Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Microﬂuidic Microbial Bioelectrochemical Systems: An Integrated Investigation Platform for a More Fundamental Understanding of Electroactive Bacterial Bioﬁlms

: It is the ambition of many researchers to ﬁnally be able to close in on the fundamental, coupled phenomena that occur during the formation and expression of electrocatalytic activity in electroactive bioﬁlms. It is because of this desire to understand that bioelectrochemical systems (BESs) have been miniaturized into microBES by taking advantage of the worldwide development of microﬂuidics. Microﬂuidics tools applied to bioelectrochemistry permit even more fundamental studies of interactions and coupled phenomena occurring at the microscale, thanks, in particular, to the concomitant combination of electroanalysis, spectroscopic analytical techniques and real-time microscopy that is now possible. The analytical microsystem is therefore much better suited to the monitoring, not only of electroactive bioﬁlm formation but also of the expression and disentangling of extracellular electron transfer (EET) catalytic mechanisms. This article reviews the details of the conﬁgurations of microﬂuidic BESs designed for selected objectives and their microfabrication techniques. Because the aim is to manipulate microvolumes and due to the high modularity of the experimental systems, the interfacial conditions between electrodes and electrolytes are perfectly controlled in terms of physicochemistry (pH, nutrients, chemical e ﬀ ectors, etc.) and hydrodynamics (shear, material transport, etc.). Most of the theoretical advances have been obtained thanks to work carried out using models of electroactive bacteria monocultures, mainly to simplify biological investigation systems. However, a huge virgin ﬁeld of investigation still remains to be explored by taking advantage of the capacities of microﬂuidic BESs regarding the complexity and interactions of mixed electroactive bioﬁlms.
Evaluating the E ﬃ ciency of Di ﬀ erent Regression, Decision Tree, and Bayesian Machine Learning Algorithms in Spatial Piping Erosion Susceptibility Using ALOS / PALSAR Data

: Piping erosion is one form of water erosion that leads to signiﬁcant changes in the landscape and environmental degradation. In the present study, we evaluated piping erosion modeling in the Zarandieh watershed of Markazi province in Iran based on random forest (RF), support vector machine (SVM), and Bayesian generalized linear models (Bayesian GLM) machine learning algorithms. For this goal, due to the importance of various geo-environmental and soil properties in the evolution and creation of piping erosion, 18 variables were considered for modeling the piping erosion susceptibility in the Zarandieh watershed. A total of 152 points of piping erosion were recognized in the study area that were divided into training (70%) and validation (30%) for modeling. The area under curve (AUC) was used to assess the e ﬀ eciency of the RF, SVM, and Bayesian GLM. Piping erosion susceptibility results indicated that all three RF, SVM, and Bayesian GLM models had high e ﬃ ciency in the testing step, such as the AUC shown with values of 0.9 for RF, 0.88 for SVM, and 0.87 for Bayesian GLM. Altitude, pH, and bulk density were the variables that had the greatest inﬂuence on the piping erosion susceptibility in the Zarandieh watershed. This result indicates that geo-environmental and soil chemical variables are accountable for the expansion of piping erosion in the Zarandieh watershed. subsidence gully
Application of some Epidermal Coating Antitranspirant Products for Controlling Wheat Leaf Rust Caused by Puccinia triticina

his study aimed to evaluate the effect of spraying three epidermal coating antitranspirant products namely kaolin (Ka), magnesium carbonate (MgCO 3 ) and fulvic acid (FA) at different concentrations before rust inoculation on controlling wheat leaf rust disease. Results in seedling stage indicated that higher concentration of kaolin (6%) followed by fulvic acid (0.06) increased incubation period of cv. Sakha 93 compared with control treatment. However, opposite result was observed in case of cv. Sids 1, where MgCO 3 (6%) was the best one. The higher three concentrations of tested products decreased the number of pustules/cm 2 or seedling leaf area. Fulvic acid was the most effective one compared with kaolin and MgCO 3 . In case of pustule size, kaolin reduced the pustule size followed by MgCO 3 , while fulvic acid was the lowest one comparing with infected control. Scanning electron micrographs of wheat seedling leaves sprayed 24 h before inoculation showed deformed uredospore shape, abnormal germ tube and appressoria. Also, alter topography of wheat leaf surface compared with untreated leaves. Cross section in sprayed fulvic acid treatment showed increase in the thickness of spongy cell walls comparing with control treatment. Results obtained on wheat cv. Sids 1 adult plants sprayed 3, 7 and 10 days before inoculation (dbi) indicated that none of the tested products used significantly increased incubation period or latent period. On the other hand, concentrations and days before inoculation significantly affected these two parameters. Data obtained also indicated that area under disease progress curve (AUDPC) was decreased by application of these products and their concentrations, while number of pustules/cm 2 significantly affected by the tested product, dbi and the interaction between them. Also, these products changed the infection type from susceptible to moderately susceptible, moderately resistant or resistant according to the product used, concentration and dbi. These results were confirmed by decreasing rust severity and average coefficient of infection in different degrees according to the product used, concentration and dbi. Antitranspirant increased the plant pigments in treated plants compared to untreated infected ones. Anti-stress acid the caused The objective of the present study was designed to evaluate the effect of three antitranspirant products (kaolin, magnesium carbonate and fulvic acid) at different concentrations on leaf rust incidence, incubation period, infection type and pustule number/cm 2 as well as leaf area and pustule size in seedling stage. Also, the effect of these products on fungal morphological change using scanning electron microscope was studied and photographed. At adult stage, latent period, disease severity, type of infection, average coefficient of infection, area under disease progress curve and the photosynthetic pigments were determined.
Effects of Verapamil and Propranoloi on Early Afterdepolarizations and Ventricular Arrhythmias Induced by Epinephrine in Congenital Long QT Syndrome

Objectives. This study used monophasic action potentials to investigate the elects of verapamil and propranoloi on epinephrineinduced repolarization abnormalities in congenital long QT syndrome. Background. Early afterdepolarizations have been suggested to play a significant role in QT prolongation and ventricular arrhythmias in congenital long QT syndrome. Calcium channel blocking as well as beta-adrenergic blocking agents are reported to be effective in the management of this syndrome. Methods. Monophasie action potentials from 2 to 4 sites were recorded simultaneously in eight patients with the long QT syndrome (22 sites) and in eight control patients (23 sites) and were obtained during constant atrial pacing 1) before epinephrine infusion; 2) during epinephrine infusion (0.1 /xg/kg body weight min); 3) after verapamil injection (0.1 mg/kg) during epinephrine infusion; and 4) after both propranolol (0.1 mg/kg) and verapamil injections. Results. Early afterdepolarizations were recorded in two of the eight patients (2 of 22 sites) during the control state. During epinephrine infusion, early afterdepolarizations were recorded in six patients (six sites), and ventricular premature complexes were induced in three and torsade de pointes in one. Epinephrine prolonged 90% monophasic action potential duration from 348 _+ 48 (mean -+ SD) to 381 -+ 49 ms (22 sites, p < 0.0005) and increased the dispersion of action potential duration (difference between the longest and shortest action potential duration) from 36 -+ 20 to 64 -+ 34 ms (p < 0.005). Verapamil eliminated (two sites) or reduced (four sites) early afterdepolarizations and abolished ventricular premature complexes in two of the three patients as well as suppressing torsade de pointes. Verapamil shortened the action potential duration to 355 -+ 28 ms (p < 0.01 vs. epinephrine) and decreased the dispersion to 44 -+ 19 ms (p < 0.05 vs. epinephrine). Propranolol further eliminated (two sites) or reduced (two sites) early afterdepolarizations, abolished veutricular premature complexes in the remaining one patient and further shortened the action potential duration to 337 -+ 32 ms (p = 0.09 vs. verapamil). In the control patients, none of the early afterdepolarizations, ventricular arrhythmias or marked prolongations of action potential duration were induced by epinephrine, and neither verapamU nor propranolol changed repolarization variables. Conclusions. These results indicate that both verapamil and propranolol can improve repolarization abnormalities induced by epinephrine in congenital long QT syndrome. (J Am CoU Cardiol 1995;26:1299-309)
The applicability of the ﬂow cytometric sperm chromatin structure assay in epidemiological studies*

The impact of demographic, lifestyle, and seminal factors on the sperm chromatin structure assay (SCSA) parameters was evaluated in a population of 277 healthy Danish men. This cohort was established within the framework of a European Concerted Action on occupational hazards to male reproductive capability in order to examine the possible reproductive effects of exposure to styrene or pesticides. The SCSA measures the susceptibility of sperm DNA to in-situ acid-induced denaturation, by multi-parameter ﬂow cytometric analysis after staining with the DNA-speciﬁc ﬂuorescent dye acridine orange. The green versus red bivariate cytogram patterns were quite variable among donors, showing a wide heterogeneity of sperm DNA denaturability. Nevertheless, in those cases where we had the possibility to measure two semen samples from the same donor, the cytogram pattern remained stable over time (0.64 < r < 0.78). Analysis of variance demonstrated that the SCSA results can be inﬂuenced by the age of the donor ( P < 0.0001), smoking habits ( P < 0.05), the presence of leukocytes and immature germ forms in the ejaculate ( P < 0.0001), and the duration of sexual abstinence ( P < 0.0001). Furthermore, the relationship between the SCSA data and sperm concentration, morphology, and vitality was (–0.22 < r < –0.46). Therefore, the SCSA provides independent and complementary measurements of semen quality and is thus a useful tool for epidemiological studies, but the effects of some confounders should be accounted for in the survey design and analysis.
to Lipopolysaccharide Adaptive Immune Response in Mice Exposed SAMHD1 Promotes the Antiretroviral

SAMHD1 is a potent HIV-1 restriction factor that blocks reverse transcription in monocytes, dendritic cells and resting CD4 + T cells by decreasing intracellular dNTP pools. However, SAMHD1 may diminish innate immune sensing and Ag presentation, resulting in a weaker adaptive immune response. To date, the role of SAMHD1 on antiretroviral immunity remains unclear, as mouse SAMHD1 had no impact on murine retrovirus replication in prior in vivo studies. Here, we show that SAMHD1 significantly inhibits acute Friend retrovirus infection in mice. Pretreatment with LPS, a significant driver of inflammation during HIV-1 infection, further unmasked a role for SAMHD1 in influencing immune responses. LPS treatment in vivo doubled the intracellular dNTP levels in immune compartments of SAMHD1 knockout but not wild-type mice. SAMHD1 knockout mice exhibited higher plasma infectious viremia and proviral DNA loads than wild-type mice at 7 d postinfection (dpi), and proviral loads inversely correlated with a stronger CD8 + T cell response. SAMHD1 deficiency was also associated with weaker NK, CD4 + T and CD8 + T cell responses by 14 dpi and weaker neutralizing Ab responses by 28 dpi. Intriguingly, SAMHD1 influenced these cell-mediated immune (14 dpi) and neutralizing Ab (28 dpi) responses in male but not female mice. Our findings formally demonstrate SAMHD1 as an antiretroviral factor in vivo that could promote adaptive immune responses in a sex-dependent manner. The requirement for LPS to unravel the SAMHD1 immunological phenotype suggests that comorbidities associated with a “ leaky ” gut barrier may influence the antiviral function of SAMHD1 in vivo.
Assessment of Effects of Traditional Exercise on Galvanic Skin Response, Pulse Rate, and Blood Pressure in Prehypertensive Patients Attending Out-patient

Psychological stress, in this era of urbanization, has become a part and parcel of our lives, has led to a serious problem affecting different life situations and carries a wide range of health-related disorders, and has to observe the effects of traditional exercise pranayama on galvanic skin response (GSR), pulse rate, and blood pressure (BP). This was an open-labeled, prospective, uncontrolled, single-centered, single-arm, comparative, and clinical intervention study conducted in the Department of Medicine, Janaki Medical College, for 2 months period January–February 2018 on 15 prehypertensive subjects. Of which 10 were male and 5 were females, all in the age group of 22–35 years with a body mass index of 19.63–30.11 with an average of 24.80. No significant change was seen when baseline GSR reading was compared with 15 th day reading, but on 30 th day significant change observed. When the baseline value of pulse was compared with that of the 15 th and 30 th days, a good positive change was seen in resting pulse. Similarly, BP recording also showed a good positive effect when baseline value was compared with that 15 th and 30 th days. The study concludes that practicing Pranayama on a regular basis increases the parasympathetic tone and blunts the sympathetic tone of the body. This has shown good beneficial effects on pulse, BP, and GSR.
Orthogonal non-Gaussianity in DBI Galileon: constraints from WMAP9 and prospects for Planck

In this note, we study constraints on primordial non-Gaussianity in DBI Galileon models in which an induced gravity term is added to the Dirac-Born-Infeld (DBI) action. In this model, the non-Gaussianity of orthogonal shape can be generated, which is slightly favoured by WMAP nine-year (WMAP9) data. We provide a relation between theoretical parameters and orthogonal/equilateral non-linear parameters using the Fisher matrix approach. In doing so, we include the effect of the CMB transfer functions and Planck noise properties by employing the recently developed \textsf{SONG} code. The relation is also shown in the effective theory language so that it can be applied to general single-field models. Using the bispectrum Fisher matrix for Planck, we derive forecasts for constraints on the theoretical parameters. We find that Planck can rule out the conventional DBI inflation model at a statistically significant level, provided that it measures the same central values as WMAP9 for equilateral and orthogonal non-Gaussianities.
Fluid and Electrolyte Homeostasis Sustained increases in skin blood ﬂow are not a prerequisite to initiate sweating during passive heat exposure

Sustained increases in skin blood ﬂow are not a prerequisite to initiate sweating during passive heat exposure. Am Physiol studies have observed a functional relationship between sweating and skin blood ﬂow. However, the implications of this relationship during physiologically relevant conditions remain unclear. We manipulated sudomotor activity through changes in sweating efﬁciency to determine if parallel changes in vasomotor activity are observed. Eight young men completed two trials at 36°C and two trials at 42°C. During these trials, air temperature remained constant while ambient vapor pressure increased from 1.6 to 5.6 kPa over 2 h. Forced airﬂow across the skin was used to create conditions of high (HiS eff ) or low (LoS eff ) sweating efﬁciency. Local sweat rate (LSR), local skin blood ﬂow (SkBF), as well as mean skin and esophageal temperatures were measured continuously. It took longer for LSR to increase during HiS eff at 36°C (HiS eff : 99 (cid:2) 11 vs. LoS eff : 77 (cid:2) 11 min, P (cid:3) 0.01) and 42°C (HiS eff : 72 (cid:2) 16 vs. LoS eff : 51 (cid:2) 15 min, P (cid:3) 0.01). In general, an increase in LSR preceded the increase in SkBF when expressed as ambient vapor pressure and time for all conditions ( P (cid:3) 0.05). However, both responses were activated at a similar change in mean body temperature (average across all trials, LSR: 0.26 (cid:2) 0.15 vs. SkBF: 0.30 (cid:2) 0.18°C, P (cid:4) 0.26). These results demonstrate that altering the point at which LSR is initiated during heat exposure is paralleled by similar shifts for the increase in SkBF. However, local sweat production occurs before an increase in SkBF, suggesting that SkBF is not necessarily a prerequisite for sweating.
Nondestructive detection of low temperature induced stress on postharvest quality of k (cid:1) apia type sweet pepper

Application of cold storage temperatures below optimum induces a high risk and threat of chilling injury (CI) in the case of sensitive commodities. Sweet pepper belongs to this group of vegetables, so our main objective was to investigate and monitor the effect of non-optimal temperatures (2.5 and 5 8 C) induced stress (chilling injury) on k (cid:1) apia type sweet pepper ( Capsicum annuum L. ) during its postharvest storage by nondestructive quality measuring methods. Fresh, semi-matured (reddish-green colored) samples of ‘ Kapit (cid:1) chlorophyll ﬂ uorescence imaging system. High resolution digital pictures were captured and analyzed for possible CI defects by means of surface color values (normalized RGB, hue and saturation). According to our results, the evaluated quality indices (DA-index ® , acoustic stiffness coef ﬁ cient, surface color parameters; F 0 , F m , F v and F v /F m chlorophyll ﬂ uorescence parameters) clearly represented the temperature dependent quality changes during low temperature storage, subsequently followed by ambient shelf-life. Samples stored under and at 5 8 C showed the chilling temperature stressed symptoms of delayed and partly retarded postharvest ripening, even under simulated shelf-life conditions, but without the onset and manifestation of the characteristic visible symptoms of chilling injury. This may raise doubts and suggest possible future research areas regarding the role of non-optimal cold storage temperatures induced stress, the effect of chilling injury contributing factors and consequences.
ROBUSTNESS OF PRODUCTIVITY ESTIMATES (cid:1)

Researchers interested in estimating productivity can choose from an array of methodologies, each with its strengths and weaknesses. We compare the robustness of ﬁve widely used techniques, two non- parametric and three parametric: in order, (a) index numbers, (b) data envelopment analysis (DEA), (c) stochastic frontiers, (d) instrumental variables (GMM) and (e) semiparametric estimation. Using simulated samples of ﬁrms, we analyze the sensitivity of alternative methods to the way randomness is introduced in the data generating process. Three experiments are considered, introducing randomness via factor price heterogeneity, measurement error and differences in production technology respectively. When measurement error is small, index numbers are excellent for estimating productivity growth and are among the best for estimating productivity levels. DEA excels when technologyis heterogeneous andreturns to scaleare notconstant. When measurement or optimization errors are nonnegligible, parametric approaches are preferred. Ranked by the persistence of the productivity differentials between ﬁrms (in decreasing order), one should prefer the stochastic frontiers, GMM, or semiparametric estimation methods. The practical relevance of each experiment for applied researchers is discussed explicitly.
The genetic architecture of shoot branching in Arabidopsis thaliana : A comparative assessment of candidate gene associations vs. QTL mapping

Association mapping focused on 36 genes involved in branch development was used to identify candidate genes for variation in shoot branching in Arabidopsis thaliana . The associations between four branching traits and moderate-frequency haplogroups at the studied genes were tested in a panel of 96 accessions from a restricted geographic range in Central Europe. Using a mixed-model association mapping method, we identified three loci – MORE AXILLARY GROWTH 2 ( MAX2 ), MORE AXILLARY GROWTH 3 ( MAX3 ), and SUPERSHOOT 1 ( SPS1 ) – that were significantly associated with branching variation. Based on a more extensive examination of the MAX2 and MAX3 genomic regions, we find that linkage disequilibrium in these regions decays within ~10 kb and trait associations localize to the candidate genes in these regions. When the significant associations are compared to relevant quantitative trait loci (QTLs) from previous L er × Col and Cvi × L er recombinant inbred line (RIL) mapping studies, no additive QTLs overlapping these candidate genes are observed, although epistatic QTLs for branching, including one that spans the SPS1 , are found. These results suggest that epistasis is prevalent in determining branching variation in A. thaliana, and may need to be considered in linkage disequilibrium mapping studies of genetically diverse accessions.
Modelling of Planetary Gravitational Microlensing Events

This thesis describes and develops procedures for the generation of theoretical lightcurves that can be used to model gravitational microlensing events that involve multiple lenses. Of particular interest are the cases involving a single lens star with one or more orbiting planets, as this has proven to be an effective way of detecting extrasolar planets. Although there is an analytical expression for microlensing lightcurves produced by single lensing body, the generation of model lightcurves for more than one lensing body requires the use of numerical techniques. The method developed here, known as the semi-analytic method, involves the analytical rearrangement of the relatively simple ‘lens equation’ to produce a high-order complex lens polynomial. Root-finding algorithms are then used to obtain the roots of this ‘lens polynomial’ in order to locate the positions of the images and calculate their magnifications. By running example microlensing events through the root-finding algorithms, both the speed and accuracy of the Laguerre and Jenkins-Traub algorithms were investigated. It was discovered that, in order to correctly identify the image positions, a method involving solutions of several ‘lens polynomials’ corresponding to different coordinate origins needed to be invoked. Multipole and polygon approximations were also developed to include finite source and limb darkening effects. The semi-analytical method and the appropriate numerical techniques were incorporated into a C++ modelling code at VUW (Victoria University of Wellington) known as mlens2. The effectiveness of the semi-analytic method was demonstrated using mlens2 to generate theoretical lightcurves for the microlensing events MOA-2009-BLG-319 and OGLE-2006-BLG-109. By comparing these theoretical lightcurves with the observed photometric data and the published models, it was demonstrated that the semi-analytic method described in this thesis is a robust and efficient method for discovering extrasolar planets.