Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (pgpr) on germination, seedling growth and yield of tomato

Division of Plant Pathology, Indian Institute of Horticulture Research, Bangalore, Karnataka, India ISSN: 0976-3031 RESEARCH ARTICLE Effect of plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (pgpr) on germination, seedling growth and yield of tomato *1Bellishree, K. 1Girija Ganeshan, 2Ramachandra, YL. 1Archana, S Rao and 3Chethana, BS 1Division of Plant Pathology, Indian Institute of Horticulture Research, Bangalore, Karnataka, India 2Department of Biotechnology, Kuvempu University, Shankaraghatta, Karnataka, India 3ZARS, VC Farm, Mandya
Asymptomatic Transmission and the Infection Fatality Risk for COVID-19: Implications for School Reopening

Abstract Asymptomatic infection occurs for numerous respiratory viral diseases, including influenza and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). We seek to clarify confusion in 3 areas: age-specific risks of transmission and/or disease; various definitions for the COVID-19 “mortality rate,” each useful for specific purposes; and implications for student return strategies from preschool through university settings.
Exogenous Spermidine Alleviates the Oxidative Damage in Cucumber Seedlings Subjected to High Temperatures

Heat tolerance is considered to be an essential feature for cucumber (Cucumis sativus) production, and it has been suggested that higher antioxidant ability could prevent the oxidative damage in plants caused by high- temperature stress. We aimed to investigate whether the application of exogenous spermidine (Spd) increases antioxidant activities and, therefore, elevates the heat tolerance of cucumber. Cucumber seedlings (cv. Jinchun No. 4) showing moderate heat tolerance were grown in climate chambers to investigate the effects of exogenous Spd (1 mM) foliar spray treatment on the activities and isozyme levels of antioxidative enzymes under both high-temperature stress 42/32 8C (day/night) and normal temperature 28/18 8C (day/night). On high-temperature stress, the activities of superoxide dismutase and ascorbate peroxidase were significantly reduced; the catalase activity was initially lower and then increased, whereas the peroxidase activity was initially higher and then decreased. The levels of these isozymes also changed differently. On treatment with exogenous Spd, the activities of these antioxidant enzymes were noticeably enhanced, and the isozyme zymogram expression had some changes. It was concluded that foliar spray with Spd effectively improved the total antioxidant ability of cucumber seedlings and, therefore, enhanced the tolerance of the plants to high-temperature stress.
[Evaluation of incidence and risk profile for suffering Covid-19 infection by underlying conditions among middle-aged and older adults in Tarragona.]

OBJECTIVE Population-based data on the current Covid-19 pandemic is scarce. This study investigated incidence and risk to suffer Covid-19 by baseline underlying conditions in people ≥50 years in Tarragona region across march-april 2020. METHODS Population-based retrospective cohort study involving 79,071 adults ≥50 years-old in Tarragona region (Southern Catalonia, Spain). Cohort characteristics (age, sex, residence, vaccinations history and comorbidities) were established at baseline, and Covid-19 cases occurring between 01/03/2020-30/04/2020 were registered. Cox regression analysis calculating Hazard ratios (HRs) adjusted by age, sex and comorbidities was used to estimate risk for Covid-19. RESULTS Across study period, 1,547 cohort members were PCR tested (22.6% positive) and 367 were presumptive cases without PCR tested. Considering PCR-confirmed Covid-19, incidence (per 100,000 persons-period) was 441 overall (248, 141, 424, 1,303 and 3,135 in 50-59, 60-69, 70-79, 80-89 and ≥90 years-old, respectively; 380 in men and 497 in women; 259 in community-dwelling and 10,571 in nursing-home). By comorbidities, maximum incidence emerged among persons with neurological disease (2,723), atrial fibrillation (1,348), chronic renal failure (1,050), cardiac disease (856), respiratory disease (798) and diabetes (706). Lower incidence appeared in rheumatic diseases (230) and smokers (180). In multivariable analysis focused on community-dwelling individuals (N=77,671), only cardiac disease (HR: 1.47; 95% CI: 1.01-2.15; p=0.045) and respiratory disease (HR: 1.75; 95% CI: 1.00-3.02; p=0.051) were associated with an increased risk, whereas smoking (HR:0.43; 95% CI: 0.25-0.74; p=0.002) and influenza vaccinated (HR: 0.63; 95% CI: 0.43-0.92; p=0.015) appeared associated with a decreased risk. CONCLUSIONS Apart of increasing age and nursing-home residence, chronic respiratory and cardiac disease appear at increased risk for suffering covid19. This study investigated population-based incidence of Covid-19 infection by underlying conditions among adults ≥50 years in Tarragona (Southern Catalonia, Spain) across two first months pandemic period.
Wastewater Treatment by Moving Bed Sequencing Batch Reactor (MBSBR): A Review

Moving bed sequencing batch reactor (MBSBR) incorporates benefits provided by both Moving bed biofilm reactor (MBBR) and Sequencing batch reactor (SBR). MBSBR is modification of MBBR process which is operated in sequencing batch mode. It is an advanced wastewater treatment technology which involves high treatment efficiency with low capital, operational, maintenance and replacement cost. MBSBR proved to be efficient in removing more than 90% of COD and BOD and other nutrients (N and P) from both domestic as well as industrial wastewater, under appropriate conditions with sufficient retention time. It is a cost effective way of upgrading existing wastewater treatment system as it is efficient, compact and easy to operate. MBSBR can be provided for designing new wastewater treatment plants and also for retrofitting existing wastewater treatment plants where higher removal efficiency is required with low cost. The performance of MBSBR depends on the carrier fill percent, specific surface area of carriers and organic loading. Kinetic models used for optimization of MBSBR are also discussed in this paper.
Exploring potential tumour growth modulating mechanisms in cells having different status of TP53 gene

Motywacją moich dotychczasowych badań, począwszy od pracy licencjackiej, przez magisterską, do doktorskiej, jest rosnąca liczba zachorowań na nowotwory, przy jednoczesnym braku w 100% skutecznych metod leczenia nowotworów złośliwych. Prezentowana praca stanowi podsumowanie moich dotychczasowych badań nad popromiennym efektem sąsiedztwa (badania eksperymentalne wykonywane wraz z zespołem dr hab. n. med. Marii Wideł z Politechniki Śląskiej, kopromotor rozprawy), senescencji komórkowej (także wraz z M. Wideł, ale również z zespołem Heiko Enderlinga wcześniej z Center of Cancer System Biology, Boston, USA, a obecnie z Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, USA) oraz procesem angiogenezy nowotworowej i leczenia antyangiogennego (wraz z zespołem dr hab. Urszuli Foryś, promotor rozprawy, jak również z Heiko Enderlingiem i Philipem Hahnfeldtem z Center of Cancer System Biology, Boston, USA).
Impact of the Iranian Registry of Infective Endocarditis (IRIE) and multidisciplinary team approach on patient management

Abstract Backgrounds The last 30 years have witnessed major improvements in understanding of all aspects of infective endocarditis (IE). The Iranian Registry of Infective Endocarditis (IRIE) was formed to address epidemiological aspects of IE vis-à-vis its main pathogens and underlying heart diseases over a 12-year period. Indeed, a multidisciplinary team (MDT) for IE was developed alongside. Methods In a longitudinal observational study, data of adult patients with definite or possible IE based on modified Duke criteria were collected from 2007 to 2016 in our tertiary centre, Iran. From 2016 until 2019, we run a prospective observational study using formation of an IE MDT to provide better patient management and compared data before and after this. Results Totally, 645 patients with mean age of 48 ± 17 years were enrolled. Data of 445 and 200 patients were compared before and after IRIE and MDT formation, respectively. We found significantly reduced type and number of applied antibiotics (p = 0.04) and higher rate of positive blood culture (p = 0.001). Hospital length of stay increased significantly after formation of the IRIE and IE MDT (p = 0.02). The rate of heart failure, new abscess formation and cerebral emboli were significantly decreased after IRIE and IE MDT (p < 0.001) and consequently in-hospital mortality reduced significantly (p = 0.05). Conclusion Developing national registries and MDTs has potential to enhance patient management and reduce IE burden. Our results demonstrated that establishment of the Iranian IRIE and IE MDT conferred better diagnoses, standardised treatments and significantly reduced cardiac and extra cardiac morbidity.
The Office Work and Stretch Training (OST) Study: An Individualized and Standardized Approach to Improve the Quality of Life in Office Workers

In the context of workplace health promotion, physical activity programs have been shown to reduce musculoskeletal diseases and stress, and to improve the quality of life. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of using the “five-Business” stretch training device for office workers on their quality of life. A total of 313 office workers (173m/137f) participated voluntarily in this intervention–control study with an average age of 43.37 ± 11.24 (SD) years, 175.37 ± 9.35 cm in height and 75.76 ± 15.23 kg in weight, with an average BMI of 24.5 ± 3.81 kg/m2. The participants completed the stretch training twice a week for approximately 10 min for a duration of 12 weeks. The SF-36 questionnaire was used to evaluate the effectiveness of the intervention at baseline and after 12 weeks. Significantly improved outcomes in mental sum score (p = 0.008), physical functioning (p < 0.001), bodily pain (p = 0.01), vitality (p = 0.025), role limitations due to physical problems (p = 0.018) and mental health (p = 0.012) were shown after the stretching training. The results suggest that a 12-week stretching program for office desk workers is suitable to improve significantly their health-related quality of life.
Improved Killing of HIV-infected Cells Using Three Neutralizing and Non-neutralizing Antibodies.

The correlation of HIV-specific Antibody-Dependent Cellular Cytotoxicity (ADCC) responses with protection from, and delayed progression of HIV-1 infection provides a rationale to leverage ADCC-mediating antibodies for treatment purposes. We evaluated ADCC mediated by different combinations of two to six neutralizing and non-neutralizing anti-HIV-1-Envelope (Env) monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), using concentrations ≤ 1 µg/mL, to identify combinations effective at targeting latent reservoir HIV-1 viruses (LRVs) from ten individuals. We found that within 2 hours, combinations of three mAbs mediated >30% killing of HIV-infected primary CD4+ T cells in presence of autologous NK cells, with the combination of A32 (C1C2), DH511.2K3 (MPER), and PGT121 (V3) mAbs being the most effective. Increasing the incubation of target and effector cells in presence of mAb combinations from 2 to 24 hours resulted in increased specific killing of infected cells, even with neutralization-resistant viruses. The same combination eliminated reactivated HIV-1 latently-infected cells in an ex vivo qualitative viral outgrowth (QVOA) assay. Therefore, administration of a combination of three mAbs should be considered when planning in vivo studies seeking to eliminate persistently HIV-1 infected cells.
Review on Image Processing Based Adversarial Example Defenses in Computer Vision

Recent research works showed that deep neural networks are vulnerable to adversarial examples, which are usually maliciously created by carefully adding deliberate and imperceptible perturbations to examples. Several states of the art defense methods are proposed based on the existing image processing methods like image compression and image denoising. However, such approaches are not the final optimal solution for defense adversarial perturbations in DNN models. In this paper, we reviewed two main approaches to deploying image processing methods as a defense. By analyzing and discus! sing the remaining issues, we present two open questions for future research direction including the definition of adversarial perturbations and noises, the novel defense-aware threat model. A further research direction is also given by re-thinking the impacts of adversarial perturbations on all frequency bands.
Perceptions of Dental Dyschromia by Patients and Dentist.

PURPOSE To assess patient self-perception of overall dental appearance and of potentially localized dyschromic teeth and to compare them to the perception of the treating dentist. MATERIALS AND METHODS A sample of 160 patients from Cluj-Napoca, Romania, answered a questionnaire regarding the self-perception of their dental appearance and of potential localized dental discolorations. The same questions were answered by their dentist, without knowing their answers, after clinical examination of each patient. Each patient and the dentist were asked to indicate a tooth with a pleasant color to be considered as reference. Color measurements of teeth indicated as dyschromic and of the reference teeth were performed using a spectrophotometer. Color differences were calculated using the ΔE00 formula. RESULTS Tooth color was considered the most disturbing factor of their dental appearance by 41.25% of patients. Most patients (58.12%) acknowledged localized dyschromic teeth in their dental arches. Agreement between patients and dentist regarding the identification of dyschromic teeth was found in 61.87% of cases. The DE00 between the reference teeth and the teeth considered dyschromic by both patients and dentist ranged between 0.8 and 23.1. Disagreement between patients and dentist was found in 38.12% of situations. For teeth considered dyschromic only by patients, the ΔE00 ranged between 0.8 and 23.1. For teeth considered dyschromic only by the dentist, the ΔE00 ranged between 0.8 and 25. CONCLUSION Most patients expressed concerns regarding their overall dental color and perceived themselves as having teeth with localized dyschromia. More than a third of the investigated patients had different perceptions regarding dyschromic teeth compared to their dentist. The majority of ΔE00 values calculated between dyschromic and reference teeth exceeded the perceptibility and acceptability thresholds.
A Distortion-Based Potential Game for Secondary Voltage Control in Micro-Grids

In this work, we present a multi-agent learning model based on the maximum entropy (MAXEnt) and the rate distortion function to define, respectively, the environment of the agents and their understanding about it. The avoidance of redundant information under distortion conditions is used to define a distortion-based potential function that is minimized in order to find an equilibrium point in a potential game setting, in which the Lagrange multiplier $\beta $ , used as input in the Blahut-Arimoto algorithm, determines the rationality in the learning process. The model performance is evaluated in a secondary voltage controller in order to achieve reactive power sharing between distributed generators (DGs) in a micro-grid. Simulation results demonstrate a good response in terms of reactive power distribution when the load is increased in a DG without considerable affectations in the voltage stability.
Soil fertility induces coordinated responses of multiple independent functional traits

A central goal of functional ecology is to determine how independent functional traits are selectively filtered by environmental conditions to improve our understanding of the mechanisms of community assembly. Soil fertility clearly influences community composition, but it is unclear which plant functional traits are most strongly associated with gradients of increasing nutrient limitation. We hypothesized that leaf economic traits and stem tissue density would be strongly associated with soil fertility given their direct relationship to soil resource acquisition and use. In contrast, we hypothesized that functional traits that are commonly associated with competition for light (maximum height), shade tolerance (seed mass) and resistance to disturbance (bark thickness) would be unrelated to soil fertility. We measured 13 functional traits from 30 tree species occurring in 40 plots across a soil fertility gradient in a mature warm temperate rain forest in Northland, New Zealand. Principal component analysis was used to assess the dimensionality and independence of the functional traits and the soil properties, and regression was used to determine the relationships between community‐weighted mean traits and the soil fertility gradient. We observed a coordinated response of multiple independent traits to soil fertility. Consistent with our hypothesis, species associated with low‐fertility soils had comparatively ‘slower’ leaves (i.e. low SLA and leaf N and P, and high LDMC and thickness) and higher stem tissue density than species associated with high‐fertility soils. Unexpectedly, we observed that species associated with low‐fertility soils had larger maximum heights, thicker bark and lower seed mass. Tall trees can persist on poor soils. Thick bark may be a defensive strategy for trees growing in resource‐limited sites and large‐seeded shade‐tolerant species can persist in fertile soils where light is more limiting. Synthesis. Species sorting can occur over short distances in ecosystems where topographically driven variation in soil fertility leads to complete compositional turnover. Inferences about species distributions based on single‐trait spectrums can be misleading when environmental gradients sort species by filtering multiple independent traits simultaneously. Identifying the multidimensional trait combinations that promote fitness will advance both theory development and ecological restoration.
Analysis and Experiment of 5-DOF Decoupled Spherical Vernier-Gimballing Magnetically Suspended Flywheel (VGMSFW)

Due to the capacity of outputting both the high precision torque and the instantaneous large torque, the vernier-gimballing magnetically suspended flywheel (VGMSFW) is regarded as the key actuator for spacecraft. In this paper, a 5-DOF active VGMSFW is presented. The 3-DOF translation and 2-DOF deflection motions of the rotor are respectively realized by the spherical magnetic resistance magnetic bearings and the Lorentz magnetic bearing. The mathematical model of the deflection torque is established, and the decoupling between the 2-DOF deflections is demonstrated by the numerical analysis method. Compared with the conventional cylindrical magnetic bearings-rotor system, the spherical system is proven to eliminate the coupling between the rotor translation and deflection. In addition, a set of spherical magnetic resistance magnetic bearings with six-channel decoupling magnetic circuit are adopted to achieve the 3-DOF translation decoupling. The rotor dynamic model is derived, and the control system is established. The decoupling experiments and the torque experiments of the prototype are carried out. The results show that the decoupling among 5-DOF motions is realized and the instantaneous large torque can be obtained, which indicates that the requirements of the spacecraft can be highly satisfied by the spherical VGMSFW.
Roles of motor and cortical activity in sleep rebound in rat

Sleep pressure that builds up gradually during the extended wakefulness results in sleep rebound. Several lines of evidence, however, suggest that wake per se may not be sufficient to drive sleep rebound and that rapid eye movement (REM) and non‐rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep rebound may be differentially regulated. In this study, we investigated the relative contribution of brain versus physical activities in REM and NREM sleep rebound by four sets of experiments. First, we forced locomotion in rats in a rotating wheel for 4 hr and examined subsequent sleep rebound. Second, we exposed the rats lacking homeostatic sleep response after prolonged quiet wakefulness and arousal brain activity induced by chemoactivation of parabrachial nucleus to the same rotating wheel paradigm and tested if physical activity could rescue the sleep homeostasis. Third, we varied motor activity levels while concurrently inhibiting the cortical activity by administering ketamine or xylazine (motor inhibitor), or ketamine + xylazine mixture and investigated if motor activity in the absence of activated cortex can cause NREM sleep rebound. Fourth and finally, we manipulated cortical activity by administering ketamine (that induced active wakefulness and waking brain) alone or in combination with atropine (that selectively inhibits the cortex) and studied if cortical inhibition irrespective of motor activity levels can block REM sleep rebound. Our results demonstrate that motor activity but not cortical activity determines NREM sleep rebound whereas cortical activity but not motor activity determines REM sleep rebound.
COCCONEIS EHRENBERG AND PSAMMOCOCCONEIS GARCIA (BACILLARIOPHYTA) FROM THE GULF OF SAN MATÍAS, PATAGONIA, ARGENTINA

The morphology and taxonomy of species of the genera Cocconeis Ehrenberg and Psammococconeis Garcia from the Gulf of San Matías (Patagonia, Argentina) is documented in the present study. A total of 16 taxa of Cocconeis and one species of Psammococconeis were found in surface net hauls taken in shallow coastal waters of the Gulf. Cocconeis fluminensis var. fluminensis, C. fluminensis var. subimpleta, C. guttata, C. peltoides and C. neothumensis var. marina are new records for the southwestern Atlantic Ocean.
Dominantly Inherited Hereditary Nonpolyposis Colorectal Cancer Not Caused by MMR Genes

In the past two decades, multiple studies have been undertaken to elucidate the genetic cause of the predisposition to mismatch repair (MMR)-proficient nonpolyposis colorectal cancer (CRC). Here, we present the proposed candidate genes according to their involvement in specific pathways considered relevant in hereditary CRC and/or colorectal carcinogenesis. To date, only pathogenic variants in RPS20 may be convincedly linked to hereditary CRC. Nevertheless, accumulated evidence supports the involvement in the CRC predisposition of other genes, including MRE11, BARD1, POT1, BUB1B, POLE2, BRF1, IL12RB1, PTPN12, or the epigenetic alteration of PTPRJ. The contribution of the identified candidate genes to familial/early onset MMR-proficient nonpolyposis CRC, if any, is extremely small, suggesting that other factors, such as the accumulation of low risk CRC alleles, shared environmental exposures, and/or gene–environmental interactions, may explain the missing heritability in CRC.