Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The quality and outcomes framework as a biomedical technology : consequences for UK general practice

In April 2014 the Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF), the largest pay-for-performance scheme in primary care in the world, completed 10 years of existence. During this period, medical anthropologists have given little attention to QOF as a biomedical technological innovation for improving quality in general practice. This thesis contributes to the study of biomedical technology in medical anthropology by exploring two questions. First, what QOF in itself entails, its main characteristics and boundaries? Second, what are its consequences for general practice and for professional staff? An ethnographic study was set up to explore the QOF 2013/14 contract year in two general practices in the UK, coupled with participant-observation in a GP training programme. The main findings can be summarised as follows: (1) based on Foucault’s concept of governmentality, QOF as a biomedical technology represents a biopower dispositif for controlling individual (anatomopolitics) and population (biopolitics) by instilling a self-monitoring professional working environment for securing compliance; (2) the QOF clinical fragmentary model based on monetary incentives has literally commodified health professional-patient relationships through an exchange of token-information predicated on patients’ bodily parts. In this quality scheme, commercial ethics tend to predominate over professionals’ ethics; (3) the QOF scheme has produced a series of behaviour ranging from organising the practice team in accordance to QOF’s rules (the ‘QOF game’) to ‘gamesmanship’ with regards to them. The latter is more common as the practice reaches the end of financial year. These behaviours have implications for quality data production, affecting research on QOF, since most of it depends on secondary data sources; (4) in following the QOF depression indicators as a ‘mediating category’ since their inception in 2006/07, the question of ‘quality’ indicator construction and data production is further highlighted. QOF as a biomanagerial technology exemplifies an important cultural change in the UK general practice since compliance with externally dictated policy and its associated technologies changes principles and behaviour, with little scope for a holistic practice.
Studies on Japonica Hybrid Rice Seed Production under Egyptian Conditions

Twoexperiments were conducted at Sakha Experimental Farm of Sakha Agricultural Research station, Kaferelsheikh, Egypt during 2016 and 2017 rice growing seasons. The objective of this investigation was to study the effect of three Male(P):Female(S) rows ratio (2P:6S, 2P:8S and 2P:10S) and two pollen directions of the pollen parental line (P), one direction and two directions on out-crossing rate for Japonica hybrid rice seed production. Japonica hybrid produce through crossed between one Thermo-sensitive Genic Male Sterile (TGMS) line (TG-60-6) as a female line (S) with Sakha105 which used as a male pollinator line (P). A split-plot design with three replications was used. The main plots were dedicated to rows ratio whereas direction of the pollen parental line was arranged within the sub plots. The results notify that the better row ratio was 2P:6S gave the best seed yield hill-1 (25.00 and 27.38 g) in 2016 and 2017 seasons respectively. For direction of the pollen parental line, the best F1 seed yield hill (25.89 and 27.45 g) were obtained once planted the spore parental line in two directions during 2016 and 2017 seasons, respectively. The interaction between row ratio and direction of the pollen parental line was highly significant for panicle weight (g), seed set (%), number of fertile panicles hill-1, harvest index (%), and seed yield hill-1, but not significant for plant height (cm) and panicle length (cm) during 2016 and 2017 seasons. The results notify the importance of optimum row ratio and direction planted of pollen parental line for increasing the out-crossing rate in Japonica hybrid seed
Skilled strategies of release parameters for accurate free-throw shooting in the presence of motor noise

How humans execute accurate movement in the presence of motor noise is a key problem in the field of biomechanics and motor control that limits the performance improvement in daily or sporting activities. The aim of this study was to clarify the strategy of basketball players during free-throw shooting. Two possible hypotheses were examined: the players minimize the release speed to decrease signal-dependent noise or the players maximize the shot success probability by accounting for their variability. Eight collegiate players and one professional player participated in this study by attempting shots from the free-throw line using a motion capture system. The solution manifold consisting of ball parameters at release was calculated and the optimal strategy was simulated by considering ball parameter variability; this result was compared with the actual data. Our results showed that participants selected the solution of near-minimum release speed. The deviation of the measured release angle from the minimum-speed angle was close to zero (2.8 ± 3.1°). However, an increase in speed-dependent noise did not have a significant influence on the ball landing position through simulation. Additionally, the effect of release angle error on the ball landing position was minimum when using the minimum speed strategy. Therefore, the players minimize the release speed to minimize the effect of the release error on performance, instead of minimizing the speed-dependent noise itself. In other words, the strategy is “near-minimum-speed strategy” as well as “minimum-error-propagation strategy”. These findings will be important for understanding how sports experts deal with intrinsic noise to improve performance.
Soybean hulls as feed substitute of ground corn can increase the fiber digestibility and bacterial fibrolytic profile of grazing Nellore steers during the rainy season

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of replacement of ground corn by soybean hulls associated or not to whole soybean grain in the feed supplement on intake, nutrient digestibility, rumen microbial population, and fermentation parameters of growing Nellore steers grazing Brachiaria brizantha cv. Xaraés during rainy season. Were used eight castrated Nellore steers (425 ± 36 kg of body weight (BW)) fitted with ruminal and duodenal cannulas in a replicated 4 × 4 Latin square with a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement, allocated into 4 paddocks of 0.25 ha each, consisting of Brachiaria brizantha cv. Xaraés and supplemented with: (1) ground corn combined with whole soybean grain (SG); (2) ground corn without SG; (3) soybean hulls (SH) combined with SG; and (4) SH without SG. Supplement intake was no affected by SG or SH (mean 2.12 kg-1 d, P > 0.05). There were no interactions between SH and SG on DM and nutrients intake (P > 0.05). The addition of SG reduced the dry matter (DM) intake expressed as % of BW and Kg-1 d, as well forage DM, organic matter (OM), crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (aNDF), and gross energy (GE) intake (P ? 0.01). Animals supplemented with SH without SG had greater digestibility of DM (74.52), OM (77.62), CP (77.51), NDF (71.93) and GE (72.90) than animals supplemented with SH with SG (DM =69.01, OM = 71.92, CP = 72.81, NDF = 66.01, GE =68.01) expressed as % (P ? 0.01). The addition of SG in the supplements declined the ruminal pH and NH3-N (P=0.02). Animals supplemented without SH without SG showed greater Entodinium counts (6.01 n x 104 ml-1, P=0.04), and SG supplementation decreased the numbers of Dasytricha, Isotricha, and ruminal total protozoa (P < 0.01). The abundance of Ruminococcus albus, R. flavefaciens, and Archaeas were higher for SH without SG supplement. Additionally, animals supplemented with SG had lower numbers of Fibrobacter succinogenes. The use of soybean hulls without whole soybean grain in the supplement may be effective to increase fiber digestibility, N retained, R. albus and R. flavefaciens in the rumen of Nellore steers grazing Brachiaria brizantha cv. Xaraés during the rainy season.
Small-Scale Population Connectivity and Genetic Structure in Canada Thistle (Cirsium arvense)

Premise of research. Population connectivity, the exchange of genes among geographically separated subpopulations, is thought to be a key process for the maintenance of genetic diversity and the survival of invasive species in newly colonized areas. Plant populations’ degree of genetic connectivity, which occurs via pollen and seed dispersal, leads to different degrees of genetic admixture and genetic structure. Environmental barriers and differential selection pressures that are variable across time and space tend to alter genetic structure within and among populations via restriction or facilitation of gene flow. Canada thistle, an invasive species of the United States and Canada, is well known for production of high numbers of seeds, asexual reproduction, and wide environmental tolerance. These factors may influence its success as an invader by facilitating population persistence. Methodology. In this study we evaluated genetic connectivity of 12 Canada thistle populations across a 75-km area using 10 microsatellite loci, estimated the spatial scale of genetic exchange between populations, and tested for an association between genetic structure and variation in landscape characteristics. Pivotal results. All loci were highly polymorphic within populations, and populations were significantly differentiated from one another (FST=0.21, p=0.001), but environmental, geographic, and climatic factors were found to have little explanatory power for the observed genetic structure. Bayesian clustering analysis suggested the presence of two distinct genetic groups and admixture in several populations. Conclusions. We conclude that, for this species, genetic admixture and co-occurrence of genetically distinct types may play an important role in rapid adjustment to diverse environments and persistence of populations across the landscape.
The human mitochondrial 12S rRNA m4C methyltransferase METTL15 is required for proper mitochondrial function

Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) gene expression is coordinately regulated pre- and post-transcriptionally, and its perturbation can lead to human pathologies. Mitochondrial ribosomal RNAs (mt-rRNAs) undergo a series of nucleotide modifications following release from polycistronic mitochondrial RNA (mtRNA) precursors, which is essential for mitochondrial ribosomal biogenesis. Cytosine N4 methylation (m4C) at position 839 of the 12S small subunit (SSU) mt-rRNA was identified decades ago, however, its biogenesis and function have not been elucidated in details. Here we demonstrate that human Methyltransferase Like 15 (METTL15) is responsible for 12S mt-rRNA methylation at C839 (m4C839) both in vivo and in vitro. We tracked the evolutionary history of RNA m4C methyltransferases and revealed the difference in substrates preference between METTL15 and its bacterial ortholog rsmH. Additionally, unlike the very modest impact on ribosome upon loss of m4C methylation in bacterial SSU rRNA, we found that depletion of METTL15 specifically causes severe defects in mitochondrial ribosome assembly, which leads to an impaired translation of mitochondrial protein-coding genes and a decreased mitochondrial respiration capacity. Our findings point to a co-evolution of methylatransferase specificities and modification patterns in rRNA with differential impact on prokaryotic ribosome versus eukaryotic mitochondrial ribosome.
Isolation and characterization of cellulolytic yeast belonging to Moesziomyces sp. from the gut of Grasshopper

*For correspondence. (G.H. Sung) E-mail: sung97330@gmail.com; Tel. : +82-032-290-2772; Fax: +82-2-290-2614 / (G. Subramani) E-mail: drgaya@swu.ac. kr; Tel. : +82-2-970-5670; Fax: +82-2-970-5974 / (M.K. Kim) E-mail: biotech@swu.ac. kr; Tel. : +82-2-970-5667; Fax: +82-2-970-5974 § Supplemental material for this article may be found at http://www.kjom. org. An intensive interaction between yeasts and insects has highlighted their relevance for attraction to food and for the insect's development and behavior. Yeast associated in the gut of insects secretes cellulase which aided in the food digestion (cellulose degradation). Three strains of cellulose-degrading yeast were isolated from the gut of adult grasshoppers collected in Gyeonggi Province, South Korea. The strains ON22 T , G10 T , and G15 T , showed positive cellulolytic activity in the carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC)-plate assay. The phylogenetic tree based on sequence analysis of D1/D2 domains of the large subunit rRNA gene and the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions revealed that the strains ON22 T (100 and 98.4% sequence similarities in D1/D2 domains and ITS) and G10 T
Dynamics of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi in Relation to Root Colonization, Spore Density, and Soil Properties among Different Spreading Stages of the Exotic Plant Threeflower Beggarweed (Desmodium triflorum) in a Zoysia tenuifolia Lawn

Abstract Weed invasion is a prevailing problem in modestly managed lawns. Less attention has been given to the exploration of the role of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) under different invasion pressures from lawn weeds. We conducted a four-season investigation into a Zoysia tenuifolia Willd. ex Thiele (native turfgrass)–threeflower beggarweed [Desmodium triflorum (L.) DC. ] (invasive weed) co-occurring lawn. The root mycorrhizal colonizations of the two plants, the soil AM fungal communities and the spore densities under five different coverage levels of D. triflorum were investigated. Desmodium triflorum showed significantly higher root hyphal and vesicular colonizations than those of Z. tenuifolia, while the root colonizations of both species varied significantly among seasons. The increased coverage of D. triflorum resulted in the following effects: (1) the spore density initially correlated with mycorrhizal colonizations of Z. tenuifolia but gradually correlated with those of D. triflorum. (2) Correlations among soil properties, spore densities, and mycorrhizal colonizations were more pronounced in the higher coverage levels. (3) Soil AMF community compositions and relative abundances of AMF operational taxonomic units changed markedly in response to the increased invasion pressure. The results provide strong evidence that D. triflorum possessed a more intense AMF infection than Z. tenuifolia, thus giving rise to the altered host contributions to sporulation, soil AMF communities, relations of soil properties, spore densities, and root colonizations of the two plants, all of which are pivotal for the successful invasion of D. triflorum in lawns.
Breakdown of intestinal homeostasis by mucosal infections triggers adaptive immune responses against antigens from commensal bacteria

O trato gastrointestinal de mamiferos e colonizado por uma diversa comunidade microbiana que co-existe mutualisticamente com seu hospedeiro. Estudos recentes tem demonstrado o papel importante destes microrganismos na modulacao de respostas imunes. Por outro lado, bacteria da microbiota podem tambem contribuir para a patologia no contexto de infeccoes agudas. Por exemplo, infeccoes orais comToxoplasma gondii em certas linhagens murinas levam a uma inflamacao intestinal exacerbada que e acompanhada por perda de diversidade da microbiota. Alem disso, a microbiota agrava a imunopatologia da toxoplasmose. Os mecanismos que explicameste fenomeno ainda nao sao completamente compreendidos. No presente estudo utilizamos de camundongos tratados com antibioticos para estudar como o reconhecimento de microrganismos da microbiota pode influenciar respostas imunes e a patologia de infeccoes agudas de mucosa. Camundongos tratados mostraram menor resposta inflamatoria e menor quantificacao de parasita apos infeccao com T. gondii. Camundongos germfree tambem infectados com T. gondii tem menor carga parasitaria e niveis reduzidos de enzimas do figado. Translocacao sistemica de bacterias intestinais foi observada no pico da infeccao assim como mudancas temporais de diversidade dentro da comunidade microbiana intestinal. Tres bacterias mais encontradas no intestine de camundongos infectados com T. gondii foram usadas parao estudo de respostas especificas contra a microbiota. A infeccao com T. gondii foi capaz de induzir respostas humorais especificas contra antigenos da microbiota e respostas adaptativas celulares indicadas por uma forte reacao de DTH contra uma das bacterias isoladas. Alem disso, celulas CBir TCR transgenicas que somente respondema um peptideo de flagelina se tornam ativadas apos a infeccao oral com T. gondii. O presente estudo tambem demonstrou que uma infeccao menos intensa, com Microsporidia, tambem induz anticorpos contra antigenos microbiamos assim como a colite induzida pela bacteria Citrobacter rodentium. A vacinacao de camundongos contra uma bacteria commensal levou a um controle mais eficiente de T. gondii masnao agravou a imunopatologia da doenca. Em conjunto, nossos resultados sugerem que infeccoes agudas de mucosa podem ativar respostas adaptativas imunes contra bacterias da microbiota intestinal que por sua vez contribuem para a protecao contra infeccoes subsequentes.
L1 and B1 repeats blueprint the spatial organization of chromatin

Despite extensive mapping of three-dimensional (3D) chromatin structures, the basic principles underlying genome folding remain unknown. Here, we report a fundamental role for L1 and B1 retrotransposons in shaping the macroscopic 3D genome structure. Homotypic clustering of B1 and L1 repeats in the nuclear interior or at the nuclear and nucleolar peripheries, respectively, segregates the genome into mutually exclusive nuclear compartments. This spatial segregation of L1 and B1 is conserved in mouse and human cells, and occurs dynamically during establishment of the 3D chromatin structure in early embryogenesis and the cell cycle. Depletion of L1 transcripts drastically disrupts the spatial distributions of L1- and B1-rich compartments. L1 transcripts are strongly associated with L1 DNA sequences and induce phase separation of the heterochromatin protein HP1α. Our results suggest that genomic repeats act as the blueprint of chromatin macrostructure, thus explaining the conserved higher-order structure of chromatin across mammalian cells.
Predatory developmental environments shape loser behaviour in animal contests

High predation risk during development induces phenotypic changes in animals. However, little is known about how these plastic responses affect signalling and competitiveness during contests. Herein, we have studied the consequences of anti-predator plasticity during the intra-sexual competition of Pelvicachromis taeniatus, a cichlid fish with mutual mate choice. We staged contests between adult size-matched siblings of the same sex derived from different environments: one fish was regularly exposed to conspecific alarm cues since the larval stage (simulating predator presence), the other fish to control conditions. Rearing environment did not affect the winner of contests or total aggression within a fight. However, contest behaviour differed between treatments. The effects were especially pronounced in alarm cue-exposed fish that lost a contest: they generally displayed lower aggression than winners but also lower aggression than losers of the control treatment. Thus, perceived predator presence modulates intra-sexual competition behaviour by increasing the costs associated with fighting.
Phylogeny and multiple independent whole‐genome duplication events in the Brassicales

Whole-genome duplications (WGDs) are prevalent throughout the evolutionary history of plants. For example, dozens of WGDs have been phylogenetically localized across the order Brassicales, specifically, within the family Brassicaceae. However, while its sister family, Cleomaceae, has also been characterized by a WGD, its placement, as well as that of other WGD events in other families in the order, remains unclear. Using phylo-transcriptomics from 74 taxa and genome survey sequencing for 66 of those taxa, we infer nuclear and chloroplast phylogenies to assess relationships among the major families of the Brassicales and within the Brassicaceae. We then use multiple methods of WGD inference to assess placement of WGD events. We not only present well-supported chloroplast and nuclear phylogenies for the Brassicales, but we also putatively place Th-α and provide evidence for previously unknown events, including one shared by at least two members of the Resedaceae, which we name Rs-α. Given its economic importance and many genomic resources, the Brassicales are an ideal group to continue assessing WGD inference methods. We add to the current conversation on WGD inference difficulties, by demonstrating that sampling is especially important for WGD identification.
Strategies to Decrease Blood Loss in Patients Who Undergo Total Knee Replacement: A Prospective Study of One Hundred and Fifty Cases

e calculated the total blood loss in a non-randomized study of 150 total knee replacements which were performed under regional anaesthesia by a mini-subvastus surgical approach without the use of a tourniquet. In all knees, tranexamic acid was used perioperatively. The skin, subcutaneous tissue and joint capsule were infiltrated with saline adrenaline prior to making surgical incision. After cementing the prostheses, the surgical wound was packed alternately with hydrogen peroxide and Feracrylum-soaked packs for 3 minutes. Tourniquet and postoperative drain were not used in any of the knees. In our series, the mean perioperative blood loss was 433 mL (SD 74), the mean RBC volume loss was 234 mL (SD 40.4), and the mean reduction in hemoglobin level was 1.6 gm/dL. The mean preoperative hemoglobin was 12.01gm/dL (SD 1.4) and the mean postoperative hemoglobin was 10.4 gm/dL (SD 1.4). The mean preoperative hematocrit was 37.04 (SD 2.8) and the mean postoperative hematocrit was 31.29 (SD 2.7). One of our patients developed cerebral thromboembolism three days after the surgery. Postoperative hemoglobin of less then 8 g/dL was considered an indication for blood transfusion; however, none of our patients required blood transfusion in the present series.
Dose effect of ipilimumab in patients with advanced melanoma: Results from a phase II, randomized, dose-ranging study

9025 Background: Ipilimumab is a fully human monoclonal antibody directed against cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen-4 (CTLA-4). Data from a phase II study showed that patients with previously treated advanced melanoma had proportionately more complete/partial responses (CR/PR) and stable disease (SD) with ipilimumab induction 10 mg/kg every 3 weeks (Q3W) X 4 compared with lower doses using the same schedule. Methods: In this randomized, double-blind, multicenter, phase II trial, patients with unresectable stage III/IV melanoma who had progressive disease (PD) on or were intolerant to prior therapies received ipilimumab induction dosing at 0.3, 3, or 10 mg/kg Q3W X 4. Eligible patients received maintenance therapy Q12W starting at Week 24 at their assigned blinded dose. Patients with PD could cross over to open-label ipilimumab 10 mg/kg induction plus maintenance in another study. The primary endpoint was the best overall response rate (BORR [CR or PR]). Efficacy was measured with modified World Health Organi.