Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of Temperature and Moisture on Development of Fusarium graminearum Perithecia in Maize Stalk Residues

ABSTRACT Fusarium graminearum is the predominant component of the Fusarium head blight complex of wheat. F. graminearum ascospores, which initiate head infection, mature in perithecia on crop residues and become airborne. The effects of temperature (T) and moisture on perithecium production and maturation and on ascospore production on maize stalk residues were determined. In the laboratory, perithecia were produced at temperatures between 5 and 30°C (the optimum was 21.7°C) but matured only at 20 and 25°C. Perithecia were produced when relative humidity (RH) was ≥75% but matured only when RH was ≥85%; perithecium production and maturation increased with RH. Equations describing perithecium production and maturation over time as a function of T and RH (R 2 > 0.96) were developed. Maize stalks were also placed outdoors on three substrates: a grass lawn exposed to rain; a constantly wet, spongelike foam exposed to rain; and a grass lawn protected from rain. No perithecia were produced on stalks protected from rain. Perithecium production and maturation were significantly higher on the constantly wet foam than on the intermittently wet lawn (both exposed to rain). Ascospore numbers but not their dispersal patterns were also affected by the substrate.
Maintain Genomic Stability: Multitask of DNA Replication Proteins

Maintenance of genomic stability is critical for living organisms because it is crucial for cell survival and development, and it prevents the development of deleterious mutations. Overriding this control will cause genomic instability, a hallmark of cancer. The genome is highly vulnerable to damage, especially during DNA replication because chromosome is decondensed and the replication forks are extremely sensitive to DNA damage agents. The eukaryotic replisome, which consists of a large number of replication fork-associated proteins, is essential for the elongation of replication forks during DNA replication. This complex contains DNA polymerases, MCM helicase, single stranded DNA (ssDNA) binding protein RPA, sliding clamp PCNA, Tipin, Timeless, Claspin, And-1, etc. In cells with DNA damage such as replication stress, replication forks are stalled Figure 1. At stalled replication forks, some of replisome components switch their role from facilitating DNA synthesis to inducing activation of DNA replication checkpoint, a signaling transduction pathway that is critical to maintain fork stability and triggers cell cycle arrest.
Detection of Acute Myocardial Infarction in a Pig Model Using the SAN-Atrial-AVN-His (SAAH) Electrocardiogram (ECG), Model PHS-A10, an Automated and Integrated Signals Recognition System

Background The aim of this study was to compare the use of the standard 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) with the SAN-Atrial-AVN-His (SAAH) ECG (Model PHS-A10), a new automated and integrated signals recognition system that detects micro-waveforms within the P, QRS, and T-wave, in a pig model of acute myocardial infarction (MI). Material/Methods Six medium-sized domestic Chinese pigs underwent general anesthesia, and an angioplasty balloon was placed and dilated for 120 minutes in the first diagonal coronary artery arising from the left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery. A standard ECG and a SAAH ECG (Model PHS-A10) were used to evaluate: 1) the number of wavelets in ST-T segment in lead V5; 2) the duration of the repolarization initial (Ri), or duration of the wavelets starting from the J-point to the endpoint of the wavelets in the ST interval; 3) the duration of the repolarization terminal (Rt), of the wavelets, starting from the endpoint of the wavelets in the ST interval to the cross-point of the T-wave and baseline; 4) the ratio Ri: Rt. Results Following coronary artery occlusion, duration of Ri and Ri/Rt increased, and Rt decreased, which was detected by the SAAH ECG (Model PHS-A10) within 12 seconds, compared with standard ECG that detected ST segment depression at 24 seconds following coronary artery occlusion. Conclusions The findings from this preliminary study in a pig model of acute MI support the need for clinical studies to evaluate the SAAH ECG (Model PHS-A10) for the early detection of acute MI.
Patterns of Chemical Diversity in the Mediterranean Sponge Spongia lamella

The intra-specific diversity in secondary metabolites can provide crucial information for understanding species ecology and evolution but has received limited attention in marine chemical ecology. The complex nature of diversity is partially responsible for the lack of studies, which often target a narrow number of major compounds. Here, we investigated the intra-specific chemical diversity of the Mediterranean sponge Spongia lamella. The chemical profiles of seven populations spreading over 1200 km in the Western Mediterranean were obtained by a straightforward SPE-HPLC-DAD-ELSD process whereas the identity of compounds was assessed by comparison between HPLC-MS spectra and literature data. Chemical diversity calculated by richness and Shannon indexes differed significantly between sponge populations but not at a larger regional scale. We used factor analysis, analysis of variance, and regression analysis to examine the chemical variability of this sponge at local and regional scales, to establish general patterns of variation in chemical diversity. The abundance of some metabolites varied significantly between sponge populations. Despite these significant differences between populations, we found a clear pattern of increasing chemical dissimilarity with increasing geographic distance. Additional large spatial scale studies on the chemical diversity of marine organisms will validate the universality or exclusivity of this pattern.
The Long-Term Effect of Calcium Hydroxide, Calcium-Enriched Mixture Cement and Mineral Trioxide Aggregate on Dentin Strength

Introduction: Many of highly-alkaline dental materials have some adverse effects on physical properties of dentin. As basic substances, mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA), calcium hydroxide (CH) and the new endodontic material, calcium-enriched mixture (CEM) cement, may adversely affect dentin. The purpose of this in vitro study was to evaluate the effect of long-term application of CEM cement, MTA and CH on flexural strength of bovine dentin. Materials and Methods: Three hundred and twenty bovine dentin samples were divided into 4 groups, which were either exposed to CEM cement, CH, MTA or normal saline (control group). Samples of each group were divided into 4 subgroups which were tested by means of Instron Universal Testing Machine for periods of 7, 30, 180 and 365 days after exposure to the test materials. The required force for sample breakage was recorded. The data were analyzed by the two-way ANOVA and Tukey tests. Results: The mean value of forces to break the samples in CEM cement and CH groups was significantly lower than the control group after 1 month (P<0.05). After 180 days, the samples of CEM cement group retrieved their strength but in MTA and CH groups the time interval weakened the samples. After one year of exposure to CH and MTA, flexural strength of the dentin reduced to 72% and 38.7%, respectively (P<0.05). Yet the flexural strength of samples in CEM cement group did not change significantly compared to control group. Conclusion: Following 365 days of application of experimental materials to bovine dentin, the CEM cement showed an interesting result and the samples in this group reached their initial strength during the first week of the study but the other materials caused a reduction in dentin strength at the end of the study.
Consensus labeled multi-Bernoulli filtering for distributed space debris tracking

Space debris poses great challenge for the safe operation of spacecraft. This paper addresses the problem of distributed space debris tracking with consensus Labeled Multi-Bernoulli filtering. Sensor network of nodes with sensing, processing and communication capabilities is used to track space debris. Labeled Multi-Bernoulli filtering is used as the tracking filter. Data incest problem is solved by Kullback-Leibler Averaging. Simulation experiments confirm the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm.
Mineralocorticoids and acidosis regulate H+/HCO3- transport of intercalated cells.

The effects of acidosis and mineralocorticoids on cellular H+/HCO3- transport mechanisms were examined in intercalated cells of the outer stripe of outer medullary collecting duct (OMCDo) from rabbit. Intracellular pH (pHi) of intercalated cells was monitored by fluorescence ratio imaging using 2',7'-bis(carboxyethyl)-5(6)-carboxyfluorescein (BCECF). pHi recovered from an acid load at 2.8 +/- 0.5 x 10(-3) pHU/s in the absence of ambient Na+. This pHi recovery rate was similar in chronic acidosis induced by NH4Cl loading, but it was enhanced (+111%) by treatment with deoxycorticosterone acetate (DOCA). In a DOCA-treated group, luminal 10 microM SCH28080 and 0.1 mM omeprazole, H(+)-K(+)-ATPase inhibitors, did not change the pHi recovery rate, while luminal 0.5 mM N-ethylmaleimide blocked the rate by 68%. DOCA, but not acidosis, increased (approximately 40%) initial pHi response to bath HCO3- or Cl- reduction in Na(+)-free condition. After an acid load in the absence of Na+ and HCO3-, pHi response to basolateral Na+ addition was stimulated (+66%) by acidosis, but not by DOCA. Our results suggest that (a) mineralocorticoids stimulate H+/HCO3- transport mechanisms involved in transepithelial H+ secretion, i.e., a luminal NEM-sensitive H+ pump and basolateral Na(+)-independent Cl(-)-HCO3- exchange; and (b) acidosis enhances the activity of basolateral Na(+)-H+ exchange that may be responsible for pHi regulation.
Malignant Mesothelioma in Individuals With Nonmesothelial Neoplasms.

CONTEXT - Malignant mesothelioma (MM) is a component of the BAP1 tumor predisposition syndrome. Other than in BAP1 familial studies, nonmesothelial neoplasms in individuals with MM has not been comprehensively assessed. OBJECTIVE - To assess the spectrum and prevalence of nonmesothelial neoplasms in individuals with MM. DESIGN - Individuals with MM and second neoplasms were identified from a database of 3900 MM cases. The expected prevalence of each type of neoplasm was calculated and compared with the actual prevalence in the study population using available Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results data and other published data. RESULTS - Two hundred seventy nonmesothelial neoplasms were identified in 241 individuals (6% of the study population) with MM. Prostate adenocarcinoma was most common. Non-Hodgkin lymphoma, Hodgkin lymphoma, lung carcinoma, urothelial carcinoma, breast carcinoma, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, clear cell renal cell carcinoma, head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, papillary renal cell carcinoma, multiple myeloma/plasmacytoma, meningioma, pleomorphic undifferentiated sarcoma, chronic myelogenous leukemia, ocular melanoma, hepatocellular carcinoma, liposarcoma, and Wilms tumor all were more prevalent than expected. CONCLUSIONS - Nonmesothelial neoplasms are uncommon in individuals with MM, but certain tumor types are increased in prevalence. In an unselected study population with respect to BAP1 status, the prevalence of several tumor types described in BAP1 mutation carriers, including lung carcinoma, clear cell renal cell carcinoma, breast carcinoma, meningioma, pleomorphic undifferentiated sarcoma, and ocular melanoma, was increased.
New Insights into the Apoptotic Process in Mollusks: Characterization of Caspase Genes in Mytilus galloprovincialis

Apoptosis is an essential biological process in the development and maintenance of immune system homeostasis. Caspase proteins constitute the core of the apoptotic machinery and can be categorized as either initiators or effectors of apoptosis. Although the genes encoding caspase proteins have been described in vertebrates and in almost all invertebrate phyla, there are few reports describing the initiator and executioner caspases or the modulation of their expression by different stimuli in different apoptotic pathways in bivalves. In the present work, we characterized two initiator and four executioner caspases in the mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis. Both initiators and executioners showed structural features that make them different from other caspase proteins already described. Evaluation of the genes’ tissue expression patterns revealed extremely high expression levels within the gland and gills, where the apoptotic process is highly active due to the clearance of damaged cells. Hemocytes also showed high expression values, probably due to of the role of apoptosis in the defense against pathogens. To understand the mechanisms of caspase gene regulation, hemocytes were treated with UV-light, environmental pollutants and pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) and apoptosis was evaluated by microscopy, flow cytometry and qPCR techniques. Our results suggest that the apoptotic process could be tightly regulated in bivalve mollusks by overexpression/suppression of caspase genes; additionally, there is evidence of caspase-specific responses to pathogens and pollutants. The apoptotic process in mollusks has a similar complexity to that of vertebrates, but presents unique features that may be related to recurrent exposure to environmental changes, pollutants and pathogens imposed by their sedentary nature.
Hierarchically Structured Electrospun Fibers

Traditional electrospun nanofibers have a myriad of applications ranging from scaffolds for tissue engineering to components of biosensors and energy harvesting devices. The generally smooth one-dimensional structure of the fibers has stood as a limitation to several interesting novel applications. Control of fiber diameter, porosity and collector geometry will be briefly discussed, as will more traditional methods for controlling fiber morphology and fiber mat architecture. The remainder of the review will focus on new techniques to prepare hierarchically structured fibers. Fibers with hierarchical primary structures—including helical, buckled, and beads-on-a-string fibers, as well as fibers with secondary structures, such as nanopores, nanopillars, nanorods, and internally structured fibers and their applications—will be discussed. These new materials with helical/buckled morphology are expected to possess unique optical and mechanical properties with possible applications for negative refractive index materials, highly stretchable/high-tensile-strength materials, and components in microelectromechanical devices. Core-shell type fibers enable a much wider variety of materials to be electrospun and are expected to be widely applied in the sensing, drug delivery/controlled release fields, and in the encapsulation of live cells for biological applications. Materials with a hierarchical secondary structure are expected to provide new superhydrophobic and self-cleaning materials.
Effect of bit wear on hammer drill handle vibration and productivity

ABSTRACT The use of large electric hammer drills exposes construction workers to high levels of hand vibration that may lead to hand-arm vibration syndrome and other musculoskeletal disorders. The aim of this laboratory study was to investigate the effect of bit wear on drill handle vibration and drilling productivity (e.g., drilling time per hole). A laboratory test bench system was used with an 8.3 kg electric hammer drill and 1.9 cm concrete bit (a typical drill and bit used in commercial construction). The system automatically advanced the active drill into aged concrete block under feed force control to a depth of 7.6 cm while handle vibration was measured according to ISO standards (ISO 5349 and 28927). Bits were worn to 4 levels by consecutive hole drilling to 4 cumulative drilling depths: 0, 1,900, 5,700, and 7,600 cm. Z-axis handle vibration increased significantly (p<0.05) from 4.8 to 5.1 m/s2 (ISO weighted) and from 42.7–47.6 m/s2 (unweighted) when comparing a new bit to a bit worn to 1,900 cm of cumulative drilling depth. Handle vibration did not increase further with bits worn more than 1900 cm of cumulative drilling depth. Neither x- nor y-axis handle vibration was effected by bit wear. The time to drill a hole increased by 58% for the bit with 5,700 cm of cumulative drilling depth compared to a new bit. Bit wear led to a small but significant increase in both ISO weighted and unweighted z-axis handle vibration. Perhaps more important, bit wear had a large effect on productivity. The effect on productivity will influence a worker's allowable daily drilling time if exposure to drill handle vibration is near the ACGIH Threshold Limit Value. [1] Construction contractors should implement a bit replacement program based on these findings.
PDA: Semantically Secure Time-Series Data Analytics with Dynamic User Groups

Third-party analysis on private records is becoming increasingly important due to the widespread data collection for various analysis purposes. However, the data in its original form often contains sensitive information about individuals, and its publication will severely breach their privacy. In this paper, we present a novel Privacy-preserving Data Analytics framework PDA, which allows a third-party aggregator to obliviously conduct many different types of polynomial-based analysis on private data records provided by a dynamic sub-group of users. Notably, every user needs to keep only <inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$O(n)$</tex-math><alternatives> <inline-graphic xlink:href="jung-ieq1-2577034.gif"/></alternatives></inline-formula> keys to join data analysis among <inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$O(2^n)$</tex-math><alternatives> <inline-graphic xlink:href="jung-ieq2-2577034.gif"/></alternatives></inline-formula> different groups of users, and any data analysis that is represented by polynomials is supported by our framework. Besides, a real implementation shows the performance of our framework is comparable to the peer works who present ad-hoc solutions for specific data analysis applications. Despite such nice properties of PDA, it is provably secure against a very powerful attacker (chosen-plaintext attack) even in the Dolev-Yao network model where all communication channels are insecure.
International Journal of Biological & Medical Research

: The present study is aimed at the development of physiochemical parameters and to investigate the active principles present in Asparagus racemosus. Asparagus racemosus (Liliaceae) commonly known as shatavari is an important plant used against various disorders in indigenous system of medicine such as antioxidant, antidiarrheal agent, aphrodisiac, used in the treatmentof menopause and immune system modulator. Thus from the extensive literature survey it was revealed that no reports were available on microscopic evaluation, standardization parameters and chemo profile of Asparagus racemosus Wild and to check the identity and purity of the drug. The present work embodies the investigations carried out to establish methods for quality control of drugs as per WHO guidelines which includes macroscopial features, physiochemical parameters and to investigate the phytochemical present in the extract in the preliminary level with respect to thin layer chromatography were also carried out for the quality control of the drug. Thus, it was thought worthwhile to explore this plant on the basis of these standardization parameters. The study will provide referential information for the correct identification of the crude drug.
Fractal Characteristics of May-Grünwald-Giemsa Stained Chromatin Are Independent Prognostic Factors for Survival in Multiple Myeloma

Background The use of computerized image analysis for the study of nuclear texture features has provided important prognostic information for several neoplasias. Recently fractal characteristics of the chromatin structure in routinely stained smears have shown to be independent prognostic factors in acute leukemia. In the present study we investigated the influence of the fractal dimension (FD) of chromatin on survival of patients with multiple myeloma. Methodology We analyzed 67 newly diagnosed patients from our Institution treated in the Brazilian Multiple Myeloma Study Group. Diagnostic work-up consisted of peripheral blood counts, bone marrow cytology, bone radiograms, serum biochemistry and cytogenetics. The International Staging System (ISS) was used. In every patient, at least 40 digital nuclear images from diagnostic May-Grünwald-Giemsa stained bone marrow smears were acquired and transformed into pseudo-3D images. FD was determined by the Minkowski-Bouligand method extended to three dimensions. Goodness-of-fit of FD was estimated by the R2 values in the log-log plots. The influence of diagnostic features on overall survival was analyzed in Cox regressions. Patients that underwent autologous bone marrow transplantation were censored at the day of transplantation. Principal Findings Median age was 56 years. According to ISS, 14% of the patients were stage I, 39% were stage II and 47% were stage III. Additional features of a bad prognosis were observed in 46% of the cases. When stratifying for ISS, both FD and its goodness-of-fit were significant prognostic factors in univariate analyses. Patients with higher FD values or lower goodness-of-fit showed a worse outcome. In the multivariate Cox-regression, FD, R2, and ISS stage entered the final model, which showed to be stable in a bootstrap resampling study. Conclusions Fractal characteristics of the chromatin texture in routine cytological preparations revealed relevant prognostic information in patients with multiple myeloma.
Prevalence of chronic kidney disease among patients undergoing transradial percutaneous coronary interventions

Background: While transradial approach to conduct percutaneous coronary interventions offers multiple advantages, the procedure can cause radial artery damage and occlusion. Because radial artery is the preferred site for the creation of an arteriovenous fistula to provide dialysis, patients with chronic kidney disease are particularly dependent on radial artery for their long-term survival. Methods: In this retrospective study, we investigated the prevalence of chronic kidney disease in patients undergoing coronary interventions via radial artery. Stage of chronic kidney disease was based on estimated glomerular filtration rate and National Kidney Foundation - Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative guidelines. Results: A total of 497 patients undergoing transradial percutaneous coronary interventions were included. Over 70.4% (350/497) of the patients had chronic kidney disease. Stage II chronic kidney disease was observed in 243 (69%) patients (estimated glomerular filtration rate = 76.0 ± 8.4 mL/min). Stage III was observed in 93 (27%) patients (estimated glomerular filtration rate = 49 ± 7.5 mL/min). Stage IV chronic kidney disease was observed in 5 (1%) patients (estimated glomerular filtration rate = 25.6 ± 4.3 mL/min) and Stage V chronic kidney disease was observed in 9 (3%) patients (estimated glomerular filtration rate = 9.3 ± 3.5 mL/min). Overall, 107 of 350 patients (30%) had advanced chronic kidney disease, that is, stage III–V chronic kidney disease. Importantly, 14 of the 107 (13%) patients had either stage IV or V chronic kidney disease. Conclusion: This study finds that nearly one-third of the patients undergoing transradial percutaneous coronary interventions have advanced chronic kidney disease. Because many of these patients may require dialysis, the use of radial artery to conduct percutaneous coronary interventions must be carefully considered in chronic kidney disease population.