Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Ultrastructural observation of the mule testis indicates normal function of somatic cells

The mule (Equus mulus mulus) is a domestic animal that results from the breeding of a male donkey (Equus asinus) to a female horse (Equus caballus). The number of metacentric and acrocentric autosomal chromosomes in horses and donkeys differs approximately by one-third, resulting in pairing failure of homologous chromosomes during meiosis. Probably for this reason, spermatogenesis in mules rarely advances beyond spermatocytes and leads to sterility in this hybrid equid. The results found in a recent study developed in our laboratory, comparing testis structure and function by using light microscopy in donkeys and mules, suggested that mules’ seminiferous tubules are probably able to sustain complete spermatogenesis. In order to further investigate this hypothesis, we performed an ultrastructural analysis of Sertoli and Leydig cells in both mules and donkeys. The Sertoli cell tight-junction morphology and the morphofunctional integrity of the Sertoli cell barrier were also investigated in these species utilizing lanthanum as a tracer. The results showed that somatic cells of both donkeys and mules had similar structure and organelle morphology. This indicated that Sertoli and Leydig cell structure and function in mules were apparently normal and functional. The same was observed for Sertoli cell tight junctions and the integrity of the Sertoli cell barrier. Taken together, our results support the light microscopy data already obtained indicating that mules are potential viable candidates for transplantation of germ cells originated from donkeys, horses, and other equids.
A climatological view of HNO3 partitioning in cirrus clouds

A new in situ climatology of cirrus ice water content (IWC) is used, together with observed molar ratios of HNO3/H2O in cirrus ice particles, to estimate the range of HNO3 content in cirrus ice in the temperature interval 185–240 K. We find that nearly over the complete temperature range HNO3 percentages in ice between 0.01 and 100% are possible in cirrus clouds and that IWC is a major parameter determining the content of HNO3 in ice at given temperatures. Considering average conditions, the HNO3 content increases with decreasing temperature from 1% to about 10% in the range 240–200 K. For colder ice clouds, the average HNO3 content again decreases down to 6%. At higher temperatures, less efficient HNO3 uptake limits the HNO3 content in cirrus ice, while at low temperatures small IWCs permit only little HNO3 in ice, thus causing the convex‐shaped average HNO3 content curve. The highest HNO3 content is expected in tropical ice clouds with very large IWCs, especially at temperatures between 190 and 210 K. Thus, tropical cirrus clouds show the highest potential to vertically redistribute HNO3. Copyright © 2008 Royal Meteorological Society
Strategies for measuring and modelling carbon dioxide and water vapour fluxes over terrestrial ecosystems

Continuous and direct measurements of ecosystem carbon dioxide and water vapour fluxes can improve our ability to close regional and global carbon and hydrological budgets. On this behalf, an international and multidisciplinary group of scientists (micrometeorologists, ecophysiologists and biogeochemists) assembled at La Thuile, Italy to convene a workshop on 'Strategies for Monitoring and Modelling CO2 and Water Vapour Fluxes over Terrestrial Ecosystems'. Over the course of the week talks and discussions focused on: (i) the results from recent field studies on the annual cycle of carbon dioxide and water vapour fluxes over terrestrial ecosystems; (ii) the problems and pitfalls associated with making long-term flux measurements; (iii) altemative methods for assessing ecosystem carbon dioxide and water vapour fluxes; (iv) how direct and continuous carbon dioxide and water vapour flux measurements could be used by the ecological and biogeochemical modelling communities; and (v) if, how and where to proceed with establishing a network of long-term flux measurement sites. This report discusses the purpose of the meeting and summarizes the conclusions drawn from the discussions by the attending scientists. There was a consensus that recent advances in instrumentati on and software make possible long-term measurements of carbon dioxide and water vapour fluxes over terrestrial ecosystems. At this writing, eight research teams have conducted long-term carbon dioxide and water vapour flux experiments and more long-term studies are anticipated. The participants advocated an experimental design that would make longterm Oux measurement valuable to a wider community of modelers, biogeochemists and ecologists. A network of carbon dioxide and water vapour flux measurement stations should indude ancillary measurements of meteorologica l, ecological and biological variables. To assess spatial representativeness of the long term and tower-based flux measurements, periodic aircraft-based flux experiments and satellite-based assessments of land cover were recommended. Occasional cuvette-based measurements of leaf-level carbon dioxide and water vapour fluxes were endorsed to provide information on the biological control of surface fluxes. They can also provide data to parameterize ecophysiological models. Flask sampling of stable carbon isotopes was advocated to extend the flux measurements to the global scale.
' s personal copy Pyroxene-selective impact smelting in ureilites

A characteristic feature of ureilite meteorites is reduction of FeO. But the reduction is usually confined to the rims of olivine. In the LAR 04315, LAP 03587 and Almahata Sitta ureilites, pyroxene was extensively reduced by impact smelting. In LAR 04315, the impact caused nearly all of the original pigeonite to melt or otherwise become sufficiently structurally compromised to allow smelting, and yet a minor proportion of the pyroxene escaped smelting and survived with its original composition (En74.1Wo10.2). Olivine mosaicism confirms that LAR 04315 experienced a major shock event. The smelted pyroxenes also show a distinctive patchiness in their interference colors (although each grain’s basic optical continuity, often including twinning, is still discernible). They also have reduced compositions, are ubiquitously porous ( 15%), and contain sprinklings of Fe-metal and felsic glass. For the most part the olivine underwent only very slight reduction. Much of the (small) pyroxene component of LAP 03587 shows the same oddly porous texture. LAR 04315 also contains large traces of silica and felsic glass (with a typical composition of, in wt%, 61 SiO2, 23 Al2O3, 11 CaO, 3.7 Na2O) glass; these two phases together form selvages that line the walls of many of the largest voids in the rock. Silica is a by-product of pyroxene smelting. The felsic glass probably derives largely from interstitial basaltic melt that predated the impact. However, the comparatively stiff surrounding/ included silica may have promoted unusually high melt retention within LAR 04315 through the smelting episode (one aspect of which was a major stream-out, through the same large voids, of COx gas). The impact-smelted pyroxene of LAP 03587 is enigmatic because this ureilite also features little-shocked euhedral graphite laths and no olivine mosaicism. The fine-grained ureilitic component of Almahata Sitta appears to have likewise formed by impact smelting, but with more extensive melting of pyroxene (especially a Ca-rich pyroxene component), more pulverization and melting of olivine, and more displacement of both. However, in places the original coarse-equant ureilite texture is still discernible in relict form. Ordinarily, an impact shock melts olivine before, or at least no later than, pyroxene. But in the case of LAR 04315 and LAP 03587, the great shock event evidently occurred when the material was already anatectic or very nearly so; and thus the difference in melting temperature between pyroxene and olivine, 300 degrees lower for pyroxene, was decisive. If literature inferences of extremely fast cooling rates, implying shallow burial depths, are accurate, the proportion of COx gas generated by ureilite smelting exceeded by a very large factor (of order 10 but possibly much greater) the volume represented as porosity in the final ureilites. The outflow of so much gas may have, by near-surface explosive expansion and jetting, enhanced the thoroughness of the impacttriggered catastrophic impact disruption of the parent asteroid. 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Parameterization of Joint Frequency Distributions of Potential Temperature and Water-Vapor Mixing Ratio in the Daytime Convective Boundary Layer

Abstract Joint frequency distributions (JFDs) of potential temperature (θ) versus water vapor mixing ratio (r) within the convective boundary layer were measured during a new field experiment named Boundary Layer Experiment 1996 (BLX96). These JFDs were found to be tilted, with the tilt a function of both height and boundary layer dynamics. These distributions are also skewed and more peaked than a joint Gaussian distribution. Three different methods are used to generate joint probability density functions (JPDFs) that approximate observed JFDs. Two classical methods, one based on a Gaussian fit and another based on surface-layer processes, are reviewed. A new method is devised, which treats the observed JFD as a mixing diagram. In the absence of advection, the only source regions for air in the mixing diagram are the surface and the entrainment zone. Thus, the tilt of the JFD can be explained by various mixtures from these two source regions. Methods that can be used to parameterize the mixing JPDF are p.
The breakup of East Gondwana: Assimilating constraints from Cretaceous ocean basins around India into a best‐fit tectonic model

Published models for the Cretaceous seafloor‐spreading history of East Gondwana result in unlikely tectonic scenarios for at least one of the plate boundaries involved and/or violate particular constraints from at least one of the associated ocean basins. We link East Gondwana spreading corridors by integrating magnetic and gravity anomaly data from the Enderby Basin off East Antarctica within a regional plate kinematic framework to identify a conjugate series of east‐west‐trending magnetic anomalies, M4 to M0 (~126.7–120.4 Ma). The mid‐ocean ridge that separated Greater India from Australia‐Antarctica propagated from north to south, starting at ~136 Ma northwest of Australia, and reached the southern tip of India at ~126 Ma. Seafloor spreading in the Enderby Basin was abandoned at ~115 Ma, when a ridge jump transferred the Elan Bank and South Kerguelen Plateau to the Antarctic plate. Our revised plate kinematic model helps resolve the problem of successive two‐way strike‐slip motion between Madagascar and India seen in many previously published reconstructions and also suggests that seafloor spreading between them progressed from south to north from 94 to 84 Ma. This timing is essential for tectonic flow lines to match the curved fracture zones of the Wharton and Enderby basins, as Greater India gradually began to unzip from Madagascar from ~100 Ma. In our model, the 85‐East Ridge and Kerguelen Fracture Zone formed as conjugate flanks of a “leaky” transform fault following the ~100 Ma spreading reorganization. Our model also identifies the Afanasy Nikitin Seamounts as products of the Conrad Rise hotspot.
The hematological action of ethanol extracts of Gongronema latifolium and Ocimum gratissimum in Alloxan induced Diabetic rats

Hematological indices after treatment with low dose concentration of individual extract of gongronema latifolium (200 mg/kg), ocimum gratissimum (200 mg/kg) and combined extracts of gongronema latifolium and ocimum gratissimum (400 mg/kg) in alloxan induced diabetes mellitus was studied in rats for thirty days. The PCV, Hb concentration, RBC count, MCV, MCH and MCHC were evaluated. The results showed a significant increase (P 0.05) in MCV, MCH and MCHC. It is concluded that low dose concentration of ethanol extracts gongronema latifolium, ocimum gratissimum and/or combined extracts increased PCV, Hb concentration and RBC count without change in MCV, MCH and MCHC levels.
Cytochrome P450 Induction and Gene Expression in Channel Catfish (Ictalurus Punctatus) Following Wastewater Treatment Plant Effluent Exposure in Field and Laboratory Settings

The objectives of this study were as follows: 1) to establish a baseline ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD) activity level in channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus), 2) to assess changes in induction of cytochrome P450 enzyme in channel catfish following exposure to creek water at the discharge point from the Troy (Alabama) Wastewater Treatment Plant (TWWTP) compared to upstream samples from Walnut Creek, 3) to compare EROD activity in populations maintained in laboratory and field settings, and 4) to quantify cytochrome P450 gene expression. Enzyme activity was measured fluorometrically and CYP1 gene expression was analyzed by quantitative real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. A mean EROD baseline was established at 0.03 nmol/min/µg of protein. The overall mean field effluent (TF) EROD had a significant 5-fold increase over field upstream (UF) exposed catfish; and overall mean laboratory effluent (TL) exposed catfish EROD had a significant 1.8-fold increase over laboratory upstream (UL) exposed catfish. Field exposures generally showed more robust enzyme induction over laboratory exposures on all sampling days. Ex- pression of the CYP1B gene following TF exposure was 6-fold over UF. Results suggested that in situ exposure to wastewater pollutants using caged test organisms provided a much more sensitive local monitor of pollutant exposure and biological impact than ex situ toxicological studies.
Proteomic analysis of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid in an equine model of asthma during a natural antigen exposure trial

Background Heaves is a complex, asthma-like respiratory disease that affects many older horses. While environmental and genetic components to the disease have been proposed, the specific pathophysiology of heaves is still poorly understood. Using proteomic techniques, we compared the protein profile of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) in the lungs of healthy horses and horses affected with heaves. Methods Clinical signs of the disease were induced in heaves-affected horses using an experimental hay exposure model. Samples of BALF were collected from all horses before and after the hay exposure trial. Mass spectrometry (LC-MS) was used to evaluate the differences in the global BALF peptide profile between the control and heaves-affected horses. Tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) was used to identify differentially expressed proteins in the two groups of horses. The identification of two proteins was validated with Western blot assays. Results One hundred peptides were differentially expressed between healthy controls and heaves-affected horses; 76 peptides were over-expressed in controls and 24 were over-expressed in heaves-affected horses. The identifications of transferrin and secretoglobin were confirmed with Western blot. Conclusions This study demonstrates that proteomics can be used to compare the protein profiles of BALF from healthy and diseased horses. These techniques may prove helpful in determining the pathophysiology of complex diseases.
A Model of the Bromine/Bromide Electrode Reaction at a Rotating Disk Electrode

A mathematical model is presented for the Br/sub 2//Br/sup -/ electrode reaction at a rotating disk electrode. The model includes current density-overpotential expressions for the electrode reaction according to either the Volmer-Heyrovsky (V-H) or the Volmer-Tafel (V-T) mechanism and the transport equations including the effect of ionic migration. The model is used to predict current-overpotential curves for various cases of interest. Qualitative comparison of the model predictions to literature data shows that either the V-H or the V-T mechanism, with V controlling, may be acceptable fo the Br/sub 2//Br/sup -/ reaction.
Combining curriculum vitae and bibliometric analysis: mobility, gender and research performance

This paper demonstrates the benefits of combining curriculum vitae studies with advanced bibliometrics. Based on data from 326 CVs within one broad medical subject area we perform a cluster analysis of CV data. Data reduction produces four different groups of scientists: 1) mobile, 2) immobile, 3) excellent and 4) entrepreneurial. While it is clear that the most mobile and the least mobile researchers represent opposites also in citation performance we should acknowledge that for the large majority, with a low and medium mobility, there is no linear pattern of performance. The paper points at a double process where there are on the one hand selection processes at universities picking out ‘the winners’ and on the other hand self selection processes where researchers enhance their own performance by being mobile. Copyright , Beech Tree Publishing.
i-DPs CGRA: An Interleaved-Datapaths Reconfigurable Accelerator for Embedded Bio-Signal Processing

Smart edge sensors for bio-signal monitoring must support complex signal processing routines within an extremely small energy envelope. Coarse-grained reconfigurable arrays (CGRAs) are good candidates for tackling these conflicting objectives, because thanks to their flexibility and high computational density they can efficiently support the computational hot-spots characterizing bio-digital signal processing applications. The interleaved-datapaths (i-DPs) CGRA presented in this letter further leverages the benefits of this architectural paradigm, focusing on ultralow energy operation. Its defining feature is the complex design of its computing cells, which, by embedding multiple i-DPs, allow a high ratio between computing and control logic, effectively speeding up computations and resulting in a marginal impact on the required integrated circuit area. i-DPs increase the energy efficiency of up to 33%, with respect to a single-DP alternative, when executing common kernels in the multilead electrocardiogram signal processing field.
A 10 Years Survey of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in Northwest of Iran: Immunophenotyping Assessment and its Relation to Induction Therapy

Acute leukemia is a heterogeneous group of neoplastic diseases and is categorized into two main subgroups, myeloid and lymphoid. Therapy and prognosis differ based on the immunological type of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL). Therefore, the first step for ALL patients is the identification of the immunological subgroup by flow cytometry. The statistical population of the study constituted 134 ALL patients over 12 years old, who were morphologically diagnosed and for whom flow cytometry was performed. Laboratory data and patient records were studied and the values of hematological indices specified by flow cytometry were recorded. In terms of immunological subgroups, the following prevalence was observed from only 86 patients who had acceptable flow cytometry results: 19 (16%) patients were pro-B cell ALL, 63 (51%) were pre-B cell + B-cell and 41 (33%) were pre-T cell + T-cell. A total of 24 cases of patients in group B-ALL and 11 cases of patients in group T-ALL achieved complete remission, which was not statistically significant. Duration of remission in these patients was a secondary finding that ranged from 28 to 546 days in group B and from 45 to 220 days in group T, which was not statistically significant. Almost all the studies seem to agree that immunophenotyping is extremely important in the treatment and prognosis of ALL patients. Flow cytometry is a powerful and cost effective technique by which such antigens can be identified.
A New Framework for Direct Saliency Detection and Segmentation Based on Graph Methods

Saliency detection is an important research topic in computer vision. The traditional methods compute image saliency map, then salient segmentation is based on the corresponding saliency map. Unfortunately, overall performance of this method is poor due to the reason of losing some fine details and spatial information within image. This paper presents a new framework to overcome the drawback, named FDSRDS(Framework for Directly Salient Region Detection and Segmentation based on graph methods). Under FDSRSD, firstly, we get the foreground image by segmenting the original image via our extended grabcut algorithm. Mostly, the saliency region is within the foreground part. Secondly, we segment the foreground image into regions by means of graph based segmentation and nearest neighbor graph . Thirdly, we use relative weber's luminance rules to calculate every region’s luminance. Finally, we get the maximum luminance region which is the saliency region. Under FDSRSD framework, algorithms we proposed capture fine details and spatial relationships in saliency computation. We demonstrate impressive results by evaluating our method with other five state-of-the-art methods on the publicly available data set.
A Comparative Study of Modified and Unmodified Algae (Pediastrum boryanum) for Removal of Lead, Cadmium and Copper in Contaminated Water

The presence of heavy metals in water is of concern due to the risk toxicity. Thus there is need for their removal for the safety of consumers. Methods applied for removal of heavy metals include adsorption, membrane filtration and co-precipitation. However, studies have revealed adsorption is highly effective technique. Most adsorbents are expensive or require extensive processing before use and hence need to explore for possible sources of inexpensive adsorbents. This research work investigated the use an algal biomass (pediastrum boryanum) as an adsorbent for removal of Lead, Cadmium and Copper in waste water in its raw and modified forms. The samples were characterized with FTIR and was confirmed a successful modification with tetramethylethlynediamine (TMEDA). Sorption parameters were optimized and the material was finally applied on real water samples. It was found that the sorption was best at lower pH values (4.2-6.8). Sorption kinetics was very high as more that 90% of the metals were removed from the solution within 30 minutes. The adsorption of copper fitted into the Langmuir adsorption isotherm indicating a monolayer binding mechanism. Cadmium and lead fitted best the Freundlich adsorption mechanism. Sorption of lead and cadmium was of pseudo-second order kinetics, confirming a multisite interaction whereas copper was pseudo-first order indicating a single site adsorption. The adsorption capacity did not improve upon modification but the stability of the material was improved and secondary pollution of leaching colour was alleviated. This implies that the modified material is suitable for application on the removal of metals from water. © 2017 The Author(s). Licensee InTech. This chapter is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. © 2017 The Author(s). Licensee InTech. This chapter is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Model technique analysis sheets for the hurdles Part VII : high hurdles

The approach lo the first hurdle is of decisive importance. This is due primarily tolhe facl thai. ifoneallows2.10' 2.2()m for the distance between the take-off spot and the first hurdle, the athlele is lefl with only about 11.50-1 l.bOm in which to accelerate to the optimal take-off point. \ limited acceleralion distance applies to ihe whole race. Therefore, in order to attack the other 9 hurdles at the highest possible speed, a similar precision of approach beha\'iour musl be the goal.