Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Response of Levels and Split Application of Nitrogen in Green Manured Wetland Rice (Oryza sativa L.)

A field experiment was conducted during kharif 2006 and 2007 at crop research center, Meerut comprising combination of three levels of nitrogen (viz. 90, 120 and 150 kg N ha^(-1)) and four methods of nitrogen application (viz. 1/2 basal, 1/4 at tillering and 1/4 at PI; 1/4 basal, 1/2 at tillering and 1/4 at PI; 1/4 each at basal, tillering, PI and flowering; 1/2 at tillering, 1/4 at PI and flowering) in green manured wetland rice field. The experiment was laid down in Randomized Block Design with three replications. The grain yield of rice was highest with 120 kg N ha^(-1) (47.82 q/ha), which was statistically at par with 150 kg N ha^(-1) (49.71 q ha^(-1)) and among different methods of nitrogen application, 1/2 basal, 1/4 at tillering and 1/4 at PI it was recorded 49.76 q ha^(-1). In general, nitrogen application up to 120 kg N ha^(-1) in green manured wetland rice field had significant effect on growth characters (viz. plant height, shoot numbers and dry matter accumulation), yield attributes, yield and N-uptake. The above character recorded maximum values with nitrogen application as 1/2 basal, 1/4 at tillering and 1/4 at PI followed by nitrogen application as 1/4 basal, 1/2 at tillering and 1/4 at PI stages. In the light of above findings it can be concluded that nitrogen application of 120 kg N ha^(-1) applied in three splits as 1/2 basal, 1/4 at tillering and 1/4 at PI stage in green manured wetland rice field is beneficial for rice crop.
Colorectal cancer awareness and its predictors among adults aged 50–74 years attending primary healthcare in the State of Qatar: a cross-sectional study

Objective The current study aimed to assess the awareness of colorectal cancer (CRC) symptoms and risk factors among the at-risk population visiting the primary healthcare (PHC) centres in Qatar. The secondary objective was to assess the differences in awareness among population subgroups. Design A cross-sectional study design was employed. Setting The study was conducted across six PHC centres in Qatar. Participants Patients, or their accompanying people, aged 50–74 years and Arabic or English speakers, were recruited from the main waiting areas of the selected PHC centres. Data collection and analysis Participants were interviewed using the validated Bowel/Colorectal Cancer Awareness Measure questionnaire. A non-probability convenient sampling technique was applied to recruit participants. Descriptive and analytic statistics were used when appropriate. A multivariate linear regression model was constructed to identify the independent predictors of CRC awareness. Results The study includes 448 participants (response rate=87%). The mean age of the participants was 58.48 years (SD ±6.37). The mean awareness score among the participants was 3.63/9 (SD ±2.7) for CRC symptoms and 5.43/11 (SD ±3.3) for CRC risk factors. The overall mean awareness score was 9.03/20 (SD ±5.5). Multivariate linear regression identified the female gender (2.52 (95% CI 1.15 to 3.88)), non-Qatari Arab (2.91 (95% CI 1.64 to 4.18)) or non-Arab nationalities (1.76 (95% CI 0.28 to 3.24)), and tertiary education (4.10 (95% CI 2.55 to 5.66)) as independent predictors of higher CRC awareness. Conclusion In general, the awareness of CRC symptoms and risk factors was low among the at-risk population in Qatar. Specifically, the regression analysis showed men, Qataris, and those with no formal education had low awareness of CRC symptoms and risk factors. Such results emphasise the importance of tailoring future educational campaigns that are relevant, specific and appealing to such cohort.
Gastroduodenal Fistula: A Rare Finding With an Atypical Presentation

Gastroduodenal fistula (GDF) or double pylorus is a rare, often asymptomatic condition with a prevalence of approximately 0.02-0.08%. The reported cases have been mainly in Asian countries and more prevalent in males than females. Although the etiology is unclear, Helicobacter pylori and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug use have been associated with the formation of GDF. We present the case of a 65-year-old female with alcoholic cirrhosis and recurrent vomiting who was found to have an antral ulcer. The case includes the serial endoscopic examinations over the period of 7 years and shows the antral ulcer which fistulized into the duodenal bulb creating double pylorus.
Antioxidant properties and prevention of cell cytotoxicity of Phlomis persica Boiss.

The free radical scavenging capacity, reducing power and inhibition of β–carotene peroxidation of Phlomis persica (PP) extracts was investigated. In addition, the effect of this extract on reduction of the hydrogen peroxide-induced cytotoxicity in nonimmortalized fibroblast was examined. The extracts showed free radical scavenging capacity, and the ethyl acetate extract showed marked effect on inhibition of lipid peroxidation similar to that of gallic acid. These results were further supported by a protective effect of Phlomis crude extract on H2O2-induced cytotoxicity in human nonimmortalized fibroblasts.
Evaluation of Germination Properties of Different Durum Wheat Genotypes under Osmotic Stress

Seed germination of each seed is considered as one of the first and most fundamental life stages of a plant, so that the success in growth and yield production is also dependent on this stage. Soil moisture is one of the factors limiting crops germination, especially in rainfed areas. In such areas, the varieties have great importance that are tolerant to drought in the stage of germination and emergence and have high yield potential. The present study were carried out to evaluate germination properties of durum wheat genotypes under osmotic stress conditions of laboratory. Results showed that Nakhjivan3 genotype had the maximum germination index rate and final germination percent in the both of normal and stress conditions. This genotype was places in a class of mean comparisons for root length, wet weight and dry weight. In terms of other traits, it had also noticeable amounts. The reason of high in evaluated traits in this genotype, was related to its potential in terms of all traits. Also, this genotype had the maximum tolerance related to others pay attention to GMP, MP and STi osmotic pressure tolerance indices. Therefore, we can introduce Nakhjivan3 genotype in the varieties selection with high germination, radical and plumule production and resistance resources to osmotic stress indices.
Lymphocyte-to-C-Reactive Protein Ratio: A Novel Predictor of Adverse Outcomes in COVID-19

Background Systemic inflammation elicited by a cytokine storm is considered a hallmark of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). This study aims to assess the validity and clinical utility of the lymphocyte-to-C-reactive protein (CRP) ratio (LCR), typically used for gastric carcinoma prognostication, versus the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) for predicting in-hospital outcomes in COVID-19. Methods A retrospective cohort study was performed to determine the association of LCR and NLR with the need for invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV), dialysis, upgrade to an intensive care unit (ICU) and mortality. Independent t-test and multivariate logistic regression analysis were performed to calculate mean differences and adjusted odds ratios (aORs) with its 95% confidence interval (CI), respectively. Results The mean age for NLR patients was 63.6 versus 61.6, and for LCR groups, it was 62.6 versus 63.7 years, respectively. The baseline comorbidities across all groups were comparable except that the higher LCR group had female predominance. The mean NLR was significantly higher for patients who died during hospitalization (19 vs. 7, P ≤ 0.001) and those requiring IMV (12 vs. 7, P = 0.01). Compared to alive patients, a significantly lower mean LCR was observed in patients who did not survive hospitalization (1,011 vs. 632, P = 0.04). For patients with a higher NLR (> 10), the unadjusted odds of mortality (odds ratios (ORs) 11.0, 3.6 - 33.0, P < 0.0001) and need for IMV (OR 3.3, 95% CI 1.4 - 7.7, P = 0.008) were significantly higher compared to patients with lower NLR. By contrast, for patients with lower LCR (< 100), the odds of in-hospital all-cause mortality were significantly higher compared to patients with a higher LCR (OR 0.2, 0.06 - 0.47, P = 0.001). The aORs controlled for baseline comorbidities and medications mirrored the overall results, indicating a genuinely significant correlation between these biomarkers and outcomes. Conclusions A high NLR and decreased LCR value predict higher odds of in-hospital mortality. A high LCR at presentation might indicate impending clinical deterioration and the need for IMV.
Evaluation of Roles of MicroRNA-21 and MicroRNA-18a in Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma and Comparison of Their Changes in Expression Post-Chemoradiotherapy

Background A number of circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) have been reported to be highly expressed in several cancers; whether their expression is associated with clinicopathological factors and prognosis in patients of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is still under investigation. Although studies have demonstrated their overexpression in tissues of ESCC, there are limited data for circulating miRNAs. Aim of this study was to evaluate the expressions of miRNA-21 and miRNA-18a in patients of ESCC and the effect of chemoradiotherapy (CRT) on expression of these miRNAs. Methods This was a case-control study conducted from September 2014 to December 2015 at Sri Aurobindo Medical College and Postgraduate Institute, Indore, India. We compared the expression of miRNA-21 and miRNA-18a in 30 ESCC patients and 30 healthy controls using TaqMan probe-based quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and changes in the expression in 16 patients of ESCC, who completed CRT. Results Both miRNA-21 and miRNA-18a had significantly higher levels of expression in ESCC patients than healthy controls (95% confidence interval (CI): 5.73 - 34.79; P < 0.002 and 95% CI: 3,361.36 - 6,744.23; P < 0.001), respectively. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis showed that combination of serum miRNA-18a and miRNA-21 overexpression could efficiently distinguish patients of ESCC from healthy controls. The miRNA-21 expression positively correlated with tumor invasion (P < 0.004), lymphatic metastasis (P < 0.011), distant metastasis (P < 0.038), and tumor stage (P < 0.001); however, there was no such association observed with miRNA-18a. In the treatment phase (post-CRT), a significant reduction (P < 0.001) was observed in both miRNAs (73.4% in miRNA-18a and 81.02% in miRNA-21). Conclusions Both miRNA-21 and miRNA-18a were highly overexpressed in patients of ESCC and their expressions changed significantly with CRT. These miRNAs may be useful tools for the diagnosis and assessment of treatment response in ESCC patients. Further studies will be needed to validate these findings using large number of patients.
The role of lipids in autophagy and its implication in neurodegeneration

Neurodegenerative diseases are, at present, major socio-economic burdens without effective treatments and their increasing prevalence means that these diseases will be a challenge for future generations. Neurodegenerative diseases may differ in etiology and pathology but are often caused by the accumulation of dysfunctional and aggregation-prone proteins. Autophagy, a conserved cellular mechanism, deals with cellular stress and waste product build-up and has been shown to reduce the accumulation of dysfunctional proteins in animal models of neurodegenerative diseases. Historically, progress in understanding the precise function of lipids has traditionally been far behind other biological molecules (like proteins) but emerging works demonstrate the importance of lipids in the autophagy pathway and how the disturbance of lipid metabolism is connected to neurodegeneration. Here we review how altered autophagy and the disturbance of lipid metabolism, particularly of phosphoinositols and sphingolipids, feature in neurodegenerative diseases and address work from the field that suggests that these potentially offer an opportunity of therapeutic intervention.
Rhythm Complexity Modulates Behavioral and Neural Dynamics During Auditory–Motor Synchronization

Abstract We addressed how rhythm complexity influences auditory–motor synchronization in musically trained individuals who perceived and produced complex rhythms while EEG was recorded. Participants first listened to two-part auditory sequences (Listen condition). Each part featured a single pitch presented at a fixed rate; the integer ratio formed between the two rates varied in rhythmic complexity from low (1:1) to moderate (1:2) to high (3:2). One of the two parts occurred at a constant rate across conditions. Then, participants heard the same rhythms as they synchronized their tapping at a fixed rate (Synchronize condition). Finally, they tapped at the same fixed rate (Motor condition). Auditory feedback from their taps was present in all conditions. Behavioral effects of rhythmic complexity were evidenced in all tasks; detection of missing beats (Listen) worsened in the most complex (3:2) rhythm condition, and tap durations (Synchronize) were most variable and least synchronous with stimulus onsets in the 3:2 condition. EEG power spectral density was lowest at the fixed rate during the 3:2 rhythm and greatest during the 1:1 rhythm (Listen and Synchronize). ERP amplitudes corresponding to an N1 time window were smallest for the 3:2 rhythm and greatest for the 1:1 rhythm (Listen). Finally, synchronization accuracy (Synchronize) decreased as amplitudes in the N1 time window became more positive during the high rhythmic complexity condition (3:2). Thus, measures of neural entrainment corresponded to synchronization accuracy, and rhythmic complexity modulated the behavioral and neural measures similarly.
Sustained and Transient Processes in Event-based Prospective Memory in Adolescence and Adulthood

Abstract Prospective memory (PM) refers to the cognitive processes associated with remembering to perform an intended action after a delay. Varying the salience of PM cues while keeping the intended response constant, we investigated the extent to which participants relied on strategic monitoring, through sustained, top–down control, or on spontaneous retrieval via transient bottom–up processes. There is mixed evidence regarding developmental improvements in event-based PM performance after the age of 13 years. We compared PM performance and associated sustained and transient neural correlates in 28 typically developing adolescents (12–17 years old) and 19 adults (23–30 years old). Lower PM cue salience associated with slower ongoing task (OT) RTs, reflected by increased μ ex-Gaussian parameter, and sustained increases in frontoparietal activation during OT blocks, both thought to reflect greater proactive control supporting cue monitoring. Behavioral and neural correlates of PM trials were not specifically modulated by cue salience, revealing little difference in reactive control between conditions. The effect of cue salience was similar across age groups, suggesting that adolescents are able to adapt proactive control engagement to PM task demands. Exploratory analyses showed that younger, but not older, adolescents were less accurate and slower in PM trials relative to OT trials than adults and showed greater transient activation in PM trials in an occipito-temporal cluster. These results provide evidence of both mature and still maturing aspects of cognitive processes associated with implementation of an intention after a delay during early adolescence.
Water mass transport variability to the North Icelandic shelf, 1994–2010

In the Denmark Strait between Greenland and Iceland, the north-flowing warm, saline Atlantic Water (AW) of the Irminger Current meets the south-flowing cold, relatively fresh Polar Water (PW) of the East Greenland Current. A mixture of these two surface water masses then flows along the shelf north of Iceland. The mixture can vary from being almost pure AW to consisting, to a large extent, of PW. The relative quantities of each water mass to some extent determine the productivity and the living conditions on the shelf north of Iceland. The flow has been monitored with current meters on a section north of Iceland since 1994, and these measurements, together with hydrographic data, are used to study its structure and variability. The amount of AW carried by the flow is calculated along with the associated heat transport. In the period 1994 –2010, the flow consisted on average of 68% of AW with a transport of 0.88 Sv and an associated heat transport of 24 TW. There is notable seasonal variation in the flow and strong interannual variability.
Effects of molecular crowding by saccharides on α‐chymotrypsin dimerization

Given the importance of protein complexes as therapeutic targets, it is necessary to understand the physical chemistry of these interactions under the crowded conditions that exist in cells. We have used sedimentation equilibrium to quantify the enhancement of the reversible homodimerization of α‐chymotrypsin by high concentrations of the osmolytes glucose, sucrose, and raffinose. In an attempt to rationalize the osmolyte‐mediated stabilization of the α‐chymotrypsin homodimer, we have used models based on binding interactions (transfer‐free energy analysis) and steric interactions (excluded volume theory) to predict the stabilization. Although transfer‐free energy analysis predicts reasonably well the relatively small stabilization observed for complex formation between cytochrome c and cytochrome c peroxidase, as well as that between bobtail quail lysozyme and a monoclonal Fab fragment, it underestimates the sugar‐mediated stabilization of the α‐chymotrypsin dimer. Although predictions based on excluded volume theory overestimate the stabilization, it would seem that a major determinant in the observed stabilization of the α‐chymotrypsin homodimer is the thermodynamic nonideality arising from molecular crowding by the three small sugars.
Comparative Analysis of Chilling Response in Cucumber Through Plastidic and Nuclear Genetic Effects Component Analysis

Chilling damage can cause major reductions in cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) yield. Cucumber plants can withstand a chilling event (i.e., tolerance and susceptibility), in which response is dictated primarily by maternally inherited plastid genomes or by the biparental contribution of a nuclear factor. To examine the modes of inheritance, exact reciprocal backcross cucumber populations (BC1-5), were created by crossing 'Chipper' (chilling-tolerant plastid, susceptible nucleus) and line North Carolina State University (NCSU) M29 (chilling-susceptible plastid, susceptible nucleus). These progeny and their parents were subjected to chilling stress (5.5 h at 4 8 Ci n 270mmolm -2 s -1 photosynthetic photon flux (PPF) cool white lighting) at the first true-leaf stage. The chilling response of individuals possessing either NCSU M29 or 'Chipper' cytoplasm in any generational comparison was not significantly different (P > 0.05) from that of the maternal plastid source (susceptible or tolerant). Moreover, lines within a plastid type did not differ significantly (P > 0.05) in chilling response despite unequal nuclear contributions demonstrating the absence of nuclear additive or dosage effects originating in 'Chipper' or NCSU M29. Additionally, line NC-76, previously identified as a nuclear source of chilling tolerance, performed intermediate to 'Chipper' and NCSU M29 in chilling response under these stress conditions. The F1 progeny derived from crossing both BC5 plastidic response types (susceptible and tolerant) with NC-76 (paternal parent) performed comparable to their plastid donors and were significantly different (P < 0.0001) from one another despite their heterozygous nuclear nature resulting from the contribution of the nuclear chilling-tolerant factor contributed by NC-76. The response of tolerant and susceptible BC5 lines (i.e., 'Chipper' plastid in the NCSU M29 background and NCSU M29 plastid in 'Chipper' background, respectively) was reversible by crossing BC progeny with an alternate chilling-response plastid type. It is concluded that under these chilling conditions, plastid effects determine tolerance or susceptibility in the cucumber germplasms examined.
Escaping Saddle Points in Constant Dimensional Spaces: An Agent-based Modeling Perspective

We study a large family of stochastic processes that update a limited amount in each step. One family of such examples is agent-based modeling, where one agent at a time updates, so the state has small changes in each step. A key question is how this family of stochastic processes is approximated by their mean-field approximations. Prior work shows that the stochastic processes escape repelling fixed points and saddle points in polynomial time. We provide a tight analysis of the above question. For any non-attracting hyperbolic fixed point and a sufficiently small constant ε >0, the process will be ε-far away from the fixed point in O(n log n) time with high probability. We also show that it takes time Ω(n log n) to escape such a fixed point with constant probability. This shows that our result is optimal up to a multiplicative constant. We leverage the above result and show that such stochastic processes can reach the neighborhood of some attracting fixed point in $O(nłog n)$ time with high probability. Finally, We show the power of our results by applying them to several settings: evolutionary game theory, opinion formation dynamics, and stochastic gradient descent in a finite-dimensional space.
On the (in-)approximability of Bayesian Revenue Maximization for a Combinatorial Buyer

We consider a revenue-maximizing single seller with mitems for sale to a single buyer whose value v(·) for the items is drawn from a known distribution Dof support k. A series of works by Cai et al. establishes that when each v(·) in the support of Dis additive or unit-demand (or c-demand), the revenue-optimal auction can be found in poly(m,k) time. We show that going barely beyond this, even to matroid-based valuations (a proper subset of Gross Substitutes), results in strong hardness of approximation. Specifically, even on instances with mitems and k ≤ m valuations in the support of D, it is not possible to achieve a 1/m1-ε-approximation for any ε>0 to the revenue-optimal mechanism for matroid-based valuations in (randomized) poly-time unless NP ⊆ RP (note that a $1/k$-approximation is trivial). Cai et al.'s main technical contribution is a black-box reduction from revenue maximization for valuations in class V to optimizing the difference between two values in class V. Our main technical contribution is a black-box reduction in the other direction (for a wide class of valuation classes), establishing that their reduction is essentially tight.