Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Remittances as a Shield to Socially-Vulnerable Households in Macedonia: The Case When the Instrument is Not Strictly Exogenous

The objective of the paper is to investigate if remittances sent to Macedonia have a role to play for shielding socially-vulnerable households. To that end, we devise an index of social vulnerability, comprehending income poverty, unemployment of both spouses, single parents, as well conditions of impaired health, undernourishment, material deprivation and insufficient clothing, so as to capture non-income vulnerability conditions. Remittances then are allowed to determine the index of vulnerability. As remittances are likely endogenous to vulnerability, we use the noneconomic motive to migrate as instrument, as it is likely correlated with remittances, since any migrant is likely to send remittances irrespective of his migration motive; while uncorrelated with the shocks onto vulnerability. We use the Remittances Survey 2008 and conditional mixed process (CMP) estimator. Results suggest that remittance-receiving households have, on average 6% higher probability to report zero-vulnerability, suggesting that they indeed could act as social protection. However, as the assumption of noneconomic motive for migration being a good instrument may be easily dismantled, we further pursue Conley et al.’s (2012) method, allowing for a direct link between noneconomic motive and vulnerability. Results suggest that if we have a reasonable belief that they are determined simultaneously, or directly correlated due to the existence of a third unobservable factor, then it is reasonable to consider that this influence slightly reduces the effect of remittances on vulnerability.
Declining fertility in dairy cattle: changes in traditional and endocrine parameters of fertility.

Reproductive performance of 714 Holstein Friesian dairy cows was monitored between October 1995 and June 1998 using thrice weekly milk progesterone determinations. Defined endocrine parameters such as interval to post-partum commencement of luteal activity, inter-ovulatory interval and length of luteal and inter-luteal intervals were used with a number of traditional measures of reproductive performance to investigate the current status of fertility in a sample of United Kingdom dairy herds. A comparison of the results of the 1995 to 1998 trial with those of a previous (1975 to 1982) milk progesterone database, which included 2503 lactations in British Friesian cows monitored using a similar milk sampling protocol, revealed a decline infertility between these periods. Between 1975-1982 and 1995-1998, pregnancy rate to first service declined from 55·6% to 39·7% (P < 0·001), at a derived average rate approaching 1% per year. This decline was associated with an increase (P < 0·001) in the proportion of animals with one or more atypical ovarian hormone patterns from 32% to 44%. There was a significant (P < 0·001) increase in the incidence of delayed luteolysis during the first cycle post partum (delayed luteolysis type I; 7·3% to 18·2%) and during subsequent cycles (delayed luteolysis type II; 6·4% to 16·8%), although the incidence of prolonged anovulation post partům (delayed ovulation type I; 10·9% to 12·9%) and prolonged inter-luteal intervals (delayed ovulation type II; 12·9% to 10·6%) did not alter significantly. These changes resulted in an increase in mean luteal phase length from 12·9 (s.e. 0·09) to 14·8 (s.e. 0·17) days and an increase in inter-ovulatory interval from 20·2 (s.e. 0·1) to 22·3 (s.e. 0·2) days. The decline infertility was also reflected in traditional measures of fertility since although interval to first service remained relatively unchanged (74·0 (s.e. 0·4) to 77·6 (s.e. 1·1) days) calving interval lengthened from 370 (s.e. 2·2) to 390 (s.e. 2·5) days. Collectively these changes may have contributed to the decline in pregnancy rates observed over the last 20 years.
Identification and structural characterisation of novel outer membrane proteins in the genus Borrelia

Although considered Gram-negative the outer membrane (OM) of Borrelia is unique, consisting of a variety of glycolipids, a significant number of surface exposed lipoproteins and a smaller number of integral membrane-spanning β-barrels. Many of these proteins are known to act as adhesins and invasins binding to regulators of the host immune response and extracellular matrix proteins. Many Gram-negative bacteria have the evolutionary conserved OmpA-like transmembrane domain consisting of an eight-stranded membrane spanning β- barrel. The prototypical example is E. coli OmpA; a multifunctional protein involved in a wide variety of physiological and pathological functions. To date the OmpA-like transmembrane domain has not been identified in the Spirochaete phylum. An approach based on hidden Markov models and topology and fold prediction identified a group of homologous genes in the genus Borrelia (BAPKO_0026, BAPKO_0422, BAPKO_0423 and BAPKO_0571), which are predicted to form an eight stranded OM-spanning β-barrel structure with similar structure to E. coli OmpA/W. One of these orthologues in B. afzelii (BAPKO_0422) has been expressed, purified and characterised in vitro; circular dichroism studies show a large percentage of β-strand. A low resolution molecular envelope generated from small-angle X-ray scattering data is consistent with an eight-stranded β-barrel.
Estudo da dependência espacial de características dendrométricas para Eucalyptus grandis

The knowledge of spatial continuity structure of dendrometric characteristics is crucial in forest inventory, management and planning. The inclusion of spatial continuity effect in inventory analysis provides stable and safe results that can be used in forest management and planning. This paper evaluated the structure of spatial continuity of four dendrometric characteristics obtained by two sampling procedures. Data were collected in 987 hectares of Eucalyptus grandis, located in the south of Sao Paulo State. Two sampling procedures were used, systematic grading and unencumbered systematic. For each plot from the two samples, the following dendrometric characteristics were measured: volume, quadratic average diameter, basal area and average height of the dominant trees. For each one of these characteristics, anisotropic and isotropic semi variogrammes were built, in order to evaluate the spatial continuity structure. The semi variogrammes were built using the moment estimator method. The main authorized functions were adjusted to the experimental semi variogrammes, by The Minimum Square Method. The behavior of the spatial continuity was evaluated through the degree of spatial dependence and of the assigned semi variogrammes for the four characteristics, in the appraised sampling methods, respectively. All appraised characteristics presented spatially structured, independently of the appraised sampling procedure. The continuity structure of the four characteristics was isotropic, i.e., the variance among pairs of points depends on the separation vector h. Therefore, unidirectional semi variogrammes can be built for all appraised characteristics. The results suggest that, in forest inventory, the spatial component should be considered, i.e., plots should not be treated separately.
Understanding the Nature of Sensory Integration with Diverse Populations

הפרק הראשון בחלק הראשון של הספר מתייחס, בין השאר, לתפקיד שיש לחוויות סנסוריות מוקדמות על ההתפתחות המאוחרת יותר בתחומי החיים השונים, לרבות יחסי הגומלין שבין גנטיקה, סביבה, מצבי לחץ (stress) והתפתחות הילד. שני הפרקים שלאחריו דנים בנושא של פלסטיסיות עצבית וסביבה. מאחר שגישת S.I הינה גישת טיפול רמדיאלית, הבנה מעמיקה של נושא זה חשובה ביותר. בפרקים אלה מובא בסיס תיאורטי ומחקרי הרלוונטי ל־8.1, תוך הבהרת ההשלכות הקליניות של גוף ידע זה.
AVALIAÇÃO DE FONTES DE CÁLCIO PARA FRANGOS DE CORTE

This work had as objective to evaluate the effect of different calcium sources in the diet of broiler chickens with 1 to 28 days of age, on the food intake, live weight gain, feed conversion, level of ashes and calcium in the tibia bone, longitudinal and transversal length of the tibia bone and retention calcium. The experiment had duration of 31 days being used 576 chicks of one day of age, with the cobb line ancestry. It was used entirely randomized design, being the sources consisting of calcium carbonate, calcium carbo-quelate and limestone (calcareous rock) of two distinct deposits, A and B, respectively, being all they also evaluated to the granulometer, solubility and pH. The food intake showed significant difference for the calcium sources, however none of the calcium sources influenced the feed conversion, probably to the observed compensatory physiological effect on the live weight gain of the broiler chicks. With regard to the bone mineralization (tibia), it did not have significant influence of the calcium sources, however, with relation to the diameter and length of the tibia bone, the limestones A and B showed the best values when compared with the calcium carboquelate.
Superchilling of Salmon: Changes due to Proteolytic Degradation

Isolation and identification of peptides in muscle foods can help us to understand the complex reactions that occur during storage of food, and help us improve shelf life. This work is part of the project “Competitive Food Processing in Norway” (KMB project). The aim of this thesis is to investigate the changes that occur in the peptide fraction of muscle tissue extract during storage, so that the proteolytic changes that occur during storage can be better understood.In this thesis changes in proteins and peptides during storage have been investigated in samples superchilled using air and liquid carbon dioxide (LIC) to two ice levels and chilling references. Measurements of drip loss, water content and liquid loss have been done for the chilled reference samples, while the measurements of the superchilled samples have been collected from previous work in the KMB project. The investigations of the proteins and peptides have been done by extracting water soluble proteins from muscle tissue, and isolate peptides by precipitation using ethanol. The proteins in the extracts have been quantified using Lowry’s method and they have been identified using gel filtration by fast protein liquid chromatography (FPLC) and mass spectrometry (MS). In this thesis changes in proteins and peptides during storage have been investigated in samples superchilled using air and liquid carbon dioxide (LIC) to two ice levels and chilling references. Measurements of drip loss, water content and liquid loss have been done for the chilled reference samples, while the measurements of the superchilled samples have been collected from previous work in the KMB project. The investigations of the proteins and peptides have been done by extracting water soluble proteins from muscle tissue, and isolate peptides by precipitation using ethanol. The proteins in the extracts have been quantified using Lowry’s method and they have been identified using gel filtration by fast protein liquid chromatography (FPLC) and mass spectrometry (MS). There were no significant differences in drip loss between the different chilling methods during storage. However, the significantly higher drip loss in samples superchilled by air indicate some formation of large ice crystals in the muscle compared to superchilling using liquid carbon dioxide. The liquid loss was significantly higher for samples superchilled using air before sixteen days of storage. After this there were no significant differences between the chilling methods.
Hibridación natural entre Pinus oocarpa y P. pringeli

Natural hybridization between Pinus oocarpa Schiede ex Schlechtendal and P. pringlei Shaw was detected in a sample of 30 individual trees living in simpatry including putative hybrid trees. The area of hybridization is located near Ario de Rosales, Michoacan, Mexico. The canonical discriminant analysis used in the study included a total of 19 morphological and anatomical leaf, cone and seed traits. Trees initially characterized as putative hybrids had intermediate values between parental species for most traits. The number of leaves per fascicle, rows of stomata on the dorsal surface, internal and septal resin canals, peduncle length and cone diameter contributed the most to the canonical discriminant functions and to the separation of the parental species and putative hybrid trees. A second discriminant analysis was performed on samples from 10 trees of P. oocarpa and 7 trees of P. pringlei collected from pure stands outside the area of sympatry and on the data from the 30 trees sampled throughout the sympatric area. In a graphic analysis, trees of every species separated into opposite groups. Furthermore, trees from pure stands were positioned toward the extremes of these groups, indicating a possible process of introgression within the population where hybridization was believed to occur.
Nitro-oxidative stress in experimental periodontitis

In chronic inflammations nitro-oxidative stress may induce secondary pathological processes. Therefore, in the present study we aimed to evaluate nitro-oxidative stress in animals with chronic experimental periodontitis. A rat model of ligature-inducedÂ experimentalÂ periodontitis was used. Â The study groups (nÂ =Â 12) were:Â group I - negative control of healthy rats; group II â€“ periodontitis (PER); group III - periodontitis + aminoguanidine (AG) (50 mg/kg/d i.p.); group IV â€“ periodontitis + NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (NAME) (5 mg/kg/d i.p.); group V â€“ periodontitis + L-arginine (ARG) (100 mg/kg/d i.p.); group VI â€“ periodontitis + Trolox (20 mg/kg/d i.p). Periodontitis was induced in 2 weeks and the treatments were administrated for one week. Blood samples were harvested at completion the study. Nitro-oxidative stressÂ was assessed by total oxidative status (TOS), total antioxidative capacity (TAC), oxidative stress indexÂ (OSI)Â and total serumÂ nitrates and nitrites (NOx). Systemic NOx, TOS and OSI increased significantly. AG, NAME and Trolox treatments reduced NOx, TOS and OSI. TAR was very low at PER animals, and increased significantly after AG, NAME and Trolox. ARG increased NOx, TOS and OSI, but did not influence TAR. In conclusion in rat experimental periodontitis systemic nitro-oxidative stress was important, and iNOS was the main enzyme involved in NO synthesis. NO synthesis was not involved in the antioxidant activity.
Myodegeneration in Captive Brown Pelicans Attributed to Vitamin E Deficiency

Introduction Vitamin E, a biological antioxidant, is important for cell membrane integrity, enzyme and heme synthesis, and steroidogenesis. Its role in numerous metabolic processes is reflected in the many pathologic manifestations that develop when a deficiency of this vitamin occurs. These include steatitis, muscular degeneration, liver necrosis, vasculopathy, anemia, and impaired reproductive capacity.5'8 Vitamin E deficiency causes well-known syndromes in poultry and domestic animals, and has been reported in some non domestic species.8'4 It has been associated with nutritional myopathy in captive raptors, exotic hoofstock, rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatto), and harbor seals (Phoca vitulina). 4'10'11 A condition highly suggestive of vitamin E deficiency cardiomyopathy was described in young Arabian camels (Comelus dromedarius) and Bactrian camels (Camelus bactrianus). 3 Myopathies in Goodfellow tree kangaroos (Dendrolagus goodfellow) and Rottnest quokka (Setonex brachyurus) have been reported in which an association was made between close confinement and increased vitamin E requirement.7 Steatitis, associated with vitamin E deficiency, has been reported in African lions (Panthera leo), captive crocodilia, and fish-eating birds.4'10 Hepatic necrosis had been reported in large carnivores.fed diets of oily fish meal.10 Manifestations of vitamin E deficiency develop with diets low in vitamin E and high in long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids. Unsaturated lipids are oxidized to peroxides by molecular oxygen, which is catalyzed by free radicals. Vitamin E can break this chain of reactions by combining with the free radicals. Vitamin E supplies therefore can be depleted if unsaturated fats in the diet are excessive. Some of the syndromes are also associated with a deficiency of selenium, d component of the enzyme glutathione peroxidase which converts the hydroperoxides to less damaging alcohols.6 We have observed extensive skeletal and cardiac myodegenerations, attributed to vitamin E deficiency, in two flocks of brown pelicans (Pelicanus occidentalis). In both cases, diets consisted solely of frozen smelt. Details of these cases are as follows:
Thiazopyr Stimulates Hairy Beggarticks (Bidens pilosa) Germination

Observations in a citrus grove indicated that hairy beggarticks numbers were higher in plots receiving thiazopyr alone or thiazopyr with oxyfluorfen than in nontreated plots. At 120 days after treatment (DAT), approximately 90% more hairy beggarticks plants had emerged in plots receiving thiazopyr at 0.56 kg ai/ha than in nontreated plots. A tank mix of thiazopyr plus oxyfluorfen, each at 0.56 kg/ha, resulted in a 55% increase in hairy beggarticks number at 120 DAT. Greenhouse studies using seeds collected from sites with or without herbicide history produced similar results. Oxyfluorfen at 0.28 kg/ha stimulated seed germination but injured seedlings by 47% or more at 36 DAT when applied at higher rates. Thiazopyr applied at 0.56 kg/ha antagonized the preemergence activity of oxyfluorfen at 0.28 or 0.56 kg/ha. Thiazopyr at 1.12 kg/ha stimulated hairy beggarticks germination by 37% compared with nontreated containers.
Investigation of the role of haematopoietic cell kinase in normal and leukaemic haematopoiesis

Acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) is characterised by an accumulation of immature blasts that fail to fully differentiate. Leukaemia is organised as a hierarchy, which is maintained by leukaemic stem cells (LSC). To identify molecular differences between normal haematopoietic stem cells (HSC) and LSC, we performed microarray analysis and found that haematopoietic cell kinase (HCK) is overexpressed in LSC. Thus, by knocking-down HCK in leukaemic cells or overexpressing it in stem cell enriched fractions, we should be able to evaluate its role in leukaemogenesis. Since LSC are difficult to culture, in vitro, we started to validate HCK silencing in leukaemic cell lines, Mono-mac-6 (MM6), U937 and Fujioka/P31, which highly express HCK. In all cell lines studied, no more than 50% silencing could be achieved, even when a short-hairpin anti-HCK was cloned into a lentiviral backbone to follow the long-term effect of HCK silencing. Decrease in kinase activity was confirmed using kinase assay and phospho-specific antibody recognising the activated HCK kinase. We show that HCK silencing does not affect the cell cycle, proliferation, differentiation or apoptosis of the cell lines. However, using methylcellulose assay, we observe a significant change in MM6 colony morphology caused by a decrease in their migration properties. Moreover, using phospho-flow cytometry, G-CSF and GM-CSF signal transduction towards STAT5 could be proven to occur via HCK in MM6, but not in Fujioka/P31 or U937 cells. HSC enriched umbilical cord blood cells were also transduced with a lentivirus encoding p59HCK. Overexpression of p59HCK in these cells led to their enhanced erythroid differentiation at the expense of myeloid differentiation underlined by the activation of c-Raf ERK and STAT5.
Coral Snakes of the Americas: Biology, Identification, and Venoms

Part 1 General Information: Overview. Part 2 Form and Distinguishing Features: External Features Internal Features. Part 3 Biology and Evolution: Ecology Feeding and Food Reproduction Enemies and Defense Mimicry - Imitation Fellowships Biogeography, Origin and Evolution. Part 4 Venoms and Snakebite: Venoms in Biology and Their Value Studies of Coral Snake Venom Chemical and Biological Characteristics of Venom Coral Snake Bite Accidents. Part 5 Identification, Description and Distribution By Countries: Identification Description of Species and Subspecies with Keys to the Subspecies Distribution by Countries. Appendices: Scientific and Common Names of Coral Snakes Summary of the Composition of Coral Snake Venom.
Morphology and subdivision of Amanita and a monograph of its section Lepidella

A historical survey of the delineation of the genus Amanita and its infrageneric classification is given. Morphological and other characters of Amanita are discussed, with emphasis on the characters and the behaviour of the volva. The term ‘pileipellis’ is proposed to replace Fayod’s term ‘cuticula’. In the taxonomic part synonymy and descriptions are given of the genus Amanita and its subgenus Lepidella, together with a key to the subgenera and the sections. Section Lepidella is provisionally monographed on the base of exhaustive examinations of type material, as far as available, and a usually limited number of additional collections. Of the 93 species recognized, sixteen are described as new, and seven provisionally as new species; three new names and four new combinations are introduced.
Relative performance of sulphur sources on sulphur nutrition of groundnut (Arachis hypogaea) in acid Alfisol of Meghalaya

A field experiment was conducted during the rainy seasons of 1998 and 1999 to evaluate the response of 'ICGS 76' groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) to different sources of S, viz single superphosphate, gypsum and elemental sulphur, each at 4 levels (0, 15, 30, 45 kg S/ha). An application of S @ 30 kg/ha proved superior to other levels in respect of yield, protein content and S uptake by groundnut. The effectiveness of S sources was in the order of gypsum > single superphosphate > elemental sulphur. Increasing the levels of S application resulted in narrowing the N: S ratio of groundnut.
The Impact of Organizational Aspects on Successful Adoption of Decision Support System in Developing Countries: The Context of Libyan Higher Education Ministry

Decision Support Systems are the information application programs that analyze data and present it in a way that makes it easier to make acumen decisions dependent on the prevailing circumstance. This paper provides research grounds for implementing and designing the decision support systems. The paper generally talks about the adoption of decision support systems in developing countries. Most of the firms in the developing countries reveal an advanced use of computerized services. Most developing countries employ the use of DSS in the organizations not because of being competitive but because of the business requirements which are always immediate (Power 124). The organizations that have successfully employed the use of DSS have been seen to be successful. The researcher begins with a brief introduction and background of the study topic, continue with a section of data analyzing, exploration, reduction, factor analysis and discussion, provide numerous recommendations based on the information obtained and conclude the paper. Keywords: Decision Support Systems, Adoption of Decision Support Systems, Developing Countries, Factors Influencing the Decision Support Systems