Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Genetic structure and random amplified polymorphic DNA diversity of the rapidly declining Angelica palustris (Apiaceae) in Eastern Germany in relation to population size and seed production

Angelica palustris (Besser) Hoffm. (Apiaceae) is a rare wetland community species that is currently rapidly declining because of changes in land use. In the present study, we analyzed patterns of random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) variation among nine populations of A. palustris in Germany to assess its overall genetic condition. We aimed to examine the level of genetic diversity as well as its local differentiation in relation to population size and geographic distancing between populations. Results achieved from φST statistics and amova indicated that most of the variability is distributed among individuals within the populations (57.7%), whereas among-population variation accounted for 30.2% of the variation. Variation between regions was 12.1%. This corresponds to the results of a multivariate analysis based on the asymmetric Soerensen similarity, which also suggested a strong population differentiation, as would be expected from a short-lived species with limited seed dispersal capacities that had never covered extensive areas in Eastern Germany. Consistently the geographic differentiation was not reflected in the RAPD profile. Significant correlations were noted between population size and the percentage of polymorphic loci (P < 0.05) and genetic diversity (P < 0.05). An analysis of seed production showed positive relationships between average seed number and levels of genetic variation. Our results support concerns regarding the loss of genetic diversity in endangered plant populations because this process might have harmful effects on reproductive fitness.
Adherence to methotrexate therapy among rheumatoid arthritis patients in Eastern India

Background: This study aims to identify adherence rate of methotrexate (MTX) therapy in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients of Eastern India and recognize factors contributing to treatment adherence in those patients.Methods: In this cross-sectional observational study, a total of 140 patients (17 males, 123 females; mean age 37.6±7.4 years) with pre-diagnosed RA attending the rheumatology outpatients clinic between February 2019 and January 2020 fulfilling the inclusion and exclusion criteria, were included. The patients were evaluated in terms of sociodemographic factors, clinical and medication details, disease activity score (DAS28-CRP) values and patient - doctor considerations that might contribute to treatment adherence. They filled out a series of standardised present questionnaires including the Morisky 8-item Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS-8). Data was analysed statistically and compounded.Results: Of the patients, 29 (20.7%) were adherent and 111 (79.3%) were non-adherent to medication with MTX. 65% were on MTX monotherapy and 35% on polytherapy with csDMARDs. 45.7% of the non-adherent forgot taking medication, 50.7% skipped during travel, 79.3% intentionally did not comply with strict regimen. The DAS28-CRP scores were much higher amongst non-adherent group and fewer reached remission as compared to adherent participants. Commonest reason for non-adherence being adverse drug reaction and financial constraints. Conclusions: This study showed a significantly higher adherence to MTX treatment compared to most previous studies. Adverse drug reactions, financial constraints, complex treatment regimen, long treatment duration, and frequent travel history significantly affect medication adherence in this patient population. Higher the adherence better the treatment response.
Vitamin E Composition of Some Seed Oils as Determined by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography with Fluorometric Detection

A high‐performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method is described for the simultaneous analysis of E vitamers α‐, and β‐, γ‐ and δ‐tocopherol and α‐tocotrienol in seed oils. After diluting the oils with n‐hexane, E vitamers are separated by HPLC and detected fluorometrically. Standardization is achieved, using electron‐impact mass spectrometry and HPLC. Vitamin E composition of several hot and cold pressed seed oils, originating from maize germs, olives, soy beans and from sesame, safflower and sunflower seeds, was investigated. No clear differences were observed between E vitamer concentrations of hot and cold pressed oils of the same origin. On the other hand, vitamin E composition of oils different origin varied widely. Of the oils examined, only maize germ oil contained α‐tocotrienol in detectable amounts (about 2%). Esterified E vitamers were not detected.
Modeling Tree Species Count Data in the Understory and Canopy Layer of Two Mixed Old-Growth Forests in the Dinaric Region

The distribution of tree species has traditionally been analyzed based on tree diameter (DBH) as a continuous variable. However, this approach does not usually provide information on how species are distributed across the area of interest. In this study, an inverse approach was applied to investigate tree distribution patterns in two Dinaric old-growth forest stands composed primarily of European beech, silver fir, and Norway spruce. Specifically, the variance-to-mean relationship of tree counts based on 80 plots (40 in each old-growth stand) were evaluated by using a dispersion index. Understory trees exhibited clumped and random patterns, whereas canopy trees were mostly distributed in a random manner. A regular pattern was only determined for beech and all trees in the canopy layer (two cases out of ten). The observed discrete variables were further compared with three theoretical distributions. It was found that a Poisson, binomial, and negative binomial model best fitted the observed count data, which, based on the dispersion index, exhibited a random, regular, and clumped pattern, respectively. The frequency of plots with low species presence and complete absence of species was also revealed. Consequently, the analysis and modeling of tree counts can be of practical use for species conservation purposes.
Field and laboratory detection of the altered acetylcholinesterase resistance genes which confer organophosphate and carbamate resistance in mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae)

A simple field method for direct detection of an altered acetylcholinesterase (AChE)-type organophosphate and carbamate resistance mechanism in individual insects was developed. The test will allow accurate differentiation by eye, on the basis of a colour change, of homozygous-susceptible and heterozygous or homozygous-resistant individuals. In initial field trials of this test in Sri Lanka, Anopheles nigerrimus Giles and Culex tritaeniorhynchus Giles were shown to contain this type of resistance gene, while a further nine species of mosquito had no evidence of it. Frequencies of the altered AChE gene in A. nigerrimus were estimated to be higher than those of C. tritaeniorhynchus , where the gene was found in only one of three localities in the island. The implication of the increase in prevalence of the AChE resistance gene in mosquito populations is discussed.
Self-Efficacy of Pre-Service Physical Education Teachers Toward Inclusion in Saudi Arabia

This study aims to determine the differences in levels of self-efficacy toward inclusion in general physical education (PE) classes among Saudi pre-service PE teachers. It also aims to evaluate the effect of independent variables with the covariate of attitude scores on participants’ self-efficacy toward including students with intellectual disabilities (ID), physical disabilities (PD), and visual impairments (VI). In total, 260 pre-service PE teachers enrolled in a university in Saudi Arabia completed the Arabic version of the self-efficacy scale for a physical education teacher education major toward children with disabilities. Repeated-measures multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) revealed that self-efficacy was highest towards including students with intellectual disability in general PE class and lowest towards students with physical disabilities. Having previous experience of observing a PE teacher teaching a student with a disability significantly influenced participants’ self-efficacy. Participants’ attitudes toward inclusion were only significant with participants’ self-efficacy toward students with physical disabilities. The findings suggest that observing a role model significantly predicts self-efficacy toward the inclusion of students with a disability.
Antitumour activity of Ganoderma lucidum, an edible mushroom, on intraperitoneally implanted lewis lung carcinoma in synergenic mice

The antitumour activity of Ganoderma lucidum, called ‘Ling‐Zhi or holy mushroom’in Chinese traditional medicine, was investigated on intraperitoneally implanted Lewis lung carcinoma in syngeneic C57BL/6 mice. An aqueous extract of Ling‐Zhi significantly increased the life span of tumour‐implanted mice, when administered intraperitoneally alone or in combination with cytotoxic antitumour drugs (Adriamycin, fluorouracil, thioguanine, methotrexate, Cisplatin) or a synthetic immunomodulator (Imexon). The aqueous extract was not cytotoxic in cell cultures and the antitumour activity was abolished by pretreatment of mice with cyclosporine. The active principle(s) was found to be present predominantly in the ethanol precipitable fraction of the aqueous extract.
Seeding date, row spacing, and weed effects on soybean isoflavone concentrations and other seed characteristics

Soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr. ] seeds contain isoflavones that may have positive impacts on human health. Field experiments were conducted in 2003/2004 in Quebec, Canada to determine the effects of seeding date (late May and mid-June), row spacing (20-, 40- and 60-cm) and weeds (presence or absence) on soybean isoflavone concentrations and isoflavone yield. Total and individual isoflavone concentrations were determined by HPLC. Seed yield, and oil and crude protein (CP) concentrations were concurrently determined. Year, seeding date, and weeds affected total and individual isoflavone concentrations, while row spacing had no effect. Total isoflavone concentration was 84% greater in 2003 than 2004. Seeding in mid-June increased isoflavone concentration by 38%, compared with seed ing in May. The presence of weeds increased total isoflavone concentration by 9%. Year, row spacing, and weeds significantly affected seed yields. Seed yields were greatest in 2004, at 20- or 40-cm row spacing, and in the absence o.
Patterns of daily and seasonal calling activity of a direct-developing frog of the subtropical Andean forests of Argentina

Climate often regulates different aspects of the life cycle and activity of amphibians. Climatic seasonality may impose severe restrictions on breeding patterns of direct-developing terraranan frogs. We studied the influence of abiotic cues on calling activity of males of the direct-developing frog Oreobates discoidalis in the Yungas forests of north-western Argentina. Vocalization activity and daily emission pattern of the vocal repertoire were registered with a frog-logger, and climatic variables were registered with a data logger. We sampled two reproductive seasons from 2010 to 2011. We used ordinal logistic regression to evaluate the relationship between independent climatic variables and the intensity of calling activity. The calling season of males of O. discoidalis was triggered by the first rainfall of the aestival season. The species could be defined as crepuscular–nocturnal with a calling activity peak at dusk. Sporadic calling activity during day time was associated with conditions of high humidity and rainfall. Both the emission and the intensity of the advertisement call activity were influenced by time of the day, high levels of relative air humidity and presence of rainfall; air temperature was not a determinant factor in the calling activity of this frog species. Territorial calls were strongly associated with full chorus activity that could be associated with a mechanism of inter-male spacing.
Ready-to-eat food consumption practices, food safety knowledge and relation to gender and education level of consumers in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

This study was aimed to evaluate consumers’ consumption practices of ready-to-eat (RTE) foods, food safety knowledge, and the relationship to gender and education level. A total of 258 consumers in Klang Valley, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia were given questionnaires through convenience sampling. The results showed that the biggest motivation for consumers in purchasing RTE foods was convenience (47.3%). 40.7% of respondents purchase RTE foods more than twice a week, and 36.8% of respondents consumed RTE food at restaurants and cafes. A total of 54.3% of the respondents purchased RTE foods for lunch, and 48.1% of respondents usually spend RM11-RM20 per person. About 81% of respondents knew that the common symptom of foodborne disease is diarrhea, and 42.2% of respondents knew about the correct temperature for refrigeration. Most of the respondents (66.7%) knew that room temperature encourages the multiplication of bacteria, and 36.4% of respondents knew that bacteria will grow quickly at body temperature. About 60.9% of respondents knew that raw and cooked food should be separated to prevent the transfer of bacteria, and 62% of the respondents knew that placing raw meat in the plastic bag before putting it into the grocery basket decreases the chance of foodborne illness. However, only 10.1% of the respondents knew that the best way to clean a cutting board after using it for raw meat is by washing with bleach and water. Female respondents and those with higher education level generally had better food safety knowledge. This study could benefit RTE food marketers in gaining better insights into consumers’ behavior patterns towards RTE food. This study could also contribute to knowing the baseline knowledge of consumers in food safety as it is essential for the development of effective health educational programmes.
SLC39A4 as a Novel Prognosis Marker Promotes Tumor Progression in Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Background Solute carrier family 39 member 4 (SLC39A4) has been reported to play an oncogenic role in several cancers. However, the role of SLC39A4 in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) remains unclear. In this study, we aimed to explore the clinical significance and function of SLC39A4 in ESCC. Methods The Cancer Genome Atlas and Gene Expression Omnibus databases were analyzed to assess the level of SLC39A4 in ESCC. The expression level of SLC39A4 was measured by RT-qPCR and immunohistochemistry in a cohort of 73 patients aged 45–65 years with ESCC. Kaplan–Meier analysis was used to identify the correlation between SLC39A4 and the prognosis of ESCC patients. In vitro experiments were conducted to explore the biological function of SLC39A4 in ESCC cell line TE-1 and TE-10. Results The mRNA level of SLC39A4 was significantly enhanced in ESCC specimens, which was in line with the outcome of online databases analysis. Moreover, the aberrant expression of SLC39A4 was positively correlated with clinical stage, T categories and lymph node metastasis. Kaplan-Meier analysis indicated that elevated SLC39A4 expression predicted poor prognosis of patients with ESCC. Furthermore, the in vitro experiments showed that SLC39A4 knockdown not only impaired the proliferation and motility capacities of ESCC cells but also enhanced the sensitivity to cisplatin treatment. Conclusion Our findings suggest that SLC39A4 could serve as a novel prognosis biomarker to promote ESCC progression﻿; however, the mechanism of SLC39A4 in ESCC remains to be further explored.
KINERJA GURU DITINJAU DARI PENGARUH BUDAYA ORGANISASI DAN GAYA KEPEMIMPINAN KEPALA SEKOLAH

This study determined the effect of organizational culture and leadership style in school principals on improving teacher’s performance in Muara Padang. This research used quantitative methods with correlational type. The study population was 60 people. The research sample was 51 people, where the sampling technique using a method developed by Isaac and Michael with an error rate of 5%. The results showed: 1) there was a positive and significant influence of organizational culture on teacher’s performance; 2) there is a positive and significant influence between the principal's leadership style and the teacher's performance; 3) there is a simultaneous influence between organizational culture and school principal leadership style on teacher’s performance in Muara Padang.
Adaptive Variations of Sediment Microbial Communities and Indication of Fecal-Associated Bacteria to Nutrients in a Regulated Urban River

Anthropogenic activities strongly influence river habitat conditions and surrounding landscape patterns. A major challenge is to understand how these changes impact microbial community composition and structure. Here, a comprehensive analysis combining physicochemical characteristics in sediment with sequencing targeting the V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene was conducted to test the hypothesis that diverse habitat conditions induce dissimilarity of microbial community composition and structure in a regulated urban river. The results suggested that observed species richness and Shannon–Wiener diversity had a decreasing variation along the land use intensified gradient, while beta diversity also revealed significant separation of microbial community structure between headwaters and urban reaches. Total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), oxidation–reduction potential (ORP) and total organic carbon (TOC) in sediment were the dominant factors in structuring bacterial and archaeal community assemblages. Further analysis in dominant fecal-associated bacteria indicated that elevated nutrient concentrations may significantly (p < 0.05) increase the relative abundance of Clostridium and Acinetobacter in sediment. The findings highlight the pivotal roles of alpha diversity and fecal-associated bacteria in understanding the dynamics of microbial communities in a regulated urban river ecosystem.
Blood coagulation profile of the Asian elephant (Elephas maximus)

The coagulation profile of seven Asian elephants was assessed using human reference plasma as a standard. The plasma values for the majority of the coagulation proteins evaluated, including Factors VII, IX, X, and XI, and antithrombin, were similar to that of human plasma. The average Factor VIII:C value was 1.95 units/ml, approximately twice that of the human value. Human recombinant tissue factor was effective as an activator of the tissue factor-factor VII pathway as measured by the prothrombin time assay. The elephant plasma effectively corrected the clotting defect of human Factor XI-deficient plasma but failed to do so with bovine Factor XI-deficient plasma. However, elephant plasma Factor XII was not readily activated by the commercial activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) reagent formulated with a soluble activator, and consequently the activity of this protein could not be precisely determined. The average (±SD) APTT result of 65.6 ± 9.2 sec was twice as long as that of the human reference plasma. Despite the presence of relatively high levels of fibrinogen, 4.61 ± 0.49 gm/l, no fibrinolytic activity was detected in any of the elephant plasma samples using a standard fibrin plate assay system. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Hydrogen sulfide protects from intestinal ischaemia–reperfusion injury in rats

Objectives Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is an endogenously gaseous mediator, regulating many pathophysiological functions in mammalian cells. H2S has been shown to inhibit myocardial ischaemia–reperfusion (I/R) injury. However, little is known about whether H2S could modulate intestinal I/R injury. This study aimed to investigate the effect of H2S on intestinal I/R injury and potential mechanism(s) underlying the action of H2S in regulating the development of intestinal I/R injury in rats.
Structure of the primary olfactory cortex of the mouse

2. Short axis cylinder cells . 3. Axoual plexuses . Comment upon the salient observations . Theoretical analysis of the functioning of the primary olfactory cortex . Summary . 1. A description of the layers and thoir major cell types . 1 2 2 4 7 7 13 18 22 26 29
Reproductive biology of Holothuria leucospilota in the Cook Islands and the implications of traditional fishing of gonads on the population

Abstract This study describes the reproductive biology of Holothuria leucospilota in Rarotonga, Cook Islands and assesses the effect of traditional fishing on survival and reproduction. Monthly collections of H. leucospilota from January 1998 until March 1999 revealed that gametogenesis and spawning were synchronous between the sexes and spawning occurred annually during the summer months. Spawning during the first year had already started at the beginning of the study in January and lasted until April, whereas in the second year, spawning started in November and finished in February, possibly because of higher water temperatures in this year. Our data indicate that the incision of the body‐wall and gonad removal had no impact on the survival of H. leucospilota in cages. However, their body weight, general sheltering and feeding behaviours were affected by gonad removal. Although the body‐wall of fished animals healed within 7–14 days, the gonads had just started to regenerate after 41 days, suggesting that the spawning of fished individuals would have been greatly delayed, possibly until the following year.
The cystic fibrosis ΔF508 gene mutation and cancer

Following the observation that relatives of cystic fibrosis (CF) patients have an increased mortality due to leukaemia, a study was initiated to determine whether leukaemia patients had an increased prevalence of the ΔF508 CF mutation. No increase in carriers were found among leukaemias; however the carrier frequency of the ΔF508 mutation appeared to be reduced in patients with malignant melanoma analysed as a control group compared to the normal population. This paper extends our previous study and investigates several other common human tumours, including those of the colon, breast, and lymphoma tissue. Fewer than expected carriers remained among the melanoma group from South Wales. There were fewer than expected carriers among patients with colon cancer compared to the normal population. The prevalence of the ΔF508 mutation was normal in lymphomas and leukaemias. Hum Mutat 10:45–48, 1997. © 1997 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.