Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of Saliva for Monitoring Renal Function in Haemodialysis Patients at University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital

In this study, the concentrations of urea were assayed in both blood and saliva of 130 haemodialysis patients; before haemodialyis(pre-haemodialysis) and after haemodialysis (post haemodialysis); and 60 healthy individuals who made up the control group. The method used for urea assay was urease method. The mean±SD concentrations of salivary urea in pre and post haemodialysis patients, as well as control group, were 17±0.6 mmol/l, 9.1±0.5 mmol/l and 4.0±0.3 mmol/l respectively. The mean±SD concentrations of blood urea in pre and post haemodialysis patients, as well as control group, were 21.6±0.5 mmol/l, 9.1±0.4 mmol/l and 4.2±0.2 mmol/l respectively. The correlation coefficient between blood and salivary urea in pre-haemodialysis patients is 78.8% while that for post haemodialysis patients is 60.6% and for the control group is 90%. The ANOVA results of salivary urea in the three groups (pre, post and control) showed a significant difference with P-value ˂0.05. The ANOVA results of blood urea in the three groups (pre, post and control) showed a significant difference with P-value ˂0.05. From the various results obtained, saliva can serve as a diagnostic biofluid for renal disease especially with the salivary urea as the biomarker. Also, the salivary renal biomarker (urea) responds to changes in concentrations after therapeutic consideration. This study is in consonance with other literature that saliva is a diagnostic fluid for kidney disease; however, there is a need to carry out more research works to continually unveil the diagnostic potential of saliva in kidney disease.
Role of seed-borne inoculum of Rhizoctonia solani in sheath blight of rice

Rhizoctonia solani causing sheath blight of rice is reported to survive through soil and collateral hosts. Although it infects seed in field, role of seed-borne inoculum in disease development is not properly understood. During the present investigation seed samples were collected from sheath blight infected field (>90 %) and were stored at room temperature. Symptoms induced by the pathogen on seeds were recorded. No correlation was observed in degree of seed discolouration and isolation frequency of the pathogen. Survival of pathogen and its transmission from seed to emerging seedlings was observed at monthly intervals using paper towel, agar plate and sterilized soil medium methods separately treated with biocontrol agents ( Trichoderma harzianum, T. virens and Pseudomonas fluorescens) and fungicide (Carbendazim) treatment. The results showed that (i) paper towel method was most efficient method followed by sterilized soil medium method to assess the transmission of pathogen from seed to seedlings and (ii) the inoculum survived well in seeds from one season to another at room temperature. Biocontrol agents and carbendazim treatments proved that R. solani was internally seed-borne in nature. Inspite of good survival of the pathogen, its transmission to rice plants under field conditions was very poor.
Red Rice (Oryza sativa) Control Options in Soybeans (Glycine max)

Both alachlor at 3.6 kg ai/ha and metolachlor at 2.8 kg ai/ha applied preplant incorporated consistently controlled red rice 82% and 90%, respectively, over a 3-yr period. Averaged across years, only mefluidide at 0.14 kg ai/ha plus bentazon at 0.84 kg ai/ha, haloxyfop at 0.28 kg ai/ha, and quizalofop at 0.14 kg ai/ha applied postemergence controlled red rice comparable to the preplant herbicide treatments. High rates of sethoxydim and fluazifop (0.56 kg ai/ha), haloxyfop (0.28 kg ai/ha), and quizalofop (0.14 kg ai/ha) were needed to obtain soybean yields equivalent to alachlor and metolachlor.
Dimensions of School Climate Associated with Reports of Bullying and Victimization in a Setting Serving Predominantly Latino Youth.

Over the past decade, there has been increased recognition of the importance of school climate and school climate reform to address school violence. School climate has been found to have a significant impact on bullying reports and victimization, however correlations between these variables may differ among Latino, economically disadvantaged youth. Results indicated that reports of witnessing bullying and bullying victimization were correlated to the Teaching and Learning, Relationships, or Emotional Environment dimension, however no correlations were found with the Physical Environment, Community Engagement, and Morale in the School Community dimensions. Implications for school administrators, faculty, and staff are discussed.
Colony size explains the lifespan differences between queens and workers in eusocial Hymenoptera

Eusocial Hymenoptera show a unique divergence in lifespan of queens and workers; queens belong to the longest lived insects while workers in most eusocial species have significantly shorter lives. The different phenotypes within a colony emerge through reproductive division of labour, which is a characteristic trait of eusocial animals. Division of labour as a measure of organismal complexity increases with colony size in eusocial species similar to the increase of complexity with size that has been shown for the whole range of living organisms. We show that queen and worker lifespan diverge in closely related species representing the transition from solitary to social life and show that queen and worker lifespan are correlated if colony size is taken into account: with increasing colony size the lifespan differential between queen and worker increases, whereas neither queen nor worker lifespan is associated with colony size. Additionally, the lifespan differential is better explained by colony size than by the weight differences between the castes. The divergence of phenotypes found is in line with the increasing specialization of subunits in larger organisms, which leads to increasing complexity. We argue that division of labour is acting to increase colony efficiency, which in turn shapes the investments made into individuals leading to short-lived workers and long-lived queens. Additionally, maintenance investments may be shaped due to the variable extrinsic risk faced by different castes. © 2013 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2013, 109, 710–724.
Leafy Spurge (Euphorbia esula) Response to AC 263,222

Leafy spurge is an exotic perennial weed that infests more than 1 million ha in North America and reduces rangeland carrying capacity. Experiments were initiated on range sites in Nebraska and North Dakota in 1994 and 1995 to determine the response of leafy spurge and other vegetation to AC 263,222. Herbicide treatments evaluated included AC 263,222 at 0 to 280 g ai/ha, picloram at 560 g ai/ha plus 2,4-D at 1,120 g ae/ha, and quinclorac at 1,120 g ai/ha. In Nebraska, a single application of AC 263,222 in the fall at 140 g/ha provided ≥ 90% leafy spurge control 11 to 12 mo after treatment. At Jamestown, ND, leafy spurge control increased to almost 90% and stem density declined to two shoots/m2 12 mo after the second consecutive fall application of AC 263,222 at 140 g/ha. At Hankinson, ND, leafy spurge control was ≤ 50% when AC 263,222 was applied in the fall only, but increased to > 80% when AC 263,222 was applied in the fall and again at 70 or 140 g/ha in the spring. There were no differences in herbage biomass of established cool- and warm-season grasses where AC 263,222 at 140 g/ha, picloram plus 2,4-D, quinclorac, or no herbicide was applied in the fall. In contrast, application of AC 263,222 in the fall and again in the spring usually reduced cool-season grass biomass.
Minimum Wage Hikes, Innovation, and Corporate Investment

This paper studies how minimum wage policies affect capital investment using the industrial census of manufacturing firms in China, where minimum wage policies vary across counties. Exploiting minimum wage policy discontinuities at county borders, we find that, following minimum wage hikes, firms increase capital investment, patent outputs, and machine imports. The investment response to minimum wage hikes is stronger for firms that are labor-intensive, that have more room for technological improvement, and that cannot sufficiently pass on labor costs to consumers. A natural experiment based on county jurisdictional changes further assures the causal relationship.
An evaluation of the antioxidant and antimicrobial effectiveness of different forms of garlic and BHA in emulsion-type sausages during refrigerated storage.

The antioxidant and antimicrobial effects of each of different forms of garlic and BHA in emulsion-type sausage at 4C for 0, 10, 20 and 30 days were investigated. The treatments were divided into five groups: control, 30 g of fresh garlic /kg of sausage, 9 g of garlic powder /kg of sausage, 100 mL of garlic extract/kg of sausage and 0.1 g of BHA/kg of sausage. pH, peroxide value (POV), thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS), residual nitrite contents (RN) and total aerobic plate count (TAPC) were evaluated during storage. pH values and RN contents showed a significant decrease in all treatments during storage days. With the exception of POV value at 30 days of storage, an increase in POV, TBARS and TAPCs was observed in all treatments as storage time increased. In addition, the treatment with different forms of garlic and BHA during storage reduced pH, POV, TBARS, RN and TAPCs when compared with control. Consequently, the use of fresh garlic had much better antioxidant and antimicrobial effectiveness than other treatments. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS Antioxidant or antimicrobial effectiveness is one of the major factors related to consumer acceptance for determining the quality of meat and meat products and their shelf life. The current study can be applied to prevent lipid oxidation and growth of microorganism in emulsion-type sausage and to produce new sausage formulations for a gradually increasing consumer acceptance. Based on the results, different forms of garlic can be used to improve oxidative stability of emulsion-type sausage and decrease the growth of microorganisms proving its antioxidant and antimicrobial effectiveness. The employment of natural additives in food preparations is perceived by consumers as a healthier practice than the addition of synthetic additives.
Defining ‘Professionalism’ : A Social Constructivist Analysis of Generational Conceptions

Previous research has linked the concept of professionalism in several fields such as marketing, journalism, and healthcare with ethical behavior of employees (Ellingson, 2011). However, none of these studies have provided a clear definition of professionalism. Given the general importance of ethics in organizations, a consistent definition of professionalism seems important to identify (Faber, 2011). Studies have also shown that various generations view what comprises ethical behavior differently (Schullery, 2013). Structuration theory suggests that both professionalism and ethics are socially constructed through interaction; as such, understanding how people believe professionalism is enacted (and thereby defined) seems vitally important, as does examining whether this definition varies between generations. Using thematic analysis of open-ended survey responses from participants in a variety of age ranges and fields, this study examines how different generations conceive of what communicative behaviors constitute professionalism. INTRODUCTION RESULTS
The Origins of Angiosperms and their Biological Consequences

List of contributors Preface 1. Introduction to angiosperms E. M. Friis, W. G. Chaloner and P. R. Crane 2. The origin of angiosperms J. A. Doyle and M. J. Donoghue 3. Global palaeogeography and palaeoclimate of the Late Cretaceous and Early Tertiary Judith Totman Parrish 4. Mid-Cretaceous to Early Tertiary vegetation and climate: evidence from fossil leaves and woods G. R. Upchurch, Jr and J. A. Wolfe 5. Vegetational consequences of angiosperm diversification P. R. Crane 6. Time of appearance of floral features E. M. Friis and W. L. Crepet 7. The evolution of insect pollination in angiosperms W. L. Crepet and E. M. Friis 8. Interactions of angiosperms and herbivorous tetrapods through time S. L. Wing and B. H. Tiffney 9. Dinosaurs and land plants M. J. Coe, D. L. Dilcher, J. O. Farlow, D. M. Jarzen and D. A. Russell 10. Vegetational and mammalian faunal changes in the Early Tertiary of southern England M. E. Collinson and J. J. Hooker Classification of plants and animals Stratigraphic table Glossary Index.
FUS/TLS in Stress Response - Implications for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: A Dissertation

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease is a fatal neurodegenerative disease. ALS is typically adult onset and is characterized by rapidly progressive loss of both upper and lower motor neurons that leads to death usually within 3-5 years. About 90% of all the cases are sporadic with no family history while the remaining 10% are familial cases with mutations in several genes including SOD1 , FUS/TLS , TDP43 and C9ORF72 . FUS/TLS (Fused in Sarcoma/Translocated in Liposarcoma or FUS) is an RNA/DNA binding protein that is involved in multiple cellular functions including DNA damage repair, transcription, mRNA splicing, RNA transport and stress response. More than 40 mutations have now been identified in FUS that account for about 5% of all the familial cases of ALS. However, the exact mechanism by which FUS causes ALS is unknown. While significant progress has been made in understanding the disease mechanism and identifying therapeutic strategies, several questions still remain largely unknown. The work presented here aims at understanding the normal functions of FUS as well as the pathogenic mechanisms by which it leads to disease. Several studies showed the association of mutant-FUS with structures made up of RNA and proteins, called stress granules that form under various stress conditions. However, little is known about the role of endogenous FUS under stress conditions. I have shown that under hyperosmolar conditions, the predominantly nuclear FUS translocates into the cytoplasm and incorporates into stress granules. The response is specific to hyperosmolar stress because FUS remains nuclear under other stress conditions tested, such as oxidative stress, ER stress and heat shock. The response of FUS is rapid, and cells with reduced FUS levels are susceptible to the hyperosmolar stress, indicating a pro-survival role for FUS. In addition to investigating the functions of endogenous wild-type (WT) FUS, the work presented also focuses on identifying the pathogenic mechanism(s) of FUS variants. Using various biochemical techniques, I have shown that ALS-causing FUS variants are misfolded compared to the WT protein. Furthermore, in a squid axoplasm based vesicle motility assay, the FUS variants inhibit fast axonal transport (FAT) in a p38 MAPK dependent manner, indicating a role for the kinase in mutant-FUS mediated disease pathogenesis. Analysis of human ALS patient samples indicates higher levels of total and phospho p38, supporting the notion that aberrant regulation of p38 MAPK is involved in ALS. The results presented in this dissertation 1) support a novel prosurvival role for FUS under hyperosmolar stress conditions and, 2) demonstrate that protein misfolding and aberrant kinase activation contribute to ALS pathogenesis by FUS variants.
Handbook of experimental pollination biology

Imagine that you get such certain awesome experience and knowledge by only reading a book. How can? It seems to be greater when a book can be the best thing to discover. Books now will appear in printed and soft file collection. One of them is this book handbook of experimental pollination biology. It is so usual with the printed books. However, many people sometimes have no space to bring the book for them; this is why they can't read the book wherever they want.
Redesign of an Interhelical Loop of the Bacillus thuringiensis Cry4B delta-endotoxin for Proteolytic Cleavage

The mosquito-larvicidal Cry4B protein from Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. israelensds was expressed in Escherichia coli. Upon activation by trypsin, the 130-kDa protoxin was processed into the 65-kDa active toxin containing two polypeptide fragments of ca. 47 and ca. 20 kDa. These two polypeptides are products of internal cleavages on the exposed loop connecting helices 5 and 6 in the seven-helical bundle domain. PCR-based mutagenesis was employed to introduce an additional cleavage site into the loop connecting helices 3 and 4. A series of amino acid changes were introduced into the targeted loop, resulting in seven mutant protoxins. Upon digestion with trypsin, a group of mutants with arginine introduced into the loop (EPRNQ, EPNRNQ, EPRNP, ESRNP and SSRNP) produced polypeptide products similar to those of the wild type (EPNNQ). When the loop, SSRNP, was expanded by an insertion of either asparagine (NSSRNP) or valine (VSSRNP), an additional cleavage was detected with proteolytic products of 47,12 and 6 kDa. This cleavage was confirmed to be at the introduced arginine residue by N-terminal sequencing. The mosquito larvicidal assay against Aedes aegypti demonstrated a relatively unchanged toxicity for the mutants without cleavage and reduced toxicity for those with an additional cleavage.
The evolution of maturation in Daphnia

Maturation is a key life history transition for many organisms, due to the importance of age and size at maturity in determining fitness. Understanding how maturation phenotypes evolve requires an appreciation of the underlying ontogenetic mechanisms, including the maturation threshold, which determines when an individual ‘decides’ to mature. Maturation thresholds are poorly understood, and little is known about how phenotypically plastic or genetically variable they are, or how variable thresholds influence fitness. In this thesis the evolution of maturation thresholds is investigated using the crustaceans Daphnia magna and D. pulex. A comprehensive approach to modelling the maturation process found that the maturation threshold was a developmentally plastic trait in response to variable resource availability, and more closely resembled a process with a rate than a discrete switch. The maturation threshold also differed between genotypes for both species, and these differences were more apparent in D. magna than D. pulex. A second study of maturation in D. magna identified clone-specific parental effects in the threshold. Furthermore, these parental effects influenced growth, and reaction norms for age and size at maturity were a product of interacting effects between both growth and maturation threshold. A microarray study of gene expression changes in D. pulex found that most gene expression changes during maturation were continuous, further supporting the idea that the threshold is better thought of as a rate than a switch. This study also identified increases in vitellogenin transcripts, indicating the allocation of resources towards reproduction, and potential mechanisms for epigenetic inheritance and endocrine control of maturation. Finally the fitness consequences of variation in the maturation threshold were investigated in D. magna. Genotypes with a smaller threshold had a higher intrinsic rate of population increase, but threshold size did not correlate well with competitive success when five clones were directly competed with each other, suggesting that interactions with other factors were influencing fitness. The findings of this thesis suggest that maturation thresholds are not based on a single fixed state, but are responsive to environmental variation. The presence of heritable variation and transgenerational effects in these developmentally plastic traits suggests an important and adaptive role for them in the evolution of age and size at maturity.
Quantitative Genetic Studies in Tuberose (Polianthes Tuberosa Linn.)

Genetic variability, heritabilitv and genetic advance of different yield contributing characters were studied in nine tuberose (Polianthes tuberosa Linn.) varieties viz., Local Single, Local Double, Shringar, Suvasini, Variegaled, Vaibhav, Prajwal Hyderabad Single and Hyderabad Double. Moderate degree of variability was observed for all the characters under study. Very high estimates of heritability coupled with moderate to high genetic advance as per cent of mean was noticed for 100 floret weight, spike weight, weight of bulbs/plant, length of flower stalk, plant height and rachis length.
Typification of Gyromitra perlata, type-species of the subgenus Discina (Discinaceae)

Peziza perlata Fr. , basionym of Gyromitra perlata, is the type-species of the subgenus Discina. As many old names attached to supposed well-known species, its type is not clearly defined. Based on a sample from Fries’ herbarium, we propose the neotypification of this name to fix the main morphological and microscopic characters of the species
Biogenic Amines in Iced and Temperature-Abused Tropical Fish

Abstract Formation of five biogenic amines in 6 iced, temperatureabused tropical fish, and in temperate water Atlantic mackerel was investigated. Spermidine did not change, while histamine, cadaverine, putrescine, and spermine varied differently in the tropical fish. Histamine was significantly higher in skipjack (Euthynnus pelamis), rabbitfish (Siganus oramin), and little mackerel (Rastrelliger kanagurta). Cadaverine and putrescine were significantly higher in skipjack and little mackerel but not in rabbitfish. Only histamine and spermine were significantly different in rabbitfish. Skipjack, rabbitfish and little mackerel are potentially scom-brotoxic. Parrotfish (Callyodon gutatus), barracuda (Sphyraena japonica) and scavengerfish (Lethrinus nebulosus) showed no evidence of potential scombrotoxicity. The 5 amines were higher in ungutted mackerel than in the tropical fish. Iced, eviscerated tropical fish have a much lower potential for scombrotoxicity than ungutted temperate mackerel stored under comparable time/temperature conditions.
New records of eutardigrades (Tardigrada) from Faial and Pico Islands, the Azores, with the description of two new species

Five eutardigrade species from the Azores are reported in this study. Three of them are new records for the Azores, and another two, Macrobiotus almadai sp. nov. and Doryphoribius picoensis sp. nov., are new to science. Macrobiotus almadai sp. nov. belongs to the hufelandi group but it differs from the other species of the group in some characters of buccopharyngeal apparatus (narrow buccal tube, buccal armature without bands of teeth) and eggs (the terminal disc of processes may appear smooth, but in some orientations it shows very small teeth). Doryphoribius picoensis sp. nov. has cuticle with undulations and some small gibbosities and pharyngeal bulb with two macroplacoids and neither microplacoid nor septulum. It differs from D. macrodon Binda, Pilato & Dastych, 1980, in having no color, indistinct gibbosities, different buccal armature and claws of hind legs shorter than those of the other legs. It differs from D. maranguensis Binda & Pilato, 1995 by: absence of small cuticular tubercles, claws of the hind legs shorter than those of the other legs, small lunules present.