Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Qualidade de frutos de híbridos de melancia com sementes

O presente trabalho objetivou avaliar a qualidade pós-colheita de dois híbridos de melancia com sementes cultivadas sob manejo convencional. As características de qualidade analisadas foram: massa fresca; diâmetro longitudinal e transversal; índice de formato do fruto (IF: DL/DT); espessura da casca; firmeza da polpa; sólidos solúveis; acidez titulável; pH; SS/AT; açúcares solúveis totais e redutores; pectina solúvel; vitamina C; carotenoides totais; licopeno; flavonoides; antocianinas e polifenóis extraíveis totais. O ensaio em condições laboratoriais foi estabelecido em delineamento inteiramente casualizado (DIC). Os resultados foram submetidos à análise de variância (ANOVA). Os híbridos apresentaram massa fresca, DL/DT, cor, sólidos solúveis, acidez titulável e SS/AT satisfatórios para comercialização; com destaque para o híbrido ‘Boston’ que apresentou maior teor de sólidos solúveis (9.90 °Brix), açúcares solúveis totais (6.66 %) e SS/AT (86.24). Para compostos bioativos, o híbrido ‘Boston’ apresentou valores médios superiores para carotenoides totais (2.03 mg 100g-1) e flavonoides amarelos (3.21 mg 100g-1), entretanto, o híbrido ‘Quetzali’ obteve destaque para os polifenóis extraíveis totais (194.36 mg 100g-1), podendo, desta forma, ser usados na promoção da saúde humana. Embora os híbridos avaliados tenham se mostrado qualitativamente favoráveis ao consumo, tenham se mostrado qualitativamente favoráveis ao consumo, os resultados aqui encontrados indicam estreitamento da base genética, o que torna necessário a avaliação de outros híbridos
A systematic review of usability test metrics for mobile video streaming apps

This paper presents the results of a systematic review regarding the usability test metrics for mobile video streaming apps. In the study, 238 studies were found, but only 51 relevant papers were eventually selected for the review. The study reveals that time taken for video streaming and the video quality were the two most popular metrics used in the usability tests for mobile video streaming apps. Besides, most of the studies concentrated on the usability of mobile TV as users are switching from traditional TV to mobile TV.
Effects of natural pyrethrum and synthetic pyrethroids on the tiger mosquito, Aedes albopictus (skuse) and non-target flower-visiting insects in urban green areas of Padua, Italy

Abstract The tiger mosquito is a key vector of several human diseases and is considered a public health concern worldwide. The implementation of strategies aimed at maximizing mosquito control without affecting non-target insect groups is of major importance. In a field trial, we tested the efficiency of a natural pyrethrum-based vs. a synthetic pyrethroid-based insecticide in reducing tiger mosquito population and how they affect the diversity of non-target flower-visiting insects in green urban areas. Only the pyrethroid insecticide was effective in reducing mosquito abundance, although its effects disappeared nine days after application. The two adulticides did not significantly affect the diversity of flower-visiting insects, probably because of their large body size and the difference in flying and foraging activity. To effectively control mosquito populations while preventing intoxication of non-target flower-visiting insects, adulticide applications should be applied early in the morning and only on bushes and trees. Results from our small-scale applications cannot be extrapolate when larger areas are treated.
Effects of Biochar Based Fertilizer on Soil Nutrient Content and Maize Yield of Acidic Soil in Heilongjiang Province

Unreasonable fertilizer input and low fertilizer utilization seriously restrict the development of maize in Heilongjiang province. In this paper, the effects of biochar based fertilizer on the nutrient content of acidic soil and corn yield in Heilongjiang province were studied. The random block design was adopted, and seven treatments were set with four repetitions. The results showed that biochar based fertilizer increased the soil organic matter content in the mature stage of maize. The S1 (The biochar biobased fertilizer treatment 1 in acid soil), S2 (The biochar biobased fertilizer treatment 2 in acid soil), and S3 (The biochar biobased fertilizer treatment 3 in acid soil) treatments organic matter contents increased by 15.96%, 11.06% and 10.03% than SCK (The Acid Soil Control Check) respectively. The total nitrogen, total phosphorus, total potassium, total calcium of S1 treatment corn plants increased 16.81%, 15.34%, 31.20% and 22.96% than SCK. The S1 treatment increased the yield of corn, which was 1.94% higher than SCK. There was no significant difference between the yield of S2, S3 with SCK treatments, which achieved the effect of fertilization reducing.
Genetic Diversity–Area Relationships across Bird Species

The genetic diversity–area relationship (GAR), compared with the extensively explored species-area relationship (SAR), remains poorly recognized despite the importance of understanding it for the development and application of biodiversity theory. It has been hypothesized that maintaining genetic diversity within a population is mechanistically similar to maintaining species diversity within a community, implying that GAR trajectories should behave mathematically as SAR ones. Here we test this prediction by fitting microsatellite heterozygosity and allelic richness in relation to distribution range size across bird species against eight well-known SAR models. The Monod model best described the data on resident and migratory species combined and especially the data on resident species only, showing that with increasing range size, genetic diversity across species rapidly increased up to a certain level and then tended toward an asymptote. None of the candidate models provided an adequate fit for the data on migratory species, likely because their breeding range size mostly is large in that a GAR curve has become flat. Our work takes the first step toward formulating GARs and applying them to predicting the effect of habitat fragmentation on genetic diversity.
Spatial arrangement drastically changes the interaction between visual stimuli that compete in multiple feature domains in extrastriate area MT

Natural scenes often contain multiple objects. However, how neurons in the visual cortex represent multiple visual stimuli within their receptive fields (RFs) is not well understood. Previous studies have shown that, when multiple stimuli compete in one feature domain, the evoked neuronal response is dominated by the stimulus component that has a stronger signal strength, which can be explained by response normalization. Here we investigate how neurons in middle-temporal (MT) cortex of the macaque monkey represent multiple stimuli that compete in more than one feature domain within their RFs. Visual stimuli were two random-dot patches moving in different directions. One stimulus moved at high coherence with low luminance contrast, whereas the other moved at low coherence with high contrast. We found that, although the peak MT response elicited by the “low contrast & high coherence” stimulus alone was stronger than by the “high contrast & low coherence” stimulus, MT response to both stimuli when they were overlapping was almost completely dominated by the high-contrast stimulus. When two stimuli were spatially separated within the RF, the contrast dominance was abolished. We found the same results when using contrast to compete with motion speed. Computer simulations using a V1-MT model suggest that the contrast dominance is due to normalization occurring at input stage fed to MT and MT neurons cannot overturn it according to their own feature selectivity. Our results reveal new rules on stimulus competition and highlight the importance of hierarchical processing on the neural representation of multiple visual stimuli in the extrastriate cortex. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT We investigated the rules by which cortical neurons represent multiple visual stimuli that compete in more than one feature domain. We found that the interaction between multiple stimuli within the RFs of neurons in area MT depends on the spatial arrangement of the stimuli. When multiple stimuli are overlapping, the response tuning curves of MT neurons are strongly dominated by the stimulus component that has higher luminance contrast albeit lower motion coherence or a slower speed than a competing stimulus. When multiple stimuli are spatially separated, the contrast dominance is abolished. These results cannot be explained by response normalization only within MT, but reveal the importance of hierarchical processing on the neural representation of multiple visual stimuli in extrastriate cortex.
Response of some Barley Cultivars Productivity and Available Soil Nutrients to Chicken Manure Rates under Sandy Soil Conditions.

Field experiment was conducted at the Agricultural Faculty Experiment Farm of New Valley Branch, Assiut University at New Valley Governorate, Egypt, during 2014/2015 and 2015/2016 seasons to study the effect of chicken manure fertilizer rates (0, 3 and 6 ton.fed) on yield and its components of some barley cultivars. The experimental design was randomized complete block design (RCBD) in split plot arrangement. The results indicated that Giza 123 and Giza 134 were superior the rest cultivars in almost studied traits. Increasing rates of chicken fertilizer from 0 to 3 or 6 ton.fed resulted in an increase in all studied traits under this study except harvest index which was decreased. The interaction affects significantly biological yield and spike length in both seasons, while for grain yield was in the first season, and straw yield in the second season. The application of chicken manure by the rate of 3 or 6 ton.fed reducing the mean values of soil pH and calcium carbonate (CaCO3) content after the first and second seasons. On the other hand, the electric conductivity (EC) and organic matter (OM) levels were significant increased with increasing the level of chicken manure. The high level of chicken manure (6 ton.fed) gave the highest mean values of N, P, and K after the first season than the second season.
ORIGIN AND ANTIMERIC DISTRIBUTION OF THE OBTURATOR NERVES IN THE NEW ZEALAND RABBITS

Abstract New Zealand rabbits are widely used as experimental models and represent an important casuistic in veterinary practices. The musculoskeletal conformation of rabbits frequently leads to the occurrence of lumbosacral lesions with neural involvement. In order to contribute to the comparative anatomy and the understanding of these lesions, the origin and distribution of the obturator nerves of 30 New Zealand rabbits (15 males and 15 females) previously fixed in 10% formaldehyde were studied by dissection. The obturator nerves were originated from the ventral spinal branches of L6 and L7 in 63.3% of the cases, L5 and L6 in 13.4%, only L7 in 13.4%, L7 and S1 in 6.6 % and of L6, L7 and S1 in 3.3%. The spinal segment that most contributed to the formation of the nerve was L7 (86.6% of the nerves). The obturator nerves emitted in all the specimens, a variable number of branches for the internal obturator, external obturator, pectineum, adductor and gracilis muscles. No significant differences were observed between the frequencies of the origin and muscular branches of the obturator nerves when comparing sex and antimers.
Antioxidant activity of bioactive compound produced by endophytic fungi isolated from endemic plant of South Kalimantan Mangifera casturi Kosterm

Mangifera casturi Kosterm is an endemic plant from South Kalimantan that has been listed as extinct in the wild by IUCN. Local society traditionally uses this plant to improve their overall health. In order to reduce further exploitation, the utilization of its endophytes is proposed as an alternative source of bioactive compounds for its medicinal worth. We investigated the antioxidant activity of the bioactive compounds of endophytic fungi isolated from M. casturi. Bioactive compounds of 13 endophytic fungal isolates were extracted using ethyl acetate and their antioxidant activity was evaluated using DPPH radical scavenging method. TLC-bioautography assay and GC-MS analysis were used to detect the antioxidant compounds present in the extracts. The endophytic fungi were identified morphologically and molecularly based on ITS rDNA sequence. Among 13 isolates, Aspergillus minisclerotigens AKF1 and Aspergillus oryzae DK7 exhibited the strongest antioxidant capacity with an IC50 value of 142. 96µg/mL and 145. 01µg/mL, respectively. Based on TLC- bioautography and GC-MS analysis, the most active compound in AKF1 and DK7 isolate was dihydropyran and 4H-Pyran- 4-one,5-hydroxy-2-(hydroxymethyl-(CAS) Kojic acid, respectively. This finding confirms the potential of endophytic fungi as a source of antioxidants and can be an alternative to the antioxidants produced by plants to support M. casturi conservation.Mangifera casturi Kosterm is an endemic plant from South Kalimantan that has been listed as extinct in the wild by IUCN. Local society traditionally uses this plant to improve their overall health. In order to reduce further exploitation, the utilization of its endophytes is proposed as an alternative source of bioactive compounds for its medicinal worth. We investigated the antioxidant activity of the bioactive compounds of endophytic fungi isolated from M. casturi. Bioactive compounds of 13 endophytic fungal isolates were extracted using ethyl acetate and their antioxidant activity was evaluated using DPPH radical scavenging method. TLC-bioautography assay and GC-MS analysis were used to detect the antioxidant compounds present in the extracts. The endophytic fungi were identified morphologically and molecularly based on ITS rDNA sequence. Among 13 isolates, Aspergillus minisclerotigens AKF1 and Aspergillus oryzae DK7 exhibited the strongest antioxidant capacity with an IC50 value of 142. 96µg/mL and 145.
The fitness landscape of the African Salmonella Typhimurium ST313 strain D23580 reveals unique properties of the pBT1 plasmid

We have used a transposon insertion sequencing (TIS) approach to establish the fitness landscape of the African Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium ST313 strain D23580, to complement our previous comparative genomic and functional transcriptomic studies. We used a genome-wide transposon library with insertions every 10 nucleotides to identify genes required for survival and growth in vitro and during infection of murine macrophages. The analysis revealed genomic regions important for fitness under two in vitro growth conditions. Overall, 724 coding genes were required for optimal growth in LB medium, and 851 coding genes were required for growth in SPI-2-inducing minimal medium. These findings were consistent with the essentiality analyses of other S. Typhimurium ST19 and S. Typhi strains. The global mutagenesis approach also identified 60 sRNAs and 413 intergenic regions required for growth in at least one in vitro growth condition. By infecting murine macrophages with the transposon library, we identified 68 genes that were required for intra-macrophage replication but did not impact fitness in vitro. None of these genes were unique to S. Typhimurium D23580, consistent with a high conservation of gene function between S. Typhimurium ST313 and ST19 and suggesting that novel virulence factors are not involved in the interaction of strain D23580 with murine macrophages. We discovered that transposon insertions rarely occurred in many pBT1 plasmid-encoded genes (36), compared with genes carried by the pSLT-BT virulence plasmid and other bacterial plasmids. The key essential protein encoded by pBT1 is a cysteinyl-tRNA synthetase, and our enzymological analysis revealed that the plasmid-encoded CysRSpBT1 had a lower ability to charge tRNA than the chromosomally-encoded CysRSchr enzyme. The presence of aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases in plasmids from a range of gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria suggests that plasmid-encoded essential genes are more common than had been appreciated.
STUDI RADIOSENSITIVITAS DAN ANALISIS KERAGAMAN M1 KACANG TUNGGAK (Vigna unguiculata L) HASIL INDUKSI MUTASI

Kacang tunggak sebagai salah satu kacang indigenous potensi untuk substitusi kedelai sebagai bahan dasar pembuatan tempe dan tahu. Sumber daya genetik kacang tunggak perlu ditingkatkan keragamannya sebagai sumber plasma nutfah untuk perakitan varietas unggul baru. Induksi mutasi iradiasi sinar gamma pada kacang tunggak diharapkan dapat meningkatkan keragaman. Penelitian dilaksanakan dengan iradiasi biji kacang tunggak genotipe KM-4 dengan dosis 0, 200, 400, 600 dan 800 Gy dan dianalisis untuk memperoleh LD50 dan dilakukan iradiasi kembali dengan dosis 0, LD50-100, LD50-50, LD50, LD50+50 dan LD50+100 Gy. Karakter yang diamati meliputi tinggi tanaman, lebar tajuk, panjang tangkai, panjang daun, lebar daaun, periode panen, panjang polong, jumlah biji/polong, berat biji/tanaman dan kandungan protein biji kacang tunggak. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa nilai LD50 tanaman kacang tunggak adalah 724,84 Gy, iradiasi sinar gamma pada dosis750 Gy menghasilkan keragaman tertinggi dan iradiasi sinar gamma tidak meningkatkan keragaman terhadap kandungan protein biji kacang tunggak.
Hyaluronan-Based Grafting Strategies for Liver Stem Cell Therapy and Tracking Methods

Cell adhesion is essential for survival, it plays important roles in physiological cell functions, and it is an innovative target in regenerative medicine. Among the molecular interactions and the pathways triggered during cell adhesion, the binding of cluster of differentiation 44 (CD44), a cell-surface glycoprotein involved in cell-cell interactions, to hyaluronic acid (HA), a major component of the extracellular matrix, is a crucial step. Cell therapy has emerged as a promising treatment for advanced liver diseases; however, so far, it has led to low cell engraftment and limited cell repopulation of the target tissue. Currently, different strategies are under investigation to improve cell grafting in the liver, including the use of organic and inorganic biomatrices that mimic the microenvironment of the extracellular matrix. Hyaluronans, major components of stem cell niches, are attractive candidates for coating stem cells since they improve viability, proliferation, and engraftment in damaged livers. In this review, we will discuss the new strategies that have been adopted to improve cell grafting and track cells after transplantation.
Moth assemblages in Costa Rica rain forest mirror small‐scale topographic heterogeneity

In many tropical lowland rain forests, topographic variation increases environmental heterogeneity, thus contributing to the extraordinary biodiversity of tropical lowland forests. While a growing number of studies have addressed effects of topographic differences on tropical insect communities at regional scales (e.g., along extensive elevational gradients), surprisingly little is known about topographic effects at smaller spatial scales. The present study investigates moth assemblages in a topographically heterogeneous lowland rain forest landscape, at distances of less than a few hundred meters, in the Golfo Dulce region (SW Costa Rica). Three moth lineages—Erebidae–Arctiinae (tiger and lichen moths), the bombycoid complex, and Geometridae (inchworm moths)—were examined by means of automatic light traps in three different forest types: creek forest, slope forest, and ridge forest. Altogether, 6,543 individuals of 419 species were observed. Moth assemblages differed significantly between the three forest types regarding species richness, total abundance, and species composition. Moth richness and abundance increased more than fourfold and eightfold from creek over slope to ridge forest sites. All three taxonomic units showed identical biodiversity patterns, notwithstanding their strong differences in multiple eco‐morphological traits. An indicator species analysis revealed that most species identified as characteristic were associated either with the ridge forest alone or with ridge plus slope forests, but very few with the creek forest. Despite their mobility, local moth assemblages are highly differentially filtered from the same regional species pool. Hence, variation in environmental factors significantly affects assemblages of tropical moth species at small spatial scales.
Investigation on parasitic infections associated with appendicitis and the histological changes for the infected appendixes in Samarra City, Iraq

Protozoa and parasitic helminthes are the reasons for several disorders in the human digestive tract such as diarrhea, abdominal pain, vomiting, appendicitis and intestinal ulcers. A total number of 80 appendixes specimens were collected from 36 males and 44 females. All the specimens were eradicated from appendicitis patients aged 4-50 years old who underwent a surgery. A total number 48 (60%) of 80 specimens was recorded for parasitic infections of infected appendixes. Four species of parasites were detected, the highest prevalence was Entamoeba histolytica 85.4% followed by Enterobius vermicularis 6.2%, Giardia lamblia 4.2% and Trichomonas hominis. Depending on age and gender a highest prevalence of parasitic infections of infected appendixes in the age group 11-20 years old (43.8%), while, the prevalence infection in males 56.3% was higher than females 43.7%. The present study reported different histological changes in infected appendixes according to different species of parasites when compared with control specimen.
Estimating carbon fixation of plant organs for afforestation monitoring using a process‐based ecosystem model and ecophysiological parameter optimization

Abstract Afforestation projects for mitigating CO2 emissions require to monitor the carbon fixation and plant growth as key indicators. We proposed a monitoring method for predicting carbon fixation in afforestation projects, combining a process‐based ecosystem model and field data and addressed the uncertainty of predicted carbon fixation and ecophysiological characteristics with plant growth. Carbon pools were simulated using the Biome‐BGC model tuned by parameter optimization using measured carbon density of biomass pools on an 11‐year‐old Eucommia ulmoides plantation on Loess Plateau, China. The allocation parameters fine root carbon to leaf carbon (FRC:LC) and stem carbon to leaf carbon (SC:LC), along with specific leaf area (SLA) and maximum stomatal conductance (g smax) strongly affected aboveground woody (AC) and leaf carbon (LC) density in sensitivity analysis and were selected as adjusting parameters. We assessed the uncertainty of carbon fixation and plant growth predictions by modeling three growth phases with corresponding parameters: (i) before afforestation using default parameters, (ii) early monitoring using parameters optimized with data from years 1 to 5, and (iii) updated monitoring at year 11 using parameters optimized with 11‐year data. The predicted carbon fixation and optimized parameters differed in the three phases. Overall, 30‐year average carbon fixation rate in plantation (AC, LC, belowground woody parts and soil pools) was ranged 0.14–0.35 kg‐C m−2 y−1 in simulations using parameters of phases (i)–(iii). Updating parameters by periodic field surveys reduced the uncertainty and revealed changes in ecophysiological characteristics with plant growth. This monitoring method should support management of afforestation projects by carbon fixation estimation adapting to observation gap, noncommon species and variable growing conditions such as climate change, land use change.