Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Milli Gauss pursed Magnetic Field Applied Phosphate Buffeted Saline Solution Elevates Intracellular Ca2+ Level and Stimulates Phagocytic Activity of Human Neutrophils

(1mG, 3Hz,1% duty ratio) for 60 min along with about 343 mG static magnetic field of the earth field vertical component, l2hours prior to the assay of phagocytic activity of neutrophils. Purified water was also exposed to milli Gauss pursed magnetic field8) and using this magnetized water, PBS was prepared with salts ingredients (designated as PMF-Water PBS). Neutrophils (polymorphonuclear cells) were prepared from two healthy doners 3hr prior to the assay according to the method described previouslyg). Neutrophils were preincubated with the pursed magnetic field applied PBS and control PBS. (neutrophil in culture medium RPMIl64o : PBS = 1:1). Measurement of the phagocytic activity was initiated by the addition of Latax particle as described previously9). Chemical luminescence was recorded using Luminescence Plate Reader ARGUS-so/MP (Hamamatsu Photonics Co. Ltd. Hamamatsu). Neutrophils were incubated with calcium indicator namely Fura2/AM (Dojindo Lab. Co. Ltd. Tokyo) in culture medium RPMIl640 for 45 min, then magnetized PBS or control PBS were added and intracellular Ca2+ concentration was recorded using Fluorescense Plate Reader includes 96-well dispenser, FDSS6000 (Hamamatsu Photonics Co. Ltd., Hamamatsu). Electric conductivity of each water in the beaker was measured certain interval for several days using conductivity meter (TOA DKK Co. Ltd. EC/ph METER WM-22E, Tokyo) as described previously8).
The growth of the lucerne plant after cutting: I. The effects of cutting at different stages of maturity and at different intensities

Variation in shoot number, shoot size, and yield of dry matter occurring in the regrowth from lucerne plants cut at different stages of maturity and at different intensities is reported. The main effects of the treatments arose through variation in shoot number and changes in the time at which each shoot commenced extension growth; a linear regression utilizing this information about the population of shoots accounted for nearly all the variation in yield. Less severe, or later, cutting resulted in greater yields of dry matter in a 4 week period of regrowth. Changes in shoot number and shoot size both contributed to the variation in the yield of regrowth. Shoot size was mainly determined by the time at which the shoot resumed extension growth, and once such growth was resumed the shoot growth rate was apparently independent of the cutting treatment applied. The results are discussed in relation to currently held concepts on the role of "reserves" and of residual leaf area in promoting the regrowth of pasture plants. The development of lucerne adapted to grazing management is also considered.
Evolution of Vertebrate Flight: An Aerodynamic Model for the Transition from Gliding to Active Flight

I counter recent criticism against the arboreal theory of the evolution of flight in vertebrates. It has been stated, for instance, that incipient flapping during gliding would dramatically reduce lift, and that the generation of vortex rings by wing strokes must be a principal problem for animals to solve in evolving powered flight. The criticism is mostly unfounded and lacks adequate explanations. My model, based on quasi-stationary aerodynamics, shows that sufficient lift and a net thrust can be produced even during very slight flapping in a gliding animal. The model is constructed so that the various flight variables always combine in such a way that the vertical lift force produced during one complete wing stroke in partially powered flight by a hypothetical animal always equals the weight of the animal. Given this constraint, the model then explores whether there is any net horizontal thrust beyond that needed to balance body drag. The outcome is that, given certain flight variables, a net thrust will always be generated during partially powered flight. Any such thrust can be used to make the flight path shallower than it is in equilibrium gliding for the same animal. This strongly supports the arboreal theory of the evolution of flight in birds, bats, and pterosaurs, which includes a gliding stage before powered flight originated. The transition between gliding and flapping also can be easily explained by the vortex theory. As it travels, a gliding animal leaves a continuous vortex sheet which rolls up into a pair of vortex tubes. Slight flapping might create undulating vortex tubes of essentially the same character. During more powerful flapping and with the upstroke being a recovery stroke, or with the air meeting the dorsal side of the wings on the upstroke, providing thrust and negative lift, the vortex tubes become interrupted and roll up into vortex rings. My aerodynamic model applies to the transition from gliding to powered flight, regardless of the evolutionary path of the gliding behavior.
Species Extinction and Concomitant Ecological Changes in Lake Victoria

Lake Victoria's fish fauna included a large endemic flock of 300+ haplochromine cichlid species. About two-thirds of these species have disappeared or are threatened with extinction. The main cause of this large extinction event is predation by Nile perch, an introduced predator. We describe the decline of the haplochromine species and demonstrate that the rate and sequence of their decline was determined by their relative abundance, their adult size and their habitat overlap with Nile perch. Many non-haplochromine species declined as well, but in contrast, stocks of the native pelagic cyprinid Rastrineobola argentea and the introduced Oreochromis niloticus increased. There are also indications of an increase in phytoplankton, macrophytes, prawns and benthic organisms. Many of these rapid changes in the ecosystem were probably effects of the increase of the Nile perch and the disappearance of the haplochromines. The original fish fauna included many primary and secondary consumers. Currently secondary and tertiary consumers dominate. The food web in the sub-littoral and offshore areas of the lake changed considerably due to the stock replacements.
The effect of ryegrass variety on trace metal uptake

Abstract Trace metal deficiencies in soils can have adverse effects on plant production and animal health. Conversely, trace metals at elevated concentrations in soils can be phytotoxic. The exploitation of intraspecies variation in plant trace metal accumulation may be one way to manage both trace metal deficiency and phytotoxicity that can occur in some soils. An investigation was undertaken to determine the variation in Co, Cd, Ni, Cu, Zn, Mn, and Fe uptake in different ryegrass varieties. Eleven different ryegrass varieties were grown in a glasshouse experiment on two soils that contained elevated or background metal concentrations. We found that there was up to a 2.5‐fold range in trace metal concentrations between ryegrass varieties grown on the contaminated soil, with the short rotation/annual ryegrass varieties, i.e., ‘Flanker’, ‘Tabu’, and ‘Archie’, generally accumulating significantly smaller amounts of Cd, Zn, Ni, Mn, and Co than the other varieties tested. Metal uptake in the uncontaminated soil indicated much smaller differences between varieties. Dilution effects could in part explain the differences in metal concentrations between varieties for the contaminated soil, however there were no relationships between yields and trace metal concentrations for uncontaminated soil. It appears that there may be potential for selecting ryegrass varieties for the management of trace metal uptake in pasture soils, however further evaluation of results in field trials is required.
Learning Ratio Mask with Cascaded Deep Neural Networks for Echo Cancellation in Laser Monitoring Signals

Laser monitoring has received more and more attention in many application fields thanks to its essential advantages. The analysis shows that the target speech in the laser monitoring signals is often interfered by the echoes, resulting in a decline in speech intelligibility and quality, which in turn affects the identification of useful information. The cancellation of echoes in laser monitoring signals is not a trivial task. In this article, we formulate it as a simple but effective additive echo noise model and propose a cascade deep neural networks (C-DNNs) as the mapping function from the acoustic feature of noisy speech to the ratio mask of clean signal. To validate the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed method, we investigated the effect of echo intensity, echo delay, and training target on the performance. We also compared the proposed C-DNNs to some traditional and newly emerging DNN-based supervised learning methods. Extensive experiments demonstrated the proposed method can greatly improve the speech intelligibility and speech quality of the echo-cancelled signals and outperform the comparison methods.
Diet and Daily Consumption Rates of Rapana venosa (Valenciennes, 1846) (Gastropoda: Muricidae) from the Río de la Plata (Argentina-Uruguay)

ABSTRACT In this study we describe the feeding biology of the exotic predatory whelk Rapana venosa from the Río de la Plata when offered representative coastal bivalves from both soft and hard bottoms. Furthermore, we estimate daily consumption rates using two mussel species commonly found on local rocky outcrops and artificial reefs. R. venosa gastropods (n = 21; shell height (SH), 45–117 mm) were obtained by trawling in the Río de la Plata, and were kept in controlled laboratory settings. To describe its feeding behavior, 10 potential prey species were offered to the gastropods, including Mactra isabelleana, Erodona mactroides, Pitar rostratus, Donax hanleyanus, Mesodesma mactroides, Mytilus platensis, Brachidontes rodriguezi, Mytella charruana, Amiantis purpurata, and Crassostrea gigas. All prey species were consumed. The empty shells left after consumption frequently showed broken shells and rasp signatures on the edges, suggesting a prey attack by marginal chipping or a similar mechanism. This common pattern was not observed in A. purpurata or C. gigas. To explore potential effects of size on feeding behavior, the gastropods were separated into three size classes and offered M. platensis, B. rodriguezi, and M. charruana mussels. Small, intermediate, and large gastropods (SH <60 mm, 60–90 mm, and >90 mm, respectively) consumed comparable mussel size ranges. Small gastropods fed on prey sizes up to 30% larger than their size, whereas large gastropods consumed the largest mussel offered (SH, 78 mm). To estimate daily consumption rates, the 21 gastropods were fed with M. platensis and B. rodriguezi in individual tanks for 12 days. They ate 1.45 ± 0.67 SD mussels and 0.68 ± 0.65 g/day per gastropod. The proportion of tissue wet weight consumed did not change with prey species, but varied among the size classes of R. venosa. Small (<60 mm) and intermediate (60–90 mm) gastropods consumed a similar proportion of prey tissue (up to 12% of their tissue wet weight). In contrast, large gastropods (>90 mm) ate up to 5% of their tissue wet weight. This work is the first report of R. venosa feeding behavior and daily consumption rates in Argentina. The gastropods succeeded in attacking and feeding on a broad variety of local bivalve species characterized by noticeable differences in shell shape, size, and life habits.
Growth and morphological development of chub, Leuciscus cephalus (L.), during the first year of life

The growth and the morphological development of larvae and juveniles of chub, Leuciscus cephalus (L.), from a small stream of western Greece is described, based on field samples and laboratory-raised fish. In the laboratory, size hierarchy was developed and morphological differentiation occurred at a younger age in the fastest growing larvae. Growth was faster in the field and differentiation of fins and scales began at a larger size, but apparently at a younger age, than in the laboratory.
Effects of dietary crude protein level and sugar beet pulp inclusion on nitrogen excretion patterns in grower and finisher pigs

Diets with high and low protein content and with or without sugar beet pulp (SBP) were tested in grower and finisher pigs; SBP replaced wheat in grower and barley in finisher pig diets. Urinary N was lowered (P 0.10) by low-protein diets. In grower pigs, SBP lowered urinary N (P 0.10). Reduced dietary protein consistently reduced urinary N excretion, whereas effects of SBP inclusion were dependent on dietary protein content or replaced cereal grain. Key words: Excretion, fibre, nitrogen, pigs, protein
Safeguarding MTC at the Physical Layer: Potentials and Challenges

5G networks must provide a highly resilient, secure, and privacy-protected platform to support the emergence of new business and technologies expected from the so-called vertical-industry paradigm. However, as the definition and implementation of 5G networks are in progress, many security challenges arise. Thus, special emphasis will be given in the coming years to provide security and privacy for 5G and beyond networks. In this regard, physical layer security has been recognized as a potential solution to safeguard the confidentiality and privacy of communications in such stringent scenarios. In light of this, herein we provide an overview on some promising physical-layer techniques, focusing on the requirements and design challenges for machine-type communication scenarios. Key issues are discussed along with potential solutions.
Morphology and systematics of some rooted cheilostome Bryozoa

Summary The colony growth and structure of five ‘sand fauna’ species of cheilostome Bryozoa, all of which have been observed or inferred to possess anchoring rootlets, are described. The morphology of these forms is compared with some systematically related species which are not specifically adapted to ‘sand fauna’ environments. One new genus, Parastichopora, and two new species, Parastichopora vanna and Mucropetraliella cotyla, are introduced.
MagNetO: X-vector Magnitude Estimation Network plus Offset for Improved Speaker Recognition

We present a magnitude estimation network that is combined with a modiﬁed ResNet x-vector system to generate embed-dings whose inner product is able to produce calibrated scores with increased discrimination. A three-step training procedure is used. First, the network is trained using short segments and a multi-class cross-entropy loss with angular margin softmax. During the second step, only a reduced subset of the DNN parameters are reﬁned using full-length recordings. Finally, the magnitude estimation network is trained using a binary cross-entropy loss over pairs of target and non-target trials. The resulting system is evaluated on 4 widely-used benchmarks and provides signiﬁcant discrimination and calibration gains at multiple operating points.
Sublethal effects of aquatic pollution in Lake Maryût on the African sharptooth catfish, Clarias gariepinus (Burchell, 1822)

Some aspects of the physiology and biochemistry of the African sharptooth catfish, Clarias gariepinus (Burchell, 1822), were studied along with an array of physicochemical characteristics of the water in Lake Maryut, Egypt. Data were compared to those of a reference fish hatchery. At least 11 of the conventional water pollutants (Cd, Cu, Fe, Pb, Mn, Hg, Ni, Zn, turbidity, chemical oxygen demand and ammonia nitrogen) were elevated in the most polluted main basin of the lake. In turn, serologic analysis of the indigenous catfish C. gariepinus pointed at functional impairment of the liver, heart and kidney as reflected by the elevated activities of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, lactate dehydrogenase, creatine kinase, cholinesterase, glucose and creatinine. Reduced nucleic acid measurements [the ratio RNA/DNA and the relative RNA content (r)] indicated diminished protein synthesis and impaired growth in polluted fish. In some instances, glucose and nucleic acid measures were elevated in favour of fish from moderately polluted basins of the lake rather than in reference fish. Fish seemed to profit from the typical geographical habitat in the lake, regardless of the virtual contamination there, versus reference fish that seemed to suffer congestion stress and food competition in the confined and overcrowded commercial pond.
Explor﻿ing Factors Influencing Practice of Neonatal Resuscitation with Bag and Mask in Ethiopia: Analysis from 2016 National Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care Survey

Background Globally, more than 7 million children die under the age of five and the highest proportion of death is during the first 28 days of life. For babies who do not breathe at birth, neonatal resuscitation is critical in reducing intra-partum related neonatal deaths by 30%. Yet, there is a dearth of studies on the provision of neonatal resuscitation in Ethiopia. So, this study aimed to assess health facilities provision of neonatal resuscitation with bag and mask and its factors among asphyxiated newborns. Materials and Methods Data used were from the Ethiopian 2016 Emergency Obstetric Newborn Care survey, conducted in 3,804 health facilities providing maternal and newborn health services. The analysis included neonatal resuscitation with bag and mask in the previous 3 months before the survey. Descriptive statistics, simple and multivariable regression analyses were performed using SPSS-21 version. Results The analysis findings show that 72.2% of the health facilities were providing neonatal resuscitation with bag and mask. The result showed that hospitals (﻿adjusted ﻿odds ﻿ratio (AOR): 3.90; 95% ﻿confidence ﻿interval (CI) [2.05, 7.49]), health﻿-care providers not trained ﻿in neonatal resuscitation (AOR: 0.64; 95% CI [0.42, 0.99]) and availability of essential equipment (AOR: 1.32; 95% CI [1.15, 1.51]) were more likely to practice neonatal resuscitation. Conclusion Overall practice of health facilities on neonatal resuscitation with bag and mask was at 72.2%. Type of facility, providers trained ﻿in neonatal resuscitation and availability of essential equipments were independently affecting the practice of neonatal resuscitation. Incorporating competency-based training, refresher training, and clinical mentorship will improve the practice.
WeChat Usernames: An Exploratory Study of Users’ Selection Practices

As one of the most popular social networking applications in China, WeChat has recently attracted scholarly attention. To date, these studies have tended to concentrate on how it has been used as a social networking and emerging business model. However, little is known about the practices users follow when selecting usernames on WeChat. Using an onomastic lens, this study addresses this gap by examining 501 WeChat usernames. With data collected through an online survey, this study first investigates categories emerging from the name corpus and explores the reasons behind each of these categories. It then analyzes the sociocultural ramifications embedded within this use of names. As one of the first of its kind, the article provides key insight into how the interplay of online discourse, acquaintance networks, and Chinese culture contribute to the development of this important onomastic phenomenon.
COVID 19: concerns and preparedness among healthcare workers

Background: Coronavirus is emerging as a major threat to the global economy and psychology. The survey aims to know the concerns and preparedness of healthcare workers in the region of Punjab. Methods: An online anonymous survey of 22 item questionnaire was conducted over 124 frontline medical professionals in the region. Linear snowball sampling was done. Results: The major bulk of the study population were doctors and psychological unpreparedness and fear of increased exposure and contracting infection to the family came out to be the main concerns. While lack of enough skilled staff, essential protective equipment, and adequate support from authorities came out to be major loopholes in management strategies of the novel coronavirus. Conclusions: The authorities should provide enough encouragement and assistance mentally as well as in the form of diagnostic, protective, and remedial pieces of equipment. On the other hand, the up-gradation of preparedness plans cannot be ignored either.
Study of the Volatile Fraction of Parmesan Cheese

The aroma fraction of Parmesan cheese was studied on 21 samples of certified origin and aging. Volatile compounds were isolated using the dynamic headspace and simultaneous distillation-extraction techniques and analyzed by means of GC and GC-MS. A total of 167 compounds were identified: hydrocarbons (23), aldehydes (19), ketones (19), alcohols (29), esters (24), and acids (25) are the prevalent classes of substances. With the headspace technique the most volatile compounds were sampled, whereas the distillation-extraction technique was suitable even for long-chain carbonyl derivatives, acids, esters, and lactones, which are known to be important components of the flavor. In addition, free fatty acids and the volatile products of the lactic fermentation (ethanol, acetaldehyde, diacetyl, and acetoin) were determined
MORPHOLOGY OF VEGETATIVE AND RESTING SPORE VALVES OF STEPHANOPYXIS NIPPONICA

The marine diatom Stephanopyxis nipponica Gran & Yendo forms three types of valves, a vegetative and two resting spore valves, which are classified based on their overall morphology. The siliceous fine structure of these valves is described here for the first time using scanning electron microscopy. Although the two resting valves composing a resting spore possess different shapes, both have a similar fine structure. Furthermore, they are distinguished from vegetative valves in the following ways: (1) The external processes and their internal rimoportulae are clustered at the center of the resting spore valves, whereas the slender, tubular linking processes and their internal rimoportulae form a ring on the vegetative valves; (2) Resting spore valves do not possess an acceptant process for linking cells while vegetative valves always have such processes; (3) Scattered rimoportulae are present in resting spore valves, but absent from vegetative valves; (4) The cribral pores of resting spore valves form clu.