Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Seven Properties of Self-Organization in the Human Brain

The principle of self-organization has acquired a fundamental significance in the newly emerging field of computational philosophy. Self-organizing systems have been described in various domains in science and philosophy including physics, neuroscience, biology and medicine, ecology, and sociology. While system architecture and their general purpose may depend on domain-specific concepts and definitions, there are (at least) seven key properties of self-organization clearly identified in brain systems: (1) modular connectivity, (2) unsupervised learning, (3) adaptive ability, (4) functional resiliency, (5) functional plasticity, (6) from-local-to-global functional organization, and (7) dynamic system growth. These are defined here in the light of insight from neurobiology, cognitive neuroscience and Adaptive Resonance Theory (ART), and physics to show that self-organization achieves stability and functional plasticity while minimizing structural system complexity. A specific example informed by empirical research is discussed to illustrate how modularity, adaptive learning, and dynamic network growth enable stable yet plastic somatosensory representation for human grip force control. Implications for the design of “strong” artificial intelligence in robotics are brought forward.
Recovery of High Purity Lignin and Digestible Cellulose from Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunch Using Low Acid-Catalyzed Organosolv Pretreatment

The lignocellulosic residue from the palm oil industry, oil palm empty fruit bunch (OPEFB), represents a challenge to both producing industries and environment due to its disposal difficulties. Alternatively, OPEFB can be used for the production of valuable products if pretreatment methods, which overcome OPEFB recalcitrance and allow tailored valorization of all its carbohydrates and lignin, are developed. Specifically, high-value applications for lignin, to increase its contribution to the feasibility of lignocellulosic biorefineries, demand high-purity fractions. In this study, acid-catalyzed organosolv using ethanol as a solvent was used for the recovery of high-purity lignin and digestible cellulose. Factors including catalyst type and its concentration, temperature, retention time, and solid-to-liquid (S/L) ratio were found to influence lignin purity and recovery. At the best conditions (0.07% H2SO4, 210 °C, 90 min, and S/L ratio of 1:10), a lignin purity and recovery of 70.6 ± 4.9% and 64.94 ± 1.09%, respectively, were obtained in addition to the glucan-rich fraction. The glucan-rich fraction showed 94.06 ± 4.71% digestibility within 18 h at an enzyme loading of 30 filter paper units (FPU) /g glucan. Therefore, ethanol organosolv can be used for fractionating OPEFB into three high-quality fractions (glucan, lignin, and hemicellulosic compounds) for further tailored biorefining using low acid concentrations. Especially, the use of ethanol opens the possibility for integration of 1st and 2nd generation ethanol benefiting from the separation of high-purity lignin.
Studies on the Physiological and Biochemical Composition of Different Mango Cultivars at Various Maturity Levels

A comparative study on physiological and biochemical composition of ten varieties of mangoes was carried out at three maturity stages viz. immature, mature and ripe to find out the standard one. During the investigation, whole weight of the mangoes, pulp content, weight of peel and stone, total soluble solid (TSS), pH, acidity, sugar content and vitamin C were determined at three maturity stages. It was observed that all the varieties at ripe stages had higher sugar content as compared to immature and mature stages. Attractive flavour and pleasant taste were also developed in ripe stages and differed from one another due to varietal specific. This characteristics odour which appeared during ripening is due to ester and components of carbonyl types. Bangladesh J. Sci. Ind. Res. 41 (1-2), 101-108, 2006
Interactions between substrate and temperature preference in adult American plaice (Hippoglossoides platessoides)

Laboratory experiments were conducted to determine the substrate preference of American plaice and the interaction between substrate and temperature preference. When given a choice of several substrate types, American plaice clearly preferred substrates that had a finer particle size than gravel, but did not totally avoid any substrate type. When given a choice between sand and gravel, they clearly preferred sand. Preference for substrate took precedence over temperature preference down to a temperature of‐1.0°C. An examination of field data showed that American plaice were widely distributed across both gravel and sand substrates at temperatures above and below‐1.0°C. Broad tolerances of substrate and temperature are probably a factor in this species’ wide distribution throughout the northwest Atlantic.
Comparación bajo pastoreo con bovinos machos de ceba de cuatro especies de gramíneas del género Brachiaria

En una finca localizada en el municipio de Monteria, departamento de Cordoba, se evaluo el comportamiento animal en cuatro ecotipos de especies del genero Brachiaria: B. brizantha CIAT 26110, B. brizantha CIAT 16322, B. brizantha cv Marandu y B. decumbens. Se utilizo semilla sexual para sembrar una hectarea de cada material, dividiendose en dos potreros para ser manejados en sistema de pastoreo alterno de 24 dias de descanso y 24 dias de ocupacion. En cada accesion se estimo el rendimiento de materia seca y la relacion hoja/tallo a la entrada de los animales. En muestras de cada ecotipo fueron analizadas el contenido de proteina bruta, fibra en detergente neutro (FDN), fibra en detergente acido (FDA) y la digestibilidad In Situ por 48 horas. En la epoca de lluvias, a los 24 dias de rebrote, la produccion de materia seca fue de 3534 kg/ha, 3192 kg/ha, 2684 kg/ha y 1916 kg/ha, respectivamente para B. brizantha CIAT 26110, B. decumbens, B. brizantha CIAT 16322 y B. brizantha cv Marandu, en este mismo orden, durante la epoca seca, a los 24 dias de rebrote, los rendimientos fueron 1184 kg/ha, 950 kg/ha, 710 kg/ha y 1400kg/ha. La calidad nutritiva de los diferentes ecotipos estuvo dentro del rango de esta especies, segun revision hecha por Lascano y Euclides (1998). La ganancia de peso por animal, en una primera evaluacion de 168 dias (octubre a marzo), con 2 animales de carga por hectarea, fue de 1.255 kg/animal/dia, 1.07 kg/animal/dia, 071 kg/animal/dia y 1.0 kg/animal/dia, respectivamente para CIAT 16322, CIAT 26110, cv Marandu y B. decumbens. En una segunda evaluacion con duracion de 120 dias (julio a noviembre) la ganancia de peso por animal fue de 0.51 kg/animal/dia, 0.610 kg/animal/dia, 0.57 kg/animal/dia y 0.700 kg/animal/dia, para los ecotipos CIAT 16322, CIAT 26110, cv Marandu y B. decumbens, respectivamente con una carga de 3, 5, 2 y 3 animales por hectarea.
Sign language interpreting on TV: a reception study of visual screen exploration in deaf signing users

Hem estudiat com els usuaris de llengua de signes (LS) exploren una composicio de pantalla formada per una pantalla gran per al contingut i una de petita per a l’ILS. 32 usuaris sords han vist quatre clips similars amb quatre composicions de pantalla diferents. Hem registrat l’exploracio de pantalla amb Eye Tracker i avaluat el record amb dos questionaris. Els resultats mostren que els usuaris miren principalment la pantalla de l’ILS i tendeixen a mirar mes sovint i mes estona el costat de l’ILS mes proper a la pantalla principal. Els resultats s’interpreten en termes d’estrategies perceptives desenvolupades pels usuaris de LS.
Productive and adaptive trait differences of Simmental, Hereford and Africander × Hereford cattle

Summary Adaptive and productive traits were studied in three genotypes of cattle, Simmental (≥ 7/8 Simmental with residual Hereford) (S), Hereford (H) and F2et seq. Africander × Hereford (AH), selected from the 1985 and the 1986 branded steer groups (Years 1 and 2, respectively) fed low- and high-quality diets. There were significant (P < 0·01) differences between years, breeds and diets for the two groups for live weights at the beginning and end of the feeding period, voluntary feed intake and fasting heat production. However, there was no breed × year interaction except in heat production per unit live weight because the AH had a higher heat production per kg than the H in Year 1 but lower in Year 2. Significantly lower values for feed intake (P < 0·01) and heat production (P <0·01) were recorded for S relative to AH and H when expressed on a live-weight basis; however, the ratio of intake to heat production was similar for all breeds. The S breed had the heaviest birth weights and highest pre-weaning weight gains (P < 0·01) and the AH, despite having birth weights similar to that of the H, had higher pre-weaning live-weight gains (P < 0·01). There were significant (P < 0·01) breed differences for adaptive traits (except for the estimate of helminth resistance), with the AH being more tick- and heat-resistant and having sleeker coats than the other breeds. There were no significant correlations between any adaptive trait and pre-weaning gain despite the fact that ticks, helminths and heat loads were evident. This experiment shows that provided a low plane of nutrition is the only stress imposed on growing cattle, breeds such as the S will perform similarly to British breeds and may perform slightly better.
Influência de diferentes períodos de secagem na qualidade fisiológica de sementes de Tapirira guianensis Aublet

The period of viability of cupiuva seed (Tapirira guianensis Aublet.) is very short which hampers its use by nurseries. Due to the scarcity of research on the critical moisture content beyond which seeds would not germinate, this study was carried out to evaluate the physiological quality of seeds of T. guianensis submitted to different periods of drying conditions of 40 °C in an oven (0, 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21 and 24 hours). The experimental design was completely randomized and data were submitted to analysis of variance and regression. The evaluation of the treatment effects was based on the determination of moisture content, % of seed germination and vigor (first count and germination speed; seedling length and seedling dry weight). The initial moisture content was 36%, which registered the highest germination percentage (97%). This was reduced with the increase of drying periods, reaching only 38% after 9 hours of drying and subsequent even more drastic reduction. As for the germination speed, the highest value (2.93) occurred in the zero period of drying, the same occurring with the length and dry weight of seedlings, which were reduced drastically with increasing periods of drying. The T. guianensis seeds are recalcitrant, which lose their viability and vigor as their moisture content is reduced, the critical level of moisture below which there is total loss of viability is 16%.
Perceived attributes of instructional computer use in early childhood education: A scale adaptation and validation study

Based on Rogers’ (2003) Diffusion of Innovations Theory, this study aims to describe the construction and validation of the “Perceived Attributes of Computer Use” (PACU) scale to measure pre-service early childhood teachers’ (N=581) tendency towards computer use for instructional purposes in early childhood settings. The development and validation process of PACU scale, reworking on the structure and item numbers of the original English scale ‘Perceived Characteristics of Innovating’ (Moore & Benbasat, 1991), was accomplished in four steps, namely (1) translation and adaptation procedure, (2) Q-Sort method, (3) exploratory factor analysis, and (4) confirmatory factor analysis. A five-factor scale with 23 items was revealed and a good fit between the data set and the proposed Turkish version scale was confirmed (NNFI=.92, CFI=.93, RMSEA=.97, χ2/df=2.58). Moreover, the reliability value of the scale was found . 90. In the end, the overall measures and evidence validated a ready-to-use scale for prospective early childhood teachers.
Pinnulariaceae (Bacillariophyceae) do rio Guaraguaçu, bacia hidrográfica litorânea paranaense, Brasil

The survey of Pinnulariaceae was based on 29 planktonic and periphytic samples collected at six stations in the Guaraguacu River. The qualitative analysis of samples allowed the identification of 36 species, 14 varieties and one taxonomic form: Caloneis bacillum, C. hyalina, C. formosa, C. westii, Pinnularia acoricola, P. acrosphaeria, P. acrosphaeria f. minor, P. acuminata var. acuminata, P. acuminata var. novazealandica, P. borealis var. rectangularis, P. brauniana, P. butantanum, P. decrescens var. ignorata, P. divergens var. biconstricta, P. divergens var. divergens, P. divergens var. malayensis, P. divergens var. media, P. divergens var. mesoleptiformis, P. diversarea, P. dornii, P. gibba, P. graciloides var. latecapitata, P. grunowii, P. hartleyana var. curta, P. huckiae, P. hudsonii, P. hyalina, P. inconstans, P. latevittata, P. maculata, P. meriadiana var. parallela, P. michelcostei, P. microstauron, P. neomajor, P. nobilis var. regularis, P. oominensis, P. rhombarea, P. rostratissima var. parva, P. rumrichae, P. stidolphii, P. stoermeri, P. subcapitata, P. subgibba var. subgibba, P. subgibba var. undulata, P. sudetica, P. tabellaria, P. viridiformis, P. viridis, Pinnularia sp.1 and Pinnularia sp.2; 32 of these are new records for Parana state.
Bio-Based Carbon Materials from Potato Waste as Electrode Materials in Supercapacitors

This study investigates the production of biobased carbon materials from potato waste and its application in energy storage systems such as supercapacitors. Three different categories of carbons were produced: hydrochar (HC) from hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) at three different temperatures (200 °C, 220 °C, 240 °C) and two different duration times (two hours and five hours), pyrolyzed hydrochar (PHC) obtained via pyrolysis of the HTC chars at 600 °C and 900 °C for two hours and pyrochar from the pyrolysis of biomass at 600 °C and 900 °C for two hours. The carbon samples were analysed regarding their physico-chemical properties such as elemental composition, specific surface area, bulk density and surface functionalities as well as their electrochemical characteristics such as electric conductivity and specific capacity via cyclic voltammetry. N- and O-enriched carbon materials with promising specific surface areas of up to 330 m2 g−1 containing high shares of microporosity were produced. Electric conductivities of up to 203 S m−1 and specific capacities of up to 134 F g−1 were obtained. The presence of high contents of oxygen (4.9–13.5 wt.%) and nitrogen (3.4–4.0 wt.%) of PHCs is assumed to lead to considerable pseudocapacitive effects and favor the high specific capacities measured. These results lead to the conclusion that the potential of agricultural biomass can be exploited by using hydrothermal and thermochemical conversion technologies to create N- and O-rich carbon materials with tailored properties for the application in supercapacitors.
Effect of a SO2 Rich Atmosphere on Tempera Paint Mock-Ups. Part 1: Accelerated Aging of Smalt and Lapis Lazuli-Based Paints

The behavior of historic tempera paints exposed to pollutant gases is an important issue when developing conservation strategies. In this work, binary tempera paint mock-ups that were made with either smalt or lapis lazuli pigments mixed with either rabbit glue or egg yolk binders were exposed to an SO2 accelerated aging test in order to find out more about the forms and mechanisms of alteration resulting from pigment-binder interaction. To this end, spectrophotometry, hyperspectral image analysis, and profilometry were used to study macro-scale, physical changes taking place on the surface of the paints, affecting color, gloss, reflectance, and roughness. Likewise, chemical and mineralogical changes were evaluated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), polarized light microscopy (PLM), and scanning electron microscopy with micro-analysis (SEM-EDS), which was also used to visualize micro-texture changes in the paints. The smalt-based tempera showed a higher degree of deterioration than the lapis lazuli-based tempera, in particular a notable whitening related to the precipitation of sulfate-rich salts and to binder and pigment chemical alterations. Moreover, whereas aged egg yolk-based paints showed visible color change due to damage to the oily binder and the pigments, the most evident change in rabbit glue-based paints was binder loss. The alteration suffered by the pigments varied in line with their composition; thus, smalt (blue cobalt-containing glass) grains were more sensitive to SO2 exposure than lapis lazuli-(Na,Ca)8[(S,Cl,SO4,OH)2|(Al6Si6O24)]-crystals. In the smalt grains, the SO2 test caused K+ leaching from the glass matrix, which was detected by means of K/Co ratios, but the lazurite crystals (main component of lapis lazuli) were unaffected (regardless of the binder used in the tempera). The most likely source of the crystallized sulfate rich salts were the impurities that were detected in association with the natural lapis lazuli pigment, i.e., calcite and diopside. Indeed, the precipitation of efflorescences is the main cause of the optical changes found in the smalt- and lapis lazuli-based tempera, in addition to the physical-chemical damage to the binders. The information reported here would be useful for preventive conservation, as well as for art restorers, who are planning work on paintings in which paints of this kind were used.
Losing Hold of the American Dream: A Qualitative Exploration of the Relationship Between Foreclosure and Psychological and Physical Health

The purpose of this study was to conduct an exploratory qualitative study of the impact of foreclosure on health. Twenty-nine interviews were conducted with people who had children under the age of 18 years at the time of the foreclosure. Interviews explored perspectives on the foreclosure experience, including factors that led to the foreclosure, the meaning(s) the foreclosure has had for them, and the health care impact. Thematic analyses identified themes underlying families’ descriptions of their experiences. Participant families described the stress of losing a home and how that had contributed to a number of psychological and physiological ailments. Psychological effects included high levels of perceived stress, anxiety, grief, and a sense of shame and failure, while physiological effects were often described as either stress-induced or existing issues worsened by stress. These findings are discussed with regard to their implications for improving services and policies offered to families.
Evidence of recovery of the linefishery in the Berg River Estuary, Western Cape, South Africa, subsequent to closure of commercial gillnetting

A total of 248 roving creel surveys along the length of the Berg River Estuary, in the Western Cape, South Africa, recorded 626 shore-angler and 88 boat-angler outings over the period December 2002–November 2005. Catch-and-effort information was obtained from catch inspections with 360 handline and 246 rod-anglers. Average total annual linefishing effort was estimated at 449 ± 29 (mean ± SE) boat-angler days, 1 299 ± 118 recreational shore-angler days and 1 394 ± 57 subsistence (handline) shore-angler days. The estimated total shore-based linefish catch (excluding boat-based catches) from the estuary for the years 2004 and 2005 was 37 231 ± 1 326 fish and 26 938 ± 706 fish (approximately 8 t and 7 t) respectively. Compared with other estuaries along the South African east coast where angler catches have been surveyed, species diversity in catches from the cool-temperate Berg River Estuary was low, with only 15 species caught, of which three, elf Pomatomus saltatrix (56%), harder Liza richardsonii (31%) and carp Cyprinius carpio (11%), dominated the catch. Average linefish catch per unit effort of most species increased significantly in the two years subsequent to the closure of the long-existing commercial gillnet fishery in March 2003. Length frequency distributions revealed significant increases in the average size and an increased contribution of larger size class elf and harder to the linefish catch over the monitoring period, suggesting a degree of recovery of the estuarine icthyofauna after more than a century of intensive gillnet fishing.
Rooting depth and below ground biomass in a freshwater coastal marsh invaded by European Reed (Phragmites australis) compared with remnant uninvaded sites at Long Point, Ontario

Invasive European Reed ( Phragmites australis subsp. australis ) outcompetes native vegetation, reducing floristic diversity and habitat value for wildlife. Research in coastal salt marshes has indicated that P. australis invasion may be facilitated by its relatively deep rooting depth, but in freshwater marshes the growth pattern of below ground tissues in relation to water depth is uncertain. To determine if P. australis is rooting more deeply than resident wetland plant species in a freshwater coastal marsh on Lake Erie, Ontario, we measured the vertical distribution of below ground biomass in P. australis invaded marsh sites and compared it to the below ground biomass distribution in nearby sites not yet invaded by P. australis . These invaded and uninvaded sites were paired by water depth, which is known to influence resource allocation and rooting depth. Below ground biomass in invaded sites was greater than in uninvaded sites ( t 28 = 3.528, P = 0.001), but rooting depth (i.e., the depth at which 90% of total below ground biomass is accounted for) was comparable ( t 28 = 0.992, P = 0.330). Using water depth and site type, general linear models could predict below ground biomass ( F 2,55 = 9.115, P < 0.001) but not rooting depth ( F 2,55 = 1.175, P = 0.316). Rooting depth is likely affected by other factors such as substrate type and the depth of the organic soil horizon.
Regulation of mouse sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1c gene (SREBP-1c) by oxysterol receptors, LXRα and LXRβ

The liver X receptors (LXRs) are members of the nuclear hormone receptor superfamily that are bound and activated by oxysterols. These receptors serve as sterol sensors to regulate the transcription of gene products that control intracellular cholesterol homeostasis through catabolism and transport. In this report, we describe a novel LXR target, the sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1c gene (SREBP-1c), which encodes a membrane-bound transcription factor of the basic helix-loop-helix-leucine zipper family. SREBP-1c expression was markedly increased in mouse tissues in an LXR-dependent manner by dietary cholesterol and synthetic agonists for both LXR and its heterodimer partner, the retinoid X receptor (RXR). Expression of the related gene products, SREBP-1a and SREBP-2, were not increased. Analysis of the mouse SREBP-1c gene promoter revealed an RXR/LXR DNA-binding site that is essential for this regulation. The transcriptional increase in SREBP-1c mRNA by RXR/LXR was accompanied by a similar increase in the level of the nuclear, active form of the SREBP-1c protein and an increase in fatty acid synthesis. Because this active form of SREBP-1c controls the transcription of genes involved in fatty acid biosynthesis, our results reveal a unique regulatory interplay between cholesterol and fatty acid metabolism.