Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Feeding and survival of the malaria vector Anopheles gambiae on plants growing in Kenya

Abstract. The propensity of the malaria vector mosquito Anopheles gambiae Giles (Diptera: Culicidae) to ingest sugars from various plants, and subsequent survival rates, were assessed with laboratory‐reared males and females offered eight species of plants commonly cultivated and/or growing wild in western Kenya. In cages (no‐choice bioassay), mosquitoes given the opportunity to feed on castorbean (Ricinus communis L.) had the longest survival times (mean and median survival time of 6.99 ± 0.23 and 5.67 ± 0.17 days, respectively), comparable to mosquitoes given 6% glucose (mean and median survival time of 8.70 ± 0.23 and 6.67 ± 0.33 days, respectively). Survival rates of An. gambiae were low on the other plants, comparable to mosquitoes given only water. Three plants: sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas L.), wild sage (Lantana camara L.) and castorbean provided levels of sugar ingestion by both sexes of An. gambiae detectable using the cold anthrone method, showing a positive correlation between median survival and sugar consumption (Spearman rank correlation coefficient = 0.905, P < 0.0001). Equal numbers of males and females were released in an enclosed semi‐field screenhouse system containing a range of local plants, but no host for blood, and allowed to feed ad libitum: 6.7 ± 0.5% (11/64) of those recaptured were found to contain detectable fructose (all females). Common plants are clearly a viable source of nutrition for adult female An. gambiae, as well as males, and may constitute and important resource for this important malaria vector.
Dietary Manipulation of Mouse Metabolism

The maintenance of metabolic homeostasis relies on the balanced intake of nutrients from food. Consequently, diet composition strongly impacts whole‐body physiology. Dietary formulations with strong nutrient imbalances can lead to metabolic disorders, with lipids and simple sugars playing a prominent role. This unit describes how diet formulation can be modified to generate mouse models of human metabolic pathologies, and it details methodological procedures linked to dietary manipulations, including caloric restriction and introduction of a test compound. Curr. Protoc. Mol. Biol. 84:29B.5. 1‐29B.5. 12. © 2008 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
An Impact Evaluation of the Government Grant Programs and Input Efficiency Use in the Production of Greenhouse Tomatoes and Peppers in Kosovo

Determinants of greenhouse tomato and pepper production input efficiency affect a farmer’s decision to contribute to the vegetable sector in Kosovo. This research investigates the non-optimal use of inputs in the production of greenhouse tomatoes and peppers. Two studies were conducted to first measure input efficiency use and then to quantify the impact of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Development (MAFRD) grant programs in the production of both crops. The first study applied data envelopment analysis (DEA), and linear and logistic regression to assess factors that influence efficiency in production. The second study used propensity score matching with logistic regression and genetic matching in order to evaluate any impacts, including income differences, between MAFRD grantees and non-grantees. The DEA results suggest that of the seven regions in Kosovo, most of the efficient greenhouse tomato producers were found in Prizren with a mean efficiency of 83 percent. While Prishtina had the most efficient greenhouse pepper producers with a mean efficiency of 99 percent. The logistic regression results with the use of technical efficiency (TE) scores as the dependent variable with a threshold produced different results to the linear regression. For example, estimates were more statistically significant under linear regression. The second study using matching techniques demonstrated that greenhouse farmers with higher yields and small total greenhouse areas were more likely to participate in the government’s grant program. The analysis revealed that MAFRD greenhouse tomato grantees compared to the non-grantees may make additionally an estimated of 1,777 euros. Insignificant estimate results were registered for the sample of greenhouse pepper farmers. Overall, the first study demonstrated that depending on the characteristics of the farms, factors related to production efficiency may affect input efficiency use. The second study suggested that a quality matching of the greenhouse tomato farmers could be achieved. However, only a partial matching was obtained among greenhouse pepper farmers. Table of
Poverty, time, and place: variation in excess mortality across selected US populations, 1980-1990.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To describe variation in levels and causes of excess mortality and temporal mortality change among young and middle aged adults in a regionally diverse set of poor local populations in the USA. DESIGN: Using standard demographic techniques, death certificate and census data were analysed to make sex specific population level estimates of 1980 and 1990 death rates for residents of selected areas of concentrated poverty. For comparison, data for whites and blacks nationwide were analysed. SETTING: African American communities in Harlem, Central City Detroit, Chicago's south side, the Louisiana Delta, the Black Belt region of Alabama, and Eastern North Carolina. Non-Hispanic white communities in Cleveland, Detroit, Appalachian Kentucky, South Central Louisiana, Northeastern Alabama, and Western North Carolina. PARTICIPANTS: All black residents or all white residents of each specific community and in the nation, 1979-1981 and 1989-1991. MAIN RESULTS: Substantial variability exists in levels, trends, and causes of excess mortality in poor populations across localities. African American residents of urban/northern communities suffer extremely high and growing rates of excess mortality. Rural residents exhibit an important mortality advantage that widens over the decade. Homicide deaths contribute little to the rise in excess mortality, nor do AIDS deaths contribute outside of specific localities. Deaths attributable to circulatory disease are the leading cause of excess mortality in most locations. CONCLUSIONS: Important differences exist among persistently impoverished populations in the degree to which their poverty translates into excess mortality. Social epidemiological inquiry and health promotion initiatives should be attentive to local conditions. The severely disadvantageous mortality profiles experienced by urban African Americans relative to the rural poor and to national averages call for understanding.
An investigation of dwell time patterns in urban public transport systems: The case of the Nantes tramway

The present study investigates the determinants of vehicle dwell time at public transport facilities. Using data collected from an on-board Automatic Passenger Counting system of the light rail network of the French city of Nantes during a long period, the study performs graphical and statistical analyses enabling the identification of cause and effect relationships of a number of attributes on the dwell time. The results confirm the significance of the boarding and alighting passenger volumes, as well as of the on-board passenger loading, on the dwell time. Additional effects on dwell time are also found from the vehicle type (lowor high-floor), from the time of the day (peak, off-peak, inter-peak), and from the location of the stop (city centre, proximity to Points of Interest). Also, it is found that operations are not symmetrical and dwell times tend to be higher in one direction of the same
Foreign Banks in Vietnam : Performance and Impact on Domestic Banks

The banking industry occupies a special role in Vietnam’s economy, as it is the most important financial channel, with both the bond and share markets remaining relatively under-developed. To enable and accommodate continued rapid growth in the general economy, the banking industry needs to be modernised and upgraded, and foreign banks can potentially play an important role in that process. This study seeks to enhance knowledge of the performance of foreign banks in Vietnam and to assess their impact on local banks. Specifically, this study focuses on three key research questions: (1) what are the main drivers of foreign and domestic bank performance in Vietnam? (2) does the presence of foreign banks help or hurt domestic banks? (3) does the impact of foreign banks depend on their origin and/or entry form? In order to address these questions, the study employs two main research methods, namely: (a) analytical review and synthesis; and (b) econometric estimation. The latter involves four panel-data estimation techniques (including panel ordinary least squares, fixed effects, random effects, and general method of moments), as well as the use of a set of reasonably consistent data for the 20-year period 1992-2011 that have been compiled from various sources. Where appropriate, analytical review and synthesis is applied to help create a consistent overall picture of the system. These are not trivial exercises, given the highly fragmented nature of the data that are available in the public domain.
Impedance bandwidth enhancement of low noise amplifier using photonic bandgap structures

A Compact Microstrip Resonant Cell (CMRC) structure has significant effect on the input impedance bandwidth of LNA. In this paper, we studied the effect of different CMRC structures on the performance of LNA. Different CMRC structures, ranging from λg/48 to λg/96 were implemented. Initially a simple LNA was designed in frequency band of 1.5 ~ 2.5GHz. The input impedance bandwidth was around 300 MHz when S11 is ≤ -10dB. Now CMRC structure of λg/48 was implemented on simple LNA. The measured results show an improvement in the input impedance bandwidth up to 1.1GHz at the cost of some drop in gain, which may be attributed to feedback phenomenon. By reducing the size of CMRC structure to λg/96 i.e. Half CMRC (HCMRC), simulated results shows that 23% input impedance bandwidth can be further enhanced. In comparison, we also studied the Noise Figure (NF).
Experimental Dispase-Induced Retinopathy Causes Up-Regulation of P2Y Receptor-Mediated Calcium Responses in Müller Glial Cells

During proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) Müller glial cells show an up-regulation of their responsiveness to extracellular adenosine 5′-triphosphate (ATP). In the present study, we investigated if such a glial cell response is also a feature for other retinopathies besides PVR. To this aim, the proteolytic enzyme, dispase (0.1 U), was injected into the vitreous of rabbit eyes. After 3 weeks, a distinct retinopathy had developed which showed no signs of PVR. The retinopathy was characterized by strong alterations of the retinal vasculature in the medullary rays, by photoreceptor degeneration, retinal atrophy, and activation of microglial cells. Müller cells became reactive, as indicated by up-regulation of glial fibrillary acidic protein immunoreactivity and by hypertrophy involving subretinal fibrosis. Müller cell reactivity was also evidenced electrophysiologically by a down-regulation of their inwardly rectifying potassium currents and by an up-regulation of their responsiveness to extracellular ATP. Significantly more Müller cells from dispase-treated eyes showed ATP-evoked calcium (83%) and current responses (69%) when compared with cells from control eyes (13 and 9%, respectively). The results indicate that increased responsiveness to extracellular ATP may be a more general feature of Müller cell gliosis, and is also observed in retinopathies besides PVR.
Gynecologic Cancer InterGroup (GCIG) Consensus Review for Uterine and Ovarian Carcinosarcoma

Abstract Carcinosarcomas (also known as malignant mixed müllerian tumors) are rare and highly aggressive epithelial malignancies that contain both malignant sarcomatous and carcinomatous elements. Uterine carcinosarcomas (UCs) are uncommon with approximately more than 35% presenting with extra uterine disease at diagnosis. Up to 90% ovarian carcinosarcomas (OCs) will have disease that has spread beyond the ovary. Prognosis for localized stage disease is poor with a high risk of recurrences, both local and distant, occurring within 1 year. The survival of women with advanced UC or OC is worse than survival of endometrioid or high-grade serous histologies. No improvement in survival rates has been observed in the past few decades with an overall median survival of less than 2 years. Currently, there is no clear evidence to establish consensus guidelines for therapeutic management of carcinosarcomas. Until recently, gynecological carcinosarcomas were considered as a subtype of sarcoma and treated as such. However, carcinosarcomas are now known to be metaplastic carcinomas and so should be treated as endometrial or ovarian high-risk carcinomas, despite the lack of specific data. For UCs, a comprehensive approach to management is recommended with complete surgical staging followed by systemic chemotherapy in patients with both early and advanced stage disease. Active agents include paraplatin, cisplatin, ifosfamide, and paclitaxel. The combination of carboplatin-paclitaxel is the most commonly used regimen in the adjuvant and advanced setting. Adjuvant radiotherapy (external beam irradiation and/or vaginal brachytherapy) has not shown any overall survival benefit but has been reported to decrease local recurrences. For OCs and for other ovarian epithelial cancer, the mainstay of treatment remains cytoreductive surgical effort followed, even in early stage, by platinum-based chemotherapy, usually carboplatin-paclitaxel.
Modeling the parametrical reliability of power transformers

The paper is structured in three parts. The first part explains the parametrical reliability of the power transformers (PT) in oil in context with its global reliability, taking into account the parameters that defines the state of PT. Is presenting the proposed model to parametrical reliability evaluate of PT. There are given mathematical expressions of the parametrical reliability, in relation with the three parametrical categories, defined for the state of PT viewing the general state of the insulation, the traditional parameters of PT oil, the content of gases in the oil of transformer and its weight. There explains the parametrical risk failure of PT and its global parametrical reliability. In the second part are presented the studies results, effected to a number of 29 PT, the nominal power being between [10 h-25] MVA, located in electric stations of 110 kV/MV within the frame of analyzed power transmission and distribution system (PTDS), administrated by Electric Energy distribution and transmission Branch of Oradea -Romania Distribution Power and Supply (DSPO). There are determinate the paths successions stages by technical diagnosis of PT and there is exemplified the state parameters evolution in time. There gives the values of parametrical reliability function in relation with the three parametrical categories defined for the PT state. There is presented a assessment between the failure risk by derive of parameter and the unexpectedly failure risk by the analyzed PT. The conclusions as well as the recommendations to the analyzed PT exploitation activities are presented in the last part of the paper.
Novel Micro/Nanofluidics Fabricated by Imprint Molding of Inorganic Polymers

We have successfully fabricated the polysilazane glass derived microfluidics with high optical transparency, biocompatibility thermal stability and chemical inertness via simple fabrication process. And also a hydrophilic nanofluidic system was fabricated with newly synthesized organic-inorganic material with excellent patternability. The preliminary study for photochemical reactions with the microfluidics, the separation of biomolecules with nanofluidics, it was claimed the obvious niche between conventional devices using glass and PDMS materials, thus it holds tremendous potential in the field of micro reaction technology as well as biosensor and bioreactors
School-based nutrition and garden programs and parental dietary changes in low-income settings: a review

ABSTRACT Income is a direct indicator of dietary health and access to food. Proper nutrition is a critical component to achieving good health. However, many children and their families do not consume the recommended amounts of fruits and vegetables. This can lead to many health disparities and contribute to the development of chronic disease. Children between the ages of 5 and 18 spend an average of 6 h a day, 180 days a year in school, which provides an opportunity for public health workers, nutritionists, and teachers to assist low-income families with nutritional education and provide access to fruits and vegetables. In-school programs have been proven to positively impact dietary choices in children, but it is unclear how such programs may impact their parents. This review examines literature on school-based nutrition and garden programs and their direct impact on the dietary practices and choices of low-income parents. The review process was conducted through an Internet search for relevant peer-reviewed journal articles on databases such as PubMed, CINAHL, and Medline. Grey literature was not included. Approximately 167 studies were generated from the literature search. After removing duplicates and those that did not meet the inclusion criteria we analysed 17 articles. Analysis of these articles provided few assessments of direct or indirect impact of nutrition and garden programs on low-income parental dietary outcomes or choices. It was discovered that passive communications and direct participation are most often used to foster parent involvement.
The Impact of Personal and Institutional Investor Sentiment on Stock Returns under the Chinese Stock Market Crash

Shanghai University, China *wang1ke2xuan@126.com Abstract. Under Chinese stock market crash, personal and institutional investor sentiment is out of control, which leads to the stock prices fall further. Therefore this article uses the concept of behavioural finance to study the problem. This essay uses multiple regressions to study the influence of the current and lagged emotions of individuals and institutions on the stock returns. The conclusion is helpful to solve the stock market crash and improve the economy in China.
Generation of scratching. I. Activity of spinal interneurons during scratching.

1. In decerebrate, curarized cats, stimulation of the cervical spinal cord evoked fictitious scratching (9), i.e., periodical activity of the hindlimb motoneurons with a discharge pattern typical of actual scratching (cycle duration about 250 ms, flexor phase about 200 ms, extensor phase about 50 ms). During fictitious scratching, extra-cellular records were obtained from 182 spinal neurons located in different regions of the gray matter cross section (except for the motor nuclei), from segments L4 and L5. 2. The firing rate of 73% of neurons was rhythmically modulated in relation with the scratch cycle. Most of the modulated neurons fired in bursts and were silent between bursts. They were located mainly in Rexed's (22) layer VII. 3. Burst onsets ("switchings on" of the neurons) were distributed rather evenly throughout the scratch cycle except for a small maximum at the very beginning of the cycle (the cycle was assumed to start with the termination of the extensor phase). Burst terminations ("switchings off") in the overwhelming majority of the neurons were distributed over the last-third part of the cycle. As a result, those neurons which began to fire earlier in the cycle usually had longer bursts, compared to the neurons which began to fire later. Besides, since there were very few switchings off in the first half of the cycle, the number of simultaneously active neurons increased during the first half of the cycle, reached the maximum somewhat later than the middle of the cycle, and considerably decreased by the end of the cycle. 4. With more intensive scratching, the firing rate in the bursts considerably increased in all neurons tested, while the duration of the scratch cycle changed only slightly. 5. A correlation between the burst position in the cycle and the behavior during the latent period of scratching (when stimulation of the cervical spinal cord had already been started but rhythmical oscillations had not yet appeared) was found in many neurons. Most of the neurons which began to fire at the beginning of the scratch cycle and had long bursts were tonically activated during the latent period. On the contrary, most of the neurons which fired in short bursts at the end of the cycle were either inhibited or not affected during this period. 6. A correlation betwen the burst position in the cycle and the frequency pattern was found in many neurons. In most of the neurons which began to fire in the first half of the cycle (except for the very beginning), the discharge rate increased in the course of the burst. In the remaining neurons, the discharge rate changed only slightly during the burst. 7. Hypotheses concerning organization of the spinal mechanism of scratching are discussed.
Gallstones and diabetes: A case‐control study in a free‐living population sample

Data on the association between cholelithiasis and diabetes often are controversial and are mostly based on autopsies or on hospital series. Therefore, we designed a case‐control study to determine the prevalence of diabetes mellitus in a group of subjects with gallstones or having undergone cholecystectomy (cases) and compared these with a control group of subjects without gallstones, selected during an epidemiological study performed on a free‐living population sample. The subjects were matched for sex, age, and body mass index. We enlisted 336 cases and 336 controls, aged 30 to 69 years. All subjects with fasting glycemic levels of < 140 mg/dL and without a documented history of diabetes were submitted to a simplified oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). All subjects who underwent OGTT were classified according to the National Diabetes Data Group (NDDG) criteria. The prevalence of diabetes in the subjects affected by gallstone disease was significantly higher than that in controls (11.6% vs. 4.8%; odds ratio [OR], 2.55; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.39‐4.67). Diabetes was more frequent in subjects with gallstone disease than in the control group, even according to sex (18.3% vs. 9.9% for men: OR, 2.03; 95% CI, 0.99‐ 4.2; 9.3% vs. 2.6% for women: OR, 3.85; 95% CI, 1.4‐10.6). We conclude that an altered glucose metabolism may increase the risk of developing cholelithiasis in certain subjects.
Replication Checkpoint: Tuning and Coordination of Replication Forks in S Phase

Checkpoints monitor critical cell cycle events such as chromosome duplication and segregation. They are highly conserved mechanisms that prevent progression into the next phase of the cell cycle when cells are unable to accomplish the previous event properly. During S phase, cells also provide a surveillance mechanism called the DNA replication checkpoint, which consists of a conserved kinase cascade that is provoked by insults that block or slow down replication forks. The DNA replication checkpoint is crucial for maintaining genome stability, because replication forks become vulnerable to collapse when they encounter obstacles such as nucleotide adducts, nicks, RNA-DNA hybrids, or stable protein-DNA complexes. These can be exogenously induced or can arise from endogenous cellular activity. Here, we summarize the initiation and transduction of the replication checkpoint as well as its targets, which coordinate cell cycle events and DNA replication fork stability.