Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of Different Doses of Gamma Irradiation on Vegetative Growth and Oil Yield of Ocimum basilicum L.

Gamma irradiation is important agent used to improve the productivity and quality of many plants. The present study was carried out to evaluate the effectiveness of different doses of gamma rays (0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30 kR) on germination percentage, vegetative growth, photosynthetic pigments, oil yield, oil components and total phenolic content of Ocimum basilicum L during the two successive seasons of 2017 and 2018 at the Experimental Farm of Sakha Horticulture Research Station, Kafr El-Sheikh Governorate, Egypt. Results showed that low doses of gamma irradiation significantly increased germination percentage, plant height, number of branches, fresh and dry weight per plant and per fed, chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b, essential oil percentage, oil yield per plant and per fed and essential oil main components. Increasing gamma rays doses significantly reduced germination percentage, vegetative growth characters and oil yield while total carotenoids content and total phenolic content significantly increased as a defensive effect to the increase in irradiation doses. The study suggested 10kR dose as seeds treatment for increasing basil plants production through enhancing germination percentage, vegetative growth, fresh yield, essential oil yield and essential oil components.
Testosterone modulation of ethanol effects on the µ-opioid receptor kinetics in castrated rats

The present investigation was conducted to evaluate the effects of testosterone on ethanol-induced alterations of µ-opioid receptor binding kinetics in specific brain regions of castrated rats. Male Sprague Dawley rats (100-124 g) adapted to a 12-h light/dark cycle were used. Animals were castrated under pentobarbital anesthesia. After a recovery period of 14 days, ethanol [3 g/kg as 22.5% solution in saline via intraperitoneal injection (i.p.)], testosterone [2.5 mg in 0.2 ml of olive oil via subcutaneous injection (s.c.) in the dorsal neck region] or the combination of ethanol and testosterone were administered to rats at 9:00 a.m. The control group was injected i.p. with 2 ml saline and s.c. with 0.2 ml olive oil for 7 days. Animals were sacrificed by decapitation at 2 h after the final injection. The brains were immediately removed, and the cortex, hippocampus, hypothalamus and midbrain were dissected. In an attempt to elucidate the mechanism involved in the hormonal modulation of the effects of ethanol and testosterone on the endogenous opioid system, the binding kinetics of the µ-opioid receptors were determined. The results obtained in the present study assisted in identifying the regulatory role of testosterone on ethanol-induced changes on µ-opioid receptor binding kinetics.
Northwest of Iran as an endemic area in terms of fluoride contamination: a case study on the correlation of fluoride concentration with physicochemical characteristics of groundwater sources in Showt

Fluoride in drinking water is an important chemical species with regard to public health considerations, although a fluoride concentration of about 1.5 mg L–1 in drinking water can decrease tooth decay and higher concentrations cause health problems. The concentration of fluoride in water is affected by some chemical characteristics. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between fluoride and other chemical parameters (pH, Turbidity, EC, TDS, TH, ALK, Cl–, SO4, NO3–, NO2–, Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+, K+, PO4) in water bodies located in Showt, West Azerbaijan Province, Iran. Sample preparation and analysis were performed according to standard methods. A wide range of fluoride concentrations was measured in this study (0.0–5.5 mg L–1). The results indicated that alkalinity and Na+ have a significant positive relationship with fluoride concentrations in water wells. Nevertheless, total hardness (TH) showed an inverse relationship with fluoride concentration. In addition, for a one-unit increase in alkalinity and Na+ concentration, the average amount of fluoride in water increased by 0.0028 and 0.16, respectively. Furthermore, for a one-unit increase in total hardness, the average amount of fluoride in water decreased by 0.005. In conclusion, fluoride concentration was affected by numerous factors such as hardness, alkalinity, and Na+ concentration. The findings of this study suggest that a suitable treatment of the groundwater is needed in contaminated areas before its use for drinking.
Impact of El Niño–Southern Oscillation on the interannual variability of methane and tropospheric ozone

Abstract. The interannual variability of the greenhouse gases methane (CH4) and tropospheric ozone (O3) is largely driven by natural variations in global emissions and meteorology. The El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is known to influence fire occurrence, wetland emission and atmospheric circulation, affecting sources and sinks of CH4 and tropospheric O3, but there are still important uncertainties associated with the exact mechanism and magnitude of this effect. Here we use a modelling approach to investigate how fires and meteorology control the interannual variability of global carbon monoxide (CO), CH4 and O3 concentrations, particularly during large El Niño events. Using a three-dimensional chemical transport model (TOMCAT) coupled to a sophisticated aerosol microphysics scheme (GLOMAP) we simulate changes to CO, hydroxyl radical (OH) and O3 for the period 1997–2014. We then use an offline radiative transfer model to quantify the climate impact of changes to atmospheric composition as a result of specific drivers. During the El Niño event of 1997–1998, there were increased emissions from biomass burning globally, causing global CO concentrations to increase by more than 40 %. This resulted in decreased global mass-weighted tropospheric OH concentrations of up to 9 % and a consequent 4 % increase in the CH4 atmospheric lifetime. The change in CH4 lifetime led to a 7.5 ppb yr−1 increase in the global mean CH4 growth rate in 1998. Therefore, biomass burning emission of CO could account for 72 % of the total effect of fire emissions on CH4 growth rate in 1998. Our simulations indicate that variations in fire emissions and meteorology associated with El Niño have opposing impacts on tropospheric O3 burden. El Niño-related changes in atmospheric transport and humidity decrease global tropospheric O3 concentrations leading to a −0.03 W m−2 change in the O3 radiative effect (RE). However, enhanced fire emission of precursors such as nitrogen oxides (NOx) and CO increase O3 and lead to an O3 RE of 0.03 W m−2. While globally the two mechanisms nearly cancel out, causing only a small change in global mean O3 RE, the regional changes are large – up to −0.33 W m−2 with potentially important consequences for atmospheric heating and dynamics.
Effects of Aqueous Extracts of Nigella sativa and Ocimum gratissimum on Electrolyte, Urea, Creatinine of Wistar Rat

Aim: Effects of aqueous extracts of Nigella sativa (black seed) and Ocimum gratissimum (scent leaf) on electrolytes, urea and creatinine of Wistar rats were investigated. Materials and Method: Twenty-five Wistar rats were used for the study, the rats were arranged into five groups with five rats in each of the groups. The rats had access to their normal feed but sucrose and margarine were used to induce hyperglycemia and hyperlipidemia respectively on the rats with the exception of the rats in the positive control group. The rats in the negative control were induced using the sucrose and margarine but were not treated using the aqueous extracts. The rats in the scent leaf group were treated with 2 ml of scent leaf aqueous extract, while the rats in the black seed group were treated with 2 ml of black seed aqueous extract. The rats in the black seed and scent leaf group were treated with 2 ml of the combined aqueous extract. Results: The result showed that the extracts decreased the levels of the electrolytes in the rats in a time-dependent manner with the highest decrease obtained on the third week of treatment with the extracts. The sodium levels (mmol/ml) on the third week of treatment showed for the negative control (193.83 ± 2.96), scent leaf (125.80 ± 8.27), black seed (119.60 ± 6.24), black seed and scent leaf (110.93 ± 10.14) (p<0.05). The decrease for potassium levels (mEql/l) on the third week of treatment, showed for the negative control (0.11 ± 0.05), scent leaf (0.09 ± 0.14), black seed (0.08 ± 0.10), black seed and scent leaf (0.06 ± 0.11). Furthermore, the extracts also had a decreasing effect on the urea and creatinine in a time-dependent manner with the highest decrease obtained on the third week of treatment (p>0.05). The urea levels (mmol/ml)) showed for the negative control (26.64 ± 0.33), scent leaf (16.73 ± 0.88), black seed (15.86 ± 2.31) and black seed and scent leaf (12.88 ± 1.98). The decrease for creatinine levels (mmol/l) showed for negative control (662.68 ± 18.00), scent leaf (287.10 ± 12.30), black seed (192.44 ± 10.44) and black seed and scent leaf (188.66 ± 10.88. Conclusion: The extracts significantly decreased the elevated electrolytes, urea and creatinine levels and therefore scent leaf and black seed can be used to restore kidney function.
Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibition by polychlorinated biphenyls contributes to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

EPIDERMAL GROWTH FACTOR RECEPTOR (EGFR) INHIBITION BY POLYCHLORINATED BIPHENYLS CONTRIBUTES TO NON-ALCOHOLIC FATTY LIVER DISEASE (NAFLD) Josiah E. Hardesty August 20th 2018 This dissertation describes how poly-chlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) exacerbate the pathogenesis of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). While PCBs were banned in 1979, they still persist in contaminated biota, including food, and are detected in human plasma and adipose. The body burden of PCBs is associated with elevation of liver enzymes and necrosis markers in humans, characteristic of NAFLD. PCB exposure in high-fat diet fed mice leads to steatohepatitis that recapitulate the findings seen in exposed humans. The global estimate of people diagnosed with NAFLD is up to 1 in 4 people, unrelated to dietary or genetic factors. The hepatic mechanisms most commonly associated with PCB exposures are xenobiotic nuclear receptor activation, followed by changes in xenobiotic metabolism. Other processes must be involved since highly chlorinated PCB congeners are not metabolized and are long-lived in the body. A novel PCB target was elucidated and characterized, being the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). New effectors downstream of EGFR, including NRF2 and HNF4a, were identified and verified. The basic biology of EGFR signaling in the liver was observed, including regulation of glutathione synthesis, gluconeogenesis, and lipid metabolism. A novel therapy for NAFLD was elucidated in this dissertation, as well, which is therapeutically promising, since no available therapies for NAFLD exist.
Plant Shoot Age and Temperature Effects on Essential Oil Yield and Oil Composition of Rose-Scented Geranium (Pelargonium sp.) Grown in South Africa

Abstract A field experiment was conducted during 2005/2006 at the Experimental Farm of the University of Pretoria, South Africa to investigate the changes in herbage yield, oil yield and the variation in the concentration of the major components of rose-scented geranium. The essential oil was isolated by steam-distillation and the composition was determined by gas chromatography (GC). The results revealed that herbage yield increased over time in the first four (autumn/winter) and five (spring/summer) months of the respective harvesting cycles. The plants harvested in the spring/summer cycle had higher herbage yield and oil percentage than plants harvested in the autumn/winter cycle. The decrease in oil percentage was associated with low night temperatures in the autumn/winter cycle. The geraniol content decreased with decreasing night temperatures in autumn/winter while the citronellol content showed a tendency to increase. Geraniol followed a similar trend when regressed against plant shoot age in both experimental cycles. The decrease in geraniol content with respect to plant shoot age, therefore, increased the citronellol: geraniol ratio in both experimental cycles. The spring/summer harvesting season was superior to the autumn/winter season in all commercial aspects of rose-scented geranium oil production.
Porous MOF‐205 with multiple modifications for efficiently storing hydrogen and methane as well as separating carbon dioxide from hydrogen and methane

In this work, quantum mechanical calculations and grand canonical Monte Carlo simulations were performed to study H2 and CH4 uptakes as well as CO2 separation from CH4 or H2 in MOF‐205 with different modification approaches. Upon C48B12 impregnation and Li decoration, B‐doped MOF‐205 shows remarkably improved gas adsorption and separation performances. Under ambient condition, both H2 and CH4 storage capacities in the modified materials meet the targets set by the US Department of Energy. Moreover, Li doping greatly increases the separation selectivity of CO2 in CO2/CH4 and CO2/H2 mixtures. This multiple modifications strategy opens the door to the production of porous nanomaterials with higher gaseous adsorption and separation capabilities.
Learners’ Language Use in Communication in a Multilingual Learning Environment

Learners’ Language Use in Communication in a Multilingual Learning Environment Following the trilingual policy implementation strategies, some higher education institutions in Kazakhstan have been actively introducing multilingual programs based on learning through Kazakh, Russian and English languages. These programs can transform university students from being monoand bilingual speakers to multilingual ones, which, in its turn, can change their language communication practices. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to explore how students’ language communication occurs in a multilingual learning environment (MLE). In particular, the research aimed at revealing students’ understanding and perceptions of MLE and at determining their language communication practices in this environment. The study employed qualitative interview-based research approach, where eight university students studying in multilingual programs in one university in Astana were selected by means of purposeful and snowball sampling strategies as research participants. The findings of the study demonstrated that though the majority of the students have proper understanding of MLE viewing it as studying and communicating in several languages, they perceive not quite adequately as an environment for developing the English language only. This implies the importance of more explanatory work among students studying in multilingual programs. The findings also identified that studying in MLE was beneficial for enriching students’ language communication experiences from using only separate multilingualism to including code-switching, translanguaging and receptive multilingualism into their communication practices. Thus, the results of the study imply the necessity of using opportunities of MLE for promoting the development of learners’ language communication skills and practices. LEARNERS’ LANGUAGE USE IN COMMUNICATION IN MLE vii
Sorption of PB and B on Soils and their Separated Clay Fractions

Pollution is one of the main threats possessing a potential risk for man and animals, especially the potentially toxic elements (PTE) which are considered non-biodegradable and can persist in soils for years. Clay minerals are thought to be among the main factors immobilizing PTE in soils and; therefore, these minerals control their bioaccessibility. Thus, the current research aims at determining the mechanisms by which the potentially toxic element Pb beside of the metalloid B are retained in a clayey non-calcareous soil and a clayey calcareous one under different pH values i.e. 5, 7 and 9. The clayey non-calcareous soil is characterized by a clay content of 58.25% and CaCO3 content of 24.8 g kg -1 while the clayey calcareous one is characterized mainly by a clay content of 40.75% and CaCO3 content of 289.9 g kg. The clay fraction of the investigated soils was separated and identified of the types of the clay minerals dominating in these soils using X-ray diffraction analyses. Montmorillonite was the dominant clay mineral in the non-calcareous clayey soil, whereas kaolinite and palyorskite were the dominant ones in the calcareous clayey one. Adsorption of Pb and B on soils and clay minerals increased gradually with increasing the initial concentration of these ions in the equilibrium systems, especially with increasing the pH of theses systems from 5 to 9. In this concern, adsorption of the investigated ions by the clay minerals exhibited much higher values than those occurred on the investigated soils. Freundlich isotherm was the most efficient model fitting Pb sorption on both soils and clay minerals, whereas, Langmuir isotherm model seemed to be more appropriate for fitting the sorption data of B on the investigated soils and separated clay minerals. In conclusion, adsorption of Pb and B on clay minerals seemed to be the dominant mechanism controlling their mobility in soils even at pH 9. The actual sorption capacities and affinities in soils remained much lower than that occurred by the separated clay minerals. To what extent can clay minerals retain PTE versus a clayey and a calcareous clayey soils was a matter of concern in this study.
Breaking Bud Dormancy in "Flame Seedless" and "Superior Seedless" Grapevines Using Natural Extracts as Compared with Hydrogen Cyanamide

This investigation was carried out during two seasons 2017 and 2018 on Flame seedless and superior seedless (Vitis vinifera L.) grapevines ten years old, grown in a private vineyard located at El-Beheira Governorate. The study was conducted to evaluate the potential effects of spraying with some natural substances (Garlic extract at 10 and 15% as well as Clove oil at 7 and 10%) as compared to artificial chemical treatment (Hydrogen cyanamide at 2.5%) usually used for breaking bud dormancy. The treatments were applied alone or combined with mineral oil at 2% two times (first week of January and one week later) in both seasons. The obtained results cleared that, the natural substances used, especially Garlic extract at 10 or 15% + mineral oil at 2% are resemble with Hydrogen cyanamide alone or with mineral oil at 2% treatment in hastening bud sprouting, shortening the duration of bud break, enhancing fertility coefficient, improving yield, cluster quality parameters (weight, length and width and berries per cluster), berries physical (weight, dimensions, volume) and chemical (SSC, SSC/acid ratio and anthocyanin contents of Flame seedless) quality parameters of both grapevine cvs. over control. Alternatively, Garlic extract can be used to safety release buds instead of that artificial chemical such as Hydrogen cyanamide.
On The Control Of Opinion In Social Networks

Social networks are an ubiquitous element of our daily experience. A question that naturally arises in the operation of such networks is whether they can be controlled. With domains ranging from financial markets to extremism avoidance, the study of control of opinion in social networks is extremely relevant in modern social media culture. Automated control of the flow of information in large-scale non-deterministic social networks is a complex problem requiring both a search for the optimal configuration of connections to the network, and a behaviour that determines the required control signals. This thesis formalizes the Network Control Problem (NCP) as a means of describing the field of diverse social network control problems. To date, problems that can be described as NCP examples deal primarily with the configuration rather than behavioural component. The θ-Consensus Avoidance Problem (θ-CAP) is defined in this thesis as a novel NCP which has the objective of avoiding consensus in a social network of agents. It is an important problem representing the avoidance of extreme views that may lead to extreme behaviour, such as bubble or panic events in a socially-connected market. The θ-CAP is intended as a foundational benchmark problem in the NCP domain. Experimentation is developed to demonstrate the utility of the θ-CAP as a practical benchmark problem with scalable difficulty parameters. A number of heuristic and metaheuristic implementations of both configuration and behaviour are compared in this thesis. Special consideration is given to the application of evolutionary neurocontrollers toward learning to optimize the behaviour component. Analysis indicates a variety of conditions that affect the quality of given approaches, including network structure, instance difficulty parameters, and variations among control approaches. Consistent, observable trends were determined in the solution space that were verfied across behaviours, configurations, network structures, and objectives.
Haematological and Serum Biochemical Responses of Growing Rabbits to Aqueous Extract of Moringa oleifera Leaves in Drinking Water

A total number of 64 mixed sex growing APRI rabbits aged 5 weeks and weighing 661.8±8.08 g was assigned randomly into four treatment groups to evaluate the impact of aqueous Moringa oleifera leaves extract (AMOLE) addition in drinking water. Treatments were 0 (control, G1), 30 (G2), 60 (G3) and 90 (G4) ml AMOLE/L. The study was lasted for 8 weeks during the growing period, from weaning age at 5 weeks to marketing age at 13 weeks. The results revealed that values of blood picture including hemoglobin, packed cell volume and neutrophils were significantly higher (P≤0.01) in growing APRI rabbits treated with AMOLE levels than those in the control group. The rabbits from the groups receiving AMOLE had lower total lipids, triglycerides and total cholesterol as compared with those from the control group. Also, results showed that there were no significant differences among the experimental groups in activity of serum transaminases (AST and ALT) and serum levels of creatinine and urea-N. The effect of AMOLE levels on total antioxidant capacity (TAC) was so clear, where treated groups showed significant (P≤0.05) increases in their TAC by about 17.5, 25.4 and 25.5%, respectively. The different administrated of AMOLE influenced significantly the lipid peroxidation (LPO) by decreasing serum mnalondialdehyde concentration. It can be concluded that addition of AMOLE to drinking water for growing rabbits has a beneficial effect on some aspects of their haematological and serum biochemical responses without any deleterious effects on liver and kidneys functions.