Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of education on health: The Czech Republic case

Previous research has uncovered a large, positive and causal link between education and health. This paper is devoted to examining the topic in the former Czechoslovakia. My analysis is conducted on a data set pooled from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE). I utilize a continuum of ages at school entry, caused by the use of a single school cut-off, to identify the effect of education on health, which is uniquely created from the PCA method and using 30 questions of the SHARE. Therefore, I apply instrumental variable approach with a month of birth as an instrument for education. The results from the first-stage suggest that the instrument is not valid, since a correlation between the instrumental (Month of birth) and the instrumented variable (education) is very low and insignificant. The results remain insignificant even after adjusting for different measures of education, health, institutional changes or heterogeneous effects. As the most probable cause, I state the inability to control for non-compliers in my instrumental variable regressions. As a consequence, all the results regarding the link between education and health are inconclusive. JEL Classification I12, I21, I28, J13
Molecular and morphological evidence of a new sibling species of Calobius (Coleoptera: Hydraenidae) of the C. quadricollis complex from peninsular Italy

A molecular and morphological analysis was performed to clarify the taxonomic status of Italian members of the Calobius quadricollis complex (Coleoptera, Hydraenidae, Ochthebiinae), including species strictly associated with hypersaline marine rock pools along the Mediterranean and Macaronesian coasts. The analysis was mainly focused on the specific distinction and formal description of a new species, Calobius urbanelliae n. sp. , from peninsular Italy. This species is of difficult morphological distinction, but, on the basis of the mitochondrial DNA marker cytochrome c oxidase subunit I, it is highly differentiated from C. quadricollis Mulsant, 1844 (NW Mediterranean) and C. steinbuehleri Baudi, 1864 (NE Mediterranean), which are partially sympatric with it along part of the western and eastern coasts of peninsular Italy. One possible palaeogeographical scenario underlying the specific differentiation of the three species is briefly discussed.
Evaluation of the potential of free and immobilized thermophilic bacterial enzymes in the degradation of agro-industrial wastes

Agro ‑ industrial wastes are potential starting materials for the production of useful value ‑ added compounds, including prebiotic oligosaccharides. In this paper, we evaluated the potential of thermophilic bacterial pectin ‑ and xylan ‑ d egrading recombinant enzymes for the degradation of the agro ‑ industrial wastes: apple pomace, wheat straw, wheat bran and distillers grains. For the immobilization of pectate lyase and xylanase, three different supports were used. The effect of enzyme immobilization was analyzed in terms of enhanced thermostability and activity against these wastes. For xyla‑ nase, the highest thermostability was achieved by immobilization on Sepabeads EC ‑ EP/M. The best activity against bran and grains was obtained by immobilization on Sepabeads EC ‑ HA/M. For pectate lyase, the highest thermostability was achieved by immobilization on Sepabeads EC ‑ EP/M, however, activity against apple pomace pectin was slightly reduced by this immobilization. The length of oligosaccharides produced by both free and immobilized enzymes was also deter ‑ mined.
Characteristics of Gastric Microbiota in GK Rats with Spontaneous Diabetes: A Comparative Study

Background The Goto-Kakizaki (GK) rat, developed from repeated inbreeding of glucose-intolerant Wistar rats, has been widely used to explore the development of spontaneous type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). However, the gastric microbiota of GK and Wistar rats are still unclear. This study aimed to understand the gastric microbiota characteristics of GK rats by comparing it with non-diabetic Wistar rats. Materials and Methods Male Wistar rats and GK rats were housed in specific pathogen-free (SPF) environment for 12 weeks with free access to sterilized food and water. Body weight and random blood glucose (BG) levels were determined. At the end of the experiment, the gastric contents of the rats were collected for the identification of gastric microbiota using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Results The richness of gastric microbiota in GK rats was similar to that of Wistar rats (P > 0.05). The results of Shannon, Simpson, beta diversity indices, and ANOSIM analysis showed that alpha and beta diversity of gastric microbiota in GK rats were significantly lower than that of Wistar rats (P < 0.01). Firmicutes (96.0%), Proteobacteria (1.9%) and Cyanobacteria (0.8%) were the dominant gastric microbiota in GK rats accounting for 72.9%, 14.7% and 10.9%, respectively. Linear discriminant analysis effect size (LEfSe) revealed that phylum Firmicutes and four genera (Anaerovibrio, Collinsella, Prevotellaceae_UCG_001, and Lactobacillus) were significantly abundant in the stomachs of GK rats. In contrast, seven genera (unidentified_Chloroplast, Porphyromonas, Neisseria, Rubrobacter, Veillonella, Lachnospiraceae_UCG_005, and unidentified_Erysipelotrichaceae) were significantly abundant in the stomachs of Wistar rats. Blood glucose was positively correlated with Anaerobibrio and Lactobacillus, and negatively correlated with four genera (Porphyromonas, Rubrobacter, Lachnospiraceae_UCG_005, and unidentified_Erysipelotrichaceae). In addition, chemoheterotrophy and fermentation were the most important functions of gastric microbiota. Conclusion The gastric microbiota of GK rats with spontaneous T2DM showed the typical characteristics of low diversity and significant enrichment of Firmicutes phylum and four genera (Anaerovibrio, Collinsella, Prevotellaceae_UCG_001, and Lactobacillus) compared with gastric microbiota of Wistar rats.
Effects of water potential on germination of lettuce, sunflower, and citrus seeds

The effect of nearly constant water potential on germination of citrus, sunflower, and lettuce seeds was studied. Water potential equilibration was achieved by placing soil above a cellulose acetate membrane which was in contact with a solution of polyethylene glycol-6000. Selection of solute potentials in the solution resulted in controlled water potentials in the soil over a range of 0 to −14.9 bars for citrus and 0 to −8.0 bars for sunflower and lettuce. The water stress experienced by germinating seeds in this system is largely the result of a matric effect rather than a solute effect.Citrus seeds germinated at water potentials as low as −4.7 bars and lettuce at −4.1 bars, but sunflower germinated at −8.0 bars. Sunflower germinated as rapidly at −4.1 bars as lettuce at −2.3 bars, both reaching 50% germination at about 8 days. Citrus germinated much more slowly, requiring 26 days at 0 bars.
Peptide Receptor Radionuclide Therapy for the Treatment of Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors: Recent Insights

Abstract Peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT) is a paradigm shifting approach to the treatment of neuroendocrine tumors. Although there are no prospective randomized trials directly studying PRRT in pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (panNETs), there are data to suggest benefit in this patient population. Collectively, the data, consisting of two prospective and six retrospective studies, show a median PFS ranging from 20 to 39 months and a median OS ranging from 37 to 79 months. There are ongoing (and upcoming) prospective, randomized trials of PRRT in panNETs, which will provide further evidence to support this approach.
The effect of Pymetrozine, a feeding inhibitor of Homoptera, in preventing transmission of cauliflower mosaic caulimovirus by the aphid species Myzus persicae (Sulzer)

Summary Mature turnip plants, mechanically infected as seedlings with the semi-persistent, aphid transmitted caulimovirus, cauliflower mosaic (CaMV), were treated by spraying with either a solution of Pymetrozine plus adjuvant oil, adjuvant oil or water only. At the same time turnip seedlings were sprayed for each of the three treatments. Two h after spraying, Myzus persicae were caged onto an infected turnip plant for each of the three treatments. Twenty four h later, groups of 20 aphids were transferred from the infected plants, to seedlings from each of the three treatments. After 24 h, these were removed and seedlings were later recorded for infection. This acquisition/transmission assay was repeated at 3, 7, 14 and 21 days from treatment. Only aphids exposed to the Pymetrozine treated source plants were shown to move off the plant and failed to transmit CaMV effectively to treated or control seedlings during the 0 and 3 day assays. The majority soon died when transferred to test seedlings. Progressively, more aphids were found to survive and transmit CaMV during the 7 day and 14 day assays. By 21 days no significant effect could be recorded between treatments and controls. Aphids transferred from control treated source plants to Pymetrozine treated seedlings were able to transmit CaMV within all the assays, although higher mortality was recorded in the day 0 assessment when compared to those transferred to control treated seedlings. We conclude from this trial, that a single foliar treatment of 100 mg litre1 Pymetrozine to CaMV infected turnip plants, effectively reduces the vectoring capability of M. persicae, that feed on these plants, for up to 7 days. However, Pymetrozine failed to stop virus transmission to treated seedlings from the ingress of viruliferous aphids. Pymetrozine was not shown to cause any phytotoxic responses to plants used in this trial.
Maize (Zea mays L.) yield and soil properties as affected by no tillage in the black soils of China

A four-year tillage experiment on maize was conducted in the high latitude region of Northeast of China. The main objective of this study was to investigate the effects of different field tillage practices on maize grain yield, soil physical properties, and soil water and temperature dynamics in Northeast of China. The tillage practices included moldboard plow tillage (MOT), rotary tillage (ROT), reduced tillage (RET), combined tillage (COT), and no tillage (NOT). The surface soil water content at depths of 0–20 cm was higher under NOT compared with other tillage practices, but not different at the deeper soil depths in 2011. The soil temperatures under NOT and RET were lower than those under moldboard plow tillage and ROT at depths of 5 and 15 cm, respectively, measured at 9:00 am in 2005. From the hourly dynamics of soil temperature, the differences among the tillage practices mainly appeared during the daytime (from 8:00 am to 7:00 pm). Among all the practices, the average daily soil temperature under ROT was the highest, while that under NOT was the lowest. MOT, ROT, and RET had higher soil accumulative infiltration compared with NOT and COT. The surface soil bulk density under NOT was higher than or equal to that under the other four tillage practices. The maize yields under NOT were the lowest among all the tillage practices for three years straight. Meanwhile, the yields under MOT were the highest, which were about 47%, 61%, and 38% higher than those under NOT. NOT practice is not recommended for use in spring-planted maize under the high latitude humid cool climate Mollisol region in Northeast of China.
The formation, structure and utilization of stone surface organic layers in two New Zealand streams

SUMMARY. 1 The development of stone surface organic layers was investigated in dark and light experimental channels at two field sites. Layer formation was monitored by measuring organic carbon, chlorophyll-a, ATP and rates of oxygen consumption, and using scanning electron microscopy. 2 In the darkened forest stream channel an organic layer consisting of slime, fine particles, bacteria and fungi developed and attained maximum biomass (=0.08 mg cm-2) in about 2 months. At the second site, channels were fed by spring water low in dissolved and particulate organic matter (DOC < 0.5 g m-3) and no organic layer developed on stones in the dark. Organic layers grown in channels subject to natural light intensities and photoperiods were dominated by diatoms and/or filamentous algae at both sites. 3 Laboratory experiments carried out in enclosed, recirculating stream channels demonstrated the importance of dissolved organic matter (DOM) as a prerequisite for layer formation. Also. DOM additions in the form of leaf leachates stimulated oxygen consumption by preformed layers. Uptake by microorganisms accounted for most of the reduction in water-column DOM. 4 Radiotracer experiments (14C and 144Ce) showed that several common stream invertebrates could feed on ‘heterotrophic’ layers. Calculated assimilation efficiencies ranged from 18% to 74% and imply that nonautotrophic components of stone surface organic layers are likely to play a significant role in carbon transfer to the benthos, particularly in small, shaded streams.
Damage to sagebrush attracts predators but this does not reduce herbivory

Emissions of volatiles increase following herbivory from many plant species and volatiles may serve multiple functions. Herbivore‐induced volatiles attract predators and parasitoids of herbivores and are often assumed to benefit plants by facilitating top‐down control of herbivores; this benefit of induced emissions has been tested only a few times. Volatile compounds released by experimentally clipped sagebrush shoots have been shown to reduce levels of chewing damage experienced by other shoots on the same plant and on neighboring sagebrush plants. In this study, I asked whether experimental clipping attracted predators of herbivorous insects to sagebrush shoots. I also evaluated aphid populations and chewing damage on clipped and unclipped shoots and whether predators were likely to have caused differences in aphids and chewing damage. Shoots that had been clipped recruited more generalist predators, particularly coccinellids and Geocoris spp. in visual surveys conducted during two seasons. Clipping also caused increased numbers of parasitized aphids in one season. Ants were common tending aphids but were not significantly affected by clipping. Despite the increase in generalist predators, clipped plants were more likely to support populations of aphids that increased during both seasons compared to aphids on unclipped control plants. Clipped shoots suffered less damage by chewing herbivores in the 1‐year in which this was measured. Chewing damage was not correlated with numbers of predators. These results suggest that predators and parasitoids were attracted to experimentally clipped sagebrush plants but that these predators were not effective at reducing net damage to the plant. This conclusion is not surprising as much of the herbivory is inflicted by grasshoppers and deer, herbivores that are not vulnerable to the predators attracted to sagebrush volatiles. More generally, it should not be assumed that predators that are attracted by herbivore‐induced volatiles necessarily benefit the plant without testing this hypothesis under field conditions.
A STUDY OF THE BACTERIA ON THE ROOT SURFACE AND IN THE RHIZOSPHERE SOIL OF CROP PLANTS

SUMMARY The numbers and kinds of bacteria on the root surface (rhizoplane) of the six crop plants, red clover, flax, oats, maize, barley and wheat, and also in the rhizosphere soil (near the roots) have been compared with the numbers and kinds in root free soil. Bacteria isolated from wheat roots have been classified in genera. All the 6 crops, especially red clover, showed a typical rhizosphere effect, and there were also more bacteria in the rhizoplane than in root free soil. Of the 6 crops, red clover had the most methylene blue reducing bacteria, and flax the highest numbers of glucose fermenting bacteria, in both rhizosphere and rhizoplane. Flax also had very many ammonifying bacteria on its roots. The percentage of strains needing amino acids for optimal growth was highest on the root surfaces, and higher in the rhizosphere than in root free soil, in every case. Wheat roots and the wheat rhizosphere yielded a higher proportion of fast growing, acid tolerant and acid producing bacteria than did root free soil. The taxonomic studies showed that Pseudomonas spp. were predominant on and near wheat roots, but Arthrobacter spp. were predominant in root free soil.
Assessment and simulation of land use and land cover change impacts on the land surface temperature of Chaoyang District in Beijing, China

Rapid urbanization is changing the existing patterns of land use land cover (LULC) globally, which is consequently increasing the land surface temperature (LST) in many regions. The present study is focused on estimating current and simulating future LULC and LST trends in the urban environment of Chaoyang District, Beijing. Past patterns of LULC and LST were identified through the maximum likelihood classification (MLC) method and multispectral Landsat satellite images during the 1990–2018 data period. The cellular automata (CA) and stochastic transition matrix of the Markov model were applied to simulate future (2025) LULC and LST changes, respectively, using their past patterns. The CA model was validated for the simulated and estimated LULC for 1990–2018, with an overall Kappa (K) value of 0.83, using validation modules in IDRISI software. Our results indicated that the cumulative changes in built-up to vegetation area were 74.61 km2 (16.08%) and 113.13 km2 (24.38%) from 1990 to 2018. The correlation coefficient of land use and land cover change (LULCC), including vegetation, water bodies and built-up area, had values of r = − 0.155 (p > 0.005), −0.809 (p = 0.000), and 0.519 (p > 0.005), respectively. The results of future analysis revealed that there will be an estimated 164.92 km2 (−12%) decrease in vegetation area, while an expansion of approximately 283.04 km2 (6% change) will occur in built-up areas from 1990 to 2025. This decrease in vegetation cover and expansion of settlements would likely cause a rise of approximately ∼10.74 °C and ∼12.66 °C in future temperature, which would cause a rise in temperature (2025). The analyses could open an avenue regarding how to manage urban land cover patterns to enhance the resilience of cities to climate warming. This study provides scientific insights for environmental development and sustainability through efficient and effective urban planning and management in Beijing and will also help strengthen other research related to the UHI phenomenon in other parts of the world.
Long-term outcomes of repaired and unrepaired truncus arteriosus: 20-year, single-center experience in Thailand

Background Truncus arteriosus (TA) is a complex congenital heart disease that carries morbidities in the first year of life. Previous authors have reported an operative mortality of 50%. In this report, we aim to report on the survival of patients with TA in our medical center in the recent era. Methods A retrospective review of all patients diagnosed with TA in Siriraj Hospital, Thailand from August 1995 to March 2018 was performed. Patients with single ventricle, hemiTA were excluded. The characteristics and outcomes of repaired and unrepaired TA patients with a known recent functional status in 2018 were reviewed. Operative mortality risks were analyzed using a multivariate model. Results A total of 74 patients (median age at referral: 70 days) were included in the cohort. One-third of the patients had associated anomalies including DiGeorge syndrome (13.5%). Anatomical repair was not performed in 22 patients (29.7%). The median age at time of repair for the 52 patients was 133 days (range: 22 days to 16.7 years). Complex TA was 10%. Early mortality occurred in 16 patients (30.8%). Five patients (9.6%) had late deaths at 0.3–1.2 years. Significant mortality risk was weight at time of operation <4 kg (HR 3.05, 95% CI [1.05–8.74], p-value 0.041). Of the 31 operation survivors, 17 required re-intervention within 0.4–11.4 years. Eight patients had reoperation at 8.7 years (range: 2.7–14.6 years) post-repair. Freedom from reoperation was 93%, 70.4%, and 31%, at 5, 10, and 15 years, respectively. All late survivors were in functional class I–II. Of the 22 unrepaired TA patients, 11 patients (50%) died (median age: 13.6 years; range: 14 days–32.8 years). Survival of unrepaired TA patients was 68.2%, 68.2%, and 56.8, at 5, 10, and 15 years of age, respectively. At the end of study, 11 survivors of TA with palliative treatment had a recent mean oxygen saturation value of 84.1 ± 4.8% and a mean weight for height of 81.4 ± 12.7%, which were significantly lower than those of 31 late-survivors who had undergone anatomical repair. Conclusion Contemporary survival rates of patients with TA following operation in the center has been gradually improved over time. Most of the operative mortality occurs in the early postoperative period. Compared to patients with TA who had palliative treatment, operative survivors have a better functional status even though they carry a risk for re-intervention.
Variation in the composition of Cretan avocado cultivars during ripening

The effect of ripening on the chemical characteristics of fruits of the avocado (Persea americana) cultivars Ettinger, Fuerte and Hass was investigated. A study of some quality parameters of these main avocado cultivars grown on the island of Crete was performed. As the fruit ripened, a decrease in the moisture content was observed, with a high degree of correlation for all the cultivars. At the same time an increase in the fat and protein contents was measured. The content of total sugars was high in the unripe fruit but decreased during ripening. The fatty acid composition of the oil extracted from the fruit pulp was determined by gas chromatographic analysis. The oil of the edible portion of the fruit was rich in oleic, palmitic, linoleic and palmitoleic acids, while stearic acid was present in small quantities. During the ripening process the amount of palmitic acid decreased and that of oleic acid increased in all the cultivars. The ratio of polyunsaturated to saturated fatty acids, which is considered as an indicator of the nutritional value of the fruit, was also calculated. No significant differences were observed between the cultivars. Principal component analysis was also performed to examine the relationship among the quality variables of the cultivars. From these data, Fuerte was considered to be the cultivar with the best characteristics. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry