Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Sexing bovine pre-implantation embryos using the polymerase chain reaction: A model for human embryo sexing

The paper aims to present a bovine model for human embryo sexing. Cows were super-ovulated, artificially inseminated and embryos were recovered 7 days later. Embryo biopsy was performed; DNA was extracted from blastomeres and amplified using bovine-specific and bovine-Y-chromosomespecific primers, followed by agarose gel electrophoresis. Embryos were then transferred to synchronized recipients and PCR predicted sex was compared to the actual sex of the newborn calves. Results showed a 39% pregnancy rate and a 95.65% accuracy of the sexing method. The sexing method can also be applied to human embryos, using different primers, designed for human DNA. Key words : sexing, embryo, PCR, bovine.
Why are proactive people more successful in their careers? The role of career adaptability in explaining multiple career success criteria

This study analyzed (a) the contemporary career variable of career adaptability as underlying mechanism in the proactive personality–career success relationship, and (b) broadened the criteria of career success (i.e., salary, bonuses, promotions, career satisfaction, job satisfaction) to the era of the boundaryless career (i.e., internal and external marketability). The analyzed sample was comprised of N = 153 participants from organizations in the fields of Software, IT as well as of Textileand Automotive Industry. Bivariate and path analytical results confirmed the majority of our hypotheses and showed that career adaptability turned out as an important underlying mechanism for the relationship of proactive personality and several career success criteria (except from bonuses). Results are discussed with respect to proactive personality research, new career research, and career success research. Why are proactive people more successful 3 Why are proactive people more successful in their careers? The role of career adaptability in explaining multiple career success criteria
The Economics of Bitcoin and Similar Private Digital Currencies

Recent innovations have made it feasible to transfer private digital currency without the intervention of an organization such as a bank. Any currency must prevent users from spending their balances more than once, which is easier said than done with purely digital currencies. Current digital currencies such as Bitcoin use peer-to-peer networks and open source software to stop double spending and create finality of transactions. This paper explains how the use of these technologies and limitation of the quantity produced can create an equilibrium in which a digital currency has a positive value. This paper also summarizes the rise of 24/7 trading on computerized markets in Bitcoin in which there are no brokers or other agents. The average monthly volatility of returns on Bitcoin is higher than for gold or a set of foreign currencies in dollars, but the lowest monthly volatilities for Bitcoin are less than the highest monthly volatilities for gold and the foreign currencies.
A Critique of the Recovery of Greenback Cutthroat Trout

Abstract: There are no examples of recovery of fish listed under the U.S. Endangered Species Act, but the number of federally threatened greenback cutthroat trout ( Oncorhynchus clarki stomias) populations is approaching the delisting goal. We evaluated recovery of this subspecies in light of developing theory in conservation biology and with regard to recovery of other salmonids in the inland western United States. Four of the five criteria used to define populations that would count toward delisting appeared to underestimate the risk of extinction of those populations. Typically, recovery goals for numbers of greenback cutthroat trout populations were less stringent than those for other inland salmonids petitioned for listing or listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act and were comparable to those for a federally endangered species. Before delisting is considered, we propose that historical populations be replicated in additional waters to protect genetic diversity and that existing populations be enlarged to reduce their vulnerability to demographic variation, to increase their access to refugia, and to permit reestablishment of mobile life histories. Existing stocks should also be evaluated to determine whether they represent distinct population segments.
WPP, No.111: Glottal articulations of phonation contrasts and their acoustic and perceptual consequences

This study explores the properties of one type of phonation contrast - the tense vs. lax phonation contrasts of Yi (Loloish) languages – in terms of their glottal articulations, acoustic correlates, and perceptual salience. To determine the glottal articulations involved in the phonation contrasts, we adopted Functional Data Analysis to analyze entire EGG glottal pulse shapes. This method is found to capture differences in the abruptness of contact, a key property that is not captured by traditional EGG parameter measures. The primary contact patterns for phonation contrasts are very consistent across languages, speakers, and genders, and there is only one underlying articulatory pattern for these tense vs. lax contrasts. Overall, we found consistent correlations among the different kinds of measures, which means that speakers and listeners are able to establish a stable link between articulation, acoustic signals and perception.
Chronological table of third molar mineralization in a survey in the State of Alagoas, Brazil

Aim: The aim of this study was to develop an age estimation table based on mineralization stages of third molars in a survey in the state of Alagoas, Brazil. Forensic dentistry has largely contributed to solve age estimation cases. Radiographic study on tooth mineralization stages has shown major importance on age estimation with forensic application. Methods: This investigation was a crosssectional study developed at the clinic of the local branch of the Brazilian Dental Association in Alagoas. Three hundred and twelve patients of both genders aged 9 to 21 years were enrolled. Three calibrated examiners (kappa=0.789, p<0.001) determined the mineralization stages of each third molar from radiographs collected in the survey. The age of each patient was also recorded. Results: A third molar chronological mineralization table based on the study’s survey was developed. There was correlation (Spearman=0.869; p<0.01) between real and estimated ages, mainly when both upper and lower third molars were considered together. Conclusions: It is important to develop regional age estimation tables based on local surveys mainly considering ages of forensic interest.
Observed El Niño conditions in the eastern tropical Pacific in October 2015

Abstract. A strong El Nino developed in early 2015. Measurements from a research cruise on the R/V Sonne in October 2015 near the Equator east of the Galapagos Islands and off the shelf of Peru are used to investigate changes related to El Nino in the upper ocean in comparison with earlier cruises in this region. At the Equator at 85°30′ W, a clear temperature increase leading to lower densities in the upper 350 m had developed in October 2015, despite a concurrent salinity increase from 40 to 350 m. Lower nutrient concentrations were also present in the upper 200 m, and higher oxygen concentrations were observed between 40 and 130 m. In the equatorial current field, the Equatorial Undercurrent (EUC) east of the Galapagos Islands almost disappeared in October 2015, with a transport of only 0.02 Sv in the equatorial channel between 1° S and 1° N, and a weak current band of 0.78 Sv located between 1 and 2°30′ S. Such near-disappearances of the EUC in the eastern Pacific seem to occur only during strong El Nino events. Off the Peruvian shelf at ∼ 9° S, characteristics of upwelling were different as warm, saline, and oxygen-rich water was upwelled. At ∼ 12, ∼ 14, and ∼ 16° S, the upwelling of cold, low-salinity, and oxygen-poor water was still active at the easternmost stations of these three sections, while further west on these sections a transition to El Nino conditions appeared. Although from early 2015 the El Nino was strong, the October measurements in the eastern tropical Pacific only showed developing El Nino water mass distributions. In particular, the oxygen distribution indicated the ongoing transition from “typical” to El Nino conditions progressing southward along the Peruvian shelf.
Kinetic Modeling and Parameters Identification Based on Metaheuristic Optimization Techniques for Extraction Process of Marrubium vulgare L. Essential Oil

Recently, increasing attention has been directed to the isolation of natural active components from various medicinal plants. In the present research, the extraction of essential oil from horehound (M. vulgare L.) is presented. Effects of mass ratio and particle size on the process performance were studied and kinetics were determined. The chemical composition of the volatiles present in M. vulgare L. was evaluated for the sample extracted in the optimum conditions (mass ratio, 3 kg m and particle size,0.1< d<0.63 mm) by using GC–MS. Eugenol (21.5%), β-Caryophyllene (11.5%) and βbisabolene (10.3 %) were the major constituents found. Experimental data were fitted into three mathematical models having one and two time constants, in order to describe the extraction behaviour. The obtained coefficients of correlation show that the predicted and experimental data were in good agreement (0.9954< R<0.9982). In all cases the model constants have been found to change with mass ratio and particle size. The study was also an opportunity to improve the performance of two evolutionary algorithms, Genetic Algorithm (GA) and Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO), for identification of kinetic parameters with a satisfactory accuracy. The presented approach can be helpful for modeling and optimization of further extraction processes.
Is School Value Added Indicative of Principal Quality?

States across the country are developing systems for evaluating school principals on the basis of student achievement growth. A common approach is to hold principals accountable for the value added of their schools—that is, schools’ contributions to student achievement growth. In theory, school value added can reflect not only principals’ effectiveness but also other school-specific influences on student achievement growth that are outside of principals’ control. In this paper, we isolate principals’ effects on student achievement growth and examine the extent to which school value added captures the effects that principals persistently demonstrate. Using longitudinal data on the math and reading outcomes of fourth- through eighth-grade students in Pennsylvania, our findings indicate that school value added provides very poor information for revealing principals’ persistent levels of effectiveness.
Effect of dietary 17 β- estradiol on serum sex hormones᾽ levels and gamete quality in goldfish ( Carassius auratus )

Effect of dietary 17 β-estradiol (17E) on serum sex hormones and gamete quality was investigated in goldfish (Carassius auratus). Fish were fed diets containing 0, 10, 25 and 50 mg 17E kg diet over a 193-day 1 period. At the end of the trial, gamete quality as well as serum sex hormone levels were determined in both male and female fish. Results showed significant effect of 17E on both male and female gamete quality including increase in oocyte diameter, GSI, functional fecundity as well as decrease in oocyte surface: volume, spermatocrite, sperm density, motile sperm percentage and sperm motility duration. On the other hand fertilization and hatching rate as well as zygote diameter were higher in 17E-treated fish compared to control. Serum levels of estradiol and 17-hydroxyprogestrone were high in 17E-treated fish compared to the control group. However, the lower serum testosterone levels were found in 10 mg 17E kg diet group, followed by the 1 control group. In conclusion, dietary 17E increases oocyte diameter, oocyte surface: volume ration, GSI, functional fecundity in female and decreases semen quality in male goldfish. Likewise, egg diameter, fertilization and hatching rates improve as a result of 17E treatment. However it may cause some hormonal disturbance as well.
Setting Countercyclical Capital Buffers Based on Early Warning Models: Would it Work?

This paper assesses the usefulness of private credit variables and other macrofinancial and banking sector indicators for the setting of Basel III / CRD IV countercyclical capital buffers (CCBs) in a multivariate early warning model framework, using data for 23 EU Members States from 1982 Q2 to 2012 Q3. We find that in addition to credit variables, other domestic and global financial factors such as equity and house prices as well as banking sector variables help to predict vulnerable states of the economy in EU Member States. We therefore suggest that policy makers take a broad approach in their analytical models supporting CCB policy measures. JEL Classification: G01, G21, G28
Live weight and metabolic hormone profile in steers moved in drives

The objective was to determine the effects of driving on the growth of steers during 55 days of moving by drive and 84 days after the arrival. Twenty-five steers were randomly chosen from a herd of 1,000 Nellore cattle, which were evaluated in two periods: the driving period, in which animals were moved a distance of 700 km on foot for 55 d; and the post-driving period, which lasted 84 d. Serum samples were obtained for hormone dosing (T3, T4, cortisol, and IGF-I) by radioimmunoassay using commercial kits. The data was collected at different time points during the experiment. No changes in live weight were observed between days 0 and 55. During the post-driving period, on the 28th, 56th, and 84th d, the average weights were 226.10 kg, 224.28 kg, and 242.6 kg, respectively; differences in weight were observed on the 84th d when compared with the 56th d. There were no changes in insulin and T3 levels in either periods; the lowest T4concentration was observed during the driving period. The serum T4concentration increased after 56 d of post-driving, and it was greater than the concentrations detected on the other days. The highest levels of cortisol were identified after 28 d of post-driving. An increase in IGF-I concentration was observed after 56 and 84 d of post-driving. Moving cattle by driving does not alter the weight of the animals and weight gain occurs during the post-driving period due to an increase in the T4 and IGF-I levels.
Does sound affect visual motion change detection

The bachelorthesis regarding audiovisual integration showed that the “pip and pop”- effect, which is an illusion of a visual target change popping out of an array with distractor stimuli when the target change is accompanied by a short auditory sound, can be applied to a search task regarding moving stimuli. Until now, this effect had only been demonstrated in research using a search task regarding the orientation of stimuli. Behavioral and neural findings from other experiments led to the assumption that the “pip and pop” effect could be replicated regarding moving stimuli. The findings of the bachelorthesis are that a short, static sound with no information on the location or identity of the target, presented at the moment at which one moving stimulus among moving distractor stimuli changes direction makes the target pop out, resulting in a more efficient search in sound present trials in comparison to performance in sound absent trials. For the bachelorthesis, two experiments were conducted in the university laboratory to collect behavioral data from participants. Overall, 27 students participated and received each one credit point for their participation. Experiment 1 showed that participants were able to observe a higher number of objects in the sound present condition than in the sound absent condition while still answering correctly. This conclusion was drawn by means of a tracking algorithm adjusting the dynamic number of stimuli displayed to the performance of each participant. In Experiment 2, participants’ individual mean of number of objects were computed in a dynamic test phase, using a tracking algorithm to adjust the number of objects to the individual performance. These numbers of objects were used in a static test phase, demonstrating that participants scored significantly higher on accuracy and sensitivity in the sound present trials than in the sound absent trials. By means of sensitivity measures, the possibility was ruled out that the mere presence of a sound biased participants’ responses. Although further research needs to be conducted to control for the limitations of this study, the present findings contribute to the research of audiovisual integration and the influence of attention
The External Finance Premium in the Euro Area: A Useful Indicator for Monetary Policy?

In this paper I estimate a New Keynesian Dynamic Stochastic General Equilibrium model for the Euro Area, which closely follows the structure of the model developed by Smets and Wouters (2003, 2005, 2007), with the addition of the so-called financial accelerator mechanism developed in Bernanke, Gertler and Gilchrist (1999). The main aim is to obtain a time series for the unobserved external finance premium that entrepreneurs pay on their loans, with the further aim of providing a dynamic analysis of it. Results confirm in general what was recently found for the US by De Graeve (2008), namely that (1) the model incorporating financial frictions can generate a series for the premium, without using any financial macroeconomic aggregates, that is highly correlated with available proxies for it, (2) the estimated premium is not necessarily counter-cyclical (this depends on the shock considered). Nevertheless, although in addition the model with financial frictions better describes Euro Area data than the model without them, the former is not satisfactory in many other respects. For instance, the accelerator effect turns out to be statistically not significant. However, this does not impede financial frictions from remaining a key ingredient to model. In fact, I found that the estimated premium is a very powerful predictor of inflation. It overcomes, in terms of the Mean Squared Forecast Error, the traditional output gap measure in a Phillips curve specification.
FLUORIDE INDUCED NEPHROTOXICITY: APOPTOSIS, ULTRASTRUCTURAL CHANGES AND RENAL TUBULAR INJURY IN EXPERIMENTAL ANIMALS

Fluorosis is endemic in many countries across the globe. Most of the Indian states are endemic for fluorosis. Fluoride is known to cause many types of health complications and affects skeletal & soft tissues. The kidneys are one of the highly exposed organs for all the ingested toxins including fluoride. Therefore fluoride exposed subjects are highly vulnerable to fluoride induced nephrotoxicity. In recent years it has been demonstrated that the prevalence of renal impairment is remarkably high in different fluorosis endemic areas. Higher prevalence of CKD observed in central dry zone of Sri Lanka, a fluorosis endemic region. The prevalence of renal tubular dysfunctions is significantly high in residents of El Quel, which is also an endemic fluorosis area in Southern Algeria. On the basis of previous research reports it may be concluded that fluoride induces renal impairments and renal tubular injuries, cellular and sub-cellular ultrastructural changes. But all the research reports available are confined to animal models only. The data available on fluoride associated renal impairment in human is scant and limited to case reports and epidemiological studies. Due to the variation in types of animal models used in the studies, variations in quantity of fluoride administered and variations in route of fluoride administration, the generated insight cannot be translated to clinic. Therefore there is need to adopt a direct holistic approach to evaluate the adverse effects of fluoride on kidney structure and function in human subjects. Â
A Model of Firm Heterogeneity in Factor Intensities and International Trade

Empirical evidence suggests that exporters are, in addition to being more productive, significantly more skilled-labour intensive than non-exporters. In a setting that captures both these features, we show that the firm selection induced by trade liberalization works along two dimensions. First, export growth increases competition for skilled labour. This leads to the exit of some of the skilled-labour intensive firms, while benefitting unskilled-labour intensive ones. Second, within the group of firms with the same factor intensities, the reallocation of factors is towards the exporters. We show that the increased competition for skilled labour dampens the positive effect of trade liberalization on sector-wide TFP and real income.
MANUFACTURE OF PINEAPPLE FLAVOURED BEVERAGE FROM CHHANA WHEY

The pineapple flavoured chhana whey beverage was prepared with the addition of 5, 10 and 15 per cent of pineapple pulp in chhana whey. The beverage prepared was studied for the acceptability on an average the pineapple flavoured chhana whey beverage of treatment T0, T1, T2 and T3 contained fat 0.55, 0.51, 0.48 and 0.45 per cent, protein 0.57, 0.66, 0.73 and 12.57 per cent, ash 0.44, 0.60, 0.76 and 0.78 per cent, total solid 13.40, 13.89, 14.38 and 14.57 per cent, moisture 86.71, 86.20, 85.62 and 85.50 per cent, respectively. The observations in respect of pH for above treatment combinations were 3.91, 3.88, 3.86 and 3.89 per cent and titratable acidity 0.59, 0.62, 0.63 and 0.62 per cent lactic acid, respectively. The overall acceptability score of T1 and T0 was found to be at par whereas, T2 scored highest (7.9) and lowest score (7.4) was found in T3. The cost of production of pineapple flavoured chhana whey beverage was Rs.5. 20 for pure chhana whey beverage (T0) whereas for T1, T2 and T3 were Rs.8. 90, Rs.12. 60 and Rs.16. 30, respectively.
Does forest harvesting and linear infrastructure change the usability value of pastureland for semi-domesticated reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus)?

During the harshest winter, preference of forest habitat by reindeer should be dependent on the availability of energy-rich lichens, while in summer and easy snow conditions on the availability of protein-richer food. Reindeer should also avoid linear infrastructure (roads, power lines) if it causes disturbance and energy loss. We tested seasonal home range and habitat selection by semi-domesticated reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus) in a sub-arctic pine forest area, northern Finland by tracking 29 female reindeer with GPS collars from 1999-2002. As expected, reindeer preferred old-growth forest and avoided felled areas and linear infrastructure in the selection and use of their wintering areas. Old-growth forest had high preference especially in late winter. During summer and early winter, reindeer also used sapling stand areas, young cultivated forests, mires and high-elevation open land. The net energy balance hypothesis including the total energy profits and expenditures could primarily explain habitat selection by reindeer during winter in intensively grazed and logged forest areas. Maintaining a certain amount of old-growth forest and minimizing linear infrastructure in wintering areas considerably improves the suitability of these ranges for reindeer herding.