Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Rutin hydrate induces autophagic cell death and oxidative stress response in phytopathogenic fungus Fusarium graminearum

Fusarium graminearum infects cereal crops of high commercial and nutritional value such as barley, wheat, and maize, and causes various diseases. Due to the increasing world population and changing climatic conditions, the importance of controlling this pathogen is increasing. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential antifungal effect of the flavonoid compound rutin hydrate (RH) on the F. graminearum PH-1 reference strain at different levels. The EC 50 (half effective concentration) value was determined by the agar dilution method on the PDA (potato dextrose agar) medium containing different concentrations of rutin hydrate. To examine the effect of rutin hydrate on cell viability, the WST-1 toxicity test was performed. To determine the effect of rutin hydrate on genomic stability and methylation profiles, the CRED-RA (coupled restriction enzyme digestion-random amplification) analysis was performed. To determine the expression levels of atg5 , cat , kmet1 , sporulation ( mgv1 ), and apoptosis ( mst20 ) related genes, the qRT-PCR (quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction) was performed. To detect the presence of oxidative stress and autophagy, the DCF-DA (2’,7’-dichlorofluorescein) and MDC (monodansylcadaverine) staining tests were used. The EC 50 value of rutin hydrate was determined as 580 µg mL −1 . The WST-1 analysis revealed that rutin hydrate caused cytotoxicity (58.53%) in F. graminearum ( p < 0.05). In the CRED-RA analysis, genomic template stability (GTS) decreased by 9.53%, and the methylation levels for Hap II and Msp I enzymes were 11.6% and 5.24%, respectively. There was a significant difference in the atg5 (2.66 ± 0.48; p < 0.01), cat (3.00 ± 0.46; p < 0.01), and kmet1 (6.29 ± 2.24; p < 0.05) expression in the rutin hydrate-treated samples. Autophagy and oxidative stress response with a significant difference ( p < 0.05) in the rutin hydrate-treated F. graminearum was confirmed by DCF-DA and MDC tests. This is the first report demonstrating the antifungal effect of rutin hydrate on F. graminearum at physiological, transcript, and epigenetic levels.
Air-Coupled FMCW Ultrasonic Sensor for High-Resolution 3-D Perception

As seamless object detection and localization are getting important in emerging systems, such as autonomous vehicles, robots, and extended reality devices, numerous 3-D depth sensors have been developed. However, most of those sensors have focused more on far-distance applications, leaving near-field, including less than 50 cm, as a task for a conventional ultrasonic (US) sensor. Even though the conventional US sensor has many advantages, including object detection in near field, it has limited capability on localizing objects and providing 3-D point cloud preventing itself from further applications. In order to overcome these limitations, multi-input–multi-output (MIMO) frequency-modulated continuous wave (FMCW) method is adopted and demonstrated in this letter. Presented computer simulation implies the US 3-D object detection with 2.3 mm depth resolution and 0.6° angular resolution preserving its minimum detection range lower than 5 cm and field of view (FoV) wider than 160°. A novel MIMO US FMCW sensor system composed of commercially available components is implemented and evaluated. For 16 cm ∼ 2 m range, the proposed system shows fair depth and angular resolution (5.5 mm and 2.6°) at low sampling rate (overall 480 kHz). This letter suggests that ultrasound can be a new modality capable of providing near field 3-D point cloud at low system requirement.
Water scarcity challenges across urban regions with expanding irrigation

Irrigation expansion is often posed as a promising option to enhance food security. Here, we assess the influence of expansion of irrigation, primarily in rural areas of the contiguous United States (CONUS), on the intensification and spatial proliferation of freshwater scarcity. Results show rain-fed to irrigation-fed (RFtoIF) transition will result in an additional 169.6 million hectares or 22% of the total CONUS land area facing moderate or severe water scarcity. Analysis of just the 53 large urban clusters with 146 million residents shows that the transition will result in 97 million urban population facing water scarcity for at least one month per year on average versus 82 million before the irrigation expansion. Notably, none of the six large urban regions facing an increase in scarcity with RFtoIF transition are located in arid regions in part because the magnitude of impact is dependent on multiple factors including local water demand, abstractions in the river upstream, and the buffering capacity of ancillary water sources to cities. For these reasons, areas with higher population and industrialization also generally experience a relatively smaller change in scarcity than regions with lower water demand. While the exact magnitude of impacts are subject to simulation uncertainties despite efforts to exercise due diligence, the study unambiguously underscores the need for strategies aimed at boosting crop productivity to incorporate the effects on water availability throughout the entire extent of the flow networks, instead of solely focusing on the local level. The results further highlight that if irrigation expansion is poorly managed, it may increase urban water scarcity, thus also possibly increasing the likelihood of water conflict between urban and rural areas.
Real-World Amount of Clotting Factor Concentrates Dispensed and Annual Medical Expenditures for Japanese Patients with Hemophilia B

Introduction Until extended half-life (EHL) factor IX (FIX) concentrates became available in Japan in 2010, patients with hemophilia B received intravenous FIX replacement therapy with standard half-life (SHL) FIX concentrates. Purpose To investigate the amount of factor dispensed and the associated medical expenditures for the treatment of hemophilia B in the real-world clinical setting in Japan. Methods This retrospective study comprised patients with hemophilia B (N=197) who had filled prescriptions for FIX concentrates reported in Japan’s Medical Data Vision database from 2015 to 2019. Patients were included if they had 2 or more prescriptions for the same FIX concentrates within the first 6 months of the study period and the interval between prescriptions was at least 2 weeks. Results Since 2015, there was a decrease in the proportion of patients using SHL FIX concentrates and a corresponding increase in international units of dispensed EHL FIX concentrates. Median annualized dispensed dosages (IU/kg body weight) of EHL FIX concentrates were lower than for SHL concentrates for outpatient use only. Annual total health care expenditures per patient and annual expenditures for prescribed FIX concentrates increased each year during the study period. Following a switch from an SHL to an EHL concentrate, the median amount of prescribed FIX concentrate decreased slightly, although median total health care expenditures and FIX concentrate expenditures increased. Conclusion In the real-world setting in Japan, medical expenditures and the proportion of patients prescribed EHL FIX concentrates for the treatment of hemophilia B have increased.
The categorizations of vasculogenic mimicry in clear cell renal cell carcinoma unveil inherent connections with clinical and immune features

Background: Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) stands as the prevailing variant kidney cancer in humans. Unfortunately, patients with disseminated RCC at diagnosis often have a diminished prognosis. Rapid tumor growth necessitates efficient blood supply for oxygen and nutrients, involving the circulation of blood from vessels to tumor tissues, facilitating tumor cell entry into the extracellular matrix. Vasculogenic mimicry (VM) significantly contributes to tumor growth and metastasis. Within this investigation, we identified vasculogenic mimicry-related genes (VMRGs) by analyzing data from 607 cases of kidney renal clear cell carcinoma (KIRC) in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/geo/). These findings offer insights into ccRCC progression and metastasis. Method: We identified VMRGs-related subtypes using consistent clustering methods. The signature of the VMRGs was created using univariate Cox regression and LASSO Cox regression analyses. To evaluate differences in immune cell infiltration, we employed ssGSEA. Afterwards, we created an innovative risk assessment model, known as the VM index, along with a nomogram to forecast the prognosis of ccRCC. Additionally, we verified the expression of an important gene related to VM, peroxiredoxin 2 (PRDX2), in tissue samples. Furthermore, we assessed the sensitivity to drugs in various groups by utilizing the pRRophetic R package. Results: Significant predictors of survival rates in both high- and low-risk groups of KIRC patients were identified as VMRGs. The independent prognostic factors for RCC were confirmed by both univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses, validating VMRG risk signatures. Differences were observed in drug sensitivity, immune checkpoint expression, and responses to immune therapy between patients classified into high- and low-VMRG-risk groups. Our nomograms consistently demonstrated precise predictive capabilities. Finally, we experimentally verified PRDX2 expression levels and their impact on prognosis. Conclusion: The signature predicts patient prognosis and therapy response, laying the groundwork for future clinical strategies in treating ccRCC patients.
The Spherical Evolutionary Multi-Objective (SEMO) Algorithm for Identifying Disease Multi-Locus SNP Interactions

Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), as disease-related biogenetic markers, are crucial in elucidating complex disease susceptibility and pathogenesis. Due to computational inefficiency, it is difficult to identify high-dimensional SNP interactions efficiently using combinatorial search methods, so the spherical evolutionary multi-objective (SEMO) algorithm for detecting multi-locus SNP interactions was proposed. The algorithm uses a spherical search factor and a feedback mechanism of excellent individual history memory to enhance the balance between search and acquisition. Moreover, a multi-objective fitness function based on the decomposition idea was used to evaluate the associations by combining two functions, K2-Score and LR-Score, as an objective function for the algorithm’s evolutionary iterations. The performance evaluation of SEMO was compared with six state-of-the-art algorithms on a simulated dataset. The results showed that SEMO outperforms the comparative methods by detecting SNP interactions quickly and accurately with a shorter average run time. The SEMO algorithm was applied to the Wellcome Trust Case Control Consortium (WTCCC) breast cancer dataset and detected two- and three-point SNP interactions that were significantly associated with breast cancer, confirming the effectiveness of the algorithm. New combinations of SNPs associated with breast cancer were also identified, which will provide a new way to detect SNP interactions quickly and accurately.
ANTI-DIABETIC ACTIVITY OF KABAU SEED POWDER SUSPENSION (ARCHIDENDRON BUBALINUM (JACK) I. C. NIELSEN) IN ALLOXAN-INDUCED DIABETIC RATS

Objective: The study was to optimize the method of test dosage form kabau seed simplicia suspension in alloxan-induced diabetic rat models. Methods: Simplisia powder sizing was carried out using three sieve sizes through meshes of 80, 120, and 200. Making a suspension of kabau seed powder is carried out using two methods, with the addition of CMC, which has been developed first and the powder is added with CMC, which is then developed and then homogenized. The study consisted of six groups, dosage given of 250, 500, and 1000 mg/kg BW. Blood glucose levels were determined by the GOD-PAP, phytochemical screening and TLC tests were carried out on the test material. The data were tested statistically using One Way ANOVA. Results: The powdered crude material with a particle size of 74 microns, obtained by sieving through a mesh size of 200, is utilized as the test material in the second method. An effective dose of 1000 mg/kg BW with a decrease in blood sugar levels by 132±13 mg/dl. Phytochemical screening contained alkaloids, flavonoids, phenolics, monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes, steroids, quinones and saponins. TLC of the test material, mobile phase used in TLC was toluene: chloroform: ethyl acetate (4:5:1), obtained 6 spots which gives a specific spot after being sprayed with the chromogenic reagent. Conclusion: powder with a particle size of 74 microns was used as the test material, using the second method. The effective dose as an antidiabetic is 1000 mg/kg BW with a reduction in blood sugar levels of 132.7±13 mg/dl.
Fiber source and xylanase on performance, egg quality, and gastrointestinal tract of laying hens

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to ascertain the influence of different dietary fiber sources and the usage of xylanase on diet of commercial layers and their influence on productive performance, egg quality, and digestive organ biometry. A total of 864 Lohmann® White hens was fed diets with three different fiber sources (wheat bran, soybean hull, or coffee husk) with or without xylanase inclusion (concentration of 160,000 BXU/g) in a 3×2 factorial arrangement, with six replicates of 24 birds [. ]
La masse corporelle: un bioindicateur possible pour le suivi des populations de chevreuils (Capreolus capreolus L.)

A partir de donnees recueillies sur une population de chevreuils de la foret de Haye (Meurthe et Moselle),analyse de l'influence de l'evolution de la densite sur la condition physique des animaux ainsi que la sensibilite des differentes classes d'age et de sexe.La reaction de cet indice de condition aux variations de densite permet d'en faire un bioindicateur interessant au niveau d'un massif forestier ou d'une unite cynegetique pour la gestion des populations
Origin and Function of Amino Acids in Nectar and Nectaries of Pitcairnia Species with Particular Emphasis on Alanine and Glutamine

Floral nectar contains sugars and numerous other compounds, including amino acids, but little is known about their function and origin in nectar. Therefore, the amino acid, sugar, and inorganic ion concentrations, as well as the activity of alanine aminotransferase (AlaAT) and glutamine synthetase (GS) in nectar, nectaries, and leaves were analyzed in 30 Pitcairnia species. These data were compared with various floral traits, the pollinator type, and the phylogenetic relationships of the species to find possible causes for the high amino acid concentrations in the nectar of some species. The highest concentrations of amino acids (especially alanine) in nectar were found in species with reddish flowers. Furthermore, the concentration of amino acids in nectar and nectaries is determined through analyzing flower color/pollination type rather than phylogenetic relations. This study provides new insights into the origin of amino acids in nectar. The presence of almost all amino acids in nectar is mainly due to their transport in the phloem to the nectaries, with the exception of alanine, which is partially produced in nectaries. In addition, active regulatory mechanisms are required in nectaries that retain most of the amino acids and allow the selective secretion of specific amino acids, such as alanine.
Improved Interflow and Infiltration Algorithms for Distributed Hydrological Models

The shallow subsurface controls the partitioning of available energy between sensible and latent heat of the land surface, and the partitioning of available water among evaporation, infiltration, and runoff. It is a key component of both the hydrometeorological system and the terrestrial water cycle. A critical part of any hydrological or hydrometeorological forecast model is therefore the algorithms used to represent the shallow soil processes, which include infiltration, evaporation, runoff, and interflow. For climate models, coupled algorithms called “Land Surface Schemes”(LSSs) are developed to represent the lower boundary conditions that deal with the land-to-atmosphere energy and moisture fluxes. Similar algorithms are implemented in regional watershed models and day-to-day operational water resources forecasting models. It is the primary objective of this thesis to provide improved methods for simulating coupled land surface processes, which can be used as components of LSSs or within existing operational hydrology models. These new methods address a number of specific issues inadequately handled by current models, including the presence of shallow boundary conditions, heterogeneity in infiltration, and infiltration and interflow coupling processes. The main objective of the proposed research is to provide consistent physically-based approach for simulating near surface soil moisture processes, so as to complete the parameterization of the interflow/infiltration algorithm in a Hydrology-Land-Surface scheme MESH. The work mainly focuses on the investigation and development of more physicallybased infiltration and interflow algorithms. The hope is to determine appropriate relationships between internal state variables (specifically bulk soil moisture) and system boundary fluxes, while simultaneously reducing the number of nonphysical or unknown model parameters. Fewer parameters lead to reduced calibration requirements for distributed hydrological models and consequently accelerate the transfer of such models to engineering practice. Multiple approaches were taken to provide improved relationships between infiltration and lateral drainage, fluxes and storage. These algorithms were tested by a specialized Richards’ equation for sloping soils and Monte Carlo simulations. These tests demonstrated reasonable accuracy and improved representation for the hydrological processes.
Phosphorus Modeling in Tile Drained Agricultural Systems Using APEX

Phosphorus (P) losses through tile drained systems in agricultural landscapes may be causing persistent eutrophication problems observed in surface water. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the state of the science in the Agricultural Policy/Environmental extender (APEX) model related to surface and tile P transport. This was accomplished using data from a monitored corn-soybean rotation field in the St. Joseph River watershed, IN. The estimation of soluble phosphorus (SP) in surface runoff and tile flow in APEX includes a user defined linear (based on GLEAMS) and nonlinear (Langmuir) sorption option. The results suggest that the inclusion of the Langmuir isotherm improved (18%) SP sorption estimates in surface runoff during the corn year only when P inputs were added, whereas the linear method was more appropriate during the soybean year when no fertilizers were applied. Similarly, SP estimates in tile flow were improved (30%) when using the Langmuir option during the corn year, though the overall model performance predicting this variable were very poor. Modeling improvements of P partitioning processes in APEX can help predict more realistic outputs. Yet to achieve this in tile flow, water percolation processes need to be improved to reflect preferential flow conditions often found in long-term no-till fields and in soils with high clay content. Greater accuracy in the estimation of the effect of artificial drainage systems, common in the US Midwest, should result in the improved evaluation of agricultural conservation practices in order to examine strategies that could reduce P losses for water quality purposes.
Assessing presidential vulnerability in a partisan landscape: A mediation analysis of leadership among local universities and colleges in the Philippines

This study examined the vulnerability of leadership among the Local Universities and Colleges (LUCs) that are heavily influenced by political factors during the period of local elections. This study used a Generalized Linear Model (GLM) mediation analysis to investigate the intricate interplay of leadership characteristics, political beliefs, and the vulnerability of the LUCs presidency. The study revealed that there is no significant influence of leadership characteristics and political beliefs on perceived vulnerability (Indirect Effect: β = 0.00503, p = 0.846; Leadership Characteristics ⇒ Political Beliefs: β = -0.18697, p = 0.257; Political Beliefs ⇒ Presidential Vulnerability: β = -0.02689, p = 0.788; Direct Effect: β = -0.13358, p = 0.367; Total Effect: β = -0.12855, p = 0.367). The findings indicate that leadership at LUCs exhibited vulnerability, especially after the loss of an incumbent local official, irrespective of their leadership characteristics or political views. The findings challenges prevailing assumptions and underscore the need of using broader criteria for assessing leadership risk. This research has significant implications for policy formulation and decision-making within the realms of higher education. The implementation of collaborative leadership development programs, promotion of ethical leadership, maintenance of non-partisanship, active involvement of stakeholders, establishment of succession planning, and utilization of effective conflict resolution processes are suggested. It is viewed that a comprehensive exploration of the legal framework governing the relationships between LUCs and local government entities is imperative for a deeper contextual understanding.
COEFICIENTE DO TANQUE CLASSE A PARA A REGIÃO DE MOSSORÓ, RN

O metodo do Tanque Classe A, para determinar a evapotranspiracao de referencia (ETo), foi desenvolvido para se ter uma forma pratica para estima-la e aplicar ao manejo da irrigacao. Para a realizacao deste trabalho foram utilizados dados meteorologicos de uma serie historica de 15 anos, no periodo do ano de 1993 a 2007, da estacao climatologica convencional da Universidade Federal Rural do Semi-Arido. Objetivou-se com este trabalho calcular e propor valores medios de coeficientes do Tanque Classe A (Kp) em diferentes intervalos temporais (mensal, sazonal e anual), para a regiao de Mossoro, Rio Grande do Norte, para auxiliar produtores rurais na sua utilizacao no manejo da irrigacao. Os valores medios mensais do coeficiente (Kp) sao os mais recomendados para utilizacao; a segunda escolha seria a utilizacao dos valores medios sazonais de 0,79 e 0,62, para periodo chuvoso e periodo seco, respectivamente; e, por ultimo, o valor medio anual, igual a 0,71.
Study on Design and Vibration Reduction Optimization of High Starting Torque Induction Motor

Induction motors are widely used in various applications. This study considers a Y2-200L2-6 three-phase induction motor. Its starting torque was improved by combining the characteristics and design method of a star-delta hybrid connection winding, which can meet the demand of the motor for oil fields. Meanwhile the electromagnetic vibration and optimization of vibration reduction were studied based on the improved motor. The electromagnetic performance of the improved motor was calculated, and the electromagnetic force distribution of the motor was obtained based on the results of the transient magnetic field. Based on the calculation results of the electromagnetic force, a transient dynamic analysis of the motor was performed, and the electromagnetic vibration displacement curve of the motor was obtained. The experimental results of the vibration were compared with the finite element simulation results to verify the validity of the calculation method. The optimal design scheme of the stator winding was proposed based on the characteristics of the winding connection. The radial electromagnetic force and electromagnetic vibration displacement of the motor before and after winding optimization were compared, and the feasibility of the optimization scheme in reducing electromagnetic vibration was verified.