Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Tryptophan Requirements in School Age Children Determined by the Indicator Amino Acid Oxidation Method; Preliminary Results

Background: The Indicator Amino Acid Oxidation (IAAO) technique has shown that amino acids requirements are underestimated. The current tryptophan requirements for healthy school age children are based on factorial method and have never been re-evaluated using IAAO. Objective: To determine tryptophan requirements in healthy school age children by measuring the oxidation of L-[1-C]phenylalanine to CO2 in response to graded intakes of tryptophan. Design: Three healthy school age children participated in 14 study days. Each study day had a different tryptophan intake. Stable isotopes were used as tracer to determine the oxidation level. Breath and urine samples were taken to compare the oxidation level. Conclusion: With our current data, we were not able to define tryptophan requirements in healthy school age children using the IAAO method. However, we observed a decrease in L-[1C]phenylalanine oxidation level in relation to increase intake of tryptophan.
Potential biodiesel-producing microalgae: two new strains of Amphikrikos sp.

ABSTRACT BH32 and BH43 were isolated and identified as Amphikrikos sp. based on morphological characteristics and phylogenetic trees. They shared the same 18S rRNA sequences, but possessed different amounts of introns in their 18S rDNAs. The specific growth rate, cellular component and fatty acid profile under different growth stages have been surveyed. Their main fatty acids were found to be C16 and C18 groups. Our results indicated that both of them could be taken as excellent candidates of biodiesel. Moreover, the intra-genus polymorphism of 18S rDNA caused by intron presence/absence can provide valuable information for the study of intron evolution.
A language agnostic approach to modeling requirements: specification and verification

Modeling is a complex and error prone activity which can result in ambiguous models containing omissions and inconsistencies. Many works have addressed the problem of checking models' consistency. However, most of these works express consistency requirements for a specific modeling language. On the contrary, we argue that in some contexts those requirements should be expressed independently from the modeling language of the models to be checked. We identify a set of modeling requirements in the context of embedded systems design that are expressed independently from any modeling language concrete syntax. We propose a dedicated semantic domain to support them and give a formal characterization of those requirements that is modeling language agnostic.
Designing practical coordinating contracts in decentralized projects

Managing decentralized projects (DPs) effectively is a critical issue today as projects have become increasingly complex, costly, and strategically important (especially IT and new product development projects). In this article, we consider a DP that is composed of n serial stages with stochastic durations; the project is planned, organized, and funded by a client organization that contracts the work at each stage to independent contractors. Following previous research and practice, we assume that the client and contractors incur time‐dependent costs (including indirect/overhead costs), resource‐related direct costs, and incentive payments. We initially propose a general linear time‐based incentive contract and show that a simplified version of this contract can indeed coordinate a DP when discounting is not considered. The proposed contract sets the penalty due date to the start of each contractor's stage, and the optimal penalty cost rate is set equal to the client's overhead/indirect cost; it actually implies that the contractor is required to compensate for the client's indirect/overhead cost for the duration of the stage. This greatly simplifies the design and implementation of an optimal (coordinating) contract in a DP as the coordinating contract does not require the contractor's private cost information. When discounting is present, we show that a nonlinear contract coordinates the project and provide numerical evidence for when the linear time‐based incentive contract is a good approximation.
The limited contribution from outer core dynamics to global deformations at the Earth’s surface

Planetary scale interannual deformations of the Earth’s surface, of millimetric amplitude, have recently been related to both geomagnetic field changes and motion within the fluid outer core. We calculate the temporal variations of the dynamical pressure at the surface of the core associated with core flow models inverted from geomagnetic observations. From these we compute predictions of the changes in Earth’s topography in response to elastic deformations in the mantle. We show that at decadal periods, the predicted changes in Earth’s topography are at most of the order of 0.3 mm. Focused at interannual periods between 4 and 9.5 yr, the predicted topography variations are smaller than 0.05 mm, at least an order of magnitude smaller than the reported observations. These amplitudes are only weakly sensitive to the choice of hypothesis used to reconstruct fluid motions at the core surface. We conclude that surface deformations induced by dynamical pressure changes in the core are below the detection level at present-day. Alternative geophysical sources must be sought to explain the observed millimetric interannual variations of the planetary scale topography, and its associated gravity variations. We currently see no justification for a physical relationship between interannual fluctuations of the geomagnetic field and of Earth’s observed deformations. We conjecture that the largest gravity signal of core origin is potentially associated with decadal longitudinal oscillations of the inner core. It might be detectable as longer series will become available.
Synergetic Effects of Multispecies Probiotic Supplementation on Certain Blood Parameters and Serum Biochemical Profile of Broiler Chickens

| The present study carried out to evaluate the effects of a multispecies probiotic isolates namely, Lactococcus lactis ssp. Lactis (Lact. lactis) and Lactobacillus plantarum (L. plantarum) on certain hematological parameters, white blood cells (WBCs), red blood cells (RBCs) counts and hemoglobulin (Hb) and serum biochemical contents, lipid profile, total proteins and serum glucose (PG), in broiler chicks. Two hundred and ten 1-day old Hubbard broiler chicks were randomly divided into seven experimental groups and fed a basic diet with 22.4% protein and 3160 kcal/ kg. The experimental groups include control group and six treatment groups that supplemented probiotic in water at final concentration of 109cfu/mL and/or 1012cfu/mL of Lact. lactis and L. plantarum separately or in combination for period of 42 days and tested on scheduled intervals. The hematological analysis revealed a high significant effect (p<0.05) on counts of WBCs, RBCs and Hb concentration in all probiotc-treated groups from age of 14 days with a highly obvious increase at the experiment end (42 day). In addition, probiotic supplemented groups showed the lowest serum cholesterol, triglyceride, and total lipid contents as well as higher contents of blood glucose and total protein compared to the control group. Based on these results, it could be concluded that administration of Lact. Lactis and/or L. plantarum improves the physiological traits of broilers.
Feasting Our Eyes on the Candidates: Visual Cues in Televised Debates Prime Personality Traits of Lesser Known Candidates and Promote Learning

This article examines how different modes of exposure to debates between presidential candidates affect both the criteria by which they are assessed and levels of learning about politics in an unobtrusive, distant context. In this study, 167 Portuguese undergraduate students were randomly assigned to either watch or listen to one of two 1986 dyadic presidential debates, rate the candidates on a series of items, and answer questions about the contents of the debate. We found that the mode of exposure only affected the assessment criteria of the lesser known presidential candidate. In fact, his personality appraisals carried more weight for viewers than for listeners, while the substantive performance was more important for those who listened to the debate. Although a more confrontational debating style lowered the ratings of the lesser known candidate, this was not conditional to mode of exposure. Moreover, video exposure to the debate resulted in higher levels of learning. In summary, this study supports the assumption that the visual cues in audiovisual formats are major factors of learning and prime personality traits as criteria for the appraisal of (relatively) unknown candidates.
The effect of universal pre‐kindergarten policy on female labor force participation—A synthetic control approach

This paper examines the effect of universal pre‐kindergarten (pre‐k) on the labor force participation of mothers with pre‐k‐aged children in Oklahoma and Georgia. I apply the synthetic control method (SCM) to Current Population Survey (CPS) data to identify the causal relationship between universal pre‐k and female labor market outcomes. I find that the universal pre‐k policy has a positive impact on the intensive margin of the labor supply of mothers with pre‐k‐aged children in Georgia, which provides full‐day child care services for all pre‐k programs. However, Oklahoma's universal pre‐k policy has little effect on the labor outcomes of mothers with 4‐year‐old children. The empirical results also suggest that universal pre‐k has heterogeneous impacts on subsamples stratified by education level, marital status, poverty status, and the age structure of children in the household.
Testing the susceptibility of kiwifruit (Actinida chinensis var. deliciosa) germplasm to Hemiberlesia lataniae

ABSTRACT This study demonstrates resistance in Actinidia chinensis var. deliciosa germplasm to the armoured scale insect Hemiberlesia lataniae, an important pest of kiwifruit in New Zealand. A bioassay was used to test the resistance of 120 vines from a germplasm collection in New Zealand. Fourteen of the vines were classified as resistant and five as moderately resistant. Eight crosses (two Susceptible (S) × Resistant (R); 1 R×S; 4 R×R; 1 S×S) were made from the original vines, and the resulting families examined for resistance. There were large differences in insect survival and size between the families. Three families from R×R parents and one from R×S parents had vines showing a hypersensitive-type response (plant cell death) to H. lataniae. There were large differences in the range of susceptibility to H. lataniae within families, suggesting that the trait is polygenic or that more than one resistance mechanism is present in the germplasm.
Contribution to the understanding of the Pinheiro Machado Complex (Dom Feliciano Belt, Brazil): A study of textures, mineral chemistry, and crystallization conditions

This article presents textures, mineral chemistry, and geothermobarometric data for the southeastern Pinheiro Machado Complex rocks (PMC), eastern domain of the Dom Feliciano Belt, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. The PMC is composed by comagmatic intrusions of quartz diorite, tonalite, and granodiorite with medium‐ to fine‐grained equigranular and medium‐grained inequigranular textures with subordinate alkali‐feldspar macrocrystals. Partial melting features are observed in the comagmatic as melt pools and melt films. Amphibolite xenoliths also occur, presenting sharp‐angled to rounded contacts with the intrusions and evidences of partial assimilation, marked by mafic schlierens. Electron probe microanalyzer punctual analyses were used to classify amphibole, plagioclase, biotite, epidote, and titanite, as well as for the calculations of the crystallization P–T conditions. Amphiboles consist of pargasite for the comagmatic intrusions, and Mg‐hornblende for the amphibolite. Plagioclase ranges from oligoclase to andesine (An15‐40) in both units. Biotite corresponds to annite, with Fe/(Fe + Mg) > 0.3. The epidote has mostly magmatic characteristics in the comagmatic intrusions, with pistacite content 25–30%. Titanite has two distinct textures, titanite I is well formed, subhedral to euhedral, with up to 3 mm; while titanite II is anhedral with size >1 mm and rounded shapes, being both chemically homogeneous. The estimated P–T conditions for the amphibolite crystallization, using plagioclase‐hornblende geothermometer are 650–850°C and 3.62–4.95 kbar, whereas the conditions from the comagmatic intrusions are 714–871°C and 4.44–6.10 kbar. In the mineral phases there is a prevalence in the recrystallization field between subgrain rotation (SGR) and grain boundary migration (GBM) in submagmatic flow. These new data indicate that possibly at the end of PMC crystallization, late magmatic fluids caused re‐equilibrium of mineral phases, mainly in biotite and feldspars. Finally, we suggest that the PMC is the result of continuous and repeated comagmatic intrusions in a continental magmatic arc setting at a depth of 20–30 km in an amphibolitic continental crust.
CREDIT MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS AND FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE OF SAVINGS AND CREDIT COOPERATIVES (SACCOs) IN MID-WESTERN UGANDA

Purpose: To ascertain the relationship between credit management systems and financial performance of SACCOs in Mid-Western Uganda. Methodology: A cross-sectional research design and positivist paradigm were used to collect data from 93 SACCOs in Mid-Western Uganda using a closed-ended questionnaire. Standard linear regression analysis was carried out. Findings: The study findings reveal a moderate, positive and significant relationship between credit management systems and financial performance of SACCOs in Mid-Western Uganda. Unique contribution to practice and policy: This study suggests to management a need to put into place effective credit management systems if SACCOs are to improve their financial performance by ensuring that favorable terms and conditions, and adequate client appraisal process are in place. In addition, government should support SACCOs by providing staff trainings on credit terms and conditions formulation and improving their competencies in client appraisal
Displacement Accumulation and Sampling of Paleoearthquakes on Active Normal Faults of Crete in the Eastern Mediterranean

Active normal faults on the Mediterranean island of Crete form prominent limestone scarps together with basin and range topography. These faults mainly strike E‐ESE and N‐NNE in southern and northern Crete, respectively, with fault sets commonly intersecting and northerly trending faults being a factor of 3 more abundant. Lengths, displacements, and displacement rates have been analyzed for 84 active faults sampled over 2 ± 0.5 Ma (long‐term) and 16.5 ± 2 ka (short‐term) time‐intervals, with half showing no resolvable short‐term activity. Active faults record earthquake processes on timescales of thousands to million years and constrain sampling biases, which can lead to under and over estimates of fault parameters. The available data provide no evidence for fault propagation and support a model in which fault lengths were established early in the development of the fault system. Short‐term displacement rates (0.09–1.2 mm/year) are generally higher than long‐term rates (0.002–0.7 mm/year), with a factor of 4 disparity in the average recurrence intervals for the two time periods (∼2.5 Kyr vs. ∼11 Kyr). We attribute these differences to “clustering” of surface‐rupturing (e.g., >Mw6) earthquakes on individual faults over millennial timescales, and to preferential sampling of the most seismically active faults during the short‐term. Displacement rates are comparable when averaged for each time interval on the longest faults (>10 km), indicating that for these faults earthquake “clustering” spans time‐intervals of <∼16.5 Kyr. Paleoerthquakes > Mw6 on Crete are at least three times more frequent than historical earthquakes since ∼1920, possibly because multi‐fault surface‐rupturing earthquakes are double counted in the paleo‐record.
Differential morphological, physiological, and molecular responses to water deficit stress in sugarcane

This study was designed to characterize morphological, physiological and molecular responses of sugarcane genotypes to a simulated water deficit stress. Two genotypes (TSP05-4: Drought-tolerant; TCP02-4589: Drought-sensitive) were subjected to a 20-day water deficit treatment and an 8-day recovery period. Leaf photosynthesis (Pn), transpiration rate (E), stomatal conductance (Gs), leaf greenness index (SPAD) and variable-to-maximum chlorophyll a fluorescence ratio (Fv/Fm), were evaluated before, during and after water deficit. Root-to-shoot ratio (R/S), stalk height (SH), diameter (SD) and stalk weight (SW) were evaluated at the end of the experiment. Real-time RT-PCR confirmed seven differentially-expressed transcript-derived fragments (TDFs) identified by cDNA-AFLP. Pn rates were similar between the genotypes under well-watered conditions. However, under water deficit, TSP05-4 had higher Pn rates. SPAD, Fv/Fm and R/S were also generally higher in TSP05-4, regardless of soil moisture status. Water deficit-induced reductions in SH and SW were greater in TCP02-4589 than in TSP05-4. Three TDFs showing sequence similarities to genes encoding a putative expressed pentatricopeptide, a protein kinase CK2 regulatory subunit CK2β3, and a glucose-6-phosphate/phosphate translocator 2 were identified in TCP02-4589. One TDF similar to a drought-inducible protein was identified in TSP05-4. Recovery of physiological processes and gene expression patterns to the water stress levels was fast. Key words: Differential gene expression, water deficit stress, re-watering, Saccharum spp.
RISK FACTORS INFLUENCING ENTEROCOLITIS DEVELOPMENT IN PEDIATRIC PATIENTS WITH HIRSCHSPRUNG’S DISEASE

Background: Hirschsprung-associated enterocolitis (HAEC) is one of the worst and most common complications of Hirschsprung’s disease (HD). The mortality rate of HD patients with enterocolitis is still considered to be higher compared to that of those without enterocolitis. Purpose: This study aimed to identify and evaluate potential risk factors for HAEC development. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using secondary data from the medical records of HD patients treated from January 2015 to September 2018 at Regional Public Hospital (RSUD) Dr. Soetomo, Surabaya. The inclusion criteria were HD patients who had or had not experienced enterocolitis. The analysis was done by comparing the presence of risk factors between groups of HD patients with and without preoperative and/or postoperative HAEC. The results were presented as the median value and frequency. To evaluate further, a prevalence ratio (PR) with a 95% confidence interval was performed. The Mann–Whitney U test was also performed with a significance level of p < 0.05 for one factor: length of aganglionic intestinal segments. Results: This study showed that 12 of the 40 HD patients studied (30%) had experienced enterocolitis. The risk of developing HAEC was associated with patients who had a history of previous enterocolitis (PR 6.60 [2.94 < PR < 14.80]). Regarding surgical details, patients who had had surgery only once (31.30% compared to 14.30%), surgery with one surgical method (29.40% compared to 20.00%), and a primary procedure had a higher incidence of HAEC (29.40% compared to 27.30%). Conclusion: HD patients with a history of previous enterocolitis were found to have a higher risk of developing HAEC.
Land Use/Land Cover Changes of Ago-Owu Forest Reserve, Osun State, Nigeria Using Remote Sensing Techniques

Remote sensing (RS) and GIS are important methods for land use assessment and land cover transition. In this study, land use/land cover changes in the Ago-Owu Forest Reserve, Osun State, Nigeria have been assessed. Landsat 5 TM, Landsat 7 ETM+ and Landsat 8 OLI were acquired for 1986, 2002 and 2017 respectively. The three scenes corresponded to path 190 and row 055 of WRS-2 (Worldwide Reference System). The processing of the imagery was preceded by the clipping of the study area from the satellite image. The boundary of the reserve was carefully digitized and used to clip the imagery to produce an image map of the forest reserve. Using the supervised image classification procedure, training sites were used to produce land use/land cover maps. The same classification scheme was used for the 1986, 2002 and 2017 images to facilitate the detection of change. The differences in the area covered by the different polygons between the three sets of images were measured in km2. The results show that during 1986 and 2017, there is a dramatic increase of build-up areas with a change of 55.65 km2 and sparse vegetation (farmland and grassland) with a change of 53.97 km2, while a dramatic decrease of dense vegetation (forest areas) with a change of 109.61 km2. The consequence of these results is that over the years, the population of people living in the forest reserve has increased and many of them are engaged in farming, leading to an increase in farmland. In addition, logging activities continued unabated in the forest reserve, as demonstrated by a sharp increase in the deforested area within the reserve. The maps produced in this study will serve as a planning tool for the Osun State Forestry Department to plan reforestation activities for the forest reserve.
Fisheries management influences phytoplankton biomass of Amazonian floodplain lakes

1. Tropical floodplains secure the protein supply of millions of people, but only sound management can ensure the long-term continuity of such ecosystem services. Overfishing is a widespread threat to multitrophic systems, but how it affects eco system functioning is poorly understood, particularly in tropical freshwater food webs. Models based on temperate lakes frequently assume that primary produc ers are mostly bottom-up controlled by nutrient and light limitations, with negligi ble effects of top-down forces. Yet this assumption remains untested in complex tropical freshwater systems experiencing marked spatiotemporal variation. 2. We use consolidated community-based fisheries management practices and spa tial zoning to test the relative importance of bottom-up versus top-down drivers of phytoplankton biomass, controlling for the influence of local to landscape hetero -geneity. Our study focuses on 58 large Amazonian floodplain lakes under differ ent management regimes that resulted in a gradient of apex-predator abundance. These lakes, distributed along ~ 600 km of a major tributary of the Amazon River, varied widely in size, structure, landscape context, and hydrological seasonality. 3. Using generalised linear models, we show that community-based fisheries man agement, which controls the density of apex predators, is the strongest predic tor of phytoplankton biomass during the dry season, when lakes become discrete landscape units. Water transparency also emerges as an important bottom-up factor, but phosphorus, nitrogen and several lake and landscape metrics had minor or no effects on phytoplankton biomass. During the wet-season food pulse, when lakes become connected to adjacent water bodies and homogenise the landscape, only lake depth explained phytoplankton biomass.