Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Regional and global elevational patterns of microbial species richness and evenness

&NA; Although elevational gradients in microbial biodiversity have attracted increasing attention recently, the generality in the patterns and underlying mechanisms are still poorly resolved. Further, previous studies focused mostly on species richness, while left understudied evenness, another important aspect of biodiversity. Here, we studied the elevational patterns in species richness and evenness of stream biofilm bacteria and diatoms in six mountains in Asia and Europe. We also reviewed published results for elevational richness patterns for soil and stream microbes in a literature analysis. Our results revealed that even within the same ecosystem type (that is, stream) or geographical region, bacteria and diatoms showed contrasting patterns in diversity. Stream microbes, including present stream data, tend to show significantly increasing or decreasing elevational patterns in richness, contrasting the findings for soil microbes that typically showed nonsignificant or significantly decreasing patterns. In all six mountains for bacteria and in four mountains for diatoms, species richness and evenness were positively correlated. The variation in bacteria and diatom richness and evenness were substantially explained by anthropogenic driven factors, such as total phosphorus (TP). However, diatom richness and evenness were also related to different main drivers as richness was mostly related to pH, while evenness was most explained by TP. Our results highlight the lack of consistent elevational biodiversity patterns of microbes and further indicate that the two facets of biodiversity may respond differently to environmental gradients.
Chitosan Associated with the Extract of Unripe Banana Peel for Potential Wound Dressing Application

The authors report the preparation of chitosan membranes associated with the extract of unripe banana peel. Extracts were prepared by decoction, using boiling distilled water. The extraction process was repeated three times. First and third extracts served as solvent to prepare chitosan membranes by solvent evaporation technique. The chitosan membranes associated with the first and third extracts of unripe banana peel exhibit good flexibility, transparency, and uniformity. Scanning Electron Microscopy images showed dense membranes. Brownish color of membranes was observed due to the presence of tannins, which was confirmed by Infrared Spectroscopy analysis. Thermal properties of the membranes were evaluated by Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), which exhibited good thermal stability at physiological temperature (37°C). At this temperature and pH 7.2, membranes were also able to absorb fluids. The hydrophilic character of the membranes was determined by contact angle measurements. The membranes demonstrated their capacity for gaseous exchange and exhibited water-vapor permeability (WVP) rates comparable to injured skin one. Finally, high number of viable dermal fibroblasts was observed by indirect cytotoxicity assay suggesting potential application of these membranes as skin wound dressing.
Screening of Bacillus Species with Potentials of Antibiotics Production

Sixteen soil samples were collected from different refuse dump sites in Minna, the capital Niger State, and analysed for the presence of Bacillus species. Physical-chemical analysis of the soil samples revealed the followings: PH value 6.89-8.47; moisture content 1.58 – 21.21% and temperature 27-28oC. Using both pour plate and streak method of inoculation, total bacterial count in the soil samples ranged from 3.8×104 cfu/g 16.0×104 cfu/g. The identified Bacillus species included: Bacillus cereus (30.8%), Bacillus brevis (1.9%) Bacillus polymyxa (3.8%), Bacillus lichenifomis (13.5%), Bacillus spherericus (7.7%), Bacillus mycoides (13.5%), Bacillus pumilus (7.7%), Bacillus subtilis (3.8%), Bacillus a lvei (1.9%), Bacillus laterosporous (1.9%), Bacillus firmus (9.6%) and Bacillus circulars (3.8%). Antibiotic production tests indicated that nine Bacillus species out of twelve isolated in this study could be used to produce antibiotics that had effect on the test organisms. However, Bacillus polymyxa , Bacillus sphaericus and Bacillus laterosporous had little or no effect on the tested organisms. This study suggests that some Bacillus species have potential to produce high quality antibiotics that can be use to control microbial growth in future.
Formation times, mass growth histories and concentrations of dark matter haloes

We develop a simple model for estimating the mass growth histories of dark matter halos. The model is based on a t to the formation time distribution, where formation is dened as the earliest time that the main branch of the merger tree contains a fraction f of the nal mass M. Our analysis exploits the fact that the median formation time as a function of f is the same as the median of the main progenitor mass distribution as a function of time. When coupled with previous work showing that the concentration c of the nal halo is related to the formation time tf associated with f 0:04, our approach provides a simple algorithm for estimating how the distribution of halo concentrations may be expected to depend on mass, redshift and the expansion history of the background cosmology. We also show that one can predict log10 c with a precision of about 0.13 and 0.09 dex if only its mass, or both mass and tf are known. And, conversely, one can predict log10 tf from mass or c with a precision of 0.12 and 0.09 dex, approximately independent of f. Adding the mass to the c-based estimate does not result in further improvement. These latter results may be useful for studies which seek to compare the age of the stars in the central galaxy in a halo with the time the core was rst assembled.
The Development of the Construction and Demolition Waste Dynamic Model

With the higher amount of buildings and infrastructures in Bangkok, Thailand, the number of construction and demolition (C&D) waste is increasing continuously. These wastes, if not completely recycled, will create the environmental problems. This research paper concentrates on the use of a system dynamics modeling technique to develop a C&D waste recycling model. Data and related relationships were generated to develop the simulated equations to simulate the model to reflect real practices of the construction industry in Bangkok, Thailand. The simulation results reveal the improved C&D waste recycled over time.
Anatomy of Cluster Development in China: The case of health biotech clusters

Focussing on China’s health biotech clusters the study explores the anatomy of interaction in as well as between various clusters. While the literature has identified the existence of a dense network of durable interactions among firms and between firms and academia at a particular location as one of the most important prerequisites for well-performing clusters, we show that network ties extending beyond regional boundaries are equally valuable for the innovative capacity of China’s biotech firms. Analysing the demographic process of cluster emergence we show that there exist different types of biotech clusters in China, which are closely linked and exchange knowledge and technology amongst each other. It appears as if further analysis of these cross-cluster links may provide important insights of how learning and innovation works in China’s health biotech industry. Although China’s science parks and industrial bases may on an individual basis appear to be badly structured, the organization of China’s health biotech industry turns out to be substantially enhanced once these external linkages are taken into consideration.
Expression and Role of Sphingosine 1-Phosphate Receptors in Intervertebral Disc Degeneration

Background: e mechanism of intervertebral disc degeneration is unclear, inflammation may play an important role in it. Sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) is an important lipid mediator, has been confirmed to be implicated in many inflammation processes.Purpose to study the expression and role of S1PRs in the intervertebal disc (IVD) degeneration to enhance understanding of disc degeneration. Methods Degenerated and normal IVD were harvested from patients with IVD degeneration via surgery operation. The degenerated grade of each IVD specimen was assessed by Histological method. Expression of S1P receptor subtypes in each specimen was evaluated using real-time PCR, immunohistochemistry, and western blotting. The effect of S1PR on inflammation induced by interleukin-1β in nucleus pulposus (NP) cells was also assessed by real time PCR and western blot. Results The nucleus pulposus mainly expressed theS1PR1/2/3, and the expression decreased in the severe degenerated nucleus pulposus cells. The ligand, S1P, inhibited the up-regulation of matrix metallopeptidase-3(MMP-3) and ADAM metallopeptidase with thrombospondin type 1 motif 4(ADAMTS4) induced by IL-1β. Conclusions The results show that an the expression of S1PRs in degenerative discs is down-regulated as degeneration, and S1P can inhibit the inflammation response induced by IL-1β in NP cells, implicating that S1P/S1PR may contribute to IVD degeneration.
Research Altered Cd 8 + T lymphocyte Response Triggered by ARG 1 : Implication for Fatigue Intensification after Localized Radiation Therapy in Prostate Cancer Patients

Fatigue scores measured by FACT-F and peripheral blood were collected prior to treatment (baseline D0), at midpoint (days 19-21, D21) and endpoint (days 38-42, D42) from men (n=30) with non-metastatic prostate cancer undergoing EBRT. RNA extracted from peripheral blood was used for gene expression analysis. Plasma arginase I and arginine were examined using ELISA and liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry. Differences in fatigue scores, gene and protein expression between times points following EBRT were analyzed by one way ANOVA followed by Post Hoc t-test.
Exponential Antisynchronization Control of Stochastic Memristive Neural Networks with Mixed Time-Varying Delays Based on Novel Delay-Dependent or Delay-Independent Adaptive Controller

The global exponential antisynchronization in mean square of memristive neural networks with stochastic perturbation and mixed time-varying delays is studied in this paper. Then, two kinds of novel delay-dependent and delay-independent adaptive controllers are designed. With the ability of adapting to environment changes, the proposed controllers can modify their behaviors to achieve the best performance. In particular, on the basis of the differential inclusions theory, inequality theory, and stochastic analysis techniques, several sufficient conditions are obtained to guarantee the exponential antisynchronization between the drive system and response system. Furthermore, two numerical simulation examples are provided to the validity of the derived criteria.
IMPACT DEHULLING OAT GRAIN TO IMPROVE QUALITY OF ON-FARM PRODUCED FEED: I. HULLABILITY AND ASSOCIATED CHANGES IN NUTRITIVE VALUE AND ENERGY CONTENT

High hull content of oat (Avena sativa L.) limits its use as on-farm feed. Dehulling, used in the oat processing industry, can be performed on-farm, to increase nutritive value and energy content. A laboratory model of an impact oat dehuller, similar to a commercial device, was used to study the effects of rotation speed, grain characteristics and moisture content on hullability and groat energy content. Grain of oat cultivar Salo [from official variety trials, MTT Agrifood Research Finland, Jokioinen (60˚49'N), 1996‐2000] was assessed for quality prior to dehulling. Impact dehulling rotation speed ranged from 200 to 500 r min-1 at 50 r min-1 intervals, with moisture content of grains ranging from 10% up to 18%. Dehulling improved oat energy content markedly. Hullability was better at higher rotation speeds. 350 r min-1 was determined to be adequate to result in improved quality as no marked additional improvements were demonstrated by increasing rotation speed further. As the proportion of hulless groats increased with higher rotation speeds, nutritional and energy content of groat yield improved consistently. The higher the grain moisture, the higher the proportion of grains retaining hulls. Impact dehulling proved to be a potentially useful method to increase energy content of oat grains on-farm.
The westernmost occurrence of Gnathorhiza in the Triassic, with a discussion of the stratigraphic and palaeogeographic distribution of the genus

Abstract. The paper refines the taxonomic assignment of the only representative of the dipnoan genus Gnathorhiza from the Lower Triassic of Poland. It is assigned here to Gnathorhiza otschevi on the basis of morphological and biometrical similarity with the tooth plates from coeval strata of the European part of Russia. The material is comprised solely of tooth plates, both the upper and the lower ones. It comes from karst deposits of the Czatkowice 1 locality (southern Poland) dated to late Olenekian, Lower Triassic. The presence of G. otschevi in southern Poland widens its palaeobiogeographic Triassic record by more than 2000 km to the west. Czatkowice 1 locality is the only known occurrence of gnathorhizids within the Germanic Basin. G. otschevi from Czatkowice 1 shows petrodentine in the tooth plate. Its presence is proved for the first time in a Triassic gnathorhizid. Gnathorhiza was most widely distributed during the Permian and restricted to Europe in the Triassic. Tooth plates of both Early Triassic European and Late Permian Brazilian gnathorhizids are more similar to each other than to Permo-Carboniferous American ones.
Teleconnections of the tropical Atlantic to the tropical Indian and Pacific Oceans: A review of recent findings

Abstract Recent studies found that the tropical Atlantic may exert a considerable teleconnection to both the tropical Pacific and Indian Ocean basins, possibly modulating the Indian summer monsoon and Pacific ENSO events. A warm (cold) tropical Atlantic Ocean forces a Gill-Matsuno-type quadrupole response with a low-level anticyclone (cyclone) located over India that weakens (strengthens) the Indian monsoon circulation. A further analysis shows that the tropical Atlantic Ocean can induce a change in the Indian Ocean SSTs, especially along the coast of Africa and in the western side of the Indian basin. The tropical Atlantic can also influence on the tropical Pacific Ocean via the inter-basin SST gradient variability that is associated with the Atlantic Walker circulation. Although the Pacific El Nino does not correlate with the Atlantic Nino, anomalous warming or cooling of the two equatorial oceans can form an inter-basin SST gradient variability that induces surface zonal wind anomalies over equatorial South America and over some regions of both ocean basins. The zonal wind anomalies act to bridge the interaction of the two ocean basins, reinforcing the inter-basin SST gradient through atmospheric Walker circulations and oceanic dynamics. Thus, a positive feedback seems to exist for climate variability of the tropical Pacific-Atlantic Oceans and atmosphere system, in which the inter-basin SST gradient is coupled to the overlying atmospheric wind.
Less is more: multiparty session types revisited

Multiparty Session Types (MPST) are a typing discipline ensuring that a message-passing process implements a multiparty session protocol, without errors. In this paper, we propose a new, generalised MPST theory. Our contribution is fourfold. (1) We demonstrate that a revision of the theoretical foundations of MPST is necessary: classic MPST have a limited subject reduction property, with inherent restrictions that are easily overlooked, and in previous work have led to flawed type safety proofs; our new theory removes such restrictions and fixes such flaws. (2) We contribute a new MPST theory that is less complicated, and yet more general, than the classic one: it does not require global multiparty session types nor binary session type duality — instead, it is grounded on general behavioural type-level properties, and proves type safety of many more protocols and processes. (3) We produce a detailed analysis of type-level properties, showing how, in our new theory, they allow to ensure decidability of type checking, and statically guarantee that processes enjoy, , deadlock-freedom and liveness at run-time. (4) We show how our new theory can integrate type and model checking: type-level properties can be expressed in modal µ-calculus, and verified with well-established tools.
Acceptability of HIV Testing at the Pediatric Ward of the University Hospital Cnhu-Hkm, Cotonou, Benin

Introduction: Systematic testing is considered a good tool to decrease HIV-related morbidity and mortality. To be efficiently implemented in children, this testing needs to be accepted by parents. The objective of this study was to measure the acceptability of HIV testing by the parents of children seen on routine health visitor admitted to hospital. Methods: This was a cross-sectional prospective, descriptive and analytic study carried out at the pediatric ward of the university hospital CNHU-HKM of Cotonou, Benin, from 1st March to 31st August 2010. HIV testing was proposed, after counseling, to a group of 312 parents (mother or father) of apparently healthy children recruited at immunization clinic or on routinehealth visit, and to another group of 376 parents of sick children admitted to hospitalization. Results: Eighty-three point four percent of children seen on routinehealth visits and 34.4% of those hospitalized were less than 12 months old (age limits of 1-84 months and 1-180 months respectively). Sex ratio was 1.04 and 1.24 in respective groups. Among parents addressed, there were one father in the healthy children’s group and 98 in the hospitalized one’s group. HIV testing acceptability was 95.8% in the healthychildren’s group (n=199) and 49.2% in the hospitalized children’s group (n=191). Mothers of hospitalized children were less receptive to the testing (31.65%, n=88) than those of apparently healthy children (4.2%, n=13) [p<10-9]. The testwas positive to HIV1 in eight children (2.5%) of the healthy children’s group and in 25 of the hospitalized one’s group (6.7%) and there were three cases of co-infection HIV1-HIV2. Conclusion: HIV testing is better accepted by parents of healthy children than by those of sick ones at the university hospital CNHU-HKM of Cotonou. This testing can be used to control HIV though early diagnosis and management of the disease.
Effects of potassium, magnesium and age on growth and survival of Litopenaeus vannamei post-larvae reared in inland low salinity well waters in West Alabama

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Effects of PMSG Doses on Reproductive Performance of Kurdi Ewes Artificially Inseminated during Breeding Season

This experiment was conducted to determine the reproductive performance of Kurdi ewes which were artificially inseminated (AI). In total 240 Kurdi ewes, weighing 49.5±2.5 kg were used in the trail. The ewes were allocated randomly to one of four groups (n=60/in each group). For synchronizing, controlled internal drug release (CIDR) was placed in the vagina of all individuals for 14 days. After removing the CIDR, pregnant mare's serum gonadotropin (PMSG) hormone was intramuscularly injected at the dosages of 300, 400, 500 and 600 IU in four groups of ewes. Cervical artificial insemination was performed after two days following CIDR withdrawal and hormone administration. The conception rates in groups I, II, III and IV were found as 63.7, 66.1, 65.8 and 67.9%, respectively. The mean litter size was significantly higher in groups II, III and IV (1.30, 1.34 and 1.46) than group I (1.11). The fecundity rate was lowest in group I (65.6%). Administration of 600 I.U PMSG resulted in the highest (58.9%) multiple births (P<0.05). These results suggest that 600 I.U. PMSG was more effective in increasing multiple births in the Kurdi ewes in breeding season.
Known and Unknown Facts of LoRa

Long Range (LoRa) is a Low-power Wide-area Network technology designed for the Internet of Things. In recent years, it has gained significant momentum among industrial and research communities. Patented by Semtech, LoRa makes use of chirp spread spectrum modulation to deliver data with promises of long battery life, far-reaching communication distances, and a high node density at the cost of data rate. In this article, we conduct a series of experiments to verify the claims made by Semtech on LoRa technology. Our results show that LoRa is capable of communicating over 10km under line-of-sight environments. However, under non-line-of-sight environments, LoRa’s performance is severely affected by obstructions such as buildings and vegetations. Moreover, the promise of prolonged battery life requires extreme tuning of parameters. Last, a LoRa gateway supports up to 6,000 nodes with PRR requirement of >70%. This study also explores the relationship between LoRa transmission parameters and proposes an algorithm to determine optimal settings in terms of coverage and power consumption under non-line-of-sight environments. It further investigates the impact of LoRa Wide-area Networks on energy consumption and network capacity along with implementation of a LoRa medium access mechanism and possible gains brought forth by implementing such a mechanism.
The standard dose versus double dose of N-acetylcysteine to prevent contrast-induced nephropathy; a randomized controlled clinical trial

Background: Contrast-induced acute kidney injury (CI-AKI) is one of the possible complications in angiography, which its prevention is important. N-acetylcysteine is one of the compounds that has recently been more investigated regarding its effect on CI-AKI. Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of standard dose and twice-thestandard of N-acetyl cysteine on prevention of contrast-induced nephropathy. Patients and Methods: In a clinical trial, 154 individuals who were referred for angiography and had glomerular filtration rate (GFR) ≤60 mL/min, enrolled in and randomly divided into two groups. Group A received the usual dose of N-acetyl cysteine and group B received twice the standard. Blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine, and GFR values were measured and recorded at intervals before, 24, 48 and 72 hours after angiography. Other required laboratory parameters were also measured and recorded. Results: The results of this study indicated that the effect of double dose in males and females is not different. It also has a reverse effect on renal function in older patients. Its effect did not differ in diabetic patients compared to non-diabetic patients. N-acetyl cysteine in dose of twice the standard has not any effect on renal function in patients with hyperlipidemia, hypertension, myocardial infarction, pulmonary edema as well as smoker patients. In patients with congestive heart failure (CHF), N-acetyl cysteine in dose of twice the standard had a positive effect on renal function compared with those who did not have CHF. An interesting point in our study was the negative effect of N-acetyl cysteine in dose of twice-the-standard on renal function in patients with lower hemoglobin and hematocrit levels. Conclusions: Our study showed that an increase in the dose of N-acetyl cysteine is not effective in preventing contrast-induced nephropathy and improving renal function. Of course, in some groups, such as those with CHF, a positive effect was detected. Additionally, in some groups including patients with lower hematocrit and hemoglobin, an increase in dose is associated with a negative effect on renal function.