Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Examining the Potential Role of Descriptive Norms in Landscape Water Conservation Programs

The study reported here was conducted to inform potential social norms approaches to water conservation programs. Using a theoretically informed survey instrument, we examined Floridians' perceived descriptive norms of close-peer, neighborhood, state, and national groups pertaining to water conservation. Respondents perceived that people conserved less as groups became more distant and perceived that conservation among close peers was most strongly related to their own conservation practices. When we considered perceptions of the four groups together, we found that only perceptions of close peers' conservation efforts significantly predicted respondents' conservation behaviors. Our findings revealed opportunities to highlight descriptive norms as an Extension strategy, especially among clientele's close peers.
EXPOSURE OF AFLATOXIN B1 (AFB1) IN INHALABLE DUST AND ITS RESPIRATORY EFFECTS AMONG RICE MILLERS

Introduction: Optimal humidity, temperature, improper handling and storage of rice will increase the likeliness of aflatoxin growth in the air. The most common and carcinogenic aflatoxin is Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) that may cause lung cancer if inhaled. This study aims to associate the exposure of AFB1 in inhalable dust and its respiratory effects among rice millers. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study utilised the purposive sampling method and recruited 76 rice millers as exposed subjects and 48 office workers as the control group. The total inhalable dust was collected using the filter-loaded air samplers for an eight working hours’ exposure. The subjects’ hands were swabbed with cotton pads wetted with 0.5 ml Phosphate buffered Saline Tween-20 solution post shift. The collected samples were analysed for AFB1 by using the ELISA kits. The questionnaire gathering information on sociodemographic, work data and respiratory symptoms were completed. The lung function test was performed for the preand post-shifts. Results: The mean airborne AFB1 at the rice mill area and personal exposure were 2.22 ng/m ± 0.07 and 0.25 ng/m ± 0.24, respectively. The mean contamination level of AFB1 on hands was 0.25 ng/ml detected on two rice millers (2.3%) while non-detectable in non-exposed workers. The most complained symptoms among rice millers were wheezing and breathlessness (n = 6, 9.2%). There was a significant difference in the mean forced expiration volume (FEV1) for preand post-shifts between rice millers and the non-exposed workers, but no significant correlation between the mean AFB1 concentration and lung function. Age and work factors were confounders in lung function. Conclusion: Despite no association being established in this study, the promotion of wearing suitable personal protective equipment (PPE) is highly recommended to prevent cumulative exposure among the rice millers.
Cytotoxic and apoptogenic effects of Dracocephalum kotschyi Boiss., extracts against human glioblastoma U87 cells

Objective: Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most aggressive and malignant brain tumor and has a poor prognosis. This study was aimed to investigate the cytotoxic effects of Dracocephalum kotschyi Boiss. (D. kotschyi) extracts in GBM U87 cell line. Materials and Methods: The extracts of D. kotschyi obtained by two different ways of Soxhlet and soaked. The cytotoxic effects of D. kotschyi extracts were measured using MTT assay following treatment for different times of exposure (24, 48, and 72 hr) and at different concentrations of D. kotschyi extracts. The effects of D. kotschyi extracts on cellular oxidative stress were also evaluated by measuring cellular ROS levels. Furthermore, cellular death and apoptosis were studied by sub G1 analysis and Annexin V-FITC/propidium iodide (PI) staining using flow cytometry method, respectively. Characterization of the extracts was carried out using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) analysis by Agilent GC-MSD system. Results: Our results indicated that D. kotschyi extracts decreased U87 cell viability in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Moreover, treatment with D. kotschyi extracted by Soxhlet for 24 and 48 hr significantly increased the levels of cellular ROS and Sub G1 population (p<0.001-0.05 for all cases). Furthermore, GC/MS analysis revealed that essential oils of D. kotschyi mainly consisted of β-caryophellene, α-pinene and limonene. Conclusion: Our findings demonstrated that D. kotschyi extracts can exert cytotoxic effects against GBM U87 cell line in a time- and concentration-dependent manner, and these effects may be mediated through intracellular ROS accumulating. However, further studies should be performed to confirm the efficacy and exact mechanism of action of the extracts.
BREADMAKING PERFORMANCE AND TEXTURAL CHANGES DURING STORAGE OF COMPOSITE BREADS MADE FROM SPELT WHEAT AND DIFFERENT FORMS OF GRAIN

The objectives of the present study were to assess the baking properties of composite spelt wheat-amaranth blends and to study the staling of composite breads during a 6-day storage. Different forms of amaranth grains were added to spelt bread formulation: native amaranth flour and flour from popped amaranth, including their steamed and non-steamed variants. Native amaranth flour (both steamed and non-steamed) gave loaves with the highest volume and contributed to significantly softer crumb but not in comparison to the control bread. Crumb resilience did not show significant differences among the breads but there were differences in the crumb stress-relaxation parameters which indicated certain influence on the crumb viscoelastic properties. During storage, all samples developed firmer and less elastic crumbs. Drying loss and staling degree significantly increased with increased storage time. The staling rate was the highest in the bread with nonsteamed amaranth flours (native and flour from popped amaranth). The changes in the crumb textural and elastic properties caused by staling turned significant after 6 days of storage. In general, inclusion of different forms of amaranth flour did not alter the staling of breads and they exerted similar behaviour during storage.
Hermite-Hadamard, Fejer and Sherman type inequalities for generalizations of superquadratic and convex functions

In this paper we prove some Hermite-Hadamard, Fejer and Sherman type inequlities for generalizations of superquadratic functions and convex functions. These results, under a monotonicity condition, lead to re ﬁ nements of the Hermite-Hadamard, Fejer and Sherman in- equalities of non-negative convex functions. Also, the obtained inequalities are discussed about and compared with some recent generalizations of weighted Hermite-Hadamard inequalities.
Establishment of a male Wistar rat model of nanobacteriainduced kidney stones

Purpose: To establish a male Wistar rat model of nanobacteria (NB)-induced kidney stones. Methods: Sixty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into control group (NC group) given caudal vein injection of saline + saline gavage, and NB-induced stone group (NBS group) given caudal vein injection of NB + saline gavage. Results: Compared with NC, serum creatinine, blood uric acid, urea nitrogen and urinary calcium levels in NBS group increased between weeks 3 and 8 (p < 0.05). Kidney index (kidney weight/body weight ratio) in the NBS group was higher than that in NC group from weeks 8-10. At week 8, urine pH and serum phosphorus in NBS group were higher than those in NC group (p < 0.05). Between weeks 6 and 7, serum calcium in NBS group was higher than that in NC group (p < 0.05). Calcium crystals in NBS rats were distributed mostly in the distal and proximal convoluted tubules. However, no such crystals were observed in NC rats. Similarly, no such pathological changes were seen in the renal tissue of NC group. Calculus analysis showed that stone formation was higher in NBS group than in NC group (p < 0.05). There was no significant difference in micro-CT between the two groups (p ˃ 0.05). Conclusion: The successful establishment of the Wistar rat kidney stone model using NB cultured from urine of upper urinary tract stone patient is potentially useful for further etiological studies on kidney stone formation.
Comparative Data on Epiphyseal Development in the Family Varanidae

Abstract Radiographic and histologic examination of long bone epiphyses in 25 species of Varanoidea (including one Heloderma species) reveals a qualitative difference in epiphyseal development between small and large species. In small monitor lizards, most of them belonging to the subgenus Odatria, metaphyseal plates tend to disappear completely, with fusion of primary and secondary epiphyseal ossification centers in adults that reach an individual body length close to the maximum known for their species. Epiphyseal fusion results in a complete and irreversible arrest of growth. This observation falsifies the previously accepted conclusion that the monitor lizards as a whole have a continuous growth. Conversely, in larger species, morphologically complete growth plates remain present in most (but not all) specimens, including very large adults. Although this feature is not firm evidence of a continuous growth, it nevertheless suggests that large species maintain active growth during ontogeny over a longer period than small species.
Kinetics, Isotherm and Thermodynamic Properties of the Basement Complex of Clay Deposit in Ire-Ekiti Southwestern Nigeria for Heavy Metals Removal

Raw kaolinite clay collected from Ire-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria, was used to adsorb some heavy metals (Pb, Cr, Ni and Cu) from their aqueous solution through batch experiments. Adsorption studies were performed at the different temperatures, concentration and time to determine the kinetics, isotherm and thermodynamic properties of the adsorption processes. The adsorption thermodynamic properties showed that sorption of Cu, Cr and Ni on the raw clay was exothermic, while adsorption of Pb was endothermic. The negative values of ∆G for Pb adsorption revealed the feasibility and spontaneity of the adsorption process while the positive ∆G values for Cu, Cr and Ni sorption showed non-spontaneity of the adsorption process. Langmuir, Freundlich and Elovich isotherms were applied to explicate the nature of adsorption process, while Pseudo-first-order (PFO), Pseudo-second-order and Elovich kinetics were applied to literarily determine the adsorbate-adsorbent interaction. Pseudo-second-order kinetics was the best fitting kinetics for adsorption of the metals on the raw clay.
Probing spatial and subunit-dependent signalling by the NMDA receptor

NMDARs are ligand-gated cation channels which are activated by the neurotransmitter glutamate. NMDARs are essential in coupling electrical activity to biochemical signalling as a consequence of their high Ca permeability. This Ca influx acts as a secondary messenger to mediate neurodevelopment, synaptic plasticity, neuroprotection and neurodegeneration. The biological outcome of NMDAR activation is determined by a complicated interrelationship between the concentration of Ca influx, NMDAR location (synaptic vs. extrasynaptic) as well as the subtype of the GluN2 subunit. Despite the recognition that NMDAR mediated physiology is multifaceted, tools used to study subunit and location dependent signalling are poorly characterized and in other cases, non-existent. Therefore, the aim of this thesis is to address this issue. Firstly, I assessed the current pharmacological approach used to selectively activate extrasynaptic NMDARs. Here, synaptic NMDARs are first blocked with MK-801 during phasic activation and then extrasynaptic NMDARs are tonically activated. This approach relies on the continual irreversible blockade of synaptic NMDARs by MK-801 yet contrary to the current dogma, I demonstrate this blockade is unstable during tonic agonist exposure and even more so when physiologically relevant concentrations of Mg are present. This confines a temporal limit in which selective activation of extrasynaptic NMDARs can occur with significant consequences for studying synaptic vs. extrasynaptic NMDAR signalling. Dissecting subunit-dependent signalling mediated by the two major GluN2 subunits in the forebrain, GluN2A and GluN2B, has been advanced significantly by selective GluN2B antagonism yet a reciprocal GluN2A selective antagonist has been lacking. Utilizing novel GluN2A-specific antagonists, I demonstrate a developmental upregulation of GluN2A-mediated NMDA currents which concurrently dilutes the contribution of GluN2B-mediated currents. Moreover, I tested the hypothesis that the Cterminus of GluN2A and GluN2B are essential in controlling the developmental switch of GluN2 subunits utilizing knock-in mice whereby the C-terminus of GluN2A is replaced with that of GluN2B. Surprisingly, the exchange of the C-terminus does not impede the developmental switch in subunits nor the proportion of NMDARs at synaptic vs extrasynaptic sites. However, replacing the C-terminus of GluN2A with that of GluN2B induces a greater neuronal vulnerability to NMDA-dependent excitotoxicity. Collectively, this work enhances our understanding of the complex physiology mediated by the NMDAR by determining how pharmacological tools are best utilized to study the roles of NMDAR location and subunit composition in addition to revealing the importance of the GluN2 C-terminus in development and excitotoxicity.
Natural Convection in Rectangular Pool with Volumetric Heat Sources

Natural convection plays an important role in determining the thermal load from debris accumulated in the reactor vessel lower head during a severe accident. Recently attentions are being paid to the feasibility of external vessel flooding as a severe accident management, and to the phenomena affecting the success path in retaining the molten core material inside the vessel. The heat transfer within the molten core material can be characterized by buoyancyinduced flows resulting from internal heating due to decay of fission products. The thermofluid dynamic characteristics of the molten pool depend strongly on the thermal boundary conditions. The spatial and temporal variation of heat flux on the pool wall boundaries and the pool superheat are mainly characterized by the natural convection flow inside the molten pool. In general, natural convection involving internal heat generation is delineated in terms of the modified Rayleigh number, Ra ́, which quantifies the internal heat source and hence the strength of buoyancy. The test section is of rectangular cavity whose length, width, and height are 500mm, 80mm, and 250mm, respectively. A total of twenty-four T-type thermocouples were installed in the test loop to measure temperature distribution. Four Ttype thermocouples were utilized to measure temperatures on the boundary. A direct heating method was adopted in this test to simulate the uniform heat generation. The experiments covered a range of Rayleigh number, Ra, between 4.87×10 and 2.32×10 and Prandtl number, Pr, between 0.7 and 3.98. Tests were conducted with water and air as simulant. The upper and lower boundary conditions were maintained at a uniform temperature of 10°C.
Image Representations for Style Retrieval, Recognition and Background Replacement Tasks

Replacing overexposed or dull skies in outdoor photographs is a desirable photo manipulation. It is often necessary to color correct the foreground after replacement to make it consistent with the new sky. Methods have been proposed to automate the process of sky replacement and color correction. However, many times a color correction is unwanted by the artist or may produce unrealistic results. Style similarity is an important measure for many applications such as style transfer, fashion search, art exploration, etc. However, computational modeling of style is a difficult task owing to its vague and subjective nature. Most methods for style based retrieval use supervised training with pre-defined categorization of images according to style. While this paradigm is suitable for applications where style categories are well-defined and curating large datasets according to such a categorization is feasible, in several other cases such a categorization is either ill-defined or does not exist. In this thesis, we primarily study various image representations and their applications in understanding visual style and automatic background replacement. First, we propose a data-driven approach to sky-replacement that avoids color correction by finding a diverse set of skies that are consistent in color and natural illumination with the query image foreground. Our database consists of ∼1200 natural images spanning many outdoor categories. Given a query image, we retrieve the most consistent images from the database according to L2 similarity in feature space and produce candidate composites. The candidates are re-ranked based on realism and diversity. We used pre-trained CNN features and a rich set of hand-crafted features that encode color statistics, structural layout, and natural illumination statistics, but observed color statistics to be the most effective for this task. We share our findings on feature selection and show qualitative results and a user-study based evaluation to show the effectiveness of the proposed method. Next, we propose an unsupervised protocol for learning a neural embedding of visual style of images. Our protocol for learning style based representations does not leverage categorical labels but a proxy measure for forming triplets of anchor, similar, and dissimilar images. Using these triplets, we learn a compact style embedding that is useful for style-based search and retrieval. The learned embeddings outperform other unsupervised representations for style-based image retrieval task on six datasets that capture different meanings of style. We also show that by fine-tuning the learned features with datasetspecific style labels, we obtain best results for image style recognition task on five of the six datasets. To the best of our knowledge, ours is the first work that provides a comprehensive review and evaluation of style representations in an unsupervised setting. Our findings along with the curated outdoor scene database would be useful to the community for future research in the direction of sky-search and sky-replacement.
An α2-adrenoceptor agonist: Dexmedetomidine induces protective cardiomyocyte hypertrophy through mitochondrial-AMPK pathway

Aims: Dexmedetomidine (Dex) as a highly selective α2-adrenoceptor agonist, was widely used anesthetic in perioperative settings, whether Dex induces cardiac hypertrophy during perioperative administration is unknown. Methods: The effects of Dex on cardiac hypertrophy were explored using the transverse aortic constriction model and neonatal rat cardiomyocytes. Results: We reported that Dex induces cardiomyocyte hypertrophy with activated ERK, AKT, PKC and inactivated AMPK in both wild-type mice and primary cultured rat cardiomyocytes. Additionally, pre-administration of Dex protects against transverse aortic constriction induced-heart failure in mice. We found that Dex up-regulates the activation of ERK, AKT, and PKC via suppression of AMPK activation in rat cardiomyocytes. However, suppression of mitochondrial coupling efficiency and membrane potential by FCCP blocks Dex induced AMPK inactivation as well as ERK, AKT, and PKC activation. All of these effects are blocked by the α2-adrenoceptor antagonist atipamezole. Conclusion: The present study demonstrates Dex preconditioning induces cardiac hypertrophy that protects against heart failure through mitochondria-AMPK pathway in perioperative settings.
MICROSTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT IN MULTI-PASS LASER MELTING OF AISI 8620 STEEL

An existing thermal model for laser melting and additive manufacturing (AM) was expanded to include phase transformation and hardness predictions for an alloy steel and coupled to experimental results. The study was performed on AISI 8620, a popular case-hardening, steel to understand microstructural and property effects for potential repair applications. The experimental samples were polished, etched with nital and picral for comparison, imaged, and Vicker’s microhardness was taken at 0.5 and 0.2 kg loads. The etched images revealed a transformation zone slightly larger than the melt zone in all cases including a gradient in transformation along the outer edges of the transformation zones. The microhardness measurements revealed that the lower energy cases provided a higher hardness in the melted region even after tempering due to multiple passes. But the overall hardness was higher than what is to be expected of a fully martensitic structure in AISI 8620. The phase transformation model qualitatively shows a similar microstructure where molten regions turn completely to martensite. The model also predicts a transformation zone larger than the melt pool size, as well as the transformation of pearlite but not ferrite near but not in melt pool. This observation is experimentally verified showing a heat affected zone where pearlite is clearly transformed but not ferrite outside the transformation zone comprised of complete martensite. The hardness model predicts a lower hardness than the experiments but is similar to what is expected based on published Jominy End Quench tests. The cases in the regime dominated by conductive heat transfer show good agreement with the predictions of melt pool shape and hardness by the thermal model. However, at higher powers and lower speeds, the fluid flow influenced the shape of the melt pool and the hat transfer in its vicinity, and the model was less accurate.
Diapause Response to Photoperiod in an Arizona Population of Lygus hesperus (Hemiptera: Miridae)

Abstract The western tarnished plant bug (Lygus hesperus Knight) is an important crop pest in the western United States that overwinters in an adult diapause. However, knowledge of L. hesperus diapause is incomplete. Eggs from field-collected adults were reared under photoperiods of 10:14, 11:13, 12:12, and 13:11 (L:D) h at 26.7 ± 1°C, and the diapause response for each gender was modeled by a logistic function. Incidence of a recently reported “glass bead” fat body type also was examined. Validation studies using the same methods were subsequently conducted using photoperiods of 10.5:13.5, 11.5:12.5, and 12.5:11.5 (L:D) h. No effects of bug gender, photoperiod, or diapause status on occurrence of the novel fat type were detected. Estimates of diapause in validation studies were within confidence intervals for initial predictions, but systematic deviations from initial predictions prompted refitting of the models to include validation data. Refitted functions estimated critical photoperiods of 11h44min for females and 11h21min for males. The maximum incidence of diapause was lower for males than for females and was <100% for both genders. Refitted functions also predicted 50% of the population-specific maximum diapause response corresponded to photoperiods of 11h54min (females) and 12h7min (males). These results, combined with other recent findings, suggest heterogeneity in diapause response likely enables L. hesperus populations to adapt to local conditions. The estimated functions relating photoperiod to diapause incidence provide baselines to facilitate future studies of environmental and geographical influences on diapause in this species.