Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
RNAi technology for management of banana bunchy top disease

Abstract Banana bunchy top disease (BBTD) is one of the world's most destructive viral diseases of banana and plantain, causing up to 100% yield loss in severe cases. The disease is vectored by banana aphids (Pentalonia nigronervosa) and carried long distances through the movement of infected plant materials. The banana aphids harboring banana bunchy top virus (BBTV) present in banana producing regions are the sole vector and the most efficient method of transmitting the virus to the healthy plants. Controlling the spread of BBTD has been very challenging since no known banana germplasm is immune to BBTV. The disease can be managed with the use of virus‐free planting material and roguing. However, once BBTD is established in the field, it is very difficult to eradicate or manage it. Therefore, a more sustainable way of controlling the disease is developing host plant resistance against the virus and the vector. Biotechnological strategies via RNA interference (RNAi) could be used to target the banana aphid as well as BBTV to reduce virus‐associated yield losses of banana and plantain, which feed over 500 million people around the world. This review discusses the status of BBTD and perspectives on effective RNAi technologies for controlling BBTV and the vector, banana aphid, transmitting the virus as sustainable management of the disease.
Natação esportiva e saúde mental: existe relação?

A natação é um dos esportes individuais mais praticados em todo o mundo, os benefícios proporcionados na saúde da população abrange um eixo biopsicossocial. A interação do indivíduo com o meio aquático possibilita vivenciar habilidades em um ambiente totalmente diferente do qual vivemos. Porém existem poucas contribuições na literatura científica quando nos referimos à prática da natação e os benefícios correspondentes sobre a saúde mental. Há carência de estudos que abordem os benefícios da prática, intensidades de treinamentos e volumes ideais, métodos utilizados e frequência semanal que corresponda sobre as respostas psicofisiológicas desencadeadas em crianças, adultos e idosos.
Dependence of the Clogging Possibility of the Submerged Entry Nozzle during Steel Continuous Casting Process on the Liquid Fraction of Non-Metallic Inclusions in the Molten Al-Killed Ca-Treated Steel

In the current study, the nozzle clogging behavior and inclusion composition in Al-killed Ca-treated steels were observed to investigate the relationship between the liquid fraction of non-metallic inclusions and the clogging possibility of the submerged entry nozzle. Clogging materials were mainly MgO-Al2O3 with less than 20% liquid phases, while most of the inclusions were full liquid CaO-Al2O3-MgO in tundish at the casting temperature. Thus, it was proposed that the nozzle clogging can be effectively avoided by modification of solid inclusions to partial liquid ones rather than full liquid ones. There was a critical value of liquid fraction of inclusions causing the nozzle clogging. A critical condition of the inclusion attachment on the nozzle wall was a function of cosθN−S+cosθI−S<0. With the increase of T.Ca content in steel, the evolution route of inclusions was solid MgO-Al2O3→liquid CaO-Al2O3-MgO→solid CaS and CaO. To avoid the clogging of the submerged entry nozzle (SEN) under the current casting condition, the appropriate T.Ca concentration range in Al-killed Ca-treated steels can be enlarged from the 100% liquid inclusion zone of 10–14 ppm to the 20% liquid inclusion zone of 4–38 ppm.
Structural and functional development in airways throughout childhood: Children are not small adults

Children are not small adults and this fact is particularly true when we consider the respiratory tract. The anatomic peculiarities of the upper airway make infants preferential nasal breathers between 2 and 6 months of life. The pediatric larynx has a more complex shape than previously believed, with the narrowest point located anatomically at the subglottic level and functionally at the cricoid cartilage. Alveolarization of the distal airways starts conventionally at 36–37 weeks of gestation, but occurs mainly after birth, continuing until adolescence. The pediatric chest wall has unique features that are particularly pronounced in infants. Neonates, infants, and toddlers have a higher metabolic rate, and consequently, their oxygen consumption at rest is more than double that of adults. The main anatomical and functional differences between pediatric and adult airways contribute to the understanding of various respiratory symptoms and disease conditions in childhood. Knowing the peculiarities of pediatric airways is helpful in the prevention, management, and treatment of acute and chronic diseases of the respiratory tract. Developmental modifications in the structure of the respiratory tract, in addition to immunological and neurological maturation, should be taken into consideration during childhood.
El paquete methylearning y su aplicación Shiny: selección de marcadores y clasificación a partir de datos de metilación del DNA

in English, 250 words or less): The application of Machine Learning techniques, in the diagnostic and prevention context, is a hot topic nowadays. From all the biological data that can be used for this purpose, those generated by hight throughput techniques represent a great opportunity for the progress in medicine. Among them, epigenetic data has demonstrated its potential for the diagnostic in big social impact diseases, such as cancer and neurodegenerative diseases. However, the process of building a classifier model based on this kind of data is a hard process, which requires a fine balance between feature selection techniques, a necessity due to the dimensionality problem of the data, and the classification techniques. To provide a complete, robust and easy-to-use framework to assist the creation of classifiers based on epigenetic data, we created the methylearning package. Programmed in R, it is meant to assist in the process of feature selection and classification, making simple the exploration of multiple combinations and producing a wealth of information, numerical and graphical, to assess the performance of different algorithms. In addition, to open the use of the methylearning tool to a wider audience, a Shiny web application was also designed, which incorporates all the methylearning functionality, behind a easy-to-use graphical interface.
Characteristic model–based adaptive fault-tolerant control for four-PMSM synchronization system

In four-motor servo systems, actuator failures influence control performance seriously through huge inertia ratio changes and unknown disturbances. To solve this problem, an adaptive fault-tolerant control scheme based on characteristic modeling and extended state observer is proposed. First, an adaptive sliding mode observer is designed as fault detection part and offers motor information for controller. Second, to simplify complex dynamic model, this servo system is described by a second-order difference equation. This model integrates uncertainties into three time–varying characteristic parameters to reflect system status. Third, a discrete-time extended state observer is applied to restrain system error caused by actuator failure. Then, a fault-tolerant controller is designed based on characteristic model, and its stability is guaranteed in the sense of Lyapunov stability theorem. These four parts make up the adaptive control scheme and its effectiveness in system control, and fault tolerant is evaluated by both simulation and experiment results.
Understanding people’s experiences of using the SaeboFlex® following a stroke

Introduction This qualitative interpretive phenomenological study sought to understand the experiences of people using the SaeboFlex®, within an outpatient setting, following a stroke. Method Five adults who had experienced a stroke and had received the SaeboFlex® from occupational therapists in one outpatient service within the previous 12 months were recruited using convenience sampling. Semi-structured interviews were conducted, recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analysed using Braun and Clarke’s thematic analysis. Results Three themes emerged from the data: (a) hope for upper limb recovery: ‘you have got nothing to lose’; (b) the everyday experience of the SaeboFlex®: ‘just keeping it in a routine’; (c) the self-reported outcomes: ‘I can do more things you know … but there haven’t been any miracles’. Conclusion The findings highlight the important role of hope in the recovery of people following a stroke, and that participants continue to use the device despite limited goal achievement. The reports of limited transfer of training into everyday occupations, either with or without the device, is something that should be carefully considered. The SaeboFlex® is a tool that is promoted for upper limb rehabilitation, but which has limited evidence of effectiveness and mixed client experiences. Further research is required.
Modelación espacial bayesiana del riesgo de inmigración municipal en Chiapas

Introducción: El trabajo busca analizar la distribución espacial de la inmigración municipal observada en municipios de Chiapas al 2015, bajo el supuesto que la inmigración se concentra espacialmente conformando patrones no aleatorios. Método: para la identificación de patrones de inmigración se utilizó un modelo log- lineal aditivo bayesiano, el cual se especifica a través de un proceso estocástico espacial indexado por medio de un campo markoviano gausseano.Resultados: Los resultados comprueban la existencia de un patrón espacial sobre una ruta migratoria de paso, no obstante, los niveles registrados de pobreza y acceso a servicios de salud no arrojan resultados significativos. Discusión y/o Conclusión: se analiza la hipótesis que sostiene que la inmigración responde a factores como el acceso a servicios de salud y al porcentaje de población en condiciones de pobreza, de forma que bajos niveles de pobreza y altos niveles de acceso a servicios de salud harán a los municipios más atractivos a la inmigración. Los resultados parecen contradecir tal afirmación.
Development of the Japanese Inclusive Education System: From Special Schools to Curriculum Modification for Special-Needs Education in Regular Schools

This literature review examines the development of the inclusive educational system in Japan. It traces the history of accommodation for children with disabilities from 1947 to 2017, using reports, notices, and statistics on special needs education from the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. The Japanese system began with special schools designed according to the disabilities of the students. The paradigm shifted to special-needs classrooms within regular schools and, later, to ensuring access to regular schools for children with disabilities. Currently, the 2017 revision of the Japanese system seeks to ensure a common curriculum to secure continuity among a diverse range of learning settings. This revision also focuses on teaching students with learning difficulties in a regular school setting and adapting the curriculum according to their disabilities. Nonetheless, some flexibility in choice of setting remains with the parents and children involved. The ultimate goal of the Japanese inclusive education curriculum is independent living and the social participation of the individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, as well as other disabilities. Over time, the focus of the inclusive education system has shifted from the location in which classes and support are offered to students with disabilities, to the content that best meets the needs of students with disabilities of every type.
Catch-slip behavior observed upon rupturing membrane-cytoskeleton bonds

Cells are capable of cytoskeleton remodeling in response to environmental cues at the plasma membrane. The propensity to remodel in response to a mechanical stimulus is reflected in part by the lifetime of the membrane-cytoskeleton bonds upon application of a tensile loading rate. We measure the lifetime and force to rupture membrane-cytoskeleton linkages of a head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) cell line, HN-31 by applying a tensile loading rate (< 60 pN/s) with a handle bound to a cell, while monitoring the displacement of the handle at 2 kHz after averaging. We observe the lifetime increases with loading rate, rf to a maximum after which it decreases with further increase in rf. This biphasic relationship appears insensitive to drugs that target microtubule assembly, but is no longer detectable, i.e., lifetime is independent of rf in cells with reduced active Rho-GTPases. The loading rate-time relationship resembles catch-slip behavior reported upon applying tensile loads to separate protein complexes. Under small loads the bonds catch to increase lifetimes, under larger loads their lifetime shortens and they dissociate in a slip-like manner. Our data conforms to a model that considers the membrane-cytoskeleton bonds exhibit a load-dependent conformational change and dissociate via two pathways. We also find the membrane-cytoskeleton linkages strengthen with stationary compressive load, FSC (|FSC| < 40 pN), and conclude this metastatic cell line responds to small mechanical stimuli by promoting cytoskeleton remodeling as evident by observing F-actin within the membrane nanotube (10 µm length) formed after bond rupture.
Growth kinetics of the microalga Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata (Korshikov) Hindak (Chlorophyceae) in natural water enriched with NPK fertilizer Cinética de crescimento da microalga Pseudokirchneriella subcaptata (Korshikov) Hindak (Chlorophyceae) em água natural enriquecida com o fertilizante NPK

Microalgae can have multiple functions in biotechnological studies, but it is necessary to encourage research to bioprospect and know the intrinsic characteristics of these microorganisms. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the growth kinetics of Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata in an alternative culture medium prepared with natural water that was enriched with the chemical fertilizer NPK (20-5-20). Three treatments were designed to evaluate growth kinetics: (T1) 200 mL of autoclaved distilled water, (T2) 200 mL of autoclaved natural water, and (T3) 200 mL of natural water that was not autoclaved. All of the treatments were performed in triplicate and 200 mL of NPK and 100 mL of P. subcapitata culture were added. With this design, we expected to observe differences in the population growth of the microalga that were a function of the competition with the native species present in the test treatments. However, this was not observed, and the treatments did not result in significant differences in algal density (analysis of covariance [ANCOVA] F 2,50 = 1.43, p = 0.25). Instead, all cultures displayed high productivity, tolerance to fluctuations in the pH of the medium, and growth in an alternative low-cost medium (NPK). Thus, it was possible to conclude that microalgae have great potential for biotechnological studies, both in bench and industrial scales.
Portfolio allocation patterns and policy‐making effectiveness in minority coalition governments

Although minority coalition has become a relatively frequent form of governance, it is often considered politically ineffective in policy making. To obtain sufﬁcient support in parliament, government bills must go through the scrutiny activities initiated by coalition partners and overcome the concerns of external support parties in opposition. By examining parliamentary scrutiny on government bills, this paper explains the surprising policymaking effectiveness in minority coalition governments. Speciﬁcally, we argue and show that different patterns of portfolio allocation with the speciﬁc ideological locations of the ministerial ofﬁce-holder, the coalition partner and the external supporter, structure the extent to which government bills are scrutinized in parliament, and therefore, the effectiveness of the minority coalition on managing and implementing policies. We empirically examine bills initiated by 256 ministries in 13 Danish minority coalitions between 1985 and 2015, and we reveal robust evidence that corroborates our argument.
A Phenomic Assessment of Subcellular Morphology in Saccharomyces cerevisiae Using Synthetic Genetic Array Analysis and High-content Screening

In this thesis, I describe the optimization and adaptation of an integrated SGA-HCS pipeline complete with a robust panel of downstream statistical metrics, to analyze subcellular phenotypes in yeast cells in the context of the yeast deletion collection (Giaever et al., 2002a; Winzeler, 1999) and the ts collection of essential gene mutants (Li et al., 2011a). I have used this experimental pipeline to closely examine the utility of both single and double mutant screening strategies for the identification of subtle subcellular phenotypes, with a special focus on the formation of DNA damage foci, and have subsequently characterized Vid22, a protein with a previously unappreciated role in the DNA damage response. I have additionally endeavored to curate known cellular and subcellular mutant morphologies into a database, using a systematic rhetoric to describe conditions and observable phenotypes in order to provide a resource and gold standard set of mutants with which to assess ongoing Marker Project screens.
In the Name of Prevention? Policing ‘Social Dangerousness’ Through Arrest in China

Over the past half-century, the nexus between risk and prevention has increasingly become a constant preoccupation among many criminal justice regimes around the globe. In China, while the significant rise in crime following the marketization has been envisaged as an important source of risk, a criminal law concept of ‘social dangerousness’ has gained increasing prominence in the country’s crime control, policing and punishment systems. This article aims to shed light on how social dangerousness has been juxtaposed with and informed China’s preventative state through critical inquiry into the police power of arrest. I argue that the recent legal consolidation of social dangerousness as a prerequisite to arrest has enabled this coercive measure to become more preventive in purpose. By creating an ever-expanding purview of arrest, the police become more capable of capturing the largest possible cohort of suspects deemed ‘socially dangerous’. This is exacerbated by the legal opacity and ambiguity of social dangerousness, which allows manipulation and liberal application by police in diverse scenarios. My analysis suggests that the preventive dimension of arrest manifests itself largely as a punitive power, which runs the risk of turning arrest into a ‘punitive-preventive measure’. This will, inevitably, impose the same amount of intrusiveness and harsh treatment on suspects regardless of their risk levels. It is more concerning that the fusion of preventiveness and punitiveness has managed to circumvent close scrutiny of the justification for the preventive end of arrest by failing to see the need for periodic review.
Expresión de la sexualidad de una habitante de una residencia terapéutica como ocio: encuentros entre Elias y Dunning y la Terapia Ocupacional

In addition to a model of care for people with mental health disorders, the Brazilian psychiatric reform also presented a new way of understanding their rights and way of life. In this article, based on an interview with a resident of a therapeutic residence in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, an analysis of leisure is carried out based on the knowledge of Elias and Dunning, Social Science authors, who discuss excitement and pleasure in leisure. Subsequently, some implications for Occupational Therapy are raised. It is possible to understand the resident’s experiences of sexual desire as ways of living through leisure. Sexual desire has a function in her coexistence with society and redefines her possibilities of trying, inventing, and reinventing leisure and everyday life in her new role.
Neprilysin-dependent Reduction of Amyloid-beta in Eye Tissues

Amyloid-beta (Aβ), a 38-43 amino acid peptide generated in the eye and other tissues, has been hypothesized to exert toxic effects that contribute to the progression and pathology of age-related macular degeneration and other retinal degenerative diseases. My thesis study addresses the engineering of a treatment approach that enables the control of Aβ levels in the living eye. Neprilysin (NEP), a native endopeptidase that cleaves Aβ into inactive products, is a membrane-anchored protein. However, the recombinant-catalytic domain of NEP (termed sNEP) is soluble and retains catalytic activity. We have investigated the ability of intravitreally injected sNEP to reduce, in vivo, ocular levels of Aβ40 and Aβ42, (40 and 42 amino acids respectively) two principal Aβ forms. Anesthetized 10-month wildtype (C57BL/6J) mice, and 2-3-month 5XFAD transgenic mice overexpressing human Aβ42, received intravitreal injections of phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) containing sNEP. Treated mice were maintained for varying periods. Harvested eye tissues (combined lens, vitreous, retina, retinal pigment epithelium and choroid) were homogenized, extracted with PBS and analyzed for Aβ (ELISA) and protein (Bradford assay) to enable determinations of Aβ concentrations (pmol per g protein). Analytical procedures developed in the study included those for terminating sNEP activity prior to animal euthanasia, using the sNEP inhibitor phosphoramidon. sNEP activity remaining at defined post-sNEP-treatment times was analyzed by fluorometric assay. Retinal function in sNEP-treated eyes was analyzed by electroretinography (ERG). Key results obtained in the study include the following. (1) Untreated C57BL/6J eyes and 5XFAD eyes exhibit substantial Aβ levels. (2) Intravitreally delivered sNEP exhibits a concentration-dependent and time-dependent activity in reducing ocular Aβ levels. (3) Although sNEP is cleared rapidly from the eye after delivery, Aβ levels remain low for up to several weeks. (4) As determined at a fixed time following sNEP treatment that substantially reduces Aβ, C57BL/6J and 5XFAD mouse eyes exhibit robust ERG responsiveness, indicating good tolerance of the eye tissues to the sNEP treatment. Overall, the results of this study establish that sNEP delivery to the mouse eye enables substantial in vivo reductions in Aβ levels. The data encourage further study of intravitreal sNEP treatment for investigational and, potentially, therapeutic applications.
Prevalence and anti-microbial susceptibility pattern of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus at a tertiary care hospital

Background: To study about the prevalence and anti-microbial susceptibility pattern of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Methods: Totally 110 non-repetitive Staphylococcus aureus isolates were enrolled in this study. Isolates from different clinical specimens like pus and blood obtained from patients in tertiary care hospital and Staphylococcus aureus was identified by conventional phenotypic methods. Complete antibiotic susceptibility testing of all MRSA isolates was determined by Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method. Results: Out of 110 isolates of S. aureus 60 were found to be methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). The prevalence of MRSA was 54%. Out of 60 isolates, male patients 37 (63%) and female patients are 22 (37%). Maximum numbers of isolates 25 (41.6%) were from the age group of 51 to 60 years. Among these 60 isolates, all of them were found to be resistant to penicillin and oxacillin. In contrast, 98% of the isolates were found to be sensitive to linezolid. The sensitivity to chloramphenicol 70%, co-trimoxazole 60%, amikacin 58%, clindamycin 43%, ciprofloxacin 38%, erythromycin 25%. Conclusions: The observed prevalence rate was 54%. Linezolid showed the best therapeutic outcome against MRSA. Active screening plays an important role in control of MRSA.