Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Wastewater and Giardia Cysts

Giardia intestinalis is a protozoon which has generated numerous waterborne outbreaks of giardiasis in the United States. In this study Giardia cysts were searched in raw wastewater after concentration by Bailenger method and quantification with Thoma cell counting. Different parameters were studied : sampling time, sampling day, sampling month. The study of hourly variations shows concentration of Giardia cysts ranged from 9.5 × 10 3 to 1.4 × 10 4 /l with a significant difference between the samples taken at 10 a.m. and those taken in the afternoon. No significant daily variation has been shown in the mean value of the 6 samples taken every day. The results of monthly variations indicate that it is in February (5.9 × 10 3 /l) and mainly in March (1.2 × 10 4 /l) that the concentrations of the Giardia cysts are the highest. The lowest values are noticed in November (1.3 × 10 3 /l).
A New Horned Dinosaur from an Upper Cretaceous Bone Bed in Alberta

October 1, 2008, Philip J. Currie, Wann Langston, Jr., and Darren H. Tanke unveiled for the first time the name of a newly discovered horned dinosaur species. In the first monographic treatment of a horned (ceratopsid) dinosaur in almost a century, this monumental volume presents one of the closest looks at the anatomy, relationships, growth and variation, behavior, ecology and other biological aspects of a single dinosaur species. The research, which was conducted over two decades, was possible because of the discovery of a densely packed bone bed near Grande Prairie, Alberta. The locality has produced abundant remains of a new species of horned dinosaur (ceratopsian), and parts of at least 27 individual animals were recovered. This new species of Pachyrhinosaurus is closely related to Pachyrhinosaurus canadensis, which is known from younger rocks near Drumheller and Lethbridge in southern Alberta, but is a smaller animal with many differences in the ornamental spikes and bumps on the skull. The adults of both species have massive bosses of bone in the positions where other horned dinosaurs (like Centrosaurus and Triceratops) have horns. However, juveniles of the new species resemble juveniles of Centrosaurus in having horns rather than bosses. Skull anatomy undergoes remarkable changes during growth and the horns over the nose and eyes of the Pachyrhinosaurus juveniles transform into bosses; spikes and horns develop on the top of and at the back of the frill that extends back over the neck. No cause has been determined for the apparent catastrophic death of the herd of Pachyrhinosaurus from the Grande Prairie area, but it has been suggested that such herds may have been migratory animals. In addition to the main descriptive paper, the volume includes information on the distribution of bones within the bone bed itself, and a cutting-edge digital treatment of CT-scan data of the fossils to reveal the anatomy of the animal’s brain! See below to view the Pachyrhinosaurus braincase, fading away to reveal the brain within. Courtesy of Witmer & Ridgely, Ohio University.
Structural aspects of dormancy in quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa): importance and possible action mechanisms of the seed coat

Abstract Two possible sources of resistance to pre-harvest sprouting were evaluated in quinoa. They showed dormancy at harvest and significant variations in dormancy level in response to environmental conditions experienced during seed development. The aims of this work were to evaluate the importance of seed coats in the regulation of dormancy in this species, to investigate possible mechanisms of action and to assess association of seed coat properties with changes in dormancy level caused by the environment. Accessions Chadmo and 2-Want were grown under field conditions on different sowing dates during 2 years. Seed coats were manipulated and seed germination was evaluated at different temperatures. Seed coat perforation before incubation led to faster dormancy loss in both accessions. This effect decreased with delayed sowing date, and seeds expressed a level of dormancy not imposed by coats. This suggests the presence of embryo dormancy in the genus Chenopodium. Seeds of the accession 2-Want had a significantly thinner seed coat at later sowing dates, associated with a decreasing coat-imposed dormancy, but this pattern was not detected in Chadmo. The seed coat acts as a barrier to the release of endogenous abscisic acid (ABA) in quinoa, suggested by the increase in germination and a higher amount of ABA leached from perforated seeds. ABA is able to leach from seeds with an intact seed coat, suggesting that differences in seed coat thickness may allow the leakage of different amounts of ABA. This mechanism may contribute to the observed differences in dormancy level, either between sowing dates or between accessions.
Age-related protein and mRNA expression of glutathione peroxidases (GPx) and Hsp-70 in different regions of rat kidney with and without stressor

Small molecular weight oxygen free radical species (ROS) involved in oxidative stress can cause damage to cellular macromolecules including proteins, DNA and lipids. One of the most important enzymes involved in ROS detoxification is glutathione peroxidase (GPx). Here we study the age-related expression of GPx isoenzymes in various parts of the rat kidney with and without exposure to external oxidative stress. These results are correlated to the age dependent changes in the expression of the chaperone, Hsp-70 . Protein and mRNA expression of GPx1 and GPx4 was studied in different regions of the kidney in ageing rats in the presence and absence of the external stressor 0.2 mM H 2 O 2 . Protein levels were examined by Western blot analysis following detection with appropriate antibodies and mRNA levels were analysed by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) using appropriate primer sequences. mRNA expression for the chaperone Hsp70 was investigated in parallel. After reaching a peak at maturity (12 weeks), GPx1 protein and mRNA levels decreased with age under both control and stress conditions, and were higher in the cortex than in the outer and inner medulla. GPx4 protein and mRNA levels showed few comparable age-related changes. By contrast with the observed age-related decrease in GPx1 expression, chaperone Hsp-70 mRNA expression greatly increased with age. These findings suggest that the age-related decline in GPx1 expression in the cortex may be partly offset by a reciprocal change in Hsp-70 expression. These results are consistent with the oxidative stress theory of ageing.
Web Services: Concepts, Architectures and Applications

Like many other incipient technologies, Web services are still surrounded by a substantial level of noise. This noise results from the always dangerous combination of wishful thinking on the part of research and industry and of a lack of clear understanding of how Web services came to be. On the one hand, multiple contradictory interpretations are created by the many attempts to realign existing technology and strategies with Web services. On the other hand, the emphasis on what could be done with Web services in the future often makes us lose track of what can be really done with Web services today and in the short term. These factors make it extremely difficult to get a coherent picture of what Web services are, what they contribute, and where they will be applied.Alonso and his co-authors deliberately take a step back. Based on their academic and industrial experience with middleware and enterprise application integration systems, they describe the fundamental concepts behind the notion of Web services and present them as the natural evolution of conventional middleware, necessary to meet the challenges of the Web and of B2B application integration. Rather than providing a reference guide or a "how to write your first Web service" kind of book, they discuss the main objectives of Web services, the challenges that must be faced to achieve them, and the opportunities that this novel technology provides. Established, as well as recently proposed, standards and techniques (e.g., WSDL, UDDI, SOAP, WS-Coordination, WS-Transactions, and BPEL), are then examined in the context of this discussion in order to emphasize their scope, benefits, and shortcomings. Thus, the book is ideally suited both for professionals considering the development of application integration solutions and for research and students interesting in understanding and contributing to the evolution of enterprise application technologies.
Evaluating IgY recovery in rumen fluid and its potential role in performance and neutrophil function in lactating Holstein cows

A series of experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of a spray dried egg (SDE) product from chickens vaccinated against mammalian enteric pathogens on in vitro disappearance of immunoglobulin Y (IgY) from rumen fluid and on performance of cows fed the product. In two separate in vitro experiments we incubated rumen fluid with SDE, an extract of SDE, or starch-encapsulated SDE for different amounts of time and used ELISA to measure IgY disappearance. The objectives of Experiment 1 were to determine IgY recovery from a SDE extract and SDE encapsulated with 50% starch following 6 h of incubation in rumen fluid. We also wanted to determine if recovery was influenced by the addition of total mixed ration (TMR) to the in vitro system. Recovery of IgY from the extract was 26% at 6 h, however, with the addition of TMR, 52% of IgY was recovered at 6 h. Recovery of IgY from starch-encapsulated SDE did not differ from recovery of IgY from the extract . Experiment 2 was conducted to determine IgY recovery from SDE incubated for up to 24 h in rumen fluid with TMR. Recovery of IgY decreased from 47% at 6 h to 25% at 12 h with numeric decreases to 15% and 14% at 18 h and 24 h, respectively. Based on this recovery data we predicted that approximately 50% of IgY from SDE should escape digestion in the rumen and be available to bind with intestinal
Gait changes as the result of deformity reconstruction surgery in a group of adults with lumbar scoliosis.

STUDY DESIGN This was a prospective analysis of adult spinal deformity patients having fusions from the thoracic spine down to L5 or the sacrum. Gait analysis was performed before surgery and 1 and 2 years postoperatively, as was questionnaire analysis. OBJECTIVES To compare the preoperative and postoperative gait of revision and primary patients having long fusions to the distal lumbar spine or sacrum with that of a group of able-bodied adults. The experimental hypothesis was that both patient groups would have significantly compromised preoperative gait and gait endurance compared to the able-bodied group and that significant changes would be noted in both groups at 1 and 2 years postoperation. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA Spinal reconstructive surgery is often performed on adults with progressive lumbar spinal deformities. These patients can be divided into two major groups. The first are those patients who have degenerative changes superimposed on idiopathic scoliosis (primary patients) without previous operative treatment; the second are those patients who have already had a long fusion to L4, L5, or the sacrum (revision patients). METHODS Twenty-nine women participated in the investigation (8 primary, 12 revision, 9 able-bodied controls). A gait analysis was performed before surgery and 1 and 2 years postoperation. Walking endurance (time) was estimated from a submaximal graded treadmill exercise test. Motion variables describing the gait of the subjects, as well as gait speed, were determined. The SRS, Oswestry questionnaires, and an analog pain scale were also administered. RESULTS The primary group showed no adverse changes in lower extremity kinematics after surgery, and their gait speed improved such that it was not significantly different from the able-bodied group at 2 years postoperation. The revision group displayed lower extremity gait kinematics that were significantly different from the able-bodied group before surgery, but were no longer different from the able-bodied 2 years after surgery. They also had a significant increase in gait endurance. Questionnaire data indicated significant improvements for both groups after surgery. CONCLUSIONS Objective gait data quantifying the efficacy of reconstructive spinal surgery in both primary and revision patients indicated improved gait. Gait endurance was improved in the revision group, and gait speed for the primary was not significantly different from able-bodied at 2 years postoperation. Clinically, it would appear that rehabilitation strategies to improve gait endurance and gait speed could be implemented to further improve the gait of these patients.
The identification of quantitative trait loci for sucrose and stachyose content in soybean seed

Sucrose is a desirable sugar in soybean seed that affects the quality and taste of soyfoods, while stachyose is a non-digestible sugar that induces flatulence in nonruminant animals. Therefore, soybean cultivars with high sucrose and/or low stachyose would be valuable for soyfood and meal markets. The objectives of this study were to identify quantitative trait loci (QTL) or genes associated with seed sucrose and stachyose content using simple sequence repeat (SSR) or single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers. A low sucrose line, MFS-553, was crossed with a high sucrose plant introduction, PI 243545, to develop the sucrose QTL mapping population. A total of 626 random SSR plus 5361 SNP markers covering 20 soybean chromosomes were used to screen the parents MFS-553 and PI 243545, 209 SSR and 2016 SNP markers were polymorphic, of which, 97 SSR markers were used to screen the F2:3 population and 2016 SNP markers were used to screen the F3:4 population derived from MFS-553 x PI 243545. A normal stachyose cultivar, Osage, was crossed with a low stachyose line, V99-5089, to develop F3 mapping population for genetic study of stachyose content. A total of 34 SSR and 56 SNP markers on chromosome 10 and 11 were used to screen the parents Osage and V99-5089, 10 SSR and 18 SNP markers were polymorphic. Of these, 5 SSR and 16 SNP markers were used to screen the F3:4 lines derived from Osage x V99-5089. For phenotyping the sugar profile, seed of F2:3, F3:5 and F3:6 lines from MFS-553 x PI 243545 and seed of F3:5 and F3:6 lines from Osage x V99-5089 were analyzed for sucrose and stachyose using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The sucrose content in MFS-553 x PI 243545 cross fitted to a normal distribution whereas stachyose content in Osage x V99-5089 appeared to fit to a bimodal distribution. Composite interval mapping (CIM) and multiple interval mapping (MIM) were performed to map the QTLs in the MFS-553 x PI 243545 population. Three QTLs for seed sucrose were mapped to chromosome 5, 9, and 16, explaining 46%, 10% and 8% of phenotypic variation for sucrose content, respectively. For the stachyose mapping, data revealed a major and a minor QTL on chromosome 11 and 10 explaining 81% and 11% of phenotypic variation for stachyose content, respectively. Chi-square tests further indicated that these two QTL represent two independent genes for stachyose content. Molecular markers and QTL/genes for sucrose or stachyose content identified from this study can be used for marker assisted selection in breeding soybean lines with desired sugar profile. This thesis is approved for recommendation to the Graduate Council.
Chromate Transport and Retention in Variably Saturated Soil Columns

Most subsurface contamination passes through the unsaturated zone before reaching an aquifer; however, transport studies are often conducted under saturated conditions because of the difficulty in maintaining steady‐state flow. Chromate migration was measured in coarse‐textured, oxide‐rich sediment under different water contents using vacuum and centrifuge techniques to obtain a steady‐state unsaturated flow regime. Leaching solutions contained 0.5 or 1.0 mM Cr(VI) and tritium in artificial groundwater. Breakthrough curves (BTCs) were modeled using CXTFIT assuming equilibrium conditions, since evaluation of data using a “two‐region” physical nonequilibrium model indicated that mobile water was >90% regardless of saturation level. Dispersivity increased nonlinearly with decreasing water content. Retardation (R) increased with decreasing water content, but water content had little effect on the distribution coefficient calculated from R, Kd‐app The average Kd‐app of all Cr(VI) experiments (water content range: 0.07–0.43 cm3 cm−3) was 0.633 mL g−1, very similar to the distribution coefficient derived from batch equilibration, Kd (0.684 mL g−1). Though results in both transport systems were similar, average solute residence times in the vacuum system were 4 to 23 times longer than in the centrifuge system at comparable water contents. The centrifuge system column experiments could also be run over a greater range in volumetric water content (0.07–0.42 cm3 cm−3) than the vacuum column system (0.23–0.43 cm3 cm−3).
Muscular and Skeletal Anomalies in Human Trisomy in an Evo‐Devo Context Using 3‐D Imaging and Anatomical Dissections, with Notes on Down Syndrome, Cyclopia and Medical Implications

We report the muscular and skeletal abnormalities observed in a very rare and precious 28‐week human Trisomy 18 cyclopic fetus, and compare this individual with other humans with Trisomy 18 (Edwards syndrome) as well as with Trisomy 13 (Patau syndrome) and Trisomy 21 (Down syndrome), in the first detailed systematic musculoskeletal comparison of these three important syndromes. Our observations, comparisons, and literature review allow us to examine and discuss similarities and differences from the individual to the syndrome level; to delineate the muscle anomalies caused by aneuploid syndromes; to identify those muscular traits which are diagnostic for each one of the common aneuploid syndromes; to help chart the morphogenetic pathways of these diagnostic anomalies; and to assess the variability (descriptive and quantitative) shown by the diagnostic muscular defects in the different aneuploid syndromes. Importantly, this work comes at a time when there is a rising need for comparisons between vertebrate model organisms and humans in the relatively new and increasingly important field of evolutionary developmental biology, so the novel data presented and discussed here will contribute to a better and transformative understanding of both “normal” and abnormal development, evolution, birth defects, cyclopia and trisomies, and anatomical variations, and will thus have crucial medical implications.
Demographic trends in Sweden: An update of childbearing and nuptiality up to 2002

In the present note, we display the main features of recent trends in vital family-demographic behavior in Sweden. We update previously published indexes of marriage, divorce, and childbearing risks by calendar year in order to cover the developments up trough 2002, adding another two to three years of observation to our series.
Megasporogenesis and megagametogenesis in species of Annonaceae, the largest family of early-diverging angiosperms

ABSTRACT There are few data on female embryology of Annonaceae (Magnoliales), and nothing for the genera Duguetia and Guatteria. We describe megasporogenesis and megagametogenesis of seven species of Annonaceae, indicating similarities and differences that are useful for taxonomic and phylogenetic analyses of the family. Ovules were analysed using light microscopy. The ovules are bi-tegmic, perichalazal and anatropous, except in Duguetia furfuracea (anacampylotropous ovules). In the young crassinucellate ovule, an archesporial cell differentiates to become a megasporocyte and a linear tetrad of megaspores is produced after meiosis. The three micropylar megaspores degenerate and the chalazal one produces the megagametophyte. Three mitoses produce eight nuclei and seven cells: three antipodals, two synergids, an egg cell, and a binucleate central cell, resulting from the migration of two nuclei to the central region. This development is characteristic of the Polygonum type. The species studied exhibit considerable uniformity in female embryological development, corroborating data found in the literature.
Yizo Yizo as 'Entertainment-education' : television and social change : conversations

Yizo Yizo is a local drama series that was aired on SABC1 in 1999. The second series, Yizo Yizo2, was aired on the same channel in 2001. The media coverage and public debate that 'the series' elicited contributed towards contextualising it as an educative programme emanating from the national public service broadcaster's education arm. As a product of SABC Education, 'the series' aimed to highlight the crisis in education and to promote dialogue about some of the issues affecting young people attending some township schools. The article examines the role of the series in promoting 'dialogue' and assesses the way in which 'entertainment-education' has been used to advocate social change. It demonstrates the series' progression from 'exposing the crisis in education' to 'offering solutions' to the problems identified. Moreover, the article illuminates the series' engagement with a 'learnercentred' approach and draws parallels with the "problem-posing" approach (Freire, 1970). In connecting the text and context, the article adopts a cultural studies approach to engaging television as a means to bringing about social change (development).
Correlation Studies in Guar

Sixty-four indigenous varieties of guar (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba) were studied in respect of different plant characters with a view to find out some character which would show association with yield. Yield was highly correlated with pods per plant, clusters per plant, branches per plant and pod length. Partial correlations of yield were significant with clusters per plant, pods per plant, branches per plant and 100 seed weight. Multiple correlations indicated that about 65 per cent. of the variability in yield was due to clusters per plant, ppds per plant and 100 seed weight, while about 90% of the variability in yield was accounted for by the variables, clusters per plant, pods per plant and branches per plant. It appears that these characters may be used for selecting high yielding plants in guar.
Executive Publishers

The olfactory sense is a potent sensory tool which helps us perceive our environment much better. However, smells despite being similar have different impacts on individuals. What makes one odor categorically different from the other and why do people have a unique and personalized experience with smell is an answer that needs to be addressed. In the present article we have discussed the research in which neuroscientists have decoded and described how the relationships between different odors are encoded in the brain. How the brain transforms information about odor chemistry into the perception of smell is a major highlight of this publication. Carefully selected odors with defined molecular structures were delivered in mice and the neural activity was analyzed. It was observed that neuronal representations of smell in the cortex reflected chemical similarities between odors, thus allowing the brain to categorize scents. The study has employed chemo informatics and multiphoton imaging in the mouse to demonstrate both the piriform cortex and its sensory inputs from the olfactory bulb represent chemical odor relationships through correlated patterns of activity. The research has given us cues in the direction of how the brain translates odor chemistry into neurochemistry and eventually perception of smell.