Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
ERCC1 and ERCC2 polymorphisms and risk of idiopathic azoospermia in a Chinese population

The ERCC1(excision repair cross complementation group 1) and ERCC2(excision repair cross complementation group 2) genes are important in repairing DNA damage and genomic instability in germ cells, and are essential for normal spermatogenesis. It has been verified that polymorphisms of these two genes could alter DNA repair capacity in some phenotypic studies. However, little information is available on these polymorphisms in male infertility. This study was designed to examine whether ERCC1 polymor- phisms 3 UTR(C8092A), Asn118Asn(G19007A) and ERCC2 polymorphisms Asp312Asn(G - A), Lys751Gln (A - C), which have been reported to contribute to some cancers, are associated with idiopathic azoospermia in the Chinese population. The four polymorphisms were genotyped using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism assay in a hospital-based case-control study, comprising 202 infertile patients with idiopathic azoospermia and 187 fertile controls. It was found that the ER- CC1 8092 CA + AA genotypes were significantly associated with an increased risk of idiopathic azoospermia(OR = 1.750, 95% CI = 1.170-2.618), while other polymorphisms appeared to show no significant differences between cases and controls. Further studies are needed to confirm the roles of these polymorphisms in idiopathic azoospermia.
Automated Saturation Mitigation Controlled by Deep Reinforcement Learning

Recent developments in orchestration and machine learning have made network automation more feasible, allowing the transition from error-prone and time-consuming manual manipulations to fast and refined automated responses in areas such as security and management. This article investigates the capabilities of a deep reinforcement learning agent to learn how to automatically share prefix announcements of an Autonomous System to its neighbors, in order to mitigate undesired network behaviors and therefore increase network resiliency and security. Our work focuses on network saturation, tackling the problem of network responsiveness in today’s massive content delivery context. Results not only prove feasibility of such an agent, but also demonstrate its ability to minimize traffic loss as well as the number of actions to be performed by the automation process.
A Compact Gradient Based Neural Network for Capon Spectral Estimation

This paper describes the use of a novel gradient based recurrent neural network to perform Capon spectral estimation. Nowadays, in the fastest algorithm proposed by Marple et al., the computational burden still remains significant in the calculation of the autoregressive (AR) Parameters. In this paper we propose to use a gradient based neural network to compute the AR parameters by solving the Yule-Walker equations. Furthermore, to reduce the complexity of the neural network architecture, the weights matrixinputs vector product is performed efficiently using the fast Fourier transform. Simulation results show that proposed neural network and its simplified architecture lead to the same results as the original method which prove the correctness of the proposed scheme.
The Impact Areas Questionnaire (IAQ)

Service evaluation is a professional requirement for music therapy practitioners and organisations. Yet service evaluation findings are rarely published within the professional literature, and there is limited documentation of the processes and methods of such evaluations, including the rationale, dilemmas, and challenges encountered. This is perhaps due to the perceived status, methodological weaknesses, and context-specificity of service evaluation work. Drawing on our engagement with service evaluation in diverse settings, we have become aware of its potential beyond its typical current uses in the field as well as of the need for open discussion and debate about the service evaluation tools that are available. This is where the aim of this paper lies: to introduce a service evaluation tool, the Impact Areas Questionnaire (IAQ), alongside the studies that led to its construction. Developed originally through a review of 27 individually designed service evaluation projects, this questionnaire contains a number of different impact areas. Adopting an ecological perspective, these areas refer to music therapy’s perceived impact not only on service users, but also on families/carers/friends, staff, and the organisational context in its entirety. Following its original development within Nordoff Robbins England and Wales, this questionnaire was tested in the context of Nordoff Robbins Scotland with the aim of exploring its applicability and transferability to other music therapy settings. In addition to presenting the findings of this testing, we discuss the potential use of the IAQ, which is included as an appendix to this article, in other settings and its relevance for knowledge and policy making in the field.
Acute-on-chronic liver failure: A predictor of poor prognosis in patients with variceal bleeding or a risk factor for variceal bleeding?

Received : Aug. 6, 2020 / Revised : Aug. 10, 2020 / Accepted : Aug. 10, 2020 Editor: Seung Up Kim, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Korea Acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) is a dangerous condition defined by organ failure and increased short-term mortality. Therefore, it is not surprising that ACLF is associated with higher mortality after variceal bleeding in cirrhotic patients. However, limited direct data are available regarding this issue. In this issue of Clinical and Molecular Hepatology, Shin et al. investigated whether the diagnosis of ACLF after variceal bleeding was associated with subsequent survival. The prevalence of ACLF was 13% among patients with acute deterioration of chronic liver disease following acute variceal bleeding. The overall survival of patients with ACLF was lower compared to those without ACLF, and a higher ACLF grade was related to lower overall survival. Recently, Trebicka et al. first reported that 17.8% of 2,138 patients with acute variceal bleeding had ACLF at admission, and that the presence of ACLF was independently related to rebleeding and mortality. Therefore, we assumed that 10–20% of cases involving acute variceal bleeding may experience ACLF at admission or during hospitalization, suggesting the need for careful evaluation of patients with variceal bleeding. The diagnosis of ACLF requires adequate management by physicians to reverse the clinical course. According to Shin et al., the 28-day cumulative mortality was as high as 41% in patients with variceal bleeding and ACLF, which indicates a very high risk of mortality in this group. However, the mortality of patients with variceal bleeding in case of decompensated cirrhosis might be higher than that in the former. In the study population of Shin et al., these patients were excluded. Therefore, we could not compare the mortality between the two groups. Based on a clinical perspective, it is sometimes difficult to differentiate ACLF from aggravation of decompensated cirrhosis. Although ACLF is defined by acute aggravation in patients with reversible liver function, the prognosis of ACLF grade 3 is poor and may be irreversible. In this study, patients with variceal bleeding and ACLF grade 3 showed very poor overall survival (<10% in 90 days). Therefore, liver transplantation is imperative in such cases similar to aggravated decompensated cirrhosis. Unfortunately, this study did not suggest the optimal treatment option for variceal bleeding in ACLF patients in their cohort due to Acute-on-chronic liver failure: A predictor of poor prognosis in patients with variceal bleeding or a risk factor for variceal bleeding?
Effect of different organic sources and biofertilizers on yield and quality production in mango cv. Alphonso

An investigation was conducted at Regional Fruit Research Station, Vengurla of Maharashtra, India during 2017-18 to standardize the organic nutrient with biofertilizers management protocol for mango. In this experiment, various organic sources along with various biofertilizers combinations were tested on thirty year old mango cultivar Alphonso to study the effect on fruiting and yield. The maximum number of fruits (52.00 fruits/tree) and while minimum yield (14.70 kg/tree) was recorded with T2 while minimum number of fruits (35.00 fruits/tree) and yield (9.40 kg/tree) with T1. High average weight of fruits (317.40 g) and minimum acidity (0.12%) was recorded with T7, while less average weight of fruit (263.63 g) and maximum acidity (0.23%) was recorded with T4. Based on the results, it may be concluded that application of FYM (50 kg/plant) + Azospirillum culture (250 g/tree) + PSB @ 250 g/tree was more remunerative in comparison to other treatments.
Examining the Significance of the Luzon W-growth Corridor to Agricultural Agglomeration and Labor Productivity

Economic corridors are transport routes that form a strategic access network for economic hubs to reinforce regional growth. Transport corridors ensure the decisive movement of people and goods. The Philippines made its initial corridor development efforts aimed at prioritizing local industries and trade activity within its geographical confines. The W-Growth corridor (LWGC) on the island of Luzon passes through the provinces in Central Luzon and extends to the CALABARZON region. This research established the significance of the institutionalization of LWGC on agricultural agglomeration and labor productivity by applying particular measurements for corridor utilization and effects. Annual data on production sectors per region were utilized for corridor monitoring and agriculture productivity were utilized for corridor evaluation. The structural form of the proposed economic models apprised endogeneity bias, so the Two-Stage Least Square procedure was applied. This procedure revealed non-incidence of regional agriculture agglomeration, but that competition for agriculture labor is evident. Trade activity was also found to boost both output and labor productivity in agriculture.
Combining Ability Analysis on Maize Inbred Lines

By using the thirteen inbred lines of maize,40crosses were made according to incomplete diallel crosses of8×5,twelve agronomic characters,such as the combining ability of grain yield etc.The result indicated that2321、212B、4H-1B3、5H-113and Y137had higher GCA.Y137×5H-113、Monxi×H3-1A、T123×5H-113、2321×212B and9921×5H-1A1etc.had higher SCA.Produced grain percentage etc.eight characters are mainly controlled by additive gene action.In maize breeding,mature period etc.eight characters of maize must be selected in early generation,and grain yield etc.four characters must be selected in later generation.
Sulfur Species, Bonding Environment, and Metal Mobilization in Mining-Impacted Lake Sediments: Column Experiments Replicating Seasonal Anoxia and Deposition of Algal Detritus

The oxidation state of sulfur [S] is a primary control on mobility of metals in sediments impacted by legacy mining practices. Coeur d’Alene Lake of northern Idaho, USA, has been impacted by upstream legacy mining practices that deposited an estimated 75 Mt of metal(loid)- and S-rich sediments into the lake. Future lake conditions are expected to include algal blooms, which may alter S and metal remobilization during the seasonal euxinic environment. Cores of the lake sediments were exposed to anoxic and anoxic + algal detritus conditions for eight weeks at 4.5 °C through introduction of a N2 atmosphere and addition of algal detritus. At a location 2.5 cm below the sediment-water interface, anoxic conditions promoted a shift in S species to continually larger concentrations of reduced species and an associated shift in the bonding environment reflective of increased S–metal bonds. Anoxic + algal detritus conditions suppressed the increasing trend of reduced S species and induced greater release of Mn compared to the anoxic-only conditions but did not appear to enhance the release of As, Cd, or Fe. The addition of algal detritus to the sediment-water interface of these Fe- and S-rich sediments enhanced mobilization of Mn likely because of dissimilatory metal reduction where the anaerobic oxidation of the algal detritus stimulated Mn reduction. Results of the study indicate that future metal release from the lake sediments will be altered with the likely deposition of algal detritus, but the effect may not enhance the release of acutely toxic metals, such as As or Cd, or substantially impact Fe cycling in the sediments.
Studies on the effect of foliar application of micronutrient mixture on quality attributing parameters of banana (Musa AAB) cv. Nendran

The aim of the experiment was to study the effect of foliar application of micronutrient mixture on quality attributing parameters of banana (Musa AAB) cv. Nendran. A field experiment was carried out at Regional Agricultural Research Station farm, Nileswar during the year 2015-16 employing randomized Block design having thirteen treatments replicated thrice such that four plants were maintained in each replication. Micro-nutrient mixture was foliar sprayed at 2, 4 and 6 month after planting. The quality attributing parameters of fruit in terms of titrable acidity, total soluble solids, pulp to peel ratio, reducing, non-reducing, total sugars, sugar / acid ratio, TSS / acid ratio and per cent loss in weight during ripening and keeping quality of the fruits at ambient condition were significantly improved with the foliar application of micronutrient mixture mostly at 1, 2 and 3 per cent mixture in three sprays. Lesser acidity indicates better quality and the lowest titrable acidity was recorded in T11 (3% micronutrient mixture as 3 sprays) whereas control T13 recorded the maximum acidity content of fruits. The highest TSS content (30.0 °brix) was found in T11 (3% micronutrient mixture as 3 sprays) whereas T12 (4% micronutrient mixture as 3 sprays) recorded highest pulp to peel ratio of 3.70. The highest total sugar content (21.3%) and reducing sugar content (19.0%) was recorded with T10 (2% micronutrient mixture as 3 sprays) and the highest non-reducing sugar content was recorded in T5 (1% micronutrient mixture as 2 sprays) whereas T11 (3% micronutrient mixture as 3 sprays) recorded the lowest non-reducing sugar content. Highest sugar / acid ratio and keeping quality of the fruits at ambient condition were found in T10 (2% micronutrient mixture as 3 sprays). T11 (3% micronutrient mixture as 3 sprays) was found to have highest TSS / acid ratio and minimum loss in weight of fruits during ripening.
Narcissism and Emotional Contagion: Do Narcissists ‘‘Catch’’ the Emotions of Others?

In this research, we investigated the association between narcissism and one central aspect of empathy, susceptibility to emotional contagion (the transfer of emotional states from one person to another). In a laboratory study (N1⁄4 101), we detected a negative link between narcissism and emotional contagion in response to experimentally induced positive affect. In an online study (N 1⁄4 195), narcissism was negatively linked to experimentally induced emotional contagion regardless of valence. These findings indicate that individuals with high narcissism levels are apparently less prone to emotional contagion than individuals lower in narcissism. Hence, narcissists are less likely to ‘‘catch the emotions’’ of others. Furthermore, by comparing experimental assessments of susceptibility to emotional contagion with subjective self-reports, we were able to study self-insight. Across both samples, self-insight was generally low, and individual differences in self-insight were unrelated to narcissism.
Morphological , anatomical and phytochemical characterization of Neanotis montholonii ( Hook . F . )

Neanotis montholonii (Hook F.) W.H. Lewis belongs to family Rubiaceae. Neanotis genus has been represented by ca. 10 species in Maharashtra state. The morphological, anatomical and phytochemical characteristics are pivotal in diagnostics taxa at taxonomic level. In the present investigation an attempt has been made to identify alkaloids, saponins and tannin by using histochemical tests of root, stem and leaf. The organoleptic character and stomatal index (23/mm area) were also recorded that aid in identification. Phytochemical study revealed the presence of active ingredients like alkaloids, flavonoids, glycosides, anthroquinones, amino acids, protein, saponins, steroids and tannins in all the parts those were subjected for analysis except starch that was absent in root. Among all four solvents viz. chloroform, ethanol, acetone and aqueous extract, ethanol showed positive tests in all plant parts. Histochemical and phytochemical information reveled in the present study can be used for developing standard parameters for the proper authentication of raw materials of pharmaceutical importance. The literature review reported that this study is the first of its kind in the Neanotis montholonii which is endemic to Maharashatra.
Caries Spine: A Comparative Study between Medical Management Alone with Combined Medical and Surgical Management

Objective: To compare short term outcome of combined surgical and medical management versus medical management alone in caries spine. Material and Methods: This study was conducted from August 2015 to August 2018, on 68 patients randomly divided into two groups of 34 each. All were diagnosed cases of Caries spine based on history, clinical examination, ESR and imaging appearances. Group A underwent surgical intervention along with AntiTuberculous Treatment (ATT) while Group B received medical treatment (ATT) alone. Outcome was assessed at six months by Frankel grading. Results: There were 37 (54.41%) males and 31 (45.59%) females with mean age of 34.84 ± 10.6 years. The thoracic spine was the commonest site in 33 (48.5%) patients, followed by lumbar in 20 (20.8%), dorso-lumbar in seven (10.3%) and cervical in four (5.88%) patients. The ESR fell from 85mm/hr to 24.46mm/hr in Group A and to 41.92mm/hr in Group B (p = 0.0124). Overall improvement in Frankel grade was seen in 25 (73.5%) patients in Group A and 12 (35.3%) in group B. In group A, improvement seen from grade A in two (8%), grade B in three (12%), grade C in 12(48%), Grade D in seven (28%) patients, (p = 0.000) while eight (23.5%) patients remained same and only one (2.5%) deteriorated from baseline neurological status. In Group B, 16 (47%) patients remained same and six (17.6%) deteriorated. Major complications encountered were respiratory infections in four (10%) and wound infection in two (5%) patients while none expired. Conclusion: Surgery combined with antituberculous therapy was found to be beneficial in patients suffering from caries spine and to be recommended to patients desiring rapid recovery.
The Influence of Atlantic Variability on Asian Summer Climate Is Sensitive to the Pattern of the Sea Surface Temperature Anomaly

We simulate the response of Asian summer climate to Atlantic multidecadal oscillation (AMO)-like sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies using an intermediate-complexity general circulation model (IGCM4). Experiments are performed with seven individual AMO SST anomalies obtained from CMIP5/PMIP3 global climate models as well as their multimodel mean, globally and over the North Atlantic Ocean only, for both the positive and negative phases of the AMO. During the positive (warm) AMO phase, a Rossby wave train propagates eastward, causing a high pressure and warm and dry surface anomalies over eastern China and Japan. During the negative (cool) phase of the AMO, the midlatitude Rossby wave train is less robust, but the model does simulate a warm and dry South Asian monsoon, associated with the movement of the intertropical convergence zone in the tropical Atlantic. The circulation response and associated temperature and precipitation anomalies are sensitive to the choice of AMO SST anomaly pattern. A comparison between global SST and North Atlantic SST perturbation experiments indicates that East Asian climate anomalies are forced from the North Atlantic region, whereas South Asian climate anomalies are more strongly affected by the AMO-related SST anomalies outside the North Atlantic region. Experiments conducted with different amplitudes of negative and positive AMO anomalies show that the temperature response is linear with respect to SST anomaly but the precipitation response is nonlinear.
Morphological versus molecular delimitation of ciliate species: a case study of the family Clevelandellidae (Protista, Ciliophora, Armophorea)

The endozoic ciliates of the family Clevelandellidae Kidder, 1938 typically inhabit the hindgut of wood-feeding panesthiine cockroaches. To assess the consistency of species delimitation in clevelandellids, we tested the utility of three sources of taxonomic data: morphometric measurements, cell geometrical information, and 18S rRNA gene sequences. The morphometric and geometrical data delimited the clevelandellid morphospecies consistently and unambiguously. However, only Paraclevelandia brevis Kidder, 1937 represented a homogenous taxon in both morphological and molecular analyses; the morphospecies Clevelandella constricta (Kidder, 1937) and C. hastula (Kidder, 1937) contained two or three distinct, more or less closely related genotypes each; and the genetic homogeneity of the morphospecies C. panesthiae (Kidder, 1937) and C. parapanesthiae (Kidder, 1937) was not corroborated by the 18S rRNA gene sequences at all. Moreover, the 18S rRNA gene phylogenies suggested the C. panesthiae -like morphotype to be the ancestral phenotype from which all other clevelandellid morphotypes arose. The only exception was the C. constricta -like morphotype, which very likely branched off before the diversification of the C. panesthiae -like progenitor. The present molecular analyses also suggested that a huge proportion of the clevelandellid diversity still waits to be discovered, since examination of only four panesthiine populations revealed 10 distinct clevelandellid genotypes/molecular species.
Composition and modification of the lung microbiome in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis

Recommended Citation Ruta, Victoria Maria; Alexescu, Teodora Gabriela; Ungur, Ana Rodica; Man, Milena Adina; Sfirlea, Victoria Georgiana; Pfingstgraf, Iulia Olimpia; Motoc, Nicoleta; and Pop, Carmen Monica (2020) "Composition and modification of the lung microbiome in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis," Journal of Mind and Medical Sciences: Vol. 7 : Iss. 2 , Article 6. DOI: 10.22543/7674.72. P162167 Available at: https://scholar.valpo. edu/jmms/vol7/iss2/6
EFFECT OF TILLAGE AND INTEGRATED NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT PRACTICES ON YIELD AND WATER USE EFFICIENCY OF WHEAT UNDER SUB-HUMID CONDITIONS

Conventional practices of farming in mountainous and hilly topographic features of Rawalakot Azad Kashmir-Pakistan accelerate runoff and erosion. To study effect of tillage and integrated nutrient management practices field study was conducted in 2009. Layout of experiment was split plot with four main plots of shallow (0-15 cm) and deep tillage (15-30 cm) with residues (wheat straw; 4 Mg ha -1 ) and without residues incorporation. Four tillage levels were: S (Shallow tillage), SR (Shallow tillage with residues; wheat straw @ 4 Mg ha -1 ), D (Deep tillage) and DR (Deep tillage with residues; wheat straw @ 4 Mg ha -1 ). Sub plots were having three fertilizer levels viz. F0 (control), F1 (Recommended rate of inorganic fertilizers at per hectare rate; 120 Kg N-90 Kg P2O5-60 Kg K2O) and F3 (application of farm yard manure (FYM @ 7692 kg ha -1 ) + 60 Kg N90 Kg P2O5-60 Kg K2O ha -1 ). Significantly (p ≤ 0.05) higher wheat grain yield of 2.9 kg ha -1 was obtained under D while wheat straw yield was statistically similar under all tillage practices. Fertilizer’s level F2 and F3 increased grain yield and straw yield compare to F0 but between F2 and F3 statistically no difference was observed. Statistically higher Water Use efficiency (WUE) was obtained for D (4.56 kg ha -1 mm -1 ) and lower with S (2.79 kg ha -1 mm -1 ). Among fertilizers levels F2 gave higher WUE (4.24 kg ha -1 mm 1 ) which is similar to F1 (3.78 kg ha -1 mm -1 ).