Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Lectin characterization of the gastrointestinal tract of three Nigerian passerine birds

The avian gastrointestinal tract was characterized using lectin cytochemistry Concanavalia agglutinin (Con A) and Arachis hypogea agglutinin, Peanut agglutinin (PNA). The apical cell boundaries of surface epithelial cells of both the proventriculus and ventriculus, the duct and glandular neck cells of the proventriculus, the intestinal brush borders, the surface epithelial cells of the sheep abomasum and the chief cells of the sheep abomasum were stained by Con A and PNA. The intracytoplasmic granules of the duct and glandular neck cells of the proventriculus, those of the chief or principal cells of the ventriculus, those of the goblet cells of the ileum, colon and cloaca and those of the chief and surface epithelial cells of the sheep abomasum were stained by PNA. Gastro-intestinal endocrine cells and the parietal cells of both the avian gut and the sheep abomasum were not stained by either lectins. The cytochemical results indicated that those cells stained by the two lectins have both a-D- mannose or a-D-glucose and b-galactose- (1,3)-N-acetyl-galactosamine residues in their membranes. Those stained by either of the two lectins had either of the two sugars as components of their cell membrane and their granules. Goblet cells were heterologous. The duct and glandular neck cells of the proventriculus, the chief cells of the ventriculus, the goblet cells of the ileum, colon, cloaca, and the chief and surface epithelial cells of the sheep abomasum had similar intracytoplasmic granules.
Robust Optimization-Based Commodity Portfolio Performance

This paper examines the performance of a naïve equally weighted buy-and-hold portfolio and optimization-based commodity futures portfolios for various lookback and holding periods using data from January 1986 to December 2018. The application of Monte Carlo simulation-based mean-variance and conditional value-at-risk optimization techniques are used to construct the robust commodity futures portfolios. This paper documents the benefits of applying a sophisticated, robust optimization technique to construct commodity futures portfolios. We find that a 12-month lookback period contains the most useful information in constructing optimization-based portfolios, and a 1-month holding period yields the highest returns among all the holding periods examined in the paper. We also find that an optimized conditional value-at-risk portfolio using a 12-month lookback period outperforms an optimized mean-variance portfolio using the same lookback period. Our findings highlight the advantages of using robust optimization for portfolio formation in the presence of return uncertainty in the commodity futures markets. The results also highlight the practical importance of choosing the appropriate lookback and holding period when using robust optimization in the commodity portfolio formation process.
Ontogeny and adaptation : a cross-sectional study of primate limb elements

How primates achieve their adult skeletal form can be ascribed to two broad biological mechanisms: genetic inheritance, where morphological characters are regulated by an individual's phenotype over development; and plastic adaptation, where morphology responds to extrinsic factors engendered by the physical environment. While skeletal morphology should reflect an individual’s ecological demands throughout its life, only a limited amount of published research has considered how ontogeny and locomotor behaviour influence limb element form together. This thesis presents an investigation of long bone cross-sectional shape, size and strength, to inform how five catarrhine taxa adapt their limbs over development, and further, evaluate which limb regions more readily emit signals of plasticity or constraint along them. The sample includes Pan, Gorilla, Pongo, Hylobatidae and Macaca, subdivided into three developmental stages: infancy, juvenility and adulthood. Three-dimensional models of four upper (humerus and ulna) and lower (femur and tibia) limb elements were generated using a laser scanner and sectioned at proximal, midshaft and distal locations along each diaphysis. Three methods were used to compare geometry across the sample: 1) principal and anatomical axis ratios served as indices of section circularity, 2) polar section moduli evaluated relative strength between limb sections and 3) a geometric morphometric approach was developed to define section form. The results demonstrated that irrespective of taxonomic affinity, forelimb elements serve as strong indicators of posture and locomotor ontogenetic transitions, while hindlimb form is more reflective of body size and developmental shifts in body mass. Moreover, geometric variation at specific regions like the midhumerus was indistinguishable across all infant taxa in the sample, only exhibiting posture-specific signals among mature groups, while sections like the distal ulna exhibited little or no intraspecific variation over development. Identifying patterns of plasticity and constraint across taxonomic and developmental groups informs how limb cross-sections either allometrically or isometrically scale their form as they grow. These findings have direct implications to extant and extinct primate research pertaining to body mass estimation, functional morphology and behavioural ecology.
Choice of microsatellite markers for isolation of fertility restorers of wild abortive (WA) type cytoplasmic male sterility in rice

Simple sequence length polymorphism was examined in a set of eight effective restorers, four partial restorers, two weak maintainers and four complete maintainers of WA type CMS system in rice using a set of thirty-two microsatellite primer pairs in order to assess the nature and extent of genetic variation among them at molecular level. Altogether 248 allelic variants were detected with an average of 7.75 alleles per primer pairs. Polymorphic information content ranged from 0.508 for RM 6737 to 0.882 for RM 1 with an average value of 0.740 per primer pair. Amongst the primer pairs used, RM 1, RM 206, RM 591 RM 3873 and RM 8146 had remarkably higher number of allelic variants with greater gene diversity and genotype discrimination ability. Using similarity coefficient in numerical taxonomic approach of classification, the entries were differentiated and classified into different groups. Analysis based on molecular profiles allowed discrimination of effective fertility restorers from rest of the entries including partial fertility restorers, weak sterility maintainers and complete sterility maintainers. Principal coordinate analysis based two dimensional plotting of genetic profiles completely supported the results obtained from hierarchical classification of entries and effective fertility restorers were distinctly discriminated from the remaining entries. Four microsatellite primer pairs namely, RM 171, RM 315, RM 3873 and RM 6100, which allowed unambiguous discrimination of the eight effective fertility restorers from rest of the entries. These microsatellite primer pairs, may be further utilized in identification of effective fertility restorers of WA based CMS system in rice.
Supercooling Point of Selected Developmental Stages of Culex pipiens pallens (Diptera: Culicidae)1

Abstract Culex pipiens pallens Coquillet is an important public health pest and can spread various mosquito-borne infectious diseases. To assess the cold resistance of Cx. pipiens pallens, the supercooling points (SCPs) and freezing points (FPs) of Cx. pipiens pallens, including 1st through 4th larval instars, pupae, and male and female adults, were identified in the laboratory. SCPs of Cx. pipiens pallens ranged from −18.0353 to −7.9854°C. SCPs differed significantly among larvae, pupae, and adults (F = 338.434, df = 170, P < 0.05), but did not differ significantly between male (−17.9173 °C) and female (−18.0353 °C) adults. The mean SCPs of the imaginal stage were much lower than those of larvae and pupae. Unlike SCPs, the FPs of Cx. pipiens pallens, ranging from −12.8777°C to −5.5550°C, were not significantly different from 1st instars through the pupal stage, but were much higher than those of the imaginal stage (F = 29.92, df = 170, P < 0.05). These results suggest that Cx. pipiens pallens has the potential to spread farther northward into higher-latitude regions in China.
Free radical induced oxidative DNA damage

Oxidative DNA damage has been implicated in processes such as carcinogenesis, mutagenesis, ageing and cell death. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) such as superoxide (0 2 ), hydrogen peroxide (H20 2) and hydroxyl radical (OH*) are produced in mammalian cells as a result of aerobic metabolism. However excess generation of these species by endogenous or exogenous sources can result in damage to DNA, producing a large number of sugar and base lesions. In order to understand the biological consequences of such free radical induced damage it is essential to characterise and quantitate this damage. This study describes the establishment of sensitive and specific techniques to chemically characterise and quantitate three markers of oxidative DNA damage, namely: cis-thymine glycol (Tg), 5-hydroxymethyluracil (5-OHMeU) and 8-hydroxyguanine (8-OHG). Techniques using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) were established for Tg and 5-OHMeU, following their derivatisation with N-methyl-N(tert-butyldimethylsilyl) trifluoroacetamide (MTBSTFA). Standards of Tg and 5-OHMeU were synthesised, and stable isotopically labelled analogues were prepared as internal standards. Analysis of the DNA was carried out at the base level and therefore required acidic hydrolysis of the DNA in order to release the modified and intact bases. For the quantitation of 8-OHG a novel procedure using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) electrochemical detection (ECD) with guanase incubation of DNA hydrolysates was established. The established assays were used to quantitate DNA lesions in vitro and in vivo. In vitro dose response curves were established for the three markers upon y-irradiation of DNA. In vivo results of an animal inhalation study indicated there was not a significant increase in oxidative damage upon exposure to crocidolite. An antioxidant supplementation study in humans placental DNA also did not show a significant reduction in levels of the three markers upon supplementation. Comparable background levels of Tg and 5-OHMeU were observed in human and calf thymus DNA, while 8-OHG levels were found to be significantly higher.
A cross-sectional study on the stress level and demographics of hospital workers

This study aims to know the stress level of the respondents, the comparison and relationship between stress level and demographic profile of the respondents. This study uses a cross-sectional research design; total enumeration is utilized with 295 hospital workers. This study used a survey as the primary data gathering tool. Statistical test used were frequency, percentage, median, Mann-Whitney, Kruskal-Wallis, and Kendall-tau. The median reveals a score of 14.00 for the level of stress of the respondents. Test of difference between stress level across their profile reveals: For sex Mann-Whitney U test shows a score of U (293)= 11165.50 p= 0.13. For age Kruskal-Wallis H test shows X2 (3)= 7.69, p= 0.06; for monthly income Kruskal-Wallis H test shows X2 (5)=8.45, p= 0.13; for department assigned Kruskal-Wallis H test shows X2 (5)=26.56, p= 0.01. For the test of the relationship between stress level and age and monthly income of the respondents, Kendall-tau reveals a score of Tb=-0.10, p= 0.03, and Tb= -0.06, p= 0.22, respectively. The respondents are experiencing a healthy amount of stress; the stress level of the respondents are not dependent on their sex, age, and monthly income, instead stress level is dependent of the department of assignment, in which nurses are experiencing more stress among the profession of the respondents; finally, monthly income has no influence with the stress level of the respondents, but their age has a minimal reverse influence on their stress level.
Influence of GA and SADH on Naptalam Uptake by Wheat and Soybean Seedlings

The uptake of naptalam (N-1-naphthylphthalamic acid) by wheat (Triticum vulgare L. ‘Mericopa’) and soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr. ‘York’) was enhanced when the herbicide was applied simultaneously with SADH (succinic acid-2,2-dimethylhydrazide). Both root and shoot systems of growth regulator-treated plants exhibited enhanced herbicide uptake. Naptalam uptake by wheat seedlings was also stimulated by GA (gibberellic acid), but the GA influence in this respect was less dramatic than that of SADH. The uptake of the herbicide by soybean was not influenced by GA.
3D VIRTUAL MODELS FOR AN EARLY EDUCATION SERIOUS GAMING APPLICATION

Visualization and conceptualisation of 3D objects are complex cognitive processes which are regarded essential from pre-school education to develop abilities linked to spatial and 3D thinking. The focus of this paper is to discuss the use of a virtual 3D environment as a pedagogical serious gaming platform that may help intensify learning processes. Recently, serious games are gaining popularity not only as games, but as promising educational tools too. This paper presents the creation of a simple ‘serious game’ where several tasks can be constructed that promote the 3D spatial thinking in pre-school education. Specifically, the creation of the virtual environment from a pre-school’s indoor and outdoor environment was performed using geodetic and terrestrial laser scanning techniques. To increase the geospatial sense of pre-school children within the virtual environment, an application was developed with simple educational tasks within the 3D environment. The templates, for each section of the gaming application, have been developed using HTML5 and CSS3, in order that they are interactive and accessible to all smart devices. The paper concludes with a discussion on the experience gained towards supporting spatial thinking for pre-school children.
Radiotherapy-induced depigmentation in breast cancer patients without prior history of vitiligo: A review

Vitiligo is a relatively commonly acquired disorder of pigmentation characterized by the development of well-defined white macules on the skin. Estimated prevalence rates range from 0.1 to 2% in both adults and children. [1] Biopsy of the skin lesion reveals a loss of epidermal melanocytes. It has a profound impact on the quality of life of both adult and paediatric patients, especially in the dark skinned. [2] The underlying aetiology of vitiligo is multifactorial. Patients commonly attribute the onset of their disease to specific triggering events such as physical injury or illness, sunburn, emotional stress, or pregnancy, but there is no data supporting a causative role for these factors. The underlying cause can be genetic, biochemical, immunological, or autoimmunity. [3] Radiation-induced melanocyte loss has been described in the literature in patients with preexisting vitiligo, which manifests as patches of vitiligo within the radiation portal. However, new-onset vitiligo triggered by radiation in patients without prior history of the disorder is a rare occurrence. We present a similar case of breast cancer that developed depigmentation within the confines of radiation portals two months post radiotherapy. This is the fifth such case in breast cancer that the authors report and seventh one across all sites. We also discuss the various hypotheses proposed for vitiligo and review all the cases reported in the literature.
Development of a kinetical investigation method using adsorption kinetic models for selection and optimization of flocculation process

ABSTRACT Different adsorption models were developed and employed to evaluate and predict the flocs formation rate and consequently the sedimentation rate. Furthermore, a novel analysis procedure for the selection and optimization of the flocculation process was established. Using the pseudo-second-order model the capacity of flocculants for adsorption on a solid surface can be predicted. The rate of flocs sedimentation is proportionally related to the size of the flocs. Hence, the rate of flocs sedimentation was predicted by the rate of their formation. Besides, the rate of formation of flocs was evaluated by the justification of intraparticle diffusion and the Smoluchowski analysis.
Strategic Patenting: Evidence from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit

How should businesses adjust strategic patenting to changes in patent law? Theoretically, under particular conditions, if the legal protection of patents is stronger, incumbent businesses would reduce patenting. When the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit assumed jurisdiction over patent appeals, it strengthened the legal protection of patents. Importantly, the strengthening varied geographically by judicial circuit. Exploiting these changes as a natural experiment, we find that post-CAFC, patents were more valuable commercially but not technologically superior, businesses reduced patenting, and new entry fell. The reduction in patenting was more pronounced among continuations, larger businesses, and in less concentrated industries.
Isolation and Identification of Two Algae-Lysing Bacteria against Microcystis aeruginosa

Algae blooms present an environmental problem worldwide. In response to the outbreak of harmful algal blooms in cyanobacteria, the role of biological control has drawn wide attention, particularly for algicidal bacteria. The mechanism underlying algicidal activity was determined in our study. Algae-lysing bacteria used were separated from water and sediment collected from the Fenhe scenic spot of Taiyuan. Genetic and molecular identification was conducted by polymerase chain reaction amplification based on 16S rDNA gene. These bacterial strains were identified as Raoultella planticola and Aeromonas sp. The algae-lysing characteristics were evaluated on Microcystis aeruginosa. For the two algicidal bacteria, the high inoculation ratio (>8%) of bacteria strains contributed to the lytic effect. M. aeruginosa could be completely removed by these strains at different cell ages. However, the time used decreased with an increase in cell age. The removal rate was increased while M. aeruginosa was in the lag and logarithmic phases. The earlier bacteria strains could be inoculated, the sooner all algae could be removed. Both algicidal substances were protein, which could destroy the photosynthetic systems and break the cell of M. aeruginosa. The algicidal bacteria strain has important theoretical and practical significance for economic and feasible algae removal and provides good germplasm resources and technical support for the control of cyanobacterial bloom.
Performance of growing pigs subjected to lighting programs in climate-controlled environments

ABSTRACT The objective of this research was to evaluate the thermal comfort, physiological responses and performance of pigs in the growth phase, subjected to supplemental lighting programs in air-conditioned environments, in semiarid region of Pernambuco state, Brazil. Twenty-seven pigs (3/4 Duroc, ¼ Pietrain) were subjected to pens with no climate control, pens with forced ventilation and pens with adiabatic evaporative cooling, associated with 12 h of natural light, 12 h of natural light + 4 h of artificial light and 12 h of natural light + 6 h of artificial light. The experimental design was completely randomized, in a 3 x 3 factorial arrangement with three repetitions. Meteorological responses, physiological responses and performance variables of the animals were recorded. The evaporative cooling system attenuated the action of the stressors and ensured adequate thermal conditions for the animals. Respiratory rate and rectal temperature indicated that evaporative cooling ensured the maintenance of homeothermy. Weight gain and feed conversion were positively influenced for the animals exposed to evaporative cooling, but without significant effect of lighting programs.
Molecular Phylogeny and DNA Amplification Fingerprinting of Petunia

Seed of five species of petunia and 10 cultivars of Petunia xhybrida were obtained from several sources and plants were fingerprinted using DNA amplification fingerprinting (DAF). Within some species, variable fingerprints were generated between individual plants from the same seed source and/or different sources. Consistencies were found among DAF profiles by bulking the leaf tissue from 10 different plants, but not five plants. Each of 10 octamer primers used during the study revealed polymorphic loci between the species and cultivars. Among the 201 bands produced, 146 (73%) loci were polymorphic and these could be used to distinguish between each of the species and cultivars. Scoring for presence and absence of the amplified bands was used to generate a phylogenetic tree and to calculate the pairwise distances between each of the taxa using parsimony (PAUP) analysis. The tree generated using DAF molecular markers separated P. axillaris from P. parodii (two white-flowered species), and distinguished between the violet-flowered species, P, inflata, P. integrifolia, and P. violacea.
Comparison of Sedentary Time Between Thigh-Worn and Wrist-Worn Accelerometers

Background: The accuracy of wrist-worn accelerometers in identifying sedentary time has been scarcely studied in free-living conditions. The aim of this study was to compare daily sedentary time estimates between a thigh-worn accelerometer, which measured sitting and lying postures, and a wrist-worn accelerometer, which measured low levels of movement. Methods: The study population consisted of 259 participants (Mage = 62.8 years, SD = 0.9) from the Finnish Retirement and Aging Study (FIREA). Participants wore an Axivity AX3 accelerometer on their mid-thigh and an Actigraph wActiSleep-BT accelerometer on their non-dominant wrist simultaneously for a minimum of 4 days in free-living conditions. Two definitions to estimate daily sedentary time were used for data from the wrist-worn accelerometer: 1) the count cutpoint, ≤1853 counts per minute; and 2) the Euclidean Norm Minus One (ENMO) cutpoint, <30 mg. Results: Compared to the thigh-worn accelerometer, daily sedentary time estimate was 63 min (95% confidence interval [CI] = −53 to −73) lower by the count cutpoint and 50 min (95% CI = 34 to 67) lower by the ENMO cutpoint. The limits of agreement in daily sedentary time estimates between the thigh- and cutpoint methods for wrist-worn accelerometers were wide (the count cutpoint: −117 to 243, the ENMO cutpoint: −212 to 313 min). Conclusions: Currently established cutpoint-based methods to estimate sedentary time from wrist-worn accelerometers result in underestimation of daily sedentary time compared to posture-based estimates of thigh-worn accelerometers. Thus, sedentary time estimates obtained from wrist-worn accelerometers using currently available cutpoint-based methods should be interpreted with caution and future work is needed to improve their accuracy.