Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Protection of tomato plants against Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici induced by chitosan

Physiological processes of plants infected by vascular pathogens are mainly affected by vascular bundle obstruction, decreasing the absorption of water and nutrients and gas exchange by stomatal closure, and inducing oxidative cascades and PSII alterations. Chitosan, a derivative of chitin present in the cell wall of some organisms including fungi, induces plant defense responses, activating systemic resistance. In this study, three chitosan molecules (low, medium and high molecular weight) at different concentrations (0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5 and 3 mg mL-1) were assessed by in vitro tests against Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici (Fol). Concentrations higher than 1 mg mL-1 were found to inhibit significantly the mycelial growth of Fol, with 95.8% of inhibition using chitosan with high molecular weight (3 mg mL-1). For in planta assays, chitosan treatment (low molecular weight 2.5 mg mL-1) showed significantly lower incidence and severity of wilting disease symptoms, 70 and 91%, respectively, compared to healthy plants used as a negative control. The effect of chitosan on the physiological and molecular responses of tomato plants infected with Fol was studied, evaluating the maximum potential quantum efficiency of PSII photochemistry (Fv/Fm), photochemical efficiency of PSII (Y(II)), stomatal conductance (gs), relative water content (RWC), proline content, photosynthetic pigments, dry mass, and differential gene expression (PAL, LOXA, ERF1, and PR1) of defense markers. A reduction of 70% in the incidence and 91% in the severity of the disease was achieved in plants treated with chitosan, mitigating the damage caused by Fol on Fv/Fm, Y(II), and chlorophyll contents by 23, 36, and 47%, respectively. Less impact was observed on gs, RWC, and dry mass (55, 11, and 26%, respectively). Chitosan-treated and Fol-infected plants over-expressed PR1a gene suggesting a priming-associated response. These results demonstrate the high potential of chitosan to protect tomato plants against Fol by regulating physiological and molecular responses in tomato plants.
Neuropsychological Profiles of Athletes and Views of Parents Choosing Flag Versus Tackle Football Participation

Background: Previous studies have found that injury rates are slightly higher in children who play flag football versus tackle football. It is unclear if this difference is due to the way each type is played or taught or whether there are intrinsic differences in attitudes or neuropsychological characteristics in children and their parents. Purpose: To determine whether children who play flag football score differently from those who play tackle football on validated neuropsychological tests. Study Design: Cross-sectional study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: Each participating athlete (aged 8-12 years) was recruited in 2018 and 2019 by email through local youth football leagues and the local university. Each athlete was administered a 1-time multidimensional assessment battery. The battery included the Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence-2nd Edition, the children’s version of the Trail Making Test, the Integrated Digit Span and Spatial Span subtests of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-4th Edition (WISC-IV), and the Beck Self-Concept Inventory for Youth. The parent/guardian of each athlete completed the Achenbach Child Behavior Checklist-Parent Report Form, the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function (BRIEF)-Parent Form, and a custom survey. These tests were used to determine IQ estimates and standardized scores, measuring verbal comprehension, matrix reasoning, mental set-shifting, attention, cognitive processing speed, working memory, spatial processing, perception of self-concept, behavioral regulation index, metacognition index, and global executive composite. Scores were compared between flag football and tackle football groups by 2-sample t test, with the Wilcoxon rank-sum test used for nonparametric data. Results: A total of 64 athletes (41 tackle football, 23 flag football) were enrolled from youth football leagues (grades 4-6). Flag players scored significantly higher on the WISC-IV Spatial Span-Backward subtest (scaled mean, 12.0 vs 10.6; P = .046), while tackle players had significantly higher BRIEF-Inhibit subscores (mean t-score, 45 vs 42; P = .026). There were no significant differences in any of the other tests, including socioeconomic status and perceived concussion risks. Conclusion: Concerns that injury epidemiologic studies comparing flag with tackle football could be confounded by intrinsic differences in the children who choose to play each type seem to be unfounded.
On interactions between the Southwest Monsoon Current and the Sea Surface over the Arabian Sea

Some aspects of interactions that take place between the water surface of the Arabian Sea and the summer monsoon circulation are investigated. Over large portions of the Arabian Sea (and also the Bay of Bengal) there is a rapid warming of the surface water during late winter and early spring. The maximum temperatures are observed around May, at the time of the establishment of the southwest on, monsoon circulation. There is then cooling of the waters to a minimum observed in August-September, followed by a secondary maximum October-November. This trend differs from what is commonly observed over most of the tropical oceans, where there is a single water temperature maximum in late summer and a minimum in late winter. The water cooling in early summer appears to be a direct result of the establishment of the southwest monsoon regime. The resulting inter-relationships have pronounced effects on the properties of both the water body and the monsoon circulation. In order to assess the role to heat flux in the water-cooling, computations of components of the energy balance were carried out for various stations in the Arabian Sea and vicinity. Rather large rates of heat flux by evaporation were obtained the west central portions of the Arabian Sea. It is shown that the evaporation makes a major contribution to the water-cooling in that area. Effects of the air-sea interactions on the atmospheric current investigated by analysis of aeteorological sounding along the monsoon surface trajectory. A characteristic low-level inversion in the levels from 900 to 700mb is found over most of the oceanic area. The moisture is concentrated below the inversion. Above the inversion the air is dry and unstable. Some of the implications of the presence of this thermal and moisture distribution on monsoon weather are discussed briefly.
Low Voltage Direct Current Supplies Concept for Residential Applications

Low Voltage Direct Current (LVDC) Photovoltaic (PV) systems are considered suitable solutions for increasing the capacity of existing LV networks. They provide a good power quality, renewable energy source compatibility, and simple integration with batteries. This paper compares the proposed LVDC supply concept with existing traditional PV systems regarding energy efficiency. The proposed LVDC Photovoltaic System was realized. The results obtained from this study revealed that using the LVDC system supply concept, instead of Low Voltage Alternative Current (LVAC) ones, is very interesting if the PV-generated electricity is used locally during day hours. To achieve a high PV system efficiency, the PV power installed in the houses should be accurately sized regarding the consumed energy. The shorted path taken by the PV-generated power to feed load during daytime is the main advantage of the proposed LVDC architecture.
Newcastle disease virus suppresses angiogenesis in mammary adenocarcinoma models

Cancer cells heavily utilise angiogenesis process to increase vascularisation for tumour mass growth and spread, so targeting this process is important to create an effective therapy. The AMHA1 strain of Newcastle disease virus (NDV) is an RNA virus with natural oncotropism. NDV induces direct tumour cytolysis, apoptosis, and immune stimulation. This work aimed to test NDV anti-angiogenic activity in a breast cancer model. To evaluate NDV’s antitumour effect in vivo, NDV was tested against mammary adenocarcinoma AN3 transplanted in syngeneic immunocompetent mice. In vivo antiangiogenic activity was evaluated by quantifying the blood vessels in treated and control tumour sections. In vitro experiments that exposed AMN3 mammary adenocarcinoma cells and Hep-2 laryngeal carcinoma cells to NDV at different time intervals were performed to identify the exact mechanism of anti-angiogenesis by using angiogenesis microarray slides. In vivo results showed significant tumour regression and significant decrease in blood vessel formation in treated tumour sections. The in vitro microarray analysis of 14 different angiogenesis factors revealed that NDV downregulated angiopoietin-1, angiopoietin-2, and epidermal growth factor in mammary adenocarcinoma cells. However, NDV elicited a different effect on Hep-2 as represented by the downregulation of inducible protein 10, intracellular adhesion molecule-1, and basic fibroblast growth factor beta in NDV-infected tumour cells. It was found out that microarray analysis results helped interpret the in vivo data. The results suggested that the NDV oncolytic strain reduced angiogenesis by interfering with angiogenesis factors that might reduce tumour cell proliferation, infiltration, and invasion.
Pay-for-performance: Behavior-based recommendations from research and practice

ABSTRACT The use of pay-for-performance has the potential to greatly increase the productivity of the workforce by incentivizing the act or result of performance itself rather than time spent performing. In this paper, monetary incentive approaches are examined through the lens of behavioral research and practice. Important criteria to protect both the financial health of the organization and the physical and emotional health of the workers are outlined, along with considerations for an organization to prepare for the transition to a different form of financial compensation. This paper offers best practices, as well as suggestions for future research and considerations to help overcome potential concerns from organizational and individual perspectives.
Individual Dexterity and Psychological Empowering Leadership for Digital Workplace

This research aims to test a concept of individual dexterity in improving individual performance for the digital workplace. Individual dexterity is the ability of individuals to explore fingers and other senses when in contact with information technology devices (finger dexterity) and exploit the idea or ideas to complete the work independently (manual dexterity). A number of 150 respondents who work in creative industries and using information technology-based communication tools to finish their daily job involved in this research. Data was collected using a questionnaire and analyzed using SmartPLS. The results show that individual dexterity is able to predict the performance of individuals who work in a digital environment. In addition, psychological empowering leadership and individual readiness to change play a role as a significant trigger to the formation of individual dexterity which then increases individual performance
Interactive Model of Executive Functions to Understand Error Correction

This article reports an investigation aimed at analyzing an interactive model of executive functions, which seeks to explain the process followed by human beings to correct their mistakes. The method followed was an analysis based on structural equations, considering the maximum likelihood process around a model that considered six executive functions. We worked with a randomized sample of 771 subjects (mean age = 39.86, SD = 15.47; 50.5%, women, 50.50%). The findings suggest that error correction is a complex executive function as it is the product of the internal language capacity that regulates behavior and cognition, adequate regulation of the limbic system, adequate decision-making, and control of automatic impulses, determining how to act and verify the thoughts and behavior of the subject. The contribution of the proposed theoretical model lies in understanding the process by which human beings manage to correct errors. In addition, how this explanatory model could help neuropsychological intervention processes to work on this cognitive ability in individuals with difficulties in correcting errors. Doi: 10.28991/ESJ-2022-06-02-011 Full Text: PDF
Precipitation and Temperature Trends and Cycles Derived from Historical 1890–2019 Weather Data for the City of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Patterns in historical climate data were analyzed for Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, for the interval 1890–2019. Variables analyzed included records of annual, seasonal, and extreme temperature and precipitation, diurnal temperature range, and various environmental responses. Using LOWESS regressions, it was found that annual and seasonal temperatures in Ottawa have generally increased through this interval, precipitation has shifted to a less snowy, rainier regime, and diurnal temperature variation has decreased. Furthermore, the annual growing season has lengthened by 23 days to ~163 days, and the annual number of frost-free days increased by 13 days to ~215 days. Despite these substantial climatic shifts, some variables (e.g., extreme weather events per year) have remained largely stable through the interval. Time-series analyses (including multitaper spectral analysis and continuous and cross wavelet transforms) have revealed the presence of several strong cyclical patterns in the instrumental record attributable to known natural climate phenomena. The strongest such influence on Ottawa’s climate has been the 11-year solar cycle, while the influence of the El Niño-Southern Oscillation, Arctic Oscillation, North Atlantic Oscillation, and Quasi-Biennial Oscillation were also observed and linked with the trends in annual, seasonal, and extreme weather. The results of this study, particularly the observed linkages between temperature and precipitation variables and cyclic climate drivers, will be of considerable use to policymakers for the planning, development, and maintenance of city infrastructure as Ottawa continues to rapidly grow under a warmer, wetter climate regime.
MYD88 Gene Polimorphism in Patients With Chronic Lenfoid Leukemia

Leukemia is a type of cancer that manifests itself with the excessive proliferation of blood cells, especially white blood cells, and affects the blood production system in the body. Leukemias are classified as acute or chronic and according to the extent and development of the tumor. In chronic lymphocyte leukemia (CLL), cancer cells are found in the bone marrow, blood, and lymph nodes. Therefore, in this study, the effects of polymorphisms in the MYD88 gene of CLL patients were investigated. For this purpose, 100 patients diagnosed with CLL and 70 healthy individuals without cancer history were included in the study as the control group. DNA was isolated from CLL patients and control groups. Polymorphisms in the MYD88 (L265p T/C) promoter regions were studied by RT-PCR. Genotype and allele frequencies were calculated directly. Statistical significance of genotypic distributions between CLL patients and control groups was evaluated with Z Ratios test and Fisher's Exact test.For the MYD88 L265p T/C region in 100 CLL patients, 95 wild type TT, 3 TC and 5 mutant type CC genotypes were detected. No statistically significant difference was found between CLL patients and control groups in the MYD88 L265p T/C region (p 0.05). According to the allele frequencies of the region, it was determined as 0.965 and 0.065 for T and C, respectively. According to Fisher's Exact results, it was calculated as 0.078 for TT, 0.078 for TC and 0.269 for Mutant, respectively. The MYD88 genotype frequencies of the patients included in the study do not appear to be statistically correlated with CLL patients. The research we have done as a result of our study will shed light on the studies with different SNPs to be made with the increase in the number of CLL patients.
Development of Android-Based Interactive Media Learning Economics Capital Market Materials

This study aimed to produce an Android-based interactive media for economic learning in class X SMA/MA which was valid and practical. This type of research was Research and Development (R & D). The research was conducted at SMA N 1 Salimpaung for the 2020/2021 academic year. The test subjects involved in the research were media, language, material and evaluation validators, economics teachers and students. The model in this development used a 4-D model, namely definition, design, development, and dissemination, but this research was limited to the develop stage. The results of study obtained a score of 86.65%, from the material validator with a very decent category. The media validator obtained a score of 87.3%, with a very decent category. The assessment of the language validator got a score of 83% with a very decent category. Meanwhile, the evaluation validator got a score of 92% with a very decent category. The practicality results of the teacher obtained a score of 92.78% and the assessment of the students was 94.9%. The results of both assessments were in the very practical category. This android-based interactive media was declared very feasible to be applied to economics learning material for capital markets.
Correlation between Peripheral T Cell Subsets and the Activity of Thyroid-Associated Ophthalmopathy

Introduction Thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy (TAO) is the most common orbital immunological disease in adults. T cells play an important role in the pathogenesis of TAO. However, our knowledge of the circulating T cell subsets in TAO is limited. Objective To investigate the circulating T cell subsets in TAO and the correlations between them and the activity of TAO. Methods Thirty-eight TAO patients (19 active and 19 nonactive) were enrolled. The absolute number and percentage of total lymphocytes, CD3+T cells, CD4+T cells, CD8+ T cells, CD3+CD4-CD8-T cells (DNT cells), and CD3+CD4+CD8+ T cells (DPT cells) in peripheral blood were measured by flow cytometer. Results TAO patients were divided into the active group and the nonactive group by the clinical activity score (CAS). The mean CAS was 4 ± 1.11 in the active group and 1.47 ± 0.61 in the nonactive group. No statistical differences were found in gender, age, and the levels of FT3, FT4, TSH, and TRAb between the two groups. The percentage of DNT cells was lower in the active group than in the non-active group, and it was negatively correlated with CAS (r = −0.349, P=0.032), but not the absolute number. The CD4/CD8 ratio, the absolute number and percentage of CD3+ T cells, CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells, and DPT cells did not differ between the two groups. Conclusion In the present study, we found the percentage of DNT cells was significantly lesser in the active TAO than in the nonactive TAO, and it was negatively correlated with the activity of the TAO. It suggests that DNT cells may involve in the immunopathogenesis of TAO and can serve as a clinical biomarker of the disease activity.
Relatively Lower FT3 Levels Are Associated with Impaired Quality of Life in Levothyroxine-Treated Patients with Hashimoto Thyroiditis

Objective Patients with Hashimoto thyroiditis (HT) frequently have some complaints despite achieving euthyroidism after levothyroxine (LT4) treatment. This study aimed to investigate the relevant factors affecting the quality of life (QoL) in euthyroid HT patients after LT4 treatment. Methods In this case-control study, 133 participants with HT were included. They were divided into two groups: 64 euthyroid HT subjects (control group) and 69 HT patients were rendered euthyroid by LT4 treatment (well-controlled group). QoL was measured with the Thyroid-Related Patient-Reported Outcome (ThyPRO-39) questionnaire. Results Both study groups were well matched with respect to gender, age, BMI, euthyroidism, and thyroid antibodies (TPOAb and TGAb). Compared with the control group, the well-controlled group had lower FT3 (P < 0.01) levels. Of note, QoL was impaired on all scales in the well-controlled group. Moreover, ThyPRO-39 scores among the well-controlled group were significantly higher (worse) than the control group in all scales. Regarding the composite scale, its score was related to FT3 (r = −0.176, P=0.043) but not to FT4 and TSH levels. Further logistic regression analysis revealed FT3 was significantly associated with elevated composite QoL [0.128 (0.029–0.577), P < 0.01] after adjustment of potential confounders. Conclusion Relatively lower FT3 concentrations, even within the normal reference range, were related to impaired QoL in HT patients treated with LT4. This finding supports the great value of FT3 in clinical decision-making on dose adequacy.
First Trimester Maternal Homocysteine and Embryonic and Fetal Growth: The Rotterdam Periconception Cohort

Homocysteine is a marker for derangements in one-carbon metabolism. Elevated homocysteine may represent a causal link between poor maternal nutrition and impaired embryonic and fetal development. We sought to investigate associations between reference range maternal homocysteine and embryonic and fetal growth. We enrolled 1060 singleton pregnancies (555 natural and 505 in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (IVF/ICSI) pregnancies) from November 2010 to December 2020. Embryonic and fetal body and head growth was assessed throughout pregnancy using three-dimensional ultrasound scans and virtual reality techniques. Homocysteine was negatively associated with first trimester embryonic growth in the included population (crown-rump length B −0.023 mm, 95% CI −0.038,−0.007, p = 0.004, embryonic volume B −0.011 cm3, 95% CI −0.018,−0.004, p = 0.003). After stratification for conception mode, this association remained in IVF/ICSI pregnancies with frozen embryo transfer (crown-rump length B −0.051 mm, 95% CI −0.081,−0.023, p < 0.001, embryonic volume B −0.024 cm3, 95% CI −0.039,−0.009, p = 0.001), but not in IVF/ICSI pregnancies with fresh embryo transfer and natural pregnancies. Homocysteine was not associated with longitudinal measurements of head growth in first trimester, nor with second and third trimester fetal growth. Homocysteine in the highest quartile (7.3–14.9 µmol/L) as opposed to the lowest (2.5–5.2 µmol/L) was associated with reduced birth weight in natural pregnancies only (B −51.98 g, 95% CI −88.13,−15.84, p = 0.005). In conclusion, high maternal homocysteine within the reference range is negatively associated with first trimester embryonic growth and birth weight, and the effects of homocysteine are dependent on conception mode.