Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Why only some plants emit isoprene.

Isoprene (2-methyl-1,3-butadiene) is emitted from many plants and it appears to have an adaptive role in protecting leaves from abiotic stress. However, only some species emit isoprene. Isoprene emission has appeared and been lost many times independently during the evolution of plants. As an example, our phylogenetic analysis shows that isoprene emission is likely ancestral within the family Fabaceae (= Leguminosae), but that it has been lost at least 16 times and secondarily gained at least 10 times through independent evolutionary events. Within the division Pteridophyta (ferns), we conservatively estimate that isoprene emissions have been gained five times and lost two times through independent evolutionary events. Within the genus Quercus (oaks), isoprene emissions have been lost from one clade, but replaced by a novel type of light-dependent monoterpene emissions that uses the same metabolic pathways and substrates as isoprene emissions. This novel type of monoterpene emissions has appeared at least twice independently within Quercus, and has been lost from 9% of the individuals within a single population of Quercus suber. Gain and loss of gene function for isoprene synthase is possible through relatively few mutations. Thus, this trait appears frequently in lineages; but, once it appears, the time available for evolutionary radiation into environments that select for the trait is short relative to the time required for mutations capable of producing a non-functional isoprene synthase gene. The high frequency of gains and losses of the trait and its heterogeneous taxonomic distribution in plants may be explained by the relatively few mutations necessary to produce or lose the isoprene synthase gene combined with the assumption that isoprene emission is advantageous in a narrow range of environments and phenotypes.
In-Patient Mortality among PLHIV: A 7-Year Hospital-Based Retrospective Study in Coastal South India

Background: With the wide usage of highly active antiretroviral therapy, the morbidity and mortality due to HIV have declined gradually. The aim of our study was to determine the cause of mortality among HIV-infected patients and the factors causing early death. Methods: Using medical records of 73 inpatients who are dead, data were collected and analyzed using SPSS version 19 (IBM SPSS Statistics). Chi-square test was performed to determine the factors contributing to early death. A P value <. 05 was considered significant. Results: Among 73 deaths, 50 (68.5%) were AIDS related and 23 (31.5%) were non-AIDS related. The most common opportunistic infection causing death was Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia. Early deaths were strongly attributed to low CD4 counts at admission (<100 cells), antiretroviral therapy-naive status, late presentation, and fewer admissions (P value <.05). Conclusion: Although AIDS-defining illness remains the main cause of death in HIV, there is significant number of deaths due to non–HIV-related causes.
Impact of Intercollegiate Athletics on Undergraduate Enrollment at a Small, Faith-Based Institution

Based on previous research, it is apparent many National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I institutions benefit from the existence of and success in intercollegiate athletics. However, few studies have researched the impact of intercollegiate athletics at National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) institutions. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of intercollegiate athletics at a small, faith-based institution affiliated with the NAIA. More specifically, does success in or the existence of intercollegiate athletics have an effect on students’ decisions to enroll at this institution? Findings indicate the majority of freshmen student participants, including many intercollegiate athletes, were not considerably influenced by the existence of intercollegiate athletics or the existence of successful intercollegiate athletics when deciding to attend the institution. These findings indicate the need for similar institutions to reevaluate the importance placed on and benefits derived from intercollegiate athletics.
Degressivity, capping and European farm structure: New evidence from Hungary

The debate on reforming the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) after 2020 had already started when the European Commis¬sion published its own vision on the future of agriculture and food production in the European Union. One of the key aspects of this debate relates to the revision of the system of EU direct payments by revising degressivity and capping rules. Although it has, for a long time, been a popular idea to limit payments to larger farms in one way or another, and subsidise smaller agri¬cultural holdings instead, this idea has serious drawbacks as this paper shows. The aim of this study is to analyse the impact of degressivity and capping on European farm structures by reviewing existing literature on the topic as well as by providing new evidence from Hungary. Results suggest that placing a cap on direct payments may be causing more harm than good in terms of land use change.
Single-Locus Polymorphism in a Heterogeneous Two-Deme Model

Environmental heterogeneity has long been considered a likely explanation for the high levels of genetic variation found in most natural populations: selection in a spatially heterogeneous environment can maintain more variation. While this theoretical result has been extensively studied in models with limited parameters (e.g., two alleles, fixed gene flow, and particular selection schemes), the effect of spatial heterogeneity is poorly understood for models with a wider range of parameters (e.g., multiple alleles, different levels of gene flow, and more general selection schemes). We have compared the volume of fitness space that maintains variation in a single-deme model to the volume in a two-deme model for multiple alleles, random selection schemes, and various levels of migration. Furthermore, equilibrium allele-frequency vectors were examined to see if particular patterns of variation are more prevalent than first expected. The two-deme model maintains variation for substantially larger volumes of fitness space with lower heterozygote fitness than the single-deme model. This result implies that selection schemes in the two-deme model can have a wider range of fitness patterns while still maintaining variation. The equilibrium allele-frequency patterns emerging from the two-deme model are more variable and strongly influenced by gene flow.
Temperature, temperature extremes, and mortality: a study of acclimatisation and effect modification in 50 US cities

Objectives: The authors examined the increase in mortality associated with hot and cold temperature in different locations, the determinants of the variability in effect estimates, and its implications for adaptation. Methods: The authors conducted a case-crossover study in 50 US cities. They used daily mortality and weather data for 6 513 330 deaths occurring during 1989–2000. Exposure was assessed using two approaches. First, the authors determined exposure to extreme temperatures using city-specific indicator variables based on the local temperature distribution. Secondly, they used piecewise linear variables to assess exposure to temperature on a continuous scale above/below a threshold. Effects of hot and cold temperature were examined in season-specific models. In a meta-analysis of the city-specific results, the authors examined several city characteristics as effect modifiers. Results: Mortality increases associated with both extreme cold (2-day cumulative increase 1.59% (95% CI 0.56 to 2.63)) and extreme heat (5.74% (95% CI 3.38 to 8.15)) were found, the former being especially marked for myocardial infarction and cardiac arrest deaths. The increase in mortality was less marked at less extreme temperatures. The effect of extreme cold (defined as a percentile) was homogeneous across cities with different climates, suggesting that only the unusualness of the cold temperature (and not its absolute value) had a substantial impact on mortality (that is, acclimatisation to cold). Conversely, heat effects were quite heterogeneous, with the largest effects observed in cities with milder summers, less air conditioning and higher population density. Adjustment for ozone led to similar results, but some residual confounding could be present due to other uncontrolled pollutants. Conclusions: The authors confirmed in a large sample of cities that both cold and hot temperatures increase mortality risk. These findings suggest that increases in heat-related mortality due to global warming are unlikely to be compensated for by decreases in cold-related mortality and that population acclimatisation to heat is still incomplete.
Elevated local skin temperature impairs cutaneous vasoconstrictor responses to a simulated haemorrhagic challenge while heat stressed

• What is the central question of this study? Individuals exposed to combined heat stress and simulated haemorrhage show small but insufficient reductions in cutaneous vascular conductance at presyncope in non‐heated skin. In the vast majority of skin directly exposed to increases in temperature during whole‐body heat stress, the cutaneous vascular response during simulated haemorrhage to presyncope is unclear. • What is the main finding and its importance? During whole‐body heat stress followed by simulated haemorrhage to presyncope, cutaneous vasoconstriction is absent/negligible in directly heated skin. These results have important implications for blood pressure control in individuals who are often heat stressed and at a higher risk for experiencing haemorrhage, such as soldiers.
Elaboration on Public Administration Crises: An Endeavor in Seeking Scientifc Identity

This paper aims to elaborate the crises occurring in the science of public administration based on signifcant conceptions of scholars. Public administration’s initial emergence as a novel scientifc discipline sparked a theoretical-conceptual debate specifcally in the domain of epistemology. For the sake of systematical order, this paper is divided into three phases of crisis based on the dynamics of the theoretical-conceptual development of public administration, namely: (1) identity crisis; (2) paradigm crisis; and (3) intellectual crisis. The illustration of each crisis phase is aimed at conveying conception points of scientists which facilitates in reading the narrative of shifts and theoretical-conceptual contents including their inherent values. For this reason, a search or walkthrough of relevant literature is necessary to observe the development of thoughts in public administration.The study result shows that the diﬀering ideas and argumentations which had occurred throughout every discussion on public administration have had implications on the heterogeneity of the public administration feld. The various shifts of locus-focus and paradigm in public administration is seen as a systematic atempt in fnding its true self as a scientifc discipline. The eﬀorts of public administration in separating itself from the shadows of political science was also observed, although being capable of truly separating itself is considered as extremely difcult, bearing in mind that the focus and locus of public administration is very much aﬀected by constantly developing social political inﬂuences. In addition to that, various shifts of locus and focus seems to have empirical implications particularly in the scientifc scope of public administration.
Melatonin prevents the free radical and MADD metabolic profiles induced by antituberculosis drugs in an animal model

Abstract: The objective was to determine the effect of combined antituberculosis (anti‐TB) drug therapy and an antioxidant, melatonin, on the free radical and organic acid profiles in an experimental rat model. A combined anti‐TB drug, Rifater, consisting of 12.0 mg rifampicin, 0.8 mg isoniazid, and 23.0 mg pyrazinamide and 18.56 μg melatonin/kg body weight per day (corresponding to average physiological human intake) were orally administered to Sprague–Dawley rats. Hydroxyl radical production was monitored by quantifying 2,3‐dihydroxybenzoic acid produced after intraperitonial sodium salicylate injections. Organic acid extractions and gas chromatography‐coupled mass spectrometry analyses were performed on collected urine samples. The results show hydroxyl radicals (P = 0.0019) and organic acids (P‐value range: 0.037 to <0.001), characteristic of a multiple acyl‐CoA dehydrogenase defect (MADD), were elevated with Rifater treatment and these elevations were significantly lowered with melatonin pretreatment (P‐value range: 0.031 to <0.001), probably because of its inherent antioxidant activity. We conclude that hydroxyl radical production and an increased organic acid profile induced by anti‐TB medication indicates inhibition of the electron transport chain. We also conclude that free radicals leading to clinical symptoms associated with an MADD metabolic profile induced by anti‐TB treatment could be alleviated by melatonin intervention.
A novel determination of energy expenditure efficiency during a balance task using accelerometers. A pilot study

ABSTRACT The objectives of this study are to determine the displacement of the center of pressure (CoP) and its association with the spectral energy density of the acceleration required for the maintenance of postural balance in different standing positions in healthy participants using design observational and setting laboratorial studies. Participants were 30 healthy university students aged between 18 and 32 years old (mean [M] ± standard deviation [SD] = 21,57 ± 3,31 years). Triaxial accelerometer and a pressure platform were used in order to obtain energy spectral density and CoP sway measurements during four balance tasks. Statistically significant differences were found for anteroposterior (p = 0.002) and mediolateral (p = 0.009) CoP displacement between the conditions eyes closed and stable surface and the conditions eyes closed and unstable surface. A statistically significant correlation was also observed between Z-axis (anterior-posterior) of the accelerometer and mediolateral axis of the CoP (r = 0.465; p = 0.01) and between Y-axis accelerometer (mediolateral) and displacement of the CoP in the anteroposterior axis (r = 0.413; p = 0.023). Spectral energy density appears to be associated with the displacement of CoP in healthy participants.
Validity of self‐reported birthweight among middle‐aged and elderly women in the Danish Nurse Cohort Study

Objective. To investigate the validity of self‐reported birthweight among middle‐aged and elderly women and to identify possible determinants of reporting accuracy. Setting and design. The Danish Nurse Cohort Study (DNCS), a prospective risk factor and hormone therapy study. Population. Participants in the 1999 DNCS. Methods. Self‐reported exact and categorical birthweight data from the DNCS was compared with data from the Copenhagen School Health Records Register (CSHRR), which contains birthweight data. Main outcome measures. Accuracy of self‐reported birthweight expressed as mean difference with limits of agreement, sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values (PPV and NPV). Results. Exact birthweight was available for 441 participants. The correlation coefficient was 0.83. The mean difference was −21 g and limits of agreement were −843 to 818 g. A total of 74% answered correctly within 250 g while 7% were more than 500 g in error. Categorical birthweight was available for 925 participants. A total of 87% reported the correct birthweight. Sensitivity and PPV were high for normal birthweight, whereas specificity and NPV were better for high and low birthweight (HBW and LBW). Multiple logistic regression analyses showed that HBW, LBW and being the daughter of a young mother decreased the accuracy of self‐reported birthweight. Conclusions. Self‐reported birthweight is a valid measure of actual birthweight among middle‐aged and elderly women. Due to the lower accuracy of HBW and LBW, studies of the association between birthweight and chronic disease may underestimate the true effect of these weights.
Experiences of Physicians Who Frequently Use E-Mail With Patients

Despite its potential, the use of e-mail for physician-patient communication has not been widely adopted. Our purpose was to survey the experiences of physicians who are early adopters of the technology. Physicians, identified through a professional Internet information portal, completed a survey, including an assessment of satisfaction with using e-mail with patients. We identified 204 physicians who reported using e-mail with patients on a daily basis. Average age of the respondents was 49 years, 82% were male, and 35% were primary-care physicians. Among the 204 frequent users, commonly reported e-mail topics were new, nonurgent symptoms, and questions about lab results. Despite their daily use, 25% were not satisfied with physician -patient e-mail. The most important reasons for using e-mail with patients among those who were satisfied were "time saving" (33%) and "helps deliver better care" (28%) compared with "patient requested" (80%) among those who were not satisfied (p <. 01). Dissatisfied physicians reported concerns about time demands, medicolegal risks, and ability of patients to use e-mail appropriately. Although the majority of these "vanguard" physicians reported benefits, some did not recommend that colleagues adopt this new technology. Increasing integration into practice to enhance time-saving aspects and improve patient education might lead to more sustained use of this promising communication tool.
The pulpal anesthetic efficacy of articaine versus lidocaine in dentistry: a meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND The authors evaluated published evidence from controlled clinical trials regarding the efficacy of two local anesthetic solutions in providing successful pulpal anesthesia. METHODS The authors searched MEDLINE and Embase databases to identify peer-reviewed randomized controlled trials in which researchers directly compared articaine and lidocaine local anesthetic solutions in adult participants. They extracted study characteristics and outcomes data as a basis for meta-analysis. They completed subgroup analyses for both infiltration and mandibular inferior alveolar block anesthetic techniques. RESULTS Articaine solutions had a probability of achieving anesthetic success superior to that of lidocaine, with an odds ratio of 2.44 (95 percent confidence interval [CI], 1.59-3.76; P < .0001). The greater odds ratio for articaine increased to 3.81 (95 percent CI, 2.71-5.36; P < .00001) when the authors analyzed only infiltration data. There was weaker, but still significant, evidence of articaine's being superior to lidocaine for mandibular block anesthesia, with an odds ratio of 1.57 (95 percent CI, 1.12-2.21; P = .009), and no difference when the authors considered only symptomatic teeth. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS Research evidence supports using articaine versus lidocaine for achieving pulpal anesthesia when the infiltration mode of administration is used. It is premature to recommend articaine for mandibular block anesthesia in cases involving irreversible pulpitis.
Farmers’ Preferences For Bluetongue Vaccination Scheme Attributes: An Integrated Choice and Latent Variable Approach

Reâ€ emergence of the bluetongue disease in Europe poses a continuous threat to European livestock production. Largeâ€ scale vaccination is the most effective intervention to control virus spread. Compared to commandâ€ andâ€ control approaches, voluntary vaccination approaches can be effective at lower costs, provided that farmers are willing to participate. We use a discrete choice experiment to estimate the preferences for vaccination scheme attributes, accounting for preference heterogeneity via an integrated choice and latent variable approach. In designing livestock disease control schemes, it is often argued that governments should use financial, incentiveâ€ based policy instruments to compensate farmers for externalities, assuming they act in rational selfâ€ interest. Our results suggest that in addition to economic motives, farmers can have intrinsic or social motives to invest in livestock disease control. Implications for the effectiveness of providing subsidy or information to motivate voluntary participation are discussed.
Radiotherapy combination opportunities leveraging immunity for the next oncology practice

Approximately one‐half of patients with newly diagnosed cancer and many patients with persistent or recurrent tumors receive radiotherapy (RT), with the explicit goal of eliminating tumors through direct killing. The current RT dose and schedule regimens have been empirically developed. Although early clinical studies revealed that RT could provoke important responses not only at the site of treatment but also on remote, nonirradiated tumor deposits—the so‐called “abscopal effect”— the underlying mechanisms were poorly understood and were not therapeutically exploited. Recent work has elucidated the immune mechanisms underlying these effects and has paved the way for developing combinations of RT with immune therapy. In the wake of recent therapeutic breakthroughs in the field of immunotherapy, rational combinations of immunotherapy with RT could profoundly change the standard of care for many tumor types in the next decade. Thus, a deep understanding of the immunologic effects of RT is urgently needed to design the next generation of therapeutic combinations. Here, the authors review the immune mechanisms of tumor radiation and summarize the preclinical and clinical evidence on immunotherapy‐RT combinations. Furthermore, a framework is provided for the practicing clinician and the clinician investigator to guide the development of novel combinations to more rapidly advance this important field. CA Cancer J Clin 2017;67:65–85. © 2016 American Cancer Society.
Expression and activity of NOD1 and NOD2/RIPK2 signalling in mononuclear cells from patients with rheumatoid arthritis

Objectives: The aim of this study was to analyse the expression and function of nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain (NOD)1 and NOD2 in isolated cells of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Method: mRNA expression levels of NOD1, NOD2, and receptor-interacting serine/threonine kinase 2 (RIPK2) genes were determined by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and synovial fluid T cells (SFTCs) isolated from RA and osteoarthritis (OA) patients. Cytokines were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in plasma and cell culture supernatants. The stimulatory effect of RA SF was assessed by an in-vitro NOD2 activation assay using nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) luciferase-transfected cells. Results: A significantly higher level of NOD2 and RIPK2 mRNA expression, but not NOD1, was observed on PBMCs and SFTCs isolated from RA patients compared to the OA control group. In addition, the NOD2 pathway up-regulation was functional, as stimulation of PBMCs with muramyl dipeptide (MDP) induced the production of higher amounts of tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-8, and IL-1β compared with OA PBMCs. Incubation of PBMCs from healthy donors with recombinant TNF-α or RA serum induced the expression of NOD2 mRNA. Finally, SF isolated from RA patients is able to activate the NF-κB signalling pathway in HEK293T-transfected cells in a NOD2-dependent manner. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that NOD2/RIPK2 signalling is up-regulated in immune cells of RA patients. Moreover, it seems that there is a NOD2 agonist in the SF of RA patients. Therefore, NOD2/RIPK2 activation can modulate the innate immune response and may play a role in the perpetuation of the inflammatory response in RA.