Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Extrusion cooking of rice-groundnut-cowpea mixtures - effects of extruder characteristics on nutritive value and physico-functional properties of extrudates using response surface methodology.

Response surface methodology was used to study the effect of extruder characteristics on product quality of rice-groundnut-cowpea extrudates using a single-screw extruder. The combined effect of cowpea (0–20%), groundnut (0–10%) and feed moisture (12.02–44.06%) were used to formulate the products. Product moisture, protein, fat, ash, bulk density, expansion ratio, water absorption capacity (WAC) and swelling capacity were determined. Well-expanded rice-legume blend extrudates of less bulk density and lower moisture content were produced at low feed moisture. Addition of legumes resulted in significant increases in protein, fat and ash contents of the rice-legume extrudates while increasing cowpea increased all the physicofunctional properties. The models developed gave R 2 values ranging from 64.01% (WAC at 70C) to 86.5% (bulk density) and suggested that the optimal process variables of low feed moisture (10–12%), cowpea level (20%) and groundnut level (10%) would produce ready-to-eat puffed snack with enhanced nutritive value and physico-functional properties from rice-groundnut-cowpea blend extrudates.
PENDIDIKAN KARAKTER PADA MADRASAH IBTIDAIYAH SWASTA AL-USMANIYAH BAGAN BATU PROVINSI RIAU

Most people recognize that learning to be good character primarily begins with family. Despite the primary role of parents, most people also expect that schools should and do have a role in character development. Madrasah Ibtidaiyah is an Islamic elementary school that provides alternative character education based on religious values. This article presents the results of a research on character education developed by Private Madrasah Ibtidaiyah Al-Usmaniyah in Bagan Batu, Riau Province. Data collection techniques used for this research include observation, interviews, and document study. This research found that in Madrasah Ibtidaiyah Al-Usmaniyah character development is infused into every aspect of the school culture, curriculum, and extra-curricular activities. In this madrasah character education is designed and implemented by taking into account the aspirations of the madrasah stakeholders. People consider this participatory nature of character education is more effective in nurturing good character in students. Key Words: Character education, Madrasah Ibtidaiyah Al-Usmaniyah, Riau. Banyak orang menerima, bahwa pendidikan karakter yang baik utamanya dimulai dari keluarga. Meskipun demikian, banyak orang juga mengharapkan sekolah berperan dalam pengembangan karakter. Madrasah ibtidaiyah adalah sebagai bentuk satuan pendidikan tingkat dasar yang menawarkan solusi alternatif melalui pendidikan karakter yang bersumber dari nilai-nilai agama. Tulisan ini menyajikan hasil penelitian tentang pendidikan karakter yang dikembangkan Madrasah Ibtidaiyah Swasta (MIS) Al-Usmaniyah Bagan Batu Propinsi Riau. Metode pengumpulan data dengan observasi, wawancara mendalam, studi pustaka, dan dokumentasi. Penelitian ini menemukan, bahwa pembentukan karakter yang dilakukan oleh MIS Al-Usmaniyah dituangkan dalam bentuk budaya madrasah, yang dijadikan sebagai pedoman bagi pengembangan karakter peserta didik, diimplementasikan dalam setiap mata pelajaran dan ekstra kurikuler bernuansa keagamaan dengan memperhatikan aspirasi dari seluruh elemen madrasah. Konsep pembentukan karakter seperti itu dipandang lebih efektif untuk menumbuhkan karakter terpuji siswa. Kata Kunci: Pendidikan karakter, madrasah ibtidaiyah Al-Usmaniyah, Riau.
Modeling changes in probabilistic reinforcement learning during adolescence

In the real world, many relationships between events are uncertain and probabilistic. Uncertainty is also likely to be a more common feature of daily experience for youth because they have less experience to draw from than adults. Some studies suggests probabilistic learning may be inefficient in youth compared to adults [1], while others suggest it may be more efficient in youth that are in mid adolescence [2, 3]. Here we used a probabilistic reinforcement learning task to test how youth age 8-17 (N = 187) and adults age 18-30 (N = 110) learn about stable probabilistic contingencies. Performance increased with age through early-twenties, then stabilized. Using hierarchical Bayesian methods to fit computational reinforcement learning models, we show that all participants’ performance was better explained by models in which negative outcomes had minimal to no impact on learning. The performance increase over age was driven by 1) an increase in learning rate (i.e. decrease in integration time horizon); 2) a decrease in noisy/exploratory choices. In mid-adolescence age 13-15, salivary testosterone and learning rate were positively related. We discuss our findings in the context of other studies and hypotheses about adolescent brain development. Author summary Adolescence is a time of great uncertainty. It is also a critical time for brain development, learning, and decision making in social and educational domains. There are currently contradictory findings about learning in adolescence. We sought to better isolate how learning from stable probabilistic contingencies changes during adolescence with a task that previously showed interesting results in adolescents. We collected a relatively large sample size (297 participants) across a wide age range (8-30), to trace the adolescent developmental trajectory of learning under stable but uncertain conditions. We found that age in our sample was positively associated with higher learning rates and lower choice exploration. Within narrow age bins, we found that higher saliva testosterone levels were associated with higher learning rates in participants age 13-15 years. These findings can help us better isolate the trajectory of maturation of core learning and decision making processes during adolescence.
To explore the holistic behaviour of the UK Intellectual Property Office using the Complex Adaptive System paradigm

The aim of this research is to explore the holistic behaviour of the UK Intellectual Property Office, using the complex adaptive system paradigm. The study contributes to knowledge and practice through the refinement of the complexity strategy matrix, which portrays organisations as degrees of mechanistic and emergent behaviour. Consequently this understanding of organisational behaviour will assist organisations to change and respond to the environment. This is considered important, because traditional strategic management literature from its militaristic roots, through to the managerial and mechanistic conception as a process of planning, deliberate design and positioning to exploit markets, might understandably give the impression to external observers, that it is a discourse dominated by rational economic thought. However the last twenty five years has seen the emergence of the chaos and complexity schools of thought, which have explored the notions that organisations are complex adaptive systems existing in changing environments. This paradigm places the premium on the importance of organizational linkages with its environment, so that the organization can remain appropriately sensitive to changes. This context is real for the Intellectual Property Office, since the Intellectual Property environment is undergoing significant change. The data collection methods used to meet the aim and objectives of the study, involve the use of primary semi structured interviews which were complimented with secondary archival data. These data collection methods were considered as the most appropriate, as a means to interpret and understand the behaviour of the agents of the system, and place the findings within the general context of a case study. The findings show that whilst the IPO predominately show behaviours associated with the traditional management literature, through the abundance of control, top down decision making, and planning; the findings also indicate degrees of divergent behaviour which are associated with emergent and adaptable behaviour.
Improved calibration of the SrB4O7:Sm2+ optical pressure gauge: Advantages at very high pressures and high temperatures

This paper presents a new calibration of the pressure shift of the 7D0−5F0 fluorescence line of SrB4O7:Sm2+, in hydrostatic medium (helium) up to 124 GPa and in nonhydrostatic medium (H2O) up to 130 GPa. There is no quenching of the luminescence, in contrast to that observed in similar compounds. We show that this line permits more accurate pressure measurements at very high pressure than the commonly used R1 emission line of ruby because it remains intense, sharp, well isolated from the other lines, and weakly dependent on nonhydrostaticity. The wavelength pressure shift of the 7D0−5F0 line is found to be very well represented by the nonlinear relation: P=4. 032Δλ(1+9.29×10−3Δλ)/(1+2.32×10−2Δλ) with P in GPa and Δλ=λ−685.41 in nm. High temperature experiments up to 900 K at room pressure were also performed. The negligible temperature dependence and the small thermal line broadening are further advantages for high pressure–high temperature studies in diamond anvil cells. A metrology for in situ measuremen.
Non-Invasive Differentiation of M1 and M2 Activation in Macrophages Using Hyperpolarized 13C MRS of Pyruvate and DHA at 1.47 Tesla

Macrophage activation, first generalized to the M1/M2 dichotomy, is a complex and central process of the innate immune response. Simply, M1 describes the classical pro-inflammatory activation, leading to tissue damage, and M2 the alternative activation promoting tissue repair. Given the central role of macrophages in multiple diseases, the ability to non-invasively differentiate between M1 and M2 activation states would be highly valuable for monitoring disease progression and therapeutic responses. Since M1/M2 activation patterns are associated with differential metabolic reprogramming, we hypothesized that hyperpolarized 13C magnetic resonance spectroscopy (HP 13C MRS), an innovative metabolic imaging approach, could distinguish between macrophage activation states noninvasively. The metabolic conversions of HP [1-13C]pyruvate to HP [1-13C]lactate and HP [1-13C]dehydroascorbic acid to HP [1-13C]ascorbic acid were monitored in live M1 and M2 activated J774a.1 macrophages non-invasively by HP 13C MRS on a 1.47 Tesla NMR system. Our results show that both metabolic conversions were significantly increased in M1 macrophages compared to M2 and non-activated cells. Biochemical assays and high resolution 1H MRS were also performed to investigate the underlying changes in enzymatic activities and metabolite levels linked to M1/M2 activation. Altogether, our results demonstrate the potential of HP 13C MRS for monitoring macrophage activation states non-invasively.
SHELF‐LIFE OF UNSALTED AND LIGHT “LOR” WHEY CHEESE STORED UNDER VARIOUS PACKAGING CONDITIONS: MICROBIOLOGICAL AND SENSORY ATTRIBUTES

The shelf life of unsalted and light Turkish whey cheese “Lor ” in various packaging conditions of atmospheric air, vacuum and modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) (80%CO2/20%N2; MAP1 and 60%CO2/40%N2; MAP2) under refrigeration (4C) was investigated and compared with each other for a period of 25 days. MAP1 was the most effective for inhibiting growth of total viable count, yeast and mold, and Enterobacteriaceae microflora in Lor cheese samples until 20 days of refrigerated storage. Yeasts and molds were inhibited effectively under MAP2 packages as well. Vacuum-packaged samples gave a lower lactic acid bacteria count at a given sampling day than the other packages. MAP and vacuum packages were not found effective on psychrotrophic bacteria counts. Results show an increase in the shelf life of MAP packaged Lor whey cheese, confirming that inhibitory effects on some of the microorganism groups are responsible for the spoilage phenomena. Refrigeration condition with MAP combination of Lor cheese had good sensory characteristics for 20 days of storage, while control samples were unacceptable after 10–15 days of storage. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS The modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) of foods has considerably increased recently. MAP with CO2 was found very effective on spoilage microorganisms because of its bacteriostatic effect. Generally, Lor cheese is packaged in atmospheric air or vacuum conditions in Turkey; there is no any research about the extending the shelf life of Lor cheese, and it has a very short shelf life although it is vacuum-packaged. Modified atmosphere packages of unsalted and light Lor cheese were found effective on microbial and sensory qualities of it and MAP packages could be used for Lor cheese, to give better results than vacuum packaging together with good sanitary conditions, during the packaging process.
A single intranasal or intramuscular immunization with chimpanzee adenovirus vectored SARS-CoV-2 vaccine protects against pneumonia in hamsters

The development of an effective vaccine against SARS-CoV-2, the etiologic agent of COVID-19, is a global priority. Here, we compared the protective capacity of intranasal and intramuscular delivery of a chimpanzee adenovirus-vectored vaccine encoding a pre-fusion stabilized spike protein (ChAd-SARS-CoV-2-S) in Golden Syrian hamsters. While immunization with ChAd-SARS-CoV-2-S induced robust spike protein specific antibodies capable or neutralizing the virus, antibody levels in serum were higher in hamsters immunized by an intranasal compared to intramuscular route. Accordingly, ChAd-SARS-CoV-2-S immunized hamsters were protected against a challenge with a high dose of SARS-CoV-2. After challenge, ChAd-SARS-CoV-2-S-immunized hamsters had less weight loss and showed reductions in viral RNA and infectious virus titer in both nasal swabs and lungs, and reduced pathology and inflammatory gene expression in the lungs, compared to ChAd-Control immunized hamsters. Intranasal immunization with ChAd-SARS-CoV-2-S provided superior protection against SARS-CoV-2 infection and inflammation in the upper respiratory tract. These findings support intranasal administration of the ChAd-SARS-CoV-2-S candidate vaccine to prevent SARS-CoV-2 infection, disease, and possibly transmission.
Dynamics of cell mass and size control in multicellular systems and the human body

Cellular processes, in particular homeostasis and growth, require an intricate and complex exchange of matter between a cell and its surroundings. Yet experimental difficulties have prevented a detailed description of the dynamics of a cell’s mass and volume along different cellular processes, limiting our understanding of cell physiology in health and disease. It has been recently observed that single mammalian cells fluctuate their mass in a timescale of seconds. This result challenges central and long-standing cell growth models, according to which cells increase their mass either linearly or exponentially throughout the cell cycle. However, it remains unclear to what extent cell mass fluctuations may be sustained in multicellular organisms. Here I provide a mathematical model for cell mass fluctuations and explore how such fluctuations can be successfully sustained in multicellular organisms. I postulate that cells do not synchronise their mass fluctuations, but they are executed with their phases uniformly distributed. I derive a mathematical expression to estimate the resulting mass shift between fluid compartments in an organism due to cell mass fluctuations. Together with a new estimate of 4×1013 human cells in the body, I demonstrate that my hypothesis leads to shifts of mass between the intracellular and extracellular fluid compartments in the human body that are approximately or smaller than 0.25 mg and, therefore, perfectly viable. The proposed model connects cell physiology with information theory and entropy.
Sesquiterpenos e hidrocarbonetos dos frutos de Xylopia emarginata (Annonaceae)

The hexane extract from Xylopia emarginata fruits was partitioned between hexane and MeOH/H2O. The hydro-alcoholic phase was submitted to chromatographic separation to afford four sesquiterpenes: caryophyllene oxide, spathulenol, 1b,6a-dihydroxy-4(15)-eudesmene and 4-hydroxy-1,15-peroxy-eudesmane. The hexane phase was fractioned in column chromatography to afford two hydrocarbons (nonadecane and 1-nonadecene) and one aliphatic ketone (hentriacontan-16-one). The structures of the isolated compounds were established by spectral data analysis, mainly NMR and MS.
Sexual differentiation of neural mechanisms of stress sensitivity during puberty

Anxiety disorders are more common in women than men, and this difference arises during puberty. Increased secretion of gonadal hormones during puberty influences brain structure and function, but the extent to which hormones modulate anxiety-related brain circuits is unclear. The slow developing California mouse (Peromyscus californicus) is an ideal species for studying the effects of hormones on brain function during adolescence. In adults social defeat stress reduces social approach and increases vigilance in females but not males. Here we show this sex difference is absent in juvenile mice, and that prepubertal castration sensitizes adult males to social defeat. Since adult castration has no effect on stress sensitivity, our data show that gonadal hormones act during puberty to program behavioral responses to stress later in life. In adults, calcium imaging in the medioventral bed nucleus of the stria terminalis shows that threatening social contexts increase calcium transients. Furthermore, prepubertal castration generalizes these responses to less threatening social contexts. Prepubertal treatment with the non-aromatizable androgen dihydrotestosterone acts in males and females to reduce sensitivity to social defeat in adults. Together, these data indicate activation of androgen receptors during puberty are critical for programing behavioral responses to stress in adulthood, highlighting a possible mechanism contributing to sex differences in anxiety. Significance Statement Puberty is a key period when sex differences in anxiety emerges. Gonadal hormone release increases during this time but it is largely unknown how they impact brain circuits and behavior. We show that androgens play a key role in programming behavioral responses to social defeat stress. The bed nucleus of the stria terminalis responds to social threats and these responses are more generalized in males without gonadal hormone exposure during puberty. Our findings highlight the importance of pubertal androgens in determining adult behavioral responses to social stress.
A novel role for nucleolin in splice site selection

Latent 5’ splice sites are highly abundant in human introns, yet, are apparently not normally used. Splicing at most of these sites would incorporate in-frame stop codons generating nonsense mRNAs. Importantly, under stress and in cancer, splicing at latent sites is activated generating nonsense mRNAs from thousands of genes. Previous studies point to an unresolved RNA quality control mechanism that suppresses latent splicing independently of NMD. They further demonstrated a pivotal role for initiator-tRNA in this mechanism, through its interaction with the AUG codon, independent of its role in protein translation. To further elucidate this mechanism, here we searched for nuclear proteins directly bound to initiator-tRNA in the nucleus. We identified nucleolin (NCL), a multifunctional, abundant, and conserved protein, as a novel regulator of splice site selection. Starting with UV crosslinking, we show that NCL is directly and specifically interacting with initiator-tRNA in the nucleus, but not in the cytoplasm. In support of NCL involvement in this mechanism, we show activation of latent splicing in hundreds of transcripts upon NCL knockdown, disrupting gene transcripts involved in several important cellular pathways and cell metabolism functions (e.g. transcription factors, oncogenes, kinases, splicing factors, translation factors, and genes affecting cell motility, proliferation, and cellular trafficking). We thus propose NCL, a component of the endogenous spliceosome, through its direct interaction with initiator-tRNA and its effect on latent splicing as the first documented protein of a nuclear quality control mechanism that regulates splice site selection to protect cells from latent splicing that would generate defective mRNAs.
The Genomic Architecture of Adaptation to Larval Malnutrition Points to a Trade-off with Adult Starvation Resistance in Drosophila

Periods of nutrient shortage impose strong selection on animal populations. Experimental studies of genetic adaptation to nutrient shortage largely focus on resistance to acute starvation at adult stage; it is not clear how conclusions drawn from these studies extrapolate to other forms of nutritional stress. We studied the genomic signature of adaptation to chronic juvenile malnutrition in six populations of Drosophila melanogaster evolved for 150 generations on an extremely nutrient-poor larval diet. Comparison with control populations evolved on standard food revealed repeatable genomic differentiation between the two set of population, involving >3,000 candidate SNPs forming >100 independently evolving clusters. The candidate genomic regions were enriched in genes implicated in hormone, carbohydrate, and lipid metabolism, including some with known effects on fitness-related life-history traits. Rather than being close to fixation, a substantial fraction of candidate SNPs segregated at intermediate allele frequencies in all malnutrition-adapted populations. This, together with patterns of among-population variation in allele frequencies and estimates of Tajima’s D, suggests that the poor diet results in balancing selection on some genomic regions. Our candidate genes for tolerance to larval malnutrition showed a high overlap with genes previously implicated in acute starvation resistance. However, adaptation to larval malnutrition in our study was associated with reduced tolerance to acute adult starvation. Thus, rather than reflecting synergy, the shared genomic architecture appears to mediate an evolutionary trade-off between tolerances to these two forms of nutritional stress.
Aspergillus fumigatus versus Genus Aspergillus: Conservation, Adaptive Evolution and Specific Virulence Genes

Aspergillus is an important fungal genus containing economically important species, as well as pathogenic species of animals and plants. Using eighteen fungal species of the genus Aspergillus, we conducted a comprehensive investigation of conserved genes and their evolution. This also allows to investigate the selection pressure driving the adaptive evolution in the pathogenic species A. fumigatus. Among single-copy orthologs (SCOs) for A. fumigatus and the closely related species A. fischeri, we identified 122 versus 50 positively selected genes (PSGs), respectively. Moreover, twenty conserved genes of unknown function were established to be clearly positively selected and thus important for adaption. A. fumigatus PSGs interacting with human host proteins show over-representation of adaptive, symbiosis-related, immunomodulatory, and virulence related pathways such as the TGF-β pathway, insulin receptor signaling, IL1 pathway and interfering with phagosomal of GTPase signaling. Additionally, among the virulence factor coding genes, secretory and membrane protein coding genes in multi-copy gene families, 212 genes underwent positive selection and also suggest increased adaptation such as fungal immune evasion mechanisms (aspf2), siderophore biosynthesis (sidD), fumarylalanine production (sidE), stress tolerance (atfA) and thermotolerance (sodA). These genes presumably contribute to host adaptation strategies. Genes for the biosynthesis of gliotoxin are shared among all the close relatives of A. fumigatus as ancient defense mechanism. Positive selection plays a crucial role in the adaptive evolution of A. fumigatus. The genome-wide profile of PSGs provides valuable targets for further research on the mechanisms of immune evasion, for antimycotic targeting and understanding fundamental processes of virulence.