Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Radioprotective action of resurrection plant Haberlea rhodopensis Friv. (Gesneriaceae) and role of fl avonoids and phenolic acids

Georgieva, S. , Gencheva, D. , Popov, B. , Grozeva, N. & Zhelyazkova, M. (2019). Radioprotective action of resurrection plant Haberlea rhodopensis Friv. (Gesneriaceae) and role of fl avonoids and phenolic acids. Bulg. J. Agric. Sci., 25 (Suppl. 3), 158–168 Haberlea rhodopensis Friv. (Gesneriaceae) is a Balkan endemic and resurrection glacial relict plant which is distributed in Bulgaria (Rhodope Mountains, Sredna Gora Mt. and Central Balkan). Currently, there is a huge interest in Haberlea rhodopensis, and several scientifi c studies aimed at the isolation and identifi cation of its active components as well as the investigation of the pharmacological eff ects and possibilities of the use of Haberlea rhodopensis as a medical plant have been conducted. The main eff ects of Haberlea rhodopensis include radioprotective, anti-mutagenic, antioxidant and anti-ageing properties. This review emphasises the radioprotective potential of Haberlea rhodopensis and focuses on the biological properties of its ingredients like fl avonoid aglycones and glycosides as well as phenolic acids in relation to their capacity to capture free radicals and reduce oxidative stress. More research оn animals and humans are needed for clarifi cation of the mechanisms of action and the eventual side eff ects of Haberlea thodopensis and its compounds as radioprotective agents.
Song Repertoires in a Western European Population of Yellowhammers Emberiza citrinella

Abstract. Geographic variation is one of the most intensively studied bird song topics. However, our knowledge of geographical song variations in most species studied so far is very sparse, with many areas of the species-typical geographic distributions still unexplored. One striking example is the Yellowhammer: for this species most song studies have been conducted along well defined dialect borders, but almost nothing is known about its song characteristics in other regions of its broad geographic distribution. In this study, we investigated the song structure variations and stereotypes in different areas of western Belgium and northern France. We described 66 different song types (a-elements) in 45 males recorded. Each male had a unique individual repertoire consisting of 1 to 4 of these song types. This high variability at the individual level contrasted with the high homogeneity of the specific repertoire over the whole geographic distribution of the species. The evolutionary implications of such specificity are discussed with regard to song learning and timing of singing activity. Finally, all males recorded belonged to the western regiolect, although some mixed-singers were also recorded. These results contrast with the very few studies previously conducted in western Europe which have suggested that eastern regiolect songs were common in this geographic area.
Cross-cultural Comparison on Customers Preference for Configurators in China and Germany

The promising configurator development in collectivist country like China calls for more focus on how to design good featured configurators according to different cultural background. This paper examines four characteristics the design of configurators in China should differ from their German counterparts. This paper has combined two research methods. First, an online survey is implemented with 72 respondents in each country. Afterwards, 2 Chinese focus groups (16 participants in total) and 2 German focus groups (16 participants in total) are implemented to validate the result from online survey. Results show that Chinese tend to have positive attitude on social features embedded in configurators such as “asking professional designers or friends for feedback” and “sharing final design via social media”, while Germans tend to have negative attitude towards these social features. Moreover, Chinese customers have significant preference difference on valuing the feature of “the most popular option”. However, on the feature of “starting from most popular designs created by other customers or from professional designers”, there is no significant cultural different reflected, while customers in both countries tend to have positive attitude towards starting from professional’s designs.
Growth and yield of corn grain and green ear in competition with weeds

Studies on plant growth are interesting because they provide explanations for the factors that influence yield in various crops. The objective of this work was to evaluate growth and yield in corn cultivar AG1051, when in competition with weeds. Cultivar AG 1051 was submitted to two groups of treatments: weed control, and sampling periods for dry biomass evaluation. The weed control treatments consisted of hoeing (two hoeings performed at 20 and 40 days after sowing) and no hoeing. Sampling periods consisted of collecting the above-ground part and roots of corn every fifteen days, until 105 days after sowing (DAS); the first sampling was performed 30 DAS. A completely randomized block design with ten replicates was used. For the characteristics evaluated in a single season, statistical analyses were carried out as a random block experiment. For the characteristics evaluated in several periods, statistical analyses were carried out as random blocks with split-plots (weed control assigned to plots). Fourteen weed species, unevenly distributed throughout the experimental area, were the most important. The growth observed for the above-ground part and root system of corn was 30% smaller in the non-hoed plots, compared to the hoed plots. Lack of weed control increased dry matter of the above-ground part of the weeds and reduced the number of unhusked and husked marketable green ears by 23% and 49%, respectively. Grain yield reduction caused by lack of weed control reached 38%.
The Effects of Bio-Fertilizers and Nitrogen Nutrition on the Physiology of Maize

Application a lot of mineral fertilizers has an unfavourable impact on our environment and health. All operation and method, which try to reduce the environmental pollutions have and will have a main role in our life. Environmental protection is getting more important for the agrarian, because of the purpose of sustainable agriculture (Pepo et al., 2005). Bio-fertilizers containing less mineral compounds and plant growth promoting bacteria are good tools to reduce environmental damages and enhance the yield (Levai et al, 2006). From the point of view the dry matter production, which is very important in agronomy, the photosynthetic efficiency and the dry matter production has a questionless role. Changes in the potential photochemical activity and the amount of dry matter are indicative for the adverse circumstances (Meszaros et al,. 2001, Veres et al., 2000).
Seduction by contract

In this accessible and well-structured book Bar-Gill takes a close look at the credit card, mortgage, and cell-phone markets. He shows why contracts in these markets look the way they do, what is wrong with them, and what the law can do to help. Providing a dearth of examples Bar-Gill shows in a detailed analysis how in these three markets externalities, asymmetric information, and misperception lead to biased estimates on the part of customers. This analysis provides the basis for an interesting critique of the behavioural assumptions of the contracts in the markets he studies, and a broader critique that the way contracts in these markets function exhibit deficiencies that may well hurt overall social welfare. However, on the basis of the material that he discusses, it may well be argued that the critique he provides is too limited in a number of ways.
Effects of Foliar Applied Sulfur and Commercial Growth Regulators in Wheat

ABSTRACT During the year 1999, two glasshouse experiments (Experiments 1 and 2) were conducted at the University of Wales Aberystwyth, UK to investigate the effects of foliar applied sulfur (S) in wheat in terms of its potential as a growth regulator and to compare the effects with that of commercial growth regulators, chlormequat (CC) and gibberellic acid (GA3). In Experiment 1, the grain yield was unaffected by sulfur or growth regulator treatments. Similarly, there were no differences in the number of fertile ears at maturity. Stem characteristics were not affected with S application, but CC application reduced the average stem length; although, it did not affect the unit stem weight. The GA3 did not change stem characteristics. In Experiment 2, the grain yield was significantly reduced by CC. Stem characteristics were not affected by S application while application of CC brought about a significant reduction in the stem length and increased the unit stem weight. Applied CC reduced the stem length irrespective of the timing of its application, maintaining its versatility as a growth regulator. Grain Nitrogen (N) concentration was apparently increased; while in Experiment 2 plant N-uptake occurred significantly by foliar S application at 20 kg/ha. The work emphasized the potential role of S in a low-input wheat production system or in organic wheat production systems.
Investigating the Link Between Executive Function and Creativity in School Aged Children

KATHERINE C. CRENSHAW: Investigating the Link Between Executive Function and Creativity in School Aged Children (Under direction of Stepahnie Miller) The primary purpose of this research was to examine links between executive function (i.e., EF or conscious control) and creativity in school aged children. To accomplish this, participants completed measurements of creativity (i.e., Alternative Uses) and EF (i.e., the Backwards Digit Span to test working memory, the Delay of Gratification task to test inhibition). I also examined whether a creative manipulation (i.e., free coloring or coloring task-relevant materials) would impact EF performance in the Dimensional Card Change Sort (DCCS) focused on cognitive flexibility. While I did not find evidence for a relationship between my measures of EF and creativity, I found that those who were low in certain creative components (i.e., the ability to switch between categories called flexibility, the ability to generate a number of unique ideas called atypical fluency, and originality) performed better on the DCCS when allowed to freely color before the DCCS, while those who performed higher in creative measures generally did not benefit from a creative manipulation before the task. This suggests that those who are low in creativity may experience EF benefits from adding unstructured creative activities before a task.
Learning from My Successes and from Others' Failures: Evidence from Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery

Learning from past experience is central to an organization’s adaptation and survival. A key dimension of prior experience is whether an outcome was successful or unsuccessful. While empirical studies have investigated the effects of success and failure in organizational learning, to date the phenomenon has received little attention at the individual level. Drawing on attribution theory in psychology, we investigate how individuals learn from their own past experiences with both failure and success and from the experiences of others. For our empirical analyses, we use ten years of data from 71 cardiothoracic surgeons who completed over 6,500 procedures using a new technology for cardiac surgery. We find that individuals learn more from their own successes than from their own failures but learn more from the failures of others than from others’ successes. We also find that individuals’ prior successes and others’ failures can help individuals overcome their inability to learn from their own failures. Together, these findings offer both theoretical and practical insights into how individuals learn directly from their prior experience and indirectly from the experiences of others.
Rheological and differential scanning calorimetry studies on structural and textural changes in frozen Atlantic mackerel (Scomber scombrus)

The viscoelastic behaviour and thermal stability of Atlantic mackerel fillets stored at −20 and −30 °C for up to 2 years were investigated. An increase in elastic (G′) and viscous (G″) modulus values, reflecting protein aggregation, was observed in samples stored at −20 °C compared with those stored at −30 °C, as well as with storage time. The results indicate that toughening on frozen storage is not just limited to lean gadoid fish but also occurs in fatty fish, leading to texture deterioration. Differential scanning calorimetry of fillets stored at −20 °C showed a shift to a lower transition temperature (Tm) and a decrease in enthalpy (ΔH) compared with control fillets stored at −30 °C; this change was enhanced when fillets were stored for a longer period of time, confirming protein denaturation and the formation of aggregates reported previously by the authors (J Sci Food Agric 82: 579–586 (2002)). The contribution of lipid oxidation to protein aggregation was shown by storing minced mackerel with or without the antioxidant vitamin E at −10 °C. The G′ and G″ values were higher in samples stored without vitamin E than in samples stored with vitamin E; thus antioxidants may be used to minimise protein aggregation in fatty fish. The role of lipid oxidation in promoting protein aggregation and deterioration in the texture of fatty fish has not been reported hitherto. Antioxidants such as vitamin E may be used not only to prevent lipid oxidation but also to minimise protein damage in order to prolong the shelf-life of fatty fish. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry
Growth Prediction of Chicks from Dietary Amino Acid Profiles with Special Reference to Interactions between Sulfur-Containing and Aromatic Amino Acids

In order to allow better prediction of chick growth, an attempt was made to develop a computer assisted amino acid model based on a previous version1, 2) with respect to a dietary condition where the proportions of methionine in total sulfur-containing amino acids (SSA) and phenylalanine in total aromatic amino acids (AAA) are widely varied. By performing growth assays, the relationship between chick growth and the proportion of methionine in SAA or of phenylalanine in AAA was expressed in an exponential function to construct a main frame of the prediction model. The validity of the present model was tested by comparing simulated values with published ones in the literature. The results showed that the prediction of growth performance was considerably improved by the present model compared with the previous version.
Consumer Perceptions of Corporate Social Responsibility Campaigns: The Impact on Organizational Reputation and Buying Behavior

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is a growing trend in corporate communications as more organizations are committing to philanthropic and social efforts as an integral part of their business models. Using an online survey, this study examines the relationship between CSR and organizational reputation and consumer buying behavior. More specifically, a CSR campaign conducted by Starbucks is used to understand the impact on perceptions of reputation, potential changes in behavior, and differences in responses based on age groups. Key findings of this study include that CSR campaigns have the ability to improve organizational reputation; however, it is more likely for CSR campaigns to positively impact perceptions of organizational reputation than consumer buying behavior.
Epistolary texts in a comparative perspective: the case of readers’ letters in Polish and English

The article presents the genre model of the letter to the press based on a comparative study of 140 Polish and English readers’ letters. The analysis encompasses structural, pragmatic, semantic and stylistic matters. The discussed texts are assigned their place within the letter genre, grouped into different types depending on their propositional content and further characterized as marked by a repertoire of genre signals. Additionally, the controversy over their genre membership (editorials vs. letters) is resolved and they are recognized as genuine research material, notwithstanding some degree of editorial bias involved in the publication process.
Energy Balances of Diploid, Triploid, and Hybrid Grass Carp

Abstract Grass carp Ctenopharyngodon idella and genetic derivatives are widely used as biological control agents for aquatic macrophytes. The results of bioenergetic comparisons of three types of commercially available grass carp are reported. Empirical relationships were developed for consumption rate, metabolic rate, and assimilation efficiency as functions of temperature and size. Summary energy balances are presented for each type of fish. Diploid and triploid grass carp had similar standardized energy balances: 12–13% of the energy ingested was used in metabolism, 74% was egested or excreted, and 13–14% went into growth. Hybrid grass carp (female grass carp x male bighead carp Hypophthalmichthys nobilis) metabolized a greater proportion of the energy intake (16%) and egested 81%, leaving only 3% available for growth; they also ingested food at a significantly lower rate. Thus, intergeneric triploid hybrids appear to be energetically handicapped. Their low consumption rate and reduced assimilation eff.
Evaluation of the Antimicrobial Potential of Punica granatum and Origanum vulgare

Aim: To evaluate the antimicrobial potential of Punica granatum and Origanum vulgare against some bacterial strains. Methods: The aqueous extracts were screened for their antimicrobial potential and physiochemical parameters such as extract concentration and temperature were optimized. The MIC of the most sensitive microorganism was worked out. Results: The 10% aqueous extract of Punica granatum (pomegranate) and Origanum vulgare (Oregano) were screened for their antimicrobial activity against bacteria like Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Salmonella typhimurium, Staphylococcus epidermidis , where the average inhibition zone of Punica granatum ranged from 11-19mm with Salmonella typhimurium being the most sensitive (19mm). Origanum vulgare did not show effectiveness against the test organisms at 10% concentration. Optimization studies showed 20% extract concentration and an extraction temperature of 60°C to be the optimal conditions which would support the best antimicrobial activity of the plant extracts. The MIC of Punica granatum against Staphylococcus epidermidis was found to be 50mg/ml. Conclusion: These findings suggest that these plants can be used for development of antimicrobial compounds in time to come.
MOLECULAR PHYLOGENY OF THE CRUSTOSE ERYTHROPELTIDALES (COMPSOPOGONOPHYCEAE, RHODOPHYTA): NEW GENERA PSEUDOERYTHROCLADIA AND MADAGASCARIA AND THE EVOLUTION OF THE UPRIGHT HABIT 1

The Erythropeltidales are a common group of small, mostly epiphytic, marine red algae. Morphologically, they can be divided into two main groups: species that are crustose and species that are upright. Being morphologically simple, generic boundaries and evolutionary trends are controversial or unknown. We focus our molecular phylogenetic analysis on members that are crustose using samples collected from around the world and placed in unialgal culture. Our data indicate that one upright genus, Porphyropsis, is closely related to crustose genera and that the upright habit evolved at least twice in the order. In addition, the genus Sahlingia is supported as distinct from Erythrocladia. Within samples identified as Erythrocladia, three groups are distinguished: Erythrocladia, composed of crustose aggregating filaments with pyrenoids; Pseudoerythrocladia gen. nov., crustose aggregating filaments without pyrenoids, a sister genus to Porphyropsis also without pyrenoids; and Madagascaria gen. nov., a sister genus to all other Erythropeltidales samples that is only subtly different from Erythrocladia. Within these genera, no clear morphological groups are evident, nor is the level of molecular diversity suggestive of multiple species. We suggest that described species, especially in the genus Erythrocladia, are just morphological variants, due to substrate or environmental variation, and further descriptions of these morphologically simple algae must incorporate molecular data and standardized culture conditions.
The DMGT: Changes Within, Beneath, and Beyond

This article begins with a brief survey of the recent update of the Differentiating Model of Giftedness and Talent (DMGT). The DMGT defines talent development as the transformation of outstanding natural abilities (called gifts-G) into outstanding knowledge and skills (called talents-T). Two types of catalysts, intrapersonal (I) and environmental (E), actively moderate the talent development process (D). These causal components of talent development have biological underpinnings; I propose here a way to integrate these biological roots to the DMGT in the form of ‘basements’ that exert their influence upwards to moderate the development of natural abilities, as well as many intrapersonal catalysts like temperament, needs, interests, and volition. This new tri-dimensional approach to the structure of talent development leads to two hitherto unpublished proposals. The first one is a Developmental Model for Natural Abilities (DMNA), in which biological building blocks create a diversity of natural abilities, through a developmental process based on maturation and informal learning, and with the necessary contribution of both sets of I and E catalysts. The second one integrates the new DMNA and the DMGT into an Expanded Model of Talent Development (EMTD) that begins with the biological foundations and ends with high level expertise.
Examination of sleep disturbance, anxiety sensitivity, and depression in an undergraduate sample

Sleep contributes to overall well-being, mental health, and daily functioning. Sleep disturbances negatively affect psychological, physiological, and biological processing, and the quality of sleep is similarly affected by these processes. The effects of sleep disturbance call for a greater understanding of depression and anxiety sensitivity among college students. Studies have found that sleep disturbance affects nearly 90% of the college student population. The aims of the current study were to examine: 1) types and rates of sleep disturbance among a sample of college students, 2) associations between sleep disturbance, AS, and depression symptoms, and 3) AS and depression symptoms by comparing college students with high levels of sleep disturbance and those with low levels of sleep disturbance. Similar to predictions, significant positive correlations between all variables were observed. Results suggest a need for treatment related to sleep, anxiety sensitivity and depression. Future research should further investigate the connection between sleep disturbances, AS, and depressive symptoms among college populations. SLEEP, ANXIETY SENSITIVITY, AND DEPRESSION 5
Isolation and partial characterization of a soybean cystatin cysteine proteinase inhibitor of coleopteran digestive proteolytic activity

The objective was to isolate a cysteine proteinase inhibitor from a legume seed source, characterise it, and determine through in vitro assays if it is effective against digestive proteinase activity in midguts larval insects that utilise digestive cysteine proteinases. The gene coding for an effective inhibitor would be a good candidate to use in transformation of dry beans, cowpeas, and other legume seeds to confer insect resistance