Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The effect of biological and chemical control agents on the health status of the very early potato cultivar Rosara

The external appearance and quality of table potatoes are determined, among other factors, by the health status of the plants during the growing season. Chemical control methods are often combined with biocontrol agents to effectively fight potato patho- gens. Potatoes of the very early cultivar Rosara were grown in experimental plots. The plots were located in Tomaszkowo (NE Poland, 2007-2009). The experiment involved the following treatments: 1) biological control − mycorrhizal Glomus spp. inoculum was applied to the roots, − tubers were dressed and plants were sprayed with Polyversum three times during the growing season, 2) chemical control - at two-week intervals, plants were sprayed with the following fungicides: Infinito 687.5 SC and Tanos 50 WG, Valbon 72 WG and Tanos 50 WG. In the control treatment, potato plants were not protected against pathogens. During the growing season, the severity of late blight and early blight was evaluated on a nine-point scale. The composition of fungal communities colonising potato stems was analysed. The fungistatic properties of the fungicides used in the field experiment were evaluated in an in vitro test. The symptoms of infections caused by Phytophthora infestans and Alternaria spp. were significantly reduced in the treatment which used the integrated chemical and biological control. The least diverse fungal community was isolated from fungicide-treated plants. In the in vitro test, fungicides at all analysed concentrations inhibited the linear mycelial growth of selected pathogens.
Gastroesophageal reflux disease in pediatric esophageal atresia: Assessment of clinical symptoms and pH-impedance data

BACKGROUND Esophageal atresia (EA) is the most common congenital anomaly of the gastrointestinal tract. Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a frequent and lifelong problem in these patients. GERD can be asymptomatic and the incidence of esophageal gastric and intestinal metaplasia (Barrett’s esophagus) is increased in adults with EA compared with the general population. Timely and accurate diagnosis of GERD is important to reduce long-term problems and this may be achieved by pH-impedance testing. AIM To assess symptoms and pH-impedance data in children after EA, in order to identify their specific features of GERD. METHODS This study was conducted from November 2017 to February 2020 and involved 37 children who had undergone EA via open surgical repair (51.35% boys, 48.65% girls; age range: 1-14 years, median: 4.99 years). GERD diagnosis was made based on multichannel intraluminal impedance/pH study and two groups were established: EA without GERD, n = 17; EA with GERD, n = 20. A control group was established with 66 children with proven GERD (68.18% boys, 31.82% girls; median age: 7.21 years), composed of a nonerosive reflux disease (referred to as NERD) group (n = 41) and a reflux esophagitis group (n = 25). Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy with a mucosal esophageal biopsy was performed on all patients. RESULTS The most frequently observed symptom in EA patients with GERD and without GERD was cough (70% and 76.5% respectively). The number of patients with positive symptom association probability in the EA groups was significantly larger in the EA without GERD group (P = 0.03). In the control reflux esophagitis group, prevalence of gastrointestinal symptoms was significantly higher than in the NERD group (P = 0.017). For both EA groups, there was strong correlation with index of proximal events (IPE) and total proximal events (EA with GERD: 0.96, P < 0.001; EA without GERD: 0.97, P < 0.001) but level of IPE was significantly lower than in GERD patients without any surgical treatment (P < 0.001). Data on distal mean nocturnal baseline impedance were significantly different between the EA with GERD group (P < 0.001) and the two control groups but not between EA without GERD and the two control groups. CONCLUSION Mean nocturnal baseline impedance may have diagnostic value for GERD in EA children after open surgical repair. IPE might be an additional parameter of pH-impedance monitoring.
ESTIMATION OF GENETIC PARAMETERS AND GENE ACTION FOR YIELD OF SEED COTTON AND LINT PERCENTAGE IN GOSSYPIUM HIRSUTUM L.

Gene action and genetic parameters for yield of seed cotton and lint percentage were studied in an eight parent diallel cross of upland cotton, which revealed that both additive and dominance components had prepondence in the inheritance of these characters. Asymmetrical distributions of dominant and recessive genes in the parents were observed. Low to moderate estimates of narrow sense heritability was obtained for both the characters.
Improving assessment and management of large non-pedunculated colorectal lesions in a Western center over 10 years: lessons learned and clinical impact

Abstract Background and study aims Outcomes of endoscopic assessment and management of large colorectal (CR) non-pedunculated lesions (LNPLs) are still under evaluation, especially in Western settings. We analyzed the clinical impact of changes in LNPL management over the last decade in a European center. Patients and methods All consecutive LNPLs ≥ 20 mm endoscopically assessed (2008–2019) were retrospectively included. Lesion, patient, and resection characteristics were compared among clinically relevant subgroups. Multivariate logistic regression (for predictors of submucosal invasion [SMI] and recurrence), Kaplan-Meier curves and ROC curves (for temporal cut-offs in trends analyses) were used. Results A total of 395 LNPLs were included (30 mm [range 20–40]; SMI = 9.6 %; primary endoscopic resection [ER] = 88.4 %). Pseudo-depression and JNET classification independently predicted SMI beyond single morphologies/location. After complete ER, involvement of ileocecal valve/dentate line, piece-meal resection and high-grade dysplasia independently predicted recurrence. Rates of 5-year recurrence-free, surgery-free and cancer-free survival were 77.5 %, 98.6 % and 100 %, respectively, with 93.8 % recurrences endoscopically managed and no death attributable to ER or CR cancer (versus 3.4 % primary surgery mortality). ROC curves identified the period ≥ 2015 (following Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection [ESD] introduction and education on pre-resective lesion assessment) as associated with improved lesions’ characterization, increased en-bloc resection of SMI lesions (87.5 % vs 37.5 %; p = 0.0455), reduced primary surgery (7.5 % vs 16.7 %; p = 0.0072), surgical referral of benign lesions (5.1 % vs 14.8 %; p = 0.0019), and recurrences. Conclusions ESD introduction and educational interventions allowed ER of more complex lesions, offset by increased complementary surgery for complications or intrinsic histological risk. Nevertheless, overall, they have reduced surgery demand and increased appropriateness and safety of LNPL management in our center.
Body Size and Microhabitat Affect Winter Survival of Hatchling Psammodromus algirus Lizards

To examine factors related to overwinter survival of Psammodromus algirus hatchlings, we performed a capture-mark-recapture study of a cohort of hatchlings. In this work, we examine the effects of body size, vegetation structure of the home range, tail condition, sex, and estimated hatching date on hatchling survivorship to the next spring. Results of a logistic regression analysis showed that survival was associated with larger body size (SVL), higher cover, and earlier hatching date. Tail condition and sex were not associated with overwinter survivorship.
Targeting senescent cells and tumor therapy (Review)

Cell senescence is caused by the activation of cell cycle inhibition pathways induced by an accumulation of cellular damage, where cells permanently leave the cell cycle. Senescent cells undergo changes in cell morphology, transcription, protein homeostasis, metabolism and other characteristic alterations. At the same time, senescent cells are able to resist apoptosis and accumulate in multiple organs and tissues in vivo. Senescent cells are capable of activating inflammatory factor secretion pathways, generating local, non-infectious inflammatory microenvironments within tissues, leading to organ degeneration and the development of aging-associated diseases. A large number of recently published studies have demonstrated that removing senescent cells from the body delays the occurrence of various aging-associated diseases. Therefore, the targeted killing of senescent cells potentially has important clinical applications in the treatment of various aging-associated diseases, aiming to improve the life span of patients. The present review summarizes recent progress that has been made in the field of senescent cell clearance and various anti-aging strategies. The history of cell senescence research is briefly reviewed, along with the association between cell senescence and tumor therapy. Furthermore, the potential of senescent cells to be used as therapeutic targets in various senescence-associated diseases is primarily discussed, and the limitations, as well as the future prospects of this line of research, are reviewed.
Identi®cation and characterization of plum and pluot cultivars by microsatellite markers

Summary Pluots are putative hybrids between plums (Prunus salicina Lindl.) and apricots (P. armeniaca L.). The capability to distinguish among plum and pluot cultivars is important in breeding and cultivation. We investigated the genetic diversity among 14 plums, 6 pluots and one plumcot representing commercial cultivars in California, with 28 microsatellite markers. We also tested seven apricot cultivars as a reference to ®nd evidence of apricot in the ancestry of pluots and plumcot. The parental material used in the original cross that produced the pluot and plumcot was not available. Of the 28 SSR markers, 25 were from sweet cherry (Prunus avium L.) and three from peach (Prunus persica L.). Approximately 80% of the cherry primers generated ampli®cation products in plum and pluots, showing transportability between these Prunus species. One to eight putative alleles per locus were displayed by the tested SSRs in plums and pluots. In plum and pluot samples a total of 100 alleles were identi®ed with an average of 4.3 alleles per primer combination. The SSR markers were successfully used for the discrimination of all tested cultivars. In pluots, 76 alleles were found in which 63 (83%) were speci®cally coming from plum, 9 (12%) were common in plum, pluots and apricot while no allele in the pluots was observed that was contributed from apricot. In plumcot, 49 alleles were observed in which 25 (51%) were from plum, 18 (36%) were speci®cally from apricot and 6 (12%) were common in plum, plumcot and apricot. Relationships among the 28 plum, pluot and apricot cultivars were represented by a dendrogram, constructed on the basis of 168 SSR markers. The dendrogram showed the plums and pluots form a cluster distinct from the apricots, with pluot cultivars interspersed among plum cultivars and more closely related to plum than to apricot. Plumcot made a separate branch and was placed between the plum and apricot cluster. These results suggest that the SSR markers are valuable tools for identi®cation of cultivars and diversity analyses in plum.
PII: S0275-5408(99)00095-2

The sensory, perceptual, and visual short-term memory (VSTM) capacity of young and older observers for processing luminance-defined shape information was assessed in a series of experiments. The following were assessed: each individual’s threshold necessary to detect a square from its background as measured by luminance thresholds; the capacity for making simultaneous size discriminations when compensating for individual differences in sensory input; the capacity for making sequential size discriminations; and the capacity for remembering size differences over time. The results show a selective deficit for simultaneous perceptual processing for older subjects, which cannot be attributed to differences in sensory input, task difficulty, interhemispheric transfer, or VSTM. q 2000 The College of Optometrists. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
Long-term physical, chemical and biological changes in a small, urban estuary

The Diep River estuary, a small estuary in suburban Cape Town, South Africa, has been subject to disturbance for centuries. Several earlier studies have documented conditions in the system, providing baselines against which to measure more recent changes. This study: (i) describes major physical and hydrological changes that have occurred within this estuary; (ii) documents faunistic changes subsequent to earlier biological surveys; and (iii) provides an up-to-date faunal list. Salinity measurements and both invertebrate and fish samples were taken at five stations along the estuary in summer and winter 2014. A census of sandprawn Callichirus kraussi densities was also undertaken to compare with earlier surveys. Developments within the Diep River catchment and estuary have resulted in extensive changes in flow and salinity regimes, causing marked reductions in summer salinity levels, changes in frequency of mouth closure, and deteriorations in water quality. These have resulted in major changes in faunal composition and distribution, including an increase in numbers of non-indigenous species. Surveys in the early 1950s recorded 47 invertebrate species, whereas only 23 were found in 1974. A total of 23 species were again recorded in 2014, but these included several freshwater forms not previously reported, which had entered the system due to lowered salinity values, as well as new alien introductions. Only six of the 69 taxa recorded were reported by all three surveys. There have been substantial declines in sandprawn abundance, from 40 million in 1998 to just over 12 million in 2014. In all, 12 fish species were recorded in the 1950s, nine in 1974, but only five in 2014, including the newly detected invasive mosquito fish Gambusia affinis and the translocated tilapia Tilapia sparrmanii. Thus, only three of the original native fish species remain. Contrary to these losses, the present bird fauna appear to be more abundant and diverse than previously. Regular monitoring is recommended to obtain a clearer understanding of ongoing changes, and major management interventions will be needed if further degradation is to be prevented.
Current clinical methods of measurement of respiratory rate give imprecise values

Background Respiratory rate is a basic clinical measurement used for illness assessment. Errors in measuring respiratory rate are attributed to observer and equipment problems. Previous studies commonly report rate differences ranging from 2 to 6 breaths·min−1 between observers. Methods To study why repeated observations should vary so much, we conducted a virtual experiment, using continuous recordings of breathing from acutely ill patients. These records allowed each breathing cycle to be precisely timed. We made repeated random measures of respiratory rate using different sample durations of 30, 60 and 120 s. We express the variation in these repeated rate measurements for the different sample durations as the interquartile range of the values obtained for each subject. We predicted what values would be found if a single measure, taken from any patient, were repeated and inspected boundary values of 12, 20 or 25 breaths·min−1, used by the UK National Early Warning Score, for possible mis-scoring. Results When the sample duration was nominally 30 s, the mean interquartile range of repeated estimates was 3.4 breaths·min−1. For the 60 s samples, the mean interquartile range was 3 breaths·min−1, and for the 120 s samples it was 2.5 breaths·min−1. Thus, repeat clinical counts of respiratory rate often differ by >3 breaths·min−1. For 30 s samples, up to 40% of National Early Warning Scores could be misclassified. Conclusions Early warning scores will be unreliable when short sample durations are used to measure respiratory rate. Precision improves with longer sample duration, but this may be impractical unless better measurement methods are used. In acutely ill patients, the usual 30 s to count breathing are insufficient to give a reliable measurement https://bit.ly/31DNhKU
Underwater vs conventional endoscopic mucosal resection in the management of colorectal polyps: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract Background Recently, underwater endoscopic mucosal resection (UEMR) has shown promising results in the management of colorectal polyps. Some studies have shown better outcomes compared to conventional endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR). We conducted this systematic review and meta-analysis to compare UEMR and EMR in the management of colorectal polyps. Methods We searched several databases from inception to November 2019 to identify studies comparing UEMR and EMR. Outcomes assessed included rates of en bloc resection, complete macroscopic resection, recurrent/residual polyps on follow-up colonoscopy, complete resection confirmed by histology and adverse events. Pooled risk ratios (RR) with 95 % confidence interval were calculated using a fixed effect model. Heterogeneity was assessed by I2 statistic. Funnel plots and Egger’s test were used to assess publication bias. We used the Newcastle-Ottawa scale (NOS) for assessment of quality of observational studies, and the Cochrane tool for assessing risk of bias for RCTs Results Seven studies with 1291 patients were included; two were randomized controlled trials and five were observational. UEMR demonstrated statistically significantly better efficacy in rates of en bloc resection, pooled RR 1.16 (1.08, 1.26), complete macroscopic resection, pooled RR 1.28 (1.18, 1.39), recurrent/residual polyps; pooled RR 0.26 (0.12, 0.56) and complete resection confirmed by histology; pooled RR 0.75 (0.57, 0.98). There was no significant difference in adverse events (AEs); pooled RR 0.68 (0.44, 1.05). Conclusions This meta-analysis found statistically significantly better rates of en bloc resection, complete macroscopic resection, and lower risk of recurrent/residual polyps with UEMR compared to EMR. We found no significant difference in AEs between the two techniques.
mRNA expression and DNA methylation analysis of the inhibitory mechanism of H2O2 on the proliferation of A549 cells

Reactive oxygen species, particularly hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), can induce proliferation inhibition and death of A549 cells via oxidative stress. Oxidative stress has effect on DNA methylation. Oxidative stress and DNA methylation feature a common denominator: The one carbon cycle. To explore the inhibitory mechanism of H2O2 on the proliferation of lung cancer cells, the present study analysed the mRNA expression and methylation profiles in A549 cells treated with H2O2 for 24 h, as adenocarcinoma is the most common pathological type of lung cancer. The DNA methylation profile was constructed using reduced representation bisulphite sequencing, which identified 29,755 differentially methylated sites (15,365 upregulated and 14,390 downregulated), and 1,575 differentially methylated regions located in the gene promoters were identified using the methylKit. Analysis of the assocaition between gene expression and methylation levels revealed that several genes were downregulated and hypermethylated, including cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 3, denticleless E3 ubiquitin protein ligase homolog, centromere protein (CENP)F, kinesin family member (KIF)20A, CENPA, KIF11, PCNA clamp-associated factor and GINS complex subunit 2, which may be involved in the inhibitory process of H2O2 on the proliferation of A549 cells.
Experience of nurse practitioners performing colonoscopy after endoscopic training in more than 1,000 patients

Abstract Background and study aims The demand for screening colonoscopy has continued to rise over the past two decades. As a result, the current workforce of gastroenterologists is unable to meet the needs for colorectal cancer (CRC) screening. Therefore, solutions are needed to improve this disparity, with non-physician endoscopists being a potential option. However, current literature on the performance of non-physicians in endoscopy is limited. The aim of this study was to assess the quality of colonoscopy performed by three gastrointestinal fellowship-trained nurse practitioners (NPs). Methods This was a retrospective study performed at a single tertiary academic medical center. Colonoscopies performed by three gastrointestinal-specialized NPs after having completed training of at least 140 supervised colonoscopies were reviewed for analysis. Inclusion criteria were patients undergoing colonoscopy for colorectal cancer screening purposes. Outcomes included colonoscopy quality indicators as defined by the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy/American College of Gastroenterology Taskforce (ASGE/ACG) Taskforce. Results The study included 1,012 subjects (mean age 56.2 years, female 51.5 %, African American 73.9 %) who underwent screening colonoscopies by three NPs. Cecal intubation was successful in 997 subjects (98.5 %). Mean adenoma detection rate was 35.6 %. Mean withdrawal time was 18.9 minutes. There were no adverse events including colonic perforations or delayed post-polypectomy bleeding. Conclusions Three fellowship-trained NPs in colonoscopy in the United States satisfied the quality indicators proposed by the ASGE/ACG Task force, demonstrating that adequately trained NPs can perform colonoscopy safely and effectively. With the demand for colonoscopy exceeding the supply, non-physicians could be part of the solution to meet the demands for CRC screening.
Research progress on Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs), Adipose-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells (AD-MSCs), Drugs, and Vaccines in Inhibiting COVID-19 Disease

Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs), and Adipose-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells (AD-MSCs) have been used for many years in regenerative medicine for clinical and surgical applications. Additionally, recent studies reported improved respiratory activity after intravenous administration of MSCs into patients affected by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by the Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) suggesting their role as anti-viral therapy. Severe COVID-19 patients usually progress to acute respiratory distress syndrome, sepsis, metabolic acidosis that is difficult to correct, coagulation dysfunction, multiple organ failure, and even death in a short period after onset. Currently, there is still a lack of clinically effective drugs for such patients. The high secretory activity, the immune-modulatory effect, and the homing ability make MSCs and in particular AD-MSCs both a potential tool for the anti-viral drug-delivery in the virus microenvironment and potential cellular therapy. AD-MSCs as the most important exponent of MSCs are expected to reduce the risk of complications and death of patients due to their strong anti-inflammatory and immune-modulatory capabilities, which can improve microenvironment, promote neovascularization and enhance tissue repair capabilities. In this literature review, the role of regenerative strategies through MSCs, AD-MSCs, and adipocyte-secreted exosomal microRNAs (A-SE-miRs) as a potential antiviral therapy was reported, comparing the results found with current research progress on drugs and vaccines in COVID-19 disease.