Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Calcilytic NPS2143 promotes proliferation and inhibits apoptosis of spontaneously hypertensive rat vascular smooth muscle cells via activation of the renin-angiotensin system

Vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) proliferation and apoptosis and the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) play critical roles in the development of essential hypertension. The activation of calcium-sensing receptor (CaSR), functionally expressed in VSMCs, inhibits cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) formation by elevating intracellular calcium ([Ca2+]i) and then suppressing renin release. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of NPS2143-mediated inhibition of CaSR on VSMC proliferation and apoptosis in spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR) VSMCs and to assess whether these effects were mediated by alterations to RAS signaling. Primary VSMCs were isolated from the aortas of SHRs and Wistar-Kyoto rats. SHR VSMCs were treated with CaSR antagonist NPS2143 and cell proliferation and CaSR and RAS-related protein expression levels were measured to assess the effect. The results indicated that NPS2143 treatment promoted SHR VSMC proliferation, lower CaSR expression levels and higher RAS-related proteins levels when compared with control treatment. Additional measurement of the expression levels of proteins related to proliferation, remodeling, apoptosis and RAS related proteins, as well as cell viability, cell cycle, cell apoptosis ratio, [Ca2+]i, and the concentration of cAMP was performed after treatment with NPS2143, PLC inhibitor U73122, IP3 receptor antagonist 2-aminoethoxydiphenylborane (APB), adenylyl cyclase-V inhibitor MDL12330A, angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor captopril, angiotensin I receptor (AT1R) inhibitor losartan, NPS2143 + U73122, NPS2143 + 2-APB, NPS2143 + MDL12330A, NPS2143 + captopril and NPS2143 + losartan. The results suggested that NPS2143 promoted cell proliferation, inhibited cell apoptosis, decreased [Ca2+]i and increased the expression of RAS compared with control treatments. NPS2143 + U73122 and NPS2143 + 2-APB enhanced the effects of NPS2143, while NPS2143 + MDL12330A, NPS2143 + captopril, NPS2143 + losartan attenuated the effected of NPS2143 in SHR VSMCs. Furthermore, the knockdown of AT1R by AT1R-short hairpin RNA also attenuated the effects of NPS2143 compared with NPS2143 alone. Collectively, these data indicated that NPS2143 promoted proliferation and inhibited apoptosis of VSMCs in SHRs, the effect of which was achieved by activation of RAS signaling.
Positivisme dan Implikasinya terhadap Ilmu dan Penegakan Hukum oleh Mahkamah Konstitusi (Analisa Putusan Nomor 46/PUU-XIV/2016)

Tulisan ini mengungkap pertanyaan mendasar mengenai implikasi aliran positivisme terhadap ilmu dan penegakan hukum di Mahkamah Konstitusi. Hasil kajian menunjukan Pertama, dalam tataran ilmu hukum, aliran ini memahamkan pada penganutnya bahwa ilmu hukum sebagai “suatu pemahaman normologis tentang makna hukum positif ( normological apprehenson of the meaning of positive law )”. Pengembangan ilmu hukum kemudian dilakukan melalui kegiatan mempelajari, meneliti dan mengajarkan berbagai hukum positif,¾yang pada akhirnya pengembangan ilmu hukum lebih kearah ‘ilmu hukum dogmatik’. Kedua, pada tataran penegakan hukum di Mahkamah Konstitusi, implikasinya hakim mendasarkan proses penegakan hukum seperti apa yang diatur dalam norma positif peraturan perundang-undangan. Menegakan hukum menjadi identik dengan menegakan aturan positif. Hakim sebagai pengemban hukum praktis mahir dalam membaca dan membunyikan hukum positif dalam putusan hukumnya. Putusan Mahkamah Konstitusi Nomor 46/PUU-XIV/2016 terkait keberadaan delik zina dalam KUHP menjadi salah satu putusan yang mendapat pengaruh kuat dari aliran ini.
Is the Pencil Mightier than the Keyboard? A Meta-Analysis Comparing the Method of Notetaking Outcomes

ABSTRACT This meta-analysis compared the educational impact of the method of notetaking in the college classroom – hand written or using electronic device. The findings involved 14 studies combining 3,075 participants demonstrated that using electronic notetaking methods reduced measured outcomes (average r = −.142). Using the Binomial Effect Size Display, results indicated a decline of 25% of students scoring below the mean when electronic devices when compared to using handwritten notetaking. The study considers explanations for the decline and makes recommendations about the use of technology for notetaking in the classroom as well as paths for practical and pedagogical implications.
A Low-Cost, High-Efficiency and Full-Metal Reflectarray Antenna With Mechanically 2-D Beam-Steerable Capabilities for 5G Applications

This article presents a low-cost, high-efficiency, and full-metal reflectarray (RA) antenna with mechanical beam-steerable capabilities. A unit cell (UC) implemented by a metal cylinder with a cuboid-shaped notch is proposed to achieve a 1 bit reflection phase (0 and $\pi $ ) for the transverse electric (TE) and transverse magnetic (TM) normal incidence waves. The proposed UCs can be employed to construct an RA antenna with 2-D beam-steerable abilities. For demonstration, the RA antennas with six different beam directions are presented as examples, by simply adjusting the rotations of the UCs. The impedance matches of the RA antenna are all below −10 dB from 22 to 33 GHz, and the measured radiation patterns of the RA antenna are all highly consistent with the simulated counterparts for the six different beam direction scenarios. A 1.5 dB gain drop bandwidth of approximately 20% from 24.7 to 30 GHz and a peak realized gain of 18.9 dBi at 26 GHz are experimentally obtained for the RA antenna with radiation patterns at broadside. Compared to the substrate-based UCs loaded with p-i-n diodes, the proposed UCs have full-metal structures without using any active RF components and dielectric substrates, leading to the high total efficiency of the proposed RA antenna. Due to the low-cost, high-efficiency, and high-power handling properties, the proposed RA antenna can provide a fixed or scanning beam and is a good candidate for 5G millimeter-wave communication applications.
Ripple-GAN: Lane Line Detection With Ripple Lane Line Detection Network and Wasserstein GAN

With artificial intelligence technology being advanced by leaps and bounds, intelligent driving has attracted a huge amount of attention recently in research and development. In intelligent driving, lane line detection is a fundamental but challenging task particularly under complex road conditions. In this paper, we propose a simple yet appealing network called Ripple Lane Line Detection Network (RiLLD-Net), to exploit quick connections and gradient maps for effective learning of lane line features. RiLLD-Net can handle most common scenes of lane line detection. Then, in order to address challenging scenarios such as occluded or complex lane lines, we propose a more powerful network called Ripple-GAN, by integrating RiLLD-Net, confrontation training of Wasserstein generative adversarial networks, and multi-target semantic segmentation. Experiments show that, especially for complex or obscured lane lines, Ripple-GAN can produce a superior detection performance to other state-of-the-art methods.
Short communication. Phylogeny and genetic diversity within Iberian populations of Ornithopus L. and Biserrula L. estimated using ITS DNA sequences T

Genetic diversity within Iberian populations of Ornithopus pinnatus, O. compressus, O. sativus and Biserrula pelecinus were assessed using ITS1 and ITS2 DNA sequences from sixty four specimens, and a phylogeny between Ornithopus species was estimated. Generally within-species variation was low, particularly within Ornithopus . The Mediterranean species of Ornithopus form a sister clade relative to the South American O. micranthopus. The sometimes considered a full species, O. sativus isthmocarpus , was not distinct from O. sativus. Between some species there is limited genetic divergence using these markers, although the situation of O. perpusillus requires additional specimens to be examined before firm conclusions can be drawn.
Clustering Analysis of a Colombian Toxicological Database

ABSTRACT The database analysis allows the return of experience needed to support decision-making processes in risk management. A Colombian toxicological database (TED) developed and maintained by the Center of Safety Information and Chemical Products (CISPROQUIM by its Spanish abbreviation in) is analyzed here using a demographic clustering technique. Data-quality processes were performed on the raw data (more than 170 variables) and as a result the database was reduced to 20 meaningful variables. The variables characterized by values with categories were selected for clustering analysis: gender, age, type of emergency, emergency location, means of poisoning, product use, and physical state of the toxic substance. Clustering analysis showed that there are three profiles that are prevalent in the TED database: Young Adult Suicidal Woman, Unsupervised Child, and Man at Work. These profiles could not be identified using traditional statistical analyses performed on the data collected by CISPROQUIM or defined a priori from the categorical variables. The identification of vulnerable populations and the cause of the toxicological events are critical in order to develop national prevention programs and policies. The analysis described provided a methodology for a critical analysis of toxicological databases that can be applied to other databases such as security databases.
Impacts of a trophy hunting ban on private land conservation in South African biodiversity hotspots

Private land conservation areas (PLCAs) have become critical for achieving global conservation goals, but we lack understanding of how and when these areas respond to global pressures and opportunities. In southern Africa, where many PLCAs rely on trophy hunting as an income‐generating strategy, a potential ban on trophy hunting locally or abroad holds unknown consequences for the future conservation of these lands. In this study, we investigate the consequences of a potential trophy hunting ban in PLCAs in two biodiversity hotspots in South Africa's Eastern and Western Cape provinces. We used semistructured interviews with PLCA managers and owners to elicit perceived impacts of an internationally imposed trophy hunting ban on conservation activities in PLCAs, and to probe alternative viable land uses. The majority of interviewees believed that both the economic viability of their PLCA and biodiversity would be lost following a hunting ban. Owners would primarily consider transitioning to ecotourism or livestock farming, but these options were constrained by the social‐ecological context of their PLCA (e.g., competition with other PLCAs, ecological viability of farming). Our results suggest that a trophy hunting ban may have many unintended consequences for biodiversity conservation, national economies, and the livelihoods of PLCA owners and employees. Along with similar social‐ecological studies in other areas and contexts, our work can inform policy decisions around global trophy hunting regulation.
A Farmer’s Account: Case Study on the Effect of Rainfall and Temperature to Grain Cultivation in Southwestern Saskatchewan, Canada

The production of cereal, legume and oilseed crops on the prairie region of Canada is largely rainfed, with high variability in the accumulation and timing of precipitation. In turn, the fluctuation of climate imparts change in farming practice. The objective of the current study is to measure the effect of rainfall and temperature on grain yield, based on longitudinal data for multiple crops on a Saskatchewan farming operation. Adjustment was made for days to maturity, fertilizer management, crop inputs, and procedures (e.g., harvest method). Detailed and thorough records of rainfall and farming routine were obtained from a farm operator on different field plots over 33 consecutive growing seasons from 1986 to 2018. The efficacy of multiple adaptive farming practices to crop yield were also evaluated, and included seed treatment, swathing, desiccation, and in-crop spraying of fungicide or pesticide. Statistical models were formulated for the association of these factors to crop yield for canaryseed (Phalaris canariensis L.), canola (Brassica napus L.), lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.) and wheat (Triticum turgidum L.). Results from this study show that temperature and rainfall above the long-term average were negatively associated with wheat yield, although the effect modification between average temperature and cumulative rainfall was positively associated with wheat yield. Over 63% of the observed variation in crop yield was attributable to planting year on this farming operation. Crop diversification is key to mitigate the effects of extreme rainfall and temperature variation on yield in this agroregion.
Vermicompost as a Soil Supplement to Improve Growth and Yield of Parsley

ABSTRACT Organically based nutrient sources may provide an alternative to synthetic fertilizers to provide nutrition for plants. Vermicomposting may be able to mitigate problems with detrimental microbes, especially thermo-tolerant pathogens in conventional compost. Information is lacking on effects of vermicomposted animal manure on leafy vegetables. Vermicomposted cattle manure, in combinations with soil [0:100, 10:100, 20:100, and 30:100 (v/v)], was tested to determine how it affects growth, yield, and chemical characteristics of parsley (Petroselinum crispum Mill.) in a greenhouse. Growth and yield parameters were measured at 60 days after sowing. Results indicated that addition of vermicompost to soil increased plant height and numbers of leaves. Total yields and amounts of potassium, phosphorus, and total soluble solids were greater for parsley plants grown in the 10:100 combination.
In Vitro and In Vivo Evaluation of Potassium Permanganate Treatment Efficacy for the Control of Acute Experimental Infection by Flavobacterium columnare in Channel Catfish

Abstract An experiment was performed to evaluate the in vitro and in vivo efficacy of potassium permanganate (KMnO4) against Flavobacterium columnare. In vitro, F. columnare treated with KMnO4 at 2 mg/L for 8 h exhibited a 70% reduction in colony-forming units (CFU). A minimum KMnO4 concentration of 10 mg/L was needed to inhibit bacterial growth. An acute and systemic experimental infection was produced in channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus by waterborne exposure to the bacteria after mechanical cutaneous abrasion to remove mucus and epithelium. At 22 h postchallenge, an 8-h treatment with KMnO4 at 2.3 mg/L (2.0 mg/L above the average KMnO4 demand of 0.3 mg/L) was initiated. This did not reduce mortality in experimentally infected fish. The infection model utilized in the experiment was evaluated by examining the clinical signs and histopathology of infected fish. Fish in the model showed columnaris signs similar to those of a natural infection, including skin depigmentation and ulceration and gill necro.
Trade-offs between burrowing and biting force in fossorial scincid lizards?

Trade-offs are thought to be important in constraining evolutionary divergence as they may limit phenotypic diversification. The cranial system plays a vital role in many functions including defensive, territorial, predatory and feeding behaviours in addition to housing the brain and sensory systems. Consequently, the morphology of the cranial system is affected by a combination of selective pressures that may induce functional trade-offs. Limbless, head-first burrowers are thought to be constrained in their cranial morphology as narrow heads may provide a functional advantage for burrowing. However, having a wide and large head is likely beneficial in terms of bite performance. We used 15 skink species to test for the existence of trade-offs between maximal push and bite forces, and explored the patterns of covariation between external head and body morphology and performance. Our data show that there is no evidence of a trade-off between bite and burrowing in terms of maximal force. Species that generate high push forces also generate high bite forces. Our data also show that overall head size covaries with both performance traits. However, future studies exploring trade-offs between force and speed or the energetic cost of burrowing may reveal other trade-offs.
Antimicrobial susceptibility and biofilm production among Staphylococcus and Candida species

Background: Biofilms are surface-attached groups of microbial cells that are embedded in an extracellular matrix. One of the main features of biofilms is their resistance to antimicrobial drugs; therefore, the biofilm-based infections are extremely difficult to treat. This study aimed to investigate the biofilm-forming capacity of Staphylococcus spp. and Candida spp. strains isolated from collected clinical samples, as well as to assess their antibiotic susceptibility. Material and methods: The study was conducted on 134 strains of Staphylococcus spp. and 147 strains of Candida spp. isolated from various clinical specimens. Both biofilm formation and antibiotic susceptibility of the isolated strains were studied using contemporary standardized microbiological methods. Results: The results of the study showed a high biofilm-forming capacity among the clinical strains of Staphylococcus spp. and Candida spp. , as well as a higher level of antibiotic resistance in biofilm-producing strains compared to biofilm non-producing ones. Conclusions: The high rates of antibiotic resistance and biofilm-forming capacity of strains represent a major public health challenge. The study showed a strong correlation between biofilm formation and antimicrobial resistance patterns.
Temporal variation in maternal nest choice and its consequences for lizard embryos

Microhabitat choice of nest sites is an important maternal effect that influences the survival and development of embryos in oviparous species. Embryos of many species display a high degree of plasticity in response to developmental environments, which places maternal nesting behavior under strong selective pressure, particularly in temporally changing environments. Nesting behavior varies widely across taxa that exhibit diverse reproductive strategies. The brown anole (Anolis sagrei), for example, lays one egg every 7–10 days across an extended reproductive season from April to October. This aspect of their reproduction provides an opportunity to examine temporal shifts in nesting behavior and its consequences on egg survival and offspring development under seasonally changing climatic conditions. We conducted a two-part study to quantify temporal variation in maternal nesting behavior and its effect on development of A. sagrei embryos. First, we measured nest micro-environments over the nesting season. Second, we “planted” eggs across the landscape at our field site to examine the influence of nest conditions on egg survival and hatchling phenotypes. We also incubated eggs inside chambers in the field to decouple effects of nest moisture from those of other environmental variables (e.g., temperature). Females chose nest sites with higher moisture and lower temperatures relative to what was generally available across the landscape during the nesting season. In addition, eggs exposed to relatively cool temperatures had higher hatching success, and high nest moisture increased egg survival and body condition of hatchlings. Overall, we provide evidence in the field that maternal nesting behavior facilitates offspring survival.
Physiological basis for differential tolerance of tomato and pepper to rimsulfuron and halosulfuron: site of action study

Abstract Tomato and pepper differ in their whole-plant tolerance to sulfonylurea (SU) herbicides rimsulfuron and halosulfuron despite both being members of the Solanaceae family. This study examined whether tomato's tolerance to SU herbicides rimsulfuron and halosulfuron was due to insensitivity of the target enzyme acetolactate synthase (ALS). Rimsulfuron and halosulfuron inhibited ALS from both tomato and pepper leaves. Enzyme inhibition and kinetic analyses showed that extractable ALS from tomato was more sensitive to rimsulfuron and halosulfuron than ALS from pepper. ALS from both species were inhibited with a mixed inhibition pattern. Thus, results indicate that enzyme insensitivity is not the reason why tomato is more tolerant than pepper to these herbicides. Tomato tolerance to rimsulfuron at the whole-plant level was reduced in the presence of terbufos, a known inhibitor of cytochrome P450 enzymes. Rimsulfuron applied at 0.018 and 0.035 kg ha−1 with 1.1 kg ha−1 of terbufos reduced tomato shoot weight 69 and 66%, respectively, compared with a 4 and 29% reduction when rimsulfuron was applied alone. The reduction of tomato tolerance to rimsulfuron by terbufos suggests that the sensitivity differences between these species may reflect their differences in SU herbicide metabolism. Nomenclature: Halosulfuron; rimsulfuron; pepper, Capsicum annuum L. ‘X3R-Camelot’; tomato, Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. ‘FL 47’.
An acetolysis-resistant membrane investing tapetum and sporogenous tissue in the anthers of certain Compositae

After the breakup of the meiotic tetrads, it is usual in the Compositae for the cells of the previously parietal tapetum to invade the anther loculus and form a Plasmodium ramifying between the young spores. In species of three tribes, Helenieae, Heliantheae, and Ambrosieae, an extratapetal membrane is formed at this time, which totally encloses the tapetum and the spore mass. The extratapetal membrane is resistant to acetolysis, and is considered to be chemically similar to the sporopollenin of the pollen grain exine.
ISOLATION OF ALGAL GENES BY FUNCTIONAL COMPLEMENTATION OF YEAST1

Algal cDNAs were isolated and characterized by functional complementation of yeast auxotrophs. Two cDNA libraries, one derived from the diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum Bohlin and the other from the dinoflagellate Crypthecodinium cohnii Biecheler, were constructed using the Saccharomyces cerevisiae expression vector pFL‐61. These libraries were used for functional complementation of auxotrophic markers in two yeast strains. Yeast tryptophan auxotrophs, complemented by the P. tricornutum library, contained a plasmid that encoded a two‐domain protein associated with tryptophan synthesis, indole‐3‐glycerol phosphate synthase‐N‐(5′‐phosphoribosyl) anthranilate isomerase. Another cDNA originating from the C. cohnii library rescued S. cervisiae from a defect in adenine biosynthesis. This cDNA encoded a fusion of phosphoribosylamidoimidazole‐succinocarboxamide synthetase and phosphoribosylaminoimidazole carboxylase, which correspond to the yeast ade1 and ade2 genes, respectively. These results demonstrate that heterologous functional complementation can be used to identify algal genes and may provide advantages over other gene discovery methods.