Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Developments in radiocarbon calibration for archaeology

This update on radiocarbon calibration results from the 19th International Radiocarbon Conference at Oxford in April 2006, and is essential reading for all archaeologists. The way radiocarbon dates and absolute dates relate to each other differs in three periods: back to 12400 cal BP, radiocarbon dates can be calibrated with tree rings, and the calibration curve in this form should soon extend back to 18000 cal BP. Between 12400 and 26000 cal BP, the calibration curves are based on marine records, and thus are only a best estimate of atmospheric concentrations. Beyond 26000 cal BP, dates have to be based on comparison (rather than calibration) with a variety of records. Radical variations are thus possible in this period, a highly significant caveat for the dating of middle and lower Paleolithic art, artefacts and animal and human remains.
Role of symmetry and simplicity in shape disruption perception tasks

Purpose of the present research was further examination of roles of symmetry and complexity in visual perception tasks. We tested hypothesis from perceptual economy theory, and since we used shape disruptions as one of the stimulus characteristics we could also address Luccio’s two step theory concerning perception of shape disruptions on good forms. Four experiments were conducted, visual search and simultaneous and delayed matching. Symmetry and complexity were varied, as well as set size in visual search experiment. Dependent variables were reaction time and error number. In all four experiments, symmetry had dominant effect, while significant effect of complexity was registered only in Experiment 1. However, in first three experiments interaction of symmetry and complexity was also significant. Analysis of reaction times and performance suggested that our results follow the pattern suggested by perceptual economy, i.e. that symmetry is dominant in easier tasks, while complexity was significant in most difficult task. Our results couldn’t completely support Luccio’s assumption that shape disruption is better perceived on good forms, although it can’t be completely discarded.
Task sharing for family planning services, Burkina Faso

Abstract Problem In Burkina Faso, the coverage of services for family planning is low due to shortage of qualified health staff and limited access to services. Approach Following the launch of the Ouagadougou Partnership, an alliance to catalyse the expansion of family planning services, the health ministry created a consortium of family planning stakeholders in 2011. The consortium adopted a collaborative framework to implement a pilot project for task sharing in family planning at community and primary health-care centre levels in two rural districts. Stakeholders were responsible for their areas of expertise. These areas included advocacy; monitoring and evaluation; and capacity development of community health workers (CHWs) to offer oral and injectable contraceptives to new users and of auxiliary nurses and auxiliary midwives to provide implants and intrauterine devices. The health ministry implemented supportive supervision cascades involving relevant planning and service levels. Local setting In Burkina Faso, only 15% (2563/17 087) of married women used modern contraceptives in 2010. Relevant changes Adoption of new policies and clinical care standards expanded task sharing roles in family planning. The consortium trained a total of 79 CHWs and 124 auxiliary nurses and midwives. Between January 2017 and December 2018, CHWs provided injectables to 3698 new users, and auxiliary nurses or midwives provided 726 intrauterine devices and 2574 implants to new users. No safety issues were reported. Lessons learnt The pilot project was feasible and safe, however, financial constraints are hindering scale-up efforts. Supportive supervision cascades were critical in ensuring success.
Connecting teaching and research through problem based learning in thermal and automotive engineering

The effectiveness of problem based teaching in promoting experiential learning is well established. Literature highlights a number of innovative teaching techniques and case studies that have been applied to enrich curricula in thermal, automotive and product design. This paper reports on a new approach that has been adopted to invigorate undergraduate coursework in mechanical engineering design. The methods described are applied to small groups of students working in a case study, design-based, learning environment to promote understanding of thermal and automotive engineering principles. The overall challenge is to design a cooling system for an internal combustion engine. Lecture notes convey the fundamental knowledge required to accomplish the design while augmenting and linking that knowledge with the outcomes of current research in the field. This linking facet of the teaching process allows the nexus between teaching and research to be explored by the students within the PBL platform.
Characterization of a Dopamine Transporter and Its Splice Variant Reveals Novel Features of Dopaminergic Regulation in the Honey Bee

Dopamine is an important neuromodulator involved in reward-processing, movement control, motivational responses, and other aspects of behavior in most animals. In honey bees (Apis mellifera), the dopaminergic system has been implicated in an elaborate pheromonal communication network between individuals and in the differentiation of females into reproductive (queen) and sterile (worker) castes. Here we have identified and characterized a honey bee dopamine transporter (AmDAT) and a splice variant lacking exon 3 (AmDATΔex3). Both transcripts are present in the adult brain and antennae as well as at lower levels within larvae and ovaries. When expressed separately in the Xenopus oocyte system, AmDAT localizes to the oocyte surface whereas the splice variant is retained at an internal membrane. Oocytes expressing AmDAT exhibit a 12-fold increase in the uptake of [3H]dopamine relative to non-injected oocytes, whereas the AmDATΔex3-expressing oocytes show no change in [3H]dopamine transport. Electrophysiological measurements of AmDAT activity revealed it to be a high-affinity, low-capacity transporter of dopamine. The transporter also recognizes noradrenaline as a major substrate and tyramine as a minor substrate, but does not transport octopamine, L-Dopa, or serotonin. Dopamine transport via AmDAT is inhibited by cocaine in a reversible manner, but is unaffected by octopamine. Co-expression of AmDAT and AmDATΔex3 in oocytes results in a substantial reduction in AmDAT-mediated transport, which was also detected as a significant decrease in the level of AmDAT protein. This down-regulatory effect is not attributable to competition with AmDATΔex3 for ER ribosomes, nor to a general inhibition of the oocyte’s translational machinery. In vivo, the expression of both transcripts shows a high level of inter-individual variability. Gene-focused, ultra-deep amplicon sequencing detected methylation of the amdat locus at ten 5′-C-phosphate-G-3′ dinucleotides (CpGs), but only in 5–10% of all reads in whole brains or antennae. These observations, together with the localization of the amdat transcript to a few clusters of dopaminergic neurons, imply that amdat methylation is positively linked to its transcription. Our findings suggest that multiple cellular mechanisms, including gene splicing and epigenomic communication systems, may be adopted to increase the potential of a conserved gene to contribute to lineage-specific behavioral outcomes.
MR image of the intervertebral disc following discectomy

Introduction. MRI of a group of 51 patients with clinical diagnosis of discopathy of the lumbar spine has been presented. Material and methods. The patients were subject to three MR examinations (before and 6 as well as 12 weeks after the surgery). This yielded the image of the intervertebral disc in discopathy and the healing processes following discectomy. Results. MRI of the intervertebral disc 6 weeks post surgery was unspecific with no difference between recurrent hernia and post-surgical scar. For a clear image of post-surgical pathology, enhanced MRI with Gd-DTPA contrast is required.
The influences on business students to become entrepreneurs

This paper aims to find out whether there is a desire of students from eight different business administration’s colleges of Sao Paulo to start a new business. The research approach was qualitative, based on a questionnaire with open and closed questions, applied to 349 students. Through the analysis of the empirical data, the trend of young people’s great interest in entrepreneurship was observed. They are highly motivated by the opportunity they see of a new business. With respect to gender differences, it was shown that young males are more interested than young females in starting their own business, unlike other recent research. Among those who want to start a new business, most state that the family influences this choice and that the business administration college has helped to increase their interest. They believe they know little about the risks of starting a new business and need more experience. The subject of this research emerged due to the increasing participation of young people in entrepreneurial activities in Brazil. This study contributes to a greater understanding of the future entrepreneurs of the country, and points out some weaknesses and barriers in the entrepreneurial activity. Key words: Entrepreneurship in Brazil, young entrepreneurs, entrepreneurial education.
Disparate Tuberculosis Disease Development in Macaque Species Is Associated With Innate Immunity

While tuberculosis continues to afflict mankind, the immunological mechanisms underlying TB disease development are still incompletely understood. Advanced preclinical models for TB research include both rhesus and cynomolgus macaques (Macaca mulatta and Macaca fascicularis, respectively), with rhesus typically being more susceptible to acute progressive TB disease than cynomolgus macaques. To determine which immune mechanisms are responsible for this dissimilar disease development, we profiled a broad range of innate and adaptive responses, both local and peripheral, following experimental pulmonary Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) infection of both species. While T-cell and antibody responses appeared indistinguishable, we identified anti-inflammatory skewing of peripheral monocytes in rhesus and a more prominent local pro-inflammatory cytokine release profile in cynomolgus macaques associated with divergent TB disease outcome. Importantly, these differences were detectable both before and early after infection. This work shows that inflammatory and innate immune status prior to and at early stages after infection, critically affects outcome of TB infection.
SHOCK WAVES AND COSMIC RAY ACCELERATION IN THE OUTSKIRTS OF GALAXY CLUSTERS

The outskirts of galaxy clusters are continuously disturbed by mergers and gas infall along filaments, which in turn induce turbulent flow motions and shock waves. We examine the properties of shocks that form within r200 in sample galaxy clusters from structure formation simulations. While most of these shocks are weak and inefficient accelerators of cosmic rays (CRs), there are a number of strong, energetic shocks which can produce large amounts of CR protons via diffusive shock acceleration. We show that the energetic shocks reside mostly in the outskirts and a substantial fraction of them are induced by infall of the warm-hot intergalactic medium from filaments. As a result, the radial profile of the CR pressure in the intracluster medium is expected to be broad, dropping off more slowly than that of the gas pressure, and might be even temporarily inverted, peaking in the outskirts. The volume-integrated momentum spectrum of CR protons inside r200 has the power-law slope of 4.25–4.5, indicating that the average Mach number of the shocks of main CR production is in the range of CR ≈ 3–4. We suggest that some radio relics with relatively flat radio spectrum could be explained by primary electrons accelerated by energetic infall shocks with Ms ≳ 3 induced in the cluster outskirts.
Towards Adaptive Information Visualization - A Study of Information Visualization Aids and the Role of User Cognitive Style

Information Visualization systems have traditionally followed a one-size-fits-all model, whereby the same visualization is shown to each user, without taking into consideration an individual user's preferences, abilities, or context. By contrast, given the considerable cognitive effort involved in using Information Visualizations, this paper investigates the effect of an individual user's cognitive style on Information Visualization performance. In addition, this paper studies several interactive “visualization aids” (i.e., interactive overlays that can aid in visualization comprehension), as well as the effect of cognitive style on aid choices and preferences. The results from a user study show that cognitive style plays a significant role when performing tasks with Information Visualizations in general, and that there are clear differences in terms of individual aid choices and preferences. These findings also provide motivation for the development of adaptive and personalized Information Visualization systems that could better assist users according to their individual cognitive style.
Amyand's hernia without appendicitis; case report with 4-year follow-up

Amyand's hernia (AH) is a rare condition where the vermiform appendix is present in the inguinal hernia sac. Controversies exist regarding its management, particularly when the appendix is uninflamed. The current case report describes a 76-year-old male patient who was found having AH without appendicitis during the right side inguinal hernia repair. The patient underwent inguinal herniotomy and mesh repair without appendicectomy. There was no appendicitis or recurrence of hernia during the 4-year follow-up. Hence, we conclude that the appendicectomy is not routinely required in AH, if the appendix is uninflamed.
The fluid mechanics of solidification

Intense fluid motions can be generated by the solidification of a binary liquid. This review paper describes systematically some of the concepts involved in the fluid mechanics of solidification. It also presents quantitative calculations for the fluid motion, the rate of growth of solid and the evolution of both the thermal and the compositional fields in various geometries. The results of many of the calculations are favourably compared with data from laboratory experiments using aqueous solutions.
Kawasaki Disease Complicated With Macrophage Activation Syndrome: Case Reports and Literature Review

Macrophage activation syndrome (MAS) is a rare and severe complication of Kawasaki disease (KD). The clinical feature, early diagnosis and treatment options, and prognosis need to be further determined in patients with KD complicated with MAS. In this report, we retrospectively analyzed three KD patients complicated with MAS who were treated in pediatric intensive care units (PICU) and reviewed the relevant literatures. We find that being male, being age over 2 years old, incomplete KD, intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) non-responder, or persistent fever greater than 10 days are all highly associated with occurrence of MAS. Additional work-ups should be performed promptly in patient with above predisposing factors to rule out complication of MAS. Patients with KD complicated with MAS are at a higher risk of having coronary artery involvement or aneurysm formation, which can be reversed with timely treatment. Early identification and prompt treatment are key points for improving the prognosis of KD patients complicated with MAS.
Replacement of fishmeal with locally available ingredients in diet composition of Macrobrachium dayanum

The effect of locally available low cost ingredients such as silk worm pupae (SWP), soyabean meal (SBM), earth worm meal (EWM) as a replacement of fish meal (FM) on growth, survival and biochemical composition, were investigated for Macrobrachiumdayanum (0.50 g). A significantly higher rate of growth, survival and food conversion ratio(FCR) were recorded for prawns fed EWM, as compared to SWP, SBM, and FM. The proximate composition of flesh further revealed a higher level of proteins and lipids in prawns fed EWM thereby indicating EWM as a possible substitute of FM. Key words: Macrobrachium dayanum, low cost ingredients, biochemical composition.
Identification of Serum Exosomal hsa-circ-0004771 as a Novel Diagnostic Biomarker of Colorectal Cancer

Background: Exosomal circular RNAs (circRNAs) in peripheral blood are considered as emerging diagnostic biomarkers of cancers. Owing to the lack of sensitive and specific biomarkers, a large number of colorectal cancer (CRC) patients were diagnosed in advanced stages leading to high mortality. This study aimed to identify circulating exosomal circRNAs as novel diagnostic biomarkers of CRC. Materials and Methods: Candidate circRNA was selected by integrating analysis of Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database with online program GEO2R. A total of 170 patients and 45 healthy controls were enrolled to assess the diagnostic value of circRNAs for CRC. Exosomes isolated from the serum of participants and cell cultured media were confirmed by transmission electron microscope (TEM), Nanoparticle Tracking Analysis and western blot. The expression and the diagnostic utility of circRNA were tested by qRT-PCR and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis, respectively. Results: The circulating exosomal hsa-circ-0004771 with most abundant among the top ten differentially expressed circRNAs (fold change ≥1.5) was selected for further study based on the results of GEO dataset analysis. The up-regulated exosomal hsa-circ-0004771 was verified in serum of CRC patients compared to healthy controls (HCs) and patients with benign intestinal diseases (BIDs) by qRT-PCR. The area under the ROC curves (AUCs) of circulating exosomal hsa-circ-0004771 were 0.59 (95%CI, 0.457–0.725), 0.86 (95%CI, 0.785–0.933) and 0.88 (95%CI, 0.815–0.940) to differentiate BIDs, stage I/II CRC patients and CRC patients from HCs, respectively. The AUC was 0.816 (95%CI, 0.728–0.9) to differentiate stage I/II CRC patients from patients with BIDs. In addition, the elevated expression of exosomal hsa-circ-0004771 in the serum of CRC patients was tumor-derived. It was found that the expression of exosomal hsa-circ-0004771 was down-regulated expression of in the serum of postoperative CRC patients as well as cultured media of CRC cells treated with GW4869. Conclusions: Circulating exosomal hsa-circ-0004771 was significantly up-regulated in CRC patients and served as a novel potential diagnostic biomarker of CRC.
Mammal Diversity in Oil Palm Plantations and Forest Fragments in a Highly Modified Landscape in Southern Mexico

Oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) plantations are one of the most rapidly expanding agroecosystems in the tropics, including Latin America. While many studies have demonstrated that large oil palm monocultures (>100 ha) are detrimental to biodiversity, including mammals, little is known about the impact of small-scale oil palm plantations, especially in the Neotropics. Here we used a camera trapping survey to compare species richness, community structure and relative abundances of mid to large-bodied terrestrial mammals in small-scale oil palm plantations (<100 ha) and secondary forest fragments within a highly modified landscape mosaic in the southeastern lowlands of Tabasco, Mexico. Contrary to our expectations, we found no differences in the overall mammal communities between the oil palm and forest fragments, including species richness or mean relative abundance. Individual species showed some apparent differences in their total detections between the two habitats, with 11 having greater detections in forest than oil palm, and only two with greater detections in oil palm. Further, oil palm sites were more similar to one another in terms of mammal community structure than the secondary forest fragments. We found that shorter distance to forest patches was related to higher mammal species richness in both forest fragments and oil palm plantations. Twelve terrestrial mammal species known to occur in forested areas in the state of Tabasco were never detected in either vegetation type in our surveys, highlighting the fact that the mammal community in this landscape had already been reduced to those species most resilient to human disturbance. Our findings suggest that small-scale oil palm plantations in this region are used at least to some degree by most mammals that are also found in the remaining secondary forest fragments in this landscape, but that access to nearby forest is important for these species. In order to recover more of the original mammal community and prevent further reductions in biodiversity, conservation priorities should center around reducing hunting pressure, allowing forest regeneration and increasing connectivity between protected areas and along waterways.
Stories of Rural Accumulation in Africa: Trajectories and Transitions Among Rural Capitalists in Senegal

This paper analyzes primary qualitative evidence from life histories of rural capi- talists in contemporary Senegal. Various common themes in the declining literature on rural capitalism in Africa are discussed with reference to the specific individual trajectories of rural farm capitalists in Senegal. The themes include the emergence of rural capitalism in the context of protracted, uneven and gradual rural social differentiation and the various processes that have accompanied it; the condition of 'entrepreneurship' in such changing historical contexts; the symbiotic relation- ship between different spaces (loci) of accumulation, especially trade, transport and farming and the historical context in which they take place; the crucial but sometimes contradictory role of the state in spurring or constraining rural capitalist accumulation; and the variety of 'idioms of accumulation', which reflect tran- sitions and synthesis between non-capitalist and capitalist forms of labour surplus appropriation at the level of individual capitalists, despite some uniformity in the general logic of capital and the spread of capitalist relations of production and exchange. The paper also discusses the methodological power and limitations of oral narratives as a method to gather evidence on long-term processes of agrarian change and accumulation in rural Africa. Finally, the life histories shed some light on the origins of rural capitalists and show that there is a combination of instances of 'capitalism from above' and 'from below' but that no dominant pattern can be clearly discerned at least in the space of one or two generations.
Exchange of a Conjugative Plasmid At Different Soil Moisture Levels Between Streptomyces Species Colonizing Artificial Soil Aggregates

Spores of a Streptomyces lividans strain (donor) bearing the recombinant conjugative plasmid pIJ303, which codes for thiostrepton resistance, and spores of a plasmid-free Streptomyces parvulus strain (recipient) were added together to finelysieved, sterile silt loam soil. This bulk soil was adjusted to either 20%, 35% or 45% of the soil’s water holding capacity. To this inoculated bulk soil were added sterile, nutrientamended, artificial soil aggregates. After incubation to allow streptomycete growth and aggregate colonization, both the sieved bulk soil and the aggregates were assayed for numbers of transconjugants by spreadplanting on a thiostrepton – agar selective medium. This allowed estimation of parental ability to colonize nutrient – rich soil sites at different soil moisture levels, and comparison of plasmid exchange frequency in the nonamended bulk soil versus the nutrient – rich soil aggregates. Plasmid exchange was detected only on aggregates of about 20% water holding capacity or less (4.2% wt/wt H20). The soil moisture threshold for heterotrophic streptomycete activity appeared to lie between 2.87% and 4.2% wt/wt H20 for the nutrientamended soil aggregates.