Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Environmentally Friendly Practices and Perceptions in Aquaculture: A Sectoral Case-study from a Mediterranean-based Industry

ABSTRACT The accelerated growth of aquaculture has led to increasing demands for natural resources and ecosystem services, requires additional sites for expansion, and generates frequently observed environmental impacts. Accordingly, public concerns and socio-environmental conflicts have pushed key-role players to gradually adopt environmentally friendly practices. The aim of the present survey was to record and critically review (a) the environmental management practices applied in freshwater (land-based) and marine cage farms and (b) the awareness and perceptions of aquaculture producers related to fish-meal/fish-oil (FM/FO) replacement, organic farming, and poly-culture, including integrated multi-trophic aquaculture (IMTA) systems in Greece, which is the leading producing country of sea bass and sea bream in the Mediterranean. Environmental protection measures were applied by 82% of marine and by 60% of the freshwater farmers who responded. Moreover, principal components analysis (PCA) revealed that the overall environmental concern was positively correlated to the production capacity. Producers were generally familiar with FM/FO replacement and organic farming principles, although freshwater farmers were strongly opposed to the former practice based on fears for diminishing product quality. On contrary, poly-culture/IMTA concepts and benefits from their use were ignored by the majority of the producers. Finally, the survey demonstrated the important role of on-farm fishery/aquaculture scientists on these issues. To our knowledge, this is the first scanning of the perceptions of fish farmers on environmentally friendly practices, illustrating the variability in comprehension levels of such critical issues for the aquaculture industry.
Microstructures in low temperature dolomites

Electron microscopy of sedimentary dolomite reveals heterogeneous microstructures on a 100 - 300A scale which we interpret as compositional modulations. Electron diffraction patterns contain a new type of superstructure reflection which effectively doubles the a axis. These findings suggest the presence of a new phase in low temperature calcian dolomite rocks.
Algebrodynamics: Shear-Free Null Congruences and New Types of Electromagnetic Fields

We briefly present our version of noncommutative analysis over matrix algebras, the algebra of biquaternions (B) in particular. We demonstrate that any B-differentiable function gives rise to a null shear-free congruence (NSFC) on the B-vector space CM and on its Minkowski subspace M. Making use of the Kerr–Penrose correspondence between NSFC and twistor functions, we obtain the general solution to the equations of B-differentiability and demonstrate that the source of an NSFC is, generically, a world sheet of a string in CM. Any singular point, caustic of an NSFC, is located on the complex null cone of a point on the generating string. Further we describe symmetries and associated gauge and spinor fields, with two electromagnetic types among them. A number of familiar and novel examples of NSFC and their singular loci are described. Finally, we describe a conservative algebraic dynamics of a set of identical particles on the “Unique Worldline” and discuss the connections of the theory with the Feynman–Wheeler concept of “One-Electron Universe”.
Spatial distribution of ignitions in Mediterranean periurban and rural areas: The case of Catalonia

Fire prevention requires a specific treatment subject to the innate characteristics of a territory and to the social interaction that takes place there. The present article deals with very different fire behaviors in two neighboring environments, in which unequal ignitory patterns have been identified. The analyzed environments constitute two prototypes of Mediterranean landscape in the region of Catalonia (Spain). The periurban-fire pattern is identified with the Metropolitan Area of Barcelona. The rural-fire pattern is observed in the county of Bages, with a far more sparse population structure. Sample observations were drawn from databases containing a compilation of ignitions occurring in these two environments during the period from 1987 to 1998. Analysis shows that the distribution of ignitions in the more urban areas is much more concentrated, whereas ignitions in rural areas are far more dispersed, and therefore more difficult to detect. The importance of the present article lies in the identification of the factors determining the patterns of development of ignitions in two very different territories, affected by diverse external pressures. Finally, guidelines for preventive policies adapted to these situations are given, taking into account the specific and differentiated characteristics relevant to each case.
HOMOLOGY OF THE NEOCERATOPSIAN CERVICAL BAR ELEMENTS

In neoceratopsian dinosaurs, the centra, neural arches, and neural spines of several anteriormost cervical vertebrae are fused together to form a structure called the cervical bar (Langston, 1975) or syncervical (Ostrom and Wellnhofer, 1986). This structure characterizes all neoceratopsians (Dodson and Currie, 1990; Dodson et al., 2004; You and Dodson, 2004) for which the anterior cervicals are known, but it remains controversial how many vertebrae are fused together to produce this structure, namely, whether it consists of the first three (atlas through the third cervical) or four (atlas through the fourth cervical) elements. Analyses of ceratopsian interrelationships have employed from two (Sereno, 1984; Chinnery, 2004) to five (Xu et al., 2002) characters related to the cervical bar; accordingly, sorting out the exact identities of the elements contributing to this structure may have implications for our understanding of support, branch lengths, and rates in ceratopsian evolution.
Nutritional Potential of Adzuki Bean Germplasm and Mining Nutri-Dense Accessions through Multivariate Analysis

The adzuki bean (Vigna angularis), known for its rich nutritional composition, holds significant promise in addressing food and nutritional security, particularly for low socioeconomic classes and the predominantly vegetarian and vegan populations worldwide. In this study, we assessed a total of 100 diverse adzuki bean accessions, analyzing essential nutritional compounds using AOAC’s official analysis procedures and other widely accepted standard techniques. Our analysis of variance revealed significant genotype variations for all the traits studied. The variability range among different traits was as follows: moisture: 7.5–13.3 g/100 g, ash: 1.8–4.2 g/100 g, protein: 18.0–23.9 g/100 g, starch: 31.0–43.9 g/100 g, total soluble sugar: 3.0–8.2 g/100 g, phytic acid: 0.65–1.43 g/100 g, phenol: 0.01–0.59 g/100 g, antioxidant: 11.4–19.7 mg/100 g GAE. Noteworthy accessions included IC341955 and EC15256, exhibiting very high protein content, while IC341957 and IC341955 showed increased antioxidant activity. To understand intertrait relationships, we computed correlation coefficients between the traits. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) revealed that the first four principal components contributed to 63.6% of the variation. Further, hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) identified nutri-dense accessions, such as IC360533, characterized by high ash (>4.2 g/100 g) and protein (>23.4 g/100 g) content and low phytic acid (0.652 g/100 g). These promising compositions provide practical support for the development of high-value food and feed varieties using effective breeding strategies, ultimately contributing to improved global food security.
Assessing the Success of Village Asset Management Systems: An Employee Perspective

This study aims to examine the success of Village Asset Management Systems (VAMS). The measurement uses the Delone McLean success model (D&M model), which provides six interrelated dimensions of information system success: system quality, information quality, service quality, intention to use, user satisfaction, and net benefits. 112 respondents who had used the VAMS application were surveyed, and data was analyzed using the structural equation modeling (SEM) technique. We find that information quality, system quality, and service quality are significant determinants to increase the VAMS application's user satisfaction. The intention to use positively impacts user satisfaction of the VAMS application. Furthermore, both intention to use and user satisfaction effectively increase the net benefits of the VAMS application. On the other hand, although system quality has no impact on the intention to use VAMS applications, interestingly, when we did a split sample test based on the knowledge transfer method in the VAMS implementation process, all dimensions on the D&M model were well-proven and validated. Finally, this study also demonstrates that information quality and service quality positively affect intentions to use the VAMS application in the context of a mandatory government information system.
HMGB1 Carried by Small Extracellular Vesicles Potentially Plays a Role in Promoting Acquired Middle Ear Cholesteatoma

Cholesteatoma is a specific medical condition involving the abnormal, non-cancerous growth of skin-like tissue in the middle ear, potentially leading to a collection of debris and even infections. The receptor for advanced glycation (RAGE) and its ligand, high-mobility box 1 (HMGB1), are both known to be overexpressed in cholesteatoma and play a potential role in the pathogenesis of the disease. In this study, we investigated the role of small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) in carrying HMGB1 and inducing disease-promoting effects in cholesteatoma. No significant differences in the concentration of isolated sEVs in the plasma of cholesteatoma patients (n = 17) and controls (n = 22) were found (p > 0.05); however, cholesteatoma-derived sEVs carried significantly higher levels of HMGB1 (p < 0.05). In comparison to sEVs isolated from the plasma of controls, cholesteatoma-derived sEVs significantly enhanced keratinocyte proliferation and IL-6 production (p < 0.05), potentially by engaging multiple activation pathways including MAPKp44/p42, STAT3, and the NF-κB pathway. Thus, HMGB1(+) sEVs emerge as a novel factor potentially promoting cholesteatoma progression.
Herbal and Natural Treatments for the Management of the Glaucoma: An Update

Glaucoma causes the degeneration of the retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) and their axons, inducing a tissue reshaping that affects both the retina and the optic nerve head. Glaucoma care especially focuses on reducing intraocular pressure, a significant risk factor for progressive damage to the optic nerve. The use of natural treatments, such as herbs, vitamins, and minerals, is becoming increasingly popular today. While plants are a rich source of novel biologically active compounds, only a small percentage of them have been phytochemically examined and evaluated for their medicinal potential. It is necessary for eye care professionals to inform their glaucoma patients about the therapy, protection, and efficacy of commonly used herbal medicines, considering the widespread use of herbal medicines. The purpose of this review is to examine evidence related to the most widely used herbal medicines for the management and treatment of glaucoma, to better understand the potential benefits of these natural compounds as supplementary therapy.
El Niño meets La Niña – anomalous rainfall patterns in the “traditional” El Niño region of southern Ecuador

In this paper, the central Pacific cold event of 2008 and its exceptionally warm conditions in the eastern tropical Pacific are analyzed by using rainfall data of south Ecuadorian meteorological stations, sea surface temperatures in the El Niño3 and 1+2 regions, and simulations with the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model. It can be shown that El Niño-like rainfall conditions with severe inundations occur particularly in the coastal plains of southern Ecuador while a central Pacific cold event prevails. In contrary to previous situations, positive rainfall anomalies as a result of El Niño-like conditions in the El Niño1+2 region during the 2008 La Niña event occurred in both regions, the coastal plains and the highlands, for the first time. A detailed analysis of the ocean-atmosphere system during episodes of heavy rainfall reveals typical El Niño circulation and rainfall patterns as observed during previous El Niño events for the coastal area and La Niña-like conditions for the highlands. The spreading of Pacific instability in the Niño1+2 region to the eastern escarpment of the Andes could be the result of a temporary eastward shift of the Walker circulation. The unusual combination of El Niño-like conditions in the eastern tropical Pacific during a La Niña state in the central Pacific is the newest indicator for an impact mode shift regarding severe rainfall anomalies during El Niño/La Niña events in the traditional El Niño area of southern Ecuador since the end of the last century. Since 2000, El Niño events unexpectedly provide below average rainfall while central Pacific La Niña conditions generate exceptional severe flooding in the normally drier coastal plains. The novel sea surface temperature (SST) anomaly dipole structure between the eastern and central/western tropical Pacific and the weakening of El Niño events since 2000 could be due to natural decadal oscillations in the El Niño background state, the Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO). However, the observed atmospheric patterns and the recent increase of the SST anomaly difference between the central and the eastern tropical Pacific resemble structures that also result from climate change simulations.
The effect of stretch-shortening cycle-induced muscle fatigue on premotor reaction time

THE EFFECT OF STRETCH-SHORTENING CYCLE-INDUCED MUSCLE FATIGUE ON PREMOTOR REACTION TIME Fifteen male, collegiate, physically fit students participated in an investigation to determine the effect of a stretch-shortening cycle (SSC)-induced fatigue on premotor reaction time (PRT). The latter was measured in two testing sessions where participants performed squat jumps (SJs) in a nonfatigued and a fatigued state. During the fatigue session and prior to execution of the SJs, a series of counter-movement jumps (CMJs) was done to induce a SSC-type fatigue of the lower extremities. CMJs were performed until the average vertical jump height (VJH) dropped by 10% of a previously recorded baseline. Performance of the SJs (nonfatigued and fatigued) required participants to jump as quickly and as forcefully as possible from a seated position (knee angle  110) upon presentation of a visual cue. During all SJs, surface elecromyographic (EMG) activity was obtained from the right vastus lateralis. PRT was defined as the time period between presentation of the visual cue and initiation of the corresponding EMG activity. ANOVA revealed that PRT was not affected by fatigue state. This was the case despite a significant decrease (p < 0.05) in the median frequency content of the surface EMG power spectrum in the fatigued state; an observation associated with muscular fatigue. It was concluded that when establishing a muscular fatigue state based on a 10% decline in vertical jump performance, central fatigue remains unaffected as indicated by the lack of change in PRT. Daisuke Shibata May 2010 THE EFFECT OF STRETCH-SHORTENING CYCLE-INDUCED MUSCLE FATIGUE ON PREMOTOR REACTION TIME
Ice-wedge casts as indicators of palaeotemperatures: precise proxy or wishful thinking?

The use of ice-wedge casts to reconstruct palaeotemperatures involves three stringent assumptions: (1) the influence of air temperature on ice-wedge cracking and the distribution of growing ice wedges are well known in contemporary permafrost environments; (2) contemporary and former permafrost environments are sufficiently similar for the same quantitative relationships between air temperature and ice-wedge cracking to apply to both environments; and (3) the history of ice-wedge growth and decay can confidently be inferred from ice-wedge casts. We propose that the validity of these assumptions has been overestimated in terms of the Weichselian of northwest Europe because of (i) limited knowledge of the frequency of ice-wedge cracking in contemporary permafrost environments; (ii) the complex and incompletely understood natural controls on cracking; (iii) probable differences between former cold environments in mid latitudes and contemporary cold environments in high latitudes; (iv) limited understanding of ice-wedge growth and decay histories, and of the natural controls on and mechanisms of ice-wedge casting; and (v) different time perspectives. Given all these uncertainties, it is timely to critically re-evaluate the use of Weichselian ice-wedge casts for palaeoclimatic and environmental reconstructions.
Palaeomagnetic dating of fluid‐flow events in dolomitized rocks along the Highland Boundary Fault, central Scotland

Palaeomagnetic and geochemical studies of Cambrian–Ordovician serpentinite in the Highland Border Complex (HBC), a tectonic terrane along the Highland Boundary Fault (HBF) in Scotland, indicate that the HBF was a conduit for fluids in the Carboniferous–Permian. The fluids caused dolomitization, silicification, and haematite authigenesis. Both red dolomitized serpentinite and relatively unaltered serpentinite were sampled at multiple localities. The unaltered serpentinite contains a poorly defined magnetization with westerly declinations that resides in magnetite and has a pole which plots well off the apparent polar wander path. Most specimens of the red dolomitized serpentinite contain a magnetization with southerly declinations and negative inclinations that resides in haematite. A regional fold test suggests that this magnetization post-dates tilting and the pole positions for the different locations fall on the Carboniferous to Permian part of the apparent polar wander path. In some specimens of red dolomitized serpentinite, alternating field (AF) demagnetization prior to thermal treatment removes a component with a similar direction. Dolomitized basement rocks along the fault contain a similar although apparently slightly older magnetization. Fluid inclusion and geochemical studies indicate that the fluids were hydrothermal in origin (110–240°C) and had a range of sources. The Carboniferous–Permian magnetization in haematite is interpreted as a chemical remanent magnetization that formed when warm fluids moved along the fault zone and caused haematite authigenesis. The component removed by AF treatment is interpreted as a thermal resetting of primary magnetite by the fluids. The variability of the palaeomagnetic, fluid inclusion, and stable isotope results suggests that there were probably multiple flow events that caused the alteration. The origin of the fluids could be related to the intrusion of late Carboniferous dikes in central Scotland and/or to reactivation of the HBF in the Carboniferous–Permian.
Treatment options for neoadjuvant strategies of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (Review)

Compared with postoperative adjuvant therapy, neoadjuvant therapy has more potential advantages, such as decreasing tumor stage, killing micrometastatic cells. Because of these advantages, neoadjuvant therapy is recommended for numerous types of tumor, such as breast, lung and rectal cancer. To determine the role of neoadjuvant therapy on overall survival and adverse for patients with resectable esophageal carcinoma. we summarized clinical studies on 7 types of neoadjuvant therapies in this review. Currently, patients with esophageal cancer (EC) in China mainly receive postoperative treatment with <30% of patients receiving neoadjuvant therapy. One reason for the limited use of neoadjuvant therapy in China is inaccurate staging based on imaging and neoadjuvant treatment may increase difficulties in surgery. After neoadjuvant therapy, there may be tissue edema, blurry surgical field of view and unclear tissue gaps, resulting in greater difficulty in surgical procedures. However, oncologists are interested in neoadjuvant treatment, especially neoadjuvant immunotherapy to treat EC. Concurrent chemoradiotherapy for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is the most common neoadjuvant treatment regimen and increases the pathological complete response (pCR) and 5- and 10-year survival rates. Preoperative induction chemotherapy and sequential concurrent chemoradiotherapy are currently the most widely treatments used in clinical practice in China. However, this treatment strategy does not yield long-term survival. The pCR rate of neoadjuvant immunotherapy is greater than that of concurrent chemoradiotherapy but, to the best of our knowledge, no evidence of long-term survival benefit has been found in phase I and II clinical trials. Neoadjuvant treatment should be considered for patients with locally advanced ESCC.
Effects of Diet Macronutrient Composition on Weight Loss during Caloric Restriction and Subsequent Weight Regain during Refeeding in Aging Mice

Caloric restriction (CR) induces weight loss, but is associated with rapid weight regain upon return to ad libitum feeding. Our aim was to investigate effects of the macronutrient composition of the diet on weight loss and regain in elderly mice. Males, 18 months old, of the C57BL/6J strain were subjected to 4-week 30% CR followed by 4 weeks of ad libitum refeeding on either high-carb (HC), high-fat (HF) or high-protein (HP) diets (n = 22 each). Mice (n = 11) fed a chow diet ad libitum served as a control group (CON). Body mass and food intake were monitored daily. Twenty-four-hour indirect calorimetry was used to assess energy expenditure and substrate oxidation. Muscle and fat mass were evaluated with dissection of the tissues. Serum leptin and ghrelin levels were also measured. CR-induced weight loss did not differ between the diets. Weight regain was particularly fast for HF as mice overshot their initial weight by 12.8 ± 5.7% after 4-week refeeding when HC and HP mice reached the weight of the CON group. Weight regain strongly correlated with energy intake across the groups. The respiratory exchange ratio was lower in HF mice (0.81 ± 0.03) compared to HC (0.94 ± 0.06, p < 0.001), HP (0.89 ± 0.04, p < 0.001) and CON mice (0.91 ± 0.06, p < 0.01) during the refeeding. Serum leptin levels were higher in HF mice (1.03 ± 0.50 ng/mL) compared to HC (0.46 ± 0.14, p < 0.001), HP (0.63 ± 0.28, p < 0.05) or CON mice (0.41 ± 0.14, p < 0.001). Thus, CR induces similar weight loss in aging mice irrespective of the diet’s macronutrient composition. An HF diet leads to excessive energy intake and pronounced gain in body fat in spite of increased fat oxidation and serum leptin during the refeeding after CR.