Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
LOCAL ESTROGEN PRODUCTION IN THE BRAIN AND ITS REGULATION UNDER PATHOLOGICAL CONDITIONS

Estrogens have important roles in regulating brain structure and function. Estrogens are produced by conversion of androgens via the enzyme aromatase (ARO). ARO is expressed in specific regions of the brain, and recent studies suggest that local estrogen may have a greater impact on neuronal survival and plasticity than systemic one. In this dissertation study, I developed UPLC-MS/MS based assays to measure ARO activity and estradiol (E2) in the rat brain tissues. I also detected the E2 levels in the brain and compared with that in the serum in rats given different E2 and testosterone treatments. Moreover, I tested the effect of manipulating cholinergic systems and the effect of traumatic brain injury (TBI) on the expression of different isoforms of ARO and estrogen receptors (ER) in different brain regions. Results demonstrate that 1) the microsomal-based assay to detect ARO activity is highly sensitive, specific and reliable. By applying this method, I demonstrated a correlation between ARO activity and its long-form mRNA, and that their distribution was in accord with previous studies; 2) that E2 levels in brain regions with ARO are higher than that in serum in ovariectomized rats treated with different doses of estradiol benzoate and testosterone propionate. Letrozole (an ARO inhibitor) treatment reversed the differences between brain and serum estradiol levels, demonstrating that the differences were due to local estradiol production. Moreover, male rats had substantial levels of E2 in specific regions of the brain even though levels in the systemic circulation were not detectable; 3) Selective cholinergic lesions in the medial septum and daily cholinesterase inhibitor (ChEIs) injections, did not regulate ARO and ERs in the cortex and hippocampus; 4) In the cortex, there was a significant increase of long-form ARO in females and a significant increase of ER alpha in both sexes, indicating an induction of estrogen signaling in the cortex after CCI. In the hippocampus, the long-form ARO expression was significantly decreased in both sexes with an increase of ER beta in males after CCI. Overall, this dissertation provides novel methods and important information about brain estrogen production within the field of neuroendocrinology.
Effect of Supplementation of Probiotic (Bacillus subtilis) on Growth Performance and Carcass Traits of Broiler Chickens

Poultry are the cheapest source of animal protein, contributing significantly to supply the growing demand for animal food products around the world (Farrell, 2013). The consumption and trade in poultry products is increasing rapidly as the human population increases, making it the second largest source of meat after pork (FAO, 2014). The biggest challenge of commercial poultry production is the availability of quality feed on sustainable basis at stable prices. Probiotics (or direct fed microbials) are increasingly being popular as one of the alternatives to Antibiotic Growth Promoters (AGP). Probiotics can improve broiler chicken growth rates (Afsharmanesh and Sadaghi, 2014; Lei et al., 2015), it also helps in maintenance and establishment of intestinal micro biota beneficially that may enhance beneficial colonization in the GIT against pathogens. Supplementation of International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences ISSN: 2319-7706 Volume 7 Number 08 (2018) Journal homepage: http://www.ijcmas. com
Behaviour of domestic rabbits during 2 weeks after weaning

Abstract Thirty three rabbits from five litters that were weaned at the age of 5 weeks were observed. The animals were kept in pens that were enriched with an elevation made of bricks. In total, 150 h of observations made at feeding time (07:30–10:00 and 18:00–20:30 LT, local time) were analysed. A number of affiliative, exploratory, comfort, eating, resting and locomotor behaviours were observed. Agonistic behaviour was not observed. Rabbits showed companion and location preferences: 56 % of animals had a preferred companion, and 84 % preferred a particular place in the pen. Significant effects of group size and time of day on the frequency of some forms of behaviour were found, e.g. rabbits performed comfort behaviours more often in the morning. Sex did not influence the rabbits' behaviour. Correlations were also found between different forms of behaviour, e.g. animals that performed more exploratory behaviours also showed more locomotor behaviours and affiliative interactions.
On the Efficacy of a Communicative Framework in Teaching English Phonological Features Absent in Persian to Iranian EFL Learners

Although Persian and English share many common phonemes, there are some phonological features that are present in English but absent in Persian which tend to lead to mispronunciation on the part of Persian learners of English, mostly through negative transfer. The present research assesses the efficacy of a communicative framework in improving Iranian adult EFL learners’ pronunciation of five English phonemes absent in the phonological system of Persian. Thirty EFL learners, divided into experimental and control groups, participated in the training course which lasted 22 sessions (330 minutes). The experimental group was instructed using the communicative framework for teaching pronunciation while the control group received traditional methods of pronunciation teaching. The pronunciation quality of these sounds were then assessed by four native and four non-native English teachers as well as by the PRAAT speech analysis software in the case of the vowels. Although no significant difference was detected between the experimental and control groups with regard to posttest results, a positive trend was observed in favor of the experimental group regarding specific features (e.g., formant frequencies, duration, center of gravity) of the problematic sounds.
ANGIOTENSIN II SIGNALING TO PHOSPHOLIPASE D IN A MODEL OF GENETIC HYPERTENSION

In spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) the hypersensitivity of the renal vasculature to angiotensin II (Ang II), compared to Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY), appears to be the determining factor in the development and progression of hypertension. Recent evidence indicates that the ERK cascade and NAD(P)H oxidase generation of superoxide are involved in smooth muscle contraction, and Phospholipase D (PLD) generation of phosphatidic acid is involved in activation of ERK and NAD(P)H. Importantly, Ang II-mediated PLD activity is greater in aortic smooth muscle from SHR compared with WKY; however, this signaling pathway has not been examined in the kidney vasculature. The purpose of these studies were to define Ang II-mediated signal transduction mechanism(s) involved in PLD regulation in WKY and SHR preglomerular smooth muscle cells (PGSMCs). The goals of this study were to determine: 1) whether Ang II-mediated PLD activity is greater in SHR; 2) the Ang II signaling pathway(s) responsible for regulating PLD activity, and whether they are altered in SHR; and 3) whether PLD-mediated generation of phosphatidic acid is involved in Ang II-induced activation of the ERK cascade. The data indicates that the mechanisms leading to activation of PLD are similar in WKY and SHR and PLD is required for Ang II activation of ERK; however, Ang II more potently activates PLD in SHR. Further analysis indicates that the AT2 receptor inhibits AT1 receptor/RhoA-dependent activation of PLD through a nitric oxide/cGMP-dependent phosphorylation of RhoA at serine 188, which promotes RhoGDI inhibition of RhoA. These experiments expose two key differences between WKY and SHR PGSMCs: 1) SHR have an increased AT1/AT2 receptor ratio; and 2) SHR are less sensitive to nitric oxide and cGMP. Therefore, the hypersensitivity of the SHR to Ang II may be due to an imbalance in Ang II receptors and/or impaired AT2 receptor-mediated signaling within the kidney vasculature.
Robots and Worker Voice: An Empirical Exploration

The interplay between labour institutions and the adoption of automation technologies remains poorly understood. Specifically, there is little evidence on how the nature of industrial relations shapes technological choices at the workplace level. Using a large sample of more than 20000 European establishments located in 28 countries, this paper documents conditional correlations between the presence of employee representation (ER) and the use of automation technologies. We find that ER is positively associated with robot usage. The presence of ER also correlates with the utilization of software-based artificial intelligence tools for data analytics. We extensively dig into the mechanisms through which ER may foster the use of robots by exploiting rich information on the de facto role played by ER bodies in relation to well-defined decision areas of management. Greater automation in establishments with ER does not seem to result from more adversarial employment relationships (as measured by past strike activity) or constraints on labour flexibility imposed by the interference of employee representatives with dismissal procedures. Interestingly, the positive effect of ER on robot usage is driven by workplaces operating in relatively centralized wage-setting environments, where one would expected a more limited influence of ER on wages. While our findings are exploratory and do not have a causal interpretation, they are suggestive that ER influences certain workplace practices, such as skill development, job redesign and working time management, that may be complementary to new automation technologies.
Seed Germination in Relation to Total Sugar and Starch in Endosperm Mutant of Sweet Corn Genotypes

The use of combinations of two or more genes controlling carbohydrate characters of corn is an attractive way to improve table quality of sweet corn. Poor seed quality of the inbred lines hinders the progress of this strategy for hybrid seed production. The objective of this study was to evaluate sweet corn inbred lines with combinations of double and triple recessive genes for germination percentage, seed vigor, total sugar content, and starch content. Eleven sweet corn genotypes including seven inbred lines (F6 generation) with different combinations of genes controlling carbohydrate characters and four F1 hybrids were used. The germination experiment was conducted under standard test between papers (BP) and accelerated aging (AA) test. The data were recorded for germination percentage, germination speed, normal and abnormal seedling, seedling length, and seedling dry weight. The seeds were analyzed for total sugar and starch content in endosperm at maturity stage. The results showed that single recessive genotype (sh2sh2) had high germination percentage and seedling vigor. The combinations of bt or sh2 gene with wx gene resulted in low germination percentage and poor seedling vigor. However, combinations of triple recessive genes (btbt sh2sh2 wxwx) had good germination in BP test but they performed poorly in AA test.
Bioclimatic Envelopes for Individual Demographic Events Driven by Extremes: Plant Mortality from Drought and Warming

The occurrence of plant species around the globe is largely constrained by climate. Ecologists use plant-climate relationships such as bioclimatic envelopes to determine environmental conditions that promote probable species occurrence. Traditional bioclimatic envelopes exclude disturbance or only include disturbance as infrequent and small-scale effects, assuming that the net effect of climate on demographic processes predicts longer-term equilibrial responses of biota. Because of the increasing frequency and extent of extreme events associated with climate change, ecologists may need to increase focus on individual demographic events driven by extreme events such as large-scale tree die-off. Approaches that predict traditional equilibrial biogeographic responses associated with long-term trends in mean climate could be complemented with an expanded focus on how extreme events catalyze individual demographic events. Extreme conditions of drought are often a prerequisite for abrupt demographic events such as large-scale tree die-off, with the effects of extremes often exacerbated by climatic trends such as warming. In this Perspective, we illustrate the use of bioclimatic envelopes for predicting individual demographic events. Currently, data on conditions that drive individual demographic events are usually aggregated across time and/or are correlative. We highlight this approach with a case study of experimentally drought-induced mortality in Pinus edulis trees, resulting from a combination of ecologically extreme conditions in one parameter and a shifting distribution in another: drought under higher temperatures. Based on this example, we predict a more than fivefold increase in the frequency of die-off events under a global change scenario of high emissions. This general approach complements traditional bioclimatic envelopes and more detailed physiological approaches that are currently being refined to address climate change challenges. Notably, this approach could be developed for other climate conditions and plant species and may improve predictions of abrupt demographic events that are altering ecosystems globally.
Length–weight relationships of eleven mesopelagic fishes from oceanic islands of the Southwestern Tropical Atlantic

This study provides the length‐weight relationship for eleven mesopelagic fishes from oceanic islands of the Southwestern Tropical Atlantic: Bonapartia pedaliota, Sigmops elongatus (Gonostomatidae), Argyropelecus aculeatus, Argyropelecus affinis, Argyropelecus sladeni, Sternoptyx diaphana, Sternoptyx pseudobscura (Sternoptychidae), Malacosteus niger, Thysanactis dentex (Stomiidae), Melanonus zugmayeri (Melanonidae), and Ectreposebastes imus (Setarchidae). Data were collected during a scientific survey (2017) around Rocas Atoll, Fernando de Noronha Archipelago and adjacent seamounts, using a micronekton trawl (side length of body mesh: 40 mm, side length of cod‐end mesh: 10 mm) at 35 stations from 0 to 1,113 m depth. A new maximum standard length for Bonapartia pedaliota and Ectreposebastes imus are also provided.
Trade Adjustment in Asia: Past Experiences and Lessons Learned

Poverty rates throughout Asia have fallen dramatically, especially in countries that have succeeded in integrating into regional or global value chains. However, this economic success has been accompanied by structural changes, such as the need for workers to change roles, sectors, and sometimes regions. Faced with increased foreign competition, firms have been forced to reorganize and quickly adopt new technologies. Despite the importance of this adjustment process, relatively little empirical evidence exists. This volume aims to close this gap by providing new insights into how Asia’s labor markets and firms have adjusted to trade opening. Written by leading trade economists with expertise in the region, the publication shows that trade opening has led to a more efficient allocation of capital and labor, but this has been accompanied by significant adjustment costs. The book sheds light on the effects of trade on workers and firms, with the aim of improving understanding of the adjustment process and contributing to the debate on how to make globalization work for all.
Increasing phylogenetic stochasticity at high elevations on summits across a remote North American wilderness

PREMISE OF THE STUDY: At the intersection of ecology and evolutionary biology, community phylogenetics can provide insights into overarching biodiversity patterns, particularly in remote and understudied ecosystems. To understand community assembly of the high-alpine flora of the Sawtooth National Forest, USA, we analyzed phylogenetic structure within and between nine summit communities. METHODS: We used high-throughput sequencing to supplement existing data and infer a nearly completely sampled community phylogeny of the alpine vascular flora. We calculated mean nearest taxon distance (MNTD) and mean pairwise distance (MPD) to quantify phylogenetic divergence within summits, and assed how maximum elevation explains phylogenetic structure. To evaluate similarities between summits we quantified phylogenetic turnover, taking into consideration micro-habitats (talus vs. meadows). KEY RESULTS: We found different patterns of community phylogenetic structure within the six most species-rich orders, but across all vascular plants phylogenetic structure was largely no different from random. There was a significant negative correlation between elevation and tree-wide phylogenetic diversity (MPD) within summits: significant overdispersion degraded as elevation increased. Between summits we found high phylogenetic turnover, which was driven by greater niche heterogeneity on summits with alpine meadows. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides further evidence that stochastic processes shape the assembly of vascular plant communities in the high-alpine at regional scales. However, order-specific patterns suggest adaptations may be important for assembly of specific sectors of the plant tree of life. Further studies quantifying functional diversity will be important to disentangle the interplay of eco-evolutionary processes that likely shape broad community phylogenetic patterns in extreme environments.
A Genetically Engineered Primary Human Natural Killer Cell Platform for Cancer Immunotherapy

Tumors can evade natural killer (NK) cells by activating inhibitory pathways. We therefore have developed a highly efficient CRISPR/Cas9-based method for editing the genome of peripheral blood human NK cells (PB-NKs) to knock out ADAM17 and PD1 or knock-in genes using recombinant AAV6. Our method allows editing of PB-NKs at efficiencies reaching 90%, equivalent to methods reported for primary human T cells. Moreover, we demonstrate that ADAM17 and PD1 KO PB-NKs have significantly improved activity, cytokine production, and cancer cell cytotoxicity. Our platform represents a feasible method for generating engineered NK cells as a universal therapeutic for cancer immunotherapy.
Daniorerio, as a Model for Embryogenic Toxicity Study: A Review

According to the animal welfare legislation, the fish embryo model is not regulated by recent established enactment. It is considered as a substituent of animals such as rodents. The Zebrafish (Danio rerio) is the most promising oviparous vertebrate model for the identification of wide ranges of human diseases and discovery of drugs. Due to the transparency of embryos, genetic resemblance with mammals, short reproduction cycle as well as the low cost and ease of maintenance, this ex vivo vertebrate model has been widely used for the developmental neurotoxicity study. Fish embryo exemplanary is a significant model for the assessment of chemicals in the environmental toxicity study. This aquatic model is also useful for understanding the proper mechanisms of toxicants in the adverse and long term effects of developmental organogenesis. For numerous advantages and significance of using this oviparous model it provides several opportunities in the field of research in future.
Physiological effects of Spirulina platensis in salt stressed Vicia faba L. plants

Salinity is one of the most important problems in Egypt. Soil salinity decreases growth, photosynthetic activity, and results in nutrient imbalance in plants. This study evaluated the efficacy of the foliar applied Spirulina platensis (100mg/L) in reducing salinity effects in Vicia faba L. plants. The treatments are, T1 (control), T2 (salinity, 135mM from NaCl, equivalent to 13dS m−1), T3 (Spirulina platensis, 100mg/L), and T4 (salinity, 135mM+ Spirulina platensis, 100mg/L). Salinity decreased significantly chlorophyll a+b, carotenoids, weights of 100 seed, photosynthetic activity (14CO2 fixation), transpiration rate , total protein and (N, P and K). Application of T4 improved the above parameters as compared to salt-stressed plants. Salinity increased significantly the SOD, POD, CAT, GPX, MDA, free proline, total phenol and Na+ andCl− as compared to the control plants. However, T4 treatment decreased the activity of the above parameters as compared to salt-stressed plants. Foliar applied Spirulina platensis ameliorated adverse effects of salinity by enhancing total protein level, N, P and K and photosynthetic activity (14CO2 assimilation). This first attempt to evaluate the potential of Spirulina platensis as growth enhancer under salt-stressed Vicia faba indicated that exogenously applied Spirulina platensis (100mg/L) provided more benefit against salinity stress.
A New External Search Coil Based Method to Detect Detailed Static Air-Gap Eccentricity Position in Nonsalient Pole Synchronous Generators

This research investigates the detection of the detailed static air-gap eccentricity position (SAGE) at both the ends of nonsalient pole synchronous generators (SG). Differently from the previous studies, the detection method proposed does not necessitate the installation of invasive sensors inside the generator and instead, it is based on two groups of symmetrically distributed search coils placed at both endsides outside the generator. The root-mean-square (rms) value comparison in electromotive forces of the search coils is then employed to assess the exact SAGE position of each end-side. Numerical 3-D finite element calculation together with an experimental campaign on a two-pole 3000 r/min CS-5 prototype SG validates the effectiveness of the proposed method. It is shown that the maximum assessment error by using the four external search coils at each end is 15.1%, while by setting more coils, the error can be significantly reduced. Since this proposed method has no need to install invasive search coils inside the generator, it is more convenient for field testing and helps improve the cost performance of the online SAGE condition monitoring.
Standardization of NPK dose for growth, floral, bulb and economic parameters on phule rajani tuberose

An investigation was carried out during 2013 to 2015 to standardized NPK dose on growth, floral, bulb and economic parameters in tuberose cv. Phule Rajani an application of treatment T8-250: 200: 200 kg ha−1 NPK through inorganic fertilizers were showed significant influence on plant height (72.10 cm), spike length (66.07 cm), floret spike−1 (39.43), floret diameter (3.49 cm), flower duration (32.63 days), durability of spike in field (11.00 days), spike plant−1 (4.73), spike weight (75.12 g), bulbs plant−1 (16.93), gross return (Rs. 914450 ha−1), net return (Rs. 678646 ha−1) and benefit cost ratio (3.72) with highest trends in this treatment which was found better over the recommended dose of NPK treatment T2-300: 150: 150 kg ha−1 respectively. Highest nitrogen content (2.56%), phosphorus content (0.78%) and potassium content (3.62%) were recorded in bulb stage followed by spike and minimum were in leaf stage in treatment T16-350: 250: 250 kg ha−1 NPK respectively.