Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
AtRAC7/ROP9 Small GTPase Regulates A. thaliana Immune Systems in Response to B. cinerea Infection

Botrytis cinerea is a necrotrophic fungus that can cause gray mold in over 1400 plant species. Once it is detected by Arabidopsis thaliana, several defense responses are activated against this fungus. The proper activation of these defenses determines plant susceptibility or resistance. It has been proposed that the RAC/ROP small GTPases might serve as a molecular link in this process. In this study, we investigate the potential role of the Arabidopsis RAC7 gene during infection with B. cinerea. For that, we evaluated A. thaliana RAC7-OX lines, characterized by the overexpression of the RAC7 gene. Our results reveal that these RAC7-OX lines displayed increased susceptibility to B. cinerea infection, with enhanced fungal colonization and earlier lesion development. Additionally, they exhibited heightened sensitivity to bacterial infections caused by Pseudomonas syringae and Pectobacterium brasiliense. By characterizing plant canonical defense mechanisms and performing transcriptomic profiling, we determined that RAC7-OX lines impaired the plant transcriptomic response before and during B. cinerea infection. Global pathway analysis of differentially expressed genes suggested that RAC7 influences pathogen perception, cell wall homeostasis, signal transduction, and biosynthesis and response to hormones and antimicrobial compounds through actin filament modulation. Herein, we pointed out, for first time, the negative role of RAC7 small GTPase during A. thaliana–B. cinerea interaction.
Focus on Early Misconceptions in the Use of Variables and the Assignment Operator to Facilitate Progress in Learning Computer Programming

The purpose of this research-to-practice work-in-progress paper is to identify students' early misconceptions in the use of variables and assignment operators in a first-year computer programming course using Python. About half of first-year students taking computer programming courses have difficulty understanding the use of variables and the assignment operator. The majority of those students will not make adequate progress to learning advanced control flow structures like selection, repetition or the use of functions. To correct early misconceptions and make adequate progress in learning computer programming students should be able to: 1) translate a word problem into input/output requirements; 2) recognize the correct syntax of statements using variables and the assignment operator; 3) develop mental models of how the assignment operator works; 4) identify and interpret data types; 5) evaluate arithmetic expressions. We expect that early focus on achieving those learning objectives will prevent or correct early misconceptions and facilitate progress in learning computer programming.
Basin specificity of climate change in western Himalaya, India : Tree-ring evidences

Tree-ring-width chronologies of Himalayan cedar (Cedrus deodara) from moisture-stressed sites in Alaknanda, Bhagirathi, Tons, Satluj (lower) and Chandra-Bhaga river basins in western Himalaya were studied to understand the basin-specific as well as synoptic-scale features of climate change. In the past 325 years, extreme cool and wet climate during 1734 and 1803 and extreme hot and dry climate during 1705, 1707, 1767, 1774, 1782, 1873, 1887, 1890, 1892 and 1974, common in all the basins, reflect synoptic-scale features. However, in 1816, extreme low growth in trees over all the basins could have resulted due to reduced photosynthesis caused by impaired solar radiation reaching the ground because of aerosol load in the stratosphere ejected by the Tambora volcanic eruption. The cool and wet extremes are more basin-specific compared to the hot and dry ones. Basin-specific cool and wet climates are due to strong orography-influenced variability in precipitation.
Barriers to Prison Education: A Tanzanian Perspective

This article discusses the barriers to prison education from a Tanzanian perspective. The paper addresses one major research question, “What are the barriers to prison education in the Tanzanian context? ”. This qualitative study employed a multiple-case study design, which involved 51 participants, including 28 inmates, six (6) inmate-teachers, 14 prison officers from five prisons, two (2) representatives from the Institute of Adult Education and a District Adult Education Officer. The data were mainly collected through individual and focus group interviews. Focus Group Interviews were employed to collect information from some inmates who were available in groups. Data from the rest of the participants, including some inmates, were collected through Individual Interviews. Thematic analysis was used to process the data. The study found two main categories of barriers – the prison and imprisonment situation and dispositional – that inhibited participation in prison education. The findings suggest that most prisoners were affected by the barriers associated with the “prison and imprisonment situation”; a few were affected by dispositional barriers. It is suggested here that Tanzania should do more to improve prisoners’ access to education in tune with global tendencies to widen participation amid marginalised populations.
Factors that Encourage Children to Engage in Criminal Acts

This study is intended to obtain a description of factors that encourage children to engage in criminal acts and become children under the supervision of correction and detention centers. This study applied a qualitative approach by conducting a Focus Group Discussion (FGD) and Key Informant Interview (KII). Two FGDs have been carried out, with one group of girls participating by four participants and one group of boys participating by four participants. The age of the participants ranged from 15 to 18 years old (M = 16.6). The KII was conducted with the head of the Educational and Counseling Division of the correction and detention center. The FGDs and KII were carried out at the correction and detention center for women and girls and for men in Tangerang, West Java Province, Indonesia. The result of this study indicated that poverty and economics are factors that influence children to commit crimes. Also, factors that encourage children to engage in criminal acts are personal factors, family environment, and peer pressure.
Systemic and Local Strategies for Primary Prevention of Breast Cancer

Simple Summary Current interventions for breast–cancer prevention are associated with adverse side effects that frequently deter women from selecting these evidence-based risk-reducing procedures. In addition, modifiable lifestyle changes can improve breast cancer risk but can be challenging in execution. Therefore, women who are considered high risk due to non-modifiable factors, such as BRCA1/2 mutations or a strong family history of breast cancer, are in need of alternative prevention procedures. Here, we review investigational preclinical and clinical approaches at a systemic and local level that focus on non-modifiable breast cancer risk-reducing interventions. Abstract One in eight women will develop breast cancer in the US. For women with moderate (15–20%) to average (12.5%) risk of breast cancer, there are few options available for risk reduction. For high-risk (>20%) women, such as BRCA mutation carriers, primary prevention strategies are limited to evidence-based surgical removal of breasts and/or ovaries and anti-estrogen treatment. Despite their effectiveness in risk reduction, not many high-risk individuals opt for surgical or hormonal interventions due to severe side effects and potentially life-changing outcomes as key deterrents. Thus, better communication about the benefits of existing strategies and the development of new strategies with minimal side effects are needed to offer women adequate risk-reducing interventions. We extensively review and discuss innovative investigational strategies for primary prevention. Most of these investigational strategies are at the pre-clinical stage, but some are already being evaluated in clinical trials and others are expected to lead to first-in-human clinical trials within 5 years. Likely, these strategies would be initially tested in high-risk individuals but may be applicable to lower-risk women, if shown to decrease risk at a similar rate to existing strategies, but with minimal side effects.
PREVALENCE OF POSTOPERATIVE COMPLICATIONS AFTER GYNECOLOGIC SURGERY

The prevalence of surgical complications in gynecological surgery varies depending on the population. The time of occurrence of complications may range from the time of surgery itself to several weeks after the procedure. This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of postoperative complications after gynecologic surgeries and to identify the common complications after gynecologic surgeries. This is a cross sectional hospital based study included 200 patients underwent various types of gynecologic procedures in Al-Sadaqa Teaching Hospital in Aden, from Jan.1st to Dec. 31st, 2020. The study included patients from 13 years to 80 years (mean age: 43.7 ± 13.2 years), subjected to any type of gynecologic procedures (major or minor) during the study period. The prevalence of postoperative complications after gynecology surgery was (30.5%) with minor more than major complications (86.9% vs. 13.1). Common complications were pain at site of operation (24.6%), fever (12.3%), nausea and vomiting (19.7%), SSI (8.2%), URTI (6.6%), and hematoma (4.9%). Significant higher percentage of postoperative complications were reported in association with major surgeries than with minor surgeries (95.1% vs. 4.9%, respectively) (p<0.05). Among major gynecologic surgeries, the common postoperative complications were reported significantly in association with abdominal hysterectomy (29.3%), vaginal hysterectomy (20.7%), uterine myomectomy (17.2%) and Colporrhaphy (12.1%). Among minor gynecologic surgeries, the common postoperative complications were reported in association with dilatation and curettage for biopsy (66.7%) and Clitorial abscess drainage (33.3%). Other minor gynecologic surgeries did not show any association to postoperative complications. This study concluded that postoperative complications are common after gynecologic surgeries, so that operated women need to be fully investigated and evaluated prior to elective gynecologic surgeries.
Characteristics of a lipase ArEstA with lytic activity against drug-resistant pathogen from a novel myxobacterium, Archangium lipolyticum sp. nov.

Bacteriolytic myxobacteria are versatile micropredators and are proposed as potential biocontrol agents against diverse bacterial and fungal pathogens. Isolation of new myxobacteria species and exploration of effective predatory products are necessary for successful biocontrol of pathogens. In this study, a myxobacterium strain CY-1 was isolated from a soil sample of a pig farm using the Escherichia coli baiting method. Based on the morphological observation, physiological test, 16S rRNA gene sequence, and genomic data, strain CY-1 was identified as a novel species of the myxobacterial genus Archangium, for which the name Archangium lipolyticum sp. nov. was proposed. Subsequent predation tests indicated that the strain efficiently lysed drug-resistant pathogens, with a higher predatory activity against E. coli 64 than Staphylococcus aureus GDMCC 1.771 (MRSA). The lysis of extracellular proteins against ester-bond-containing substrates (tributyrin, tween 80, egg-yolk, and autoclaved drug-resistant pathogens) inspired the mining of secreted predatory products with lipolytic activity. Furthermore, a lipase ArEstA was identified from the genome of CY-1, and the heterologously expressed and purified enzyme showed bacteriolytic activity against Gram-negative bacteria E. coli 64 but not against Gram-positive MRSA, possibly due to different accessibility of enzyme to lipid substrates in different preys. Our research not only provided a novel myxobacterium species and a candidate enzyme for the development of new biocontrol agents but also reported an experimental basis for further study on different mechanisms of secreted predatory products in myxobacterial killing and degrading of Gram-negative and Gram-positive preys.
Laparoscopic adrenalectomy for pheochromocytoma is more difficult compared to other adrenal tumors

Introduction Laparoscopic adrenalectomy is the gold standard for the treatment of benign adrenal tumors. However, some authors raise the problem of differences in surgery for pheochromocytoma in comparison to other lesions. Aim To compare laparoscopic adrenalectomy for pheochromocytoma and for other tumors. Material and methods Four hundred and thirty-seven patients with adrenal tumors were included in the retrospective analysis. Patients were divided into two groups: 1 (124 patients treated for pheochromocytoma) and 2 (313 patients with other types of tumor). The two groups were compared with respect to mean operative time, intraoperative blood loss, conversion rate, complication rate and the relationship of tumor size with operative time. Results The mean operative time in group 1 was 91 min, and in group 2 it was 82 min (p = 0.016). In both groups 1 and 2, tumor size correlated with operative time (p < 0.0001 and p = 0.0003, respectively). The mean blood loss in groups 1 and 2 was 117 ml and 54 ml, respectively (p = 0.0011). The complication rate in groups 1 and 2 was 4% and 4.2%, respectively (p = 0.9542). In groups 1 and 2, conversion was necessary in 2 (1.6%) and 5 (1.6%) cases, respectively (p = 0.9925). Conclusions Longer operative time and higher blood loss after laparoscopic adrenalectomy for pheochromocytoma indicate its greater difficulty. However, despite these drawbacks, minimally invasive surgery still seems to be an effective and safe method.
Role of TRP Channels in Metabolism-Related Diseases

Metabolic syndrome (MetS), with its high prevalence and significant impact on cardiovascular disease, poses a substantial threat to human health. The early identification of pathological abnormalities related to MetS and prevention of the risk of associated diseases is of paramount importance. Transient Receptor Potential (TRP) channels, a type of nonselective cation channel, are expressed in a variety of tissues and have been implicated in the onset and progression of numerous metabolism-related diseases. This study aims to review and discuss the expression and function of TRP channels in metabolism-related tissues and blood vessels, and to elucidate the interactions and mechanisms between TRP channels and metabolism-related diseases. A comprehensive literature search was conducted using keywords such as TRP channels, metabolic syndrome, pancreas, liver, oxidative stress, diabetes, hypertension, and atherosclerosis across various academic databases including PubMed, Google Scholar, Elsevier, Web of Science, and CNKI. Our review of the current research suggests that TRP channels may be involved in the development of metabolism-related diseases by regulating insulin secretion and release, lipid metabolism, vascular functional activity, oxidative stress, and inflammatory response. TRP channels, as nonselective cation channels, play pivotal roles in sensing various intra- and extracellular stimuli and regulating ion homeostasis by osmosis. They present potential new targets for the diagnosis or treatment of metabolism-related diseases.
Socioeconomic impact of droughts in Bangladesh

According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) special report on the regional impacts of Climate Change (IPCC, 2007a), a drastic change in rainfall patterns in the warmer climate would occur in Bangladesh, and it may experience a 5% to 6% increase of rainfall by 2030 due to glacier melting and more intense monsoons, which will create frequent large and prolonged floods as well as an increase in droughts outside the monsoon season. Furthermore, in the context of global warming, most of the climatic models project a decrease in precipitation in the dry season and an increase during the monsoon season in south Asia (Christensen et al., 2007). This will cause a combination of more extreme floods and droughts in this region. Therefore, the moderately drought-affected areas will be turned into severely drought-prone areas within next 20 to 30 years (IPCC, 2007b).
IMPLICATIONS OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN HEALTHCARE IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES: PERSPECTIVES AND CHALLENGES

The integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) technologies into the healthcare sector has catalyzed transformative changes across the globe. This comprehensive article delves into the multifaceted impact of AI and ML on healthcare quality, data management, and clinical practices. Moreover, it examines these trends within both a global context and the specific framework of the Republic of Georgia. The purpose of this study was to specify the most important implications of AI in healthcare for developing countries and to assess perspectives and challenges of implementation. At the first stage, desk research was performed. Fifty relevant scientific articles and reports were identified, by key words, with utilization of various scientific bases and analyzed. Moreover, the major findings of the desk research, regarding implications of AI in healthcare in developing countries and challenges were used for the qualitative research. More specifically, in-depth interviews (overall 10) were conducted with various stakeholders of Georgia’s healthcare system and two focus-group discussions (FGD) were moderated with medical professionals and specialists. The purpose of in-depth interviews and FGDs was assessment of attitudes and perceptions of major stakeholders about AI implementation and utilization. According to the reviewed literature, perceptions and attitudes of stakeholders are very important for the successful implementation. However, this issue is not evaluated sufficiently, especially in developing countries. According to the results of the study AI can have substantial economic benefit for the developing countries, with consideration of the monetary savings, improved level of healthcare quality and increased patient safety. As the findings of the qualitative research demonstrate attitudes and perceptions of the doctors and important stakeholders represent a challenge for the successful implementation of AI. Consequently, it is strongly recommended to centralize and prioritize this issue on a system’s level in the process of policy and strategy design.
Soil Salinity and Sodicity as Particular Plant/Crop Stress Factors

Salinity and sodicity problems are common in arid and semiarid regions, where rainfall is insufficient to leach salts and excess sodium ions out of the rhizosphere. In addition, these areas often have high evaporation rates, which can encourage an increase in salt concentration at the soil surface. The presence of a cliche horizon and/or a cemented hardpan layer at varying depths plus insufficient precipitation for leaching often adds to the salt accumulation in these soils. Newly established irrigation projects, with improper planning and management practices, may also add salts to soils [1]. Soil salinity and sodicity problems are present in nearly every irrigated area of the world and also occur on nonirrigated croplands and rangelands. Thus, virtually no land is immune from salinization. Therefore, for sustaining life on earth, control of these problems and finding new ways to utilize these extensive saline and sodic soils and water resources, at least for agricultural purposes, are vital and urgent. Reclamation, or at least minimizing the effect of salinity and/or sodicity, is important and necessary. In this respect, proper utilization of water for both plant growth and soil salinity and sodicity control is probably of the greatest importance. The main focus of this introductory chapter is to summarize general information on saltaffected (saline and sodic) soils and factors influencing their formation and reclamation.
Signal Attenuation Modeling and Simulation for 5G and Beyond P2P Wireless Communication Networks in FR2 Bands: Comparison within M-Region in Nigeria

ITU-R categorized Nigeria into four rain regions (i.e., M, N, P, and Q) depending on the atmospheric conditions. Previous works that have conducted rain and attenuation modeling and simulations have assumed similar signal propagation behavior and parameters within locations categorized under the same region. This paper aims to explore these assumptions by conducting an extensive radio propagation simulations of point-to-point microwave links with a clear line-of-sight in order to estimate the total path loss (attenuation), excess path loss, and flat fade margins for each of the locations within the M-regions, i.e., Kano, Sokoto, and Adamawa. Results obtained showed that in all the locations, the loss monotonically increases with distance, with Sokoto having the highest level of signal losses and fading, while, Adamawa has the lowest. The deviation for both total loss, excess loss, and flat fading margin was found to be between 15 dB across the region.
Using a landform evolution model to study ephemeral gullying in agricultural fields: the effects of rainfall patterns on ephemeral gully dynamics

Water driven soil erosion is a major cause of land degradation worldwide. Ephemeral gullies (EGs) are considered key contributors to agricultural catchment soil loss. Despite their importance, the parameters and drivers controlling EG dynamics have not been adequately quantified. Here we investigate the effects of rainfall characteristics on EGs, using the physically based landform evolution model (LEM) CAESAR‐Lisflood. An initial goal of this study was to test the feasibility of using a LEM to estimate EG dynamics based on an easily obtainable and moderate spatial resolution (2 × 2 m) Digital Elevation Model (DEM). EG evolution was simulated for two rainfall seasons in a 0.37 km2 agricultural plot situated in a semiarid catchment in central Israel. The 2014 rainfall season was used to calibrate the model and the 2015 season was used for validation. The model overall well predicted the EG network structure and average depth but tended to underestimate the EG length. The effects of rainfall characteristics on EG dynamics were investigated by comparing simulations employing seven rainfall scenarios. Four of these scenarios differ in their overall rainfall volume relative to observed precipitation (+20%, +10%, −10%, −20%). The remaining three scenarios vary in the temporal distribution of rainfall during each storm, allowing us to isolate the effect of rainfall intensity on EG evolution. The results show that: (1) EG dynamics strongly correlated with changes in rainfall volume; (2) small‐scale morphological behavior varies between rainfall scenarios, resulting in different meandering and connectivity variability; (3) EG evolution is divided into two main stages, an initial rapid development occurring after the first two weeks of the rainy season, followed by a stable development period; (4) a 12 mm h−1 intensity threshold was observed to initiate and, later, modify EGs; and (5) inner storm rainfall variability can have a considerable effect on EG evolution. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.