Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
First survey of the hard tick (Acari: Ixodidae) fauna of Nakai District, Khammouane Province, Laos, and an updated checklist of the ticks of Laos

Abstract From 2012 to 2014, tick collections for tick and tick-borne pathogen surveillance were carried out in two areas of Nakai District, Khammouane Province, Laos: the Watershed Management and Protection Authority (WMPA) area and Phou Hin Poun National Protected Area (PHP NPA). Throughout Laos, ticks and tick-associated pathogens are poorly known. Fifteen thousand and seventy-three ticks representing larval (60.72%), nymphal (37.86%) and adult (1.42%) life stages were collected. Five genera comprising at least 11 species, including three suspected species that could not be readily determined, were identified from 215 adult specimens: Amblyomma testudinarium Koch (10; 4.65%), Dermacentor auratus Supino (17; 7.91%), D. steini (Schulze) (7; 3.26%), Haemaphysalis colasbelcouri (Santos Dias) (1; 0.47%), H. hystricis Supino (59; 27.44%), H. sp. near aborensis Warburton (91; 42.33%), H. sp. near darjeeling Hoogstraal and Dhanda (5; 2.33%), H. sp. near lagrangei Larrousse (3; 1.4%), H. spp. (16; 7.45%), Rhipicephalus haemaphysaloides (Supino) (5; 2.33%), and R. (Boophilus) microplus (Canestrini) (1; 0.47%). These collections, together with the literature to date, provide evidence for the occurrence of at least 22 ixodid tick species, representing six genera, in Laos. Here we present new records for at least four tick species from WMPA area, Nakai District, Khammouane Province, where tick-borne pathogens may circulate. These preliminary results should serve as a framework for further molecular investigations of putative tick vectors and their pathogens in Laos.
A population birth-and-mutation process, I: explicit distributions for the number of mutants in an old culture of bacteria

Luria and Delbrück (1943) have observed that, in old cultures of bacteria that have mutated at random, the distribution of the number of mutants is extremely long-tailed. In this note, this distribution will be derived (for the first time) exactly and explicitly. The rates of mutation will be allowed to be either positive or infinitesimal, and the rate of growth for mutants will be allowed to be either equal, greater or smaller than for non-mutants. Under the realistic limit condition of a very low mutation rate, the number of mutants is shown to be a stable-Lévy (sometimes called “Pareto Lévy”) random variable, of maximum skewness ß, whose exponent α is essentially the ratio of the growth rates of non-mutants and of mutants. Thus, the probability of the number of mutants exceeding the very large value m is proportional to m –α–1 (a behavior sometimes referred to as “asymptotically Paretian” or “hyperbolic”). The unequal growth rate cases α ≠ 1 are solved for the first time. In the α = 1 case, a result of Lea and Coulson is rederived, interpreted, and generalized. Various paradoxes involving divergent moments that were encountered in earlier approaches are either absent or fully explainable. The mathematical techniques used being standard, they will not be described in detail, so this note will be primarily a collection of results. However, the justification for deriving them lies in their use in biology, and the mathematically unexperienced biologists may be unfamiliar with the tools used. They may wish for more details of calculations, more explanations and Figures. To satisfy their needs, a report available from the author upon request has been prepared. It will be referred to as Part II.
Spatial patterns of fine root biomass and performances of understory dwarf bamboo and trees along with the gradient of soil N availability in broad-leaved natural forests and larch plantation

The importance of fine roots in forest ecosystem processes is well known. However, the contribution of understory vegetation to underground ecosystem processes is not well understood. We tested the hypothesis that fine-root biomass (FRB) and performance of the overstory and understory independently decrease with increasing soil N availability in cool-temperate deciduous broad-leaved natural forests and larch plantations in Japan. The mean contribution of understory FRB to total FRB (tree + understory) ranged from 4% to 78% (mean 37%). Tree FRB was negatively correlated with understory FRB, and understory FRB was dominant to tree FRB in infertile soil. Understory and total FRB were negatively correlated with soil net N mineralization rate, whereas tree FRB showed a quadratic relationship with soil N mineralization rate with the peak observed at mineralization of 58.4 kg N ha−1 y−1. The low tree FRB at infertile sites may be due to a belowground competitive effect of understory fine roots on tree FRB. Understory fine-root nitrogen concentration (FRN) and leaf to fine-root (L/FR) ratio were positively correlated with N mineralization rate. However, tree L/FR was not significantly correlated, whereas tree FRN was positively correlated, with soil N mineralization rate, suggesting that the leaf production efficiency of trees might not increase even on infertile soil. We suggest that belowground processes of overstory trees might change depending on understory vegetation, and that understory vegetation might affect the fine roots of overstory trees, which did not increase mass allocation but increased N use efficiency under low FRN.
The Explosive Burning of Oxygen and Silicon

This paper analyzes the explosive burning of oxygen and silicon. Major emphasis is on nuclear details of how the fuel burns and of the nucleosynthesis that results from the burning. By characterizing the explosions in terms of an e-folding time for the reduction of the density we are able to map the nature of the nucleosynthesis in terms of that time scale and the initial temperature, density, and chemical composition. These results make it possible in the future to infer rather well the results of explosive burning without carrying out the laborious integrations of the differential equations for the abundances, as we have done in this paper. The major and minor sections of the paper are as follows:
Surrogate endpoints in immunotherapy trials for solid tumors.

In a systematic review published in European Journal of Cancer , Nie et al . analyzed the role of objective response (ORR), disease control and progression-free survival (PFS) as surrogate endpoints in phase II and III studies with immunotherapy [anti-PD(L)1 agents] in solid tumors (1). As expected, across 43 trials available for inclusion, no surrogate endpoint was validated using standard statistical criteria, because neither RECIST-based ORR, nor PFS were able to capture the final overall survival (OS) gain used generally for authority approval. As stated by authors, anti-PD-1/PD-L1 drugs may induce an initial increase in the tumor volume, and the delayed antitumor activity can, thereafter, produce a late shrinkage of the tumor volume. This may cause pseudo-progression and explains why ORR and PFS correlate weakly with survival.
Toxicity of β -Nitropropionic Acid to Trichoplusia ni

β -nitropropionic acid (BNPA) added to a pinto bean diet and fed to cabbage loopers, Trichoplusia ni (Hubner), increased the mortality of 1st instar larvae, the length of the larval and pupal periods, and the life span of male moths, but reduced pupal weights and fecundity. A mixture of glucose triesters, (coronillin and karakin) was less toxic than BNPA. A diester (cibarian) was the least toxic of the materials tested. All 3 compounds were isolated from leaves of crown vetch, Coronilla varia L. , and are toxic to nonruminant animals. BNPA and its glucose esters may have adaptive significance as a feeding deterrent to insects that attempt to feed on crownvetch. Plant breeding programs designed to eliminate BNPA from crown vetch to make the forage nontoxic to nonruminants may accidentally produce an insect-susceptible cultivar.
Epidemiological Study of Acute Toxicity in Children Admitted to Poison Control Center, Ain Shams University Hospitals during the Year 2012 -A Retrospective Study

The autopsy room is regarded as a special place for gathering scientific knowledge by conducting autopsy. The dead body for autopsy is a big sized good culture media, contaminated with microorganisms, explosives or evidence material, and so on. So, it needs lot of watchfulness, chain of custody & a bio-containment area -Autopsy suit. Water, air, people, bodies, samples, scientific equipment, gurneys, information, and disposables, all must be decontaminated before safely removed from the containment area. There must be awareness about biosafety application in dissection/autopsy room. To start with, including the same in the UG curriculum/syllabus and awareness programs for doctors who already engaged in the autopsy work. A pilot survey results authenticate the deficiency in autopsy facilities and the open space autopsy in nearly 50% of PHCs level. It is time for the department of inquest- Ministry of home affairs, to implement mobile autopsy unit/suite to avoid the heinous open space autopsy. However, Construction of autopsy suite and implementation of mobile autopsy suite with the consideration of biosafety, is must and is to be proceeded in consultation with experts in the subject.
Life table studies of some spiders from Western Ghats

© Zoo Outreach Organisation; www.zoosprint. org Manuscript 1354; Received 21 April 2005; Revised received 22 September 2005; Finally accepted 28 February 2006; Date of publication 21 May 2006 2296 June 2006 | ISSN 0973-2535 (Print edition); 0973-2551 (Online edition) The rich species diversity in Western Ghats offers several benefits to mankind in terms of medicinal value and gene pools. There are more than 30,000 species of spiders under 3000 genera and 105 families have been recognized all over the world. They are important predatory organisms in all ecosystems they inhabit, with a high prey finding ability and capacity to consume greater number of prey than any other predator. They are the only class of arthropods that are entirely predaceous (Kamal et al., 1990). They feed on a variety of organisms such as insects, small mice, bats, fish, crabs, frogs, lizards, snakes and scorpions. Thus, spiders help maintain the biotic balance of nature. Despite this importance, the role of spiders in the management of pest populations has only been lately recognised and scant attention is given to them as pest control agents in India. Though, several studies have been made on spiders, most of them were limited to the investigation of the species composition and their seasonal occurrence in the field.
Land Resources and Their Development in South America and Africa

Along with the rapid economic development in China,the progress of urbanization will further speed up,and the arable land areas will also be reduced.How to protect grain safety of China has become an issue with long-term concern.Based on the analysis on land resources,human resources,water resources,and relevant policies of South America and Africa,this paper puts forward several new perspectives and suggestions for developing overseas agriculture.
Patterns of cellulose microfibril deposition and rearrangement in Nitella: in vivo analysis by a birefringence index. [Nitella axillaris]

The mean alignment of cellulose microfibrils in the wall of a living Nitella internode can be quantified by polarized light microscopy. Microfibrils within the cylindrical wall of a normal internode have a scattered but generally circumferential arrangement. The action of polarized light on such a wall creates a birefringent pattern that relates to microfibrillar organization, including the degree of microfibrillar scatter or mean angular dispersion. This pattern, quantified as a birefringence index (BRI), can be followed during the growth of an individual cell. Changes in the BRI reflect shifts in the patterns of either microfibril deposition, microfibril rearrangements during growth, or both. This diagnostic capability has allowed the dynamics of the following events to be examined in vivo: response of microfibril deposition to addition and removal of antimicrotubule drugs, multinet growth under various conditions of cell expansion, and cellulose synthesis inhibition. This work has shown that cellulose microfibril synthesis is not coupled to cell expansion in Nitella and that the directionality of cell expansion is governed by only an inner portion of the cell wall. 31 references, 7 figures, 1 table.
Integrative transcriptomic and proteomic analysis of the mutant lignocellulosic hydrolyzate‐tolerant Rhodosporidium toruloides

The oleaginous yeast Rhodosporidium toruloides has been considered as an economical lipid producer because it transforms carbohydrates from lignocellulosic hydrolyzate into triglycerides; however, R. toruloides cannot survive in hydrolyzate due to the inhibitors co‐produced by hydrolysis. We have previously reported a plasma mutagenesis‐generated mutant strain M18 that had strong tolerance for the stress environments of hydrolyzate. Here, we applied transcriptomic and proteomic approaches to analyze the global metabolic responses to the stress in hydrolyzate of R. toruloides and elucidate the tolerant mechanism of the mutant strain. The results showed that 57% genes matched and correlated well with their corresponding proteins. Five hundred and seven genes and 366 proteins had their transcription and expression levels changed, respectively, and 39 key genes with significantly changed transcription and expression levels (≥5‐fold changes) were identified. The results demonstrated that four cellular processes and their key genes are likely related to the mechanism of tolerance of M18 strain. Enhanced expression of the key genes in R. toruloides could improve the cellular stress tolerance to lignocellulosic hydrolyzate, while the altered expression of most key genes is probably not caused by mutagenesis, but induced by stressful environments of the hydrolyzate.
Active Electronic Arrays for Genotyping of NAT2 Polymorphisms

The N -acetyltransferase 2 ( NAT2) gene is autosomal, dominant, and intronless with an open reading frame of 870 bp. It is located on chromosome 8p22. NAT2 enzyme detoxifies and inactivates drugs and xenobiotics in the liver. NAT2 polymorphisms confer phenotypes categorized as slow, intermediate, or rapid acetylators with broad interethnic variation. There are 26 known alleles, and each allelic variant is a combination of one, two, three, or four nucleotide substitutions. Within the coding region there are seven missense mutations (G191A, T341C, A434C, G590A, A803G, A845C, and G857A) and four silent mutations (T111C, C282T, C481T, and C759T) (1)(2). The wild-type NAT2*4 allele is associated with the rapid acetylator phenotype and does not have any nucleotide substitutions. The phenotype can be predicted with 95% accuracy by genotyping. (3)(4)(5). We present a method for performing multiple-polymorphism genotyping of the NAT2 gene. A single amplification of NAT2 is performed with sequential probing for multiple polymorphisms by active electronic arrays. The method permits application of multiple DNA samples in singleton for high-throughput genotyping. Rapid high-throughput determination of genotypes may aid in clinical epidemiology studies and in routine clinical practice. Published primer sequences were used to perform PCR to generate a 1212-bp amplicon (6). The primers were 5′-AAT TAG TCA CAC GAG GA-3′ (forward) and 5′-biotin-TCT AGC ATG AAT CAC TCT G-3′ (reverse). The biotinylated primers permit capturing of the amplicons to the microarray surface where they remain embedded through interaction with streptavidin in the permeation layer. The agarose permeation layer containing streptavidin coats the microarray, separating the biological materials from the harsh electrochemical environment, and allows binding of biotinylated amplicons (7). The PCR reaction mixture consisted of 5 μL of 10× buffer (Applied Biosystems), 1 μL of dNTPs (10 mM each dNTP; …
An Innovative Therapeutic Approach for Breast Cancer: Engineered Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Derived Exosomes By Mir-145

Breast cancer is defined as an out of control change in cells growth of breast tissue, which is caused by abnormal growth in the milk glands (lobules) or in the ducts that connect the lobules to the nipple (duct) [3]. Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women and the second leading cause of death[4]. Every year about one million women are diagnosed with this cancer worldwide. In the United States near to 255180 new cases are detected and the estimated mortality rate has been reported about 40,610 cases in 2017 [5].
The Evolving Definition of a Gene

928 BioScience • December 2009 / Vol. 59 No. 11 www.biosciencemag. org There was a time when a biologist could discover a new species by strolling into a field and saying, “What, ho! I’ve never seen one of those before! ” Of course, by now biologists have seen it all—or at least all of the things that are easy to see. So a scientist who spies something seemingly new first needs to consider whether that creature belongs to a previously identified species.
Comparison between Cyanoacrylate, Sutureless and Polypropylene Sutures in Mesh Fixation on Lichtenstein Tension free in repair of Open Inguinal Hernia

Background: inguinal hernia repair is one of the most common operations in general surgery. The Lichtenstein tension-free operation has become gold standard in open inguinal hernia repair. Despite the low recurrence rates; postoperative pain and discomfort remain a problem for a large number of patients. Aim of the work: the aim of this study is to compare between cyanoacrylate, sutureless and polypropylene sutures in mesh fixation on lichtenstein tension free in repair of open inguinal hernia regard as postoperative pain, infection, recurrence,& cost benefit. Methods: a total of thirty patients with primary unilateral uncomplicated inguinal hernia were randomized to undergo lichtenstein tension free hernioplasty, and were randomized using close envelope into three groups: Group A: Inguinal hernioplasty with mesh fixation using polypropylene sutures (10 patients), Group B: Inguinal hernioplasty with mesh fixation using cyanoacrylate glue (10 patients) and Group C: Inguinal hernioplasty with mesh placement without sutures (10 patients). Primary outcome was early and late postoperative pain. Secondary endpoints were use of painkillers after 24 hours, morbidity rate and recurrence rate. Follow-up time was 6 months. Results: significantly, less postoperative pain was reported in group B compared to the other two groups (A&C). Additionally, trends toward a higher postoperative quality of life, a faster surgical procedure, and a shorter hospital stay and earlier return to daily activities were seen in patients within group(B). Clinical recurrence was reported in only one patient in Group C after a period of four months follow up postoperatively. Conclusion: cyanoacrylate glue seemed to be a simple, original, reasonable, feasible, reproducible technique and competitive alternative to the standard tissue-penetrating meshfixation devices in open inguinal hernioplasty. It is accompanied by a reduction in chronic inguinal pain, with no increase in the early recurrence rate.
Aquatic wastewater treatment using Elodea nuttallii

The feasibility of using aquatic macrophyte-based aquatic treatment systems (ATSs) to treat wastewater in temperate climates was examined. Elodea nuttallii, Myriophyllum hetero phyllum, and Lemna minor were selected for study. E. nuttallii grew in primary effluent year-round, and effectively treated the wastewater to advanced secondary and possibly tertiary water quality levels. E. nuttallii-based systems that operated on a pilot scale continuous flow basis for 2 years were able to remove an annual average of 90% of the 5-day biochemical oxygen demand, (BOD5), 75% of the ammonia, 47% of the total nitrogen, and 38% of the total phosphorus from the primary wastewater. Control reactors without macrophytes removed 67% of the BOD5, 22% of the ammonia, less than 4% of the total nitrogen, and less than 19% of the influent phosphorus. Hydraulic retention times of 2.5 to 3.5 days were required in the E. nuttallii reactors. Removal rates were usually significantly correlated to plant biomass and productivity. J. Water Pollut. Control Fed. , 61, 641 (1989).
Utilization of oxygen and reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate by human placental microsomes during aromatization of androstenedione.

Abstract The addition of androstenedione and NADPH to human placental microsomes results in a marked increase in the rate of O2 and NADPH utilization concomitant with estrogen formation. Initially, 5 to 12 moles of O2 and an equivalent amount of NADPH are consumed per mole of estrogen formed, the ratio varying from one microsomal preparation to another. In the presence, however, of 10 to 20 mm KCN, 3 moles of O2, and 3 moles of NADPH are consumed per mole of estrogen formed. This ratio was invariant even when a concentration of KCN sufficiently high to inhibit aromatization was employed. Both NADPH and O2 are required for the conversion of 19-hydroxyandrostenedione to 19-oxoandrostenedione, suggesting that a second hydroxylation is responsible for this conversion rather than oxidoreduction of the 19-alcohol. These results are consistent with previous data suggesting three successive hydroxylations catalyzed by a mixed function oxidase(s) are required during C19 steroid aromatization. The rate of appearance of estrogen intermediates was examined in an effort to determine to what extent the accumulation of these compounds might account for the high rate of O2 consumption observed in the absence of KCN. It was determined that essentially all of the O2 consumed could be accounted for by accumulation of 19-hydroxyandrostenedione and 19-oxoandrostenedione and estrogens. In the presence of KCN, the rates of formation of 19-hydroxyandrostenedione and 19-oxoandrostenedione were greatly inhibited under steady state conditions while the rate of aromatization was only slightly decreased. Moreover, under all conditions, the rate of formation of 19-hydroxyandrostenedione was greater than its rate of conversion to estrogen. Also, the rate of formation of 19-oxoandrostenedione was greater than its rate of disappearance in the absence of KCN. These observations suggest that the final hydroxylation is the rate-limiting step in the aromatization of androstenedione.
Disseminated histoplasmosis with Hypergammaglobulinemia in rare subtype of severe combined immunodeficiency: A case report of a 7-year-old child

Background: Histoplasmosis is a progressive disease caused by dimorphic intracellular fungi. When infection is present, it is usually in immunocompromised individuals. We report an unusual presentation of progressive disseminated histoplasmosis in patient with raised Ig levels as but low CD4 and CD8 levels, in a rare case of severe combined immunodefiency. Case Report: A 7-year-old female with history of intermittent fever for 8 months, multiple joint pain and weight loss for 2 months. On examination, she had pallor, erythematous plaque on face and hepatosplenomegaly. The patient had high levels of immunoglobulins and reduced CD4, CD8 count. Disseminated histoplasmosis (DH) was diagnosed on microscopic examination of bone marrow and skin biopsy and was confirmed by fungal culture of bone marrow & blood. Discussion: SCID is characterized by abnormalities in T-cell, B-cell, and NK-cell functions. In our case, CD-4, CD-8 count was reduced but B-cell defect was not present, leading to the wrong perception of immune status of patient. Our patient might be suffering from the type of SCID which has T-cell defect without the loss of B-cell function. Conclusion: Our case represents a unique paradox in which the impaired cellular immunity resulted in immune deficient status causing disseminated histoplasmosis in an individual with intact humoral immunity, posing a diagnostic challenge. The following core competencies are addressed in this article: Medical Knowledge, Patient care.