Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Inosculation potential of angiopoietin-4-immobilized pHEMA-based bone scaffolds

Although angiopoietin-1has potential therapeutic use in angiogenesis, the biological role of angiopoietin-4, especially in its immobilized form, is already unknown. In this study, vascularization potential of angiopoietin-4 either alone or in combination with vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) was investigated following its immobilization onto the poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate)-based bone scaffolds. Poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (pHEMA)-based superporous hydrogels (SPHs) were synthesized by radical polymerization of hydroxyethyl methacrylate in the presence of gelatin or chitosan and the porosity was achieved by gas foaming. However, only pHEMA-gelatin SPHs fulfill the structural and biological characteristics of a bone scaffold. Therefore, angiopoietin-4 and/or VEGF were immobilized successfully onto the pHEMA–gelatin SPHs using carbodiimide chemistry. The cell culture studies that were performed with human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) for 28 days showed that immobilized angiopoietin-4 supported sprout formation more than that of other groups, while the immobilized VEGF including scaffolds promoted proliferation of HUVECs.
Characterization of cellulase producing from Aspergillus melleus by solid state fermentation using maize crop residues

The production of cellulase by the yellowish orange sclerotia producing species, Aspergillus melleus UPAR01 on lignocellulosic material by solid state fermentation (SSF) was investigated. The first experiment was conducted to find out the colony radial growth rate (Kr) of fungus on solid medium using potato dextrose agar (PDA) and incubated at 30°C in the dark. The result shows that the average Kr value of A. mellues strain approximately was 0.77±0.03 cm/day. When the fungus was used to produce cellulase using maize crop residues as the sole carbon source by SSF at 30°C for seven day, the values of FPase, endoglucanase, b-glucosidase, and xylanase were achieved at 0.284±0.04, 9.45±0.33, 1.20±0.12, 12.58±0.08 U/mg protein, respectively. The optimal pH and temperature (°C) for the enzymatic activities was expressed by response surface methodology (RSM). The data shows that the optimum pH range was between 5.5 and 5.8 and the optimum temperature ranged from 53 to 59°C. In addition, none of the metal ions and ethylene-diaminetetra-acetic acid (EDTA) induced cellulase and xylanase activities. Key words: Aspergillus melleus, cellulase, solid state fermentation (SSF), maize crop residues.
Antioxidant Status, Organ Integrity and Lipid Profile of Carbon Tetrachloride Intoxicated Rats Following Pre-treatment with Methanolic Extract of Crossopteryx febrifuga Benth Leaf

Objective: To evaluate the antioxidant and organ protective activities Crossopteryx febrifuga Benth, in male albino rats. Methods: Animals were intraperitoneally pretreated with the methanolic extract of the leaf at 10mg/kg dose before intoxication with CCl4 (0.6mL/Kg). The hepatoprotective activity was assessed by measuring levels of aspartate aminotransaminase (AST), alanine aminotransaminase (ALT), packed cell volume (PCV) and hemoglobin (Hb), while the antioxidant status was monitored by levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase, and kidney function was evaluated by levels of urea and creatinine. Total cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol were determined spectrophotometrically at 540nm. Results: Compared to the CCl4 control group, pre-treatment with methanolic extract of C. febrifuga Original Research Article Atawodi et al.; ARRB, 5(6): 501-511, 2015; Article no.ARRB. 2015.053 502 leaves or vitamin E caused a significant (p<0.05) decrease in the levels of AST, ALT, urea, creatinine and total cholesterol with a concomitant boosting in the levels of SOD, catalase, HDLcholesterol, PCV and hemoglobin concentrations. Conclusion: These results suggest that C. febrifuga leaf contain substances that possess significant antioxidant, organ protective and hypolipidemic effects to justify its use in traditional medicine and further evaluation of its pharmacological properties.
Benthic Communities And Genetic StructureOf Caddisfly Stenopsyche Marmorata Along AMountain Stream Fragmented By Slit AndUnslit Sabo Dams

In order to assess the impacts of sabo dam (check dam) construction, species diversity of benthic faunal communities and genetic diversity of caddisfly Stenopsyche marmorata were investigated using microsatellite analysis along the Oisawa River, Japan. The Oisawa River is fragmented by two slit sabo dams and one unslit sabo dam. Over the slit dams, Shannon-Weiner diversity indices and number of taxa ranged from 0.90 to 1.02 and 13 to 15 respectively in the upstream region, and also from 0.98 to 1.18 and 13 to 20 respectively in the downstream region. Through microsatellite analysis of S. marmorata, we found two selective alleles, which show clear genetic differentiation among three upstream sites and four downstream sites in the study area. Longitudinal change of mean heterozigosities Ho showed a decreasing pattern of genetic diversity in the downstream site (=0.486 - 0.678), and it showed the highest diversity at the highest upstream site, which receives no effect of the unslit dam. Differences of community’s species compositions between sites were correlated to geographical distances whereas genetic distances between sites were not correlated to geographical distances, suggesting that species compositions of the communities were determined through the process of species adaptation to the local environment. We concluded that increments of species diversity at the inlet reaches of the slit dam were caused by the recovery of habitats, and by the continuousness of the stream which allows the flowing of particulate organic
A comparison of methods for the quantification of bacterial sulfate reduction in coastal marine sediments: III. Estimation from chemical and bacteriological field data

Rates of bacterial sulfate reduction are calculated from the accumulation of reduced sulfur compounds in coastal sediments. The method is found to underestimate the in situ metabolism 10‐fold because it neglects diffusional losses of produced sulfide. In relation to this result, the quantitative connection between the pyrite, HCl‐extractable iron, and organic carbon contents of the sediments and the intensity of sulfate reduction are disussed. A comparison is made between colony counts of sulfate‐reducing bacteria and the rate of sulfate reduction in coastal sediments. The number of bacteria is roughly proportional to their measured rate of metabolism both when different sediment types and different depths are compared. The colony counts, however, seem to underestimate the true numbers of sulfate reducers by 1000‐fold or more.
Genetic variation among laboratory accessions of Chinese Spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Chinese Spring (CS) wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is commonly used in genetic research including cytogenetic analysis, molecular mapping and germplasm development. Aneuploid lines of alien chromosomes in the CS background have been used in studies with diverse objectives. Thousands of genomic and complementary DNA sequences from expressed sequence tag (EST) libraries of biotic- and abiotic-stressed tissues are publicly available from CS. Gene expression analysis of salt-tolerant wheat lines, W4909 and W4910, compared with the CS common wheat background led to the discovery of several expressed sequences that were absent in the CS accession held in our laboratory. A survey of 20 CS accessions from 13 laboratories using the polymerase chain reaction with gene-specific primers for eight salt-responsive genes resulted in amplification success ranging from 15 to 100%. Amplified fragment length polymorphism analysis showed that 99% of the genetic variation was among the accessions while the remaining 1% was within the accessions. A neighbour-joining phylogram showed that four of the five CS accessions from the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) grouped with the salt-tolerant wheat cultivar Yecora Rojo while the remaining 16 CS accessions had limited genetic differences. Thus, variation exists among these highly self-pollinating CS sources, suggesting that appropriate consideration should be taken when using CS accessions to conduct molecular and genetic analyses.
Hierarchical control over seedling recruitment of the bunch-grass Themeda triandra in a semi-arid savanna

1. The persistence of populations of the economically important bunchgrass Themeda triandra in rangeland depends on seedling recruitment. A 2 5 -factorial field experiment in a single randomized block tested whether seedling recruitment of this grass in a semi-arid savanna would be enhanced by increased availability of seed, moisture, irradiance or gaps, or by decreased interference from vegetation; and evaluated which of seedling emergence, growth or first-year survival was critical for seedling establishment. 2. Availability of seed had an overwhelming influence on recruitment of T. triandra in a community where it was conspicuous but not dominant, increasing recruitment 37-fold despite dramatic effects of other treatments on the abiotic environment and sward structure. 3. Provided seed was available, shading increased seedling recruitment 7-fold by enhancing both emergence and seedling survival, because it conserved available moisture. Supplementation of moisture further improved recruitment of seedlings growing under shading by increasing their survival and growth during the first growing season. In turn, larger size conferred a survival advantage during the following dry season. Interference from established vegetation generally had a small effect on seedling recruitment, but decreased survival through the growing season of seedlings under shading. Both emergence and survival influenced seedling establishment. 4. There was a strong hierarchy amongst factors influencing seedling recruitment of T. triandra because of the magnitude of individual effects and the dependence of some factors on others. The overriding effects of seed and moisture availability suggest that recruitment of T. triandra may be vulnerable to heavy grazing, which would curtail seed input, during critical years of sufficient rainfall for recruitment.
Tribal relationships in Onagraceae: implications from rbcL sequence data

The evolutionary relationships among the seven tribes of Onagraceae, the most intensively studied family of intermediate size, have been examined from morphological and molecular perspectives. Previous cladistic analyses of chloroplast (cp) and nuclear ribosomal (nr) DNA restriction sites, nuclear-encoded rbcS amino acid sequences, nrRNA nucleotide sequences, and morphological characters, produced trees that agree in defining the tribe Jussiaeeae as the sister group to the rest of the family. However, the relationships among the rest of the tribes are not completely resolved by these analyses. Cladistic analyses of sequence data from the chloroplast encoded rbcL gene produced results that bear on two malor issues: (i) intertribal relationships within Onagraceae, and (ii) congruence with other cladistic analyses
Ephemerality as Data Prevention: Values for an Ethics of Ephemeral Mobile Media

Mobile media is a chief driver of digitizing locational information, geotags, and photos that are produced and collected as we communicate with and exist within our networks. But when these data are stored and recorded—in quantities that far exceed any of our abilities to manage—mobile technology denies our ability to actively forget. This article argues that digital ephemerality via mobile applications (i.e. Snapchat, Signal, Confide, and Facebook Messenger Secret) has emerged because of the granular possibilities for data retention enabled by mobile devices. Together these applications move towards a practice of preventing data from being stored and shared. In response, “data prevention” is proposed as an ethical framework for ephemeral mobile media, and is theorized with an eye toward the distributed agency inherent to networks. This ethics is positioned within a framework of distributed agency across stakeholders that draws most directly from actor–network theory, and three commonly articulated values—trust, transparency, and privacy—are proposed. These values help to define a system of networked practices within ephemeral mobile media that requires consideration of both human and non-human actors. Building sustainable ephemeral technologies necessitates aligning shared values amongst divergent stakeholders. The article concludes by motioning to LIMITS research, where data prevention might be included, linking and further intensifying shared values across technical and social concerns.
Employing Indigenous Methodologies to Understand Women’s Perceptions of HIV, Health, and Well-being in Quebec, Canada

Guided by an Indigenous Methodology and a participatory research approach, we explored the experiences and priorities of Indigenous women living in Quebec regarding HIV prevention and care, overall health, and well-being. We drew from our research process to identify recommendations for conducting research with Indigenous women. These lessons include: (1) incorporating culturally adapted methods (e.g., sharing circles, arts, ceremony) facilitated participants’ safety and comfort; (2) conducting numerous workshops was valuable in building trust; and (3) validating findings with participants was essential to ensuring that the knowledge, experiences, and priorities of Indigenous women were respected. Our research findings regarding the care needs and priorities of women emphasize the importance of peer-led groups, culturally rooted healing strategies, accessible harm reduction, and social supports. Participatory research, led by members of the communities concerned, imbues the research with local knowledge and wisdom, which ensures the relevance of the research, the appropriateness of its conduct, and enables its overall success.
Age, Growth and Other Population Characteristics of Bufo bufo from Different Latitudes and Altitudes

Five populations of common toads from different latitudes and altitudes in Europe were studied, mainly by skeletochronological annalysis of their phalanges. The toads from the populations from Germany, The Netherlands, Norway and Switzerland definitely concerned Bufo bufo bufo, those from the population from France might have concerned Bufo bufo spinosus. At metamorphosis, both sexes grow at the same rate in each population. Sexual dimorphism concerning growth becomes apparent at about the minimum age of maturation of male toads or one year before. Male toads can reach maturity at least one year before females can. Maturity can be reached when the growth rate is reduced to 21% of the growth rate at metamorphosis in males, and to 21%-28% of that in females, the latter dependent on the length of the sexual cycle. The proportion of sexually mature toads in each age class was estimated. The age at which 95% of the toads were estimated to be sexually mature corresponds with the average age at which the toads have reached 95% of their maximal size, except for toads with a biennial sexual cycle. The latter continue growth for longer. Toads from northern latitude (Norway) and high altitude (Switzerland) grow slower, may reach older ages and larger maximal sizes than those from southern latitude and low altitude (Germany and The Netherlands). The former toads also mature at older ages and at larger sizes than the latter. However, when growth is corrected for interpopulational differences in the seasonal activity of the toads, the former toads actually grow faster and the differences concerning the time at which maturity is reached no longer exist among the toads of the four populations mentioned. Male and female toads from these populations can reach maturity after having spent 1.09 (ranging from 1.07 to 1.15) and 1.55 (ranging from 1.50 to 1.59) years on growth respectively. In addition, the sexually dimorphic growth coefficient, which describes how growth proceeds, is also equal among those toads, ranging from 1.44 to 1.56 for males (average 1.48) and from 0.84 to 0.98 for females (average 0.92). The toads from France were exceptional in many ways. Among others, they grow much faster than the other toads, they can reach larger maximal sizes and mature only after having spent 1.77 (males) and 2.49 (females) years on growth. The growth coefficient found in these toads was also different, amounting to 0.80 for males and 0.54 for females. The geographical distribution of the common toad Bufo bufo bufo (L.) extends from North-West Africa over entire Europe (except for the extreme North, Ireland and the Mediterranean isles) to Japan (Angel, 1946; Mertens, 1947). However, in the South of Europe other varieties occur, in- cluding Bufo bufo spinosus Daudin which is most conspicuous by its large body size and the thorny warts on its back (Mertens, 1947). Although common toads usually oc- cur at low altitudes, they can be found up to an altitude of 2200 m in the Alps (Angel, 1946). Because of their extended distribution
Determination of Critical Periods in Ontogenetic Trajectories

Identification of ontogenetic shifts and thus potential critical developmental periods allows the formulation of testable hypotheses relating to the constraints faced by an organism during growth. A moving regression analysis was developed to discover and quantify the departures from single power-curve scaling that are frequently observed in ontogenetic data. To illustrate this approach, data on the scaling of brain weight in the albino mouse are reanalysed as a demonstration of the validity and usefulness of moving regression analysis. Data on egestion rate in the deposit-feeding marine annelid Capitella species I are then explored and modelled using a suite of statistical methods combining moving regression, scatterplot smoothing and piecewise regression. The model is then used to construct hypotheses relating to the ontogeny of energetic constraints in Capitella sp. I. We conclude that these methods provide a powerful and general approach for the functional analysis of ontogenetic
Population response to landscape changes depends on specialization to different landscape elements

A landscape consists of a mosaic of different landscape elements. The structure and composition of the landscape, as well as the changes in them, influence the distribution, abundance and dynamics of different species (Morris 1995, Wiens 1995). Surprisingly, many studies assume that the preferred habitat fragments are isolated from one another by a hostile matrix, i.e. a divided landscape (Addicott et al. 1987), even though fragments are parts of the landscape mosaic and the surrounding matrix might also be used (Andren 1994). Individuals may utilize several different landscape elements during their daily activity and, thus, experience the landscape as heterogeneously undivided (Addicott et al. 1987). Therefore, if one assumes that the species perceives the landscape as divided (Addicott et al. 1987) but the species actually uses the matrix as well, then the effect of landscape changes on population size will be misinterpreted. Thus, the degree to which a species is specialized in utilizing different landscape elements will affect the numerical population response to landscape changes. Here we present alternative models to test the effect of landscape changes on different types of species. Sometimes the landscape can be described as divided (Addicott et al. 1987). The simplest explanation for the decline in population sizes as fragments become smaller and more isolated is that small fragments can be considered as random samples from larger ones (Connor and McCoy 1979, Haila 1983). However, sometimes the decline in population size is greater than predicted from the random sample hypothesis and degree of isolation and fragment size influence population size, i.e. there are true fragmentation effects (Andren 1994, 1996). There seem to be thresholds in the proportion of preferred habitat in the landscape where the change in population size is suddenly greater than predicted from the random sample hypothesis, i.e threshold for habitat fragmentation (Andren 1996). The threshold value will depend on, for example, the area requirements and dispersal distances typical for members of each species (Lande 1987, Andren 1996, Bascompte and Sole 1996, Pagel and Payne 1996). Thus, we also include the numerical population responses due to pure habitat loss and true effects of fragmentation in the model.
Unité et diversité chez les Hypotriches (Protozoaires ciliés). I: Approche morphogénétique par l'étude de quelques formes peu différenciées

Du point de vue morphologique les hypotriches se distinguent des Heterotriches par l'existence de cirres ventraux. D'un point de vue morphogenetique ils sont traditionnellement caracterises par une serie de particularites de positionnement des ebauches. Trois parmi les especes etudiees ici, Plagiotoma lumbrici, Parastrongylidium martini n.g. n.sp. et Kahliella bacilliformis sont a la limite de la definition morphologique des hypotriches parce qu'ils ne presentent pas de differenciation ventrodorsale marquee. La 4eme espece etudiee Hypotrichidium conicum presente une dynamique morphogenetique typique des hypotriches
ARS: Adaptive Robust Synchronization for Underground Coal Wireless Internet of Things

Clock synchronization is still a vital and challenging task for underground coal wireless internet of things (IoT) due to the uncertainty of underground environment and unreliability of communication links. Instead of considering on-demand driven clock synchronization, this paper proposes a novel Adaptive Robust Synchronization (ARS) scheme with packets loss for mine wireless environment. A clock synchronization framework that is based on Kalman filtering is first proposed, which can adaptively adjust the sampling period of each clock and reduce the communication overhead in single-hop networks. The proposed scheme also solves the problem of outliers in data packets with time-stamps. In addition, this paper extends the ARS algorithm to multi-hop networks. Additionally, the upper and lower bounds of error covariance expectation are analyzed in the case of incomplete measurement. Extensive simulations are conducted in order to evaluate the performance. In the simulation environment, the clock accuracy of ARS algorithm is improved by 7.85% when compared with previous studies for single-hop networks. For multi-hop networks, the proposed scheme improves the accuracy by 12.56%. The results show that the proposed algorithm has high scalability, robustness, and accuracy, and can quickly adapt to different clock accuracy requirements.