Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Influence of High and Low Temperature Treatments on Seed Germination and Seedling Vigor of Rice (Oryza sativa L.)

In a laboratory study, The seeds of two rice cultivars included Fajer and Sherodi seeds were exposed thermal hardening (heating followed by chilling followed by heating; chilling followed by heating followed bychilling; heating followed by chilling or chilling followed by heating). Seed subjected to chilling fillowed by heating (C+H) resulted in improvement of germination percentage, increasing of germination index, seedling, radicle and stem length compared to the other treatments. In Fajer cultivar,the highest EC of seed leachates was observed from H+C. In Sherodi cultivar the highest EC of seed leachates was obtained in control seeds(untreated). In Sherodi cultivar, all seed treatments resulted in a lower EC of seed leachates compared to control.
Geodetic measurement of deformation in California

The very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) measurements made in the western U.S. since 1979 as part of the NASA Crustal Dynamics Project provide discrete samples of the temporal and spatial deformation field. The interpretation of the VLBI-derived rates of deformation requires an examination of geologic information and more densely sampled ground-based geodetic data. In the first two of three related studies embodying this thesis triangulation and trilateration data measured on two regional networks are processed, one in the central Mojave Desert and one in the Coast Ranges east of the San Andreas fault. At the spatial scales spanned by these local geodetic networks, auxiliary geologic and geophysical data have been utilized to examine the relation between measured incremental strain and the accommodation of strain seen in local geological structures, strain release in earthquakes, and principal stress directions inferred from in situ measurements. In the third study, VLBI data from stations distributed across the Pacific - North American plate boundary zone in the western United States are processed. The VLBI data have been used to constrain the integrated rate of deformation across portions of the continental plate boundary in California and to provide a tectonic framework to interpret regional geodetic and geologic studies.
Acoustic Waves in Boreholes

Acoustic measurements in boreholes were first made as a specialized logging technique in geological exploration, but recent advances have greatly expanded the potential applications of this technique. This book provides a thorough review of the theory and interpretation techniques needed to realize these applications, emphasizing the role of guided modes and critically refracted waves in determining the characteristics of recorded waveforms. Topics covered in this comprehensive volume include the seismic properties of rocks: propagation of axisymmetric waves along fluid-filled boreholes in isotropic rocks; and symmetric and nonsymmetric sources in isotropic, transversely isotropic, and porous, permeable formations in open and cased boreholes.
Supporting Breastfeeding: A Successful Experience

This paper relates the success of a study that helped enhance breast-feeding by means of a support group in Southern Brazil. The International Multicenter Growth Reference Study was designed to help WHO develop new growth charts to measure nutritional status of populations and to evaluate individual growth. Southern Brazil was one of the sites selected for the study, and an ongoing data collection for the longitudinal component of the study (based on children aged 0-24 months) began in July 1997. The new growth reference will be based on the growth of children with the following characteristics: gestational age at birth between 37 and 42 full weeks, single birth, lack of significant perinatal morbidity, absence of maternal smoking, no economic constraints on growth, and being breast-fed for at least 1 full year and given no other foods during the first 4-6 months. Since few mothers in Brazil follow this recommendation, a lactation support group was trained to help mothers breast-feed their babies. It was found that the breast-feeding support group really made a difference, at least with regard to the duration of breast-feeding. Mothers who had support breast-fed longer and waited longer to introduce other foods into their children's diet compared to those who had no support. The factors that contributed to increased breast-feeding duration are enumerated. In conclusion, supporting mothers in breast-feeding is beneficial to both mothers and children and can lead to a better quality of life.
Ion layer separation and equilibrium zonal winds in midlatitude sporadic E

In‐situ observations of a moderately strong midlatitude sporadic‐E layer show a separation in altitude between distinct sublayers composed of Fe+, Mg+, and NO+. From these observations it is possible to estimate the zonal wind field consistent with diffusive equilibrium near the altitude of the layer. The amplitude of the zonal wind necessary to sustain the layer against diffusive effects is less than 10 m/s, and the vertical wavelength is less than 10 km.
C/NOFS observations of plasma density and electric field irregularities at post‐midnight local times

We report on plasma densities and electric fields measured by the C/NOFS satellite between 10 and 20 June 2008. Midway through the interval, geomagnetic conditions changed from quiescent to disturbed as a high speed stream (HSS) in the solar wind passed Earth. During the HSS passage C/NOFS encountered post‐midnight irregularities that ranged from strong equatorial plasma bubbles to longitudinally broad depletions. At the leading edge of the HSS the interplanetary magnetic field rapidly intensified and rotated causing auroral electrojet currents to rise and fall within a few hours. As the electrojet relaxed, C/NOFS witnessed a rapid transition from a weakly to a strongly disturbed equatorial ionosphere that lasted ∼10 hours. Eastward polarization electric fields intensified within locally depleted flux tubes. We discuss relative contributions of gravity‐driven currents, overshielding electric fields and disturbance dynamos as drivers of post‐midnight depletions.
Expression of A152T human tau causes age‐dependent neuronal dysfunction and loss in transgenic mice

A152T‐variant human tau (hTau‐A152T) increases risk for tauopathies, including Alzheimer's disease. Comparing mice with regulatable expression of hTau‐A152T or wild‐type hTau (hTau‐WT), we find age‐dependent neuronal loss, cognitive impairments, and spontaneous nonconvulsive epileptiform activity primarily in hTau‐A152T mice. However, overexpression of either hTau species enhances neuronal responses to electrical stimulation of synaptic inputs and to an epileptogenic chemical. hTau‐A152T mice have higher hTau protein/mRNA ratios in brain, suggesting that A152T increases production or decreases clearance of hTau protein. Despite their functional abnormalities, aging hTau‐A152T mice show no evidence for accumulation of insoluble tau aggregates, suggesting that their dysfunctions are caused by soluble tau. In human amyloid precursor protein (hAPP) transgenic mice, co‐expression of hTau‐A152T enhances risk of early death and epileptic activity, suggesting copathogenic interactions between hTau‐A152T and amyloid‐β peptides or other hAPP metabolites. Thus, the A152T substitution may augment risk for neurodegenerative diseases by increasing hTau protein levels, promoting network hyperexcitability, and synergizing with the adverse effects of other pathogenic factors.
Acoustic differentiation of l- and l-l% in switchboard and radio news speech

Acoustic evidence for a distinction between low-toned intermediate (ip) and intonational phrase (IP) boundaries is presented from two speech corpora representing spontaneous, conversational speech and scripted broadcast speech. Robust effects of the two boundary levels are found in the phrase-final syllable rime in both corpora. Nucleus duration is longer and the F0 value at rime end is lower at IP boundaries compared to ip boundaries. Glottalization is also more frequent before an IP boundary. Other effects of boundary level on the F0 and intensity contours over the phrase-final rime are evident but variable across the two corpora. These findings support the BeckmanPierrehumbert theory of intonation [1] in its recognition of two levels of prosodic phrasing.
The Ellsworth Subglacial Highlands: Inception and retreat of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet

Antarctic subglacial highlands are where the Antarctic ice sheets first developed and the “pinning points” where retreat phases of the marine-based sectors of the ice sheet are impeded. Due to low ice velocities and limited present-day change in the ice-sheet interior, West Antarctic subglacial highlands have been overlooked for detailed study. These regions have considerable potential, however, for establishing the locations from which the West Antarctic Ice Sheet originated and grew, and its likely response to warming climates. Here, we characterize the subglacial morphology of the Ellsworth Subglacial Highlands, West Antarctica, from ground-based and aerogeophysical radio-echo sounding (RES) surveys and the Moderate-Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) Mosaic of Antarctica. We document well-preserved classic landforms associated with restricted, dynamic, marine-proximal alpine glaciation, with hanging tributary valleys feeding a significant overdeepened trough (the Ellsworth Trough) cut by valley (tidewater) glaciers. Fjord-mouth threshold bars down-ice of two overdeepenings define both the northwest and southeast termini of paleo-outlet glaciers, which cut and occupied the Ellsworth Trough. Satellite imagery reveals numerous other glaciated valleys, terminating at the edge of deep former marine basins (e.g., Bentley Subglacial Trench), throughout the Ellsworth Subglacial Highlands. These geomorphic data can be used to reconstruct the glaciology of the ice masses that formed the proto–West Antarctic Ice Sheet. The landscape predates the present ice sheet and was formed by a small dynamic ice field(s), similar to those of the present-day Antarctic Peninsula, at times when the marine sections of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet were absent. The Ellsworth Subglacial Highlands represent a major seeding center of the paleo–West Antarctic Ice Sheet, and its margins represent the pinning point at which future retreat of the marine-based West Antarctic Ice Sheet would be arrested.
Prevalence of eae-positive, lactose non-fermenting Escherichia albertii from retail raw meat in China

SUMMARY Escherichia albertii is a newly emerging enteric pathogen that has been associated with gastroenteritis in humans. Recently, E. albertii has also been detected in healthy and sick birds, animals, chicken meat and water. In the present study, the prevalence and characteristics of the eae-positive, lactose non-fermenting E. albertii strains in retail raw meat in China were evaluated. Thirty isolates of such strains of E. albertii were identified from 446 (6·73%) samples, including duck intestines (21·43%, 6/28), duck meat (9·52%, 2/21), chicken intestines (8·99%, 17/189), chicken meat (5·66%, 3/53), mutton meat (4·55%, 1/22) and pork meat (2·44%, 1/41). None was isolated from 92 samples of raw beef meat. Strains were identified as E. albertii by phenotypic properties, diagnostic PCR, sequence analysis of the 16S rRNA gene, and housekeeping genes. Five intimin subtypes were harboured by these strains. All strains possessed the II/III/V subtype group of the cdtB gene, with two strains carrying another copy of the I/IV subtype group. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis showed high genetic diversity of E. albertii in raw meats. Our findings indicate that E. albertii can contaminate various raw meats, posing a potential threat to public health.
Structural setting of central and south Egypt: An overview

The general tectonic framework of Egypt can be described in simple terms as comprising three units that have controlled the sedimentological history and the structural make up of the country; These are the Arabian-Nubian massif, the stable shelf and the unstable shelf. The stable shelf covers a large part of Egypt surrounding the Arabo-Nubian massif. It reflects relative tectonic stability towards the south. Much of northern Egypt belongs to the unstable shelf that suffered intense rock deformations. Four fault systems oriented at : 55°, 70°, 80° and 150° represent major transcontinental and regional fracture zones. These originated during different Proterozoic episodes of crustal deformation. Phanerozoic intraplate deformation and related processes of erosion and sedimentation were generally controlled by structural trends which were frequently reactivated along existing fault systems. During the Paleozoic, the 150° fault trend dominated the paleogeographic situation. Magmatic and tectonic activity in Egypt at the end of the Paleozoic continued into the Triassic. Over a kilometer of Nubia Sandstone strata were deposited in southern Egypt from Jurassic to Late Cretaceous or Early Cenozoic. Tectonic and magmatic activity increased again towards the end of the Cretaceous Period. The Cretaceous tectonics were so severe that in many parts of Egypt they account for the present day geomorphology. ENE to E-W master wrench faults control the Cretaceous-related structures all over the country. In the central and southern parts of Egypt the sedimentary units of the Jurassic-Nubian interval are capped by younger formations. The base of the Nubia Sandstone forms swell-like uplifts separated by troughs. Restricted tectonic basins are now characterized by a thick accumulation of Mesozoic— Cenozoic sediments. Old fractures inherited from the basement were used after vertical propagation as shear zones along which the whole sedimentary cover would deform. Geological observations made in southern Egypt support the tectonic origin of the Nile Valley. The most complicated area in the Egyptian course of the Nile is the Qena bend, believed to be the result of rejuvenation of the NE fault system superimposed on NW and N-S trends.
Resource management in 3G networks using case-based reasoning

This paper proposes a new method of balancing traffic load in mobile cellular networks by using Case-Based Reasoning (CBR) to learn traffic patterns at periods of congestion, the obtained traffic patterns then being used to control co-operating semi-smart antennas to optimise the radio coverage, hence minimising the effects of the congestion. Unlike previous work, this scheme does not require calculating the optimum patterns each time. The emphasis of this paper is to demonstrate case matching of congestion by CBR with a particular study of the sensitivity to the similarity function.
Fabrication and characterization of a novel crosslinked human keratin‐alginate sponge

Human hair keratins have been explored for biomedical applications because of their abundance, bioactivity and processability. However, pure keratin templates have poor mechanical properties, which limit their practical relevance. Herein, we described a novel composite sponge, consisting of human hair keratins chemically crosslinked with alginate using 1‐ethyl‐3‐dimethylaminopropyl carbodiimide hydrochloride, with improved mechanical properties. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and free amine group quantification using ninhydrin revealed a maximum crosslinking index of 82.1 ± 1.3%. With increasing alginate proportions, the sponges exhibited increased tensile strength, tensile modulus and compression modulus at maximum values of 10.3 ± 1.92 kPa, 219.07 ± 52.39 kPa and 191.48 ± 32.89 kPa, respectively. The crosslinked sponges also demonstrated water vapour transmission rates comparable to commercial wound dressings. Meanwhile, sponges with higher proportions of keratin showed lower water uptake capacities and higher degradation rates by proteinase K, in comparison with sponges with higher proportions of alginate. Higher proportions of keratin on coated two‐dimensional surfaces and in three‐dimensional sponges resulted in more attachment and improved proliferation of L929 fibroblasts, verifying the bioactive role of keratin in the composites. In addition, subcutaneous implantation of the keratin–alginate sponges into C57BL/6NTac mice over 4 weeks showed no significant immunological reaction and minimal formation of fibrotic capsules. Furthermore, the sponges supported cellular infiltration, neo‐tissue formation and vascularization in vivo. These findings demonstrated the feasibility of producing crosslinked human hair keratin‐alginate sponges, with tuneable physical and mechanical properties, which are cell compliant in vitro and biocompatible in vivo, suggesting their potential for clinically relevant exploitations. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Metacarpophalangeal Joint Arthroplasty in Rheumatoid Arthritis

Abstract Although metacarpophalangeal joint arthroplasty is occasionally performed for joints affected by osteoarthritis, it is most often done in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. The metacarpophalangeal joint is critical for proper finger function but is the most common site of involvement in the rheumatoid hand. A thorough under‐standing of the anatomy, pathophysiology, and mechanics of the metacarpophalangeal joint is a prerequisite for the evaluation and treatment of patients requiring metacarpophalangeal arthroplasty. Silicone rubber implants are the most frequently used device for treatment of revised metacarpophalangeal arthroplasty. Follow‐up studies show that this surgery improves function and deformity and achieves nearly uniform patient satisfaction.
Encuesta coproparasitológico canina realizado en plazas publicas de la ciudad de Mar del Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina

In Mar del Plata city, Buenos Aires province (Argentina), a sampling of canine faeces was made at 11 public squares with the aim to identify zoonotic parasite species from dogs. Squares were classified into two groups: Central and Peripheric. Samples were taken at square flowerbeds (90.4%), special cages for dogs (6.4%) and childs games areas (3.2%). All the squares were found contaminated with faeces and 100% of them were positive for parasites. Total prevalence was 49.95%; prevalence by parasite species was 62.96% for Ancylostoma caninum and Trichuris vulpis, 24.07% for Uncinaria stenocephala, 22.22% for Toxocara canis, 9.25% for Amoeba spp. , 3.70% for coccidians and 1.85% for Pseudophyllideans. Percentage of parasitized samples was higher at peripheric squares than at the central group. Parasite prevalences at each square group were compared with results registered in different areas of Argentina. Results obtained in the present study, as related with canine faeces disseminated along public places and the sanitary consequences to the human health, are discussed.
β-Lactamases Encoded by blaCTX-M Group I Genes as Determinants of Resistance of Esbl-Positive Enterobacteriaceae in European Soldiers in Tropical Mali

ESBL (extended-spectrum-β-lactamase)-positive Enterobacteriaceae, which colonized European soldiers in tropical Western African Mali, were subjected to a molecular assessment of their resistance determinants. By doing so, a better insight into the locally endemic pattern of ESBL-associated β-lactamase genes was aspired. From a previous study on diarrhea in European soldiers on deployment in tropical Mali, 15 ESBL-positive Escherichia coli with demonstrated high clonal diversity and one positive Klebsiella pneumoniae were assessed. Polymerase chain reactions (PCRs) for blaTEM and blaSHV β-lactamase genes with subsequent sequencing for the discrimination of ESBL- and non-ESBL variants were performed, followed by four group-specific PCRs for blaCTX-M genes. Non-ESBL-associated blaTEM-1 was identified in six out of 15 (40%) E. coli strains, while 100% of the assessed strains were positive for group I blaCTX-M. Considering the known clonal diversity of the assessed strains, the striking restriction to one group of blaCTX-M genes accounting for the ESBL phenotypes of the isolates suggests little genetic exchange in the local setting. Under such circumstances of restricted numbers of locally endemic target genes, PCR-based screening approaches for ESBL colonization might be promising.
Source, Transportation and Deposition of Debris on Arapaho Glacier, Front Range, Colorado, U.S.A.

This study was undertaken to determine the sources of debris and methods of transportation and deposition in and on a small cirque glacier. Data were collected on the amount of debris, stone roundness, the presence of striations and polish, and till fabric. Lichenometry gave relative ages of the tills, and suggests that the Gannett Peak till is of at least three ages and probably overlies Audubon till. Debris originating from subglacial erosion can be differentiated from that from rockfall or avalanches on stone roundness, polish and striations. A maximum of 70% of the present glacial load derives from subglacial erosion, as compared to 88% during the Gannett Peak stade. Rockfall rates are 35-50 m3/year at present and were 290–485 m3/year during the Gannett Peak stade. Data on present-day processes and on the volume and age of Gannett Peak moraines can be used to make comparisons on present and past rates of denudation. The denudation rate in the cirque at present is 95–165 mm/1 000 year; in the past it was 4 920-8 160 mm/ 1 000 year. The denudation rate and the glacial effects on debris are comparable to rates from other glacial areas and effects on debris carried by valley glaciers and continental ice sheets.
Automatic Priming of Semantically Related Words Reduces Activity in the Fusiform Gyrus

We used rapid, event-related fMRI to identify the neural systems underlying object semantics. During scanning, subjects silently read rapidly presented word pairs (150 msec, SOA = 250 msec) that were either unrelated in meaning (ankle-carrot), semantically related (fork-cup), or identical (crow-crow). Activity in the left posterior region of the fusiform gyrus and left inferior frontal cortex was modulated by word-pair relationship. Semantically related pairs yielded less activity than unrelated pairs, but greater activity than identical pairs, mirroring the pattern of behavioral facilitation as measured by word reading times. These findings provide strong support for the involvement of these areas in the automatic processing of object meaning. In addition, words referring to animate objects produced greater activity in the lateral region of the fusiform gyri, right superior temporal sulcus, and medial region of the occipital lobe relative to manmade, manipulable objects, whereas words referring to manmade, manipulable objects produced greater activity in the left ventral premotor, left anterior cingulate, and bilateral parietal cortices relative to animate objects. These findings are consistent with the dissociation between these areas based on sensory-and motor-related object properties, providing further evidence that conceptual object knowledge is housed, in part, in the same neural systems that subserve perception and action.