Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Magnetic nanotechnologies for early cancer diagnostics with liquid biopsies: a review

Liquid biopsy has become an emerging technology in the detection of cancer related biomarkers as well as the continuous monitoring of cancer treatment. There has been extensive research on the applications of magnetic nanotechnologies in liquid biopsies from the separation of target analytes to the detection of cancer biomarkers. Magnetic separation plays an important role in increasing both the efficiency and sensitivity of the liquid biopsy process. The detection of cancer biomarkers through magnetic nanosensors also possesses many advantages such as low background noise, high sensitivity, short assay time, and the ability to detect multiple biomarkers at the same time. This review focuses on the recent advances of magnetic nanotechnologies in liquid biopsies for cancer detection and its future potential in comparison with other technologies.
Zinc content of the gills of rainbow trout (S. gairdneri) after treatment with zinc solutions under normoxic and hypoxic conditions

Forty specimens of rainbow trout (54–127 g) were divided into 4 groups which were treated as follows: (a) normoxic clean water; (b) hypoxic clean water; (c) normoxic water with 10 ppm zinc for 10 h; (d) hypoxic water with 10 ppm zinc for 10 h. The zinc content was determined separately for each of the 4 gill arches on each side of the fish. Values for the zinc concentration were greater following the zinc treatments, but no significant difference between hypoxia and normoxia was observed. Differences in concentrations of zinc were found in different arches whether expressed per gram dry weight or per unit surface area of the secondary lamellae.
Influenza A, and Salmonella spp. in Backyard Poultry Eggs in Guatemala City

Influenza A and salmonellosis are two of the most relevant zoonotic infectious diseases. Influenza A is one of the main threats to public health worldwide and is considered one of the causative agents of pandemics. Salmonellosis, meanwhile, has been identified by the World Health Organization as one of the four main causes of diarrheal diseases in the world. Poultry is an important source of both influenza A and Salmonella spp. but little is known about these potential threats in poultry products in Guatemala. The presence of influenza A virus antibodies and Salmonella spp. was studied in backyard poultry eggs sold in the El Guarda market in Guatemala City. 377 backyard poultry eggs were collected throughout seven months and sampled for hemagglutination inhibition test to determine the presence of antibodies to influenza virus A (H5N2 and H7N3) and cultured for Salmonella isolation. The eggs of chicken (Gallus gallus), turkey (Meleagris gallopavo), quail (Coturnix coturnix), mallard duck (Anas platyrhynchos) and muscovy duck (Cairina moschata) were sampled. Twenty-six percent of the eggs carried H5N2 antibodies, 27% carried H7N3 antibodies and 1.3% carried Salmonella spp. The presence of Escherichia coli inside the sampled eggs was an incidental common finding. These results suggest that backyard poultry eggs sold at markets could be a potential source of influenza A virus and Salmonella for the human population. The evidence found in the sampled eggs also shows that these potential pathogens are circulating in backyard poultry populations in Guatemala.
INVESTIGATING STUDENTS’ LEARNING STYLES AND MEMORY IMPROVEMENT STRATEGIES FOR EFFECTIVE LEARNING OF MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE AT TERTIARY LEVEL

The study investigates Learning Style and Memory Improvement Strategies for effective learning of mathematics and sciences at higher institutions. The sample for the study consists of 172 students which were randomly selected from the two colleges of education in Katsina state of Nigeria. Three validated instruments used for data collection were Student Learning Style Rating Scale (SLSRS), Student Memory improvement strategy Inventory (SMISI) and Mathematics and Science Achievement Test (MSAT) with the following reliability coefficients respectively (0.75, 0.83 and 0.77). The study findings indicate that (i) LS of both mathematics and science students cannot substantially differentiate their academic performance. This finding is not statistically significant F (4,107) = 0.524, F (4,55) = 1.121 at p> 0.05 (ii) Though low positive relationship exists between the MIS and performance of both mathematics and science students. This relationship is not significant (iii) Performance of both mathematics and science students is not significantly influenced by their MIS (R 2 = 0.02, 0.01; p> 0.05.) (iv) Gender cannot be used to differentiate their performance (t= 0.661, 0.079), MIS rating (t= 0.948, -0.110) at p> 0.05 and predicts their LS (χ2= 4.688, 4.238, p> 0.05) respectively. Based on the findings, we suggest that each student should endeavor to identify and use his/her LS effectively.
Spatial imagery 1 Running head: MOTOR EFFECTS ON SPATIAL IMAGERY Does the Motor System Facilitate Spatial Cognition? Effects of Motor Action and Perception on Spatial Imagery in Human Development

Recent studies have established a link between the motor system and imagery in children (e.g., Frick, Daum, Walser, & Mast, 2009; Krüger & Krist, 2009a; Schwarzer, Freitag, & Buckel, 2010). A motor effect on imagery is demonstrated by the influence of stimuli related movement constraints (i.e., constraints defined by the musculosceletal system) on mental rotation (Shepard & Metzler, 1971), or by interference effects of the participants’ own body movements or body postures. This link is usually seen as qualitatively different or stronger in children as opposed to adults. In the present research, we put this interpretation to further scrutiny using a new paradigm: In a motor condition we asked our participants (kindergartners and third-graders) to manually rotate a circular board with a covered picture on it. This condition was compared to a perceptual condition where the board was rotated by an experimenter. Additionally, in a pure imagery condition, children were instructed to merely imagine the rotation of the board. Children’s task was to mark the presumed end position of a salient detail of the respective picture. Contrary to what embodiment theories would predict, there was no difference in participants’ performance between the active rotation and the passive rotation condition. However, children’s performance was clearly the worst in the pure imagery condition. This suggests that young children depend heavily on external support when imagining rotations or other physical events. Our results further indicate that motorassisted imagery is not generally superior to perceptually driven dynamic imagery. keywords: mental transformation, dynamic imagery, embodiment
Storage rots of Vaccinium macrocarpon spread and development in Latvia.

American cranberries ( Vaccinium macrocarpon Ait.) have been cultivated for ten years in Latvia and their plantations have a tendency to enlarge ev ery year. Latvian cranberry growers realize mainly fresh berries, because it is difficult to ke ep quality during prolonged storage. One of the main why quality is reduced is berry rot caused by different fungi. Berries from six cranberry plantations in different regions in Latvia for rot detection were taken at harvest time. Different berry rot appeared on 61 % of all berries in storage. In the berries Botrytis cinerea (yellow rot), Allantophomopsis cytisporea (black rot), Fusiccocum putrefaciens (end rot), Phyllosticta elongata (Botryosphaeria fruit rot) , Physalopora vaccinii (blotch rot), Phomopsis vaccinii (viscid rot), Pestalotia vaccinii (Pestalotia fruit rot), Coleophoma empetri (ripe rot), Discosia artocreas (Discosia fruit rot) were detected. Causal agents of berry rot had different dynamics of development. These fungi had different incubation periods. This is important information for the growers that helps to determine th real time for realization, before rotting is started. After four months of storage, the amount o f causal agents was different from each plantation area. In further investigations it is necessary to establ ish conditions influencing the development of causal agents. Kopsavilkums Lielogu dzērvenes ( Vaccinium macrocarpon Ait.) Latvijā ir zināmas jau piecpadsmit gadus un to platības turpina palielin āties. Latvijas lielogu dz ērveĦu audzētāji saražoto produkciju realiz ē svaigā veidā, pārstrādā un, ja iespējams, sasald ē, jo galvenokārt puve uz ogām parādās jau līdz decembrim. Ražas laik ā 2007. gadā, lai noteiktu ogu puves ierosin ātājus, tika ievāktas ogas no sešām dažādām lielogu dzērveĦu audzēšanas viet ām Latvjā. Uzglabāšanas laik ā 61 % ogu bija puves boj ātas. No puves boj ātām ogām, galvenokārt, tika konstat ētas: Allantophomopsis cytisporea (ogu melnā puve), Fusiccocum putrefaciens (ogu galotnes puve), Phyllosticta elongata (Botryosphaeria ierosin ātā ogu puve) , Physalopora vaccinii (ogu gaišā puve), Phomopsis vaccinii (viskozā ogu puve) , Coleophoma empetri (gatavo ogu puve). Ogu puves ierosin ātājiem glabāšanas laik ā ir atšėirīga att īstības dinamika, tas noz īmē, ka sēnēm ir
Grand challenges for the spatial information community

The spatial information (SI) community has an opportunity to address major societal and scientific problems including public health, climate change, air pollution, transportation, and others. Beyond the significant contributions made by the SI community, more can be done by focusing the efforts of the community, and generalizing them. Focus can be achieved by an IMAGENET-like spatial information database and competition. Generalization can be achieved by solving spatio-temporal information problems in disciplines such as neuroscience, chemistry, biology, astronomy, and engineering.
PLANT FUNCTIONAL MARKERS CAPTURE ECOSYSTEM PROPERTIES DURING SECONDARY SUCCESSION

Although the structure and composition of plant communities is known to influence the functioning of ecosystems, there is as yet no agreement as to how these should be described from a functional perspective. We tested the biomass ratio hypothesis, which postulates that ecosystem properties should depend on species traits and on species contribution to the total biomass of the community, in a successional sere following vineyard abandonment in the Mediterranean region of France. Ecosystem-specific net primary productivity, litter decomposition rate, and total soil carbon and nitrogen varied significantly with field age, and correlated with community-aggregated (i.e., weighed according to the relative abundance of species) functional leaf traits. The three easily measurable traits tested, specific leaf area, leaf dry matter content, and nitrogen concentration, provide a simple means to scale up from organ to ecosystem functioning in complex plant communities. We propose that they be called ''functional markers,'' and be used to assess the impacts of community changes on ecosystem properties induced, in particular, by global change drivers.
Contrastive Graph Neural Network Explanation

Graph Neural Networks achieve remarkable results on problems with structured data but come as black-box predictors. Transferring existing explanation techniques, such as occlusion, fails as even removing a single node or edge can lead to drastic changes in the graph. The resulting graphs can differ from all training examples, causing model confusion and wrong explanations. Thus, we argue that explicability must use graphs compliant with the distribution underlying the training data. We coin this property Distribution Compliant Explanation (DCE) and present a novel Contrastive GNN Explanation (CoGE) technique following this paradigm. An experimental study supports the efficacy of CoGE.
Influence of light, sediment mixing, temperature and duration of the benthic life phase on the benthic recruitment of Microcystis

The benthic recruitment of Microcystis was assessed in vitro in order (i) to compare the relative influence of the main abiotic factors, and (ii) to investigate the impact of the duration of the benthic life stage. Different benthic populations sampled in a 45 m deep artificial lake, with benthic life phases ranging from a few weeks to almost 3 years, were used to test the impact of three temperatures (4, 7 and 178C), the absence or presence of light and sediment mixing on Microcystis recruitment. In this study, sediment mixing was the only physical factor found to promote recruitment, indicating that passive resuspension plays a much more important role in the recruitment of Microcystis than light and temperature. Moreover, recruitment occurred from all benthic populations, including one that was nearly 3 years old. No difference in the proportion of recruited cells was observed before and after the usual overwintering period, suggesting that the annual benthic overwintering does not impair the ability of Microcystis to inoculate the water column in the following spring. However, in the oldest population, the proportions of recruited cells were lower under all the experimental conditions tested, indicating a decrease in the ability of older benthic populations of Microcystis to contribute to the recruitment process.
Late Pleistocene divergence and postglacial expansion in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest: multilocus phylogeography of Rhopias gularis (Aves: Passeriformes)

We investigated the population history of Rhopias gularis through the Brazilian Atlantic Forest (AF) in a spatiotemporal framework. We identified two phylogroups: central‐south and north. They diverged c.a . 300 kya. Bottleneck tests indicated population demographic expansion at the end of the last glacial maximum. Palaeodistribution models indicated that R. gularis had a reduced distribution in the south and central AF during the last glacial maximum. Our results support a diversification scenario that is in accordance with proposed Pleistocene refugia.
Determination of a long-term optimal irrigation strategy for dry beans in Parana State, Brazil

The economical benefits of different irrigation strategies were assessed by long term simulation (20 years) for dry beans in Parana, Brazil. The model BEANGRO was used to simulate crop yield and irrigation requirements assuming eight levels of irrigation threshold (20 to 90% of the remaining soil available water in steps of 10%), in addition to a level considering no irrigation. Net return was the objective function to select the optimum irrigation management strategy, assuming fixed and stochastic distributions of historical product price. The results showed that yield was significantly increased by irrigation despite a high variability for all the simulation strategies, due to variations on growth conditions over the years. Although the net return was highly variable, it was positive in 75% of the years for all strategies with threshold values higher than 30%. The strategy of irrigating the crop before the soil reaches 60% AW provided the maximum economical benefits. The high profit using this improved strategy justifies the practice of irrigation for beans in Parana.
Microstructure, Rheological and Textural Characteristics of Low Fat Buffalo Milk Cheddar Cheese

Buffalo milk is at the top in Indo-Pak milk production; however, not characterized and studied in depth. Cheddar cheese is produced in the world from cow milk and low fat product is preferred on compositional basis but fells short in quality. The study was designed to manufacture the low fat Cheddar cheese from buffalo milk and assess that how fat content affects its structure and rheology. Cheddar cheese was manufactured from buffalo milk standardized at 2% and 4% fat levels and was investigated for chemical composition, microstructure, hardness and rheological characteristics. Reduction in milk fat from 4% to 2% enhanced the moisture and protein levels and reduced the fat contents in cheese. Confocal scanning laser microscopy showed that the size and the number of non-spherical fat globules reduced on lowering the fat levels in cheese. Reducing the fat contents of buffalo cheese increased the elastic and viscous modulus at 20°C but no perceptible variations were observed at 40°C. The discrepancy in cheese rigidity (elastic and viscous modulus) might be owing to the modifications in gel network between buffalo milk proteins and fats that was consequence of variations in fat content and their distribution. Total hardness in low fat cheese found by compression and texture profile as 783.33g and 8194.67g respectively was almost two times than of full fat cheese (340.00g and 4947.33g, respectively). The established results have momentous variations as compared to those reported in cow milk cheese. Hence, it can be concluded that reduced fat buffalo milk produced cheese with acceptable textural and structural quality.
The migration of the great snipe Gallinago media: intriguing variations on a grand theme

The migration of the great snipe Gallinago media was previously poorly known. Three tracks in 2010 suggested a remarkable migratory behaviour including long and fast overland non-stop flights. Here we present the migration pattern of Swedish male great snipes, based on 19 individuals tracked by light-level geolocators in four different years. About half of the birds made stopover(s) in northern Europe in early autumn. They left the breeding area 15 d earlier than those which flew directly to sub-Sahara, suggesting two distinct autumn migration strategies. The autumn trans-Sahara flights were on average 5500 km long, lasted 64 h, and were flown at ground speeds of 25 m s−1 (90 km h−1). The arrival in the Sahel zone of west Africa coincided with the wet season there, and the birds stayed for on average three weeks. The birds arrived at their wintering grounds around the lower stretches of the Congo River in late September and stayed for seven months. In spring the great snipes made trans-Sahara flights of similar length and speed as in autumn, but the remaining migration through eastern Europe was notably slow. All birds returned to the breeding grounds within one week around mid-May. The annual cycle was characterized by relaxed temporal synchronization between individuals during the autumn–winter period, with maximum variation at the arrival in the wintering area. Synchronization increased in spring, with minimum time variation at arrival in the breeding area. This suggests that arrival date in the breeding area is under strong stabilizing selection, while there is room for more flexibility in autumn and arrival to the wintering area. The details of the fast non-stop flights remain to be elucidated, but the identification of the main stopover and wintering areas is important for future conservation work on this red-listed bird species.
Redes neurais artificiais para identificar genótipos de feijão‑caupi semiprostrado com alta adaptabilidade e estabilidade fenotípicas

O objetivo deste trabalho foi verificar a concordância entre as redes neurais artificiais (RNAs) e o metodo de Eberhart & Russel na identificacao de genotipos de feijao-caupi (Vigna unguiculata) com alta adaptabilidade e estabilidade fenotipicas. Utilizou-se o delineamento experimental de blocos ao acaso com quatro repeticoes. Os tratamentos consistiram de 18 linhagens experimentais e duas cultivares de feijao-caupi. Foram conduzidos quatro ensaios de valor de cultivo e uso nos municipios de Aquidauana, Chapadao do Sul e Dourados, no estado do Mato Grosso do Sul. Os dados de produtividade de graos foram submetidos as analises de variância individual e conjunta. Em seguida, os dados foram submetidos as analises de adaptabilidade e estabilidade por meio dos metodos de Eberhart & Russell e de RNAs. Houve elevada concordância entre os metodos avaliados quanto a discriminacao da adaptabilidade fenotipica dos genotipos de feijao-caupi semiprostrado, o que indica que as RNAs podem ser utilizadas em programas de melhoramento genetico. Em ambos os metodos avaliados, os genotipos BRS Xiquexique, TE97-304G-12 e MNC99-542F-5 sao recomendados para ambientes desfavoraveis, gerais e favoraveis, respectivamente, por apresentarem produtividade de graos acima da media geral dos ambientes e alta estabilidade fenotipica.
DEVELOPING A MAJOR HAZARDS LEARNING CULTURE—INTERPRETING INFORMATION FROM THE CIBA SPECIALTY CHEMICALS, BRADFORD NEAR MISS REPORTING SYSTEM UP TO 2003

Historically, near miss and incident investigation reports from the Ciba Specialty Chemicals Bradford site weremanaged using paper records. A new computerised database near miss recording system was introduced in 2001. The system scope was expanded in 2002 to cover quality as well as EHS events. 400 records were made in 2001, rising to 2200 in 2003. A significant amount of this data is useful for managing major hazards, providing insights into real plant maloperations, human errors, control system/instrumentation failures, mechanical failures, control of chemical reactions, system failures and loss-of-containment incidents. This paper systematically analyses the near miss data to (1) analyse failure rate data for major hazard precursor events so they can be compared to the data which is used in risk assessments, (2) identify useful measures of major hazard performance which could form the basis of a safety management system performance target and (3) identify specific learning points which would have a use in the industry as a whole. In some cases, it is clear that repeat near misses have occurred, indicating a lack of corporate learning. Some of the reasons for this lack of learning are identified by investigating records from real events and by interviewing staff performing different roles in the company. This allows the main barriers to effective learning to be highlighted.
Providing Clues on the Paleo-weathering of Ogwashi Asaba Formation, Niger Delta Basin: Evidence from Geochemistry

Representative outcrop samples of sandstones belonging to the Ogwashi-Asaba Formation, Niger Delta, were investigated using geochemical proxies. The purpose was to appraise the paleo-weathering as well as to infer the paleoclimatic conditions that prevailed during their deposition. The sediments are geochemically classified as sublithic arenites, quartz arenites, and Fesands. The relative depletion of most major elements in the sandstones suggests high mobility during weathering processes. High values of weathering indices such as Chemical Index of Alteration (CIA: 95.21–95.90; 95.65±0.24), Chemical Index of Weathering (CIW: 96.01– 96.64; 96.43 ± 0.22), Plagioclase Index of Alteration (PIA: 95.98–96.61; 96.40 ± 0.22), Mineralogical index of alteration (MIA): 90.42–91.79, 91.29 ± 0.48) and low values of the Weathering index of Parker (WIP): 13.37 – 19.08; 17.04±2.59 ) suggests intense weathering in the source area. The intense degree of weathering was further affirmed by the Al2O3-(CaO+Na2O)-K2O ternary relationship and the CIA versus SiO2 correlations. A warm/humid climate is suggested for the sandstones based on the CIA values and the SiO2 vs. (Al2O3 + K2O + Na2O) correlation, which is widely used for paleoclimatic studies. Weathering indices that include iron in their calculations were not included in this investigation since they do not distinguish between ferric and ferrous iron.
Tribological Properties of a Porous Sodium Borosilicate Glass

An alkali borosilicate glass of 60SiO2-30B2O3-9Na2O1Al2O3 (mol%) was prepared by the conventional melting and casting method. As cast glass pieces were heat treated at 550°C for 6 h to provide phase separation, followed by acid leaching with 3M HCl solution at 90 °C for 6 to remove alkali rich borate phase. The specific surface area of the porous glass was measured through the BET technique. The XRF chemical analysis revealed that silica content increased to 91 mol% after acid leaching. The BET surface area was 195.4 m/g with a total pore volume of 0.239 cm/g. The mechanical properties of parent sodium borosilicate glass and porous glass were evaluated by Vickers hardness and pin on disk tribometer tests. The results indicated that both hardness and wear resistance were lower in porous glass.