Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Challenges in Comparing Transgenic and Nontransgenic Soybean Cultivars

Genetically modified soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr. ] cultivars containing herbicide resistance have become the predominant cultivars marketed in the USA. This technology dramatically changed weed management strategies inthe USA and created controversy and new challenges within various segments of the industry. This review seeks to summarize many of the issues that arose within the soybean industry surrounding the introduction of the world's first major transgenic crop. Hopefully, the experiences gained during this transition period will benefit future efforts to commercialize transgenic crops. Initially, the new transgenics made the already difficult, yet critically important, task of cultivar selection even more arduous and confusing. Lack of university data, high cultivar turnover rates, and the added burden of factoring in technology fees, yield lag, and weed control costs into the decision of which cultivar to plant were frustrating to most producers. Industry's early insistence on separate cultivar performance trials for Roundup Ready (RR) cultivars taxed limited testing resources and increased the size of the already massive data sets generated. Most often, the end result did not provide a direct comparison with popular conventional cultivars. As this new technology has become fully accepted and assimilated into our industry, comparisons with conventional cultivars are less important since most farmers are selecting only among RR cultivars. The current literature indicates that soybean variety test (SVT) programs with limited resources can effectively compare soybean cultivar performance using combined trials treated only with conventional herbicides with little risk of yield loss or herbicide × cultivar interactions. However, the use of a systems approach or separate RR trials to evaluate the performance of soybean cultivars is now commonplace in the USA due to the sheer dominance of RR cultivars. Many larger SVT programs will soon consider discontinuing separate trials for conventional cultivars as their numbers and importance diminish.
NUDT15 gene variants and thiopurine-induced leukopenia in patients with inflammatory bowel disease

Thiopurine has been used to maintain remission and to reduce antidrug antibody formation in monoclonal antibody therapy in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The use of thiopurine is limited by side effects such as leukopenia. Thiopurine S-methyltransferase (TPMT) variants are associated with thiopurine-induced leukopenia in Westerners, but the frequency of the risk alleles is low in Asians. Recently, a variant in the nudix hydrolase 15 (NUDT15) gene (R139C, c.415C > T) was reported to be associated with early severe leukopenia in Asians. NUDT15 is an enzyme that converts 6-thio-(deoxy)guanosine triphosphate (6-T(d)GTP) to 6-thio-(deoxy)guanosine monophosphate (6-T(d)GMTP). The R139C variant impairs the stability of the protein and increases incorporation of 6-TGTP and 6-TdGTP into RNA and DNA, respectively, resulting in leukopenia. The frequency of C/C, C/T, and T/T are approximately 80%, 20%, and 1%, respectively in East Asians. Early leukopenia occurred in less than 3% of patients with C/C and in around 20% of those with C/T, whereas it occurred in almost all patients with T/T. Patients homozygous for this variant also develop severe hair loss. The measurement of NUDT15 R139C can increase the safety of thiopurine dramatically and is a successful example of personalized medicine in the field of IBD.
Confirmatory Factor Analysis of the Malay Version of the Smartphone Addiction Scale among Medical Students in Malaysia

Background: At present, the validity and reliability evidence of the Malay version of the Smartphone Addiction Scale (SAS-M) is only available by exploratory factor analysis (EFA). The aim of this study is to validate and determine the psychometric properties of the SAS-M by confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 323 medical students in Universiti Sains Malaysia. The students were given questionnaire forms consisting of socio-demographic information, the SAS-M and the Malay version of the Internet Addiction Test (MVIAT). The CFA was conducted using robust maximum likelihood estimator. The internal consistency reliability was determined by Raykov’s rho coefficient. The concurrent validity was assessed by the Pearson’s correlations between the factor scores of the SAS-M and the MVIAT. Results: The analysis showed the five-factor model of the SAS-M has an acceptable model fit after the inclusion of 12 correlated errors (SRMR = 0.067, RMSEA 0.059 (90% CI: 0.054, 0.065), CFI = 0.895, TLI = 0.882). The factor loadings ranged from 0.320 to 0.875. The internal consistency reliability was good (Raykov’s rho = 0.713 to 0.858) and it showed good concurrent validity with the MVIAT. Conclusions: The CFA showed that the SAS-M is a valid and reliable self-administered questionnaire to measure the level of smartphone addiction among medical students.
Identification of recurrent and novel mutations in the LDL receptor gene in Japanese familial hypercholesterolemia

We used the denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) method to investigate 120 Japanese patients with familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) for mutations in the promoter region and the 18 exons and their flanking intron sequence of the low density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor gene. Fourteen aberrant DGGE patterns were found, and the underlying mutations were characterized by DNA sequencing. Five novel missense mutations (C317S, F382L A410T, L547V, and E693K), two nonsense mutations (W512X and K790X), four frameshift mutation (355del7, 1246ins5, 1687ins1, and 2035ins1), one splicing mutation (1845+2 T→C), and two inframe mutations (661ins21 and 1115del9/ins6) were identified. Six of these mutations (L547V, E693K, W512X, 355del7, 1687ins1, and 20354ins1) have not been described before in FH. These newly identified mutations cosegregated in their family members with defective LDL receptor activity and hypercholesterolemia, and are thought to be causal for the FH phenotype. These results demonstrate that there is a broad spectrum of mutations in the LDL receptor gene in the Japanese population. Hum Mutat 14:87, 1999. © 1999 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Five hundred and fifty microsatellite markers for the study of the honeybee (Apis mellifera L.) genome

SummaryMicrosatellites are currently considered the most useful genetic markers with wide appli-cations in genomics, quantitative and population genetics. We present here the structure ofthe core sequence of 552 microsatellites, together with the sequences of the primers and thelength of the sequenced allele. These microsatellites were isolated from several librariesconstructed from either fractions of total genomic DNA or from clones of a bacterial artifi-cial chromosome (BAC) library. All 552 loci are polymorphic in the honeybee. Many ofthem were also successfully amplified in three other species of Apis : A. cerana (58%), A.dorsata (59%) and A. florea (38%). A summary of the variability of 36 loci in the three mainevolutionary lineages of A. mellifera is given. Keywords : Apis mellifera , cross-priming, linkage map, population genetics Received 9 January 2003; revision accepted 27 February 2003 Because microsatellite markers have been developedmainly for population genetics studies, the number of lociisolated in most species is usually small. Large numbers ofloci are available only in a few vertebrate species, such ashuman, mouse, rat and an increasing number of farmanimals and fishes, as well as model and cultivated plants(Gentles & Karlin 2001; Katti
Competitive ability is related to metabolic asymmetry in juvenile rainbow trout

Of 55 size–matched pairs of juvenile rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss, each consisting of one high and one low relative metabolic rate fish (relative size difference <5%), the high relative metabolic rate fish was dominant in 36 pairs (65·5%), significantly more often than expected by chance. The probability of a fish winning was related to its relative metabolic rate (measured prior to introduction into the test arena); the higher the relative metabolic rate of a fish compared to its opponent, the greater its probability of being dominant. In the 36 pairs of fish where the low relative metabolic rate fish was the subordinate, its competitive ability was significantly correlated with how closely the two fish were matched in terms of their relative metabolic rates. The smaller the difference between the relative metabolic rates of the dominant high relative metabolic rate fish and subordinate low metabolic rate fish, the greater the competitive ability and feeding success of the low relative metabolic rate subordinate. However, no such relation was found in the 19 pairs of fish where the high relative metabolic rate fish was the subordinate. In these pairs, the competitive ability of the subordinate high relative metabolic rate fish was correlated with its size relative to its dyad partner. The larger the dominant low relative metabolic rate fish, the lower the competitive ability of the subordinate high relative metabolic rate fish.
The flood pulse advantage and the restoration of river‐floodplain systems

The ‘flood pulse advantage’ is the amount by which fish yield per unit mean water area is increased by a natural, predictable flood pulse. Evidence for this increase is presented from tropical and temperate fisheries. It is argued that increasing multispecies fish yield by restoring the natural hydrological regime is consistent with increasing production of other trophic levels and with restoration from ecological and aesthetic viewpoints. When applied to a river-floodplain system, this restoration would provide a large, self-sustaining potential for recreation, commercial exploitation, and flood control. An interim ‘natural flood pulse’ restoration approach is proposed for systems modified for navigation. This approach approximates the natural hydrological regime in a river reach and is intended as a first step in the long process of restoring the watershed.
Cutaneous metastasis of ascending colon cancer harboring a BRAF V600E mutation

Abstract Rationale: Cutaneous metastases from colorectal cancer are extremely rare and generally appear several years after diagnosis or resection of the primary colorectal tumor. Although cutaneous metastasis is unusual, it often indicates a poor prognosis. Patient concerns: We treated a 62-year-old woman with multiple cutaneous metastatic nodules on the chest, back, and armpit 7 months after resection of ascending colon cancer. Diagnoses: The patient was diagnosed with cutaneous metastasis of ascending colon cancer with BRAF V600E mutation. Interventions: After 6 cycles of fluorouracil, leucovorin, oxaliplatin, cetuximab, and emurafenib, most of the metastatic lesions had begun to shrink, and no new metastases were observed. Serum tests showed that the levels of several tumor markers were decreased. Outcomes: The patient responded well to treatment and survived for 6.5 months after presentation with skin metastasis. Lessons: Cutaneous metastasis of colorectal cancer with BRAF V600E mutation is a rare but important phenomenon that should not be ignored. Cutaneous metastasis of colorectal cancer frequently indicates advanced disease and poor prognosis. The SWOG 1406 program is one of the treatment options, but this needs further exploration.
Monitoring Animal Welfare on Commercial Broiler Farms in Sweden

This paper describes the background to an animal welfare programme for broilers which has been developed by the Swedish Poultry Meat Association together with production advisors, veterinarians and representatives from the Swedish National Board of Agriculture. The programme aims to improve the general standard of broiler rearing and takes into consideration housing facilities, equipment, management and stockmanship. Using a set protocol, an evaluation is made of the livestock environment, the standard of the buildings and equipment, and management practices on each broiler farm. A monitoring programme for food-pad dermatitis, linked to the welfare programme, is fully described. The design of the broiler welfare programme is discussed, with special emphasis on the results that are fed back to the farmer, the effects of intervention and the importance of follow-up.
Determination of Tear Lipid Film Thickness Based on a Reflected Placido Disk Tear Film Analyzer

This study aims at determining the thickness of the tear lipid layer (LL) observed from a placido-disc-based tear film analyzer. We prospectively collected reflections of placido-disk LL images using a tear film analyzer (Keratograph® 5M, Oculus) from subjects with dry eye symptoms. The LL thickness (LLT) over the inferior half of the cornea was estimated with the use of interference color analysis and the preprocessing of images with and without ring segmentation were obtained and analyzed. Moreover, LLTs before and after 1 h of applying topical ointment (Duratears, Alcon) were compared to validate the estimation of LLT. Our results suggested that the tear LLT can be assessed using a placido-disk-based tear film analyzer and interference color analysis. We verified a high correlation between non-segmented and segmented LL images and estimated LLT increase after applying ointment. In addition, we concluded that LLT can be evaluated by direct interference analysis without segmentation preprocessing.
T Lymphocytes in Human Gut Epithelium Preferentially Express the α/β Antigen Receptor and are often CD45/UCHL1‐Positive

A revived interest in intraepithelial lymphocytes (IEL) has been elicited by several recent reports suggesting that murine and avian intestinal epithelium contains mainly CD3+CD8+ cells expressing the γ/δ T‐cell receptor (TcR) for antigen; this contrasts with systemically distributed T cells which preferentially employ the TcRα/β. An anatomical dichotomy in the distribution of these two T‐cell lineages has hence been proposed. Here we report that this concept does not hold true in man. In situ studies with monoclonal TcR‐framework antibodies showed that most (70–90%) human intestinal IEL (which are mainly CD3+CD8+) expressed TcRα/β. Moreover, almost half of the intraepithelial CD3+ cells were positive for the smallest (180 kDa) CD45 molecule (UCHL1); this probably reflected that they are antigen‐primed and thus represent traditional CD3+CD8+α/β+ memory T cells.
Role of Ecological History in Invasive Species Management and Conservation

Human perceptions of nonindigenous species will ulti-mately drive public policy, and given the large role thesespecies play in our conservation strategies, those per-ceptions should be taken seriously. Associated with theexperience of nonindigenous species are perceptions ofplaceandecologicalhistory.LodgeandShrader-Frechette(2003) clear up some recent confusion regarding inva-sive species, and they conclude that “Despite apparentdisagreements among scholars, little real disagreementexists about the occurrence, effects, or public-policy im-plications of nonindigenous species. ” Nevertheless, theiressayisneitherclearnorcriticalwithregardtononindige-nousspeciesandtheecologicalhistoryofNorthAmerica.This is not a moot point, but central to conservation andrestoration strategies.Lodge and Shrader-Frechette reaffirm that there is nowwidespread evidence implicating invasive species in thewholesale reduction of biodiversity (e.g., Groombridgeet al. 1992; Wilcove et al. 1998; Roemer et al. 2002). Ac-tion against invasive species is justified given the changesthey induce in ecosystem function, their link to biodiver-sity loss, and the high value placed on the uniqueness ofregional biota. The authors maintain that “
Distribution characteristics of circulating homocysteine and folate and related factors in agriculture, stock-raising and urban populations: a cross-sectional survey

Abstract Objective: To investigate homocysteine (Hcy) and folate levels, prevalence of hyperhomocysteinaemia (HHcy) and folate deficiency, which are affected by lifestyles in urban, agricultural and stock-raising populations. Design: This is a cross-sectional study. Setting: Urban, agricultural and stock-raising regions in Emin, China. Participants: Totally 1926 subjects – 885 (45·9 %) from urban, 861 (44·7 %) from agricultural and 180 (9·4 %) from stock-raising regions – were obtained using multistage stratified random sampling. Inclusion criteria encompassed inhabitants aged ≥15 years who resided at the current address for ≥6 months and agreed to participate in the study. Surveys on health behaviour questionnaires and physical examinations were conducted and blood samples collected. Results: The folate level of subjects from the stock-raising region was the lowest, followed by those from the agricultural region, and the highest in those from the urban region (3·48 v. 6·50 v. 7·12 ng/ml, P < 0·001), whereas mean Hcy showed no significant difference across regions. The OR for HHcy in stock-raising regions was 1·90 (95 % CI 1·11, 3·27) compared with the urban region after adjusting for all possible covariates. The OR for folate deficiency in stock-raising and agriculture regions was 11·51 (95 % CI 7·09, 18·67) and 1·91 (95 % CI 1·30, 2·82), respectively, compared with the urban region after adjusting for all possible covariates. Conclusions: HHcy and folate deficiency are highly prevalent in stock-raisers, which is of important reference for HHcy control in Xinjiang, with a possibility of extension to others with approximate lifestyles.
Changes in the concentrations of mediators in exhaled breath condensate during cardiac valve replacement under cardiopulmonary bypass and their relations with postoperative acute respiratory distress syndrome

Abstract To investigate the changes in the concentrations of interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-8 (IL-8), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and 8-iso-prostaglandin F2α (8-isoPGF2α) in exhaled breath condensate (EBC) in patients undergoing cardiac valve replacement under cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) and its relationship with postoperative acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). A prospective, case–control study was performed on 55 patients undergoing elective cardiac valve replacement under cardiopulmonary bypass, between November 2017 and May 2019. According to the diagnosis of postoperative ARDS, the patients were divided into ARDS group and control group. We compared the clinical characteristics, outcomes, respiratory mechanics, oxygenation parameters, and mediators in the 2 groups immediately after tracheal intubation (T1), at the end of CPB (T2), and 2 hours (T3) and 6 hours (T4) after CPB, and calculated the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC), sensitivity, and specificity of the corresponding mediators. ARDS occurred in 29 patients after CPB. The ARDS group exhibited prolonged postoperative ventilator support, time to extubation, length of stay in the ICU, and postoperative length of stay. The peak airway pressure (Ppeak) and plat airway pressure (Pplat) at T4 were higher in the ARDS group compared with the control group. The alveolar-arterial oxygen partial pressure [P(A-a)O2] and respiratory index (RI) were higher and PaO2/FiO2 was lower in the ARDS group at T2–4 compared with the control group. The levels of EBC and serum mediators in the ARDS group were significantly higher at T2–4 compared with those in the control group. All the mediators in EBC were correlated significantly with those in the serum in the ARDS group (r = 0.7314, 0.898, 0.8386, 0.792) and control group (r = 0.6093, 0.8524, r = 0.7828, r = 0.6575) (P < .001). Meanwhile, the area under the curve (AUC) of IL-8 in EBC was significantly lower at T2 and the AUC of IL-6 in EBC was significantly higher at T4 than in serum (P < .05). In addition, all of the mediators in EBC had a certain accuracy in diagnose of postoperative ARDS. EBC analysis could be used to predict the high incidence of ARDS after cardiac valve replacement under CPB.
Physical therapists’ perspectives on improving walking capacity in patients with stroke: a cross-sectional study from Saudi Arabia

Objectives: Stroke is a serious condition that leads to disability and death, which affects around 16 million people worldwide each year. The considerable loss of function after stroke is likely to impede walking ability. The current study was to understand the practices of physical therapists in Saudi Arabia and their perspectives on treatment to improve walking capacity after stroke. Methods: This prospective cross-sectional survey was conducted using a 12-item, semi-structured questionnaire, which included demographic characteristics and physical therapy practices. The questionnaires were distributed as hard copies to physical therapists working in Saudi Arabia and were asked to return the forms after completion. Totally 191 respondents from 18 institutions in Saudi Arabia completed the survey and were included in the analysis. Results: There was comparable agreement from respondents regarding the use of ankle foot orthosis (84.8%). The use of walking aids was supported more by physical therapists with higher qualifications (post-graduates=40%, doctorates=55.6%), while evidence-based practice showed a higher rate in less-experienced to moderately experienced physical therapists (2-5 years=24.2%, 5-10 years=19.3%). Conclusion: Variable responses from different sectors according to qualification, experience, and institution were observed among the physical therapists in Saudi Arabia for improving the walking capacity in patients after Stroke.
The compensatory reserve: potential for accurate individualized goal‐directed whole blood resuscitation

Hemorrhagic shock can be mitigated by timely and accurate resuscitation designed to restore adequate delivery of oxygen (DO2). Current doctrine of using systolic blood pressure (SBP) as a guide for resuscitation can be associated with increased morbidity. The compensatory reserve measurement (CRM) is a novel vital sign based on the recognition that the sum of all mechanisms that contribute to the compensatory response to hemorrhage reside in features of the arterial pulse waveform. CRM can be assessed continuously and non‐invasively in real time. Compared to standard vital signs, CRM provides an early, as well as more sensitive and specific, indicator of patient hemorrhagic status since the activation of compensatory mechanisms occurs immediately at the onset of blood loss. Recent data obtained from our laboratory experiments on non‐human primates have demonstrated that CRM is linearly related to DO2 during controlled progressive hemorrhage and subsequent whole blood resuscitation. We used this relationship to determine that the time of hemodynamic decompensation (i.e., CRM = 0%) is defined by a critical DO2 at approximately 5.3 mL O2∙kg−1∙min−1. We also demonstrated that a target CRM of 35% during whole blood resuscitation only required replacement of 40% of the total blood volume loss to adequately sustain a DO2 more than 50% (i.e., 8.1 mL O2∙kg−1∙min−1) above critical DO2 (i.e., threshold for decompensated shock) while maintaining hypotensive resuscitation (i.e., SBP at ~90 mmHg). Consistent with our hypothesis, specific values of CRM can be used to accurately maintain DO2 thresholds above critical DO2, avoiding the onset of hemorrhagic shock with whole blood resuscitation.