Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Phytosterol content in seven oat cultivars grown at three locations in Sweden

The total and individual sterol content in 21 oat samples (seven cultivars grown at three different locations in Sweden) were analysed by gas chromatography after acid hydrolysis. The total sterol content in these oat cultivars varied between 350–491 µg g−1 of dry weight of kernel. The most abundant phytosterol was β-sitosterol (237–321 µg g−1) followed by campesterol (32–46 µg g−1), Δ5-avenasterol (15–47 µg g−1) and stigmasterol (11–21 µg g−1). There was a statistically significant difference in total sterol content between cultivars (p < 0.05) but no effect was found for cultivation location. Furthermore when contents of Δ5-avenasterol in hexane-extracted oat oil and acid-hydrolysed oat samples were compared, it was noticed that the content of Δ5-avenasterol was lowered due to acid hydrolysis. © 1999 Society of Chemical Industry
Synergistic effect of adding lignin and carbon black in poly(lactic acid)

Antistatic packaging is a very important sector since the electrostatic discharge of electronic devices can damage and/or disable these products. In addition, it is essential to dispose of this packaging correctly. In this work, the synergistic effect of the addition of lignin and carbon black on the development of antistatic and biodegradable packaging was verified. In this study, PLA was mixed with lignin and carbon black and the composites were prepared using a high-speed thermokinetic homogenizer where the melting of the PLA and the blend with fillers occurred by friction. The composites were characterized by Izod impact tests, scanning electron microscopy, thermal properties, electrical characterization and biodegradation tests in garden soil. The results show that lignin is a great option to accelerate the biodegradation of PLA in the garden soil and the carbon black acts as an antistatic agent reducing the electrical resistivity of the composites.
Composição tecidual e centesimal e teor de colesterol da carne de cordeiros terminados em confinamento com dietas contendo níveis crescentes de resíduo úmido de cervejaria

The purpose of this experiment was to evaluate the influence of different levels of substitution of the concentrate by brewery's residue on the tissue composition, centesimal composition and cholesterol content in the meat of lambs finished in feedlot. Twenty-five male, non castrated Texel lambs were used, distributed in five treatments, which consisted in the levels of brewery's residue replacing concentrate, being 0%, 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% of substitution. Diet's composition was Tifton-85 hay and concentrate mixture, in a relation roughage:concentrate of 40:60, on dry matter (DM). The concentrate was composed of corn ground grain, soybean meal, mineral mix and brewery's residue, and its proportion varied in accordance with the treatments. The diets were formulated to be isoproteics, based on the crude protein (CP) level of the treatment with the higher level of residue. The lambs were slaughtered after 77 days of experiment. It was observed, in the section between 9th and 11th ribs, that the weights of bone, muscle and fat had linearly decreased, and the proportion of muscle had linearly increased with the increase of the level of the residue. There was a linear increase in the proportion of humidity in the Longissimus dorsi muscle with the increase of the brewery's residue on the lamb's diets.
How sleep-mediated memory consolidation modulates the generalization across talkers: evidence from tone identification

Recent studies showed that sleep-mediated memory consolidation facilitated learners’ generalization across talkers in their perception of novel stop contrasts. Lexical tone is characterized by high variability across talkers. Thus a similar effect of overnight consolidation could be found for perceptual learning of novel tonal contrasts. This study aims to examine whether overnight consolidation facilitates talker generalization in the identification of novel Cantonese level tones by Mandarin listeners. Two groups of Mandarin listeners were perceptually trained either in the morning or in the evening using stimuli from one talker. Their post-training changes and generalization to a novel talker were then tested in three posttests over 24 hours using stimuli from the trained and untrained talkers. The results showed that the evening group showed an improved trend in identifying the level tones produced by both the trained and untrained talkers; in contrast, the morning group showed a declining trend. The finding of identification changes over time suggests that overnight consolidation might have assisted learning of tone stimuli produced by the novel talker, and eventually facilitated the formation of a more talker-independent representation of novel tone categories in long-term memory. The findings have implications for understanding the mechanism of speech learning and plasticity.
Pulses in Ethiopia, their taxonomy and agricultural significance

The book is the first in a series of publications on Ethiopian useful plants. It treats 19 papilionaceous crops, both from a taxonomic and an agricultural standpoint. Special chapters are dedicated to the physical and biological environment, the agro-ecological regions in which the country can be divided, the agricultural systems, and some taxonomic problems with special reference to 'cultivar' taxonomy. The extensive botanical description of each taxon is accompanied by a full-page drawing, photographs of the seeds, lists of synonyms, literature and names, and details on taxonomic problems, occurrence, ecology, husbandry, uses and protein content. Indices on common and scientific plant names are added.
Worker cooperatives for social change: knowledge-making through constructive resistance within the capitalist market economy

ABSTRACT This article explores worker cooperatives’ possibilities and challenges of knowledge-making through constructive resistance within the capitalist market economy. Based on qualitative material from five Swedish worker co-ops, the analysis reveals that the co-ops’ constructive resistance encompasses knowledge-making by setting an example – that it is possible to organise businesses that challenge dominant capitalist undertakings. The knowledge-making is however limited in scope due to contextual circumstances related to the market economic system wherein the co-ops act. This stresses the importance of exploring the resistance context and also the links between knowledge-making and constructive resistance.
Examining Risk-Reduction Behavior Toward Water Quality Among Restaurant Guests

Globally, there is a growing concern about health threats from water pollution and its effects upon products used in the restaurant food preparation process. Thus, the use of contaminated water for commercial food preparation represents a high source of risk for disease-causing illnesses upon human health in both developed and developing countries. Using the Protection Motivation Theory, a convenience sampling of n = 506 Chinese residents and visitors, defined as non-Chinese residents born and socialized in cultures outside of China, who dined in restaurants within a major Chinese metropolitan area, were used to determine how guests responded to perceived threats of consuming contaminated food products used for menu items tainted by impure tap water during the food and beverage preparation process. Perceived water quality concerns were found to manifest a fear appeal that initiated two protection motivation dimensions representing threat appraisal (severity and vulnerability) and coping appraisal (response-efficacy and self-efficacy), with severity and self-efficacy receiving the highest perceptual concerns. Results documented that when restaurant guests perceived a high level of self-efficacy, they were more likely to dine out regardless of perceived risks about unsafe restaurant water quality issues. All relationships involving threat and coping appraisal, and risk-reduction behavior toward dining out were significantly different between restaurant guests representing Chinese residents and non-Chinese residents. Findings revealed that threat appraisal upon risk-reduction behavior toward dining out were positively stronger for non-Chinese residents.
A Comparison of Barley Malt Osmolyte Concentrations and Standard Malt Quality Measurements as Indicators of Barley Malt Amylolytic Enzyme Activities1

This study was conducted to test the hypothesis that barley malt osmolyte concentration (OC) would correlate better with malt α-amylase, β-amylase, and limit dextrinase activities than do the standard malt quality measurements (malt extract, diastatic power [DP], α-amylase activity as measured by the ASBC method, soluble/total protein [S/T], and β-glucan concentration). Seeds of four two-row and four six-row elite North American barley cultivars were steeped and germinated in a micromalter for 6 days. At intervals of 24 hr throughout germination, green malt was removed, kilned, and assayed for individual amylolytic activities, standard measures of malt quality, and OC. Over all days of germination for all cultivars combined, malt OC correlated well with α-amylase, β-amylase, and limit dextrinase activities (r = 0.891, 0.659, and 0.889, respectively; P < 0.0001). With all cultivars combined, most standard measures of malt quality did not correlate as well with malt amylolytic enzyme activities as did OC (low to high correlations with α-amylase activity [S/T: r = 0.676, P < 0.0001; β-glucan concentration: r = −0.840, P < 0.0001]; β-amylase activity [S/T: r = 0.385, P = 0.0068; β-glucan concentration: r = −0.597, P < 0.0001]; and limit dextrinase activity [S/T: r = 0.636, P < 0.0001; β-glucan concentration: r = −0.847, P < 0.0001]). Two expected exceptions were α-amylase activity as measured by the ASBC method, which correlated better with α-amylase activity as measured by the Megazyme method than did OC, and DP, which correlated better with β-amylase activity than did OC. In general, combined two-row cultivar malt OC and standard malt quality measurements correlated better with individual amylolytic enzyme activities than those measurements of combined six-row cultivars, and in general, OC correlated better with amylolytic enzyme activities than did standard malt quality measurements of combined two- or six-row cultivars. With individual cultivars, no malt quality measurement correlated consistently better with amylolytic enzyme activities, although OC correlated consistently well. Overall, with populations of cultivars malt OC was usually a consistent and better indicator of individual malt amylolytic enzyme activities than were standard measures of malt quality, supporting the tested hypothesis.
Factors Affecting Choice of Diurnal Roost Site by Tree-Hole Bats (Microchiroptera) in Southeastern Australia

Tree-hole bats are adaptable enough to roost in cavities in man-made structures if these approximate natural hollows. Commonalities between occupied sites in buildings and trees were examined in an attempt to identify the factors involved in their selection by bats. Eptesicus vulturnus, Chalinolobus morio, Nyctophilus geoffroyi, N. gouldi and Mormopterus planiceps all selected roosts with entrances and cavities having one dimension not much larger than themselves. None were far from water and, although there were significant differences between species values of some roost attributes, the similarities between them are probably more important. A high degree of variability in most measured attributes suggests that none of these species is highly selective. Colony size was variable, but tended to be small and segregated by sex and species. Possible reasons for these behaviours are discussed. The implications of these findings for management and research are considered and a design for an artificial roost is presented.
Transformation of Tomato with the Melon 3-Hydroxy-3-Methylglutaryl Coenzyme A Reductase Leads to Increase of Fruit Size

The expression of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase (HMGR) is involved in the determination of final fruit size of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.). We developed transgenic tomatoes that over-expressed the melon (Cucumis melo L. reticulatus) Cm-HMGR-CD gene, which encodes the catalytic domain of HMGR. The derived transgenic plants expressed Cm-HMGR-CD. Flow cytometric analysis revealed that cell division and/or elongation in the fruit pericarp during early fruit development was induced more rapidly in the transgenic plant than in the wild-type control. The fruit size in transgenic plants was larger than that in controls. The growth of fruit pericarp also enhanced in transgenic plants. These results suggest that HMGR might stimulate pericarp development by activation of cell division and/or elongation (differentiation), and thereby affects fruit size. In addition, the constitutive expression of Cm-HMGR-CD affected plant morphology. Thus, transgenic plant growth was suppressed and the leaves accumulated higher levels of chlorophyll, as compared to wild-type control plants.
School-Based Resources as Protective Factors from the Influence of Parental Incarceration on Depressive Symptoms

Although research on the deleterious effects of parental incarceration is extensive, few studies have examined factors that may attenuate these consequences. This study uses data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health to examine the relationship between experiencing parental incarceration during childhood and depressive symptoms in young adulthood. Most importantly, it considers the degree to which this relationship is moderated by the availability of secondary-school-based resources. Results suggest that the consequences of parental incarceration on depressive symptoms are weaker for adolescents who attend schools that provide emotional counseling or nursing services on school premises or employ at least 50 percent of teachers with a master’s degree or higher. These findings suggest that the availability of school resources contributes to adolescents’ long-term resilience despite facing adverse circumstances.
The use of a sequential batch testing procedure and ELISA to determine the incidence of five viruses in Victorian cut-flower Sim carnations

A sequential batch testing procedure was used in conjunction with ELISA to estimate levels of virus incidence in Victorian cut-flower 'Sim' carnations. The industry was surveyed for five viruses, namely; carnation mottle virus (CarMV), carnation etched ring virus (CERV), carnation vein mottle virus (CarVMV), carnation latent virus (CarLV) and carnation ringspot virus (CarRSV). CarMV was the most prevalent virus (9.9%), and lower levels of CERV (0 2%), CarVMV (0.1%) and CarLV (0.1%) were detected. CarRSV was not detected in any of the samples tested. Levels of CarMV were lower than in a previous survey in 1985, suggesting that the Plant Improvement Program which has been in operation in Victoria has been instrumental in reducing the incidence of this virus. Growers who purchased cuttings from specialist propagators had lower levels of virus than propagators who implemented little or no quality control. Growers who introduced pathogen-tested cuttings at regular intervals also had lower levels of virus infection.
Relations between Reservoir Hydrology and Crappie Recruitment in Alabama

Abstract The relation between reservoir hydrology and recruitment of black crappies Pomoxis nigromaculatus and white crappies P. annularis was examined in 11 reservoirs throughout Alabama from 1990 to 1996. Estimates of recruitment were derived from catch rates of age-1 fish in the fall with trap nets and from residuals associated with catch-curve regressions of age 3–7 fish captured in the spring with electrofishing gear. Reservoirs were separated into three hydrologic categories: (1) eight reservoirs with short retention (volume/discharge) times (2–9 d) that fluctuated less than 1 m/year; (2) two reservoirs with longer retention times (44–55 d) that generally fluctuated 1.8 and 4.6 m/year; and (3) one reservoir that fluctuated 1.8 m/year with a relatively short retention time of 15 d. In the reservoirs with low retention times and stable water levels, greater year-class production was related to low winter (January–March) retention before crappie spawning and to higher postwinter (April–December) retent.
Genetic diversity of Cannabis sativa germplasm based on RAPD markers

Random amplified polymorphic DN A (RAPD) markers were generated from 13 cultivars and accessions of Cannabis sativa L. Approximately 200 fragments generated by 10 primers of arbitrary sequence were used to assess the level of DNA variation. Statistical analysis was performed using the Dice coefficient of similarity and principal coordinate analysis. The grouping of the accessions according to the cluster analysis was in good agreement with their origin and lines with common ancestors were grouped together. Principal coordinates 1 and 2 revealed a clear separation of Italian and Hungarian germplasm and a third group, including a mixture of genotypes coming from different places; the third coordinate separated the Korean group which is probably the most divergent germplasm. Variability within the two cultivars ‘Carmagnola’ and ‘Fibranova1’ was also shown, suggesting good possibilities for long–term selection work. RAPD markers provide a powerful tool for the investigation of genetic variation in cultivars/accessions of hemp.
Flexibility in timing of the metamorphic molt by fiddler crab megalopae Uca pugilator

The larvae of many invertebrate taxa can delay metamorphosis for considerable periods of time in the absence of specific stimuli for settlement. This study tested the hypothesis that the duration of the megalopal stage of fiddler crabs can be adjusted by several days depending on the availability of some habitat components. The hypothesis that megalopae can delay the metamorphic molt was tested by comparing the proportion of individuals molting to the first crab instar in aquaria containing only filtered seawater to that in aquaria with mud, sand, and/or an adult crab, near the predicted time of molting. The hypothesis that molting can be advanced was tested by comparing the proportion of sibling larvae molting at intervals throughout the megalopal stage in aquaria containing only filtered seawater or seawater plus an adult crab, mud, and sand. Megalopae delayed molting unless 2 stimuli were present: an adult crab and sediment, either mud or sand. The metamorphic molt was advanced in the presence of both these cues, although contact with the sediment by the adult crab appears necessary for maximal effect. Flexibility in timing of molting and the requirement for more than one cue can increase the chance that megalopae settle and molt to the first crab instar in appropriate adult habitats.
Bacterial and fungal diseases in the major potato-growing areas of Tunisia

In a two year survey of Tunisian rustic potato stores, the losses were nearly equally distributed between dry rots induced by Fusarium solani and watery wound rot or leak caused by Pythium aphanidermatum and P. ultimum. Symptoms of leak were different from those normally induced by Pythium spp. Surveys of the growing potato crop confirmed the prevalence of these pathogens, which caused wilt and internal vascular stem necrosis. Most rotted progeny tubers also exhibited leak symptoms caused by P. aphanidermatum. Hardly any Erwinia diseases were found in Tunisia. The incidence of diseased plants was significantly higher in fields with successive cultivation of solanaceous crops, which may be attributed to a high rate of soil infestation by wilt-inducing pathogens such as Pythium spp. , F. solani and Verticillium dahliae. The health of seed potatoes also played a significant role, affecting the incidence of rot in potato stores as well as in the soil before plant emergence. Therefore, Tunisian integrated management programmes for potato diseases should focus on soil disinfestation with appropriate crop rotation as well as seed quality and treatments.
Influence of Radiotransmitters on Fecal Glucocorticoid Levels of Free-Ranging Male American Kestrels

Abstract Although radiotelemetry is considered a valuable technique for ornithological field studies, several assumptions have been made about the impact that transmitters may have on the estimation of behavioral, ecological, and reproductive parameters. To assess the potential effects of backpack radiotransmitters, we captured and assigned 8 male American kestrels (Falco sparverius) into 2 groups: radiotagged (n = 6) and control individuals (leg-banded, n = 2). Thereafter, we collected feces approximately 2 hours after capture (day −1), and subsequently during days 0 (releasing day), 4, 7, 15, 30, 40, and 55. Prior to fecal analysis, we validated the corticosterone enzyme immunoassay using standard procedures (e.g., parallelism, dose-response curve), and we confirmed physiological significance of fecal glucocorticoid metabolites through adrenocorticotropin challenge, which induced an increase of 4-fold (446.10 ± 60.73 ng/g) above baseline (114.27 ± 15.23 ng/g) within 4 hours (P < 0.001). Both groups exhibited a significant increase in fecal glucocorticoids during day 0 (P < 0.001), but concentrations returned to preattachment values within 4 days. Fecal glucocorticoid concentrations did not differ between samples of radiotagged and leg-banded kestrels (P > 0.05). In spite of the small number of monitored subjects, these findings suggested that radiotransmitters did not affect adrenocortical activity in these male American kestrels.
Language interference in English-Chinese simultaneous interpreting with and without text

Abstract This study investigated the effect of source language interference during English-Chinese simultaneous interpreting (SI) with and without text by examining the relationships between manifestations of language interference and interpreting modes. A corpus-based descriptive approach was used to investigate language interference during English-Chinese interpreting at various sessions of the United Nations General Assembly. An intermodal comparison was carried out in three dimensions, addressing (1) the general linguistic properties of the interpreted texts; (2) the distribution of reformulation strategies; and (3) strategies for interpreting passive constructions and attributive clauses, two structures representing structural asymmetries between English and Chinese. The results indicated that the interpreted texts produced by SI with text and SI without text showed different degrees of language interference.
Nonlinear Dose–Response Modeling of High-Throughput Screening Data Using an Evolutionary Algorithm

Nonlinear dose–response relationships exist extensively in the cellular, biochemical, and physiologic processes that are affected by varying levels of biological, chemical, or radiation stress. Modeling such responses is a crucial component of toxicity testing and chemical screening. Traditional model fitting methods such as nonlinear least squares (NLS) are very sensitive to initial parameter values and often had convergence failure. The use of evolutionary algorithms (EAs) has been proposed to address many of the limitations of traditional approaches, but previous methods have been limited in the types of models they can fit. Therefore, we propose the use of an EA for dose–response modeling for a range of potential response model functional forms. This new method can not only fit the most commonly used nonlinear dose–response models (eg, exponential models and 3-, 4-, and 5-parameter logistic models) but also select the best model if no model assumption is made, which is especially useful in the case of high-throughput curve fitting. Compared with NLS, the new method provides stable and robust solutions without sensitivity to initial values.