Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of rhizospheric and endophytic Bacillus spp. and fluorescent Pseudomonas spp. isolated from Theobroma cacao L. for antagonistic reaction to Phytophthora palmivora, the causal organism of black pod disease of cocoa

Biological control has assumed significance in the research programmes on disease management of cocoa due to the increasing concern on the detrimental effect of agrochemicals on environment and the presence of residues in food products. This study was conducted to evaluate the potential of Bacillus spp. and fluorescent Pseudomonas spp. isolated from cocoa roots and rhizosphere for their antagonistic reaction against Phytophthora palmivora (Butl.) Butl. , causing black pod disease of cocoa. A total of 519 isolates obtained from the rhizosphere and roots of cocoa trees in different locations in South India were evaluated for their antagonistic reaction to P. palmivora , under in vitro conditions on Carrot Dextrose Agar (CDA). Out of the 519 cocoa isolates (359 Bacillus spp. and 160 fluorescent Pseudomonas spp.), 95 isolates (44 rhizospheric and 45 endophytic Bacillus spp; and 6 rhizospheric fluorescent Pseudomonas spp.) were found to be antagonistic to P. palmivora . Four Bacillus spp. , one from Pollachi ( Bacillus sp. PSB6) and three from Kasaragod ( Bacillus sp. KGSB5, Bacillus sp. KGSB11 and Bacillus sp. KGSB26) effected a maximum of 57 % mycelial growth reduction of the fungal pathogen. None of the endophytic fluorescent Pseudomonas spp. , showed antagonism against the black pod pathogen. Bacillus spp. isolated from Tamil Nadu showed higher antagonistic potential (48 % of rhizospheric and 76 % of endophytic Bacillus spp.) than bacterial isolates obtained from other states. Further studies with these antagonists showed that 35 %, 18 %, and 56 % of the isolates produced siderophore, HCN and antibiotics respectively. The isolates showing antagonistic activity (89 Bacillus spp. and 6 Pseudomonas spp.) against the fungal pathogens can be used in developing bio-control agents.
Aspects of Fibroblast Growth Factor 23 in Mild to Moderate Renal Dysfunction

Westerberg, P.-A. 2013. Aspects of Fibroblast Growth Factor 23 in Mild to Moderate Renal Dysfunction. Acta Universitatis Upsaliensis. Digital Comprehensive Summaries of Uppsala Dissertations from the Faculty of Medicine 852. 59 pp. Uppsala. ISBN 978-91-554-8564-1. Disturbances in mineral metabolism contribute to vascular calcification and mortality risk in chronic kidney disease (CKD). Serum levels of fibroblast growth factor (FGF)23, a bone derived, phosphaturic peptide, are associated with cardiovascular mortality in CKD. Membrane bound klotho(KL) is an obligate co receptor for FGF23 signaling in the kidney. To study aspects of FGF23 in mild to moderate impairment of renal function we have analyzed FGF23, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), parathyroid hormone(PTH), 1,25 (OH)2 vitamin D (1,25D), calcium and phosphate in one patient with a FGF23 producing tumor, before and after tumor removal (study 1), in 72 CKD patients with varying degree of renal dysfunction (study 2), in 9 healthy kidney donors, before and after nephrectomy (study 3). We also analyzed FGF23 (study 4), and performed genotyping of 27 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) of the KL gene (study 5) in 2838 elderly Swedish men (MrOs study) and examined the association with mortality. FGF23 normalizes in 30-45 minutes after removal of a FGF23 producing tumor (study 1). 1,25D increases in hours and remains elevated months, even when the other parameters have normalized. FGF23 increase early in CKD, initially slowly, in correlation with PTH, but exponentially when hyperphosphatemia ensues (study 2). After unilateral nephrectomy (study 3) mineral homeostasis remain stable, initially due to a rise in PTH and later to an increase in FGF23. FGF23 levels are not correlated with mortality in elderly men after adjustment for eGFR, but with mortality due to cardiovascular disease, even in persons with normal eGFR (study 4). Polymorphism of the KL gene do not correlate with increased mortality risk in elderly men (study 5), but there is a modulating effect on FGF23 levels. FGF23 is of importance in maintaining phosphate homeostasis as renal function declines. It is co regulated with PTH until advanced renal dysfunction, and adjust the 1,25D to the actual GFR. FGF23 is associated with cardiovascular mortality. Further studies are needed to determine the mechanism, and if reduction of FGF23 by reducing phosphate intake may be beneficial even in persons with mild to moderate renal function.
High Endothelial Venule Expansion in Factor A Promotes Lymphangiogenesis and B Cell-Derived Vascular Endothelial Growth

Vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A) is a prominent growth factor for both angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis. Recent studies have shown the importance of VEGF-A in enhancing the growth of lymphatic endothelial cells in lymph nodes (LNs) and the migration of dendritic cells into LNs. VEGF-A is produced in inﬂamed tissues and/or in draining LNs, where B cells are a possible source of this growth factor. To study the effect of B cell-derived VEGF-A, we created transgenic mice (CD19 Cre /hVEGF-A ﬂ ) that express human VEGF-A speciﬁcally in B cells. We found that the human VEGF-A produced by B cells not only induced lymphangiogenesis in LNs, but also induced the expansion of LNs and the development of high endothelial venules. Contrary to our expectation, we observed a signiﬁcant decrease in the Ag-speciﬁc Ab production postimmunization with OVA and in the proinﬂammatory cytokine production postinoculation with LPS in these mice. Our ﬁndings suggest immunomodulatory effects of VEGF-A: B cell-derived VEGF-A promotes both lymphangiogenesis and angiogenesis within LNs, but then suppresses certain aspects of the ensuing immune responses. The Journal
Tilburg University Distance , Lending Relationships , and Competition Degryse

A recent string of theoretical papers has highlighted the importance of geographical distance in explaining loan rates for small firms. Lenders located in the vicinity of small firms face significantly lower transportation and monitoring costs, and hence wield considerable market power, if competing financiers are located relatively far from the borrowing firms. We study the effect on loan conditions of geographical distance between firms, the lending bank, and all other banks in the vicinity. For our study we employ detailed contract information from more than 15,000 bank loans to small firms comprising the entire loan portfolio of a large Belgian bank. We control for relevant relationship, loan contract, bank branch, firm, and regional characteristics. We report the first comprehensive evidence on the occurrence of spatial price discrimination in bank lending. Loan rates decrease with the distance between the firm and the lending bank and similarly increase with the distance between the firm and competing banks. The effect of distance on the loan rate is statistically significant and economically relevant. Robust to changes in model specifications and variable definitions, the effect is seemingly not driven by the modest changes over time in lending technology that we infer. We deduce that transportation costs cause the spatial price discrimination we observe.
Two-dimensional heat transfer distribution in a rotating smooth rectangular channel with four surface heating boundary condition

In this study, two-dimensional heat transfer distribution on the leading surface and trailing surface in a rotating smooth channel with typical boundary condition of four surface heating was investigated experimentally for the first time. The Reynolds number, based on channel hydraulic diameter (80 mm) and the bulk mean velocity, ranges from 15,000 to 30,000, and the highest rotation number is 0.359 with the Reynolds number of 15,000. The mean density ratio is about 0.11 in this work. The obtained result showed that rotation has an important effect on the heat transfer distribution along the span-wise direction. On the leading side, rotation-induced secondary flow makes the Nu/Nu0 at the edge area of the wall surface (Z/D = 0 and Z/D = 1) is higher than that on the middle area (Z/D = 0.5). On the trailing surface, the trend of Nu/Nu0 ratio along the span-wise direction is reversed. Along the stream-wise direction, the Nu/Nus ratio increases with the rotation number monotonously on the trailing side. However, on the leading side, with the increase in rotation number, the Nu/Nus does not decrease monotonously along the stream-wise direction, there is a slight enhancement along the stream-wise direction. The secondary flow induced by rotation enhances Nu ¯ / N u s ratio up to 1.35 on the trailing side and weakens the Nu ¯ / N u s ratio close to 0.75 on the leading side with the Re = 15,000, and Ro = 0.359. More details of two-dimensional distribution of temperature and Nu on the leading and trailing side are shown in this work.
3D-Modeling of a Robot Balancing on a Ball

This technical report presents a 3D model of a robot that balances on a ball. This new generation of robots, also called Ballbots, has recently been developed and described by several authors. Different from the conventional approach of generalizing 2D behavior to the 3D case, however, this report presents a full 3D model derived from geometrical, mechanical and energetical considerations; moreover, the motor dynamics is included. For control purposes, the model is linearized and analyzed with particular attention to controllability. The valid range of the linearized system is discussed based on a comparison with the original nonlinear model. Finally, the new model is validated using a 2D model from the literature.
TCRM_A_308653 453..461

1Department of Orthopedics, The Second Poverty Relief Hospital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (The Fifth People′s Hospital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region), Urumqi, Xinjiang, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Critical Care Medicine, The Second Poverty Relief Hospital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (The Fifth People′s Hospital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region), Urumqi, Xinjiang, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of Vascular Surgery, People’s Hospital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Urumqi, Xinjiang, People’s Republic of China Purpose: To investigate the association of polymorphism of IL-1β rs16944(T/C) with intervertebral disk degeneration (IDD), explore the possible mechanism and evaluate the predictive value of IL-1β for IDD. Patients and Methods: A total of 196 consecutive patients with IDD were recruited, and 196 healthy controls were matched to these patients based on sex and age (±3 years). The polymorphisms of IL-1β rs16944(T/C), rs1143623(G/C), rs10490571(T/C) and rs2853550(A/G) were determined, and serum IL-1β, MMP-1, MMP-3, MMP-9 and a disintegrin-like and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motif-4 (ADAMTS-4) levels were measured. Univariate analysis was performed with Student t-test or oneway ANOVA followed by post hoc and Chi-square test. Variables with two-sided P<0.10 were included in multivariate analysis, which employed a backward stepwise logistic regression model. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to evaluate the predictive value. Results: Multivariate analysis showed that the polymorphism of IL-1β rs16944(T/C) was independently associated with IDD. The risk for IDD was significantly increased in TT and TC genotype compared with CC genotype, and the OR of TT genotype was higher than that of TC genotype. ANOVA analysis showed that serum concentration of IL-1β was highest in IL-1β rs16944 TT genotype, intermediate in TC genotype, and lowest in CC genotype. Similarly, serum concentrations of MMP-3 and ADAMTS-4 demonstrated the same tendency of TT > TC > CC genotype. Serum concentrations of MMP-1 and MMP-9 were higher in TT genotype than in TC and CC genotype. The area under curve (AUC) of IL-1β levels in predicting IDD was 0.788 (SE: 0.023, P=0.001, 95% CI: 0.742–0.834), and the predictive value was modest with a sensitivity of 77.0% and a specificity of 75%. Conclusion: Polymorphism of IL-1β rs16944(T/C) affected IDD susceptibility through upregulation of serum levels of IL-1β and subsequent stimulation of ECM degradation. IL1β levels could be applied in predicting IDD.
Intravitreal Ranibizumab Alone or in Combination with Calcium Dobesilate for the Treatment of Diabetic Macular Edema in Nonproliferative Diabetic Retinopathy Patients: 12-Month Outcomes of a Retrospective Study

Objective This study investigates the efficacy of CaD combined with intravitreal ranibizumab for the treatment of diabetic macular edema (DME) in patients with nonproliferative DR. Methods This retrospective, observational, case-control study enrolled consecutive patients newly diagnosed with DME. The patients were treated with 3-monthly loading dose injections of intravitreal ranibizumab (IVR) followed by pro re nata injections (3 + PRN), with or without daily oral CaD. The patients were treated and followed up for 12 months. We reviewed their medical records to determine the optical coherence tomography (OCT) findings, number of injections, best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), and central macular thickness (CMT) at 3, 6, and 12 months after the first injection. Results We reviewed 102 eyes of 102 patients; 54 patients received IVR combined with oral CaD (IVR + CaD group) and 48 received only IVR (IVR group). In both groups, BCVA was higher, and CMT was lower, at 3, 6, and 12 months after the injection compared to those at the baseline (p < 0.05 for all), while there were no significant differences in BCVA improvement or CMT reduction between the two groups (p > 0.05). The mean number of IVR injections was significantly lower in the IVR + CaD group than the IVR group (5.4 ± 1.1 vs. 6.7 ± 1.6 injections, p < 0.05) during 1 year of treatment. No adverse events were noted in either group. Conclusions Compared to IVR alone, the addition of oral CaD to IVR in DME patients was safe and effective for improving visual function and restoring the retinal anatomy and was associated with the need for fewer injections.
University of Birmingham Sentiment order imbalance and co-movement

Using order flow imbalance as a measure of sentiment we show that positive and negative shocks to sentiment captured by the Smooth Transition Conditional Correlation GARCH model (STCC GARCH model) lead to lower co-movement between portfolio and market returns in the post-shock period. We find an asymmetry is present as positive shocks to sentiment have less impact on co-movement changes than negative shocks. We also find that shocks to retail sentiment and the sentiment of two types of institutional investors leads to a reduction in co-movement. Positive shocks to institutional order flow imbalance lead to smaller reductions in co-movement than associated with retail shocks. These effects exist even after we control for firm specific and market-wide news.
Learner language

My title is as neutral as possible: it is intended to cover roughly the same areas as those covered by Corder's (1975; reprinted 1978) state-of-the-art survey under the title 'Error analysis, interlanguage and second language acquisition'. The useful distinction that used to be drawn (Christophersen, 1973) between 'second' and 'foreign' languages seems now to have been abandoned in favour of ' second', as evidenced by the title of one of the most successful British textbooks for the field, Understanding second language acquisition (Ellis, 1985), and the name of the recently formed European Second Language Association (EUROSLA). This is unfortunate, since most European work concerns foreign language teaching and learning. Equally important, the claim is legitimately made that much of the American second language research which is based on data from Spanish speaking immigrants or overseas students in American colleges (Dulay, Burt & Krashen, 1982; Robinett & Schachter, 1983) makes claims which are probably untrue for, and not generalisable to, foreign language teaching situations: for example, the claim made by Dulay et al. (op. cit.) that only three per cent of errors are attributable to first-language interference. Another related distinction I shall overlook initially but return to eventually is that between acquisition, which takes place in ' naturalistic' environments like streets, playgrounds and the workplace, and learning which is done in classrooms. A third distinction worth making is that between acqusition and development drawn by Chomsky (1980) in the course of a discussion of first language knowledge but illuminatingly extrapolated to ' second' language by Cook (1988). Language development takes place over time and as such is the basis of the longitudinal studies that have provided the bulk of the data in this field; acquisition on the other hand is what Chomsky calls a 'logical problem' since it concerns explaining how a complex phenomenon like human language is learnable in principle, not describing how it is learnt in real time.
Purification of galactooligosaccharides and their fermentability by bacteria

A commercial preparation, Oligomate 55NP, was used as a source of galactooligosaccharides for fermentation experiments. The reaction residues of glucose and lactose were removed from it by a fermentation method. This pre-purified preparation was fermented by selected strains of lactobacilli, bifidobacteria and entrerococci for 24 hours. The total amount of galactooligosaccharides, optical density and pH in the media were determined at the beginning and at the end of fermentation. It was possible to conclude from the results achieved that galactooligosaccharides were fermented by all used strains of microorganisms, but with varying intensity. The degree of their utilization correlated well with the increase of microbial counts characterized by the elevated optical density of the substrate at the end of fermentation.
CMAR_A_253174 8663..8674

1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Heze Municipal Hospital, Heze, Shandong 274000, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Reproductive, Zoucheng People’s Hospital, Zoucheng, Shandong 273500, People’s Republic of China Background: Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are involved in the development of human cancers, including cervical cancer (CC). However, the role and mechanism of the circRNA hsa_circ_0000285 (circ_0000285) in CC development remain largely unknown. Methods: Thirty paired CC and adjacent normal tissue samples were harvested. CC cell lines SiHa and HeLa were cultured in this study. The expression of circ_0000285, miR1973p and ELK1 was detected via qRT-PCR or Western blot. CC development was assessed via cell viability, colony formation, apoptosis, cell cycle, and autophagy using MTT, colonyformation assays, flow cytometry and Western blot. The target association was analyzed via dual luciferase–reporter assay, RNA immunoprecipitation, and RNA pull-down. The role of circ_0000285 in CC in vivo was analyzed using a xenograft model. Results: circ_0000285 abundance was enhanced in CC tissue and cells and mainly located in cytoplasm. Silence of circ_0000285 suppressed cell viability and colony formation, arrested the cell cycle at the G0/G1 phase, and induced apoptosis and autophagy in CC cells. miR197-3p was targeted by circ_0000285, and miR197-3p knockdown reversed the effect of circ_0000285 silence on CC development. miR197-3p directly targeted ELK1 to inhibit CC development. circ_0000285 regulated ELK1 by modulating miR197-3p. Knockdown of circ_0000285 reduced xenograft tumor growth in vivo. Conclusion: Knockdown of circ_0000285 repressed CC development by increasing miR197-3p and decreasing ELK1.
The single nucleotide polymorphism (80G 3 A) of reduced folate carrier gene in trisomy 21

with our observation that hypovitaminosis D is associated with insulin resistance and the metabolic syndrome (1). Their unpublished observation of a positive correlation of serum 25hydroxyvitamin D with both total cholesterol and apolipoprotein B and a negative correlation with triacylglycerols does not support the possibility of a relation between hypovitaminosis D and insulin resistance phenotypes. We have no information regarding the concentrations of C-reactive protein, plasma metalloproteinase 9, and apoliproteins A1 and B in this sample. Because there were only 126 subjects in our multiracial sample, we focused on the whites, who were the largest racial or ethnic group in the sample (n 56). The influence of 25-hydroxyvitamin D on fasting lipid profile is shown in Table 1. The results are highly similar to our published results (1). The negative association of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D with both total and LDL cholesterol is in agreement with the association of hypovitaminosis D with insulin resistance and the metabolic syndrome. The 3 nonwhite ethnic groups in our sample were not large enough to have adequate power to detect the association. Although the association study provides no information on the cause-effect relation, hypovitaminosis D could be one of the culprits of insulin resistance.
An implementation strategy for efficient convergence of the Lavallée and Hidiroglou stratification algorithm

The iterative procedure of Lavallée and Hidiroglou (1988) for stratifying skewed populations into a certainty stratum, where all the units are examined, and a number of noncertainty strata, which are sampled, has been found to have convergence problems. In this article we present a strategy for implementing the algorithm, which improves its convergence and in many cases results in smaller sample sizes than those obtained with the traditional implementation.
The changes of willow biomass characteristics during the composting process and their phytotoxicity effect on Sinapis alba L.

This study evaluated in 2019–2021 the use of willow chips for compost production and its effect on Sinapis alba L. germination index and seedling growth. Peatlands and peat are of very important economic but above all environmental significance. The conservation of peatland resources is one of the most crucial future challenges. Composts and other forms of lignin-cellulosic biomass are potentially the best renewable alternative to peat in its economic use. Composted lignin-cellulosic biomass can replace peat and be used as a substrate for vegetable transplant production. The impact of modifying the willow lignin-cellulosic biomass composting process has not been well analysed. A compost experiment with willow biomass was conducted to study its effect on selected compost indexes (particle size structure in %, bulk density (kg m-3), and total nitrogen content). The quality assessment of the willow composts was determined after six months of composting process based on the N content and morphological characteristics of tested plant in vegetative chamber. Sinapis alba L. was germinated on a water extract made from willow compost using the following additives to willow biomasses: W0—without additives, WN—with the addition of nitrogen, WF—with the addition of mycelium, WNF—with the addition of nitrogen and mycelium. During the composting process, samples were taken after each mixing of the biomass pile to assess their maturity through the use of a bioassay. Willow biomass did not have a negative effect on biological evaluation parameters, and in some indicators, such as the length of embryonic roots in the VI period of the measurements, it was stimulating (61–84% longer in W0 and WF than in the control). The addition of nitrogen during the composting process, especially in the initial composting period, had a strong inhibitory effect.