Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Lesioning of the Nucleus of the Hippocampal Commissure Followed by Food Deprivation Stress in Birds Demonstrates Simultaneous Involvement in both the Hypothalamo-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis and the Hypothalamo-Pituitary-Thyroid Axis

The hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis is the regulatory system for the neuroendocrine stress response within vertebrates. Within the HPA axis corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH) is a major regulator and driving hormone. A structure named the nucleus of the hippocampal commissure (NHpC) has been found to contain CRH neurons and also these neurons respond to early food deprivation stress significantly prior to the paraventricular nucleus (PVN), the major driving nucleus of the classic neuroendocrine HPA axis. The objective of this study was to perform a knock down of the NHpC via electrolytic lesioning, thus eliminating a significant portion of its population of CRH neurons. An experiment was designed to determine whether the elimination of CRH neurons within the NHpC would have a significant effect on HPA function following exposure of broiler chicks to food deprivation (FD). Male chicks (BW 300350g, 10-14 d) were used in this experiment and split into 3 groups: 1) Sham surgical controls without FD (SHAM), 2) Sham surgical birds with 2h FD stress (SHAM+FD), and 3) Birds subjected to electrolytic lesioning and 2h FD (LES+FD). Blood, brain and anterior pituitary (APit) were sampled promptly from each bird at 2h of FD for the LES+FD and SHAM+FD groups and intermittently for SHAM CON birds. RT-PCR was performed for gene expression within the NHpC, PVN and anterior pituitary (APit) and a radioimmunoassay was performed to determine plasma corticosterone (CORT) concentrations. All RT-PCR data were analyzed with the Tukey Kramer HSD test and all CORT data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA. Electrolytic lesioning of the NHpC significantly reduced plasma CORT in the LES+FD group compared to intact levels in the SHAM+FD group. Decreased CORT occurred concurrently with decreased amounts of CRH mRNA within the NHpC of the LES + FD group. Supporting this, Proopiomelanocortin heteronuclear RNA (POMC hnRNA) within the APit was significantly downregulated. Interestingly, PVN CRH levels were found to be significantly decreased in the LES+FD group of birds with no lesioning of the PVN itself. Results suggest a possible neural connection from the NHpC to the PVN exists, resulting in down regulation of CRH expression in the PVN. Corticotropin releasing hormone receptor 2 (CRHR2) was found to be significantly downregulated within the PVN and APit in the LES+FD group of birds. Thyroid stimulating hormone beta (TSHβ) was also downregulated along with CRHR2 in the PVN and APit suggesting that CRHR2 expression within the PVN could be an important part of the hypothalamo-pituitary-thyroid (HPT) axis. In conclusion, lesioning the NHpC had a significant effect on the HPA axis. CRH neurons within the NHpC and/or PVN had a significant effect on the HPA and/or HPT axes.
Impacts of Climatic Change on Reference Crop Evapotranspiration across Different Climatic Zones of Ningxia at Multi-Time Scales from 1957 to 2018

The impact of global climate change on agroecosystems is growing, affecting reference crop evapotranspiration (ET0) and subsequent agricultural water management. In this study, the climate factors temporal trends, the spatiotemporal variation, and the climate driving factors of ET0 at different time scales were evaluated across the Northern Yellow River Irrigation Area (NYR), Central Arid Zone (CAZ), and Southern Mountain Area (SMA) of Ningxia based on 20 climatic stations’ daily data from 1957 to 2018. The results showed that the Tmean (daily mean air temperature), Tmax (daily maximum air temperature), and Tmin (daily minimum air temperature) all had increased significantly over the past 62 years, whilst RH (relative humidity), U2 (wind speed at 2 m height), and SD (sunshine duration) had significantly decreasing trends across all climatic zones. At monthly scale, the ET0 was mainly concentrated from April to September. And at annual and seasonal scales, the overall increasing trends were more pronounced in NX, NYR, and SMA, while CAZ was the opposite. For the spatial distribution, ET0 presented a trend of rising first and then falling at all time scales. The abrupt change point for climatic factors and ET0 series was obtained at approximately 1990 across all climatic zones, and the ET0 had a long period of 25a and a short period of 10a at annual scale, while it was 15a and 5a at seasonal scale. RH and Tmax were the most sensitive climatic factors at the annual and seasonal scales, while the largest contribution rates were Tmax and SD. This study not only is important for the understanding of ET0 changes but also provides the preliminary and elementary reference for agriculture water management in Ningxia.
BBD: computer software for fitting the beta-binomial distribution to disease incidence data

A software program for DOS-based personal computers was developed to fit the beta-binomial distribution to the frequency of incidence of disease. The beta-binomial is a discrete distribution, which is appropriate for describing aggregated or clustered binary data such as incidence. Variance-ratio and C(α) tests are performed to determine if there is evidence that incidence is aggregated. The program then calculates distribution parameters and their standard errors using a maximum likelihood procedure, determines the expected values of the distribution, and calculates a chi-square goodness-of-fit test. For comparison purposes, the program fits the binomial distribution to the same data. The software and a detailed user's manual are available free from either author
Inequality and Poor Law Policy in Late Victorian England

This paper tests the relationship between inequality and the generosity of poor relief in England and Wales between 1860 and 1900. Poor relief served as the main form of social insurance at that time and, in contrast to modern day welfare programs, was provided by elected local governments. As a result, policy varied substantially across the country in terms of both the magnitude and nature of the support provided. The paper uses a new dataset of poor law policy at district level to analyze that variation, including information on the amount of spending and the type of support provided. The results show a strong negative relationship between wage inequality and the extent of conditionality—the insistence on relief being provided inside the workhouse—attached to poor relief. Inequality within the elite, in contrast, is associated with more conditionality and less generous welfare expenditure. Removing institutional advantages that benefited the elite does not appear to have reduced the effect of elite inequality, suggesting that the results are not explained by a classic median voter model. ∗Division of Social Science, New York University Abu Dhabi. I thank Samantha Myers for helpful comments. I also thank participants in seminars at Caltech, the University of Essex, and the Annual Meetings of the European Political Science Association and the Economic Business History Society. e-mail: jchapman@nyu.edu.
Cellular pathways to β‐cell replacement

In the twenty‐first century, diabetic patients are likely to be one of the major beneficiaries from the advancement of regenerative medicine through cellular therapies. Though the existence of a specific self‐renewing stem cell within the pancreas is still far from clear, a surprising variety of cells within the pancreas can differentiate towards a β‐cell phenotype: ductular cells, periductular mesenchymal cells and β‐cells themselves can all give rise to new β‐cells. Extra‐pancreatic adult somatic stem cells, in particular, those originating from bone marrow may also be capable of differentiating to β‐cells, though equally well the beneficial effects of bone marrow cells may reside in their contribution to the damaged islet vasculature. Forced expression of the β‐cell‐specific transcription factor Pdx1 in hepatocytes also holds promise as a therapeutic strategy to increase insulin levels in diabetic individuals. Embryonic stem (ES) cells are clearly another possible source for generating β‐cells, but ES cells are beyond the scope of this review, which focuses on adult stem and progenitor cells capable of producing β‐cells. Despite considerable endeavour, we still have much to learn in the field of pancreatic regeneration prior to any clinically applicable therapy based upon adult stem cells. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Line-Source Field Dripper for the Measurement of in situ Unsaturated Hydraulic Conductivity Function

A line-source field dripper method based on steadystate solution of water flow from line-source water flow geometry is proposed for measuring unsaturated hydraulic conductivity function of the soil. The saturated hydraulic conductivity values obtained by linesource method were lower than those obtained by point-source field dripper method of Wooding and higher than the values obtained by inverse auger hole, constant head permeameter and infiltrometer methods for cultivated recently tilled normal soil, cultivated untilled normal soil, cultivated recently tilled sodic soil and uncultivated untilled sodic soil. The method is more reliable as it covers large soil volume.
Effects of spironolactone and fludrocortisone on neuronal and glial toxicity induced by N-methyl-D-Aspartate and chloroquine in cell culture

Spironolactone has produced beneficial effects in animal models of neurodegenerative disorders. However, the underlying mechanisms of this agent on neurons and glia are mostly unknown. Therefore, we aimed to show the effects of spironolactone and fludrocortisone, a mineralocorticosteroid receptor agonist, on neuronal and glial toxicity induced by N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) activation and chloroquine, an autophagy inhibitor, in the cell culture. We exposed the SHSY5Y neuroblastoma and 1321N1 astrocytoma exposed to NMDA (25μM), or chloroquine (40μM) for 24 and 48h to induce neuronal and glial toxicity. Spironolactone (1, 10, and 20μM) or fludrocortisone (300nM) were also added to the cells for 24 and 48h. Cell survival was measured using the MTT assay. Neurons and astrocytes treated with NMDA and spironolactone (1, 10, and 20μM) for 24 and 48h had lower cell death compared with the NMDA-treated group. Moreover, cells treated with NMDA and fludrocortisone for 24 and 48h had higher viability in comparison to the NMDA-treated group. The neuronal cells treated with chloroquine and spironolactone (10 and 20μM) for 24h had higher cell viability compared with the chloroquine group. Chloroquine plus spironolactone (20μM) treatment for 24 and 48h increased cell viability of astrocytes compared with the chloroquine-treated group. Moreover, the treatment of neurons and astrocytes with chloroquine plus fludrocortisone for 24h decreased cell death. Spironolactone and fludrocortisone protected neurons and astrocytes against NMDAand chloroquineinduced toxicity. The mechanism of neuronal and glial protective effects of spironolactone possibly related to the inhibition of the mineralocorticosteroids. However, spironolactone might affect other non-mineralocorticoid systems. Conflicts of Interest: Declared None Funding: Shiraz University of Medical Science
Macroinvertebrate community structure and its seasonal variation in the Upper Mississippi River, USA: a case study

We surveyed benthic macroinvertebrates in the Upper Mississippi River near Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, USA (1350–1380 river km) using Hester-Dendy multiplate samplers as artificial substrates. Two study sites were sampled in multiple seasons at two depths over two years during the period from 2007 to 2009. We examined the patterns of seven community metrics summarizing richness levels and/or relative abundances of major community subsets. Richness metrics were driven by rare (occurring in less than 10% of the samples) taxa but overall densities and relative abundances of major groups reflected the presence of a few dominant taxa. Using analysis of variance, community metrics differed between study years or sampling depths only sporadically, but consistently differed among survey periods. Non-metric multidimensional scaling analysis indicated samples primarily clustered by survey period (within years) and sampling depth at one of our sites and by study year and survey period at the other site. A relatively small number of taxa were consistently abundant in our study, many of which have been reported as community dominants in other large river studies. Annual variability in assemblage composition generally reflected atypically high numbers of one or more of these persistent dominants, and was likely related to differences in hydrological conditions between years. Seasonal variability, however, was relatively consistent between years at both study sites.
Emission Tomography to Target Volume Delineation in Stereotactic Radiotherapy of Malignant Cranial Base Tumours: First Clinical Experience

Increased amino acid uptake has been demonstrated in intracerebral tumours and head and neck carcinomas of squamous cell origin. We investigated the potential impact of using 18F-fluoro-ethyl-tyrosine (18F-FET)-PET/CT in addition to conventional imaging for gross tumour volume (GTV) delineation in stereotactic radiotherapy of skull base tumours. The study population consisted of 14 consecutive patients with cranial base tumours (10 with squamous cell histology, 4 others). All patients underwent a FET-PET/CT examination in addition to contrast-enhanced CT and 11 patients underwent MRI. All tumours and histologic types showed increased FET uptake. The GTV was defined by all voxels showing hyperintensity in MRI or CT (GTVMRI/CT) or enhancement in PET (GTVPET), forming a GTVcomposite that was used for the initial treatment fields. An additional volume of infiltrative growth outside the GTVMRI/CT of about 1.0 ± 2 cm3 (5% of the conventional volume) was demonstrated by FET-PET only (GTVPETplus) with significant enlargement (>10% of GTVMRI/CT) in three patients. From existing data, we found correlation between cellular density and the standardized uptake value (SUV) of FET. We were able to substantially reduce the volume of escalated radiation dose (GTVboost) by 11 ± 2 cm3 (24%) of the conventional volume.
Survey of 185 Sperm Analyses of Fertile Men in an Infertility Service

This paper presents the results of the last spermiogram of 185 men who cousulted because of infertility and whose wives became pregnant by natural means. The mean lapse of time between the spermiogram and the last menstrual period was 4.5 months. Volume, sperm count, motility at 2, 4 and 24 h, morphology, fructose, acid phosphatase and semen culture are described. The results are compared with those of other publications.
Oxygen Consumption and Body Temperature of Female Little Brown Bats (Myotis lucifugus) under Simulated Roost Conditions

Oxygen consumption of freshly captured little brown bats (Myotis lucifugus) was monitored throughout the day- and night-roosting periods. The laboratory protocol simulated average roost conditions. The bats were allowed to cluster together inside a metabolic chamber made from a wooden beam; ambient temperatures were changed every 90 min and mimicked normal circadian changes measured inside an actual roost. Based on measured rates of oxygen consumption and data from the literature, daily energy expenditure of M. lucifugus in mid to late pregnancy was 32.58 kJ bat−1 day−1; energy costs during peak lactation were 49.11 kJ bat−1 day−1, or 50.7% greater than the cost of late pregnancy. There was no indication of daily torpor in pregnant, lactating, or postlactating bats; body temperature was apparently between 34 and 39 C throughout the roosting periods.
Long-Term Follow-Up of Cardiac Rhythm in 320 Patients After the Cox-Maze III Procedure for AtrialFibrillation

Background. The Cox-maze III (CM-III) procedure is the gold standard for surgical treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF). Excellent short-term results have been reported, but long-term outcomes are lesser known. The aim was to evaluate current cardiac rhythm in a nationwide cohort of CM-III patients with very long follow-up. Methods. Perioperative characteristics were retrospectively analyzed in 536 “cut-and-sew” CM-III patients operated on from 1994 to 2009 in 4 centers. Of these, 54 patients had died and 20 were unavailable at follow-up. The remaining 462 patients received a survey concerning arrhythmia symptoms, rhythm, and medication; of these, 320 patients (69%), comprising 252 men, with a mean age of 67 years (range, 47 to 87 years), and 83% with stand-alone CM-III, returned a current 12-lead electrocardiogram. Long-term monitoring was evaluated in 40 sinus rhythm patients. Postoperative stroke/transient ischemic attack was evaluated by register analysis. Results. Mean follow-up was 111 ± 44 months (range, 36–223 months). Electrocardiogram analysis showed sinus rhythm in 219 of 320 patients (68%), and regular
Morphological variation of Peridermium pini and Cronartium flaccidum aeciospores.

Morphological variation of germ tubes originating from aeciospores of Peridermium pini and Cronartium flaccidum populations on Pinus sylvestris was investigated in rust populations from Finland, the United Kingdom and Italy. The observed morphological variation was generally higher among than between these rust populations. The variation in germ tube length of the rust samples was high over the incubation period. Peridermium pini could not be distinguished from C. flaccidum based on its germ tube morphology.
Antimicrobial screening of selected medicinal plants in Tamilnadu, India

The present study deals with the antimicrobial activity of the aqueous, acetone and petroleum ether extracts of the leaves, stem and root of Andrographis ovata Clarke, Aristolochia indica L. , Eclipta prostrata L. and Gloriosa superba L. , using agar diffusion method against human pathogens, such as Escherichia coli, Proteus vulgaris, Psudeomonas aeruginosa and Klebsiella pneumoniae. In the present investigation, all the extracts were found to be effective against four human bacterial species, E. coli, P. vulgaris, P. aeruginosa and K. pneumoniae, sensitive to all the plant extracts. The study suggests that the extract of the plant parts possesses potential broad spectrum antimicrobial activity. The antimicrobial activity of acetone extracts was found to be higher than that of distilled water extracts. However, the root extract showed more inhibitory effect than the stem and leaf extracts.
Gender differences in Foundation Phase learners’ literacy achievements

In South Africa and internationally, numerous studies provide evidence of an incessant global pattern of boys’ underachievement in literacy relative to girls. These studies focus more on the Intermediate Phase (Grade 4 to 6) and have sparked substantial attention among researchers and policy makers but little is known about the gender gap in literacy achievement in the Foundation Phase (Grade 1 to 3) in South Africa. This study aims to determine educators’ views on gender differences in literacy achievement of South African Foundation Phase learners in selected primary schools. Thirteen Foundation Phase educators from five English medium primary schools in Port Shepstone, KwaZulu-Natal were interviewed. The results suggest that in the Foundation Phase girls significantly outperform boys on literacy tasks and that the most critical determinants of girls’ superiority in literacy achievement are greater motivation, higher levels of reading enjoyment, greater self-confidence, completion of homework, positive attitudes towards reading and writing, and greater effort and thought when writing. The findings of this study amplify the exigency for the improvement of boys’ literacy achievement in the early years of schooling.
Macro- and microelement contents of blue and red kernel corns

The role of special corns in human diets is increasing as a result of their favourable nutritional values. Little is known about mineral contents of different red and blue corns, although they may help to inhibit deficiency diseases mainly in the developing countries. During this study, mineral contents (15 elements) of 3 red and 9 blue corn varieties were examined with ICP-OES and ICP-MS. Highest contents of macroelements were as follows: P (3859.5±562.1 mg kg −1 ), K (4325.0±469.5 mg kg −1 ) and Mg (1450.0±104.6 mg kg −1 ) in the variety Black Mexican, S (1555.0±128.6 mg kg −1 ) in Santo Domingo Blue. In case of microelements, iron, zinc and selenium were highlighted. Except one genotype, iron contents were above 30 mg kg −1 . Blaumais, Hopi Turquoise and Hopi Blue contained more than 40 mg kg −1 (41.0–46.3), which were above values published in the literature (10.0 mg kg −1 in average). For zinc, we measured 15.2–31.5 mg kg −1 . Selenium contents (0.1–0.2 mg kg −1 ) were also higher than in the literat.
Increase in Spatial Spread of Extreme Warm Day Temperature Events: Regional to National Perspective for India (1951–2014)

This study analysed gridded temperature dataset for last six decades over India and its different agroclimatic zones to determine the changes in land area affected by extreme warm day temperatures. The results indicated an unequivocal increase in the area influenced by different levels of extreme warm days over the country; the rate was significantly higher during the last three decades. The increase in land area affected by extreme-of-extreme temperature events occurred at a higher rate compared to the lowfrequency extremes. Statistical tests indicated clear change in the probability distribution of the land area affected by extremes, signifying that comparatively high-frequency extremes are occurring over larger areas. The results showed regional dissimilarity, with five agro-climatic zones (ACZ-02, 09, 10, 11, 12) showing increase in land area under most levels of extremes, and three agro-climate zones (ACZ-08, 13, 14) showing increase in land area for a few extreme levels.
COVID-19 Pneumonia: An Emerging Cause of Syndrome of Inappropriate Antidiuretic Hormone

Syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone (SIADH) is the leading cause of hyponatremia. We, herein, report a case of a patient with coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) who developed sudden exertional dyspnea and hypoxia and was found to be hyponatremic. A diagnosis of SIADH was made due to COVID-19 pneumonia. The patient was managed conservatively with a significant improvement during the course of hospitalization and on follow-up.
IDENTIFICATION OF YEASTS ISOLATED FROM MUKUMBI, A ZIMBABWEAN TRADITIONAL WINE

The use and identity of microbes in traditional fermented beverages has attracted the interest of researchers and industrialists world-wide, probably due to their potential to reduce transmission of bacterial enteric pathogens, as well as improving their nutritional value. In the work done, yeasts were isolated from samples of Zimbabwean traditional wine, mukumbi, collected from rural households in Mberengwa, Zimbabwe. Isolates were enumerated, characterised, and identified using morphological, physiological, and biochemical properties of strains. Yeast counts ranged from 7.60 to 7.74 log colony forming units/ml of mukumbi. Saccharomyces cerevisiae (two isolates) were the predominant species identified in mukumbi. Other yeast species identified were Pichia anomala, Pichia guilliermondii, Candida tropicalis, and Candida intermedia. The study showed that the yeast flora in mukumbi is diverse. The occurrence of C. tropicalis, a known human pathogen, emphasised the need to develop a starter culture to produce safer and nutritious mukumbi.