Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Investigation of Leptin gene in broiler and layer chicken lines

Leptin, a polypeptide hormone secreted mainly by adipose tissue, plays an important role in feed intake regulation, energy metabolism and reproduction in several species. Its function has been intensively studied in mammals; however, in birds limited information is available. The cDNA sequence for chicken leptin has been reported, and high hepatic expression levels of leptin were associated with fat deposition in selected bird lines. However, controversies still remain concerning to the chicken leptin gene and several authors failed to amplify this gene from genomic DNA or cDNA. In view of this controversy and the importance of this gene, the present study aimed to investigate the leptin gene in a population of birds developed by Embrapa Swine and Poultry Research Center (Brazil). First of all, the sequences of Gallus gallus leptin gene (GenBank AF012727) and Mus musculus (GenBank NM_008493) were aligned with the objective of designing primers in conserved regions among the two species, since 94.6% of similarity is described in the literature in those species. For all four pairs of primers designed, several amplification tests were performed with both DNA and cDNA, but neither unique fragment nor expected band size was ever achieved. The leptin sequence in GenBank does not represent the sequence of the chicken leptin gene.
Is Absence of Spontaneous Agglutinates of Spermatozoa in Semen a Reliable Indicator of Non-Autosensization against Human Sperm Antigens?

Objective: Here we compared the results of a prospective study systematically screening for antisperm antibodies in a cohort of subfertile males to the results of a previous retrospective study in equally subfertile patients where screening for antisperm antibodies was performed solely if semen presented spontaneous agglutinates of sperm. Methods: The prospective study was conducted on 317 semen analyses between 1 September 2014 and 9 December 2015 and the retrospective study investigated 2823 semen analyses performed between 1 April 2004 and 31 March 2014. Sperm parameter analysis used exactly the same techniques across patients in both studies. Screening for IgG and IgA class antisperm antibodies was performed by using the direct (in-semen) MAR test with immunobeads. Results: Retrospectively, 76 (2.69%) of the 2823 patients in the cohort had a positive MAR test after presenting semen showing sperm agglutination. Compared to this group, the prospective study found a significantly higher number of patients presenting antisperm antibodies (positive MAR test in 25 patients, i.e. 7.88%). Of these 25 patients, IgA and mixed (IgG and IgA) class antisperm antibodies were significantly higher in the prospective group than those in the retrospective group. Conclusion: Given how antisperm antibodies can damagingly block or hamper different prefertilization and possibly postfertilization events, screening for antisperm antibodies solely on the basis of sperm agglutinates does not look adequate. This study advocates making screening for autoimmunity to sperm a routine part of the basic workup for male subfertility.
On the Undesirability of Commodity Taxation Even When Income Taxation is Not Optimal

An important result due to Atkinson and Stiglitz (1976) is that differential commodity taxation is not optimal in the presence of an optimal nonlinear income tax (given weak separability of utility between labor and all consumption goods). This article demonstrates that their conclusion holds regardless of whether the income tax is optimal. In particular, given any commodity tax and income tax system, differential commodity taxation can be eliminated in a manner that results in a Pareto improvement. Also, differential commodity taxation can be proportionally reduced so as to generate a Pareto improvement. In addition, for commodity tax reforms that do not eliminate or proportionally reduce differential taxation, a simple efficiency condition is offered for determining whether a Pareto improvement is possible.
Energy rate prediction using an equivalent thrust setting profile

Ground-based aircraft trajectory prediction is a major concern in air traffic management. A safe and efficient prediction is a prerequisite for the implementation of automated tools that detect and solve conflicts between trajectories. This paper focuses on the climb phase because predictions are less accurate in this phase. The Eurocontrol BADA1 model, as a total energy model, relies on the prediction of energy rate. In a kinetic model, this energy rate comes from the power provided by the forces applied to the aircraft. Computing these forces requires knowledge of the aircraft state (mass, airspeed, etc), atmospheric conditions (wind, temperature) and aircraft intent (maximum climb thrust or reduced climb thrust, for example). Some of this information like the mass and thrust setting are not available to ground-based systems. In this paper, we try to infer an equivalent weight and an equivalent thrust profile. These parameters are not meant to be true, however they are designed to improve the energy rate prediction. One common thrust setting profile for all the trajectories is built. This thrust profile is designed in such a way that the estimated equivalent weight provides a good energy rate prediction. We have compared the energy rate prediction using these equivalent parameters and BADA standard parameters.
BACTERIAL SPECTRUM AND PATTERN OF ANTIMICROBIAL SENSITIVITY AMONG OUTPATIENTS WITH PNEUMONIA IN A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL

OBJECTIVES: To outline the spectrum of bacteria causing pneumonia and the pattern of antimicrobial sensitivity in outpatients with pneumonia in a tertiary care hospital in Himachal Pradesh. METHODS: Sputum of 108 immuno competent pneumonia patients attending outpatient departments of Medicine and Pulmonary medicine of Dr. R. P. Government Medical College, Kangra at Tanda was sent for Gram staining and culture and sensitivity testing. RESULTS: Commensals were detected in most of the cases (32, 29.6%) followed by Staphylococcus aureus in 17(15.7%) and Streptococcus pneumoniae in 16(14.8%). This was followed by three Gram negative organisms namely E Coli (11, 10.2%), Pseudomonas (10, 9.2%) and Klebsiella (8, 7.2%). No growth was obtained in 7(6.5%) and other organisms were isolated in 7(6.5%) specimens. Staphylococcus aureus was sensitive to vancomycin, clindamycin, cefoxitin, azithromycin and cotrimoxazole. Streptococcus pneumoniae was found to be sensitive to vancomycin, clindamycin, gentamicin, azithromycin, penicillin, cotrimoxazole, amoxicillin+clavulanic acid. Klebsiella was found to be sensitive to imipenem, azithromycin, ciprofloxacin, gentamicin and amoxicillin+clavulanic acid. E coli was sensitive to imipenem, gentamicin and amoxicillin+clavulanic acid. Pseudomonas aeruginosa was found to be sensitive to gentamicin, ceftazidime, imipenem, ticarcillin and piperacillin. CONCLUSION: Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pneumoniae are the commonest organism causing pneumonia. Streptococcus pneumoniae is resistant to many antibiotics. Azithromycin can be the first line therapy for pneumonia.
Structure, Composition and Diversity of Horticulture Trees and Agricultural Crops Productivity under Traditional Agri-Horticulture System in Mid Hill Situation of Garhwal Himalaya, India

Productivity of agricultural crops under traditional agri-hortculture system alongwith structure, composition and diversity of fruit trees and shrub species in mid hill situation of Garhwal Himalaya, India between 1000 to 2000 m asl during summer and winter seasons on northern and southern aspect were studied. The tree density, composition and diversity in the system varied depending upon aspect, landholding and requirements of the farmers. A total of 12 fruit tree species were recorded in agri-horticulture system; of which 4 trees were common in northern and southern aspect and 6 trees were only noticed in northern aspect while 2 in the southern. The apple tree (Malus domestica) was recorded to be dominant fruit tree species with highest IVI values on both northern and southern aspect with prime preference by the farmers for high additional economic return in agri-horticulture system. Among the shrubs, the 6 shrub species were recorded on the northern aspect whereas there number was 16 on southern aspect. The agricultural crop diversity was higher on the northern aspect in summer and winter season. The average annual productivity of grain under agri-horticulture system recorded 1106 kg·ha–1·year–1 on northern aspect and 1122 kg·ha–1·year–1 on southern with a reduction of 34.56% and 38.29% compared to the sole agriculture crops. The aspect and season also played significantly role in grain, straw and biological productivity of agricultural crops present in agri-horticulture and sole cropping systems. In general there was reduction in yield of agricultural crops under fruit trees but this reduction is supplemented by fruit production which support and sustain the rural community of this hilly region.
Varying Pause Time Effect on AODV, DSR and DSDV Performance

A mobile ad hoc network is a collection of wireless nodes without any fixed structure and connected with each other through wireless links. MANETs have self-organized topology in which mobile nodes are free to move, as a result establishing a stable and reliable network is a difficult and critical task. Nodes in Nobile Ad-hoc network acts as sender, receiver and router for communicating data and control packets. Using NS-2 simulator Performance of AODV, DSDV and DSR is analyzed under varying pause time in this paper. Performance of these routing protocols are analyzed on the base of following performance metrics: packet delivery ratio, average end to end delay, throughput, no of sent packets, no of receive packets, no of routing packets, normalized routing load and no of dropped packets under variant Pause time. Results of Comparison analysis of Routing Protocols are generated with the help of Simulation in the form of graphs. The simulation result shows the significance of each protocol in different situations. We believe that this study will provide comprehensive comparative study of AODV, DSR and DSDV based on varying pause time at one place, which will help the researcher to further investigate any particular metrics value of particular protocol.
Tracing organic matter sources of estuarine tidal flat nematodes with stable carbon isotopes

The present study explores the use of stable carbon isotopes to trace organic matter sources of intertidal nematodes in the Schelde estuary (SW Netherlands). Stable carbon isotope sig- natures of nematodes from a saltmarsh and 4 tidal flat stations were determined in spring and winter situations, and compared to isotope ratios of organic matter sources within the estuary. Nematodes collected from fine sandy tidal flat sediments in late spring and during mild and sunny late winter weather had δ 13 C values consistent with microphytobenthos as their prime carbon source. Nema- todes from a silty station and individuals sampled under cold and dark winter conditions had δ 13 C values intermediate between those of microalgae and particulate organic matter. The isotopic signa- tures of nematodes from the saltmarsh station were intermediate between those of microalgae, Spartina anglica-litter and particulate organic matter. An in situ H 13 CO3 - spike experiment at 2 tidal flat stations corroborated the importance of microphytobenthos as a carbon source for nematodes, yet at the same time contradicted the hypothesis that direct grazing would be the main pathway of microalgal carbon to nematode consumers. A laboratory experiment adding 13 C-labeled algal detri- tus to sediment microcosms demonstrated the nematodes' ability to rapidly utilize settling organic matter too. Incorporation of carbon from phytodetritus by subsurface nematodes in both enrichment experiments was high, but, compared to carbon utilization by surface individuals, showed time-lags largely consistent with sediment mixing rates. A combination of observed natural isotope signatures and experimental results suggests that tidal flat nematodes preferentially utilize labile organic car- bon derived from microphytobenthos or settling phytoplankton; organic matter from terrestrial or riverine origin does not contribute significantly to the diet of nematodes at our study sites.
ON THE CONSTITUTIVE MODELING AND NUMERICAL IMPLEMENTATION OF SHAPE MEMORY ALLOYS UNDER MULTIAXIAL LOADINGS - PART I: CONSTITUTIVE MODEL DEVELOPMENT AT SMALL AND FINITE STRAINS

In this two-part paper, we review different aspects of shape memory alloys (SMAs), i.e., experimental observations, constitutive model development, numerical implementation and finite deformation effects. In Part I, we present a short review on different mechanical behaviors of SMAs and classify them into primary and secondary effects which somehow shows the degree of importance of each behavior in different applications. We then present different approaches in constitutive modeling and highlight the phenomenological ones based on continuum thermodynamics with internal variables. Afterward, we propose a general structure of a SMA constitutive model in the small strain regime able to capture only primary effects. Moreover, we mention some recently proposed constitutive models and compare them from different aspects. We show that the proposed constitutive model has a general form and includes several constitutive models available in the literature. We then extend a small-strain constitutive model into a finite strain regime. We specifically consider the approaches based on the multiplicative decomposition of the deformation gradient into elastic and transformation parts and review the so far proposed constitutive models available in the literature. We investigate some improvements for finite strain constitutive models from theoretical point of view. As an important part of this study, we present the numerical counterpart in Part II.
Response of the East African climate to orbital forcing during the last interglacial (130-117 ka) and the early last glacial (117-60 ka)

Variations in the temporal and spatial distribution of solar radiation caused by changes in Earth9s orbit provide a partial explanation for observed long-term fluctuations in African lake levels. The understanding of causal links between insolation changes and lake- level fluctuations is essential for the design of models predicting future changes in the hydrological budgets and water supply in Africa. Here we present a record of climate change in East Africa between 175 and 60 ka. This time span includes the last interglacial (the Eemian, 130–117 ka), which may provide the closest analogue to the present interglacial. Assessments of the nature and timing of East African climate changes are based on lake-level fluctuations of Lake Naivasha (Kenya) inferred from sediment characteristics, diatom assemblages, and 40 Ar/ 39 Ar dating. Our results show dramatic alternation between deep, freshwater and shallow, highly alkaline lake conditions. The Lake Naivasha record demonstrates that periods of increased humidity in East Africa mainly follow precessional insolation forcing in spring, causing more intense April–May rains every 23 k.y.
Assessment of Heavy Metals in the Water of Sahastradhara Hill Stream at Dehradun, India

A study on heavy metals assessment in the water of Sahastradhara hill-stream was conducted with different five sites at significant differences. The present paper deals with the water quality status of Sahastradhara stream by the assessment of heavy metals. Heavy Metals were found in fluctuated trend from first upstream to last downstream. The values of almost all Heavy Metals were found in increasing manner especially after the fourth sampling site. After the third sampling station, a solid waste dumping site was found. So, there may be a relation between heavy metals in stream water and solid waste dumping site. Concentrations of all Heavy Metals at fourth and fifth sampling site were found very high. DOI: http://dx.doi. org/10.3126/ije.v3i3. 11076 International Journal of Environment Vol.3(3) 2014: 164-172
1 CEO DUALITY AND FIRM PERFORMANCE REVISITED

This paper replicates and extends the empirical work of Boyd’s 1995 article: CEO Duality and Firm Performance: A Contingency Model. We retest Boyd’s hypotheses using a database of over 11,000 Swedish firms from the year 2005 to 2009. Similar to Boyd, we find that CEO duality is positively correlated to firm performance and the effect varies across environmental dimensions of munificence, dynamism and complexity. Using quantile regression, we also show that the positive impact of CEO duality increases by firm performance. Our findings hold after we control for potential endogeneity concerns.
Culture-independent characterization of the bacterioplankton community composition of a mesotrophic reservoir (Embalse Río III, Argentina)

This study represents the first analysis of the bacterioplankton community structure from a freshwater reservoir of Argentina using amplification of the entire 16S rDNA gene. It includes the description and the phylogenetic relationships of the bacterioplankton community from the photic and aphotic layers of the Rio III Reservoir in Cordoba, Argentina. The classical ecological approach indicated that the photic layer had greater diversity whereas the aphotic layer had a better distribution of species and higher abundance. Nevertheless, when the microbial communities in both layers were compared using phylogenetic information, this analysis indicated that both environments were similar and that neither was enriched for any particular lineage. The phyla present in the Rio III reservoir were Acidobacteria, Actinobacteria, and Proteobacteria and the 2 dominant species in both layers were “Candidatus Planktophila sp. ” (class Actinobacteria) and Polynucleobacter sp. (class Betaproteobacteria).
Optimization and experimental verification of coplanar interdigital electroadhesives

A simplified and novel theoretical model for coplanar interdigital electroadhesives has been presented in this paper. The model has been verified based on a mechatronic and reconfigurable testing platform, and a repeatable testing procedure. The theoretical results have shown that, for interdigital electroadhesive pads to achieve the maximum electroadhesive forces on non-conductive substrates, there is an optimum electrode width/space between electrodes (width/space) ratio, approximately 1.8. On conductive substrates, however, the width/space ratio should be as large as possible. The 2D electrostatic simulation results have shown that, the optimum ratio is significantly affected by the existence of the air gap and substrate thickness variation. A novel analysis of the force between the electroadhesive pad and the substrate has highlighted the inappropriateness to derive the normal forces by the division of the measured shear forces and the friction coefficients. In addition, the electroadhesive forces obtained in a 5 d period in an ambient environment have highlighted the importance of controlling the environment when testing the pads to validate the models. Based on the confident experimental platform and procedure, the results obtained have validated the theoretical results. The results are useful insights for the investigation into environmentally stable and optimized electroadhesives.
Investigating the Impact of Environmental Factors on Learning and Academic Achievement of Elementary Students: Review

The learning environment dramatically affects the learning outcomes of students. Schools' open space and noise, inappropriate temperature, insufficient light, overcrowded classes, misplaced boards and inappropriate classroom layout all make up factors that could be confounding variables distracting students in class. This study was conducted to examine the Investigating the impact of environmental factors(schools' open space, noise, lighting and painted in educational institutions) on learning and academic achievement of elementary students. Survey of literature data from Iran Medex, Magiran, Iran Journal, SID, PubMed/Medline, Google Scholar, Scopus and ISI Web of Knowledge. Database without language restriction, since 2000 sources, with the MeSH term "Impact of schools' open space and Noise and Lighting and Painted Educational Institutions on Learning and Academic Achievement of Elementary Students". At first, 252 articles were found by searching thoroughly in the databases among which 39 articles were selected according to the medical education experts’ advices. Analysis of data extraction and quality evaluation of the Literature were performed independently by two investigators. The results showed that noise in educational institutions has a negative and appropriate coloring, lighting of educational environment and schools' open space has impact on learning and academic achievement of elementary school students. Our results suggest that educational managers of country must consider environmental factors in designing educational environments.
Biocontrol of Botrytis allii Munn the Causal Agent of Neck Rot, the Post Harvest Disease in Onion, by use of a New Iranian Isolate of Streptomyces

Problem statement: Soil actinomycetes particularly Streptomyces spp. have showed antagonistic activity against wide range of plant pathogens. In the recent decades they have attracted high interests as biocontrol agents. Onion neck rot or gray mold caused by Botrytis allii have imposed economic post harvest damages to onion bulbs and decreased its storage durability and market value. Approach: To investigate for biocontrol means against the pathogen, antagonistic activity of 50 isolates of soil Actinomycetes were assayed through agar disk method and dual culture bioassays. Active isolates were exposed to chloroform for detection of antibiotic. Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) value and solubility of active crude extract in organic solvents were determined for Streptomyces isolate No. 347 which showed a unique and stable property of inhibiting Botrytis allii. To investigate the antagonistic effect of Streptomyces isolate No 347 on control of onion gray mold, four different treatments were tested by means of Tukey HSD test. Results: From the tested isolates, 13 showed anti gray mold activities. Exposure of active isolates to chloroform revealed that Streptomyces isolates No 347, 263 and 350 retained their antifungal activities. The active metabolite(s) of Streptomyces isolate No 347 was polar, soluble in H2O but insoluble in chloroform and methanol. MIC of the crude was determined as 0.05 mg mL-1 against B. allii. Stability of the active crude in distilled water at room temperature (12-30°C) was about 6 months. Statistical studies indicated that Streptomyces isolates No 347 can decrease losses of neck rot with significant level (p<0.05). Conclusion: The future goals include investigation of the antifungal genes in active isolates as candidates for genetic engineering of onion for increased tolerance against B. allii.