Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Outer Membrane Vesicles of Helicobacter pylori 7.13 as Adjuvants Promote Protective Efficacy Against Helicobacter pylori Infection

Helicobacter pylori(H. pylori), a gram-negative bacterium in the human stomach with global prevalence, is relevant to chronic gastrointestinal diseases. Due to its increasing drug resistance and the low protective efficacy of some anti-H. pylori vaccines, it is necessary to find a suitable adjuvant to improve antigen efficiency. In our previous study, we determined that outer membrane vesicles (OMVs), a multicomponent secretion generated by gram-negative bacteria, of H. pylori were safe and could induce long-term and robust immune responses against H. pylori in mice. In this study, we employed two common vaccines, outer membrane proteins (OMPs) and whole cell vaccine (WCV) to assess the adjuvanticity of OMVs in mice. A standard adjuvant, cholera toxin (CT), was used as a control. Purified H. pylori OMVs used as adjuvants generated lasting anti-H. pylori resistance for 12 weeks. Additionally, both systematic and gastric mucosal immunity, as well as humoral immunity, of mice immunized with vaccine and OMVs combinations were significantly enhanced. Moreover, OMVs efficiently promoted Th1 immune response, but the response was skewed toward Th2 and Th17 immunity when compared with that induced by the CT adjuvant. Most importantly, OMVs as adjuvants enhanced the eradication of H. pylori. Thus, OMVs have potential applications as adjuvants in the development of a new generation of vaccines to treat H. pylori infection.
Oxygen tolerance of uptake hydrogenase in Azospirillum spp.

Uptake hydrogenase in Azospirillum lipoferum and A. amazonense was studied in vivo under N2-fixing and NH4Cl-grown conditions. N2-flxing cultures of both A. lipoferum and A. amazonense showed significant uptake-hydrogenase activities which reached their maximum in late log phase, N2-fixing A. amazonense had 5 times higher H2 uptake activity than N2-fixing A. lipoferum. Uptake-hydrogenase activities of both species were negligible in NH4Cl-grown cells. However, sparging with H2 during growth caused over a 100-fold induction of uptake-hydrogenase activities, and prolonged the activities into stationary phase, suggesting that hydrogenase synthesis requires exogenous H2 as inducer. Oxygen-dependent uptake-hydrogenase activity in A. amazonense was almost unaffected by 20 kPa O2, whereas in A. lipoferum and A. brasilense activities were inhibited by 40 and 100%, respectively, in 20 kPa O2. Air caused a strong repression of hydrogenase synthesis in both species. Nitrogenase was roughly equally O2 sensitive in al.
Advective transport of diazotrophs and importance of their nitrogen fixation on new and primary production in the western Pacific warm pool

The western Pacific warm pool (WPWP) is a region of low nutrient and chlorophyll concentrations in which new production is generally considered to be supported by upward fluxes of nitrate from the deep water. A 19 d observation of nitrogen (N2) fixation activity and diazotroph abundance along with primary production and nitrate assimilation rate was made at a fixed station in the WPWP. N2 fixation activities accounted for less than half the nitrate assimilation in the first 9 d, then rapidly increased in association with southward current inflow after day 10 and exceeded the nitrate assimilation rate on day 13. During days 11 to 15, soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP) at the surface (39 ± 15 nmol L−1) was significantly decreased compared with that in the first 10 d (61 ± 5 nmol L−1), and nano‐sized diazotrophs became abundant. Then SRP at the surface further decreased to 20 ± 5 nmol L−1 after day 17, and Trichodesmium and Richelia intracellularis increased concomitant with the reduction of nano‐sized diazotrophs abundance. Both chlorophyll a and primary production increased after day 10, while nitrate assimilation did not increase. Primary production was not correlated with nitrate assimilation but was significantly correlated with N2 fixation, indicating that N2 fixation‐derived nitrogen was the primary source supporting primary production. Time‐series revealed that advective transport of diazotrophs played a critical role in stimulating new and primary production and changed the nutrient inventory.
Modulation of Intrinsic Brain Connectivity by Implicit Electroencephalographic Neurofeedback

Despite the increasing popularity of neurofeedback, its mechanisms of action are still poorly understood. This study aims to describe the processes underlying implicit electroencephalographic neurofeedback. Fifty-two healthy volunteers were randomly assigned to a single session of infra-low frequency neurofeedback or sham neurofeedback, with electrodes over the right middle temporal gyrus and the right inferior parietal lobule. They observed a moving rocket, the speed of which was modulated by the waveform derived from a band-limited infra-low frequency filter. Immediately before and after the session, the participants underwent a resting-state fMRI. Network-based statistical analysis was applied, comparing post- vs. pre-session and real vs. sham neurofeedback conditions. As a result, two phenomena were observed. First, we described a brain circuit related to the implicit neurofeedback process itself, consisting of the lateral occipital cortex, right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, left orbitofrontal cortex, right ventral striatum, and bilateral dorsal striatum. Second, we found increased connectivity between key regions of the salience, language, and visual networks, which is indicative of integration in sensory processing. Thus, it appears that a single session of implicit infra-low frequency electroencephalographic neurofeedback leads to significant changes in intrinsic brain connectivity.
Are Hated Stocks Good Investments?

In this paper, we study the performance of hated stocks, those stocks with the average analyst recommendation level of hold or worse. We show that from the beginning of 2009 to the end of 2014, this group of hated stocks in S&P 500 performs better than the other stocks in S&P 500. When we extend the sample to all stocks with at least five analysts following, hated stocks again outperform non-hated stocks in the same time period. Digging deeper into this result, we find that this result is driven by two factors: the impact of the time period of 2009 and 2010, and low priced stocks. If we start the strategy of investing in the group of hated stocks at the beginning of 2011, we do not see a significant outperformance. If we exclude low priced stocks, there is no significant outperformance of the hated stocks starting from 2009.
With Great Power Comes Great Flexibility: The Impact of Prestigious CEO Awards on Innovation

Contrary to the previous literature, we document that winning a prestigious CEO award can be beneficial to firms by reducing managerial career concerns and encouraging long-term productivity. Using propensity score matching techniques, we find that award-winning CEOs innovate more than the control group, both in terms of the number of patents and the number of citations per patent. This finding is consistent with both managerial flexibility and overconfidence theories, and inconsistent with the private benefits view. After further analysis, we show that there is a clear increase in CEO power and job security after winning a prestigious award and no such increase in several measures of overconfidence. We also document that the positive effect of CEO awards on innovation is weaker for firms with high institutional ownership. These results provide overall support for the managerial flexibility theory.
Does Self-Efficacy Affect Entrepreneurial Investment?

We empirically examine the effect of self-efficacy on entrepreneurial investment choices. We identify various attributes of entrepreneurial investment, and argue that higher self-efficacy is associated with more aggressive entrepreneurial investment decisions. We show that self-efficacy increases the likelihood of both being a nascent entrepreneur and creating an operating business. Self-efficacy also increases the proportion of personal wealth invested in the venture and the amount of hours per week the entrepreneur devotes to the venture. These results are significant even when controlling for other known characteristics associated with entrepreneurial investment. In contrast, we find no relationship between self-efficacy, or even risk preferences, and investment risk.
Growing Evidence for Human Health Benefits of Boron

Growing evidence from a variety of experimental models shows that boron is a bioactive and beneficial (perhaps essential) element for humans. Reported beneficial actions of boron include arthritis alleviation or risk reduction, bone growth and maintenance, central nervous system function, cancer risk reduction, hormone facilitation, and immune response, inflammation, and oxidative stress modulation. The diverse effects of boron indicate that it influences the formation and/or activity of an entity that is involved in many biochemical processes. Formation of boroesters with the ribose moiety of compounds involved in numerous reactions, such as S-adenosylmethionine and oxidized nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) might be the reason for boron bioactivity. Both animal and human data suggest that boron intakes should be >1.0 mg/d. Many people consume less than this amount. Thus, a low boron intake should be considered a health concern, which can be prevented by diets rich in fruits, vegetables, nuts, and pulses.
BIOGEOGRAPHIC IMPLICATIONS OF RECENT LOW-ELEVATION RECOLONIZATION BY NEOTOMA CINEREA IN THE GREAT BASIN

Abstract Homestead Cave, a paleontological site located in a low-elevation arid setting in the northern Bonneville Basin of northcentral Utah, documents the local extinction of Neotoma cinerea during the Middle Holocene. N. cinerea is present there today, and the Homestead Cave record suggests that recolonization likely occurred sometime prior to 1,000 years ago. This history supports the view (forwarded by T. E. Lawlor) that cross-valley dispersal by mammals that generally are most abundant in cooler and moister (and therefore higher elevation) parts of the Great Basin is still occurring, showing that Brown's model of Great Basin montane mammalian biogeography is incorrect. These dispersal patterns suggest that conservation efforts directed toward montane mammals in the Great Basin must include low-elevation access corridors to mountain masses.
Motor unit synchronization and the power spectrum of the electromyogram

AbstractSpectral analysis of the electromyogram, i.e., computation of its power spectrum, has proved useful in studies of muscle fatigue and in studies of the relative contribution of firing rate modulation to force production by muscles (Weytjens & Van Steenberghe, 1984a & b). The models on which the interpretation has been based either do not include realistic assumptions as to motor unit synchronization (Lago & Jones, 1977), or do not make use of the classical definition of the power spectrum of a stationary stochastic process as the Fourier transform of the autocorrelation function (Blinowska et ai, 1980). This paper presents a realistic extension of the Lago and Jones model and then lists equations for the power spectra and the cross-power spectra of two synchronized motor unit action potential trains (Muapts) derived using their relations with the auto- and cross-correlation, respectively (Weytjens & Van Steenberghe, 1984c), from which the effects of motor unit synchronization can easily be understood.
Composition, in vitro antioxidant and antitumor properties of essential oil from the seeds of Moringa oleifera

GC-MS analyses of M. oleifera essential oil revealed the presence of 24 components. Naphthalene was the major constituent of M. oleifera seeds essential oil representing (36%) followed by, Benzene isothiocyanatomethyl (34.89%). Antioxidant activity of M. oleifera essential oil has been determined by seven different test systems namely reducing power, chelating activity on Fe2+, free radical-scavenging, total antioxidant, superoxide radical scavenging, hydrogen peroxide scavenging and hydroxyl radical scavenging activities. A strong correlation was observed between the radical scavenging capacity and polarity of the essential oil which contains polar phytochemicals showed the strongest antioxidant effect in all test systems. In the MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazole-2- yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay, M. oleifera seeds essential oil showed a good cytotoxic activity against breast carcinoma cells (MCF-7), against colon carcinoma cells (HCT-116), hepatocellular carcinoma cells (HepG2), larynx carcinoma cells (HEP-2) and Cervical carcinoma cells (HELA) with IC50s = 10.2, 17.9, 10.0, 20.6 and 16. 5µg/ml, respectively. Overall, some components of M. oleifera seeds essential oil may have antioxidant, antitumor and chemotherapeutic activity.
REDUCING FALSE ABSENCES IN SURVEY DATA: DETECTION PROBABILITIES OF RED-BACKED SALAMANDERS

Abstract Surveys to determine the presence of a species may be used as the basis for monitoring programs, wildlife-habitat models, or management decisions. Errors in survey data can result from nondetections, where the species is present at the site but not detected in the survey. We designed an experiment to estimate the probability of detection of red-backed salamanders (Plethodon cinereus) using different sampling methods and salamander densities. Red-backed salamanders were introduced into enclosures (n = 124) that were randomly assigned to a sampling treatment (daytime cover-object searches or nighttime visual searches) and a density treatment (low or high densities). Probability of detection was significantly higher using daytime searches and in enclosures with higher salamander densities. Weather conditions influenced the probability of detection. Increases in temperature correlated with decreases in detection during daytime sampling. Low humidity limited detection during nighttime surveys. Recent rainfall was positively related to detection during nighttime surveys. Probabilities of detection estimates are important for future design and analysis of survey data. Because of the high mean probability of detection, daytime surveys of cover objects are recommended as the survey method of choice if only a small number of samples can be obtained. However, because of their lower variability, nighttime visual surveys are the recommended sampling method when multiple samples can be obtained. Daytime surveys may be most effective at determining presence or absence at a site, but nighttime surveys may be more useful for indices of population trends. Nondetections can be reduced by ensuring large sampling areas for daytime searches and multiple samples at the same location for nighttime searches.
Past Returns and the Perceived Sharpe Ratio

We find that human perception contradicts the market efficiency assertions that high return is accompanied by high risk and that past returns do not affect future prices. A survey of investors reveals that the last week realized returns are positively correlated with perceived returns and negatively correlated with perceived risk. Thus, in the human mind there is a free lunch opportunity, where the perceived Sharpe ratio is positively correlated with short-term past returns. As higher perceived Sharpe ratios are also followed by more actual stock buying, our study provides a novel explanation to the observed short-term autocorrelations in stock returns.
Mating Behavior and Evidence for Male-Produced Sex Pheromones in Leptoglossus clypealis (Heteroptera: Coreidae)

Abstract Mating behavior of the leaffooted bug Leptoglossus clypealis Heidemann was studied in the laboratory (27 ± 1°C, 60 ± 10% RH, photoperiod 16:8 [L:D] h). The mean premating period was 16.42 ± 0.42 d (mean ± SE). Males initiated courtship displays to females 8.13 ± 0.12 d after emergence. Paired adults mated 17.63 ± 2.02 times during their lifespan. The mean copulation duration was 3.85 ± 0.49 h. Copulations occurred throughout the day, but the majority (55%) took place during the 8 h scotophase. Mating behavior began with a male attracting a female from a distance, followed by the male approaching and courting the female at close range. Observations of mating behavior and bioassays indicated that the male produces a pheromone blend with both sex attractant and aphrodisiac functions. The male abdominal stretching behavior (stretching the ninth and part of the eighth abdominal segments frequently, and stroking them with the hind legs) during calling and courtship may aid in release and dispersal of male sex pheromone from the sex-specific ventral abdominal gland.
Chemical composition, bio-herbicidal and antifungal activities of essential oils isolated from Tunisian common cypress (Cupressus sempervirens L.)

The chemical composition of essential oils obtained by hydrodistillation from leaves, branches and female cones of Tunisian Cupressus sempervirens L. was determined by gas chromatography (GC) and CG-mass spectrometry (GC/MS) analysis, 52 compounds were identified; qualitative and quantitative differences between oils were observed. All oils were rich in monoterpene hydrocarbons, and the major constituents were α-pinene (27.5 to 35.8%), α-cedrol (7.7 to 19.3%), δ-3-carene (5.8 to 13.2%) and germacrene D (3.9 to 12.1%). Essential oils of C. sempervirens have shown a significant phytotoxic effect against the germination and seedling growth of four weeds: Sinapis arvensis L. , Trifolium campestre Schreb (dicots), Lolium rigidum Gaud and Phalaris canariensis L. (monocots). Tested oils strongly inhibited the germination and seedling growth of all weeds, in a dose dependent manner. The in vitro antifungal activity of the essential oil samples of C. sempervirens were evaluated against 10 cultivated crop fungi, and all samples have shown a significant antifungal activity against all tested fungi and it can be suggested to have the potential to be used as a bio-herbicide and alternatives fungicide. Key words: Cupressus sempervirens, essential oils, bio-herbicidal activity, antifungal potential, weeds, allelopathy.
Bispyribac–Sodium Efficacy on Early Watergrass (Echinochloa oryzoides) and Late Watergrass (Echinochloa Phyllopogon) as Affected by Coapplication of Selected Rice Herbicides and Insecticides

Abstract Experiments were conducted to evaluate the effect of application rate, growth stage, and tank mixing azimsulfuron, bentazon, MCPA, propanil, or cyhalofop on the efficacy of bispyribac–sodium against early watergrass and late watergrass from rice fields in northern Greece. Mixtures of bispyribac–sodium with the insecticides carbaryl, diazinon, and dichlorvos were also evaluated. Bispyribac–sodium (24 to 36 g ai/ha) applied alone at the three- to four-leaf growth stage provided 89 to 100% control of early watergrass and 84 to 100% control of late watergrass. When bispyribac–sodium was applied alone at the five- to six-leaf growth stage of early watergrass and late watergrass, control ranged from 78 to 100% and 71 to 100%, respectively. Mixtures of bispyribac–sodium with azimsulfuron provided better control of both species at any growth stage than bispyribac–sodium applied alone. On the contrary, mixtures of bispyribac–sodium with bentazon, MCPA, or propanil were less effective on both species at any growth stage than bispyribac–sodium applied alone. A slight efficacy reduction occurred on both species for the mixture of bispyribac–sodium with cyhalofop. Mixtures of bispyribac–sodium with the insecticides carbaryl or dichlorvos showed reduced efficacy on both species, whereas increased efficacy on both species was observed for mixtures of bispyribac–sodium with diazinon as compared with the single application of bispyribac–sodium. Nomenclature: Azimsulfuron; bentazon; bispyribac–sodium; carbaryl; cyhalofop; diazinon;dichlorvos; MCPA; propanil; early watergrass, Echinochloa oryzoides (Ard.) Fritsch ECHOR;late watergrass, Echinochloa phyllopogon (Stapf) Koss. ECHPH; rice, Oryza sativa L
Understanding the Effect of an Emissions Trading Scheme on Electricity Generator Investment and Retirement Behaviour: The Proposed Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme

The objective of a greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions trading scheme (ETS) is to reduce emissions by transitioning the economy away from the production and consumption of goods and services that are GHG intensive. A GHG ETS has been a public policy issue in Australia for over a decade. The latest policy initiative on an ETS is the proposed Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (CPRS). A substantial share of Australia’s total GHG reduction under the CPRS is expected to come from the electricity generation sector. This paper surveys the literature on investment behaviour under an ETS. It specifically focuses on the relationship between the design of an ETS and a generator’s decisions to invest in low emissions plant and retire high emissions plant. The proposed CPRS provides the context for presenting key findings along with the implications for the electricity generation sector’s transition to lower emissions plant. The literature shows that design features such as the method of allocating permits, the stringency of the emissions cap along with permit price uncertainty, provisions for banking, borrowing and internationally trading permits, and the credibility of emissions caps and policy uncertainty may all significantly impact on the investment and retirement behaviour of generators.
Genetic diversity of horsegram germplasms

Horsegram germplasms were collected from different parts of Eastern India. The genetic divergence among 50 accessions was estimated following Mahalanobis‘ D2 technique and canonical analysis. The genotypes formed 10 different Clusters. Close correspondence in cluster composition was found between D2 and canonical analysis. No relationship was found between genetic divergence and geographic origin in the formation of clusters. Wide variability among the germplasms were found. flowering duration, seed yield per plant 100 seed weight, soluble protein percentage and days to flowering were the major contributors to divergence. Suggestion has been made for selection of parents in hybridization programme.
Effects of Ethanol on α‐Adrenergic and β‐Adrenergic Agonist‐Stimulated β‐Endorphin Release and cAMP Production in Hypothalamic Cells in Primary Cultures

We have previously shown that low concentrations of ethanol rapidly stimulate beta-endorphin (beta-EP) release from hypothalamic neurons in primary cultures and that chronic exposures to these concentrations of ethanol desensitize beta-EP neurons to ethanol challenges. We have also shown that chronic ethanol desensitizes dibutyryl cAMP-, adenosine-, and prostaglandin E1-stimulated beta-EP release and the cAMP content in hypothalamic neurons. In this study, we determined the effects of ethanol (50 mM) on beta-adrenergic agonist (isoproterenol) or alpha-adrenergic agonist (l-phenylephrine)-induced beta-EP release and cellular contents of cAMP to identify whether ethanol causes heterologous desensitization of the adenylate cyclase system in this neuronal cell population. Both isoproterenol and l-phenylephrine increased beta-EP levels in culture media and elevated the cAMP content in cell extracts in a concentration (0.1 and 10 microM)-dependent fashion between 3 to 6 hr. A 50 mM dose of ethanol increased beta-EP and cAMP levels at 3 hr, but it did not elevate beta-EP and cAMP levels after 48 hr of exposure. Acute exposure (3 hr) of these cells to ethanol moderately enhanced the isoproterenol-stimulated and l-phenylephrine-stimulated levels of media beta-EP and intracellular levels of cAMP. However, chronic exposure (48 hr) to ethanol reduced the magnitude of both alpha- and beta-adrenergic receptor agonist-stimulated beta-EP release and cAMP production. These results confirm our previous findings that the ethanol action on beta-EP secretion is mediated by the cAMP system and further suggest that chronic ethanol causes heterologous desensitization of the adenylate cyclase system in the beta-EP neuronal cell population.