Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Insight into 5-aminolevulinic acid-induced modulation of cellular antioxidant metabolism to confer salinity and drought tolerance in maize

The current study investigated the comparative oxidative damage in twomaize seedlings induced by saline, drought, and combined stress and the ameliorative role of two different doses (20 and 80 μM) of 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) against the above-mentioned stresses. Hydroponically grown 10-day-old maize (Zea mays, var. BARI Hybrid Maize-7 (BHM-7) and BARI Hybrid Maize-9 (BHM-9)) seedlings were exposed to 12 dS/m of saline solution, 200 mM mannitol-induced drought stress alone and their combined stress for 7 days. Result revealed that individual stresses retard the plant growth to some degrees; however, their combined stress has more detrimental effects, which might be correlated with lipid peroxidation (MDA)-induced oxidative stress in seedlings, enhanced Na/K ratio, and augmented generation of superoxide (O2 ) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). In contrast, exogenous ALA supplementation at 20 μM concentration markedly recovered from chlorosis and growth inhibition, substantially scavenged reactive oxygen species (ROS) and MDA by preserving ionhomeostasis and relaxing oxidative stress; also, by boosting catalase (CAT) and glutathione S-transferase (GST), and exclusively via depressing the activity of lipoxygenase (LOX) antioxidant enzyme. On the contrary, 80 μM ALA made things worse; nevertheless, higher activities shown by other antioxidant enzymes; like, superoxide dismutase (SOD), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), peroxidase (POD), and glutathione peroxidase (GPX), which were related to lessen the oxidative damage by highly produced O2 •− and H2O2 under combined stress. Non-denaturing gel electrophoresis was done for further confirmation. However, ALA importantly increased the photosynthetic pigment contents in both genotypes irrespective of doses. Nevertheless, GST might have assisted the plants to escape from the herbicidal effect by detoxification. However, in the combined stress condition, high ALA concentration may have some positive role to play. Our findings also showed that BHM-9 performed better than BHM-7. Therefore, ALA at lower concentration was effective for single stress of saline and drought, while higher concentration can improve plant survival under combined stress.
Assessing Preventive Health Behaviors from COVID-19 Based on the Health Belief Model (HBM) among People in Golestan Province: A Cross-Sectional Study in Northern Iran

Background: COVID-19 is a new viral disease that has caused a pandemic in the world. Due to the lack of vaccines and definitive treatment, preventive behaviors are the only way to overcome the disease. Therefore, the present study aimed to determine the preventive behaviors from the disease based on constructs of the health belief model.Methods: In the present cross-sectional study during March 11 to 16, 2019, 750 individuals in Golestan province of Iran were included in the study using the convenience sampling and they completed the questionnaires through cyberspace. Factor scores were calculated using the confirmatory factor analysis. The effects of different factors were separately investigated using the univariate analyses, including students sample t-test, ANOVA, and simple linear regression. Finally, the effective factors were examined by the multiple regression analysis at a significant level of 0.05 and through Mplus 7 and SPSS 16.Results: The participants' mean age was 33.9±9.45 years; and 57.1% of them had associate and bachelor's degrees. Multiple regression indicated that the mean score of preventive behavior from COVID-19 was higher in women than men, and greater in urban dwellers than rural dwellers. Furthermore, one unit increase in the standard deviation of factor scores of self-efficacy and perceived benefits increased the scores of preventive behavior from COVID-19 by 0.22 and 0.17 units respectively. On the contrary, one unit increase in the standard deviation of factor score of perceived barriers and fatalistic beliefs decreased the scores of the preventive behavior from COVID-19 by 0.36 and 0.19 units respectively.Conclusion: Results of the present study indicated that female gender, perceived barriers, perceived self-efficacy, fatalistic beliefs, perceived interests, and living in city had the greatest preventive behaviors from COVID-19 respectively. Preventive interventions were necessary among men and villagers.
Clinical, Biomechanical and Morphological Peculiarities of the Rectum in Patients with Obstructed Defecation Syndrome. Summary of the Doctoral Thesis

The Doctoral thesis was carried out at Rīga Stradiņs University, Department of Surgery. Surgery was performed at the Ambulatory Surgery Centre o f P aul’s Stradins Clinical University Hospital and Riga East Clinical University Hospital, Clinical Centre “Gailezers”, Department of Proctology. Biomechanical analysis was performed at the Institute of Anatomy and Anthropology, Rīga Stradiņs University and Scientific Laboratory of Biomechanics. Morphological analysis was performed at Rīga Stradiņs University, Department of Morphology. Defence: at the public session of the Doctoral Council of Medicine on 26 June 2020 at 12.00 in Hippocrates Lecture Theatre, 16 Dzirciema Street, Rīga Stradiņs University.
Social Responses to Media Technologies in the 21st Century: The Media are Social Actors Paradigm

Clifford Nass and his colleagues proposed the Computers Are Social Actors (CASA) paradigm in the 1990s and demonstrated that we treat computers in some of the ways we treat humans. To account for technological advances and to refine explanations for CASA results, this paper proposes the Media Are Social Actors (MASA) paradigm. We begin by distinguishing the roles of primary and secondary cues in evoking medium-as-social-actor presence and social responses. We then discuss the roles of individual differences and contextual factors in these responses and identify mindless and mindful anthropomorphism as two major complementary mechanisms for understanding MASA phenomena. Based on evolutionary psychology explanations for socialness, we conclude with nine formal propositions and suggestions for future research to test and apply MASA.
Big Data Industrial Agglomeration Promoting Regional Innovation: Comparison between Guangzhou and Zhaoqing in China

This paper selects the data of big data industry in China’s “Guangzhou Development Zone Big Data Industrial Park” and “Zhaoqing Big Data Cloud Service Industrial Park” from 2014 to 2018, uses the improved knowledge production function to establish an OLS model, and compares the impact of MAR and Jacobs external aggregation on the R&D input and patent output in Guangzhou and Zhaoqing. It is found that: (1) MAR externality is not conducive to the technological innovation of the two cities, and has a stronger negative effect on innovation in Zhaoqing; Jacobs externality can actively promote the innovation of the two cities, and has a stronger positive effect on innovation in Guangzhou. (2) In the impact of Jacobs externality on innovation output of the two cities, R&D plays a part of intermediary effect, and the effect on Guangzhou is stronger; in the impact of MAR externality on innovation output of the two cities, R&D only plays a part of negative intermediary effect in Zhaoqing. The conclusions show that the MAR and Jacobs agglomeration in big data industry all play more effective roles in promoting technological innovation in economically developed cities.
A Thermochronometric, Microtextural, and Numerical Modeling Approach to Deciphering the Rock Record of Deformation Processes in the Wasatch and Denali Fault Zones

A Thermochronometric, Microtextural, and Numerical Modeling Approach to Deciphering the Rock Record of Deformation Processes in the Wasatch and Denali Fault Zones by Robert G. McDermott, Doctor of Philosophy Utah State University, 2020 Major Professor: Dr. Alexis K. Ault Department: Geosciences Linked textural and thermochronometric data from exhumed fault rocks are critical to constraining the timing and style of crustal deformation, from mountainto slip surface-scale, and elucidating physical mechanisms leading to (a)seismic slip. Hematite, common in faults, can inform fault zone processes via coupled microtextural analysis and (U-Th)/He (He) thermochronometry. I apply fault rock hematite He thermochronometry with field and microtextural observations, conventional thermochronometry of host rocks, and modeling to decipher deformation history and slip mechanisms over different spatiotemporal scales in the Wasatch and eastern Denali fault zones (WFZ, EDFZ). Thermochronometry and microtextures document fault reactivation, strain localization, and coseismic slip on WFZ small-displacement hematite fault mirrors. Hematite He dates from veins, hematite-cemented breccia, and overlying hematite fault mirrors are ~270–21 Ma, ~69–18 Ma, and ~42–1 Ma. Apatite and zircon He and apatite fission-track (AFT) dates are ~5–3 Ma from adjacent Paleoproterozoic host rocks.
Effect of blanching and osmotic pre-treatment on drying kinetics, shrinkage and rehydration of chayote (Sechium edule) during convective drying

Aims: The influence of brine pretreatment and blanching on drying kinetics, area shrinkage and rehydration of oven-dried chayote slices was investigated. Study Design: Completely Randomized Block Design. Place and Duration of Study: Food Processing and Engineering Division of the Food Research Institute between January 2012 and February 2013. Methodology: Chayote slices (4±1 mm thick) were blanched in hot water at 80oC or osmo-dehydrated in 10% brine for 3 min, or left untreated as control and subsequently dried at 65oC. Shrinkage of dried samples, rehydration ratio and effective diffusivity of samples were determined. Experimental drying data was fitted by non-linear regression to 10 selected thin layer drying models. Results: Modified Henderson and Pabis model gave the best fit for untreated chayote (R= 0.9993) and brine-treated (R= 0.9991) chayote while Midilli et al. model best described the blanched chayote (R= 0.9970). Effective moisture diffusivities ranged from 1.09 x 10 ms and 1.30 x 10ms, rehydration ratios over a period of 270 min decreased from blanched > control > brine-treated while shrinkage was highest in Original Research Article British Journal of Applied Science & Technology, 4(8): 1215-1229, 2014 1216 blanched samples and lowest in brine-treated samples. Conclusion: Blanching and osmo-dehydration in brine pre-treatment prior to oven-drying affect the drying kinetics, shrinkage and rehydration parameters of chayote slices.
A potential therapeutic target miR-26b in tongue squamous cell carcinoma

Objective: To determine microRNA expression in patients with Tongue squamous cell carcinoma (TSCC) and elucidate miR-26b significance in TSCC cell line. Study Design: Biochemical analysis of pathologic archive specimens. Setting: Affiliated university laboratories. Subjects and methods: The study included 18 patients with TSCC and TSCC tumor tissues and matching normal tissues were harvested from patients during tumor resection at the Loma Linda University Medical Center. MicroRNA (miRNA) expression analysis and its gain of function analysis were performed to understand miRNAs that were critical to the TSCC disease. Result: miR-26b expression significantly decreased in TSCC tissues, when compared with normal tissues (P < 0.0001). Likewise, reduced expression of miR-26b was observed in CAL27 cells (TSCC cell line) when compared with control OKF6/TERT-2 cell (B. P < 0.001). Overexpression of miR-26b significantly changes cellular 47 function like cell migration, cell proliferation, etc. tested on TSCC cell line, Cal27. It is even increasing the cisplatin activity on tongue squamous cell apoptosis when overexpressed. Conclusion. Our study suggests that miR-26b plays a significant role in TSCC and might be a potential therapeutic target to regulate TSCC. Further investigation with in vivo studies and multiple TSCC cell lines are needed.
Whole exome sequencing reveals a combination of rare high and low penetrance variants that correlates with familial breast cancer relative risk

Background: Genetic risk factors of breast cancer are very heterogeneous and complex. They vary according to the familial relative risk, the age of cancer diagnosis of the index case and the age of the affected relatives.Objectives: We aimed to investigate and identify simultaneously all rare pathogenic and common variants in unrelated BC cases with different relative risk ratios for breast cancer and evaluate the contribution of these variants in genetic susceptibility to breast cancer.Patients and Methods: All frequent mutations in BRCA genes previously identified in Tunisia have been excluded by Sanger sequencing in 42 women affected with high family risk having at least 3 cancer affected related individuals. Two unrelated cases having two different family histories (in terms of different numbers of affected first-degree relatives and young age onset) have been selected for whole exome sequencing. The first family is composed of three sisters F1.1, F1.2 and F1.3 affected at 46, 50, and 32 years old, respectively. The second has only two breast cancer cases, F2.2 and F2.4, affected at late age 61 and 70 years old, respectively, in addition to other 5 members affected by different kinds of cancer. Selected high risk variants were confirmed and segregation analysis was performed using Sanger sequencing. Results and discussion: For F1.1 case, we identified a pathogenic frame-shift loss of function variant in BRCA2 p.Val1283Lysfs. For F2.2 we identified a pathogenic rare variant in OGG1, p.Arg46Gln that co-segregates with a rare non sense variant in BRCA2 p.K3326X, only in the breast cancer affected cases. Moreover, F2.2 patient has 9 other common low penetrant variants in different loci known to represent independently minor, but cumulatively significant, increased risk for breast cancer.Conclusion: Family history and the young age at onset for patient F1.1 correlate with the presence of a rare high penetrant variant (p.Val1283Lysfs) in BRCA2 gene. However, the late age at onset and the less severe phenotype for patient F2.2 are probably the consequence of the presence of a pathogenic variant p.Arg46Gln in OGG1 gene that co-segregate with a low penetrant variant Lys3326X in BRCA2 only in breast cancer cases.
The Concept And Methods Of Community Participation In Animal And Human Disease Surveillance

Abstract Background: Animal health surveillance is essential to protecting public health, controlling animal diseases and accessing international animal trade with a view to ensuring food security. The practice of subsistent agriculture makes laboratory disease surveillance and statistics difficult or impracticable to implement. Many times, the information generated through conventional approach may not reflect true field situations. Therefore, animal health project interventions from conventional data may be difficult to implement. Community engagement, however, empowers and ensures lasting solutions to developmental challenges.Methods : Field experiences and a review of the origin, concepts, methods and tools of Participatory epidemiology (PE) in disease surveillance suggest their appropriate uses.Results : Community participation in animal and public health investigation, program design, implementation and monitoring is credited with ownership, acceptability and sustainability.Conclusion : This research highlights how and why participation is an essential component of a successful disease surveillance design and implementation. However, the success of any participatory program depends on understanding the bases and applications of the right tools.
Exploring the Influence of Parenting Style on Adolescents’ Maladaptive Game Use through Aggression and Self-Control

Adolescent aggression manifests in problematic game use and ultimately undermines life quality. This study deals with the mechanisms behind adolescents’ perception of parenting, maladaptive game use, self-control, and life satisfaction within the context of integrated supportive-positive parenting and harsh-negative parenting. Using 778 valid panel data from the Korea Creative Content Agency (KOCCA), we reached the conclusions that both supportive-positive parenting and harsh-negative parenting, mediated by self-control and maladaptive game use, are major predictors of adolescents’ life satisfaction. PLS-SEM analysis was used for the hypothesized model test. This study helped bridge the gap in existing research by finding clues to recovering parent–child relationships from the side effects of youth game use.
Identification of Genome-Wide DNA Variants and SNP Haplotypes Associated with Avirulence Genes of Leptosphaeria Maculans in Western Canada

BackgroundBlackleg, caused by Leptosphaeria maculans, is a serious disease of canola/ oilseed rape in many parts of the world. An integrated approach is needed to control the disease, with genetic resistance as a key component of the management strategy. Towards this goal, a reliable approach for L. maculans race structure assessment becomes essential to gain understanding of the frequency of avirulence genes and race groups of the pathogen, and provide guidance for deployment of resistant canola cultivars.ResultsA total of 162 representative isolates collected in western Canada were selected for genome re-sequencing with an Illumina platform. Assembly of the short reads against the reference genome of L. maculans 'brassicae' isolate v23.1. 3 led to the discovery of 21,016 DNA variants (SNPs and InDels), 93% SNPs and 7% InDels, with a transition/transversion (Ts/Tv) ratio of 3.1 genome wide. InDels occurred mainly in GC-blocks and the Ts/Tv ratio of SNPs in AT-blocks was > 2 times higher than that in GC-blocks. The number of variants were positively correlated with supercontig size, GC-block size and gene numbers. DNA variants in most avirulence genes were SNPs, except a deletion in AvrLm1. The number of SNPs varied from 1–2 in AvrLm2, AvrLmJ1-5-9, AvrLm6, AvrLm10A, AvrLm10B and AvrLm11, 8 in AvrLm3 and 38 in AvrLm4-7. This study is the first report of triallelic SNPs in AvrLm2 and AvrLm4-7, and premature STOP codons in AvrLm4-7. Nine SNP haplotypes were identified in AvrLm4-7, however, only 2 ~ 3 haplotypes occurred in other avirulence genes, and in total 47 haplotype groups were identified from the isolates. The 47 SNP haplotype groups were translated into 44 protein haplotype groups and then isolates of L. macualns collected in western Canada were classified into10 races.ConclusionIn this study, we document the shortcoming of inferring races from SNP genotyping, and propose the use of SNP haplotyping for more reliable and informative analysis of L. maculans race structure.
Rapid adsorption of acetochlor and metolachlor from aqueous solution onto solid waste coal fly ash

Coal fly ash (FA) as the solid waste was applied to explore the adsorption of acetochlor and metolachlor (herbicides). The effects of initial pH, contact time, temperature, and dosage of FA were explored. The physical and chemical characteristics of FA were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The adsorption kinetics of FA to acetochlor and metolachlor were most consistent with the pseudo-secondary model of other kinetic models, with R2 values as high as 0.999 and the equilibrium time were attained after 10 and 15 min, respectively. Additionally, the maximum removal efficiencies of acetochlor and metolachlor (10 mg/L) by FA were 91.25% and 73.65%, respectively. Langmuir isotherm (for acetochlor, R2 = 0.9980; for metolachlor, R2 = 0.9913) was considered to be the better matched one than Freundlich, Dubinin–Radushkevich, and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller. The values of the saturated adsorption quantity got for acetochlor and metolachlor on FA calculated by the Langmuir model were 42.12 and 19.38 mg/g, respectively. The values of the saturated adsorption quantity predicted by the three-dimensional prediction model based on the pseudo-secondary dynamics were 42.76 and 16.57 mg/g, respectively, which were consistent with the Langmuir model. Moreover, the results of this paper suggested that there were a coexistence with physical and chemical adsorption processes of these two herbicides and the physical adsorption was the primary adsorption process of metolachlor on FA, while chemisorption played a dominant role in that of acetochlor on FA. The main adsorption mechanism might be the hydrogen bond and ligand exchange based on complexation.
Assessment of knowledge gain by participants through vocational trainings on fish farming

The present study was conducted on one hundred and forty six participants with an aim to determine the effectiveness of fish farming vocational training programs on knowledge gain by rural youth, farmers and farm women. The data revealed that just after completion of training, the majority of participants were having high level of knowledge (84.93%) regarding fish farming followed by 15.07% respondents having medium level of knowledge. The results clearly indicated that vocational training on fish farming was effective in enhancing the knowledge of trainees. Therefore, it can be interpreted that more number of such training programs may be organized which will be beneficial to both rural and urban participants in particular and farming community in general.
Nephroprotective Impact of Adjuvant Yoga Therapy on Diabetes- A Randomised Controlled Trial

Introduction: Recent studies have provided abundant evidence about benefits of yoga in various chronic disorders. Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is a group of metabolic diseases characterised by chronic hyperglycaemia and renal complications of the disease are especially notable. It is estimated that 10% to 40% cases of Type 2 DM (T2DM) eventually end up having kidney failure. Yoga therapy may help to prevent progression of kidney damage in diabetic patients. Aim: To evaluate the effect of adjuvant yoga therapy on renal profile in diabetic patients. Materials and Methods: This single blind Randomised Controlled Trial (RCT) was designed as an interdisciplinary collaborative work between Centre for Yoga Therapy, Education and Research (CYTER) and Department of Endocrinology of Mahatma Gandhi Medical College and Research Institute, Sri Balaji Vidyapeeth, Puducherry, India. A total of 72 diabetic patients with HbA1c, more than 7% were recruited and pre study evaluation of Fasting Blood Sugar (FBS), Postprandial Blood Sugar (PPBS), HbA1c, blood urea and serum creatinine were done. They were then randomised into control group (n=36) who received only standard medical management and yoga group (n=36) who received yoga therapy thrice weekly for 4 months along with standard medical management. Poststudy evaluation of all parameters was done at end of study period and data were analysed by Student’s paired and unpaired t-test for intra and intergroup comparisons. Results: Postinterventional comparisons revealed statistically significant reductions (p<0.001) in all glycaemic and renal parameters in the group receiving yoga therapy when compared with control group who didn’t receive the yoga intervention. Intragroup comparisons revealed significant reduction of all parameters in yoga group. Conclusion: It is concluded from the present RCT that yoga has a definite role as an adjuvant therapy as it enhances standard medical care and hence, can be recommended in routine clinical management of diabetes to prevent progression into complications that are part of the natural history of the disease.