipose tissue (WAT) thermogenic activity may play a role in whole-body energy balance and two of its main regulators are thought to be environmental temperature (Tenv) and exercise. Low Tenv may increase uncoupling protein one (UCP1; the main biomarker of thermogenic activity) in WAT to regulate body temperature. On the other hand, exercise may stimulate UCP1 in WAT, which is thought to alter body weight regulation. However, our understanding of the roles (if any) of Tenv and exercise in WAT thermogenic activity remains incomplete. Our aim was to examine the impacts of low Tenv and exercise on WAT thermogenic activity, which may alter energy homeostasis and body weight regulation. We conducted a series of four experimental studies, supported by two systematic reviews and meta-analyses. We found increased UCP1 mRNA (p = 0.03; but not protein level) in human WAT biopsy samples collected during the cold part of the year, a finding supported by a systematic review and meta-analysis (PROSPERO review protocol: CRD42019120116). Additional clinical trials (NCT04037371; NCT04037410) using Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography (PET/CT) revealed no impact of low Tenv on human WAT thermogenic activity (p > 0.05). Furthermore, we found no effects of exercise on UCP1 mRNA or protein levels (p > 0.05) in WAT biopsy samples from a human randomized controlled trial (Clinical trial: NCT04039685), a finding supported by systematic review and meta-analytic data (PROSPERO review protocol: CRD42019120213). Taken together, the present experimental and meta-analytic findings of UCP1 and SUVmax, demonstrate that cold and exercise may play insignificant roles in human WAT thermogenic activity. Abbreviations: WAT:White adipose tissue; Tenv: Environmental temperature; UCP1: Uncoupling protein one; BAT: Brown adipose tissue; BMI:Body mass index; mRNA: Messenger ribonucleic acid; RCT: Randomized controlled trial; WHR: Waist-to-hip ratio; PRISMA: Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses; PET/CT: Positron Emission Tomography and Computed Tomography; REE: Resting energy expenditure; 18F-FDG: F18 fludeoxyglucose; VO2peak:Peak oxygen consumption; 1RM: One repetition maximum; SUVmax: Maximum standardized uptake value; Std: Standardized mean difference
Peripheral vasodilation is reduced during exercise in perimenopausal women with elevated cardiovascular risk

Abstract Objective: The menopausal transition has a negative effect on peripheral dilation in response to various stimuli including shear stress and exercise. Whether the presence of elevated traditional cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors in women going through menopause exacerbates the adverse effect on peripheral vasodilation is unclear. Methods: Forty-four perimenopausal women with relatively low CVD risk were divided into tertiles based on atherosclerotic CVD (ASCVD) 10-year risk scores (lowest: 0.1%-0.5%, middle: 0.6%-0.9%, higher: >1%). Comparisons were made across tertile groups for the femoral artery vascular conductance (FVC) response to single-leg knee extension exercise (0, 5, 10, 15 W) as measured using Doppler ultrasound. Results: At higher exercise intensities, FVC was lower in women in the tertile group with the highest ASCVD 10-year risk scores (10 W: 6 ± 2 mL/min/mm Hg, 15 W: 8 ± 3 mL/min/mm Hg) compared to women in the lowest tertile group (10 W: 9 ± 3 mL/min/mm Hg, P = 0.01; 15 W: 12 ± 3 mL/min/mm Hg, P < 0.01) and middle tertile group (10 W: 10 ± 4 mL/min/mm Hg, P < 0.01; 15 W: 12 ± 5 mL/min/mm Hg, P < 0.01). The overall increase in FVC during exercise from 0 to 15 W remained lower (P ≤ 0.01) in women with the highest ASCVD risk scores compared to the other two tertile groups even after adjustment for chronological age, arterial stiffness, and fat-free mass adjusted aerobic fitness level. Conclusion: Our results show that the presence of mild differences in ASCVD risk scores may be associated with a blunted active limb blood flow during leg exercise in mid-life women transitioning through menopause.