Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Molecular systematics of dictyostelids: a case for single genus

The cellular slime moulds or dictyostelids, are a major group of edaphic (soil-dwelling) unicellular eukaryotic micro-organisms which feed on bacteria in the humus layer of tropical and temperate soils. The extraordinary behaviour of dictyostelids where solitary, predatory amoebae become social, forming a multi-cellular spore-producing ‘organism’ when their food supply becomes limited has fascinated generations of researchers. Since their discovery the taxonomy of the cellular slime moulds has been largely based on morphological features, revised many times, but still remains unresolved and controversial. One focus of discussion is the controversial relationship between the two principal genera of Dictyostelium and Polysphondylium, which by virtue of a common amoeba type are placed in the same family - Dictyosteliaceae. Despite the current distinction between Dictyostelium and Polysphondylium it is impossible to definitively resolve these genera, or indeed the broader classification of cellular slime moulds, using only morphological features. Given that dictyostelids are both of major ecological importance and often used as a model eukaryotic system, it has become imperative to resolve these taxonomic uncertainties and to finally establish the validity of one or two genera. This study used two PCR based techniques: (1) direct sequencing of the ITS 1 and ITS 2 regions of the rDNA complex together with (2) ISSR-PCR, a standard molecular technique but rarely applied to the dictyostelids. The latter requiring the development of a working protocol before it could be implemented. The sequence data from 51 different dictyostelid species and isolates was aligned with CLUSTAL and analysed via PAUP. This study clearly demonstrates that molecular markers cannot distinguish Dictyostelium (sensu stricto) from Polysphondylium (sensu stricto): indeed it presents evidence to support the existence of a single genus. The implications of these results are unequivocal: the current systematics of cellular slime moulds, based on morphological characters, must be revised.
Flax seeds and finger millet enriched functional rusk

Bakery products are generally made up of refined wheat flour that may be deficient in both fibre and essential fatty acids. In this study α-linolenic acid and fibre enriched rusk using flax seeds and finger millet were developed. The proportions of finger millet, flax seed and wheat flours were optimized using Response Surface Methodology (RSM). On the basis of fibre and ALA content and baking quality characteristics of rusk 13.13%, 6.0% and 80.6% of finger millet, flax seed and wheat flours, respectively was finalized. The developed rusk contained 4.81% fibre and 1.36% α-linolenic acid. Wet and dry gluten content, SDS sedimentation, falling number, dough raising capacity of yeast and baking time of mixed flour of these components were statistically (p>0.05) similar to that of wheat flour (control). However, higher loaf weight and lower loaf height was observed in mixed flour rusk in comparison to control rusk. α-linolenic acid and fibres enriched rusk were developed with similar quality parameters and improved functional properties.
Evaluation of biological Control potential for different Trichoderma strains against Root-Knot Nematode Meloidogyne javanica

Twenty strains of four Trichoderma species (Trichoderma harzianum, Trichoderma viride, Trichoderma koningii and Trichoderma asperellum) were evaluated for its potential to control the root-knot nematode Meloidogyne javanica. Culture filtrates from Trichoderma strains were tested in 24-well tissue culture plates for effects on Meloidogyne javanica. Chitwood egg hatch and mobility of hatched second-stage juveniles (J2) were evaluated, all the twenty Trichoderma strains showed the ability to colonize M. javanica separated eggs and second-stage juveniles (J2) in sterile in vitro assays. T. asperellum possess the strongest egg-parasitic ability and very effective against 2nd stage larvae of M. javanica. In this investigation, randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers was used to estimate the genetic variations between four strains of Trichoderma asperellum (KC898190, KC898191, KC898192 and KC898193) which were previously isolated from the rhizospheres of different plants growing in Fayoum Governorate, Egypt as a new strain of T. asperellum in Egypt. RAPD assay using 6 random primers identified T. asperellum strains with 5 specific unique markers.
Activity Fields and the Dynamics of Crime Advancing Knowledge About the Role of the Environment in Crime Causation

Our current understanding of the role of the social environment in crime causation is at best rudimentary. Guided by the theoretical framework of Situational Action Theory, and using data from the ESRC financed Peterborough Adolescent and Young Adult Development Study (PADS? ), this paper aims to propose how we can better theorise and study the role of the social environment, particularly the person and place interaction, in crime causation. We will introduce, and illustrate the usefulness of, a space–time budget methodology as a means of capturing people’s exposure to settings and describing their activity fields. We will suggest and demonstrate that, combined with a small area community survey and psychometric measures of individual characteristics, a space–time budget is a powerful tool for advancing our knowledge about the role of the social environment, and its interaction with people’s crime propensity, in crime causation. Our unique data allows us to study the convergence in time and space of crime propensity, criminogenic exposure and crime events. As far as we are aware, such an analysis has never before been carried out. The findings show that there are (a) clear associations between young people’s activity fields and their exposure to criminogenic settings, (b) clear associations between their exposure to criminogenic settings and their crime involvement, and, crucially, (c) that the influence of criminogenic exposure depends on a person’s crime propensity. Having a crime-averse morality and strong ability to exercise self-control appears to make young people practically situationally immune to the influences of criminogenic settings, while having a crime-prone morality The Peterborough Adolescent and Young Adult Development Study (PADS? ) is funded by a large grant from the UK Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC). For further information about PADS? and its research see www.pads. ac.uk. P.-O. H. Wikström (&) B. Hardie K. Treiber Institute of Criminology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK e-mail: pow20@cam.ac.uk V. Ceccato Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden 123 J Quant Criminol (2010) 26:55–87 DOI 10.1007/s10940-009-9083-9
Deep Local Volatility

Deep learning for option pricing has emerged as a novel methodology for fast computations with applications in calibration and computation of Greeks. However, many of these approaches do not enforce any no-arbitrage conditions, and the subsequent local volatility surface is never considered. In this article, we develop a deep learning approach for interpolation of European vanilla option prices which jointly yields the full surface of local volatilities. We demonstrate the modification of the loss function or the feed forward network architecture to enforce (hard constraints approach) or favor (soft constraints approach) the no-arbitrage conditions and we specify the experimental design parameters that are needed for adequate performance. A novel component is the use of the Dupire formula to enforce bounds on the local volatility associated with option prices, during the network fitting. Our methodology is benchmarked numerically on real datasets of DAX vanilla options.
Spatial and seasonal variation of microcrustaceans (Cladocera and Copepoda) in intermittent rivers in the Jequiezinho River Hydrographic Basin, in the Neotropical semiarid

Intermittent rivers are environments that show a dynamic hydrology, with a period of water flow and subsequent drought, which leads to extreme environmental variation. This study investigated spatial and seasonal influence on Cladocera and Copepoda in the Jequiezinho River Hydrographic Basin (Brazil) from September/2002 to August/2003. The JRHB is formed by intermittent rivers and is located in the Brazilian semiarid region. Sampling was carried out monthly in three sampling sites located in the upper region and other three, in the lower region of the Jequiezinho River Hydrographic Basin. Microcrustaceans were collected with a plankton net (70 μm) and preserved in formaline 4%. Twentyeight taxa were recorded: 10 Cladocera species, 3 Calanoida species, and 15 species of Cyclopoida. The spatial differences in microcrustaceans assemblage were more pronounced than temporal ones. Only nauplii density showed significant differences between dry and rainy seasons, with high density during the rainy season. Species richness, nauplii, Cladocera and Cyclopoida densities showed differences between upper and lower regions of the hydrographic basin, with high values in the upper region. These results suggest better conditions for development of Cladocera and Copepoda in upstream than downstream stretches, likely because in the headwaters the limnological features and greater availability of niches contributes to a better organism’s development. The high similarity between close stretches and the interruption of upstream-downstream longitudinal links provide aspects of the river continuum, river discontinuum and patch dynamics concepts. The hierarchical patch dynamics perspective links these concepts, providing a flexible conceptual framework for intermittent fluvial landscape ecology.
Formation Pathways of Binary Neutron Stars

With GW150914, the rst detection of gravitational waves by LIGO interferometers in 2015, we had the direct proof that binary compact objects exist and merge within an Hubble time. Since then, many e orts have been made to study the formation pathways of binary compact objects. In this thesis I present the main steps that preceded this discovery, then I highlight the most important results obtained in this eld. At rst I review the e ects of gravitational waves on binary systems, rst predicted (Peters, 1964[5]) and later proved indirectly (Hulse & Taylor, 1975[6]); afterwards I discuss the main processes that drive the last phases of stellar evolution and how they a ect the nal fate of a binary system. In particular, I focus on natal kicks, discussing the most important studies and models about its statistical distribution and the way natal kicks a ect the physical parameters of a binary. In this framework, I have analysed a population-synthesis simulation of 5 isolated binary systems. Each system was simulated twice, by changing the natal kicks. In this way there are two possible scenarios for each system. In one case the system reaches the merger, in the other the system splits. Systems with similar starting characteristics resulted to evolve in completely di erent ways after receiving di erent kicks. I discuss the main di erences between the systems in the evolution of physical parameters (stellar masses, orbital separation and orbital eccentricity over time) and the way they play a key role in the fate of the systems, particularly the coalescence time.
Marketplace plants used in ceremonial cleansing among Andean Qechuans of Ecuador

Ceremonial cleansing plays a vital role in indigenous societies where ‘folk illnesses’ such as susto (fright) are common. Indigenous Andean Qechuans commonly use cleansing plants to treat susto, and related ‘folk illnesses’. The purpose of this study was to characterize and compare market plants and to define methods and knowledge used in ceremonial cleansing among Ecuadorian Qechuans. Interviews were conducted with 22 vendors at 13 marketplaces. Regression Analysis (RA) determined preferentially selected plant families and residual value of RA determined the highest and lowest preferentially selected plant families.Hierarchical cluster analysis and coefficient of similarity demonstrated the relationship between marketplaces and cleansing plants. Intracultural comparision determined if plant species from the Amazonion region were being used in the Andean markets for cleansing purposes. A total of 101 species from 50 plant families was reportedly used for cleansing. Two types of ritual cleansing (limpia) methods were recorded: internal and external cleansing. Both methods employed dulce (sweet) and amargos (bitter) plants. Mal aire (bad air), mal energia (bad energy) and susto were prominent ailments treated. Cluster analysis demonstrated that markets of Pujilli and Otovalo were the most floristically related while Cuenca was the least related of the 13. Lamiaceae had the highest number of plant species (15) used. According to residual of RA, Lamiaceae (14.4757) was the most selected and Orchidaceae (4.9433) was the least selected family. Highest residual of RA demonstrated preferential selection of the Lamiaceae. According to coefficient of similarity, all 13 markets share 0.75 (out of value 1) similar plant species. Similarity in market flora can be partially explained by similarity in geographic location. Further, limited markets having the fewest species shared a similar flora despite being widely separated. No significant number (11 speceis) of Amazonion plants were used in the Andean markets. Knowledge of plants used in ceremonial cleansing was prevalent throughout the study area with minor variations in species employed.
THE ROLE OF TUMOR-ASSOCIATED MACROPHAGES IN THE PATHOGENESIS OF ORAL SQUAMOUS CELL CARCINOMA CORRELATED WITH THE CLINICOPATHOLOGICAL PARAMETERS

Introduction: Oral cancer is a major health problem, causing high morbidity and mortality rates. Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) accounts for 90-95% of all oral malignancies. During the last decade, significant evidence has suggested that inflammatory tumor microenvironment (TME) plays an important role in tumorigenesis. The inflammatory cells and their signals are indispensable participants in the neoplastic process, fostering proliferation, survival, and migration of cancer cells. The macrophages are the most abundant and important stromal cells in the TME, which orchestrate the inflammatory response. They control the cellular proliferation and survival by stimulating the immune cells and by promoting integrated processes of inflammation and tissue repair. Therefore, the tumor associated macrophages (TAMs) may be of great prognostic significance in different types of tumors. Objectives: This study was conducted to assess the TAMs density in OSCC using CD163 in metastasizing and non-metastasizing OSCC. Moreover, the correlation of TAM density with the lymph node status and the different histopathological grades of OSCC was assessed. Materials and methods: The density of TAM was calculated in 30 surgical specimens taken from OSCC patients. Biopsies were taken from the primary tumor of 15 cases with lymph node metastasis and 15 cases with no lymph node metastasis. Fifteen normal mucosal tissues were taken from healthy individuals indicated for alveoloplasty as a control group. Immunohistochemical staining using the CD163 antibody was performed, using Labeled Strept-Avidin Biotin complex method. Positive cells were counted using the Image J free software package. Results:CD163 was expressed in human OSCC and the TAMs count was significantly correlated with lymph node metastasis and with the tumor differentiation. Higher density was detected in metastatic tumors and in the poorly differentiated OSCC than in the well and moderately differentiated cases. Conclusions: CD163 positive TAMs could be a prognostic factor in OSCC cases as TAM density was significantly correlated with the lymph node status and the grade of differentiation of OSCC.
An Examination of Psychomotor Disturbance in Current and Remitted MDD: An RDoC Study

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a serious public health problem that has, at best, modest treatment response—potentially due to its heterogeneous clinical presentation. One way to parse the heterogeneity is to investigate the role of particular features of MDD, an endeavor that can also help identify novel and focal targets for treatment and prevention efforts. Our R01 focuses on the feature of psychomotor disturbance (e.g., psychomotor agitation (PmA) and retardation (PmR)), a particularly pernicious feature of MDD, that has not been examined extensively in MDD. Aim 1 is comparing three groups of individuals—those with current MDD (n = 100), remitted MDD (n = 100), and controls (n = 50)—on multiple measures of PmR and PmA (assessed both in the lab and in the subjects’ natural environment). Aim 2 is examining the structural (diffusion MRI) and functional (resting state fMRI) connectivity of motor circuitry of the three groups as well as the relation between motor circuitry and the proposed indicators of PmR and PmA. Aim 3 is following up with subjects three times over 18 months to evaluate whether motor symptoms change in tandem with overall depressive symptoms and functioning over time and/or whether baseline PmR/PmA predicts course of depression and functioning. Aim 3 is particularly clinically significant. Finding that motor functioning and overall depression severity co-vary over time, or that motor variables predict subsequent change in overall depression severity, would support the potential clinical utility of these novel, reliable, and easily administered motor assessments.
EFECTO DEL MEDIO Y CONDICIONES DE CULTIVO EN LA PRODUCTIVIDAD DE TRES DIATOMEAS MARINAS CON POTENCIAL ACUÍCOLA.

Las diatomeas Actinocyclus normanii , Cyclotella gromerata y Neodelphyneis pelagica fueron trabajadas en el laboratorio de Alimento Vivo de la Universidad de Cordoba, con el fin de caracterizar las especies, obtener cepas y realizar cultivos experimentales bajo condiciones controladas de temperatura (24oC), salinidad (25-30 0/00) y aireacion. Cultivos a 5 ml y 250 ml fueron realizados con dos medios de cultivo como tratamiento (F/2 de Guillar & Rither, y CONWAY) para determinar su efecto sobre la productividad. Mediante observaciones periodicas (cada 6 horas), se registro el tamano y densidad celular, asi como, la tasa de crecimiento (K). Los resultados mostraron diferencia significativa para el efecto de los medios de cultivo sobre el crecimiento poblacional de las microalgas, las cuales alcanzan concentraciones de 267214,1 ± 277,77 cel.ml-1; 1606117 ± 69686,7 cel.ml- 1 y 2735703 ± 49180,8 cel.ml-1 respectivamente para cada especie. Se concluyo que estas microalgas por sus caracteristicas de crecimiento en cultivo, presentan adaptacion favorable a las condiciones de manejo para la produccion de biomasas frescas con �F/2� siendo este el medio mas adecuado, asimismo, por su tamano son potencialmente utiles para ser empleadas como particula nutritiva con fines acuicolas.
The Impact of Non-Formal Education in Community Development: A Case Study in Pati, Indonesia

Non-formal education, which functions as a complement, substitute and enhancer, is crucial in building a community for the better. This includes development through community empowerment programs or training to improve human and natural resources or local potential in a community. This study aims to describe the role of non-formal education in the Pati Regency, as well as the supporting factors and the inhibiting factors in its implementation. This study used a qualitative descriptive approach accompanied by a Forum Group Discussion (FGD). The research subjects were the Head of Nonformal Education (PAUD, Equality and Community Education), Head of the District Education and Culture Department, SKB (Learning Activity Studio), PKBM (Community Learning Activity Center), and LKP (Course and Training Institute). Data collection was completed by observation to see firsthand the conditions in the field, documentation to obtain documentative data, and interviews or with meeting the actors or stakeholders. The method of data analysis was undertaken by collecting data in the field, reducing data to select information or data to be used, presenting data in sequence, and drawing conclusions or verification. This research finds the existence of a superior non-formal education program in each sub-district in the Pati District. This study concludes that non-formal education plays a major role in improving community development related to education (school) and equality and providing skills to improve the economy of the people in the Pati Regency.
Portfolio Assessment Trial on Learning of Citizenship in Elementary School

This research is background by the field’s fact which indicates the decreasing of Indonesian educational quality recently and also the criticism from society and educational observer to the civic Education (PKN) material which is less ‘Praxis’ contents and rather politically and indoctrination tools oriented. These matters give the impression of a stiff learning method in the teaching and learning process; less flexibility, less democratic and tend to be teacher oriented. So, it is necessary to create a learning method which can stimulate and challenge the students to increase their capability. Among others, by applying the Portfolio Assessment on the civic Education Lesson. Through an experimental method on a three times research sample test (RPP 01, RPP 02 and RPP 03) by applying a Comparative Test (t – test), it resulted in a very significant differentiation between before and after the learning process. This has led to the idea that there is a capability differentiation before and after a civic Education learning process with an applying of a Portfolio Assessment. One conclusion that can be drawn that based on the experimental research test result, is that it can be surely confirmed that the application of Portfolio Assessment in the civic Education Learning Process had shown an increase of students’ capability at SD GMIM Sonder.
The Impact of Institutional Investment Horizon on Corporate Governance and Firm Performance

The purpose of this research study is to explore the impact of institutional investors in corporate governance and market measure firm performance mechanism. The study defined the investment horizon of the financial institutions on the bases of their long or short term investment objectives in the investee companies. In order to study these relationships the research analyzed an unbalanced panel of 287 non-financial firms’ from 2005 to 2016. The selected sample was analyzed by fixed effect, random effect and Arellano–Bond dynamic panel models. The results of the study confirm the positive impact of institutional investors (as a homogenous group) in enhancing the corporate governance and firms’ performance mechanism in the light of agency and signaling theories. However, when the financial institutions are analyzed on the basis of their investment horizon the empirical results deviated from the previous predicted theoretical findings. The research further concludes that long investment horizon institutional investors play a positive role in improving corporate governance index and Tobin’s Q, however, short investment horizon institutional investors are found detrimental for both the corporate governance and performance mechanism in Pakistani firms. The current study is unique in the context of the emerging economies, as it provides response to the previous contradictory opinions about the role of financial institutions in firm performance and corporate governance mechanism. Moreover, the current research is also useful for individual investors, corporate managers and regulatory authorities for better understanding of this phenomenon.