Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Impact of CPS1 Gene rs7422339 Polymorphism in Argentine Patients With Hyperhomocysteinemia

Carbamoyl phosphate synthetase 1 (CPS1) is a key gene in the first step of urea cycle and has been correlated with nitric oxide level and vascular smooth muscle activity. A functional single-nucleotide polymorphism C/A at position 4217 in CPS1 (National Center for Biotechnology Information SNP database no. rs7422339, T1405N) was reported to be associated with high homocysteine (Hcy) plasma values. Although genetic variants of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene are known to influence Hcy concentration, other genetic determinants of Hcy remain largely unknown. The association between the CPS1 rs7422339 and the risk of hyperhomocysteinemia in Latin American populations is unknown. Here, we study this association in 100 patients having hyperhomocysteinemia without MTHFR c.677C>T polymorphism and 100 controls. CPS1 rs7422339 was studied using polymerase chain reaction and enzymatic restriction. Comparisons of the CPS1 rs7422339 genotype distributions revealed a significant difference between groups (P 1⁄4 2.3 10 ). Patients carrying polymorphic allele showed almost 3 times higher risk (odds ratio [OR] 1⁄4 2.47) of hyperhomocysteinemia than wild-type allele, suggesting that rs7422339 SNP is associated with high Hcy levels in the Argentine population.
Optimum O2 or CO2 Atmosphere for Storing Broccoli Florets at Various Temperatures

Marathon' broccoli (Brassica oleracea L. var. italica) florets were stored in air, low O 2 (0.25%, 0.5%, and 1 %) or high CO2 (3%,6%, and 10%) at 0, 5, and 10C. Oxygen consumption and CO2 production were reduced under low O2 or high CO2 atmosphere, the reduction being greater at lower O 2 and higher CO2 levels. NO differences were found in ethylene production among the different atmospheres. Low O 2 and high CO2 retained color of broccoli florets to about the same extent at 10C but had no effect at 0 and 5C. Development of soft rot and browning was suppressed by low O 2 or high CO2, but offensive off-odor occurred in 0.25%02 at all temperatures and 0.5% O 2 at 10C. These results indicate that the best O2 and CO2 levels seem to be 0.5% O2 and 10% CO2 at 0 and 5C, and 1% O2 and 10% CO2 at 10C.
Rare disease: Extraventricular neurocytomas

Central neurocytomas are uncommon, benign tumours of the central nervous system. These tumours have been recognised outside the limits of the cerebral ventricles and, in these instances, have been called as ‘extraventricular neurocytomas’. The authors described a case of frontal neurocytoma and discuss the current knowledge on these infrequent neoplasms.
Readability of selected governmental and popular health organization websites on Covid-19 public health information: A descriptive analysis

Background: The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (USDHHS) recommends that health material be written at or below a sixth-grade reading level to ensure readability. The aim of this study was to examine the readability of international and national health organizations on Covid-19 information in their websites employing a previously validated tool. Methods: A purposive sample of publicly accessible governmental and popular international health organization websites was selected. The readability of the websites Covid-19 public health information was estimated using the previously validated SMOG readability formula, which determined reading level by correlating the number of polysyllabic words. Results: Of the 10 websites included in the analysis, none had Covid-19 public health information at the USDHHS recommended reading level. The material ranged in reading level at undergraduate level or above. Discussion: The findings indicate that the online Covid-19 materials need to be modified in order to reach recommended reading levels. This study can be of practical use to policy makers and public health government officials when designing, modifying, and evaluating Covid-19 materials. We recommend using simple, non-polysyllable words to ensure that Covid-19 public health information materials are written at the recommended reading levels.
Chronic Kidney Disease Prediction Using Neural Approach

All over the world, chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a serious public health condition that needs to be detected in advance so that costly end-stage treatments like dialysis, kidney transplantations can be avoided. Neural network model and 10-fold cross-validation methodology under a single platform in proposed as well as implemented in order to classify patients with CKD. This will assist medical care fields so that counter measures can be suggested. The performance of proposed classifier is justified against other baseline classifiers such as Support Vector Machine, K-Nearest Neighbours, Decision tree and Gradient Boost classifier. Experimental results conclude that the performance of neural network with 10-fold cross-validation method reaches promising accuracy of 98.25%, f1-score of 0.98, and kappa score of 0.96 and MSE of 0.0175.
Transcriptional Activity and Ultrastructure in Bovine Oocytes

Contents The oocyte growth phase includes development of organelles and inclusions as well as a period of oocyte transcription. Oocyte transcription including nucleolar function (rRNA-synthesis) is activated in the secondary follicle and is maintained up to an oocyte diameter of about 110 μm in the 3 mm tertiary follicle. At a diameter of 100 to 110 μm, the oocyte gradually achieves the competence to undergo meiotic maturation and sustain embryonic development. In the dominant follicle the oocyte undergoes further ultrastructural modifications through a process that we refer to as «Capacitation». The final oocyte maturation up to metaphase II after LH stimulation of the ovulatory follicle is the culmination of the previous processes and equips the oocyte with the cell biological apparatus specialized for fertilization and initial embryonic development.
MALE-BIASED OFFSPRING SEX RATIO IN THE HOUSE WREN

Abstract The sex-ratio adjustment hypothesis predicts that females should modify offspring sex ratios according to the potential reproductive success of their offspring under existing ecological conditions. We tested this hypothesis in the polygynous, sexually size-monomorphic House Wren (Troglodytes aedon). Typically, nestling House Wrens that hatch in the first half of the three-month breeding season are heavier and have higher rates of survival and recruitment than those that hatch in the second half of the season. Therefore, the sex-ratio adjustment hypothesis predicts that early broods should be more male biased than later broods, because males in good condition have higher reproductive value than females. As conditions deteriorate, broods should become less male biased because female offspring have higher reproductive value than males in poor condition. Contrary to expectation, there was no seasonal decrease in offspring condition, and the sex ratio of broods was consistently male biased throughout the breeding season. We conclude that the results are consistent with the sex-ratio adjustment hypothesis, because in the year of this study female House Wrens were able to produce offspring in similar (and presumably good) condition throughout the breeding season; therefore, they continued to produce broods that were significantly male biased. Sesgo hacia Machos en el Cociente de Sexos de la Prole en Troglodytes aedon Resumen. La hipótesis sobre el ajuste del cociente de sexos predice que las hembras deberían modificar el cociente de sexos de la prole en relación al éxito potencial reproductivo de la prole bajo las condiciones ecológicas existentes. Evaluamos esta hipótesis en Troglodytes aedon, especie polígina y sin diferencias sexuales de tamaño. Típicamente, los pichones de T. aedon que eclosionan en la primera mitad de la estación reproductiva (que dura tres meses) son más pesados y presentan tasas de supervivencia y reclutamiento más altas que aquellos que eclosionan en la segunda mitad de la estación. De este modo, la hipótesis sobre el ajuste del cociente de sexos predice que las camadas tempranas deberían estar más sesgadas hacia los machos que las camadas más tardías, ya que los machos en buena condición tienen un valor reproductivo más alto que las hembras. A medida que la condición se deteriora, las camadas deberían estar menos sesgadas hacia los machos debido a que los vástagos de sexo femenino tienen un valor reproductivo más alto que los machos en mala condición. Contrariamente a lo esperado, no hubo una disminución estacional en la condición de la prole, y el cociente de sexos de las camadas estuvo consistentemente sesgado hacia los machos a lo largo de la estación de cría. Concluimos que los resultados son consistentes con la hipótesis sobre el ajuste del cociente de sexos, ya que durante el año de este estudio las hembras de T. aedon fueron capaces de producir proles en condiciones similares (y presumiblemente buenas) a lo largo de la estación de cría. De este modo, las hembras continuaron produciendo camadas que estuvieron significativamente sesgadas hacia los machos.
A characterization of adaptive mutations in yeast

Natural selection acts on phenotypes within populations, yet it is allele frequency changes at the genetic level that enable adaptation. To properly understand the evolutionary process we thus need to understand how the genotypic and external environments affect beneficial mutations and, in turn, affect the fitness of individuals. In this thesis I used the budding yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae to explore the genotypic basis, phenotypic diversity, and fitness effects of beneficial mutations in a variety of genotypic and external environments. I first describe fitness experiments designed to elucidate the factor that allowed diploid mutants to overtake haploid populations during batch culture evolution. I compared haploid and diploid lines isolated at many time points using multiple growth phase and competitive fitness assays, yet diploids failed to demonstrate an advantage for any measure. I then conducted a related set of experiments that compared the rate of adaptation of haploid and diploid populations across seven different environments. I found that although haploid populations adapted faster than diploids in all environments, there was considerable variation between ploidy popualtions and among environments. Experimental evolution results can be difficult to explain without knowledge of the specific mutations involved. The remainder of this thesis thus focused on a set of 20 unique beneficial mutations I acquired that confer tolerance to nystatin, a fungicide. The mutations are in four different genes that act close together late in the ergosterol biosynthesis pathway. Although the genetic basis of adaptation was narrow, lines that carried mutations in different genes were not equally tolerant to nystatin and were found to exhibit different gene-by-environment interactions. Surprisingly, the mutations had a larger effect size in nystatin in a haploid background than in a homozygous diploid background. I then show that the dominance of these mutations (i.e., the degree to which mutations in a heterozygote behave like wildtype) was not constant between environments. Heterozygotes grew stochastically under nystatin stress, and resequencing uncovered rapid and pervasive loss of heterozygosity. Combined, this work demonstrates that both ploidy and the environment can have a large influence on the effect of beneficial mutations and illustrates the often-dynamic nature of evolution.
Effects of drought on host and endophyte development in mycorrhizal soybeans in relation to water use and phosphate uptake

Soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr. ] plants were grown in pot cultures and inoculated with the vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal (VAM) fungus GIomus mosseae (Nicol. & Gerd.) Gerd. and Trappe or provided with P fertilizer (non-VAM plants). After an initial growth period (21 days), plants were exposed to cycles of severe, moderate or no drought stress over a subsequent 28-day period by rewatering at soil water potentials of -1.0, -0.3 or -0.05 MPa. Dry weights of VAM plants were greater at severe stress and smaller at no stress than those of non-VAM plants. Phosphorus fertilization was applied to produce VAM and non-VAM plants of the same size at moderate stress. Root and leaf P concentrations were higher in non-VAM plants at all stress levels. All plants were stressed to permanent wilting prior to harvest. VAM plants had lower soil moisture content at harvest than non-VAM plants. Colonization of roots by G. mosseae did not vary with stress, but the biomass and length of the extraradical mycelium was greater in severely stressed than in non-stressed plants. Growth enhancement of VAM plants relative to P-fertilized non-VAM plants under severe stress was attributed to increased uptake of water as well as to more efficient P uptake. The ability of VAM plants to deplete soil water to a greater extent than non-VAM plants suggests lower permanent wilting potentials for the former.
FluDen Primer DB –PCR Primer Database for Influenza A and Dengue Virus

FluDen Primer Database (http://www.fludenpdb.com) has been designed and developed as a web application program to provide free access to the in-silico designed multiple potential primers for PCR detection and quantification assays for Influenza and dengue viruses. This program also permits user to submit sequence of their choice for primer design. The database contains primer records for Influenza and dengue viruses which cause infection in Humans. As of 2014 there are 142 primer sets for screening 32 genes/regions of Influenza and dengue viruses together. Application contain gene information, assay details such as oligonucleotide sequence, primer properties and reaction conditions, publication information. We have developed a resource, FluDen Primer DB which contains primer that can be used for PCR under provided amplification conditions for each primer pair. A distinguish feature of the FlueDen is the primers listed in DB are the products of PCR design application which are experimentally validated. Primers for the FluDen were designed using current genomic information available from the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI).
COD reduction ability of microorganisms isolated from highly loaded pharmaceutical wastewater pre-treatment process

Efficiency of a biological wastewater treatment process depends on microbial diversity and their ability to degrade specific pollutants. The aim of this study was isolation and identification of predominant microorganisms associated with pharmaceutical wastewater pre-treatment process and evaluation of a chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal efficiency of each individual isolate. There were 65 microorganisms isolated from activated sludge of the JSC “Grindeks” industrial wastewater biological pre-treatment process and subsequently tested for COD reduction in pharmaceutical wastewater containing 2300-3500 mg/l of COD. Out of all isolates 9 bacteria, 5 yeasts and 3 filamentous fungi showed COD reduction. The highest COD reduction levels among all isolates were observed from filamentous fungi Fusarium udum (88.7%) and Fusarium solani (89.4%). The most effective bacterial strains were Aeromonas caviae and Sphingobacterium thalpophilum, with 78.1% and 75.9% COD removal, respectively. Rhodotorula mucilaginosa was the most effective yeast strain and achieved 76.6% COD reduction.
A STUDY ON COBALT ADAPTATION AND MEMORY RETENTION OF FRESHWATER BACTERIA ISOLATES

iv ÖZ. vi ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS . ix TABLE OF CONTENTS . x LIST OF TABLES . xii LIST OF FIGURES . xiii LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS . xvi CHAPTERS . 1 1.INTRODUCTION . 1 1.1 Heavy Metal Resistance . 1 1.2 Resistance Mechanisms . 2 1.3 Factors Contributing to Heavy Metal Resistance . 2 1.4 The Records on Heavy Metal Resistance in Freshwater Environments. 3 1.5 Cobalt as a Heavy Metal . 5 1.6 Action Mechanisms of Cobalt . 6 1.7 Bacterial Adaptation to Heavy Metals and Other Environmental Factors . 7 1.8 Measurement Techniques for Heavy Metals and Antibiotic Resistance in Bacterial Isolates Reported in Literature . 12 1.9 Aim of This Study . 17 2.MATERIALS AND METHODS . 18 2.1 Equipments . 18
Effect of oral Administration of bifidobacteria and neosugar on plasma ammonia concentration in CF1 mice

This investigation was undertaken to study the role of bifidobacteria in colonic nitrogen metabolism in CF1 mice. Oral administration of Bifidobacterium pseudolongum isolated from the fecal material of CF1 mice and the bifidogenic factor Neosugar significantly reduced plasma ammonia levels in animals fed with either a normal diet or a 50% protein diet. Changes in hepatic arginase activity and fecal excretion of ammonia and urea were not significant. Plasma ammonia concentration was inversely correlated with colonic bifidobacterial count. Cecal, colonic and fecal pH were significantly lower in animals fed bifidobacteria. Low intestinal pH has previously been shown to suppress the rate of ammonia production, trap ammonia in the lumen for bacterial assimilation, and enhance fecal elimination of ammonia in the form of bacterial proteins. The results of this study indicated that consumption of a host specific strain of bifidobacteria along with a growth factor can effectively alter the intestinal environment a.
Characterisation and expression of Receptor-like Cytoplasmic Kinases in Medicago truncatula during Rhizobial and Arbuscular Mycorrhizal symbioses

Legume plants have evolved the ability to form a mutualistic symbiosis with nitrogen-fixing bacteria known as rhizobia. Studies using mutant Medicago truncatula and Lotus japonicus have identified many genes that are necessary for this mutualism. Some of these genes have also been shown to be necessary for symbiosis with arbuscular mycorrhiza fungi (AMF). These common genes make up part of a signalling pathway known as the common symbiosis pathway (CSP) which serves to prepare the plant for the entry of the symbiont into the root. Although the core members of this signalling pathway are known there are still large gaps, and many of the genes involved in the infection process haven’t yet been identified. Using the Medicago Gene Expression Atlas (MtGEA) and in-house gene expression data three family Receptor-like Cytoplasmic Kinase (RLCK) genes were identified in M. truncatula which were differentially regulated during rhizobial and AMF colonisation. Analysis of Tnt1 insertion mutants for the one of these genes, named RLCK3 due to similarity to the rice gene family RLCK-OS3, revealed an apparently novel mycorrhizal phenotype with stunted arbuscule development. However, segregation analysis showed the phenotype was not linked to RLCK3; as such the locus was named SCOOBY. The other genes identified were similar to the rice gene family RLCK-XV and so named RLCK1 and RLCK2. Both RLCK1 and RLCK2 encode soluble RD kinases with high homology to each other. Promoter-GUS analysis showed RLCK1 and RLCK2 expression associated with entry and accommodation of the symbionts. rlck1 and rlck2 mutants had a low level of arbusculation and misshaped arbuscules. rlck1 was hyperinfected by rhizobia and had a significant reduction in nodule number. RNAi knockdown of rlck1/rlck2 had a significantly reduced nodule number compared to the empty vector control. RLCK1 and RLCK2 possibly have partially redundant or synergistic roles during rhizobial and arbuscular mycorrhizal symbioses.
Dividend Preference Theory and the Dividend Irrelevance paradigm in maximising shareholders wealth in Nigeria: A Theoretical Comparison

This paper is a survey of literature on the distinction between the Dividends Preference theory and the Dividend irrelevance paradigm concerning the welfare of shareholders of firms in Nigeria. In order to achieve the objective of the paper, it delves into the works of three among the numerous theorists of the dividend preference school namely, (Litner, 1956, 1959, and 1962), (Gordon, 1959, 1962) and (Walter, 1963). The Dividend Irrelevance paradigm, on the other hand, centers on the joint works of (Modigliani and Miller hypothesis, 1961) with intents to establishing a theoretical basis for the study. The pertinent question is whether, full payments of dividend to shareholders with no tax burden would not affect the value of the firm? (Siddiqi, 1998) quoting (Modigliani,1982) argued that “In the absence of dividend, a higher effective tax rate on dividends than on capital gains leads to a price drop on the ex-dividend day that is less than the amount of the dividend. The paper views the two separate studies with relevance to developing countries like Nigeria vis-vis the developed nations in order to establish which of the theories affects shareholder‟s wealth positively or otherwise. In the final analysis, the study takes a stand in relation to the two schools and in conclusion shows that dividend distributions do not produce wealth for the shareholders likewise solely do not add price. This implies that dividend policy has relevance within the valuation of shares in both developed and developing nations in the maximisation of shareholders' wealth.
Acute Dengue Encephalopathy in children: Time to look beyond JE

Background: Dengue encephalopathy is a rarely reported entity in children with an incidence of 0.5 to 6.2 %. Although dengue is a non-neurotropic virus, possibility of direct neuronal injury due to the dengue virus cannot be ruled out. We are here with two cases of dengue encephalopathy. Case summary: An 8-year-old girl presented with acute onset fever with rash, myalgia, and arthralgia and on evaluation was found to have hemoconcentration, leucopenia and thrombocytopenia. Dengue IgM was found to be positive. On day 3 of illness the child developed altered sensorium for around 24 hours and one episode of generalized seizure. CSF Examination was suggestive of viral etiology and neuro imaging was normal. Similarly, another 13-year-old boy with similar history and NS1 antigen positivity developed severe incapacitating headache lasting for around two weeks, more in retrorbital region. CSF examination showed mononuclear pleocytosis with normal sugar and protein. MRI brain showed mild gyral swelling in bilateral fronto temporal region. Fundus examination was normal in both the cases. Both the cases did not have significant hepatic dysfunction or coagulopathy and had normal serum electrolytes and recovered with symptomatic management and intravenous fluid therapy. Conclusion: Dengue is an emerging cause of encephalopathy competing with JE especially in non endemic areas. Clinicians need to be aware of this rare presentation of a common febrile illness like Dengue with encephalopathy, seizure and headache for timely identification and proper management. Key word: Encephalopathy; Encephalitis; Dengue -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Date of Submission: 27-04-2020 Date of Acceptance: 10-05-2020 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Node Overlap Removal Algorithms: an Extended Comparative Study

In the context of graph layout, many algorithms have been designed to remove node overlapping, and many quality criteria and associated met-rics have been proposed to evaluate those algorithms. Unfortunately, a complete comparison of the algorithms based on some metrics that evaluate their quality has never been provided and it is thus difficult for a visualisation designer to select the algorithm that best suits their needs. In this paper, we review 22 metrics available in the literature, classify them according to the quality criteria they try to capture, and select a representative one for each class. Based on the selected metrics,we compare 9 node overlap removal algorithms. Our experiment involves 854 synthetic and real-world graphs. Finally, we propose a JavaScript library containing both the algorithms and the criteria, and we provide a Web platform, AGORA, in which one can upload graphs, apply the algorithms and compare/download the results.