Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Foliar fungal endophytes from two species of the mangrove Rhizophora

Endophytic fungi were isolated from leaves of Rhizophora apiculata Bl. and Rhizophora mucronata Lamk. , two typical mangrove plants growing in the Pichavaram mangrove of Tamil Nadu, Southern India. Three hundred leaf segments from each plant species were sampled during dry and rainy months. More endophytes could be isolated during the rainy months than during the dry period. Hyphomycetes and sterile forms were more prevalent than ascomycetes or coelomycetes. Sporormiella minima, Acremonium sp. strain MG1 and a sterile fungus (MG90) were isolated from both plants irrespective of the season. Some endophytes were common to both plants, although a few appeared to be host specific. This is the first report on fungal endophytes in leaves of mangrove plants in India.Key words: endophytic fungi, Rhizophora apiculata, Rhizophora mucronata, mangrove, leaves.
Roles of kininogen-1, basement membrane specific heparan sulfate proteoglycan core protein, and roundabout homolog 4 as potential urinary protein biomarkers in diabetic nephropathy

Diabetic nephropathy, a major complication of diabetes mellitus (DM), is increasing worldwide and the large majority of patients have type 2 DM. Microalbuminuria has been used as a diagnostic marker of diabetic nephropathy. But owing to its insufficient sensitivity and specificity, other biomarkers are being sought. In addition, the pathophysiology of diabetic nephropathy is not fully understood and declines in renal function occur even without microalbuminuria. In this study, we investigated urinary proteins from three study groups (controls, and type 2 diabetic subjects with or without microalbuminuria). Non-targeted label-free Nano-LC QTOF analysis was conducted to discover underlying mechanisms and protein networks, and targeted label-free Nano-LC QTOF with SWATH was performed to qualify discovered protein candidates. Twenty-eight proteins were identified as candidates and functionally analyzed via String DB, gene ontology and pathway analysis. Four predictive mechanisms were analyzed: i) response to stimulus, ii) platelet activation, signaling and aggregation, iii) ECM-receptor interaction, and iv) angiogenesis. These mechanisms can provoke kidney dysfunction in type 2 diabetic patients via endothelial cell damage and glomerulus structural alteration. Based on these analyses, three proteins (kininogen-1, basement membrane-specific heparan sulfate proteoglycan core protein, and roundabout homolog 4) were proposed for further study as potential biomarkers. Our findings provide insights that may improve methods for both prevention and diagnosis of diabetic nephropathy.
Effects of host density, host age, temperature and gamma irradiation on the mass production of Nesolynx thymus (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae), an endoparasitoid of Uzi fly, Exorista sorbillans (Diptera: Tachinidae)

Abstract The Uzifly, Exorista sorbillans Weidemann, is an endoparasitoid of the the silkworm moth, Bombyx mori L. , and can impact commercial sericulture. Effects of Uzifly age, density, temperature and gamma radiation (60Co) on the mass-production of the hyperparasitoid Nysolynx thymus (Girault) were investigated. There was a direct relationship between progeny production and an increase in number of host puparia presented, and a significant decline in the number of progeny with increased host-age. Maximum progeny production was obtained by maintaining a 1:5 to 1:8 parasitoid-to-host ratio for all the age groups. Two to 4-day-old host puparia were most suitable for obtaining the maximum progeny production of N. thymus for all the host-densities. The intrinsic rate of increase (r m day−1) increased with the increased host density for all the host-age groups. The values of net reproductive rate (R 0) and gross reproductive rate (GRR) increased for all the density levels and host age groups. On the other hand, the values for the doubling time (D) and finite capacity of increase (λ) gradually decreased with increased host density for all the host age groups. Host density and host-age significantly influenced the sex-ratio of progeny in N. thymus. Higher proportions of females were observed at higher host density levels and for younger host age groups. The progeny production and sex ratio of the parasitoid varied significantly with temperature. The maximum mean number of progeny was recorded at 25°C, while the minimum was at 30°C. The trend of progeny production at different temperatures was on the order 25 > 20 > 30°C. The highest values for the net reproductive rate (R 0) and GRR for the progeny production were recorded at 25°C compared to 20 and 30°C. Both the values for doubling time of capacity (D) and finite capacity (λ) increased with the trend of 25, 30 and 20°C. The highest value for the intrinsic rate of increase (r m day−1) of progeny production was recorded at 25°C, while the lowest value was at 20°C. The sex-ratios were always female-biased at all the temperatures. Temperature had a significant effect on the longevity of adult N. thymus. The longevity of the adults decreased with an increase of temperature for both sexes. The highest rate of parasitism was observed at 20°C followed by 25 and 30°C. More than 95% parasitism was observed at all temperatures. Gamma irradiation significantly increased the progeny production of N. thymus when reared either on early or late irradiated host puparia, particularly in the parental generation, but irradiated early host pupae were more suitable for mass production of N. thymus than the irradiated late pupae. The sex ratio of parasitoids developing from gamma irradiated host pupae varied significantly. Higher proportions of females were observed for all the dose and host-age groups.
EFFECTIVENESS OF INSTRUMENT ASSISTED SOFT TISSUE MOBILIZATION ON PAIN AND FUNCTIONAL DISABILITY IN SUBJECTS WITH PATELLOFEMORAL PAIN SYNDROME

The research study findings have indicated that Patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS) is a condition characterized by aching pain in the peripatellar area. The instrument assisted soft tissue mobilization shown significant effects on improvement of pain and functional disability. It was evaluated in 40 subjects classified into two groups(20 subjects per each group) . The subjects in Study Group received IASTM techniques with conventional exercise for four week and Control group received only conventional exercise for four week and total duration of study was done for six months. Results show that the greater percentage of improvement was found in following instrument assisted soft tissue mobilization compared with conventional exercises.
Control of Early Watergrass (Echinochloa Oryzoides) and Late Watergrass (Echinochloa Phyllopogon) with Cyhalofop, Clefoxydim, and Penoxsulam Applied Alone and in Mixture with Broadleaf Herbicides1

Experiments were conducted to study the effect of application rate, growth stage, and tank-mixing azimsulfuron or bentazon on the activity of cyhalofop, clefoxydim, and penoxsulam against two morphologically distinct Echinochloa species from rice fields in Greece. Mixtures of penoxsulam with MCPA were also evaluated. Cyhalofop (300 to 600 g ai/ha) applied at the three- to four-leaf growth stage provided 62 to 85% control of early watergrass but 41 to 83% control of late watergrass averaged over mixture treatments. Control ranged from 37 to 80% for early watergrass and from 35 to 78% for late watergrass when cyhalofop was applied at the five- to six-leaf growth stage averaged over mixture treatments. Mixtures of cyhalofop with azimsulfuron or bentazon reduced efficacy on both species irrespective of growth stage or cyhalofop application rate compared with cyhalofop alone. Clefoxydim (100 to 250 g ai/ha) applied alone at the three- to four-leaf growth stage provided 98 to 100% control of early watergrass and 91 to 100% control of late watergrass; when clefoxydim was applied alone at the five- to six-leaf growth stage the control obtained was 91 to 100% for early watergrass and 79 to 100% for late watergrass. Mixtures of clefoxydim with azimsulfuron or bentazon reduced efficacy on late watergrass at the early growth stage and on both species at the late growth stage. Penoxsulam (20 to 40 g ai/ha) applied alone provided 94 to 100% control of both species at both growth stages. Mixtures of MCPA with penoxsulam reduced efficacy on late watergrass at the early growth stage and on both species at the late growth stage. Mixtures of penoxsulam with azimsulfuron or bentazon reduced efficacy only on late watergrass at the late growth stage. Nomenclature: Azimsulfuron, bentazon, clefoxydim (BAS 625H), cyhalofop, penoxsulam (DE-638), early watergrass, Echinochloa oryzoides (Ard.) Fritsch. #3 ECHOR, late watergrass, Echinochloa phyllopogon (Stapf.) Koss. # ECHPH. Additional index words: Antagonism, herbicide interactions, mixtures. Abbreviations: DAT, days after treatment.
Together, yet still not equal? Women and sex integration in equestrian sport.

Sex-segregation is a core organising principle of most modern sports and is a key element in the marginalisation and subordination of girls and women in sport and beyond. In this article I explore the only Olympic-level sport which is not organised around sex-segregation – equestrian sport – in order to consider the implications of sex-integration for female participants. I draw on a study conducted with elite riders that found that, although sex-integration in equestrian sport does not lead to female participants being excluded from high-level competition, men continue to perform disproportionately well. This suggests that although sex-integration may be an important step towards breaking down gender hierarchies in sport, without accompanying wider changes in gender norms and expectations, sex-integration alone will not be enough to achieve greater gender equality in equestrian sport.
Prediction of Genotypic Values for Apple Fruit Texture Traits in a Breeding Population Derived from ‘Honeycrisp’

The commercially successful apple (Malus pumila Mill.) cultivar Honeycrisp is known for its high degrees of crispness and juiciness. This cultivar has been incorporated into numerous breeding programs in an effort to duplicate its desirable texture traits in conjunction with such other traits as reduced postharvest disorders, disease resistance, and improved tree vigor. This study characterizes variability and estimates heritability for several apple fruit texture traits within a large breeding population over several years. Five full-sib families, all sharing 'Honeycrisp' as a common parent, were assayed with respect to crispness, firmness, and juiciness using sensory evaluation panels and total work required to fracture tissue using instrumental methods. The incomplete block design of the sensory panels, coupled with best linear unbiased prediction, facilitated the evaluation of a large number of genotypes with small numbers of fruit per genotype while accounting for individual sensory panelist effects. Broad-sense heritability estimates exceeded 0.70 for all four traits. Principal component analysis, applied to the phenotypic data, characterized 'Honeycrisp' as having average crispness and low firmness (53rd percentile relative to its offspring) but also as being a relatively extreme example of high juiciness and low work to fracture (first percentile). The improved characterization of desired fruit texture phenotypes and the high levels of broad-sense heritability provide valuable tools for the further development of new, high-quality apple cultivars.
Estimação bayesiana de componentes de (co)variância de características ponderais na raça tabapuã

Among the features of interest to the animal breeding, that can be measured repeatedly throughout an individual's life, are among other, growth characteristics, which are characteristic features called longitudinal or repeated. It was used 8193 Tabapua breed records of animal weight raised in 25 farms distributed in the states of Bahia, Alagoas, Sergipe, Minas Gerais and Sao Paulo and born between the years of 1975 and 2001. Aiming to estimate the (co) variance and genetic parameters for weights at 120 (W120), 365 (W365), 450 (W450) e 550 (W550) days old. Variance components were estimated in a Bayesian context considering a multi-trait animal model with fixed effects for contemporary groups and ages of the mother and the animal. The random effects were considered direct genetic and maternal and maternal permanent environment and error. The effects mothers were included in the model only for W120 and W365. The direct heritability were 0.31, 0.38, 0.33 and 0.29 for W120, W365, W450 and W550, respectively. The fractions of genetic and maternal permanent environment effects on phenotypic variances were 0.06 and 0.01, 0.03 and 0.01 for W120 and W365.
Influence Of School Supervision Strategies On Teachers’ Job Performance In Senior Secondary Schools In Rivers State

The study examined Influence of School Supervision Strategies on Teachers’ Job Performance in Senior Secondary Schools in Rivers State. The study adopted descriptive survey design. Four research questions and four hypotheses were drawn for the study. The population consists of 7425 teachers and 268 principals. The sample size for the study was 569 respondents selected using Taro Yemen. The instrument was titled, Supervision Strategies and Teachers’ Job Performance Questionnaire (SSTJPQ). A seventeen (17) structured items was designed on a 4-point scale of :Very High Extent (VHE), High Extent (HE), Very Low Extent (VLE), Low Extent (LE). Reliability coefficients yielded the results of 0.91, 0.68, 0.80, 0.85 and 0.88 respectively. Thus, 569 copies of the questionnaire were distributed and 440 copies retrieved. Specifically, mean scores were used to answer the research questions while Z-test was used to test the hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. Findings indicated both teachers and principals perceived that classroom visitation and demonstration as supervision strategies contributes to a very high extent to teachers’ job performance. The study also found that there was no significant difference in the mean responses of teachers and principals on the extent by which classroom visitation and demonstration as supervision strategies that influence teachers’ job performance in the study area. Based on the results, it was recommended that post primary school management board should always sensitize supervisors on certain criteria of carrying out supervision for the realization of the basic objectives as well as assisting teachers to improve their teaching skills.
An ultrastructural survey of the diversity of crystalline, proteinaceous inclusions in red algal cells

Abstract Light and electron microscopy demonstrated the presence of crystalline cellular inclusions in specimens of 18 species of red algae distributed among 11 orders. Structures, crystalline in outline or in substructure, were membrane-bounded or free in the cytoplasm. Crystals in the central vacuole may result from relocation after disruption of the vacuolar membrane. In addition to differing in sub-cellular location, the crystals varied in morphology, periodicity of substructure, location in the thallus, presence of a carbohydrate component, and possibly in their mode of crystallization. The diversity of morphology and substructure raises the possibility that crystals may have value in systematics. Two species of Palmaria were distinguishable on the basis of crystal morphology. However, in other genera different crystal morphologies were present in the same thallus, and sometimes even the same cell. Seasonal variation in thallus chemical composition may be attributed in part to protein stored ascrysta.
Differences in songflight calls and social calls between two phonic types of the vespertilionid bat Pipistrellus pipistrellus

The pipistrelle (Pipistrellus pipistrellus) occurs as two phonic types in Britain, its echolocation calls falling into two distinct frequency bands, with mean frequencies of maximum energy at 55 kHz and 46 kHz. These are termed the 55 kHz and 45 kHz phonic types here for simplicity. Songflight calls produced by males in the mating season, probably to attract females, differed between the two phonic types in the number of components in the calls and the call parameters measured. Songflight calls of the 55 kHz phonic type, which generally consisted of three components, were of higher frequencies than those of the 45 kHz phonic type, usually of four components. There were also significant differences in call parameters among individuals. A discriminant analysis of songflight calls classified 100% of individuals to the correct phonic type. The relationships between echolocation call frequency and songflight call frequency differed significantly between phonic types. Social calls produced during flight also differed between phonic types, in the number of components and call parameters measured. Social calls were compared to songflight calls of each phonic type. Social calls of the 55 kHz phonic type did not differ significantly from songflight calls; there were small but significant differences between the two types of calls of the 45 kHz phonic type. The study provides support for the hypothesis that the phonic types should be treated as sibling species. If songflight calls are used for mate choice, the differences may allow reproductive isolation between the two phonic types. The functions of songflight calls and social calls need to be investigated through experimental studies to explain the implications of the differences between phonic types.
Finding Rare Disease Patients in EHR Databases via Lightly-Supervised Learning

There is considerable interest in developing computational models capable of detecting rare disease patients in population-scale databases such as electronic health records (EHRs). Deriving these models is challenging for several reasons, perhaps the most daunting being the limited number of already-diagnosed, 'labeled' patients from which to learn. We overcome this obstacle with a novel lightly-supervised algorithm that leverages unlabeled and/or unreliably-labeled patient data - which is typically plentiful - to facilitate model induction. Importantly, we prove the algorithm is safe: adding unlabeled/unreliably-labeled data to the learning procedure produces models which are usually more accurate, and guaranteed never to be less accurate, than models learned from reliably-labeled data alone. The proposed method is shown to substantially outperform state-of-the-art models in patient-finding experiments involving two different rare diseases and a country-scale EHR database. Additionally, we demonstrate feasibility of transforming high-performance models generated through light supervision into simpler models which, while still accurate, are readily-interpretable by non-experts.
The relative power of individual distancing efforts and public policies to curb the COVID-19 epidemics

Lockdown curbs the COVID-19 epidemics but at huge costs. Public debates question its impact ompared with reliance on individual responsibility. We aim at understanding how rationally chosen self-protective behavior impacts the spread of the epidemics. We want to, first, assess the value of lockdown compared to a counterfactual that incorporates self-protection efforts under unknown disease prevalence; and second, assess how individual behavior modify the epidemic dynamics when mandatory policies are relaxed. We couple an SLIAR model, that includes asymptomatic transmission, with utility maximization: Individuals trade off economic and wellbeing costs from physical distancing with a lower infection risk. Effort depends on risk aversion, perceptions, and the value of contacts. In a Nash equilibrium, individual uncoordinated efforts yield average contact intensity, which drives epidemic transmission. Equilibrium effort differs markedly from constant, stochastic or proportional contacts reduction. It adjusts to reported cases in a way that creates a slightly decreasing plateau in epidemic prevalence. Calibration on French data shows that the number of deaths with no lockdown but equilibrium efforts is only 1/6 to 1/10 of the number predicted with business-as-usual. However, lockdown saves at least 50% more lives than individual efforts alone. Prolonged weaker restrictions prevent an exponential rebound. Public policies post-lockdown have a limited impact as they partly crowd out individual efforts. Compulsory mask wearing helps resume activity but has no impact on the epidemic. Communication that increases risk salience is more effective.
Community prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in England: Results from the ONS Coronavirus Infection Survey Pilot

Objective: To estimate the percentage of individuals infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) over time in the community in England and to quantify risk factors. Design: Repeated cross-sectional surveys of population-representative households with longitudinal follow-up if consent given. Setting: England. Participants: 34,992 Individuals aged 2 years and over from 16,722 private residential households. Data were collected in a pilot phase of the survey between 26 April and 28 June 2020. Main outcome measures: Percentage of individuals in the community testing positive for SARS-CoV-2 RNA using throat and nose swabs. Individuals were asked about any symptoms and potential risk factors. Results: The percentage of people in private-residential households testing positive for SARS-CoV-2 reduced from 0.32% (95% credible interval (CrI) 0.19% to 0.52%) on 26 April to 0.08% (95% CrI 0.05% to 0.12%) on 28 June, although the prevalence stabilised near the end of the pilot. Factors associated with an increased risk of testing positive included having a job with direct patient contact (relative exposure (RE) 4.06, 95% CrI 2.42 to 6.77)), working outside the home (RE 2.49, 95% CrI 1.39 to 4.45), and having had contact with a hospital (RE 2.20, 95% CrI 1.09 to 4.16 for having been to a hospital individually and RE 1.95, 95% CrI 0.81 to 4.09 for a household member having been to a hospital). In 133 visits where individuals tested positive, 82 (61%, 95% CrI 53% to 69%) reported no symptoms, stably over time. Conclusion: The percentage of SARS-CoV-2 positive individuals declined between 26 April and 28 June 2020. Positive tests commonly occurred without symptoms being reported. Working outside your home was an important risk factor, indicating that continued monitoring for SARS-CoV-2 in the community will be essential for early detection of increases in infections following return to work and other relaxations of control measures.