Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Bevacizumab for Retinopathy of Prematurity: 2-Year Neurodevelopmental Follow-up

Abstract Objective This study aimed to determine whether infants who were treated with intravitreal bevacizumab (IVB) for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) were at higher risk of death or neurodevelopmental impairment (NDI) when compared with infants who were not treated with IVB (Laser only). Study Design This retrospective study included 146 infants born from 2009 through 2016 with a birth weight (BW) <1,000 g, gestational age <27 weeks, and required ROP therapy. Death and NDI rates were assessed at 18 to 24 months' corrected age. Results Rates of death or severe NDI were 62 and 53% in the IVB (n = 61) and Laser only (n = 85) groups, respectively. This difference was not statistically different despite sample selection bias in treating growth-restricted infants with IVB, BW (median [IQR]) was 481 (420–583) versus 547 (473–640) g in IVB and Laser only groups, respectively, p = 0.003. The adjusted odds ratio and 95% confidence interval of death or severe NDI was 0.86 (0.33–2.20). Conclusion Bevacizumab therapy for ROP did not affect survival and neurodevelopment of extremely preterm infants. Key Points Intravitreal bevacizumab therapy for retinopathy of prematurity may be safe in periviable preterm infants. Intravitreal bevacizumab therapy does not increase mortality rate in periviable preterm infants. Intravitreal bevacizumab therapy does not increase adverse neurodevelopmental outcome in periviable infants.
Use of grasses for phytoremediation of crude oil polluted soils in the tropics

The use of grasses for phytoremediation of crude oil polluted soils especially in the tropics is a new area of study with a lot of potentials. The effect of different levels (0.00, 2.50, 5.00, 7.50, 10.00, 12.50 and 15.00%) of crude oil contamination on the growth of Paspalum scrobiculatum , a common weed in Nigeria was investigated. The weed is found growing luxuriantly in crude oil contaminated sites in Delta State, Nigeria. 3, 6 and 9 plants per pot of standing crops of the test plant were used for the study. The results show that the plant has potential for phytoremediation as it grew successfully in the different levels or concentrations of crude oil contamination. The different levels of crude oil contamination caused significant reduction in the growth of the plant using plant height, fresh weight and leaf area. The effect increased with increasing levels of contamination (e.g. there was reduction in the leaf area from 68.47 cm 2 in control to 34.07 cm 2 in 15.00% level of contamination). The contamination did not cause significant reduction in the dry weights of the plant in 3 plants per pot and 6 plants per pot treatments but only in the 9 plants per pot treatment where the control recorded significantly higher dry weight than all other treatment. The weed can be used for the restoration of crude oil contaminated soils as it showed great potentials by being able to withstand the high levels of crude oil contamination. It was observed that crude oil contamination did not affect biomass production of the test plant using dry weight basis and plant density improved the performance of the plant in the contaminated soils.
EFFICIENT REGENERATION PROTOCOL FROM COTYLEDONARY PETIOLE EXPLANT OF BRASSICA JUNCEA

Establishment of a competent protocol for high frequency plant regeneration is done by analyzing a range of factors such as genotypes, combinations of plant growth regulator, types of explants, age of explants cotyledonary petiole on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 2 mg/L BA (6 benzyladenine) and 0.2 mg/L NAA (1 Brassica regenerated plantlets were acclimatized, hardened and transferred to field and grown to maturity in the greenhouse. All the regenerated plants obtained were fertile and morpholog indistinguishable with the source plants.
Strategic Portfolio Investments and Financial Performance of Ecobank Rwanda Ltd.

The study aims to analyze the strategic portfolio investments and financial performance of Ecobank Rwanda Ltd. The study assessed why some investments perform well while others fail to produce return and revenues to the investor. Quantitative and qualitative methods were used, measuring risk and return, financial analysis, as basic tools for portfolio management. Purposive Sampling with Ecobank was chosen and four years as observations. Ecobank’s investments portfolio is mainly composed by Financial Investments (FI) of 16.24%; Investments with other Banking Institutions (IBI) of 24.71% and investments in Loans and Advances to Customers (LAC) of 59.06%. Portfolio covariance in this research equals to negative result of (2,896.16. Portfolio expected return of 21%. The negative covariance of Ecobank assets means their returns move in contrariwise directions, thus can be put in the same portfolio and the portfolio risk could be diversified or decreased. With zero (0.0143) correlation coefficient, there is no linear relationship between the returns of Ecobank assets, thus combining those assets reduces the risk portfolio. Out of every RWF 1 invested, Ecobank portfolio generates RWF 0.10 (10%), loans and advances to customers on the top of other assets generating RWF 0.14 (14%) per every RWF 1 invested in. Moreover, there is a significance effect of strategic portfolio investments (FI, IBI and LAC) on financial performance (ROA, ROE and ROI). The overall negative performance of Ecobank Rwanda during 2016-2019 is mainly affected by other factors such as high total operating expenses (Appendix No1); thus costs optimization is one of the main key decisions for the company (Ecobank Rwanda Ltd)’s positive performance (generate revenues to shareholders).
Species Pattern and Phylogenetic Relationships of Trichoderma Strains in Rice Fields of Southern Caspian Sea, Iran

As a first step of a project aimed at the identification of potential biocontrol agents of Rhizoctonia solani, the rice sheath blight fungus, we surveyed the biodiversity of the genus Trichoderma based on sequence of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) 1 and 2 of the ribosomal RNA gene cluster in paddy fields in Mazandaran province, Northern Iran. Amongst the six obtained species of Trichoderma, T. harzianum and T. virens proved to be the most frequent species in this habitat. Sequence alignment and phylogenetic analysis revealed that the T. harzianum isolates can be divided into 14 different ITS genotypes clustering in four groups. Our results are in agreement with previous molecular studies, which also revealed that T. harzianum is a complex species comprising more or less different ITS genotypes. T. virens was not as diverse as T. harzianum and three different genotypes were distinguished which constituted only one cluster. All T. atroviride and T. hamatum strains had identical ITS sequences.
Ovarıan Granulosa Cell Tumors: Evaluatıon of Clınıcal, Outcome and Reccurence Factors

Objective: We aimed to determine the predictors for poor prognosis and to find out the effect of treatment strategies on survival functions Methods: Thirty seven women with granulosa cell tumor were enrolled for the study between 2000 and 2013. All data was obtained from hospital prospectively collected databese. Results: The mean age was 50.1±13.3 and the most common symptom was abdominal distansion ( 21.6%) . Mean follow up period was 67.9±33.6 months. During follow up period Disease specific mortality was observed in only 1 (2.7%) patient and recurrence was observed in 7 patients (18.9 %). Comparison of the groups with and without recurrence revealed significant differences in terms of stage, capsule involvement, mitotic index between groups (p<0.05). In multivariate regression analyses tumor differentiation was found to be significantly associated with the disease recurrence (OR:8.2,CI 95%: 0,019-0,771). Conclusion: Tumor differentiation is found to be a significant confounder for the disease recurrence after adjustment for the stage.
Escala diagramática para avaliação da severidade da pinta-preta em frutos de mamoeiro

Com o objetivo de padronizar avaliacoes da severidade da pinta-preta em frutos de mamoeiro, elaborou-se e validou-se uma escala diagramatica com os seguintes niveis de severidade: 0,1; 0,3; 0,6; 1,2; 2,5; 5,0; 10,0 e 20,0%. Sem a escala, a maioria dos avaliadores superestimou a severidade da doenca. Com a escala, os avaliadores obtiveram melhores niveis de acuracia e precisao, com erros absolutos concentrando-se na faixa de 5%, o que e considerado aceitavel em trabalhos de quantificacao de severidade de doenca. O uso da escala proporcionou ainda boa repetibilidade e elevada reprodutibilidade das estimativas. A escala diagramatica proposta mostrou-se adequada para avaliacao da severidade da pinta-preta em frutos de mamoeiro.
Drug delivery property, antibacterial performance and cytocompatibility of gentamicin loaded poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) coating on porous magnesium scaffold

Abstract Implant associated infection remains a difficult medical problem in orthopaedic surgery. Here, we report on the fabrication of gentamicin loaded poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) coating on porous magnesium scaffold (Gent-PLGA-Mg) for use as a type of controlled antibiotic delivery system bone scaffolds to achieve the sustained release of antibiotics in the local sites of bone defects. The drug loaded PLGA coating of Mg scaffold enable higher drug loading efficiency (28–33%) than non-coating gentamicin loaded Mg scaffold (Gent-Mg) (2–3%). The Gent-PLGA-Mg exhibited sustained drug release for more than 14 days, and this controlled release of gentamicin significantly inhibited bacterial adhesion and prevented biofilm formation by Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC25923) and Staphylococcus epidermidis (ATCC35984). Biocompatibility tests with human bone marrow stromal cells indicated that PLGA-Mg had better biocompatibility than Mg. Therefore, Gent-PLGA-Mg is potential to be used as a controlled drug delivery system bone scaffolds to prevent and/or treat orthopaedic peri-implant infections.
Genetic Variation in Yield and Quality of Oat Forage 1

We evaluated 30 cultivars of oats L. ) for forage quality and yield at heading and 10 days later in 1968. Quality traits measured included digestible dry matter (IVDDM), cell wall constituents (CWC), acid detergent fiber (ADF), acid detergent lignin (ADL), and crude protein (CP) concentration. Eleven of the cultivars were tested for 2 additional years.All three fiber components (CWC, ADF, and ADL) were positively correlated with each other and all were negatively correlated with IVDDM. Of the three, however, ADL was most closely associated with digestibility. Yield and quality were negatively correlated at heading, but independent 2 weeks later. Forage yield and grain yield were not associated. Forage yield was correlated with plant height and heading date.Cultivars differed in oat forage quality within a given environment; differences, however, generally were not repeatable over years. In contrast, cultivar variation for forage yield was consistent over years and sufficient for effective selection. Therefore, we recommend primary emphasis on forage yield in the developmnt of superior forage oat cultivars. However, one should examine forage quality before making final selections.
Temporal variation of the algae-associated molluscan assemblage of artificial substrata in Bay of Tunis (Tunisia)

The molluscan assemblage inhabiting the photophilous algae from artificial rocky shores in theBay of Tunis) was studied from February 2009 to February 2010. Five monthly replicates were taken with a quadrat of 25 × 25 cm . A total of 16105 individuals of molluscs, belonging to 93 species, were collected. Gastropods were the most species-rich group, with 66 species (70.96%), followed by bivalves with 26 species (27.95%). Gastropods were also the most abundant with 11529 individuals (71.60%), followed by bivalves with 4575 individuals (28.41%). Nevertheless, Mytilaster minimus was the dominant species overall during the studied period (15.6% of total abundance), followed by Tricolia miniata (11.6%), Bittium reticulatum (11.5%), Gibbula racketti (10.4%) and Rissoa similis (9.8%). The high abundance of juveniles of soft (e.g. Venerupis aurea , Nassarius corniculum ) and hard bottom species (e.g. M. minimus, Fissurella nubecula ) point out the important role of this habitat as nursery for species from nearby located habitats. The presence of the alien molluscs Mitrella psilla (2.5% dominance) and Arcuatula senhousia highlights the importance of algae as vehicle and/or receptor habitat for alien species. Species richness and abundance displayed significant seasonal changes, with maxima in winter 2009, but the Shannon-Wiener diversity index showed similar values throughout the year. Multivariate analyses also indicated the presence of significant seasonal differences of this molluscan assemblage.
Prey preference and consumption capacity of Nephus arcuatus (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae): the influence of prey stage, prey size and feeding experience

This study examined the feeding habits of Nephus arcuatus Kapur (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), an important predator of mealybugs in south-western Iran. The consumption capacity of male and female N. arcuatus adults was determined by their feeding on eggs, first-instar nymphs, and adult females of two destructive mealybugs, Nipaecoccus viridis (Newstead) and Planococcus citri Risso, over a 24-h period. N arcuatus consumed significantly more first-instar nymphs than eggs, and more eggs than female adults of both prey species. In addition, we also studied the developmental stage prey preference of adults reared on either N. viridis or P. citri and found that the prey preference of females did not change with the developmental stage of the mealybug. Meanwhile, the males reared on either N. viridis or P. citri showed a significant preference for the first-instar nymphs of P. citri over first-instar nymphs of N. viridis, while a preference for the eggs or adult females of these two mealybugs was not observed. This selection of first-instar nymphs by males was not tied to its previous feeding experience. Our findings suggest that prey stage, prey size and previous feeding experience had no effect on the prey selection of N. arcuatus, making it a good candidate for the biological control of mealybugs.
Biological Aspects of the Lagoon Cockle, Cerastoderma glaucum (Poiret 1879), in a Coastal Lagoon in Keramoti, Greece in the Northeastern Mediterranean

Abstract Growth of the lagoon cockle, Cerastoderma glaucum Poiret, was determined from samples collected seasonally from Keramoti lagoon in Greece in the northeastern Mediterranean. The three-dimensional almost “spherical” shell shape does not change throughout the life of the species. Foot length, flesh weight, shell, and total weight increased at a lower rate than shell size, whereas water content of the soft party decreased with growth. Condition index showed a strong seasonal variation. Flesh weight and flesh water content were among the body parameters examined that have a large influence on the physiological state of this bivalve. Burrowing ability of the species was examined in relation to type of sediment. Burial time was positively correlated with shell length in all types of sediment tested. C. glaucum is a substrate-specialist slow-burrowing species and it showed a clear preference for the sediment where it occurs naturally.
ESTUDO COMPARATIVO DA ESTIMATIVA DA EVAPOTRANSPIRAÇÃO DE REFERÊNCIA PARA TRES LOCALIDADES DO ESTADO DO ESPÍRITO SANTO NO PERIODO SECO

O presente trabalho teve como objetivo realizar o estudo comparativo das equacoes empiricas para estimativa da evapotranspiracao de referencia em comparacao ao metodo universal padrao Penman-Monteith FAO 56 para as condicoes climaticas dos municipios de Sooretama, Cachoeiro de Itapemirim, Venda Nova do Imigrante localizados, respectivamentes, nas regioes Norte, Sul e Serrana do Estado do Espirito Santo. Foram utilizadas as variaveis climaticas referentes ao periodo seco (junho, julho e agosto) do ano de 2006 obtidas via plataforma de dados do CPTEC - INPE provenientes das estacoes automatizadas agrometeorologicas codigos no 31957, 31958 e 31959 instaladas, respectivamente, nos municipios mencionados. Para comparar os valores de ETo estimados por meio das equacoes empiricas com os do metodo universal padrao Penman-Monteith (FAO56) foram considerados os parâmetros da equacao de regressao s0 e s1, coeficiente de determinacao (r²), coeficiente de correlacao (r), estimativa do erro padrao (EEP), indice de concordância (d), indice de confianca ou desempenho (c), nas escalas diaria, tres, cinco e sete dias, para os meses estudados nas tres localidades. Para as condicoes climaticas de onde se realizou o trabalho, em funcao dos indices e parâmetros estudados, para o periodo seco os melhores metodos pela ordem foram: Penman 48 Original, Priestley-Taylor (PT), FAO24 Penman Modificado, FAO24 Blaney-Criddle e Turc (61), FAO24 Radiacao, Makkink (Mk).
Evaluation of Stocking Density and Light Level on the Growth and Survival of the Pacific White Shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei, Reared in Zero-Exchange Systems

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects and interactions of stocking density and light level on the growth and survival of Litopenaeus vannamei in zero-exchange mixed biofloc systems. The necessity of light and its effects on stocking density could provide essential information for efficient system design in temperate regions. Twelve, 3800-L conical-bottom tanks housed in a greenhouse were filled with dechlorinated city water, adjusted to 25 ppt salinity, inoculated with mixed biofloc communities, and randomly assigned to one of four different treatment combinations. The study was a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement with main effects being stocking density (182 shrimp/m2 [low density; LD] vs. 364 shrimp/m2 [high density; HD]) and light (natural light [NL] vs. low level artificial [LL]) with three replicate tanks per treatment. Tanks in the NL treatment received ambient greenhouse light. For the LL treatment black plastic was used to block NL and a single 60-W incandescent bulb was hung over each low-light tank and operated on a 12:12 h schedule. Juvenile L. vannamei (0.40 ± 0.28 g) were stocked in rotation into each tank and fed a 35% protein diet twice daily at an initial 10% of body weight, gradually decreasing to 3% of body weight prior to harvest. After 12 wk, there was a statistically significant (P≤ 0.05) interaction between density and light level; therefore, data were analyzed in terms of treatment combinations. Average harvest weight of shrimp was significantly higher (P≤ 0.05) in the LD/NL treatment (14.5 g) than in the HD/LL treatment (12.4 g), but neither was significantly different from HD/NL (13.6 g) and LD/LL (13.4 g). Survival of shrimp was significantly lower (P≤ 0.05) in the HD/LL treatment (61.8%) than in the LD/NL (89.8%) and LD/LL (89.0%) treatments. Survival in the HD/NL treatment (82.7%) was intermediate and not significantly different (P > 0.05) from the other treatments. Harvest yield was significantly greater (P≤ 0.05) in the HD/NL treatment (4.1 kg/m2) than in the LD/NL, LD/LL, and HD/LL treatments (2.4, 2.2, and 2.8 kg/m2, respectively), which were not significantly different (P > 0.05) from each other. These data indicate that a combination of high stocking rate with high light levels or NL may be needed to achieve maximum production; however, relatively low levels of artificial light may be suitable at low stocking densities. Further research should investigate the type and amount of light needed to achieve optimal results.
Can mite parasitism affect the condition of bat hosts? Implications for the social structure of colonial bats

Ectoparasitism may be recognized as one of the main costs of coloniality, but little is known about how it affects the fitness and social structure of bats, the most gregarious of mammals. We studied these issues using the colonial bat Miniopterus schreibersii and its haematophagous parasitic mite Spinturnix psi as a model. Body condition is an important indicator of individual fitness that is potentially affected by ectoparasitism. Thus, we measured host body condition and mite loads in a total of 969 bats throughout the annual cycle. Mites were rare while hosts hibernated, increased in abundance in spring and peaked during nursing season of bats, when they were particularly abundant on lactating females and young bats. This strong seasonal variation in mite loads is related to the reproductive cycle of mites, which in turn appears to be synchronized with the reproductive cycle of their hosts. Mite loads and the condition of bats were negatively correlated, and information available suggests that this may be due to an effect of parasitism, although other possible causes for this trend cannot be excluded. However, a negative correlation was only observed during the bat's nursing season, when mites were most abundant, and heavily parasitized bats lost about 10% of their weight. Mite parasitism did not seem to be a significant disadvantage of coloniality, except in nurseries, where it might impose some costs. However, as females and young usually aggregate in these colonies, we presume that for them such costs are probably offset by advantages of group living. Adult males, however, are usually absent from nurseries, which may be a strategy to minimize mite parasitism. Overall, the results suggest that ectoparasitism may play a role in determining the social structure of M. schreibersii and of many other temperate bats that have similar life cycles and ectoparasitic loads.
Extraordinary life spans of naked mole‐rats (Heterocephalus glaber)

Senescence is the internal physiological deterioration that accompanies advancing age. Evolutionary hypotheses predict that rates of senescence should vary directly with extrinsic mortality and inversely with fecundity. If so, naked mole-rats (Heterocephalus glaber) should live a long time (senesce slowly) because in nature they inhabit heavily protected burrows, and large, old breeding females make disproportionate reproductive contributions. In addition H. glaber has an exceptionally low metabolic rate, which may reduce oxidative stress. We have maintained naked mole-rats in captivity since 1974. Here we report that individuals can live a very long time: many are alive after more than 20 years and some are 26 years old (and counting). Although we do not yet know how long naked mole-rats can live, they already are older than the maximum longevity of all but one of 156 rodent species that have been maintained in captivity from birth to death.
Body mass-related shift in movement behaviour in the isopod Lekanesphaera hookeri (Isopoda, Flabellifera): A laboratory study

Abstract A quantitative study of the movement behaviour of the brackish isopod Lekanesphaera hookeri was performed. Isopods were collected in late spring 2007 from an Italian lagoon and held in the laboratory under temperature-controlled conditions. We used a real-time video acquisition system to measure in resource-free arenas the mean step length, total path length, average movement speed and movement complexity of individuals characterised by a 10-fold difference in body mass. The fractal dimension D was used as a tortuosity index to estimate the complexity of the movement trajectory. No significant size-related patterns were observed for the mean step length, total path length and average movement speed of the sphaeromatids. Conversely, fractal D values varied negatively with the body mass of specimens according to a power law. Our findings indicate that L. hookeri is characterised by a size-related shift in movement behaviour, occurring independently from the availability of resources in the surrounding environment. The implications of size-related changes in movement complexity are discussed in the context of current metabolic theories.