Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
with progression of liver fibrosis in Caucasians with chronic hepatitis C infection

AIM: Considerable attention is focused on polymorphisms in the gene encoding transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), a multifunctional cytokine that is in turn a potent growth inhibitor involved in wound healing and differentiation. In humans, it promotes the pathogenesis of organ fibrosis, atherosclerosis, cancer, autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, keloid disease, and hypertrophic scarring. For this reason, much emphasis has been placed on studies elucidating the impact of TGF-β1 and its gene variations for the susceptibility and pathogenesis of these diseases. Unfortunately, some studies have serious limitations. METHODS: We have recently described a high-throughput method for investigation the Arg25Pro polymorphism of human TGF-β1 gene and showed that the frequency of the Pro25 allele is significantly associated with hepatic fibrogenesis. In this report, we describe two novel LightCycler (LC) techniques that facilitate the examination of the two other known alterations in the coding region of TGF-β1. We investigated whether these polymorphisms contribute to hepatitis-induced progression of fibrogenesis in Chinese and Caucasians.
REACTIVE POWER DIFFICULTIES MEASUREMENT UNDER NON SINUSOIDAL CONDITIONS

In a liberalized market context, measures performed on an electric systems becomes crucial in terms of energy invoicing, and for the provision quality assessment in electric energy for a given network zone. Among different nuisances, the harmonic distortion has the most considerable weight, because of the non linear loads proliferation, which leads non sinusoidal currents and voltages. Among the different problems provoqued by harmonic distortion, there is two important aspects and bounds to which ultimately one must cope with: the measure instrumentation synchronization and the reactive energy numbering with the electronic meters. With regard to the sizes measure defined by the IEEE norm, a virtual tool has been imagined, while using a technique in the domain time for the voltage and current fundamental extraction, on the basis of these works we led a survey on reactive energy electronic counters behaviour in harmonic distortion presence. The first results underline, that in sinusoidal regime the different methods with which are driven the reactive energy measure lead to the same result, while for the diet disrupted the electronic counters bring to a different answer.
Spatial and temporal variation in prey selection of brown trout in a cold Arkansas tailwater

We examined prey utilisation patterns of brown trout (Salmo trutta Linnaeus) as related to available benthos in a cold tailwater (Little Red River, Arkansas) having low biodiversity of benthic macroinvertebrates and low availability of fish as prey. Benthic macroinvertebrates were sampled monthly in upstream and downstream sites over a 1-year period. Stomach content analysis was also performed on 30 brown trout (10 each of three size classes) collected monthly from each site. Benthic and diet diversities were low at both sites, as isopods (Lirceus) accounted for 67% and 51% of the numerical abundance upstream and downstream, respectively, and 80% and 70% of all prey consumed by upstream and downstream brown trout. Physid snails (upstream) and chironomid larvae (downstream) accounted for most of the remaining prey taxa consumed. Piscivory and consumption of terrestrial invertebrates were rare. There was no clear relation between diet diversity and trout size. Densities of benthic macroinvertebrates and prey consumption were significantly greater upstream than downstream. Benthic macroinvertebrate assemblages and prey consumption were seasonally constant at both sites. Generally, prey consumption was consistent with availability of each prey in the benthos; the lack of benthic diversity and overwhelming abundance of one taxon (Lirceus) most likely contributed to food selection patterns. Although isopods are abundant within this tailwater to serve as a forage base, the displacement of native fish fauna because of the thermal regime of hypolimnetic release from Greers Ferry Reservoir probably serves as a major limitation to brown trout growth.
AGING EFFECT OF WHEAT AND BARLEY SEEDS UPON GERMINATION MITOTIC INDEX AND CHROMOSOMAL DAMAGE

SUMMARY: The experiment was carried out to ascertain the effects of age on wheat and barley seeds. Germination percentage of different years old wheat and barley seeds were found to decrease gradually with an increase of the storage time. The germination percentages of wheat seeds were much lower than that of barley seeds. Mitotic index and chromosomal irregularities from root tip cells were also studied. Most of the irregularities were characterized by precocious separation of chromosomes and inactivation of spindle mechanism, chromosome fragment, laggard, bridge, condensed and sticky chromosome, ring chromosomes etc. In both the materials, the frequencies of dividing cells were found to decrease with the increase of the age of seeds. Frequency of abnormal cells were also found to increase with the increase of the age of seeds. The frequency of chromosomal aberrations with increased storage time was closely related to the loss of germinability.
Root Biomass and Distribution Patterns in a Semi-Arid Mesquite Savanna: Responses to Long-Term Rainfall Manipulation

Abstract Expansion of woody plants in North American grasslands and savannas is facilitated in part by root system adaptation to climatic extremes. Climatic extremes are predicted to become more common with global climate change and, as such, may accelerate woody expansion and/or infilling rates. We quantified root biomass and distribution patterns of the invasive woody legume, honey mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa), and associated grasses following a long-term rainfall manipulation experiment in a mixed grass savanna in the southern Great Plains (United States). Root systems of mature trees were containerized with vertical barriers installed to a depth of 270 cm, and soil moisture was manipulated with irrigation (Irrigated) or rainout shelters (Rainout). Other treatments included containerized, precipitation-only (Control) and noncontainerized, precipitation-only (Natural) trees. After 4 yr of treatment, soil cores to 270 cm depth were obtained, and mesquite root length density (RLD) and root mass, and grass root mass were quantified. Mesquite in the Rainout treatment increased coarse-root ( > 2 mm diameter) RLD and root mass at soil depths between 90 cm and 270 cm. In contrast, mesquite in the Irrigated treatment increased fine-root ( < 2 mm diameter) RLD and root mass between 30 cm and 270 cm depths, but did not increase total root mass (fine + coarse) compared to the Control. Mesquite root-to-shoot mass ratio was 2.8 to 4.6 times greater in Rainout than the other treatments. Leaf water stress was greatest in the Rainout treatment in the first year, but not in subsequent years, possibly the result of increased root growth. Leaf water use efficiency was lowest in the Irrigated treatment. The increase in coarse root growth during extended drought substantially increased mesquite belowground biomass and suggests an important mechanism by which woody plant encroachment into grasslands may alter below ground carbon stocks under climate change scenarios predicted for this region.
Impact of Growth Opportunities on Dividend Policy: Evidence on the Role of CEO Duality in the Emerging Economy of Pakistan

This paper aims to determine the effect of growth opportunities on dividend policy when there is CEO duality in an organization. On the basis of market capitalization, the data is collected form the top 100 registered companies on the Pakistan stock exchange during a period from 2012 to 2019. In this study total population sampling technique is used to collect the data which includes 218 firms. The data is collected on a yearly basis. Those firms who have lost statistics are excluded. The findings of this study show that there is a link between lower dividend pay-outs and growth opportunities however this relationship is inverse for CEOs with dual firm ownership. More over this relationship occurs only in private firms.
Effect of Weed Control Practices on Weed Dry Weight, Nutrient Uptake and Yield of Clusterbean [Cyamopsis tetragonoloba (L.) Taub.] under Rainfed Condition

Imazethapyr, quizalofop-P-ethyl, pendimethalin and alachlor at 0.1, 0.06, 1.0 and 2.0 kg/ha, respectively, alone and with hand weeding 40 DAS were compared with one and two hand weedings against mixed weed flora in clusterbean. All the weed control treatments significantly reduced the dry weight of complex weed flora, although they differed in their effect on monocot and dicot weeds. Imazethapyr alone and with hand weeding 40 DAS effectively controlled both monocot and dicot weeds, while quizalofop-ethyl controlled only monocot weeds. Uninterrupted weed growth depleted 108.5 kg N, 15.8 kg P and 151.6 kg K/ha, while such losses were lowest with two hand weedings 20 and 40 DAS. Highest grain yield was obtained with weed free check (1840 kg/ha) followed by two hand weedings (1720 kg/ha) and imazethapyr 100 g/ha+hand weeding 40 DAS (1711 kg/ha) and it was significantly higher than all other treatments. Maximum uptake of N (133.8 kg/ha), P (32.5 kg/ha) and K (135.1 kg/ha) by clusterbean was recorded in two hand weedings (20 and 40 DAS), while in weedy check plots N, P and K uptake by crop was 40.6, 9.8 and 41.1 kg/ha, respectively.
The phenology of the emergence of brassica pod midge (Dasineura brassicae Winn.) and its infestation of spring oil-seed rape (Brassica napus L.)

Summary The phenology of the emergence of brassica pod midge from overwintering sites previously sown with spring oil-seed rape and its subsequent infestation of spring rape crops was studied over 3 years. Adults emerged from the overwintering sites from mid-May until early July, but infestation of spring rape did not begin until late June. Two generations occurred on spring rape. Mature larvae dropped from the pods almost daily from early to mid-July until mid-August to early September to form cocoons in the soil. A small proportion of these larvae developed into pupae and emerged as a second generation of adults to lay further eggs in the crops. Larvae from these eggs dropped to the soil to diapause within cocoons.
EUROPEAN ACADEMIC RESEARCH, VOL

Entrepreneurship is an essential contributor to innovation and job-creation; it also plays a key role in economic growth. Cognizant of its importance, most governments in the world are encouraging graduates to consider entrepreneurship as an alternative career. Graduates should have reasonably higher entrepreneurial tendencies if they are to benefit from various government initiatives towards entrepreneurship. Prior research has not addressed fully entrepreneurial tendencies of graduates, especially in developing economies like Tanzania where poverty and graduate unemployment are high. This paper presents factors influencing Tanzanian graduates’ entrepreneurial tendencies using the University of Dar-essalaam as a case in point. A cross-sectional design was employed; graduates were sampled using systematic random sampling. A semistructured questionnaire which included the General Enterprising Tendencies Test was applied in gathering information. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and the binary logistic regression. Entrepreneurship education, parents’ education and number of children in a family determine entrepreneurial tendencies of * Corresponding author: mangasini.katundu@muccobs.ac. tz Mangasini Atanasi Katundu, Damian Mulokozi GabagambiDeterminants of Entrepreneurial Tendencies among Tanzanian University Graduates: A Case of University of Dar-es-Salaam EUROPEAN ACADEMIC RESEARCH Vol. II, Issue 1 / April 2014 836 Tanzanian graduates. Graduates with training in entrepreneurship and those coming from educated families had greater overall entrepreneurial characteristics, higher achievement motivation, more personal control, risk-taking propensity and greater self-esteem than a comparable cohort. Courses focusing on preparing the future entrepreneur are highly recommended. Higher learning institutions countrywide are urged to establish business incubator programmes in order to tap and develop the entrepreneurial talents at an early stage.
POTENTIAL HYPOLIPIDEMIC EFFECTS OF POLICOSANOL (SACCHARUM OFFICINARUM) IN HYPERLIPIDEMIC INDUCED MALE ALBINO RABBITS

High fat or cholesterol have been implicated in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. The present study was designed to investigate the possible hypolipidemic effects of policosanol (Saccharum offcinarum wax) on cholesterol fed rabbits and to compare with standard drug available in the market (statin) . The rabbits were first made exogeneously hyperlipidemic by giving them high fat diet and cholesterol powder (500mg/kg body weight) in 5mL of coconut oil orally for 15 days and then were administered with drugs like Policosanol and statin. In the hyperlipidemic rabbits there were an apparent reduction in the animal body weight_and_a significant increase_in serum total cholesterol (78.63%), triglyceride (27.24%), LDL-c (78.56 %) and VLDL-c (38.04%) with a concomitant non significant increase in serum HDL-c (25.00%) . Whereas oral treatment of animals with Policosanol for about 45 days in a dose of 0.50 mg/kg body weight lead to non significant change in the animal body weight but show significant reduction in serum total cholesterol (95%), triglyceride (82%), LDL-c (97%) and VLDL-c (82%) with a slightly non significant increase in serum HDL-c. The nearby same results were observed in statin treatment. Policosanol was found nearly equal in efficacy like statin standard drug in comparison with hyperlipidemic animals on all serum lipid parameters . Thus policosanol extract offers promising hypolipidemic effects with no drug related disturbances in safety medications that may be mainly attributed to its potent antiatherosclerotic potential.
Nitrous Oxide Emissions from Continuous Winter Wheat in the Southern Great Plains

Fertilizer-induced N2O-N emissions (the difference between fertilized and unfertilized soils) are estimated to be 0.01 kg N2O-N kg –1 of applied N. One approach to limiting N2O-N production in soils is by improving nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) in dryland agricultural systems. However, baseline data on the rate of emissions is needed to determine the potential impact that these efforts might have on N2O-N concentrations in the atmosphere. A study was established in a long-term continuous winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) fertility experiment in Stillwater, OK, to determine the effects of N rate on N2O-N emissions from a dryland winter wheat– summer fallow system in the southern Great Plains of the United States to fill this knowledge gap. Cumulative emissions of N2O-N varied from year to year and were influenced by environment and N rate. Emissions following N fertilizer application were typically highest following N application, as well as toward the end of the summer fallow period, when summer rainfall and temperatures were conducive for N2O-N production chambers within plots historically receiving 134 kg N ha –1 annually went unfertilized for the 2012–2013 and 2013–2014 crop years and produced N2O-N emissions equivalent to the 45 and 90 kg N ha –1 rate treatments. Annual cumulative emissions ranged from 0.009 to 0.024 kg N2O-N kg –1 N applied with an average of 0.015 kg N2O-N kg –1 N applied, illustrating the variability in N2O-N emissions.
Genetic Markers Linked to the Dwarfing Trait of Apple Rootstock ‘Malling 9’

Little is known of the precise physiological or genetic basis of the phenomenon of rootstock-induced dwarfing in apple (Malus · domestica Borkh.). Phenotypic assessment and genetic marker analysis of a segregating population of apple rootstocks derived from a cross between the dwarfing rootstock 'Malling 9' ('M.9') and the vigorous rootstock 'Robusta 5' ('R5') was undertaken over a 5-year growth period. Clear segregation of the appear- ance of the 'Braeburn' scions permitted expert visual classification of each tree into four growth habit classes: dwarfed, semidwarfed, intermediate, or vigorous. Measurements of the cross-sectional area of the trunk of each tree correlated clearly with the expert-assigned phenotypic class. This clear segregation facilitated bulked segregant analysis (BSA) of the 'M.9' · 'R5' population, and theDwarfing 1 (Dw1) gene was located in a 2.5-cM region at the top of the linkage group 5 of 'M.9'. The gene Dw1 was mapped between the random amplified polymorphic DNA marker NZraAM18_700 and the microsatellite marker CH03a09, identified by BSA and the genome scanning approach, respectively. Dw1 is the first reported mapped locus controlling the dwarfing ability of the apple rootstock and maps to a chromosome region not previously known to contain quantitative trait loci or major genes that contribute to tree architecture and development. The identification of a group of trees in the 'M.9' · 'R5' population exhibiting a vigorous phenotype although their rootstocks possess alleles from theDw1region of 'M.9' suggests that more loci may be involved in conditioning the dwarfing phenotype. Dw1 is a major component of dwarfing, as most of the dwarfing and semidwarfing rootstocks carried the dwarfing allele of this locus. Genetically mapping Dw1 is a major step in unraveling the mechanism behind the dwarfing ability of apple rootstocks.
Size, Growth, and Survival Are Reduced at Cool Incubation Temperatures in the Temperate Lizard Oligosoma suteri (Lacertilia: Scincidae)

Abstract Reptile eggs from cool temperate environments often experience cool incubation conditions, which may have long-term consequences for individual fitness. We studied the effects of artificial incubation regimes on size, growth, and survival of New Zealand's only endemic oviparous lizard, Oligosoma suteri. Eggs were randomly distributed among three incubation temperatures (18, 22, 26 C) and two water potentials (−120 and −270 kPa). Hatchlings incubated at 22 C and −120 kPa were significantly larger for most measurements than hatchlings from other incubation treatments. Juveniles from the two higher incubation temperatures had more rapid growth and ultimately greater size by 12 months, as well as significantly higher survival to 18 months, than did 18 C incubated individuals. Hatchling size did not influence survival. Our data suggest that the restricted northern distribution of O. suteri results from ecological constraints caused by the negative effects of cool incubation temperatures on embryos and subsequently hatchlings.
Performance of 3 rabbits strains and their reciprocal crosses in Egypt during summer.

The present work was conducted to study the performance of 3 rabbits strains: New Zealand White (NZW), Baladi Black (BB) and Baladi Red (BR) and 4 of the reciprocal crosses between NZW and Baladi rabbits, during hot summer of Egypt. Values of litter size at birth, weaning (28 days) and marketing ages (84 days) did not differ significantly as affected by genotype, sex or the interaction between them. Mortality values of offspring from birth to weaning age differed significantly (P<0.01) among the 7 genetic types and NZWxNZW showed the lower value (5.4%), while BRxBR showed the highest value (41.1 %). They were no significant differences for mortality from weaning to marketing age due to the effect of genotype, sex or interaction between them. Kit weight at birth was significantly higher (P<0.05) for crossbreds (72 to 78g) than purebreds (48 to 54g), the same trend was realized at marketing age, except for BBxBB group. Significant (P<0.05) interaction between genotype and sex was shown for kit weight at birth, females of BBxNZW cross showed the highest kit weight at birth (80 g). Male kits significantly (P<0.05) surpassed the female kits in marketing live weight at 12 weeks of age (1420 vs 1357 g). The difference between purebred and crossbred groups in the average daily gain was statistically significant (P<0.05) from birth to weaning age (0-28 daY.s). Reciprocal crosses between NZW and BB were of heavier da1ly gain than that of the reciproca! crosses between NZW and BR. From weaning to marketing age (28-84 days), daily gain of the crossbred groups was superior (17.5 to19.4g/day) and the liveweight heavier than that of the purebred ones (14.1 to 16.4g/day). Positive superiority for the studied crosses was observed for the litter size at weaning, mortality rate from birth to weaning, live weight at birth and weight gain from weaning to marketing age.
Influence of cattle manure levels on the snap bean cultivars grown in sandy soil condition

Two field experiments were carried out in the experimental station of National Research Centre at Nubaria, Behira Governorate, Egypt during the two seasons of 2014/2015 and 2015/2016 to study the effect of different rates of cattle manure (6, 12 and 18 m/fed.) on snap bean cultivars (Bronco or Paulista) and their interaction on improved plant growth, total pods yield and its components as well as nutritional pods values. The obtained results showed that: 1-The highest fertilization rate of cattle manure (18 m /fed.) gave the tallest plant, the highest number of leaves per plant and the biggest fresh and dry weight of leaves and stems as well as the highest total pods yield /fed. Also, the obtained results reported that the pod measurements expressed as (pod length, pod diameter, average pod weight) as well as pod nutritional values such as (N, P, K and protein) were increased with increasing cattle manure rates. 2The best values of snap bean plant criteria such as (plant growth, total pods yield as well as the contents of N, P, K, protein) were obtained by Bronco cultivar followed by Paulista cultivar. 3-The favorable effects of the interaction between cattle manure levels and cultivars on the growth, total yield and pods parameters were obtained when Bronco cultivar of snap bean fertilized with 18 m /fed.
Identifying and crossing thresholds in managing moorland pool macroinvertebrates

To assess changes as a result of reduced acidifying deposition, water chemistry data from 68 Dutch moorland pools were collected during the periods 1983-1984 and 2000-2006. Partial recovery was observed: nitrateand ammonium-N, sulphur and aluminium concentrations decreased, while pH and alkalinity increased. Calcium and magnesium concentrations decreased. These trends were supported by long term monitoring data (1978-2006) of four pools. Increased pH correlated with increases in ortho-phosphate and turbidity, the latter due to stronger coloration by organic acids. Increased orthophosphate and turbidity are probably the result of stronger decomposition of organic sediments due to decreased acidification and may hamper full recovery of moorland pool communities. In addition to meeting emission targets for NOx, NHx and SOx, restoration measures are still required to facilitate and accelerate recovery of acidified moorland pools.