Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Experience of Neuropsychological Assessment, Views of Clients with Neurodegenerative Conditions

Background: It is estimated there are currently 2.6 million people living with a progressive neurological condition in England (Neurological Alliance, 2014). Neuropsychological assessment to detect associated cognitive changes are a primary aspect of care, yet little is known about how neuropsychological assessment is experienced. Aims: This study captures the experience of undergoing a neuropsychological assessment from the viewpoint of clients with neurodegenerative conditions. Methodology: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with eight people with neurodegenerative conditions, who had recently undergone a neuropsychological assessment. The transcripts were analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). Results: Four interrelated superordinate themes emerged from analysis: expectations of assessment, relationship with clinician, experience during testing and outcome of assessment. Overall, the experience of neuropsychological assessment was characterised as emotional and intense experience, yet most talked about the process as a positive experience. Participants hoped the assessment would objectively measure suspected or ‘hidden’ cognitive deficits, to increase understanding and help them cope with potential impairments. Participants reported the relationship with the assessing clinician was vital in determining their experience and helping them to withstand the emotional stresses of testing. Participants described diverse experiences during testing, from enjoying a sense of retained ability, to feelings of frustration, stress and disappointment at perceived ‘failure’. Various coping strategies were utilised to cope with the evoked emotions. The assessment environment was highlighted as important, with distractors felt to negatively impact performance. There was a sense the assessment provided objective ‘proof’ of the presence or absence of cognitive deficits, with accessible and prompt written feedback empowering participants to cope, adjust to difficulties and increasing relative’s awareness. Participants described mixed responses to feedback, from a therapeutic sense of relief, to feeling forced to confront the objective description of the impact of their condition. Despite participants reporting some negative aspects to testing, most emerged with a sense of having benefited from the experience. Implications and Conclusions: The findings of the study are considered in light of existing research, with consideration given to future research opportunities. The implications for clinical practice and training are discussed, including recommendations of pre-assessment meetings to prepare clients for the process (including the emotional aspects), and testing to be conducted by a familiar clinician, with whom the client has built rapport, and who can provide reassurance to offset the inherent uncertainty over performance. Providing an optimal environment, and ensuring feedback is timely, comprehensible and meaningful were also found to be of importance.
Nutrient and Nutraceutical Potentials of Seaweed Biomass Ulva lactuca and Kappaphycus alvarezii

The study aimed at evaluating the nutrient and nutraceutical potentials of the selected seaweed biomass namely Ulva lactuca and Kappaphycus alvarezii. The selected seaweeds were found to be rich in macro and micronutrients. Kappaphycus contained high amount of ash when compared to U. lactuca. It is revealed that the mercury level in U. lactuca was 0.017 ppm and it was not detected in K. alvarezii. The heavy metal concentration in the selected seaweeds was within the tolerable value reported as quality criteria for edible seaweeds. These seaweeds were also found to be rich sources of vitamin antioxidants namely Vitamin C, total carotenoid, beta carotene, total chlorophyll and polyphenol. The phytochemical screening of the selected seaweeds showed that both seaweeds contained carbohydrates, protein, gums and mulicage, phenols, starch and quinones. Alkaloids was absent in Kappaphycus, saponins was moderate in U. actuca when compared to Kappaphycus. Glycosides, flavonoids, tannins and terpenoids were absent in both the species. The selected seaweeds also possess antibacterial activity. The selected biomass could be recommended for use in dietaries to combat protein energy malnutrition and in particular micronutrient deficiencies.
Longitudinal variation of macroinvertebrate communities in a Mediterranean river subjected to multiple anthropogenic stressors

River impoundments and waste water discharge are a serious threat to the integrity and biodiversity of river ecosystems, especially in central Italy. Benthic macroinvertebrates were sampled in autumn and summer along the Aniene River to assess the cumulative biological effect of the numerous dams and sewage treatment plants that affect its middle and lower course. We hypothesized that (i) increasing habitat impairment would promote the formation of nestedness in species assemblage, where species poor locations support only a sub-set of organisms from richer sites; (ii) specific life-history traits would confer sensitivity to habitat degradation. Patterns of macroinvertebrate richness and diversity along the river tracked the distribution ofdamsandsewagetreatment plants. Partial Manteltest showedthatdissimilarity in assemblages increased with the number of dams and treatment plants between reaches after controlling for longitudinal distance. Assemblages were significantly nested, and nestedness appeared related to both water quality gradients (phosphorous, turbidity) that reflected anthropogenic inputs, and to natural gradient in altitude. Reaches with nested assemblages (supporting a sub-set of the species pool) were characterized by greater representations of taxa with shorter life cycles, while, in contrast, species rich sites supported taxa with longer life cycles and lower dispersal ability. These results suggest that the cumulative effect of dams and sewage treatment plants promoted the formation of nested subsets in species distribution. Moreover, it appeared that certain functional traits that conferred sensitivity also dictated the progressive non-random loss of taxa in face of multiple anthropogenic stressors. These findings have conservation implications in the regions, but need to be considered preliminary since anthropogenic and natural factors co-varied systematically along the study river precluding the identification of single factor effects.
Recent Ostracoda (Crustacea) Fauna of the Black Sea Coasts of Turkey

This study was performed to determine the Ostracoda fauna of the Black Sea coasts of Turkey. The material collected from 34 stations in June, July, and August of 1995 was evaluated and classified. The results of this classification are as follows: 24 species (Ilyocypris inermis, Candona sp., Cyprinotus inaequivalvis, Heterocypris salina, Heterocypris incongruens, Cypridopsis vidua, Potamocypris villosa, Potamocypris steueri, Limnocythere inopinata, Leptocythere multipunctata, Callistocythere mediterranea, Callistocythere diffusa, Costa edwardsii, Aurila convexa, Cyprideis torosa, Pontocythere baceseoi, Eucytherura bulgarica, Microcytherura nigrescens, Loxoconcha pontica, Loxoconcha rhomboidea, Xestoleberis cornelii, Sclerochilus gewmulleri, Paradoxostoma intermedium and Paradoxostoma guttatum) and 3 subspecies (Cythereis rubra pontica, Xestoleberis aurantia aurantia and Xestoleberis aurantia acutipenis) were determined. Twelve of these species (Potamocypris steueri, Leptocythere multipunctata, Callistocythere mediterranea, Callistocythere diffusa, Pontocythere baceseoi, Eucytherura bulgarica, Microcytherura nigrescens, Loxoconcha pontica, Xestoleberis cornelii, Sclerochilus gewmulleri, Paradoxostoma intermedium and Paradoxostoma guttatum) and three subspecies (Cythereis rubra pontica, Xestoleberis aurantia aurantia and Xestoleberis aurantia acutipenis) are new records for the Ostracoda fauna of Turkey.
Introduction to Botany

1. The World of Plants. THE STRUCTURE OF PLANTS. 2. Cell Structure and the Cell Cycle. 3. An Introduction to Plant Structure. 4. Roots, Stems, and Leaves: The Primary Plant Body. 5. Secondary Growth in Plants. 6. Life Cycles and Reproductive Structures. THE FUNCTIONS OF PLANTS. 7. Basic Plant Biochemistry. 8. Photosynthesis. 9. Respiration. 10. Transport in Plants. 11. Plant Responses to Hormones and Environmental Stimuli. GENETICS AND GENE EXPRESSION. 12. Genetics. 13. Gene Expression and Activation. 14. Plant Biotechnology. EVOLUTION AND DIVERSITY. 15. Evolution. 16. Classification. 17. Viruses and Prokaryotes. 18. Protists. 19. Fungi. 20. Bryophytes. 21. Seedless Vascular Plants. 22. Gymnosperms. 23. Angiosperms: Flowering Plants. ECOLOGY. 24. Ecology and the Biosphere. 25. Ecosystem Dynamics: How Ecosystems Work. 26. Conservation Biology.
Studies on Effect of Ethrel Dip Treatment on the RipeningBehaviour of Mango (Mangifera indica L.) Variety 'Neelum'

'Neelum' mangoes were harvested at optimum stage of maturity and subjected to post-harvest dip treatment in 500 ppm ethrel - a ripening inducer (2-chloro-ethyl phosphonic acid) in water. Treated fruits were stored in ventilated plastic baskets for ripening at ambient conditions (24-29°C, RH 40-65%). Data revealed that ethrel treated fruits ripened 8 days with excellent sensory quality attributes, whereas control (untreated) fruits ripened in 12 days. Physico-chemical parameters such as total soluble solids (TSS), pH, reducing sugars, total sugars and total carotenoids showed increasing trend up to 8 days during ripening, whereas decreasing trend was noticed in fruit pressure (texture), specific gravity, total acidity and ascorbic acid. The rate of respiration in freshly harvested 'Neelum' mangoes were 47 mg/CO/kg/h. The respiration rate of ethrel treated fruits reached respiratory climacteric peak (140 mg CO/kg/h) on 4th day of storage whereas, control fruits reached the climacteric peak (95 mg CO/kg/h) on 6th day of storage. Sensory quality characteristics with respect to colour, taste and t1avour of ethrel treated 'Neelum' mangoes were found to be excellent.
Molecular Identification of Four Botrytis Species Three of Them Associated with Neck Rot and Blasting Diseases of Onion with Special Reference of Two, aclada and byssoidae

Botrytis aclada and other Botrytis spp. can cause neck rot, a storage disease and blasting diseases on onions. Botrytis byssoidea is investigated and recorded for the first time in Egypt on onion plants associated with seeds and bulb neck rot. Specific primers (BA2f/BA1r) were designed based on genome of Botrytis spp. associated with neck rot and blasting of onions. The partial sequences of the amplified PCR products and the constructed phylogenetic tree distinguished the examined Botrytis isolates into four groups: Botrytis aclada types AI and AII (B. allii); B. byssoidea; and B. cinerea. Results revealed that the major dominant species associated with onion neck rot and blasting was type AI (B. aclada). Whenever, Botrytis byssoidea was not investigated and recorded before on onion plants associated with seeds and bulb neck rot in Egypt. Specificity of the designed primers confirm that only Botrytis spp. can amplify a product of approximately 413 bp but no amplified products were obtained with the other tested genera and species isolated from infected and/or healthy tissues of onion bulbs
Aspectos biométricos y ultrasonográficos del desarrollo testicular en bovinos de la raza guzerat (Bos taurus indicus)

El objetivo del presente estudio fue evaluar el desarrollo testicular en bovinos de la raza guzerat a traves de la ultrasonografia, la biometria testicular y la evaluacion espermatica. Se evaluaron mensualmente 65 animales con edades entre los 9,1 y los 24 meses de edad durante seis meses consecutivos. Se midio el perimetro escrotal, el ancho y la longitud de los dos testiculos y se tomaron imagenes ultrasonograficas en modo B y un transductor de 5 mhz. Las imagenes testiculares se grabaron con un equipo de video (vhs) y, posteriormente, se digitalizaron. Las imagenes se analizaron por computador utilizando el software Image J 1582 (Image National Institute of Health). Los animales con un perimetro escrotal ≥ 20 cm se sometieron a la colecta de semen por la tecnica de electroeyaculacion. Se considero que los animales eran puberes, cuando presentaron al menos un espermatozoide movil en el eyaculado. Las caracteristicas espermaticas evaluadas fueron motilidad, vigor, concentracion y morfologia. Los resultados mostraron que los animales hasta los 30 meses de edad se encontraban aun en fase de crecimiento. La ecotextura del parenquima testicular de los animales puberes fue superior a la de los animales prepuberes. Se observo un aumento en la ecotextura testicular entre los 15 y 30 meses de edad. Las correlaciones entre la intensidad de los pixeles y las caracteristicas morfologicas del semen no fueron significativas.
Short-Time Strategy for Fibromyalgia Treatment Based on Olive Nutraceutical and Inflammatory Gut-Brain Axis Control Diet (IGUBAC) Diet®

Fibromyalgia syndrome is defined as chronic widespread pain and tenderness. It is associated with fatigue, sleep disorder, functional somatic syndromes, mental and physical disorders, as well as disability and diminished quality of life. We aimed to analyse the effects of an olive tree-based supplement and a gluten-free, FODMAP and low histamine diet (IGUBAC-Diet®), with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory characteristics, in women with fibromyalgia. A randomized, controlled, clinical trial, with 31 women (55.87±11.86 years) diagnosed with fibromyalgia was conducted in 2016. Chronic Pain Grade Scale, Pain Catastrophizing Scale, Fatigue Severity and Impact Scale were used. Anthropometric parameters and symptoms progression were measured before and after two months of treatment with olive tree-based supplement and IGUBAC-Diet®. Other secondary outcome measures include blood biochemical analysis. Patients improved Chronic Pain Grade Scale scores after intervention and all groups experienced a reduction in the perception of pain catastrophizing. Positive changes were found all groups for Fatigue Severity Scale, but not for Fatigue Impact Scale scores. Significant variations (p < 0.05) were observed in symptoms frequency. The olive tree-based food supplement and the gluten-free, FODMAP and low histamine diet had beneficial effects on the intensity of fibromyalgia symptoms. This short-time strategy may be used to improve fibromyalgia patient’s well-being.
Role of IFN-γ-Induced Indoleamine 2,3 Dioxygenase and Inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase in the Replication of Human Cytomegalovirus in Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells

An in vitro model of human CMV infection of primary retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells was used to study the effects of cytokines on CMV replication in these cells, which are targets of CMV infection in vivo. IFN-γ and IFN-β were potent inhibitors of CMV replication in RPE cells, while TNF-α, IL-1β, or TGF-β2 did not affect viral replication. Inhibition by IFN-γ, and to a lesser extent IFN-β, was almost completely reversed by addition of l-tryptophan to the culture medium, strongly implicating the indoleamine 2,3 dioxygenase (IDO) pathway. Polyadenylated IDO mRNA accumulation was detected as early as 2 h after IFN stimulation. Furthermore, CMV blocked the production of nitric oxide by the inducible form of nitric oxide synthase. This inhibition depended on a functional viral genome. However, exogenous nitric oxide significantly inhibited viral protein expression in RPE cells. Thus, CMV infection blocks the inducible nitric oxide synthase pathway activated by IFN-γ and IL-1β, but cannot counteract the IFN-induced IDO pathway, which ultimately controls its replication in primary human RPE cells.
Financial Markets and Electricity Consumption Nexus in Russia

This paper investigates the nexus between development of financial markets and electricity consumption in case of Russia. According to the hypothesis, we assume that financial markets development gives birth to an increased level of electricity consumption. Also we incorporate economic growth and urbanization as important variables for model’s specification. The hypothesis is tested on example of Russia for the period 1990-2016. The results confirm the hypothesis. We found that economic growth, urbanization and financial markets development positively affect the electricity consumption both in the long and short run.
Survival rates of tobacco budworm (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) larvae exposed to transgenic cottons expressing insecticidal protein of Bacillus thuringiensis Berliner.

The insecticidal activity of transgenic cottons expressing endotoxin protein of Bacillus thuringiensis Berliner (Bt cotton) was quantified by measuring survival of tobacco budworm, Heliothis virescens (F.), larvae caged on different plant structures for varying lengths of exposure. Percentages of larvae surviving were measured on Bt cottons expressing Cry1Ab and CrylAc protein. Plant structure (terminal, leaf, square or boll) did not affect larval survival, and survival did not differ significantly between CrylAb and CrylAc cottons. Larvae exposed to Bt cotton for only 24 h had higher initial survival than larvae exposed for 48, 72 and 96 h. Larvae first exposed to Bt cotton at 4 d of age had higher survival than those first exposed as neonate or 2-d-old larvae. Survivorship of neonate and 4-d-old larvae exposed to CrylAc cotton was significantly reduced with only 48 h of exposure to the insecticidal plants. Seven-day-old larvae exhibited no significant reduction in survivorship with exposure to CrylAc co.
Modelling mortality causes in longitudinal data in the presence of tag loss: application to raptor poisoning and electrocution

Summary 1. A first step for the effective management of vulnerable populations is to identify population threats and measure their relative impact on population fluctuations. The relative importance of proximate causes of mortality can be calculated from longitudinal data using capture–mark–recapture models. If marks are lost or cease to function, survival is underestimated. 2. We provide an analytical framework based on conditional probabilities to obtain a robust estimate of the contribution of multiple sources of mortality while accounting for tag loss and imperfect detection. 3. We applied this approach to radiotracking and wing tags-resighting data of red kites Milvus milvus to estimate the impact of illegal poisoning and the mortality by electrocution on power lines in the island of Mallorca (Spain). 4. Illegal poisoning was responsible for 53% of the total mortality and electrocution on power lines for 12%. Results indicated that poisoning-related mortality was higher in immature birds, probably due to their more wide-ranging prospective behaviour. 5. Assuming the two human-related mortalities are additive, the survival probability of kites would increase by 17% (from 0AE76 to 0AE91) if both threats were removed. 6. Synthesis and applications. We present a new approach to estimate the contribution of different sources of mortality accounting for tag loss, state uncertainty and detection failures in wildlife populations. Our results will allow the demographic consequences of human-related mortality in threatened populations to be refined. The approach is suitable for the study of multiplicative latent processes in a vast range of applied conservation studies such as, for example, wildlife epidemiology.
Pilot-Scale Demonstration of Two-Phase Anaerobic Digestion of Activated Sludge

An innovative pilot-scale two-phase anaerobic digestion process was developed to stabilize concentrated (7-5%) activated sludge at a 12-day SRT and a loading rate of 5 kg VS/m 3 d. The pilot system exhibited an unusually high VS reduction of 73%, an aggregated carbohydrate-protein-lipid reduction of 71%, and a methane yield of 0.3 m 3 /kg VS added. Optimum acidogenic fermentation producing 9500 mg/l of organic acids was achieved at an HRT of 3 days and a loading rate of 16 kg VS/m 3 . d or higher. Enhanced acidogenic hydrolysis and prehydrolysis of polymerics and nocardial residues eliminated digester foaming. Sulfate and nitrate reductions, and syntrophic methane fermentation occurred during acidogenic conversions. Acetogenesis and aceticlastic methane fermentation were predominant in the methane digester, which generated 93% of the system methane production. Contrary to literature reports, there was no inhibition of acetogens or methanogens at a high ammonia-N concentration of 2500 mg/l and pH 7.7. The acid and methane digesters could be started quickly. They were resilient to temperature drops and loading fluctuations. Acid fermentation of 8% of the plant9s WAS and addition of the resulting fermentation products (enzymes, organic acids, etc.) to the full-scale high-rate digester increased VS reduction by 46% and eliminated severe foaming. Full-scale two-phase digestion of WAS is scheduled to start in 1990.
Regulation of Early T Cell Activation by TNF Superfamily Members TNF and FASL: A Dissertation

The instructive signals received by T cells during the programming stages of activation will determine the fate of effector and memory populations generated during an immune response. Members of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) superfamily play an essential role in influencing numerous aspects of T cell adaptive immune responses including cell activation, differentiation, proliferation, survival, and apoptosis. My thesis dissertation describes the involvement of two such members of the TNF superfamily, TNF and FasL, and their influence on the fate of T cells early during responses to viral infections and to the induction of transplantation tolerance. TNF is a pleiotropic pro-inflammatory cytokine that has an immunoregulatory role in limiting the magnitude of T cell responses during a viral infection. Our laboratory discovered that one hallmark of naïve T cells in secondary lymphoid organs is their unique ability to rapidly produce TNF after activation and prior to acquiring other effector functions. I hypothesized that T cell-derived TNF will limit the magnitude of T cell responses. The co-adoptive transfer of wild type (WT) P14 and TNF-deficient P14 TCR transgenic CD8 + T cells, that recognize the GP33 peptide of lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV), into either WT or TNF-deficient hosts demonstrated that the donor TNF-deficient P14 TCR transgenic CD8 + T cells accumulate to higher frequencies after LCMV infection. Moreover, these co-adoptive transfer experiments suggested that the effect of T cell-derived TNF is localized in the microenvironment, since the TNF produced by WT P14 TCR transgenic CD8 + T cells did not prevent the
A revision of the polytypic Albinaria hippolyti (Boettger, 1878) from Crete (Gastropoda Pulmonata: Clausiliidae)

On the basis of both detailed distributional field studies and morphological analyses, a revision of the polytypic species Albinaria hippolyti from Central and Eastern Crete is presented. True subspecies are distinguished from mere geographic varieties by the presence of narrow hybrid zones. Using this criterion, four adjoining subspecies are recognised: A. h. hippolyti (Boettger, 1878), A. h. aphrodite (Boettger, 1883), A. h. holtzi (Sturany, 1904) and A. h. harmonia subspec. nov. Additionally, two geographically isolated and conchologically distinctive forms are also treated as subspecies: A. h. arthuriana (Boettger, 1878) and A. h. asterousea subspec. nov. The geographical distribution and variability of each subspecies is described in detail. A. h. hieronymi Schilthuizen & Gittenberger, 1990, A. h. frandsci Schilthuizen & Gittenberger, 1990 and A. h. neuteboomi Schilthuizen & Gittenberger, 1990 are considered synonyms of A. h. hippolyti, A. h. aphrodite and A. h. holtzi, respectively.