Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Nutritional Analysis of Three Commonly Consumed Varieties of Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.) in Bauchi State, Nigeria

Three sorghum samples (yellow, red, and white sorghums) were analyzed for their proximate, vitamin (B1, B3, B6) and mineral element (Mg, Na, K, Ca, Fe, Zn, Cu and Mn) compositions. Vitamins and mineral compositions were determined using HPLC and AAS respectively. The results of the proximate analysis revealed that there was no significant difference (p ≤ 0.05) in the ash, crude fibre, crude protein and carbohydrate content of the three samples. The difference in the moisture and fat content were significant (p ≤ 0.05). The moisture content of white and red sorghum and white and yellow sorghums was significantly different (p ≤ 0.05) while the difference in the moisture of red and yellow sorghums was not significant (p ≤ 0.05). The fat content of white and red sorghum are significantly different (p ≤ 0.05) while the difference between the fat content of white and yellow and red and yellow sorghums were not significant (p ≤ 0.05). White sorghum has higher percentage of moisture and fat 11.90±0.36 & 9.26±1.81 respectively. Red sorghum has higher percentage of ash and protein 2.32±0.68 & 6.08±0.40 respectively. Yellow sorghum has higher percentage of fibre and carbohydrate 2.41±1.44 & 73.53±1.87 respectively. The HPLC vitamin analysis showed that sorghum has low vitamin B1 (thiamine), B3 (niacin), B6 (pyridoxine) content and did not meet the recommended dietary allowance of the world health organization, although red sorghum was richer in all the vitamins analyzed, followed by yellow sorghum and then white sorghum which has the lowest vitamin content. The AAS results for the mineral elements revealed that all the three sorghum varieties contains all the mineral elements analyzed except for white sorghum which does not show any trace of copper. Statistical analysis on the mineral elements of the three sorghum showed that there were no significant difference (p ≤ 0.05) in all the mineral elements analysed with respect to each of the samples except for calcium that showed a significant difference (p ≤ 0.05). The difference in the calcium content between white and red sorghum and red and yellow sorghum was significant (p ≤ 0.05) while the difference was not significant (p ≤ 0.05) between the white and yellow sorghum. It was also found that the three sorghum varieties are richer in potassium, zinc and sodium and low in the other mineral elements analyzed. The proximate analysis revealed that sorghum samples contain appreciable nutrient contents and vitamin analysis shows that red sorghum is nutritionally more valuable than the white and yellow sorghum. Keywords : Mineral elements, Proximate Composition, Sorghum and Vitamins
Long Non-coding RNA TUG1 Sponges Mir-145a-5p to Regulate Microglial Polarization After Oxygen-Glucose Deprivation

Microglia plays a critical role in neuroinflammation after ischemic stroke by releasing diverse inflammatory cytokines. Long non-coding RNA taurine up-regulated gene 1 (lncRNA TUG1) is widely expressed in adult brain and has been reported to participate in multiple biological processes associated with nervous system diseases. However, the role of TUG1 in microglial activation remains unidentified. BV-2 microglial cells were cultured in vitro and TUG1 siRNA was used to knock down its RNA level. Microglial cells were subjected to oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) for 4 h following TUG1 siRNA or scramble siRNA transient transfection. After 24 h reoxygenation, TUG1 level and microglial M1/M2 phenotype, as well as releasing inflammatory cytokines and their role to viability of SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells were determined by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR), ELISA, immunofluorescence and western blot. In addition, miR-145a-5p, a putative microRNA to bind with TUG1 by bioinformatics analysis, was simultaneously examined, then the interaction of TUG1 with miR-145a-5p and the potential involvement of NF-κB pathway were further evaluated by RNA-RNA pull-down assay and western blot. The cellular level of TUG1 was transiently up-regulated in microglial cells 24 h after OGD treatment, with an inverse correlation to downregulated miR-145a-5p. TUG1 knockdown drove microglial M1-like to M2-like phenotypic transformation with reduced production of pro-inflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor-α, TNF-α; interleukin-6, IL-6) and incremental release of anti-inflammatory cytokine (interleukin-10, IL-10), as a result, promoted the survival of SH-SY5Y cells. Meanwhile, TUG1 knockdown prevented OGD-induced activation of NF-κB pathway as well, represented by decreased ratios of p-p65/p65 and p-IκBα/IκBα proteins. Furthermore, we found that TUG1 could physically bind to miR-145a-5p while miR-145a-5p inhibitor abolished the protective effects of TUG1 knockdown through activation of NF-κB pathway, suggesting a negative interaction between TUG1 and miR-145a-5p. Our study demonstrated that lncRNA TUG1, sponging miR-145a-5p with negative interaction, could regulate microglial polarization and production of inflammatory cytokines at a relatively early stage after OGD insult, where NF-κB pathway might be involved, possibly providing a promising therapeutic target against inflammatory injury.
Global adaptation confounds the search for local adaptation

Spatially varying selection promotes variance in allele frequencies, increasing genetic differentiation between the demes of a metapopulation. For that reason, outliers in the genome wide distribution of summary statistics measuring genetic differentiation, such as FST, are often interpreted as evidence for alleles which contribute to local adaptation. However, in spatially structured populations, the spread of beneficial mutations with spatially uniform effects can also induce transient genetic differentiation and numerous theoretical studies have suggested that species-wide, or global, adaptation makes a substantial contribution to molecular evolution. In this study, we ask whether such global adaptation affects the genome-wide distribution of FST and generates statistical outliers which could be mistaken for local adaptation. Using forward-in-time population genetic simulations assuming parameters for the rate and strength of beneficial mutations similar to those that have been estimated for natural populations, we show the spread of globally beneficial in parapatric populations can readily generate FST outliers, which may be misinterpreted as evidence for local adaptation. The spread of beneficial mutations causes selective sweeps at flanking sites, so the effects of global versus local adaptation may be distinguished by examining patterns of nucleotide diversity along with FST. Our study suggests that global adaptation should be considered in the interpretation of genome-scan results and the design of future studies aimed at understanding the genetic basis of local adaptation.
An Efficient DNA Extraction Method for Lactobacillus casei, a Difficult-to-Lyse Bacterium

Background: There are several protocols to extract DNA from Lactobacillus spp. In the case of L. casei it is harder because of its especial and thick cell wall. Objectives: In this study, nine DNA extraction protocols (by lysozyme treatment) were evaluated and compared in two categories (traditional and kit-based protocols) and an improved method was presented. Materials and Methods: DNA quantity and quality was determined by spectrophotometry, agarose gel electrophoresis and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Results: The results revealed that the yield of extracted DNA differed by each protocol (5.8 - 17.1 μg/100 μL), but provided appropriate DNA for PCR amplification. The modified protocol offered the best total DNA extraction method when both quality (DNA purity; 1.54 μg) and quantity (DNA yield; 17.1 μg) were considered. Conclusions: We suggest this protocol for effective and inexpensive DNA isolation from L. casei for downstream biological processes such as PCR.
Ecolocación en murciélagos: estudios desde una perspectiva ecológica y evolutiva

SE ESTUDIA LA VARIACION INTRAESPECIFICA DE LA FRECUENCIA DE LOS SONIDOS DE ECOLOCACION DE LOS MURCIELAGOS RHINOLOPHOIDEOS, EN RELACION CON SU TAMANO CORPORAL Y LAS POSIBLES PRESIONES ADAPTATIVAS SOBRE EL SISTEMA DE ECOLOCACION. EN PRIMER LUGAR SE R. FERRUMEQUINUM EN LA ONTOGENIA, CON LA EAD Y LA TEMPERATURA. TAMBIEN SE EXAMINA LA VARIACION INTRACOLONIAL Y SU RELACION CON LA VARIACION EN EL TAMANO DE LOS INDIVIDUOS Y SU SEXO, ASI COMO LA PROPORCION DE VARIANZA QUE ES GENETICA. ESTUDIAMOS DE FORMA ANALITICA EL CARACTER ADAPTATIVO DEL VALOR DE LA FRECUENCIA Y SE EXPONEN LAS POTENCIALES PRESIONES ADAPTATIVAS QUE PUEDEN DIRIGIR SU DERROTERO EVOLUTIVO. FINALMENTE SE EXAMINA LA VARIACION INTERPOBLACIONAL DEBIDA A FACTORES BIOGEOGRAFICOS Y AL SEXO, Y SUS RELACIONES CON EL TAMANO CORPORAL, LA CONDICION FISICA Y LAS CIRCUNSTANCIAS INTERESPECIFICAS EN UNA SERIE DE ESPECIES: RHINOLOPHUS FERRUMEQUINUM, R. EURYALE, R. MEHELYI, HIPPOSIDEROS RUBER E H. COMMERSONI.
Quality in Exports Hylke Vandenbussche

The measurement of quality is a difficult task given that quality typically is an unobserved product characteristic. In this paper we develop a new “Quality Indicator” based on a structural model with an identifiable quality parameter. We follow the methodology proposed by Di Comité, Thisse and Vandenbussche (2014). This method offers an easy way to generate product-level quality ranks of exported products (manufacturing CN8). Moreover, it overcomes some of the flaws present in other quality measures. The quality metric used here is an improvement over existing ones, since it disentangles quality from cost and taste effects. A failure to do so, results in quality effects that are wrongly identified. Product-level export price data come from Comext (Eurostat) and cost data are obtained from the firm-level database ORBIS. When we apply this method on individual EU countries exports' of products to a common destination, we obtain distributions of "export quality" and its change over time in the period (2007-2011). A striking finding is the large extent of quality dynamics going on in the EU market. We show that quality can run in a different direction than market share i.e. products with the largest market shares, need not have the highest quality. We also estimate a price elasticity of quality which is positive and significant. This suggests that quality upgrading results in a higher willingness to pay by consumers and therefore offers a way to escape cost competition. JEL Classification: D43, F12.
"Going Going....." Why Are Males Underrepresented in Pre-Service Primary Education Courses at University?.

This sociological qualitative study identifies reasons why female pre-service teachers believe males are underrepresented in primary education courses at Australian universities. The findings of the study suggest that the nineteenth century naturalistic discourse of nurturance continues to sustain the notion that primary school teaching is a female profession. The study argues that this socially-conservative gender discourse remains essentially unchallenged and maintains a significant negative influence on males’ willingness to take up a career in primary teaching.
Callus Induction from the Leaves and Organogenesis from the Leaf induced Calli of Piper longum L.

Piper longum L. belonging to the family Piperaceae is native to the IndoMalayan region. It is wild in tropical rainforest of India, Nepal, Indonesia, Malaysia, Srilanka, Timor and Phillippines (Chauhan et al., 2011). In Nepal, it is distributed in various shady places at elevations up to 800 meters. (Manandhar and Manandhar, 2002). Piper longum L. is a climbing shrub up to 3 meters long. Young shoots are downy, leaves 5-9 cm long and 5 cm wide, ovate, cordate with broad rounded lobes at base, sub-acute, entire and glabrous. Flowers are unisexual. They are in solitary, erect spikes. Female spikes (1.25-2 cm) are smaller than male spikes (2.5-7.5 cm). Fruits (2.5 to 3.5 cm long and 5mm thick) grow in fleshy spikes which are oblong, blunt and of blackish green color. (Kumar et al., 2011).
Solar Electric Power System Analyses for Mars Surface Missions

The electric power system is a crucial element of any architecture supporting human surface exploration of Mars. In this paper, we describe the conceptual design and detailed analysis of solar electric power system using photovoltaics and regenerative fuel cells to provide surface power on Mars. System performance, mass and deployed area predictions are discussed along with the myriad environmental factors and trade study results that helped to guide system design choices. Based on this work, we have developed a credible solar electric power option that satisfies the surface power requirements of a human Mars mission. The power system option described in this paper has a mass of ~10 metric tons, a ~5000-m2 deployable photovoltaic array using thin film solar cell technology.
Sexual dimorphism of the thoracic vertebrae in a modern Cretan population: a comparison of the individual vertebrae in terms of accuracy in estimating sex.

Estimation of sex is one of the first steps when developing a biological profile for recovered human remains. Several studies have been concerned with sexual dimorphism in the human vertebrae in general, yet few are concerned specifically with the thoracic vertebrae. This thesis examines the presence and extent of sexual dimorphism in the thoracic vertebrae of a documented Greek population from the island of Crete, and establishes a method for sex assessment. A total of 16 linear measurements were taken from all twelve thoracic vertebrae, using a sample of 70 adult individuals. Out of the 16 measurements, the minimum number of dimorphic variables in a vertebra was eleven. The univariate discriminant function analysis yielded results with up to 89.4% total accuracy. Using a stepwise method of discriminant function analysis, two variables in T1 predicted sex with 90.6% total accuracy. In comparison to previous research on other vertebrae, the current study yielded similar results in terms of accuracy and significance of individual variables. Nevertheless, comparative data for thoracic vertebrae are only available for T12. The applicability of this method to other collections cannot be drawn, as no similar studies exist. It is concluded that the thoracic vertebrae of the Greek population are sexually dimorphic and that the method used in this study shows great potential. Nevertheless, it needs to be tested in other populations in order to further evaluate its applicability.
Preliminary phytochemical screening of Eichhornia crassipes: the world’s worst aquatic weed

Eichhornia crassipes is so called menace and nuisance is considered as the world’s worst aquatic plant but a highly productive aquatic weed that causes a serious hindrance to nation’s development activities. The present investigation was planned to explore the potential of Eichhornia crassipes in a way that, its positive attributes outweigh the negative ones. The present paper deals with the phytochemical screening of any therapeutic importance from Eichhornia crassipes. Qualitative analysis of the plant parts have revealed the presence of various components of medical importance including tannins, phlobatanin, steroid, terpenoid, alkaloid, flavonoid, phenolic contents, quinone, anthraquinone and cardiac glycosides. Because of the rich diversity of this aquatic plant it is expected that screening and scientific evaluation of plant extracts may prove beneficial for the mankind along with the management of the weed. The result obtained indicates that though the plant is an aquatic weed is good services of phytochemicals needed for maintenance of good health and can also be exploited in the manufacture of drugs.
NATURE OF GENE ACTION FOR SOME ECONOMIC TRAITS AND COMBINING ABILITY IN SEVERAL GENEOTYPES OF OKRA

This investigation was done to study combining ability and nature of gene action for some economic traits of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L. MOENCH), using four different parental genotypes that were crossed in a complete diallel design. Mean squares of genotypes were significant for all studied traits, providing evidence for presence of considerable amount of genetic variation among studied genotypes . The general combining ability (GCA) and specific combining ability (SCA) mean squares were highly significant for all studied traits expect days to first flowering which was significant only for GCA. This indicated that both GCA and SCA were important in the inheritance of these traits. Significant reciprocal effect mean squares were found for Fruit Length, Fruit Diameter, Fruit weight and Total yield per plant, indicating that these traits were controlled by extra-nuclear factors as well as nuclear factors. Significant SCA effects in desirable direction were observed for most crosses in some studied traits. Good performance of the obtained crosses may be attributed to additive × dominance or dominance × dominance epistatic interactions. This suggested that the important role of non additive gene action in the inheritance of the studied traits. The estimations of general combining ability variance (σ 2 gi) and specific combining ability variance (σ 2 si) of the parental varieties for all studied traits indicated that the developed varieties used in this study are of great importance to improving most studied traits. Estimates of genetic parameters and heritability for all studied traits verified the predominance of non additive gene action in the inheritance of these traits. As well as, indicated that the studied traits except days to first flowering were not only controlled by nuclear genetic factors, but also the cytoplasmic genetic factors play an important role in the inheritance of these traits. Therefore, the genetic material of this study could be used for hybridization to produce promising crosses with improved economic traits in okra.
Michelia multitepala (Magnoliaceae), a new species from Yunnan, China

Michelia multitepala R.Z. Zhou & S.G. Jian sp. nova (Magnoliaceae) from Yunnan, China is described and illustrated. It appears to be allied with M. macclurei, but differs mainly in having longer leaves, more tepals (11–12) in 4 (or 3–4) series, and in its longer, aggregate spicate (8–15 cm) fruit. Also Michelia ingrata resembles M. multitepala, but differs mainly by its longitudinally furrowed bark, bigger leaves that are glaucous beneath, fleshy and glabrous tepals, and by its unpleasant flower odor.
Performance of white oat cultivars in response to nitrogen fertilization and trinexapac-ethyl

The application of N at the appropriate time and dose can increase oat crop efficiency by increasing grain yield through changes in production components. High doses of N, depending on the genotype and the environment, can result in plant lodging, which can be addressed with the use of growth retardants. The aim of this study was to evaluate the yield components, lodging, and productivity of white oat cultivars cultivated at two planting locations under different N levels with trinexapac-ethyl growth retardant. Two assays (with and without the application of the growth retardant agent) were used in the experiments, which were set up in the region of Londrina and Mauá da Serra, Parana State, Brazil, in a randomized block design with split plots and four replications. The plots consisted of four white oat cultivars (IPR Afrodite, IPR Artemis, URS Corona, and URS Guria) and the subplots of four doses of N (0, 30, 60, and 90 kg ha-1). Plant height, number of panicles per unit area, number of grains per panicle, thousand grain weight, lodging of plants, and grain yield were evaluated. For the conditions under which the experiments were conducted, the growth regulator decreased plant height and lodging. Furthermore, the growth regulator in combination with N topdressing increased the number of panicles per unit area. Thus, the increase in grain yield with the application of a growth retardant was dependent on the characteristics of the plant growth environment. The response of genotypes to N fertilization was also dependent on the soil and climatic characteristics of the environment.
Corporate responsibility and national institutions: A quantitative assessment

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) footprints in terms of relevant policies, plans and programs are evident at a global scale, but the level of national uptake and penetration differs, as countries differ considerably in terms of institutional efficiency. With this in mind, the purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between CSR penetration and institutional conditions that shape and define the macroeconomic environment and development dynamics of countries. Building on Campbell's (2007) seminal framework on institutional parameters that facilitate effective CSR management, we offer new findings on the national specificity of CSR and additional perspectives for future research on the political economy of responsible business conduct.
Consideration of Level of Confidence within Multi-Approach Satellite-Derived Bathymetry

The Canadian Hydrographic Service (CHS) publishes nautical charts covering all Canadian waters. Through projects with the Canadian Space Agency, CHS has been investigating remote sensing techniques to support hydrographic applications. One challenge CHS has encountered relates to quantifying its confidence in remote sensing products. This is particularly challenging with Satellite-Derived Bathymetry (SDB) where minimal in situ data may be present for validation. This paper proposes a level of confidence approach where a minimum number of SDB techniques are required to agree within a defined level to allow SDB estimates to be retained. The approach was applied to a Canadian Arctic site, incorporating four techniques: empirical, classification and photogrammetric (automatic and manual). Based on International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) guidelines, each individual approach provided results meeting the CATegory of Zones Of Confidence (CATZOC) level C requirement. By applying the level of confidence approach, where technique combinations agreed within 1 m (e.g., all agree, three agree, two agree) large portions of the extracted bathymetry could now meet the CATZOC A2/B requirement. Areas where at least three approaches agreed have an accuracy of 1.2 m and represent 81% of the total surface. The proposed technique not only increases overall accuracy but also removes some of the uncertainty associated with SDB, particularly for locations where in situ validation data is not available. This approach could provide an option for hydrographic offices to increase their confidence in SDB, potentially allowing for increased SDB use within hydrographic products.