Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Seasonal Infestations of Two Stem Borers (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) in Noncrop Grasses of Gulf Coast Rice Agroecosystems

ABSTRACT Infestations of two stem borers, Eoreuma loftini (Dyar) and Diatraea saccharalis (F.) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae), were compared in noncrop grasses adjacent to rice (Oryza sativa L.) fields. Three farms in the Texas rice Gulf Coast production area were surveyed every 6–8 wk between 2007 and 2009 using quadrat sampling along transects. Although D. saccharalis densities were relatively low, E. loftini average densities ranged from 0.3 to 5.7 immatures per m2 throughout the 2-yr period. Early annual grasses including ryegrass, Lolium spp. , and brome, Bromus spp. , were infested during the spring, whereas the perennial johnsongrass, Sorghum halepense (L.) Pers. , and Vasey's grass, Paspalum urvillei Steud. , were infested throughout the year. Johnsongrass was the most prevalent host (41–78% relative abundance), but Vasey's grass (13–40% relative abundance) harbored as much as 62% of the recovered E. loftini immatures (during the winter). Young rice in newly planted fields did not host stem borers before June. April sampling in fallow rice fields showed that any available live grass material, volunteer rice or weed, can serve as a host during the spring. Our study suggests that noncrop grasses are year-round sources of E. loftini in Texas rice agroecosystems and may increase pest populations.
Memetic Music Composition

Computers and artificial intelligence play a key role in the production of artwork through the designing of synthetic agents that are able to reproduce the capabilities of human artists in assembling high-quality artefacts such as paintings and sculptures. In this context, music composition represents one of the art disciplines that can greatly benefit from the appropriate use of computational intelligence, as witnessed by the large number of research activities performed in this field over the recent years. Nevertheless, the automatic composition of music is far from being completely and precisely perfected due to the intrinsic virtuosity that characterizes human musicians' capabilities. This paper reduces this gap with the proposal of an intelligent scheme for the efficient composition of melodies based on a musical method that is inspired by and strongly characterized by human virtuosity: the unfigured bass technique. In particular, we formulate this music composition technique as an optimization problem and solve it with an adaptive multiagent memetic approach comprising diverse metaheuristics, the composer agents that cooperate to create high-quality four-voice pieces of music starting from a bass line as input. A collection of experimental studies on the famous Bach's four-voice chorales showed that the cooperation among different optimization strategies yields improved performance over the solutions obtained by conventional and hybrid evolutionary algorithms.
Co‐ordinated synthesis of phytoalexin biosynthetic enzymes in biologically‐stressed cells of bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)

Changes in the rates of synthesis of three enzymes of phenyl‐propanoid biosynthesis in Phaseolus vulgaris L. (dwarf French bean) have been investigated by immunoprecipitation of [35S]methionine‐labeled enzyme subunits with mono‐specific antisera. Elicitor causes marked, rapid but transient co‐ordinated increases in the rate of synthesis of phenyl‐alanine ammonia‐lyase, chalcone synthase and chalcone isomerase concomitant with the phase of rapid increase in enzyme activity at the onset of accumulation of phenyl‐propanoid‐derived phytoalexin antibiotics in suspension cultures of P. vulgaris. Co‐ordinate induction of enzyme synthesis is also observed in hypocotyl tissue during race:cultivar‐specific interactions with Colletotrichum lindemuthianum, causal agent of anthracnose. In an incompatible interaction (host resistant) there are early increases apparently localized to the initial site of infection prior to the onset of phytoalexin accumulation and expression of hypersensitive resistance. In contrast, in a compatible interaction (host susceptible) there is no induction of synthesis in the early stages of infection, but a delayed widespread response at the onset of lesion formation associated with attempted lesion limitation. It is concluded that expression of the phytoalexin defense response in biologically stressed cells of P. vulgaris characteristically involves co‐ordinate induction of synthesis of phytoalexin biosynthetic enzymes.
Elimination the resonance of a rectangular enclosure with aperture

An efficient and practical method to suppress the resonant frequency and to improve the shielding effectiveness of a rectangular enclosure with aperture is proposed. In this paper a lossy dielectric has been used as a matched load termination at the end of the shielding box. Transmission line method was used for modeling the rectangular enclosure with aperture under electromagnetic interference wave and the results were verified by transmission line matrix method and CST software. Also a complete range of measurements were performed to find the susceptibility of the shielding box against electromagnetic interferences. The proposed method resulted in a very good improvement of shielding effectiveness of enclosure at the resonant frequency.
Secondary Parathyroid Hyperplasia in Tuberous Sclerosis: Report of a Case With Large Eosinophilic Ganglion-Like Cells Similar to Those of Subependymal Giant Cell Astrocytoma, Tubers, and Atypical Angiomyolipoma

We report a case of secondary parathyroid hyperplasia in a 49-year-old man with tuberous sclerosis. Two parathyroid glands had collections of large, eosinophilic ganglion-like endocrine cells that to our knowledge have not been previously described at this site. These cells are morphologically similar to those of subependymal giant cell astrocytoma, tubers, and atypical angiomyolipoma, all of which may arise in the setting of tuberous sclerosis. These large, eosinophilic ganglion-like cells found in different affected organs appear to be distinctive of tuberous sclerosis. We suggest these large eosinophilic cells arise from a common stem cell precursor that acquires variable phenotypes according to alterations in the cellular microenvironment.
Advances in membranous vesicle and exosome proteomics improving biological understanding and biomarker discovery

Exosomes are membranous vesicles released by cells in extracellular fluids: they have been found and analyzed in blood, urine, amniotic fluid, breast milk, seminal fluid, saliva and malignant effusions, besides conditioned media from different cell lines. Several recent papers show that exosome proteomes of different origin include both a common set of membrane and cytosolic proteins, and specific subsets of proteins, likely correlated to cell‐type associated functions. This is particularly interesting in relation to their possible involvement in human diseases. The knowledge of exosome proteomics can help not only in understanding their biological roles but also in supplying new biomarkers to be searched for in patients' fluids. This review offers an overview of technical and analytical issues in exosome proteomics, and it highlights the significance of proteomic studies in terms of biological and clinical usefulness.
English and Spanish oral cancer information on the internet: a pilot surface quality and content evaluation of oral cancer web sites.

OBJECTIVE Oral and pharyngeal cancers are responsible for over 7600 deaths each year in the United States. Given the significance of the disease and the fact that many individuals increasingly rely on health information on the Internet, it is important that patients and others can access clear and accurate oral cancer information on the Web. The objective of this study was threefold: (a) develop an initial method to evaluate surface and content quality of selected English- and Spanish-language oral cancer Web sites; (b) conduct a pilot evaluation; and (c) discuss implications of our findings for dental public health. METHODS We developed a search strategy to find oral cancer sites frequented by the public using Medline Plus, Google, and Yahoo in English and Spanish. We adapted the Information Quality Tool (IQT) to perform a surface evaluation and developed a novel tool to evaluate site content for 24 sites each in English and Spanish. RESULTS English-language sites had an average IQT score of 76.6 (out of 100) and an average content score of 52.1 (out of 100). Spanish-language sites had an average IQT score of 50.3 and an average content score of 25.6. CONCLUSIONS The study produced a quality assessment of oral cancer Web sites useful for clinicians and patients. Sites provided more information on clinical presentation, and etiology, and risk factors, than other aspects of oral cancer. The surface and quality of Spanish-language sites was low, possibly putting Hispanic populations at a disadvantage regarding oral cancer information on the Web.
Sex steroid hormone profiles are related to sleep measures from polysomnography and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index.

STUDY OBJECTIVES To relate reproductive hormones (and the preceding 7-year rates of their change) to objectively and subjectively assessed sleep measures, independent of age, vasomotor symptom frequency, depressive symptoms, and body size. DESIGN A cross-sectional sleep substudy nested in the Study of Women's Health Across the Nation (SWAN), a longitudinal study of the menopausal transition. SETTING Community-based. PARTICIPANTS 365 Caucasian, African American, and Chinese women. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS Sleep duration, continuity, and architecture were measured during two nights of in-home polysomnography (PSG) studies. Participants completed the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) for sleep quality, sleep diaries for medication, vasomotor symptoms, lifestyle information and questionnaires for depressive symptoms. Blood collected annually in the years prior to sleep study was assayed for follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), estradiol (E2), and total testosterone (T). More rapid rate of FSH change was significantly associated with higher delta sleep percent, longer total sleep time (TST), but less favorable self-reported sleep quality (PSQI). Baseline E2 was modestly and negatively associated with sleep quality. Women in the lowest total testosterone quartile at baseline had more wake time after sleep onset (WASO) than women in the highest quartile. Lower E2/T ratio, an index reflecting the increasing androgenic environment with the menopause transition, was associated with less WASO. CONCLUSIONS More rapid rate of FSH change was associated with longer sleep duration but poor sleep quality. Women with higher T or who were closer to the completion of the transition process (as indexed by a lower E2/T) had less sleep discontinuity (less WASO).
Short-term effects of photodynamic therapy on periodontal status and glycemic control of patients with diabetes.

BACKGROUND Periodontitis is a major cause of tooth loss among adults. Several studies have shown a possible systemic impact of periodontal infection, including poor glycemic control in patients with diabetes. Recently, photodynamic therapy (PDT) was used to successfully treat periodontal infection. PDT provides a broad spectrum antimicrobial efficacy with no local or systemic side effects. The objective of this study was to examine the effect of the adjunctive use of PDT on periodontal status and glycemic control of patients with diabetes and periodontitis. METHODS Forty-five patients with type 2 diabetes and moderate to severe chronic periodontitis were selected and randomly assigned to one of the following three treatment modalities (15 subjects each): scaling and root planing (SRP) only, SRP plus systemic doxycycline, and SRP plus PDT. The plaque and bleeding scores, probing depth, clinical attachment level, and glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) level were recorded at baseline and 3 months after periodontal treatment. Descriptive statistics, the paired t test, and analysis of variance (ANOVA) were used for data analysis. RESULTS Statistically significant differences in the mean probing depth, clinical attachment level, plaque deposit, and bleeding on probing were found between baseline and 12 weeks post-treatment for all groups. No significant differences in periodontal parameters and glucose levels were detected among the three groups. Reduction in the mean HbA1c level after treatment was observed in all groups but was only significant for the SRP plus doxycycline group. CONCLUSION The results of the present study indicate that PDT does not benefit conventional non-surgical periodontal therapy in patients with diabetes.
Expression of constitutively-active aryl hydrocarbon receptor in T-cells enhances the down-regulation of CD62L, but does not alter expression of CD25 or suppress the allogeneic CTL response

Activation of aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) by 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) in T-cells is required for TCDD-induced suppression of the allogeneic CTL response and for induction of CD25hiCD62Llow adaptive regulatory T-cells. Here, the ability of a constitutively-active AhR (CA-AhR) expressed in T-cells alone to replicate the effects of TCDD was examined. The response of CA-AhR-expressing B6 donor T-cells in B6xD2F1 mice was compared to the response of wild-type B6 donor T-cells in B6xD2F1 mice given a single dose of TCDD. Expression of CA-AhR in donor T-cells enhanced the down-regulation of CD62L on Day 2 after injection, similar to a single oral dose of TCDD, but did not induce up-regulation of CD25 on Day 2 or affect CTL activity on Day 10. This suggests that activation of AhR in T-cells alone may not be sufficient to alter T-cell responses in this acute graft-versus-host (GvH) model. Since host APC are responsible for activating the donor T-cells, we examined the influence of the F1 host’s AhR on donor T-cell responses by creating an AhR−/− B6xD2F1 host that had a greatly diminished AhR response to TCDD compared to wild-type F1 mice. As in AhR+/+ B6xD2F1 mice, the CTL response in AhR−/− B6xD2F1 mice was completely suppressed by TCDD. This suggests that either CA-AhR dose not fully replicate the function of TCDD-activated AhR in suppression of the CTL response, or that minimal activation of AhR in host cells is required to combine with activation of AhR in T-cells to elicit the immunosuppressive effects of TCDD.
Evidence for Liquid-Phase Cirrus Cloud Formation from Volcanic Aerosols: Climatic Implications

Supercooled droplets in cirrus uncinus cell heads between -40� and -50�C are identified from Project FIRE [First ISCCP (International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project) Regional Experiment] polarization lidar measurements. Although short-lived, complexes of these small liquid cells seem to have contributed importantly to the formation of the cirrus. Freezing-point depression effects in solution droplets, apparently resulting from relatively large cloud condensation nuclei of volcanic origin, can be used to explain this rare phenomenon. An unrecognized volcano-cirrus cloud climate feedback mechanism is implied by these findings.
Clinical characteristics and prognosis of acute myeloid leukemia associated with DNA-methylation regulatory gene mutations

In recent years, it has been reported that the frequency of DNA-methylation regulatory gene mutations – mutations of the genes that regulate gene expression through DNA methylation – is high in acute myeloid leukemia. The objective of the present study was to elucidate the clinical characteristics and prognosis of acute myeloid leukemia with associated DNA-methylation regulatory gene mutation. We studied 308 patients with acute myeloid leukemia. DNA-methylation regulatory gene mutations were observed in 135 of the 308 cases (43.8%). Acute myeloid leukemia associated with a DNA-methylation regulatory gene mutation was more frequent in older patients (P<0.0001) and in patients with intermediate cytogenetic risk (P<0.0001) accompanied by a high white blood cell count (P=0.0032). DNA-methylation regulatory gene mutation was an unfavorable prognostic factor for overall survival in the whole cohort (P=0.0018), in patients aged ≤70 years, in patients with intermediate cytogenetic risk, and in FLT3-ITD-negative patients (P=0.0409). Among the patients with DNA-methylation regulatory gene mutations, 26.7% were found to have two or more such mutations and prognosis worsened with increasing number of mutations. In multivariate analysis DNA-methylation regulatory gene mutation was an independent unfavorable prognostic factor for overall survival (P=0.0424). However, patients with a DNA-methylation regulatory gene mutation who underwent allogeneic stem cell transplantation in first remission had a significantly better prognosis than those who did not undergo such transplantation (P=0.0254). Our study establishes that DNA-methylation regulatory gene mutation is an important unfavorable prognostic factor in acute myeloid leukemia.
Non‐surgical treatment of hepatocarcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common tumors affecting man. It is the general feeling that only hepatectomy can give a chance for cure. However, less than 20% of patients can be resected, and other treatment modalities are required. Systemic (chemotherapy, hormonotherapy, immunotherapy) and loco‐regional (intratumoral injection of alcohol, intra‐arterial chemotherapy embolization, internal radiotherapy) approaches have been developed.
Blood oxygen depletion during rest-associated apneas of northern elephant seals (Mirounga angustirostris)

SUMMARY Blood gases (PO2, PCO2, pH), oxygen content, hematocrit and hemoglobin concentration were measured during rest-associated apneas of nine juvenile northern elephant seals. In conjunction with blood volume determinations, these data were used to determine total blood oxygen stores, the rate and magnitude of blood O2 depletion, the contribution of the blood O2 store to apneic metabolic rate, and the degree of hypoxemia that occurs during these breath-holds. Mean body mass was 66±9.7 kg (± s.d.); blood volume was 196±20 ml kg–1; and hemoglobin concentration was 23.5±1.5 g dl–1. Rest apneas ranged in duration from 3.1 to 10.9 min. Arterial PO2 declined exponentially during apnea, ranging between a maximum of 108 mmHg and a minimum of 18 mmHg after a 9.1 min breath-hold. Venous PO2 values were indistinguishable from arterial values after the first minute of apnea; the lowest venous PO2 recorded was 15 mmHg after a 7.8 min apnea. O2 contents were also similar between the arterial and venous systems, declining linearly at rates of 2.3 and 2.0 ml O2 dl–1 min–1, respectively, from mean initial values of 27.2 and 26.0 ml O2 dl–1. These blood O2 depletion rates are approximately twice the reported values during forced submersion and are consistent with maintenance of previously measured high cardiac outputs during rest-associated breath-holds. During a typical 7-min apnea, seals consumed, on average, 56% of the initial blood O2 store of 52 ml O2 kg–1; this contributed 4.2 ml O2 kg–1 min–1 to total body metabolic rate during the breath-hold. Extreme hypoxemic tolerance in these seals was demonstrated by arterial PO2 values during late apnea that were less than human thresholds for shallow-water blackout. Despite such low PO2s, there was no evidence of significant anaerobic metabolism, as changes in blood pH were minimal and attributable to increased PCO2. These findings and the previously reported lack of lactate accumulation during these breath-holds are consistent with the maintenance of aerobic metabolism even at low oxygen tensions during rest-associated apneas. Such hypoxemic tolerance is necessary in order to allow dissociation of O2 from hemoglobin and provide effective utilization of the blood O2 store.
Propofol in anesthesia. Mechanism of action, structure-activity relationships, and drug delivery.

Propofol (2,6-diisopropylphenol) is becoming the intravenous anesthetic of choice for ambulatory surgery in outpatients. It is extensively metabolized, with most of the administered dose appearing in the urine as glucuronide conjugates. Favorable operating conditions and rapid recovery are claimed as the main advantages in using propofol, whereas disadvantages include a relatively high incidence of apnea, and blood pressure reductions. Besides a literature summary of the pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics, toxicology, and clinical use, this review provides a deeper discussion on the current understanding of mechanism of action and structure-activity relationships, and recent findings on drug delivery technologies as applied to the improvement of propofol formulations. The action of propofol involves a positive modulation of the inhibitory function of the neurotransmitter gama-aminobutyric acid (GABA) through GABAA receptors. Recent results from recombinant human GABAA receptor experiments and findings from the work exploring the effects at other receptors (e.g., glycine, nicotinic, and M1 muscarinic receptors) are reviewed. Studies showing its antiepileptic and anxiolytic properties are also discussed. The structure-activity relationships (SAR) of series of alkylphenols and p-X-substituted congeners have been reinvestigated. Interestingly, unlike the other congeners tested sofar, p-iodo-2,6-diisopropylphenol displayed anticonvulsant and anticonflict effects, but not sedative-hypnotic and anesthetic properties. Due to its high lipid-solubility, propofol was initially formulated as a solution with the surfactant Cremophor EL, but the occurrence of pain on injection and anaphylactoid reactions prompted to search for alternative formulations. Results from using cyclodextrins, water-soluble prodrugs, and adopting Bodor's approach to the site-specific chemical delivery system (CDS), as well as the advantages provided by computer-controlled infusion systems, are examined in some detail.
Effect of environmental exposure to lead and tobacco smoke on inattentive and hyperactive symptoms and neurocognitive performance in children.

BACKGROUND The present study assessed the association between blood lead and urinary cotinine levels and inattentive and hyperactive symptoms and neurocognitive performance in children. METHODS A total of 667 children (age range 8-11) were recruited from nine schools in five Korean cities. The teachers and parents completed the Korean version of the Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder Rating Scales (K-ARS), and the children performed neurocognitive tests. Blood lead and urinary cotinine levels were then measured. RESULTS The inattentive, hyperactive, and total scores of the teacher-rated K-ARS were positively associated with blood lead level, and the results of the continuous performance test (CPT), Stroop Color-Word Test, and Children's Color Trails Test were inversely associated with urinary cotinine level when controlled for age, gender, father's educational level, maternal IQ, child's IQ, residential area, birth weight, and cotinine (for lead) or lead (for cotinine). The association between blood lead level and commission errors score on the CPT disappeared when the effect of urinary cotinine level was controlled. CONCLUSIONS These findings indicate that environmental exposure to tobacco smoke in children is associated with poor neurocognitive performance, and low levels of lead are associated with inattention and hyperactivity symptoms.