Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Reticulocyte Haemoglobin as a Biomarker for the Detection of Iron Deficiency Anaemia in Haemodialysis Patients on Recombinant Human Erythropoietin

Iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) frequently occurs in haemodialysis (HD) patients undergoing recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO) therapy and is commonly associated with rHuEPO hypo-responsiveness. However, the conventional iron indices are inadequate to exhibit the status or utilisation of iron during erythropoiesis. The aim of this study was to elucidate the accuracy and usefulness of the reticulocyte haemoglobin (RET-He) test for diagnosing IDA in HD patients undergoing rHuEPO therapy. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, fifty-five blood samples of HD patients on rHuEPO therapy were collected and analysed for haematological and biochemical parameters. A receiver operating characteristics curve was also plotted for sensitivity and specificity analysis. IDA detection rates by RET-He, soluble transferrin receptor (sTfR) and serum ferritin were 63.64%, 3.64% and 0%, respectively. RET-He level was significantly correlated with sTfR level, mean cell volume, mean cell haemoglobin level and the transferrin receptor-ferritin index. The sensitivity and specificity of RET-He in detecting IDA were 78.3% and 92.0%, respectively, with an area under the curve of 0.864. IDA was more frequently detected by RET-He than by ferritin or sTfR in HD patients undergoing rHuEPO therapy. The RET-He level also showed higher sensitivity and specificity for the iron status in these patients. Therefore, RET-He is a useful biomarker for the detection of IDA in HD patients undergoing rHuEPO therapy.
Correction - Studies on cattle with oesophageal fistulae: comparison of concentrations of mineral nutrients in feeds and associated boluses

Eight forages were fed in small quantities to cattle with oesophageal fistulae. The feeds and boluses were analysed for Ca, Mg, S, Mn, Mo, Cu, Zn, and Ti. Bolus composition could be used to predict dietary levels of Ca, S, Cu, and Mg with reasonable precision (error <± 9 per cent), but feed concentrations of Mo and Mn could be predicted only with an error of ±15 per cent. Levels of Zn in boluses could not be used to predict dietary levels, since bolus Zn greatly exceeded that of the feed. The presence of Zn in bovine saliva was demonstrated. Concentrations of Ti in feeds and boluses were in close agreement; measurement of Ti in boluses appears to provide a potentially useful method for the identification of those contaminated with soil during grazing studies.
Feeling Uncertain - Effects of a Vibrotactile Belt that Communicates Vehicle Sensor Uncertainty

With the rise of partially automated cars, drivers are more and more required to judge the degree of responsibility that can be delegated to vehicle assistant systems. This can be supported by utilizing interfaces that intuitively convey real-time reliabilities of system functions such as environment sensing. We designed a vibrotactile interface that communicates spatiotemporal information about surrounding vehicles and encodes a representation of spatial uncertainty in a novel way. We evaluated this interface in a driving simulator experiment with high and low levels of human and machine confidence respectively caused by simulated degraded vehicle sensor precision and limited human visibility range. Thereby we were interested in whether drivers (i) could perceive and understand the vibrotactile encoding of spatial uncertainty, (ii) would subjectively benefit from the encoded information, (iii) would be disturbed in cases of information redundancy, and (iv) would gain objective safety benefits from the encoded information. To measure subjective understanding and benefit, a custom questionnaire, Van der Laan acceptance ratings and NASA TLX scores were used. To measure the objective benefit, we computed the minimum time-to-contact as a measure of safety and gaze distributions as an indicator for attention guidance. Results indicate that participants were able to understand the encoded uncertainty and spatiotemporal information and purposefully utilized it when needed. The tactile interface provided meaningful support despite sensory restrictions. By encoding spatial uncertainties, it successfully extended the operating range of the assistance system.
Field Activity of Three Mixture Levels of Plant Extract Formulations for the Management of Post-Flowering Insect Pests of Cowpea, Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp–The Flower Thrips, Megalurothrips sjostedti (Trybom)

ABSTRACT Insecticidal attributes of aqueous extracts of West African black pepper (Piper guineense Schum and Thonn) seeds mixed at three proportional levels (10:10, 10:20, and 20:10% w/v) with neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss) seeds, African pepper (Xylopia aethiopica (Dunal) A. Rich. ) pods, garlic (Allium sativum L.) bulbs and clove (Syzigium aromaticum (L.) Merr. & Perr. ) inflorescence, were evaluated against the flower thrips, Megalurothrips sjostedti Tryb. in two-year field trials. Compared with the other mixture treatments, the mixtures of West African black pepper with garlic bulb at 10:10% and 20:10% w/v were superior (P < 0.05) in reducing the numbers of M. sjostedti in cowpea flowers during the periods. Pod density was significantly (P < 0.05) higher at these mixture proportions compared with the other P. guineense mixtures and was comparable to cypermethrin + dimethoate used as synthetic check. All the plant extracts at different mixture proportions were superior to the untreated control in all the parameters considered. This result indicates the potential of incorporating P. guineense extract in mixtures with other plant species in the management of M. sjostedti on cowpea flowers to ensure optimum pod load of cowpea.
Utilization of millet and guinea corn husks for bioethanol production

In this study, the rumen of ruminant animals served as a source for isolation of bacteria used in the hydrolysis of millet husks and guinea corn husks prior to fermentation. The isolates were characterized and identified as Bacillus firmus, Bacillus circulans, Escherichia coli, Proteus rettgerii, Paenibacillus macerans and Serratia marcescens . Zymomonas mobilis and Saccharomyces cerevisiae isolated from a previous study were used as the fermentative organisms. The production of bioethanol was done by hydrolysis and fermentation. The results obtained revealed that highest yield of reducing sugar of (4.10%) was obtained from guinea corn husk while the reducing sugar yield of millet husk was 3.21%. The highest concentration of bioethanol of (2.33%) was produced using the combination of S. cerevisiae and Z. mobilis for fermentation of guineacorn husks. Similarly, the lowest concentration of 0.79% was obtained when Z. mobilis was used on hydrolysates from millet husk. The results of the study revealed the potentiality of the two agro wastes to produce bioethanol. However, guinea corn husk is more promising than millet husk as it produces more bioethanol and can be used for large scale production.
Impact Of Lady Health Workers On The Contraceptive Prevalence Rate In District Mardan.

BACKGROUND Pakistan being the 6th populous country with a population of 207,774,520, and a growth rate of 2.6%, if left unchecked can reach 335 million by 2050. The total demand of family planning in Pakistan is 55% while the contraceptive prevalence rate is 35% with an unmet need for family planning is 20%. METHODS The contraceptive prevalence rate and frequently used contraceptive method in an area with Lady Health Worker services versus an area without Lady Health Worker services of union council Pat Baba were compared over a period of 6 months. 322 households were selected, 161 from LHW covered and 161 from LHW uncovered area of union council Pat Baba District Mardan. RESULTS The knowledge of contraceptive methods was 98.1% in the women of covered area and this knowledge was 90.1% in the uncovered area in union council Pat Baba. The source of information for the women in the covered area was mostly LHWs 87% and in uncovered area 25.5% of the women were informed by the LHWs, followed by elderly family members 7.5% in the covered, and 37.9% of the women in uncovered area. The contraceptive prevalence rate was 59% in covered areas and in uncovered areas it was 51.6%. The most frequently used contraceptive method in covered area was condom 16.8% and in the uncovered area it was withdrawal method 26.1%. CONCLUSIONS There was a significant association between the LHWs presence on knowledge scores and contraceptive prevalence rate.
The effect of environmental iron concentration on R-plasmid RP1-mediated changes in the lipopolysaccharide and fatty acid composition of Proteus mirabilis

Abstract Iron depletion decreases the amounts of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and increases the amounts of some fatty acids in LPS and in whole cells of Proteus mirabilis . These effects are greatly magnified if the cells contain R-plasmid RP1. The proportion of 2-keto-3-deoxy- D - manno -2-octulosonate in LPS is decreased following iron depletion of cells with and without RP1.
Metapopulation dynamics of a diadromous galaxiid fish and potential effects of salmonid aquaculture

Summary 1. Direct ecological effects of biological invasions have been widely documented, but indirect genetic effects on native species are poorly known. In many cases, this is because of the lack of information on the genetic structure of species affected by invasions. 2. We used microsatellite DNA loci to estimate the genetic structure and gene flow patterns of Galaxias maculatus, a galaxiid fish endemic to the southern hemisphere, which is increasingly being threatened by salmonid invasions. 3. Analysis of nine diadromous populations of G. maculatus in Chilean Patagonia (an area heavily impacted by farming of non-native salmonids) indicates that dispersal is mostly a passive process, seemingly driven by wind and currents and resulting in high gene flow and weak population structuring. 4. Gene flow was asymmetrical, with three populations acting as sources and six populations acting as sinks. Sinks had lower habitat quality and had a greater incidence of adults than sources, which consisted mostly of juveniles. 5. Rivers invaded by salmonid escapees experienced significantly higher aquaculture pressure than rivers where salmonid escapees were apparently absent, but no effect on genetic diversity of G. maculatus could be detected. 6. We discuss whether salmonid aquaculture might affect the demography and connectivity of galaxiid metapopulations: indirectly through habitat alteration and directly through escapes of predatory fish.
The effect of feed cycling and ration level on the compensatory growth response in rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus my kiss

Compensatory growth is the phase of rapid growth, greater than normal or control growth, which occurs upon adequate refeeding following a period of undernutrition. The effect of feed cycling periods (periods of starvation followed by periods of refeeding), ration level and repetitive feed cycles on the compensatory growth response in rainbow trout were evaluated in two experiments. A feeding cycle of 3 weeks starvation and 3 weeks feeding produced better results in terms of average percentage changes in weight and length, and in specific growth rate, than either 1 week and 1 week or 2 weeks and 2 weeks feed cycles. The fish on the 3 weeks starvation and 3 weeks feeding cycle did as well as, if not better than, the constantly fed controls over one or two complete cycles, though the controls were fed more than twice the amount of feed. Three ration levels were compared using a 3-week starvation and 3-week feeding period. The only effect of increasing ration level was to decrease conversion efficiency, indicating overfeeding. Carcass analysis of moisture, fat, protein and ash showed no significant differences between the controls and an experimental group on a 3 weeks starvation, 3 weeks feeding cycle after one complete cycle. Possible mechanisms underlying the compensatory growth response are discussed.
Effects of Dairy Manure and Weed Management on Weed Communities in Corn on Wisconsin Cash-grain Farms

A reason given by cash-grain farmers for not using manure from neighboring livestock operations is that manure may cause greater field weediness. To address this concern, trials were established in corn on 11 cash-grain farms, in which manure from six nearby dairy farms was spread for the first time in at least 10 yr. A split-plot design was used in which manured and nonmanured treatments were established as whole-plots, and split-plot treatments were either with or without the farmer's regular weed control. In the multisite analysis, weed seedling density at the time of corn emergence was not greater in the manured vs. nonmanured treatments. At 7 to 8 wk following planting, weed density was not greater in the manured plots. Just before corn canopy closure, weed biomass also did not differ between manured and nonmanured treatments. Although neither weed species richness nor species diversity differed significantly between manured and nonmanured treatments, these measures did have significant environment-by-manure interactions, indicating that weed species distributions responded differently to manure across the different trial environments. However, farmers' weed control practices were highly successful in both the manured and nonmanured plots. Large portions (280 m2) of all whole plots were visually inspected for introduced weed species after all weed control practices had been completed. The manured treatments did not differ significantly in the set of species observed, suggesting that manure did not introduce new weed species. Thus, this exploratory study showed that, contrary to some farmers' concerns, an application of dairy manure neither increased field weediness nor required alterations in the farmers' weed control programs. Nomenclature: Corn, Zea mays L.
Electrofishing and salmonid movement: reciprocal effects in two small montane streams

The effects of electrofishing on salmonid movement and of salmonid movement on electrofishing-derived abundance estimates were studied in two streams in western Montana, U.S.A. Electrofishing increased emigration of salmonids from study reaches for 1 day, but not for succeeding days, whereas immigration to study reaches was unaffected. Movement of most emigrating fishes was downstream. On these small streams, electrofishing did not appear to cause fishes to flee during sampling. Numbers of salmonids migrating between mark and recapture runs were small relative to the fish abundance estimates in study reaches, usually much less than the 95% CL for those estimates, thus disregarding movements of marked fishes from the study reaches would have produced small positive biases in abundance estimates. Overall, for this suite of salmonid species in mid-summer in these streams, the effects of electrofishing on fish movement and of fish movement on abundance estimates were minor.
Combining ability and economic heterosis for yield and oil quality traits in Indian mustard (Brassica juncea L. Czern & Coss).

The estimates of gca and sca variances showed the preponderance of non-additive gene action for all the traits studied except siliqua density and 1000 seed weight. Among the lines and testers, good general combiner RH-30, RAURD 214, EC 401574 and Rajendra Sufalam have exhibited desirable negative and highly significant gca effect for days to 50% flowering and days to maturity and positive and highly significant for number of primary branches per plant, number of secondary branches per plant, number of siliqua per plant, siliqua length, siliqua density, 1000 seed weight, biological yield per plant, stearic acid, oleic acid, oil content and seed yield per plant indicating the presence of additive gene action or additive x additive interaction effects. Heterotic cross combinations were more frequently observed in crosses involving H x H, L x H and L x L gca of the parents.
A Neglected Practice in Iran: EFL Teachers’ Differentiation for Gifted Students in Rural Schools

This qualitative study delved into 15 Iranian middle school English as a Foreign Language (EFL) teachers’ perceptions, practices, and challenges of differentiation for gifted students. To this end, a set of data sources including interviews, observation notes, and documents were used. Results of interview transcriptions exhibited that the rural EFL teachers primarily held negative or indifferent views of differentiating instruction for gifted students, and that their actual differentiation practices for gifted students left far more to be desired. In addition, a host of barriers to differentiation practices were cited by the teachers, including time, energy, and class size as the most impactful.
Trochophore concepts: ciliary bands and the evolution of larvae in spiralian Metazoa

Abstract «Trochophore» is a term used in a strict sense for larvae having an opposed-band method of feeding, involving a prototroch and metatroch. Other ciliary bands such as a telotroch and neurotroch may be present. The trochophore has been proposed to represent the ancestral larval form for a group of metazoan phyla (including all members of the Spiralia). The name trochophore is also often applied to larvae that do not conform to the above definition. A cladistic analysis of spiralian taxa (with special reference to polychaete annelids), based on a suite of adult and larval characters, is used to assess several hypotheses: (1) that the trochophore (in a strict sense) is a plesiomorphic form for the Spiralia; (2) that the strictly defined trochophore is plesiomorphic for members of the Spiralia such as the Polychaeta. The homology of each of the various separate ciliary bands of spiralian larvae, and features such as the apical tuft and protonephridia is also assessed. The results favour the conclusion that the trochophore, if defined as a feeding larval form using opposed bands, should not be regarded as an ancestral (= plesiomorphic) type for the Spiralia, or any other large taxon such as the Polychaeta or Mollusca. The evidence suggests that the various ciliary bands have differing evolutionary histories, and only the Echiura (possibly an annelid group) has members with the classical trochophore. The trochophore is re-defined as a larval form with a prototroch. This broad definition covers a wide variety of larvae, and matches the current usage more accurately than the restricted term. Features such as the neurotroch, telotroch and opposed-band feeding show convergence and reversals. The nature of the metatroch requires further investigation. The presence of a prototroch (and hence trochophore larvae) is used to identify an apomorphy-based taxon, Trochozoa, that includes the first ancestor to have evolved a prototroch and all its descendants. This minimally includes the Annelida (sensu lato), Echiura, Entoprocta, Mollusca and Sipuncula and is a less inclusive taxon than the Spiralia.
“The tale of the three little tits”: Different nest building solutions under the same environmental pressures

Evolutionary selection pressures, and species-specific ecology and behavior, promote a great variability in the size and composition of nests. However, it would be expected that phylogenetically close species, with similar ecological needs, breeding at the same time in the same place, would also build similar nests. In contrast with this, previous studies have found differences in nest mass and composition among closely related sympatric species. These differences have been attributed to small differences in body size (smaller species building larger and/or more insulated nests), or to the different ways in which species perceive the environment (e.g. perceived predation risk). In this study, for the first time, we searched for differences between nest mass, composition, and importance of the different functional parts of the nest between Blue (Cyanistes caeruleus), Great (Parus major) and Coal tits (Periparus ater) breeding under the same conditions. We found that smaller species built larger nests and/or include more thermoregulatory materials, probably having greater insulating capacity, which agrees with previous hypotheses. In particular, Blue Tits made greater use of bark, feathers and vegetable fiber, while Great Tits used wild boar hair in greater proportions. In addition, for the first time, we described in detail the nest composition of Coal Tits, which contained large amounts of fluff compared to the other two species. All these results are in line with previous hypothesis linking nest size and composition to the size of the birds, and the existence of species-specific characteristics in the selection of materials for nest building.
Transverse chromatic offsets with pupil displacements in the human eye: Sources of variability and methods for real-time correction

Tracking SLO systems equipped to perform retinally targeted stimulus delivery typically use near-IR wavelengths for retinal imaging and eye tracking and visible wavelengths for stimulation. The lateral offsets between wavelengths caused by transverse chromatic aberration (TCA) must be carefully corrected in order to deliver targeted stimuli to the correct location on the retina. However, both the magnitude and direction of the TCA offset is dependent on the position of the eye’s pupil relative to the incoming beam, and thus can change dynamically within an experimental session without proper control of the pupil position. The goals of this study were twofold: 1) To assess sources of variability in TCA alignments as a function of pupil displacements in an SLO and 2) To demonstrate a novel method for real-time correction of chromatic offsets. To summarize, we found substantial between- and within-subject variability in TCA in the presence of monochromatic aberrations. When adaptive optics was used to fully correct for monochromatic aberrations, variability both within and between observers was minimized. In a second experiment, we demonstrate that pupil tracking can be used to update stimulus delivery in the SLO in real time to correct for variability in chromatic offsets with pupil displacements.
Influence du poids de la semence et de la profondeur de semis sur la croissance et le développement de la plantule de maïs

On a etudie, en conditions semi-controlees sous serre, la croissance et le developpement de plantules de mais selon le poids de la semence, la profondeur de semis et la variete (4). Pendant la phase heterotrophe, la croissance de l'hydride DEA est, a peu de chose pres, directement proportionnelle a la quantite de reserves de la graine utilisees depuis la germination, dans un rapport peu variable suivant les conditions (coefficient de variation de 3,1%). Les plantules issues de grosses semences presentent une croissance nettement plus rapide, mais une efficience legerement moindre pour l'utilisation des reserves de la graine (.)