Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Impact of Combining Planting Date and Chemical Control to Reduce Larval Densities of Stem-Infesting Pests of Sunflower in the Central Plains

Abstract The guild of stem-infesting insect pests of sunflower, Helianthus annuus L. , within the central Plains is a concern to producers chiefly due to losses caused by plant lodging from the sunflower stem weevil, Cylindrocopturus adspersus (LeConte) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), and Dectes texanus texanus LeConte (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae). The incidence of a root boring moth, Pelochrista womonana (Kearfott) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), also has increased. Experiments were conducted in three locations in Colorado and Kansas during 2001–2003 to investigate the potential of combining planting date and foliar and seed treatment insecticide applications to lower insect stalk densities of these three pests. The impact of these strategies on weevil larval parasitoids also was studied. Eight sunflower stem weevil larval parasitoid species were identified. All were Hymenoptera and included the following (relative composition in parentheses): Nealiolus curculionis (Fitch) (42.6%), Nealiolus collaris (Brues) (3.2%) (Braconidae), Quadrastichus ainsliei Gahan (4.2%) (Eulophidae), Eurytoma tylodermatis Ashmead (13.1%) (Eurytomidae), Neocatolaccus tylodermae (Ashmead) (33.7%), Chlorocytus sp. (1.6%), Pteromalus sp. (0.5%) (Pteromalidae), and Eupelmus sp. (1.0%) (Eupelmidae). The results from this 3-yr study revealed that chemical control was often reliable in protecting the sunflower crop from stem pests and was relatively insensitive to application timing. Although results in some cases were mixed, overall, delayed planting can be a reliable and effective management tool for growers in the central Plains to use in reducing stem-infesting pest densities in sunflower stalks. Chemical control and planting date were compatible with natural mortality contributed by C. adspersus larval parasitoids.
Effects of low-dose omega-3 fatty acid substitution in type-2 diabetes mellitus with special reference to oxidative stress--a prospective preliminary study.

BACKGROUND A state of increased oxidative stress has been recognised in type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). The present study was done to assess the effects of low dose omega-3 fatty acids substitution in patients with type 2 DM with special reference to oxidative stress. METHOD Sixty-five patients with type 2 DM of body mass index (BMI) < 27 kg/m2 and thirty age and sex matched healthy controls were evaluated for blood glucose, blood pressure and lipid profile and oxidative stress was assessed in them by measuring lipid peroxides (LP), diene conjugates (DC) and reduced glutathione (RG) in the serum. Of the 65, 40 motivated patients were randomly divided into two groups--group 1 comprising of fifteen patients prescribed a diabetic diet along with a placebo and group 2 consisting of twenty-five patients on the same diet with the addition of 0.6 g omega-3 fatty acids as one capsule Maxigard (containing 180 mg eicosapentaenoic acid and 120 mg docosahexaenoic acid) twice daily. All parameters were reassessed after six weeks. RESULTS The levels of lipid peroxides (micromol/L), diene conjugates (OD units) and reduced glutathione (mmol GSH/L) were significantly altered indicating increased oxidative stress in the diabetics compared to the healthy controls: 4.106 +/- 0.889, 2.751 +/- 0.424, 1.344 +/- 0.316 and 1.91 +/- 0.541, 1.735 +/- 0.315, 1.919 +/- 0.310, respectively (p < 0.001 for all the three). Patients in group 1 and 2 were comparable in all respects including oxidative stress at the start of therapy. After six weeks, on comparing the mean % changes in the three parameters of oxidative stress between the two groups, it was seen that the % change was significantly higher in group 2 (Maxigard group) compared to group 1 (Placebo; 5.22 +/- 1.056 (p = 0.05), 3.28 +/- 0.608 (p = 0.01), 5.27 +/- 0.585 (p < 0.001) and 0.82 +/- 0.123, 0.18 +/- 0.017, 0.56 +/- 0.035 (p < 0.001), respectively. The patients in group 2 also exhibited significantly greater improvement in glycemic status, blood pressure and lipid profiles. CONCLUSIONS The present study documented the existence of a state of increased oxidative stress in type 2 diabetics. Significant beneficial effects of low dose omega-3 fatty acids substitution for PUFA-6 were observed not only on oxidative stress parameters but also on blood pressure and metabolic profile.
Analysis of Putative Chlamydia trachomatis Chaperones Scc2 and Scc3 and Their Use in the Identification of Type III Secretion Substrates

ABSTRACT The obligate intracellular pathogen Chlamydia trachomatis expresses a type III secretion system (T3SS) which has the potential to contribute significantly to pathogenesis. Based on a demonstrated role of type III secretion (T3S)-specific chaperones in the secretion of antihost proteins by gram-negative pathogens, we initiated a study of selected putative Chlamydia T3S chaperones in an effort to gain mechanistic insight into the Chlamydia T3SS and to potentially identify Chlamydia-specific secreted products. C. trachomatis Scc2 and Scc3 are homologous to SycD of Yersinia spp. Functional studies of the heterologous Yersinia T3SS indicated that although neither Scc2 nor Scc3 was able to fully complement a sycD null mutant, both have SycD-like characteristics. Both were able to associate with the translocator protein YopD, and Scc3 expression restored limited secretion of YopD in in vitro studies of T3S. CopB (CT578) and CopB2 (CT861) are encoded adjacent to scc2 and scc3, respectively, and have structural similarities with the YopB family of T3S translocators. Either Scc2 or Scc3 coprecipitates with CopB from C. trachomatis extracts. Expression of CopB or CopB2 in Yersinia resulted in their type III-dependent secretion, and localization studies with C. trachomatis-infected cells indicated that both were secreted by Chlamydia.
Morphological properties of intracellularly labeled layer I neurons in rat neocortex

The morphology of neurons in layer I of rat neocortex, including Cajal‐Retzius (CR) cells, was studied by using intracellular biocytin staining in brain slices obtained from rats during the first 22 postnatal days. Within the first postnatal week, horizontal bipolar neurons or CR cells were prominent in layer I. Typically, CR cells had one main dendrite and one axon originating from opposite poles of the somata. Even though the main dendrites and axons could be quite long, complex dendritic or axonal arbors were not observed. Starting around postnatal day 6 (PN 6), CR cells were less frequently observed. From PN 10 to PN 21, nonpyramidal neurons with diverse morphologies became the main neuronal component in layer I. The somata of layer I nonpyramidal neurons were quite variable in size and shape. Dendrites were smooth or sparsely spiny, and the dendritic trees were mainly restricted to layer I, covering an area with a diameter of about 200 μm. Axon collaterals of these cells formed elaborate arbors with diameters of around 700 μm in layer I and extending, in many cases, to layer II/III and even layer IV. This extensive axonal plexus provides a rich anatomical base on which layer I neurons, functioning as local circuit elements, may interact with each other and with neurons in other layers. © 1996 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
An empirical study on the impacts of retail agglomeration image on customer citizenship behavior

Retail agglomeration is critical for the development and prosperity of modern metropolis, commodity distribution center and industrial park. According to M-R model and cognitive-affective-behavior theory, retail agglomeration image is the important factor leading to customers' buying behavior and loyalty. Structural Equation Modeling with AMOS7.0 was employed to explore the mediation mechanism of consumer emotion and identification between retail agglomeration image and customer citizenship behavior in this paper. The empirical result shows that consumer identification acts as partial mediator, while customer emotion has no significant direct effect on customer citizenship behavior but indirect effect via customer identification. In other words, consumer emotion and identification act as chain multiple mediating effects. For business operation, this paper reveals an inner impact mechanism of retail agglomeration image on customer citizenship behavior, significantly contributing to customer relationship management especially customer loyalty management.
Brain-actuated Humanoid Robot based on Brain-computer Interface (BCI)

Brain-computer interface (BCI) technology provides a new communication and control channel between the brain and a computer, without the participation of peripheral nerves and muscles. This paper proposed a brain-actuated BCI paradigm to control a humanoid robot. Because of the extremely low signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the electroencephalograph (EEG) signals, effective BCI paradigm for multiple degrees of freedom (DOF) control without external stimulation is hard to construct. To address this problem, a novel sequential coding method was presented in this paper to increase the number of output commands. With this method, different brain activities could be modulated using one motor imagery task only. A four-class BCI paradigm was designed based on the sequential coding method, and used to control a humanoid robot. Four subjects participate in the walking experiment of the robot. The average time cost to complete one walking task was 139.8 seconds. The experimental results demonstrated the effectiveness of the sequential coding method for multi-class BCI paradigm design.
Why the creative process is not Darwinian

Simonton (2006) makes the unwarranted assumption that nonmonotonicity supports a Darwinian view of creativity. Darwin’s theory of natural selection was motivated by a paradox that has no equivalent in creative thought: the paradox of how change accumulates when acquired traits are not inherited. To describe a process of cumulative change in which acquired traits are retained is outside of the scope of the theory of natural selection. Even the early evolution of life itself (prior to genetically mediated template replication) cannot be described by natural selection. Specifically, natural selection cannot describe change of state that involves horizontal (Lamarckian) exchange, or occurs through interaction with an incompletely specified context. It cannot describe change wherein variants are evaluated sequentially, and wherein this evaluation can itself change the state space and/or fitness function, because no two variants are ever evaluated according to the same selection criterion. Concerns are also raised as to the methodology used in Simonton’s study.
USO DAS FONTES E RECURSOS INFORMACIONAIS: UM ESTUDO COM PÓS-GRADUANDOS

RESUMO O estudo tem como objetivo identificar as fontes e os recursos informacionais mais utilizados pelos estudantes do curso de pós-graduação em Gestão de Biblioteca Escolar. Abordaram-se no referencial teórico conceitos importantes a respeito do comportamento informacional, busca e uso da informação. Quanto aos procedimentos metodológicos, a pesquisa foi descritiva de natureza qualiquantitativa. Para a coleta de dados foram utilizados dois instrumentos, o questionário com questões abertas e fechadas e a entrevista. Os dados coletados foram organizados e analisados seguindo-se os objetivos da pesquisa. Com os resultados deste estudo, foi possível obter informações referentes às principais fontes e recursos informacionais utilizadas, bem como aos procedimentos mais recorrentes durante a busca da informação.
Disfunção cardíaca na sepse

A ligacao entre depressao miocardica clinica e efeitos de substâncias depressoras do miocardio, circulantes no soro de pacientes septicos, ja e conhecida desde meados de 1970. Mediadores inflamatorios tem participacao nessa patogenese, tais como fator de necrose tumoral e interleucina.
Fully considered layout variation analysis and compact modeling of MOSFETs and its application to circuit simulation

We have developed a total system of circuit design to treat dependency of MOSFET electric characteristics on layout patterns. Our new methodology with two-step multivariate analysis realizes highly reliable compact modeling, and its application to SPICE simulation significantly improves accuracy of circuit modeling. Our system is a powerful tool of design for manufacturing in 65 nm technology node and beyond.
Quantitating physical activity in COPD using a triaxial accelerometer.

STUDY OBJECTIVE To determine the reliability, validity, and stability of a triaxial accelerometer for walking and daily activity measurement in a COPD sample. DESIGN Cross-sectional, correlational, descriptive design. SETTING Outpatient pulmonary rehabilitation program in a university-affiliated Veterans Affairs medical center. PARTICIPANTS Forty-seven outpatients (44 men and 3 women) with stable COPD (FEV(1), 37% predicted; SD, 16%) prior to entry into a pulmonary rehabilitation program. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS Test-retest reliability of a triaxial movement sensor (Tritrac R3D Research Ergometer; Professional Products; Madison, WI) was evaluated in 35 of the 47 subjects during three standardized 6-min walks (intraclass correlation coefficient [rICC] = 0.84). Pearson correlations evaluated accelerometer concurrent validity as a measure of walking (in vector magnitude units), compared to walking distance in all 47 subjects during three sequential 6-min walks (0. 84, 0.85, and 0.95, respectively; p < 0.001). The validity of the accelerometer as a measure of daily activity over 3 full days at home was evaluated in all subjects using Pearson correlations with other indicators of functional capacity. The accelerometer correlated with exercise capacity (maximal 6-min walk, r = 0.74; p < 0.001); level of obstructive disease (FEV(1) percent predicted, r = 0.62; p < 0.001); dyspnea (Functional Status and Dyspnea Questionnaire, dyspnea over the past 30 days, r = - 0.29; p < 0.05); and activity self-efficacy (Activity Self-Efficacy Questionnaire, r = 0.43; p < 0.01); but not with self-report of daily activity (Modified Activity Recall Questionnaire, r = 0.14; not significant). Stability of the accelerometer to measure 3 full days of activity at home was determined by an rICC of 0.69. CONCLUSIONS This study provides preliminary data suggesting that a triaxial movement sensor is a reliable, valid, and stable measure of walking and daily physical activity in COPD patients. It has the potential to provide more precise measurement of everyday physical functioning in this population than self-report measures currently in use, and measures an important dimension of functional status not previously well-described.
Level Set Method for Image Segmentation in the Presence of Intensity Inhomogeneity and Noise

It is a great challenge to segment images distorted by severe noise and inhomogeneity. This paper presents a new level set method to segment images in presence of intensity inhomogeneity and noise. To mitigate intensity inhomogeneity, an improved multi-scale average filter is proposed to preprocess the image. With kernel metric and patch similarity measure, local and global image information is utilized to construct energy functional. In addition, the regularization term based on counting operator is incorporated into the final energy functional. Experimental results show that the proposed method has good performance for image segmentation in the presence of intensity inhomogeneity and noise.
Health effects associated with exposure to residential organic dust.

BACKGROUND This study aimed at relating self-reported health complaints to bioaerosol pollution in the residential outdoor air and to duration of storing organic waste indoors. METHODS In a cross-sectional study, double blinded to ongoing environmental microbial measurements, physicians collected questionnaires in a neighborhood with a composting site and in unexposed controls. Self-reported prevalence of health complaints, physician diagnoses as well as residential odor annoyance and home hygiene were assessed. RESULTS An elevation of reports of irritative airway complaints was associated with residency in an area with highest bioaerosol exposure but not with odor annoyance. Longer indoor storage of organic waste was associated with skin related symptoms. Atopic subjects were at higher risk. Airway-related health problems were not associated with longer storage of organic wastes in homes. CONCLUSIONS Exposure to organic dust in residential air affects airways of residents while exposure in homes due to organic wastes affects the skin.
Design of boost converter with voltage multiplier cell for single phase AC load applications

The fast depleting rate of fossil fuels necessitates the need for alternate renewable energy sources to generate electricity. Electricity plays a pivotal role in the country’s economic development and has a pre-eminent role to play. One way of converting the incident sunlight into electricity is by using PV cells. This proposed paper focuses on using the power generated from PV cells for supplying single phase AC loads. A boost converter with 0.5 duty cycle was fabricated and tested. The results obtained from hardware and software simulation is shown to have better efficiency. This concept is simulated using PLECS software. The boost converter fabricated has specifications of 24-48V conversion and power rating of 96W. The efficiency was found to be 93%.
Laboratory Control of Continuous Intravenous Heparin Therapy with Howel Time and Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time A Prospective, Randomized and Blind Study

Although heparin has been used extensively to treat Deep Venous Thrombo sis (DVT) and arterial ischemia (AI), controversy still exists regarding optimal dosage and the need for monitoring. Different authors have employed various test with variable results. Others, however, persist in giving heparin without laboratory control. This study was made in order to compare, in a prospective, randomized and blind manner, two coagulation tests, namely: Howel Time (HT) and Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time (APTT), in controlling the dose of heparin given by continuous intravenous infusion in DVT and AI. Our results show no signifi cant difference in complications and failures of the therapy with either test, although significantly higher doses of heparin were needed to maintain APTT within therapeutic range than those needed to keep HT within a similar range.
Genetics and Biology of Pheochromocytoma

The familial forms of pheochromocytoma have recently been demonstrated to be more frequent than believed in the past. The genes currently known to be responsible for tumor formation are RET, VHL, NF1, SDHB, SDHC and SDHD. Germline mutations of these genes increase the risk of developing pheochromocytomas and/or paragangliomas which variably associate with other neoplasms and characterize diverse clinical syndromes such as MEN 2, von Hippel-Lindau (VHL), and neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF 1), or the PGL syndromes, respectively. Although the pathogenesis of pheochromocytoma/paraganglioma formation is still largely unknown, studies of the familial forms have started to uncover some pathways that favor tumor formation, such as activation of tyrosine-kinase, induction of hypoxia-inducible factors, activation of the oncogene Ras or reduced apoptosis. These studies have also demonstrated that various gene mutations can differently affect the biological characteristics of pheochromocytoma: for example, while the tumors are mostly adrenergic (epinephrine secreting) and episodically secreting in MEN 2, they are mostly noradrenergic (norepinephrine secreting) and continuously secreting in VHL. Biological variability can also be observed in the PGL syndromes where tumors develop in the head and neck and are parasympathetic in origin and non-secreting, or in the thorax and the abdomen, where they are sympathetic in origin and catecholamine secreting. Genetic testing in patients with pheochromocytomas or paragangliomas is, at present, strongly recommended and is mandatory in young patients or in cases of multiple or recurrent tumors. The clinical picture and the biological characteristics of the tumor may suggest the priority of the genes to be tested first.
Research of a Fast and Accurate Algorithm for Workpiece Recognition

The speed and accuracy of workpiece recognition is the key to improve the efficiency of automated production lines. The traditional workpiece image recognition algorithm has slow running speed and poor matching precision. To solve the problem of accurate and real-time positioning of workpieces, an improved SURF_FREAK algorithm (ISF) is proposed for workpieces identification and matching. Firstly, the algorithm extracts feature points by using the Speeded Up Robust Features (SURF) algorithm, then adds the medium distance points to the FREAK algorithm to describe the feature points. Finally, the K-Nearest Neighbor (KNN) classification algorithm is used to match the feature points. The experimental results show that the ISF algorithm has a higher improvement on the recognition speed and matching accuracy of the workpiece than the traditional scale-invariant feature transform (SIFT) and SURF and FREAK algorithm.
Isoform‐specific responses of metallothioneins in a marine pollution biomonitor, the green‐lipped mussel Perna viridis, towards different stress stimulations

Metallothioneins (MTs) are commonly used as biomarker for metal pollution assessment in marine ecosystems. Using integrated genomic and proteomic analyses, this study characterized two types of MT isoform in the digestive gland of a common biomonitor, the green‐lipped mussel Perna viridis, towards the challenges of a metal (cadmium; Cd) and a non‐metal oxidant (hydrogen peroxide; H2O2) respectively. The two isoforms differed in their deduced protein sequences, with 73 amino acids for MT10‐I and 72 for MT10‐II (a novel type), but both consisted of a high percentage (27.4 to 29.2%) of cysteine. Two‐dimensional gel and Western blot showed that the MT proteins were present in multiple isoform spots, and they were further validated to be MT10‐I and MT10‐II using MS analysis coupled with unrestricted modifications searching. Expression of mRNA revealed that MT10‐I responded promptly to Cd but had a lagged induction to H2O2 treatments, while MT10‐II was exclusively induced by Cd treatment over the course of exposure. Expression of the MT proteins also showed a delayed response to H2O2, compared to Cd treatments. This study uncovered the potential different functional roles of various MTs isoforms in P. viridis and thus advances the resolution of using MTs as biomarkers in future applications.
Ionic Competition and 67Ga in Vivo Accumulation

Es wurde die Wirkung verschiedener Zitrate trivalenter Kationen auf die 67Ga-Zitrat-Speicherung von Tumortieren untersucht. Eine Beziehung zwischen der Ionengröße des gleichzeitig injizierten Kations und der Hemmung der 67Ga-Speicherung weist darauf hin, daß die Eigenschaften des Kations (Ionenradius und elektrische Ladung) die wichtigste Rolle in der Speicherung der Radioaktivität spielen. Die offenbare Übereinstimmung dieses Phänomens mit der Hypothese des isomorphen Ersatzes wird diskutiert.
Tunable Holding-Voltage High Voltage ESD Devices

Physical understanding of the interaction of junction depth and the location of different Drain-side N-type implants on the holding-voltage of LDNMOS is presented. Using N-type well implants to modulate the junction depth, width and doping concentration results in change of the holding-voltage of LDMOS since the drain potential is a function of position in two dimensions.