Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of Halal and Non-Halal Slaughtering Methods on Bacterial Contamination of Poultry Meat

This study was designed to investigate and compare the effect of halal (Islamic rules) and non-halal (non-Islamic rules) slaughtering methods on the quality characteristics of chicken. Ten village chickens weighing 0.9 1 kg of the same age and farm management were involved; five of them were slaughtered using the halal method, while the other five were slaughtered using the non-halal method by cutting only one side of the jugular vein and carotid artery. Bleeding time, death time, the volume of blood loss, microbial count of Standard Plate Count (SPC) and Coliform Plate Count (CPC) were determined immediately at and post-slaughtering. There was no significant difference in the microbial count of CPC between both slaughtering methods. Bleeding time, death time and SPC results for non-halal slaughtered chickens were significantly (p<0.05) higher than the halal slaughtered chickens, while the volume of blood lost was found significantly (p<0.05) lower for non-halal slaughtered chickens. These data suggested that non-halal slaughtered chickens could contain more residual blood in the meat that can lead to an increase in bacterial counts, consequently shortened shelf life.
Exercise motivators, barriers, habits and environment at an Indigenous community facility

ABSTRACT Purpose/Rationale: Increasing exercise participation is key to improving Indigenous health. The cultural relevance of exercise facilities impacts participation. We examined exercise motivators, barriers, habits, and environments experienced by Indigenous community exercise facility members. Design/Methodology/Approach: An existing Indigenous exercise questionnaire was adapted by Indigenous and non-Indigenous researchers and exercise facility staff. Members were invited to complete the study questionnaire online. Data were analysed through descriptive statistics. Findings: A total of 167 adults (45 Indigenous) completed the questionnaire. The main barriers were exercising with injury, finding time to exercise with family/caring commitments and exercising outside of the gym. The main reasons for membership were to improve health and fitness and for Indigenous participants, having a culturally appropriate facility. Research contribution: New knowledge on exercise barriers, habits and environment experienced by Indigenous peoples. Practical implications: Findings provide formative data to design culturally relevant exercise programs. Originality/Value: Culturally appropriate exercise facilities are important to Indigenous peoples and may increase participation.
Molecular systematics and phylogeography of the genus Echinops (Compositae, Cardueae–Echinopsinae): focus on the Iranian centre of diversification

A molecular phylogeny of the genus Echinops (Asteraceae, Cardueae) based on plastid and nuclear markers is presented. The study focuses on the Iranian representatives of the genus, which constitute a larger part of Echinops . The Bayesian cpDNA tree resulted in a large polytomy. However, the Bayesian ITS tree displayed a well-resolved topology more compatible with the taxonomic treatment generally accepted in Echinops . An ITS network illustrates a close relationship of haplotypes. Mapping diagnostic morphological characters onto the ITS tree revealed a high level of homoplasy among the studied taxa. Except for the life cycle, all other morphological characters evolved many times among the clades and most of them appeared to be of low taxonomical value. Based on the nucleotide polymorphism and haplotypes, the taxonomic status of some taxa was evaluated. The independent status of E. sect. Phaeochaete was confirmed by molecular analyses and morphological characters. The paraphyletic nature of E. sect. Echinops was confirmed. As for the molecular dating, our results suggest that the genus evolved in the early Miocene but the main speciation events took place in the Pliocene-Pleistocene. The biogeographic results do not support any specific ancestral area for Echinops , yet the model states that its current diversity originated in the Irano-Turanian Region and the Eastern Mediterranean region. Some taxonomic changes are suggested, in the synonymy and placement of some taxa.
dsmextra: Extrapolation assessment tools for density surface models

Forecasting the responses of biodiversity to global change has never been more important. However, many ecologists faced with limited sample sizes and shoestring budgets often resort to extrapolating predictive models beyond the range of their data to support management actions in data‐deficient contexts. This can lead to error‐prone inference that has the potential to misdirect conservation interventions and undermine decision‐making. Despite the perils associated with extrapolation, little guidance exists on the best way to identify it when it occurs, leaving users questioning how much credence they should place in model outputs. To address this, we present dsmextra, a new R package for measuring, summarizing and visualizing extrapolation in multivariate environmental space. dsmextra automates the process of conducting quantitative, spatially explicit assessments of extrapolation on the basis of two established metrics: the Extrapolation Detection (ExDet) tool and the percentage of data nearby (%N). The package provides user‐friendly functions to (a) calculate these metrics, (b) create tabular and graphical summaries, (c) explore combinations of covariate sets as a means of informing covariate selection and (d) produce visual displays in the form of interactive html maps. dsmextra implements a model‐agnostic approach to extrapolation detection that is applicable across taxonomic groups, modelling techniques and datasets. We present a case study fitting a density surface model to visual detections of pantropical spotted dolphins Stenella attenuata in the Gulf of Mexico. Predictive modelling seeks to deliver actionable information about the states and trajectories of ecological systems, yet model performance can be strongly impaired out of sample. By assessing conditions under which models are likely to fail or succeed in extrapolating, ecologists may gain a better understanding of biological patterns and their underlying drivers. Critical to this is a concerted effort to standardize best practice in model evaluation, with an emphasis on extrapolative capacity.
Electroanalytical study of infrageneric relationship of Lagerstroemia using glassy carbon electrode recorded voltammograms

An electrochemical fingerprint recording process has been developed for plant species identification and infrageneric relationship analysis. Electrochemical profiles of Lagerstroemia caudata, L. ambigua, L. speciosa, L. anhuiensis, L. balansae, L. minuticarpa, L. subcostata, L. indicas, L. fauriei, L. guilinensis, L. limii, Heimia myrtifolia and Lawsonia inermis were recorded using leaf extract under three buffer solutions. The voltammetric data recorded under different buffer solutions can be derived as a scatter plot and a 2D density pattern for species recognition. As the distribution of electrochemical active compounds in plants is controlled by genes, these fingerprints can reflect differences at the genetic level between species. The dendrogram deduced from the electrochemical fingerprint has been sed as evidence for infrageneric relationship investigation. The dendrogram deduced from electrochemical fingerprint indicates the Heimia myrtifolia and Lawsonia inermis were separated from other species, which is in a good agreement with their exotaxa position in this investigation. The intergeneric relationship deduced from data suggested the L. speciosa and L. indicas in a distant relationship.
Linkage disequilibrium and population structure in Fragaria chiloensis revealed by SSR markers transferred from commercial strawberry

The Chilean strawberry [ Fragaria chiloensis (L.) Mill. ] is the maternal progenitor of the commercial strawberry ( Fragaria ´ ananassa Duch.), which is characterized by fruits with high organoleptic quality and is well-suited to areas where drought and salinity represent a constraint on crop growth and productivity. We examined the patterns of linkage disequilibrium, genetic diversity and population structure among 54 accessions of F. chiloensis to understand the genetic basis of this species. We used a core microsatellite marker set (n = 95) from a consensus linkage map of strawberry. A transferability rate of 82.1% (78/95) was found, and 38 markers were selected for this study. The SSR primers produced a total of 259 alleles, which varied between 112 and 342 bp. Lower genetic diversity at the species level (H E = 0.17, Shannon’s index = 0.28) was found compared to previous studies of this species. No climatic region pattern for SSR diversity was observed. Structure analysis suggests that the accessions are grouped into three significantly differentiated clusters. Pairwise estimates of φ ST indicated a low degree of differentiation between the three genetic groups (φ ST = 0.023 to 0.06). These groups are in concordance with potential glacial refugia in the region, with many accessions being an admixture of them.
Testing species delimitation with larval morphology: scanning electron microscopy analysis of protonymphon larvae of two closely related sea spiders, Pallenopsis patagonica (Hoek) and Pallenopsis yepayekae Weis*

Abstract. We used scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to establish species-specific sets of characters for protonymphon larvae of two representatives of the ‘patagonica’ species group of Pallenopsis, P. patagonica and P. yepayekae. The larvae of both species are ‘typical’ protonymphon larvae sensu Bain (2003). Despite the close relationship of the two species, we observed numerous features that allow for differential diagnosis, e.g. general habitus, the number, arrangement and branching type of setules, the armature of the movable and immovable chelifore fingers, and the shape of the dactylus and setules of appendages II and III. SEM is particularly suitable for visualising these features. Our results further support the idea that protonymphon larvae can be identified to species level when adequate imaging techniques are used, as is also the case for larvae of other arthropods. Moreover, the status of the two studied species of Pallenopsis is fully supported by protonymphon larval morphology.
Evaluation of the Cullen Medik. genus for use as perennial pastures in low-rainfall Mediterranean climates of southern Australia

The germplasm collections of three putative perennial pasture species, Cullen australasicum, C. cinereum and C. tenax, were grown in a common garden to enable characterisation on the basis of a selection of morphological measurements and agronomically relevant traits. Hierarchical cluster analysis was used to define nine groups among the 45 C. australasicum accessions, five groups among the 27 C. cinereum accessions and six groups among the 22 C. tenax accessions. The characteristics and relationships among these groups is summarised and implications for further development of pasture cultivars from these species is discussed. The significance for ex-situ germplasm conservation of single member groups present in the analyses of all three species is highlighted.
Intrinsic defects, Mo‐related defects, and complexes in transition‐metal carbide VC: A first‐principles study

Intrinsic defects and Mo-related defects in vanadium carbide VC, as well as the defect complexes between vacancies and Mo defects were investigated by means of first-principles calculations within the framework of density functional theory. In addition, Mo diffusion in VC was also studied using LST/QST method. The formation energies of defects have clearly shown that except C vacancy (V C ) all other point defects are not energetic favorable compared to perfect VC. V C can exist in the lattice forming nonstoichiometric carbide VC x (x < 1), and also can stabilize the Mo-related defects (S Mo-V , S Mo-C , and T Mo ). Free Mo atoms have the strong tendency to enter the already formed V V and occupy the lattice position of V atoms. Meanwhile, Mo atom in C lattice (S Mo-C ) and interstitial Mo (I Mo ) atom can also enter the V V position stabilizing the lattice structure. S Mo-C + V V will transform into S Mo-V + V C and I Mo + V V will transform into S Mo-V during optimization, and large binding energy makes Mo atom tend to exist in the interstitial position. From the perspective of energy, Mo atom tends to diffuse through the interstitial position.
Comparative study of factors influencing tension lap splices in reinforced concrete beams

The practice of splicing reinforcing bars in reinforced concrete structures to manage insufficient bar length is a common approach, which is mainly due to transportation limitations on bar length. The splicing of reinforcing bars side by side offers a simple and economical solution to the problem of continuity. This paper examines the influence of different structural parameters such as concrete cover, lap splice length, shear links confinement and concrete strength on the lap splices based on an extensive experimental database of laps and anchorage. The current study shows that increasing the lap splices beyond 50∅ has no additional benefit for increasing its strength. The results also show that relative to the measured stress, specimens with larger concrete side covers shows higher splice stress compared to the samples with smaller concrete covers.
Isolation and characterisation of light harvesting complexes from bacteria of the genus Gemmatimonas

Photosynthetic bacteria are highly abundant. The isolation and characterization of the light-harvesting complex from the Gemmatimonas phototrophica AP64T which belongs to the seventh phylum of the evolutionary important (bacterio)chlorophyll-containing bacteria are reported here. The purification of the complex was achieved by gel-filtration and electrophoresis. HPLC was used for identification of the pigments. The protein subunits were further identified by MS analysis.
From Cheating to Learning: An Evaluation of Fraud Prevention on National Exams in Indonesia

Cheating reduces the signal value of exam data and it might shift the focus of teachers and students away from learning. However, it is difficult to prevent cheating if it is widespread. We evaluate the impact of computer-based testing (CBT) on national exam scores in junior secondary schools in Indonesia, exploiting the phased roll-out of the program from 2015 to 2019. First, we find that test scores decline dramatically after the introduction of CBT with school-level means declining by 0.4 standard deviation. Schools with response patterns that indicate cheating experience an increased drop in their test scores. Second, scores rebound within two years after introducing CBT, suggesting that barriers to cheating provide incentives for learning. Third, we find evidence of spillover effects from CBT within districts. Cheating declines more in schools that have not yet switched to CBT if more schools located in the same districts make the switch, suggesting that CBT not only eliminates cheating but makes it less socially permissible.
Generalized Poisson measures on topological spaces and applications

Abstract We introduce and study a marked Poisson random measure on a σ-compact Hausdorff space. The underlying parameters of this measure are changing in accordance with the evolution of some stochastic process. This random measure (also known as a modulated measure) resembles those of the conventional Poisson random measure. Among many applications, the one about Poisson random measures modulated by semi-Markov processes found in stochastic finance.
HSOA Journal of Alternative, Complementary & Integrative Medicine Medical Chi Kung in Energy Balance, Clinical Trial Randomized Study

The objective of this study is to evaluate the energy flow promoted by the application of medical Chi Kung therapy, having as comparison a group treated with acupuncture. The sample was 20 adult patients of both sexes, from a larger study, who sought treatment for temporomandibular joint dysfunction. They were divided into two groups: Treatment (patients who received medical Chi Kung therapy) and Control (patients who received acupuncture therapy). Four sessions were held for both groups, with one session per week. Chi Kung application followed a standard protocol. The following acupoints were used in acupuncture group: ST6, ST7, SI18, GV20, GB20, BL10, LI4. Energy measurements were conducted in both groups before and after therapy in all sessions using the Ryodoraku method. The analysis of results showed that the Treatment group presented a decrease in energy values in all meridians after each session with a tendency to equilibrium over the four sessions. The evaluation of the mean values of all meridians found that half showed negative variation and the other six remained stable. There was no statistical difference in the mean of the meridians for the Control group; however, the final mean energy value presented decrease over the four sessions. The use of medical Chi Kung therapy promoted a change in the mean of the energy flow in the meridians and provided energy balance, pattern different from that showed by acupuncture group.
Effect of TLR4 antagonist on immune responses of bovine endometrial cells

Bovine endometritis is one of the most common reproductive diseases and causes important economic losses. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from Gram-negative bacteria is recognized by Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4). Binding of LPS and TLR4 mediates the expression of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines. This study aimed to access the effect of TLR4 antagonist (RsLPS) on the immune responses of bovine endometrial cells. Primary culture of bovine endometrial cells were challenged with LPS (100 ng/ml) after treated with and without RsLPS (5000 ng/ml). Endometrial cells without RsLPS and LPS treatment served as control. The mRNA expression of TLR4, CD14, TNF, IL1B and IL8 were investigated by using qPCR. The secretory protein of IL8 was measured by using ELISA. As expected, LPS up-regulated the mRNA expression of TNF, IL1B, IL8 and the secretion of IL8 (p < 0.01). Meanwhile, endometrial cells pre-treated with RsLPS, after challenging with LPS showed an increased mRNA expression of all candidate genes (p < 0.05) except only CD14 compared to control group. Interestingly, the secretion of IL8 was significantly decreased in LPS challenged endometrial cells pre-treated with RsLPS (p < 0.01) compared to LPS treatment group. Our findings suggested that RsLPS may act as antagonist for TLR4 in bovine endometrial cells. Nevertheless, other signaling pathways may involve with the link between innate immune responses and TLR4 antagonist. Therefore, the signaling mechanisms of RsLPS that related to the expression of proinflammatory mediators should be further investigated.
Distribution update, conservation status and color in life of the rare Amazonian snake, Eutrachelophis papilio Zaher and Prudente 2019 (Serpentes: Xenodontini)

The rare Amazonian snake Eutrachelophis papilio is known from only five individuals, from four localities, belonging to its typeseries, the more recent collected over 10 years ago. Here, we expand its distribution and describe its color in life for the first time. We also provide an estimate of its distribution area using the minimum convex polygon method and identify the values of anthropic pressure within its known distribution range with the Human Footprint Index. The new occurrence is located 291 km from the nearest known locality and its distribution is associated with pristine forests. Considering its rarity, and the absence of demographic and biological data, we suggest that the species should be classified as Data Deficient by IUCN criteria.
The Work of Hermeneutic Phenomenology

This paper is an illustration of the application of a hermeneutic phenomenological study. The theory of meaning and interpretation, drawing on philosophical hermeneutics and the work of Gadamer and Heidegger, and its alignment with phenomenological thought is presented. The paper explains and aims to make visible how key concerns in relation to the fusion of horizons, hermeneutic understanding, hermeneutic circle and hermeneutic phenomenological attitude were implemented. The purpose is to provide practical guidance and illustrate a fully worked up example of hermeneutic phenomenological work as research praxis. This present paper makes a case that hermeneutic phenomenological work is detailed, lengthy, rigorous and systematic in its own philosophical and theoretical frame. It articulates the philosophical and methodological alignment of hermeneutics in a specific hermeneutic phenomenological study and makes visible the work of hermeneutic phenomenology. It concludes by sharing key reflections and insights on the hermeneutic phenomenological process.
Causes and consequences of liana infestation in southern Amazonia

Lianas, a key component of tropical forests, can limit growth of trees, impacting both the structure and functioning of forests, and are expected to benefit from fragmentation and potentially from global climatic changes. While it is critical to understand the impacts of liana infestation on contemporary tropical forests across large geographical areas, to date most liana studies have been focussed on single or few sites. We measured and quantified liana infestation of 16,066 trees with diameter ≥10 cm in 27 plots distributed across southern Amazonia, a region characterized by substantial ecological and environmental variation and environmental change. We examined the influence of potential drivers of liana infestation at the plot, species and individual tree level. Additionally, we evaluated the effect of liana infestation on tree growth. More than half of all trees had lianas in their crown. At the plot level, infestation by lianas was driven by forest structure but not by the studied climate or soil fertility variables, though low levels of liana infestation were found in seasonally flooded forests. At the tree level, larger and stouter trees had a greater proportion of their crown infested with lianas. At the species level, trees belonging to intrinsically slow‐growing, dense‐wooded species were more susceptible to liana infestation. Liana infestation had a negative impact on tree growth, with growth of heavily infested trees reduced by 33% compared to non‐infested. The impact of liana infestation on tree growth was strongest for the best‐lit tree crowns, indicating that lianas act to reduce the large competitive advantage that well‐lit trees otherwise hold over their neighbours. Synthesis. Lianas are a pervasive and influential feature of the extensive forests at the southern edge of Amazonia. The degree of liana infestation in forests was closely linked to species‐level variables such as potential growth and wood density as well as the size of the individual tree. The growth of heavily infested trees was particularly restricted by lianas, and especially so for trees growing in otherwise favourable conditions, indicating the potential for lianas not only to reduce forest growth rates overall, but also to modify competitive hierarchies among trees within tropical forests.