Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Inhibitory Effects of Ammoniacal Nitrogen on Growth of Radish Plants. II. Investigation on the Possible Causes of Ammonium Toxicity to Radish Plants and Its Reversal by Nitrate1

The effects of NH4+ on several physiological and biochemical parameters of radish (Raphanus sativus L.) were determined. Photosynthetic CO2 fixation rates of radish plants cultured with NH4+ as the source of N were about 50% of those with NO3− but dark respiration rates were the same. Plants grown with NO3− fixed at least twice as much, 14CO2 in vitro into acid stable products using ribulose-1, 5-bisphosphate, ribose 5-phosphate, 3-phosphoglyceric acid and phosphoenolpyruvic acid as substrates. This suggests that CO2 fixation both in light and darkness was decreased by NH4+ nutrition. Chlorophyll and total soluble protein concentration of plants, cultured with NH4+ as the source of N, were about 33% and 70%, respectively, of those cultured with NO3−. In vitro activities of glutamate dehydrogenase and isocitrate dehydrogenase were higher and lower, respectively, in plants cultured with NH4+ over those with NO3. Results indicate that NH4+ toxicity in radish plants is closely related to inhibition of photosynthesis. Evidence is presented suggesting that NO3− facilitated NH4+ assimilation in radish plants.
Lipoid proteinosis: Novel ECM1 pathogenic variants and intrafamilial variability in four unrelated Arab families

Lipoid proteinosis (LP) is a rare autosomal recessive multisystem disorder that is caused by loss‐of‐function pathogenic variants in the extracellular matrix protein‐1 (ECM1) gene. The typical clinical manifestations of LP include hoarseness of voice, beaded papules on the eyelids, infiltration and scarring of the skin and mucosa, as well as neuropsychological abnormalities. Currently, more than 70 pathogenic variants have been reported, including nonsense, missense, splice site, deletion and insertion pathogenic variants, and more than half of them occurred in exons 6 and 7.
Influence of 12 Ground Cover Systems on Young ‘Smoothee Golden Delicious’ Apple Trees: I. Growth

Two-year-old ‘Smoothee Golden Delicious’ apples (Malus domestica Borkh.) on seedling rootstock were planted in Spring 1981. Twelve different ground cover systems were then established. After one growing season, trees in mulch, bare ground, red sorrel (Rumex acetosella L.), and nimblewill (Mulenbergia schreberii J. F. Gmel.) treatments had greater shoot length than trees in legume, tall broadleaf, Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.), orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.), and ‘KY31’ tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea L.) treatments. In the 4th year, the trunk diameter of trees in straw mulch plots were greater than all other treatments. Tree growth in bare ground and cultivation treatments was not different over the 4 years and was as great or greater than in treatments with living ground covers. Trees in tall broadleaf, Kentucky bluegrass, orchardgrass, and tall fescue treatments were smaller than in all other treatments. Nimblewill, a native species to North Carolina mountains, has potential for replacing Kentucky bluegrass, orchardgrass, and tall fescue in orchard soil management systems.
Pollination and Pollen Tube Growth in Relation to Cranberry Fruit Development

Pollination and pollen tube growth were evaluated in two years as potential factors suppressing cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon Ait.) fruit set. Supplementing insect pollination with hand pollination increased fruit set from ≈30% to ≈38% in both years. The number of flowers per unit area was an important contributor to fruit set variation in one year. Cranberry uprights exhibited a temporal decline in fruit set when flowers were pollinated sequentially; the first flowers to open had a higher probability of fruit development than flowers opening later. Examination of stigmas indicated flowers receiving low amounts of pollen (<10 tetrads), or pollen that fails to germinate, are more likely to abort. An inadequate number of pollen tubes and lack of subsequent fertilization provides a partial explanation of fruit abortion in cranberry. Cranberry fruit set under existing field conditions appears to be limited, in part by insufficient pollination and pollen tube growth, with the latter apparently the result of intraplant competition for resources. Providing supplemental hand pollination increased cranberry yields in both years, 48% over natural insect pollination when the number of flowering uprights per unit area was high (≈3000/m2). A significant amount of yield variation was explained by the number of flowering uprights per unit area in both years.
Ethnic inequalities in age-related patterns of multiple long-term conditions in England: analysis of primary care and nationally representative survey data

Background Having multiple long-term conditions has been associated with a higher treatment burden, reduced quality of life and a higher risk of mortality. Epidemiological evidence suggests that people from minoritised ethnic groups have a higher prevalence of multiple long-term conditions (MLTCs) but questions remain regarding the patterning of MLTCs by age, how this varies for different ethnic group populations, and across conceptualisations of MLTCs (for example, MLTCs with and without mental health conditions). The aim of this study is to examine ethnic inequalities in age-related patterns of MLTCs, and combinations of physical and mental health conditions. Methods We analysed data from the English GP Patient Survey (GPPS) 2015-2017, and Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD) Aurum from 2016, to give us insight into self-reported and primary care recorded long-term conditions in people aged 18 years and above. We described the association between two or more long-term conditions and age using multilevel regression models adjusting for sex and area-level deprivation with patients nested within GP practices. Similar analyses were repeated for MLTCs that included a mental health condition. Findings For both self-reported and primary care recorded LTCs, people from most minoritised ethnic groups had a lower prevalence of MLTCs at younger ages compared to their white counterparts. We observed ethnic inequalities from middle age onwards such that in later life, Pakistani, Indian, Black Caribbean and people of Other ethnicity were at an increased risk of having MLTCs compared to white British people. These trends remained after adjusting for area-level deprivation. Compared to white British people, Gypsy and Irish Travellers had higher levels of MLTCs across the age groups, and Chinese people had lower levels. Pakistani and Bangladeshi people aged 50-74 years were more likely than white British people to report two or more LTCs that included a mental health condition. People from other minoritised ethnic groups were less likely to report this compared to white British people. Conclusion We find clear evidence of ethnic inequalities in MLTCs. It is imperative for health systems to recognise and respond to the higher prevalence of MLTCs that develop by middle age for many minoritised ethnic group people. The lower prevalence of MLTCs that include a mental health condition among some minoritised ethnic group people may be an underestimation due to underdiagnosis and/or inadequate care in primary care and requires further scrutiny.
The association between cognitive ability and body mass index: A sibling-comparison analysis in four longitudinal studies

Background: Body mass index (BMI) and obesity rates have increased sharply since the 1980s. While multiple epidemiologic studies have found higher adolescent cognitive ability is associated with lower adult BMI, residual and unobserved confounding due to family background may explain these associations. We used a sibling design to test this association accounting for confounding factors shared within households. Methods: We used data from four cohort studies: the National Longitudinal Study of Youth 1979 (NLSY-79), the NLSY-79 Children and Young Adult, the NLSY 1997 (NLSY-97) and the Wisconsin Longitudinal Study (WLS); a total of 12,250 siblings from 5,602 households. We used random effects within-between (REWB) and residualized quantile regression (RQR) models to compare between- and within-family estimates of the association between adolescent cognitive ability and adult BMI (20-64 years). Results: In REWB models, moving from 0th to 100th percentile of adolescent cognitive ability was associated with -1.89 kg/m2 (95% CI = -2.41, -1.37) lower BMI between families. Adjusting for family socioeconomic position reduced the association to -1.23 (-1.79, -0.66) points. However, within families the association was just -0.13 (-0.70, 0.45) points. This pattern of results was found across multiple specifications, including analyses conducted in each separate cohorts, models examining age-differences in association, and in RQR models examining the association across the distribution of BMI. Conclusion: The association between high adolescent cognitive ability and low adult BMI was substantially smaller in within-family compared with between-family analysis. The well-replicated associations between cognitive ability and subsequent BMI may largely reflect confounding by family background factors.
COVID-19 rebound after Paxlovid treatment during Omicron BA.5 vs BA.2.12.1 subvariant predominance period

Paxlovid was authorized by FDA to treat mild-to-moderate COVID-19. In May 2022, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a Health Alert Network Health Advisory on potential COVID-19 rebound after Paxlovid treatment. Since June 2022, Omicron BA.5 has become the dominant subvariant in the US, which is more resistant to neutralizing antibodies than the previous subvariant BA.2. 12.1. Questions remain as to how COVID-19 rebound after Paxlovid treatment differs between the BA.5 and BA.2. 12.1 subvariants. This is a retrospective cohort study of 15,913 patients who contracted COVID-19 between 5/8/2022-7/18/2022 and were prescribed Paxlovid within 5 days of their COVID-19 infection. The study population was divided into 2 cohorts: (1) BA.5 cohort (n=5,161) that comprised patients who contracted COVID-19 during 6/19/22-7/18/22 when BA.5 was the predominant subvariant2. (2) BA.2. 12.1 cohort (n=10,752) that comprised patients who contracted COVID-19 during 5/8/22-6/18/22 when the BA.2. 12.1 was the predominant subvariant. The risks of both COVID-19 rebound infections and symptoms 2-8 days after Paxlovid treatment were higher in the BA.5 cohort than in the propensity-score matched BA.2. 12.1 cohort: rebound infections (Hazard Ratio or HR: 1.32, 95% CI: 1.06-1.66), rebound symptoms (HR: 1.32, 95% CI: 1.04-1.68). As SARS-CoV-2 evolves with successive subvariants more evasive to antibodies, continuous vigilant monitoring is necessary for COVID-19 rebounds after Paxlovid treatment and longer time duration of Paxlovid treatment warrants evaluation.
Comment on ‘Egypt’s water budget deficit and suggested mitigation policies for the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam filling scenarios’

In their recent paper in ERL, ‘Egypt’s water budget deficit and suggested mitigation policies for the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) filling scenarios,’ Heggy et al (2021 Environ. Res. Lett. 16 074022) paint an alarming picture of the water deficits and economic impacts for Egypt that will occur as a consequence of the filling of the GERD. Their median estimate is that filling the GERD will result in a water deficit in Egypt of ∼31 billion m3 yr−1. They estimate that under a rapid filling of the GERD over 3 yr, the Egyptian economy would lose US$51 billion and 4.74 million jobs, such that in 2024, Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita would be 6% lower than under a counterfactual without the GERD. These and other numbers in Heggy et al (2021 Environ. Res. Lett. 16 074022) article are inconsistent with the best scientific and economic knowledge of the Nile Basin and are not a dependable source of information for policy-makers or the general public. In this response to Heggy et al (2021 Environ. Res. Lett. 16 074022) we draw on high quality peer-reviewed literature and appropriate modeling methods to identify and analyze many flaws in their article, which include (a) not accounting for the current storage level in the High Aswan Dam reservoir (b) inappropriately using a mass-balance approach that does not account for the Nile’s hydrology or how water is managed in Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia; (c) extreme and unfounded assumptions of reservoir seepage losses from the GERD; and (d) calculations of the economic implications for Egypt during the period of reservoir filling which are based on unfounded assumptions. In contrast to Heggy et al (2021 Environ. Res. Lett. 16 074022), robust scientific analysis has demonstrated that, whilst there is a risk of water shortages in Egypt if a severe drought were to occur at the same time as the GERD reservoir is filling, there is minimal risk of additional water shortages in Egypt during the filling period if flows in the Blue Nile are normal or above average. Moreover, the residual risks could be mitigated by effective and collaborative water management, should a drought occur.
A consistently efficient and accurate higher order shear deformation theory based finite element to model extension mode piezoelectric smart beams

The accuracy and efficiency of the conventional higher order shear deformation theory based piezoelectric beam finite elements are shown to be affected by the geometric and material parameters of piezoelectric smart beams. The accuracy is affected by the induced potential effects and the efficiency is affected by asymmetric distribution of material over the beam cross-section. In this work, a novel higher order shear deformation theory based extension mode piezoelectric beam finite element is proposed, which consistently maintains the same level of accuracy and efficiency over a wide range of applicable material properties and geometric configurations of the beam. A consistent higher order through-thickness electric potential distribution, obtained from the electrostatic equilibrium equation is used in the variational formulation to derive the governing equations. These equations are solved to establish relationships between the field variables. Starting with assumed polynomials for the transverse displacement and a layerwise electric potential, coupled polynomial expressions for axial displacement and section rotation are derived using these relations. The set of coupled shape functions obtained using these polynomials accommodates the bending–extension, bending–shear and induced potential couplings in a variationally consistent manner, at the field interpolation level itself, and is shown to improve the performance of the proposed element. Moreover, the number of mechanical degrees of freedom per node is reduced from four (for the conventional higher order shear deformation theory beam elements) to three for the present higher order shear deformation theory beam element, without affecting the applicability.
An analysis and design of fresh milk smart grading system based on internet of things

The grading of fresh milk affects the quality classification in the dairy industry. This study aims to analyze and design a smart grading system using machine learning models to classify the grade of fresh milk. Business process analysis helped understand the capturing steps as the main elements, such as the smart grading system. The result of the requirement analysis showed how smart the grading system involved stakeholders. The machine learning model can help the Internet of Things system classify goods or services. Artificial Neural Network and K-means were designed to classify and group indicators of fresh milk quality. The variables used in this study consisted of pH, temperature, odour, turbidity, colour, fat, and taste values. The data were taken from the upstream dairy industry SAE Pujon. The classification result of fresh milk grades using ANN consisted of three low, medium, and high grades. The accuracy value of the classification obtained is 98.74%. The attributes used for grouping were temperature and colour. The best clusterization that used K-Means is the third cluster. Based on the data analysis, the smart grading system made users save time knowing the grade of fresh milk easier.
The potential of anthocyanin from red banana peel as natural dye in smart packaging development

Innovative packaging by enhancing smart materials is now starting to be widely developed. The smart packaging concept developed is packaging that provides a particular function, and the primary function of packaging is protecting products from the environment. The indicator on food packaging is one of the results of the development of intelligent materials. One indicator that was developed is thermochromic ink. The most widely used thermochromic liquid today is made from leuco dye. The colour in thermochromic leuco colouring changes from one colour to another. Therefore, the use of natural dyes as a colourant in thermochromic leuco dye is being considered. Several studies have shown that Anthocyanin can have a thermochromic effect. One of the local resources developed as a source of anthocyanins from agricultural product waste is red banana peel. This study aims to determine the potential of anthocyanins from red banana peels based on the characteristics of changes in temperature and light and storage temperature stability as a source of natural dye for the development of thermochromic leuco dye. The results showed that the total anthocyanin content of red banana peels was 55.139 mg/L using water and 5.038 mg/L using ethanol as solvent. Temperature treatments at 35°C and 50°C have shown a higher absorbance decline rate than temperature 30 and 40°C. Storage of anthocyanins in UV lamps and sunlight showed colour changes compared to storage in 25-watt lamps. The results of this study indicated that anthocyanins from red banana peels had the potential to be used as a source of natural dye in the development of thermochromic leuco dye.
The frequency and characteristics of ultrasonographic ankle joint involvement in systemic lupus erythematosus: A prospective cross-sectional single-center study

The involvement of ankles in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) has not been widely studied. The aim of our prospective study was to determine the characteristics of the ankle joint and tendon involvement in SLE using ultrasound (US) as an imaging modality. Sixty consecutive patients with SLE underwent a detailed clinical evaluation and US examination. Gray-scale and power Doppler US of the bilateral tibiotalar (TT) joints, subtalar (ST) joints, and ankle tendons were performed using a multiplanar scanning technique. Joint effusion, synovitis, tenosynovitis, enthesitis, and vascularization were assessed according to the OMERACT recommendations. The Total Ankle Ultrasound Score (TAUSS) was calculated as the sum of the grades of joint effusion and synovial hypertrophy for both TT and ST joints bilaterally (ranging from 0–24) and power Doppler activity was assessed separately. Finally, US findings were correlated with physical evaluation, laboratory parameters, and SLE activity scores. US ankle joint involvement was present in 32/60 (53.3%) patients. TT joints were affected in 26 (43.3%) and ST joints in 16 (26.7%) patients. Thirteen (21.7%) patients had US tendons and/or enthesal involvement. TT joint effusion was the most frequent finding, present in 55/240 (22.9%) examined joints, followed by synovial hypertrophy detected in 18/240 (7.5%) joints. The median (interquartile range; range) TAUSS of the US-affected joints was 1 (0–2; range 1–10). There were no significant correlations between US findings and inflammatory parameters or serological parameters of disease activity, but we found a weak positive correlation between TAUSS and the European Consensus Lupus Activity Measurement (r = 0.281, P = .029). This study revealed a high prevalence of pathological US ankle changes in patients with SLE and a positive correlation between ankle US involvement and disease activity score (European Consensus Lupus Activity Measurement).
Mechanical Thrombectomy via Transradial Approach for Posterior Circulation Stroke: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Mechanical thrombectomy for acute ischemic stroke (AIS) is traditionally performed via transfemoral access. While the majority of AISs are due to anterior circulation large vessel occlusions (AC-LVO), we performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to examine the feasibility of and outcomes following a transradial artery access for posterior circulation large vessel occlusion (PC-LVO) strokes. A systematic literature review of the English language literature was conducted using PubMed, MEDLINE, and Embase as per the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Outcomes of interest included 90-day modified Rankin scale (mRS) 0-2, puncture to recanalization time, and thrombolysis in cerebral infarction (TICI) scores 2b/3 and 3. We calculated pooled event rates and their corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI) for all outcomes. We included seven studies with 68 patients in our analysis. All patients underwent mechanical thrombectomy via transradial artery access for AIS due to PC-LVO. The pooled meantime of puncture to recanalization was 29.19 (95% CI=24.05 to 35.42) minutes. Successful recanalization (TICI2b/3) was achieved in 98.69% (95% CI=93.50 to 100) of patients and complete recanalization (TICI 3) in 52.16% (95% CI=34.18 to 79.60) of the patients. Overall, 56.84% (95% CI=41.26 to 78.30) of patients achieved mRS 0-2. Transradial artery access for mechanical thrombectomy for PC-LVO stroke displays early promise and feasibility, particularly regarding very high rates of successful recanalization and low puncture to recanalization time.
The effect of platelet–albumin ratio on mortality and morbidity in peptic ulcer perforation

Background: The aim of our study was to investigate the prognostic role of platelet/albumin ratio in patients treated under emergency conditions for peptic ulcer perforation (PUP). Methods: A retrospective study involving emergency patients who were operated for PUP was carried out. The patients were divided into 2 groups: PUP patients who died after surgical treatment (PUP-M) and PUP patients who survived after surgical treatment (PUP-S). The laboratory values of the patients were compared statistically. A P value of <. 05 was considered statistically significant. Results: This cohort study consisted of 171 patients treated between June 2013 and December 2019. The mean age of the patients was 46.3 ± 20.5 years; and 33 (19.3%) patients were women. The age (P ≤ .001), platelet/lymphocyte ratio (P = .02), lactic dehydrogenase to albumin ratio (P ≤ .001), and platelet/albumin ratio (PAR; P ≤ .001) values were high and lymphocyte count was low (P = .006) in the PUP-M group. A positive correlation was determined between length of stay in hospital and age (P ≤ .001), lactic dehydrogenase/albumin ratio (P ≤ .001), platelet count (P = .044), and PAR (P ≤ .001). A substantial negative correlation was determined between length of stay in hospital and albumin count (P ≤ .001). Conclusions: We determined a high preoperative PAR level in PUP patients who had undergone surgery as a negative prognostic parameter. PAR is a candidate biomarker for clinical practice.