Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of the quality of canned seafood with added spice-oil extract

The influence of spice (cinnamon, allspice, black pepper)-oil extract on canned seafood quality was studied. During the processing of canned seafood, the substitution of spice-oil extract for vegetable oil (refined sunflower, corn, soybean and olive oil) resulted in a decrease in the heat resistance of spore microorganisms, making it possible to reduce the duration of sterilization for canned food to 5-10 min at 115°C. This reduction in the sterilization duration of canned seafood with spice-oil extract inhibited residual microflora in the product, thus reducing the deleterious effect of heating on the main food compounds while preserving protein digestibility.
Alterations in Proteins and Amino Acids of the Cyanobacterium Anacystis nidulans in Response to Different Inorganic Formulations

Anacystis nidulans is a small, rod-shaped, unicellular, colonial, obligatory phototrophic microalga isolated from Sambhar Lake, Jaipur (Rajasthan). To find out the best inorganic composition cultures were grown in five different defined inorganic medium such as Modified BG-11 medium (pH 7.31), BG-11 medium (7.1), CHU-10 (pH 7.65), Zarroukâ€™s medium (pH 10.2) and Kratz & Myer medium (pH 9.5) and kept at the temperature of 25 Â± 2Â°C, illuminated with white fluorescent lamps at a light intensity of 2.5 Klux with 12:12 hours light/dark photoperiod in departmental laboratory. Protein content is determined by Bradford assay and qualitatively by SDS-PAGE. Protein expression levels were determined through densitometry. Highest protein and amino acid content were obtained in Modified BG-11 medium as compared to other medium. Two polypeptides of 54.3 and 56.2 kDa were uniquely observed, but the genotype of 35.8 kDa polypeptide was completely degraded under Modified BG-11 inorganic formulation. 35.8, 54.3, 56.2 and 61.8 kDa polypeptides were completely degraded in Zarroukâ€™s as well as Kratz and Myer medium. The expression of some polypeptides of 14.0, 34.1, 42.3, 45.9, 49.5 and 75.0 kDa were greatly reduced and expressed only 1mm level in Zarroukâ€™s and Kratz and Myer medium. Quantity of free amino acids maximum was in Modified BG-11 medium and minimum was in the Kratz and Myer Medium. Total 17amino acids were observed in the HPLC chromatogram. No detectable amount of asparagine, glutamine and tryptophan were found throughout the course of the algal life cycle
In silico analysis of Human and Zebrafish ?-2 Adrenergic Receptors

-2 adrenoceptors, belong to class of Rhodopsin-like G-protein coupled receptors. Proteins of the G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR) family are involved in many pathophysiological conditions and hence are targets for various drug discovery methods. The current information on the structure of GPCRs is limited to few structures like Rhodopsin, ? adrenergic receptors, adenosine A2A receptors, Human Dopamine D3 and Chemokine receptor. In our study ? -2 adrenergic receptors of Human and Zebrafish were modeled using MODELLER with Human Dopamine D3 receptor (PDB ID: 3PBL) as template. Through our modeling studies we have identified the critical role played by Proline residues (2.38, 2.59, 4.39, 4.59, 4.60, 7.50) of transmembrane helices and extracellular loop in stabilizing structural deviations in the transmembrane. Novel ligand binding residues S/T (6.56) and F (7.35) along with the positional significance of Y (3.28), Y (6.55) in regulating function were identified. Our models have shown that the Phenylalanine at 7.39 in TM7 can favourably interact with positively charged N-methyl group of the catecholamine ligands via hydrophobic contacts rather than 7.38 as reported previously. Furthermore, we are able to correctly show the orientation of Serine at 5.42 and 5.46 and discuss the relevance of residues at position 3.37 and 5.43 in the receptor regulation. We also demonstrate and propose that the orientation of V (2.61)/S should be taken into account in drug/ pharmacophore design specific for ? -2 adrenergic receptors. We believe that these findings will open new lead for ligand/ pharmacophore design, in silico leading further to experimental validation using Zebrafish as experimental model. Keywords: ? -2 adrenergic receptor, Zebrafish, ligand binding, residue conservation, homology modeling, ionic lock, toggle switch.
CD56dim/CD56bright NK cell subpopulations and CD16/CD57 expression correlated with tumor development stages

BACKGROUND: NK cells are characterized by cytotoxic activity against tumor cells and CD3-CD16+CD56+ phenotype. Two distinct subpopulations of NK cells were characterized in the peripheral blood: NK-CD56 dim representing over 95% of NK cells and involved in antitumor cytotoxicity, and NK-CD56 bright representing approximately 10% of NK cells and involved in secretion of cytokines. AIM: The aim of the study was to compare the presence of NK-CD56 dim /NK-CD56 bright subpopulations and their CD16/CD57 expression in peripheral blood NK cells during the particular development stages of malignancy: primary tumor (PT), lymph node invasion (LNI) and distant sites metastases (Mt). MATERIAL AND METHODS: We have analyzed by flow-cytometry peripheral blood samples from total 36 cancer patients: 24 patients with PT, 6 patients with LNI and 6 patients with Mt. RESULTS: The presence of the overall NK cells showed no significant variation between patients in different stages of tumor development. The phenotype analysis showed that CD16+ and/or CD57+ cells were lower in LNI patients compared to PT or Mt patients. Double-positive CD16+CD57+ cells were found decreased in patients with Mt, compared to patients with PT. During the stages of tumor development, NK-CD56 bright subpopulation increased progressively (7% in PT patients, 13% in LNI patients, 65% in Mt patients), whereas NK-CD56 dim subpopulation gradually decreased (92%, 86%, and 35% respectively). CD16/CD57 expression decreased in NK-CD56 dim and increased in NK-CD56 bright cells over the three studied stages. CONCLUSION: Our results show changes in NK cells characteristics during tumor development: reversal of NK-CD56 dim /NK-CD56 bright distribution and modification of CD16/CD57 expression. Both types of changes can concur in reducing the efficiency of NK cell activity in patients with progressive tumors.
Alkylresorcinols as Biomarkers of Whole-Grain Intake

Background: In order to attenuate the measurement error inherent in dietary recall methods, alkylresorcinols (ARs) have been proposed as a biomarker of whole-grain (WG) intake (1, 2). Although ARs have shown promise in experimental (3) and observational studies (4), most of this research has been conducted in Nordic populations that consume relatively high amounts of WG (5). Objectives: The objectives of this study were to assess the utility of plasma AR concentration as a WG intake biomarker and identify the primary dietary and nondietary determinants of plasma AR concentration in a population that consumes relatively few WG. Methods: This ancillary study used data from first-year college students (n=122) who completed three interviewer-administered 24-hour recalls and had two fasting venous blood draws performed on non-consecutive days. Dietary data was compiled using the Nutrition Data System for Research (6). Blood lipids and glucose were determined via enzymatic assay and plasma AR concentrations were determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (7). Correlation coefficients (rs) were calculated between plasma AR concentrations and dietary intake variables and cardiometabolic risk factors. One-way ANOVA and Tukey’s post-hoc test were used to assess group differences across plasma AR quartiles. Determinants of plasma AR concentration were assessed using multiple regression models. Statistical analyses were performed using R version 3.2. 3. Results: Plasma AR concentration was significantly positively correlated with WG intake (rs = 0.24, p <0.01). The correlation was stronger in males (n=36, rs = 0.33, p < 0.05) than females (n=86, rs = 0.18, p = 0.08). One-way ANOVA across plasma AR quartiles was significant for fiber intake [F(3,118) = 8.58, p < 0.001] and Tukey’s HSD test showed that the mean daily fiber intake for the highest AR quartile was significantly greater than for the lowest (M = 20.2 ± 1.9 g, 14.7 ± 1.4 g respectively). The only cardiometabolic risk factor that was significantly associated with plasma AR concentration was triglycerides (rs = 0.27, p < 0.01). Multiple regression models including log-transformed dietary variables showed that WG bread was the only significant food-item predictor of plasma AR concentration (β = 0.54, p < 0.01). Conclusions: Although plasma AR concentration was significantly associated with WG and fiber intake, triglycerides were the primary determinant and the relationships were not strong enough to produce accurate WG intake prediction models. More research is needed on the use of AR as a quantitative biomarker in low WGconsuming populations.
Effects of Knowledge Management and Strategic Improvisation on SME Performance in Malaysia

This research aims to determine the relationship between knowledge management (KM) and strategicimprovisation with performance of small-medium enterprises (SMEs). The research employs a quantitative mailsurvey method and data were collected randomly from the owner/managers of registered SMEs. A total of 131usable responses were received. Partial Least Square (PLS) modelling was used to estimate the hypothesizedresearch model. Significant relationship was found to exist between KM and performance, and also betweenstrategic improvisation and performance.
Outward Direct Investment, Reverse Import, and Domestic Production : Evidence from Taiwanese Manufacturing Firms

The current wave of globalization has raised serious concerns of many countries whether increasing outward foreign direct investment (FDI) will cause the hollowing out of their domestic economies. In this paper we use Taiwan as a case study to examine the interrelationship between foreign production and domestic production with a special focus on the role of reverse imports. We show that without considering reverse imports properly, the empirical results may be biased or even reversed. By endogenizing a firm’s decisions on reverse imports as well as on domestic and foreign production, we show that foreign production has no significant substitution e#ect on domestic production, but it may have a significantly negative e#ect on domestic production indirectly through variables related to firms’ characteristics, such as firm size, the export ratio, labor intensity, the destination of the FDI, and the a$liate’s rate of return relative to its parent. Demand variables (e.g., market size, GDP per capita) and cost conditions (e.g., relative wages) do not play a significant role in a#ecting a multinational firm’s domestic production.
Visualisation temps réel de données à deux dimensions et demie

Les donnees a deux dimensions et demie ont pris une importance forte dans la representation de certains types d'objets. Elles sont ainsi frequemment employees pour modeliser des donnees topographiques ou scientifiques. Elles sont egalement utilisees dans les dispositifs d'acquisition a trois dimensions pour representer les objets numerises. Ces donnees presentent cependant un certain nombre de difficultes dans leur manipulation, et plus particulierement pour leur visualisation. Au cours de cette these, nous nous sommes attaches a developper des methodes simples, mais efficaces, permettant la visualisation de ce type de donnees et plus specialement celles issues de la numerisation de tableaux d'art. En plus de cette methode de visualisation, nous avons developpe un protocole complet permettant la numerisation de telles pieces, ainsi que le traitements des donnees obtenues, en vue de leur visualisation. Afin de generaliser la methode developpee, nous avons egalement propose une technique permettant la visualisation de donnees topographiques combinant un processus classique de rasterisation avec un rendu par lancer de rayons. Les methodes developpees reposent ainsi toutes les deux sur un mecanisme adaptatif permettant de combiner differents algorithmes de rendu, afin d'optimiser les performances de visualisation. L'utilisation de ce mecanisme permet egalement une exploitation quasi-directe des donnees ce qui simplifie grandement leur utilisation.
Comparison of SPOT cloud cover quality index against meteorological surface observations

A quality index, based on cloud contamination within the image, is assigned to each SPOT scene. In this study, the information content, of such a quality index, in terms of cloud cover, was tested by comparing it with coincident meteorological surface observation. Global observations during the period June-October 1995 were analysed, starting with the investigation of the spatial and temporal variability of cloud covers from both kinds of observations. Comparisons for a series of 'dependent' datasets generated by varying the time (from 0.5 to 1.5 h) and space (from 5 to 100 km) matching criteria were performed successively. Results were reported as 5 x 9 cloud-class contingency tables and relevant statistics evaluating the correlation between the two observations. The analyses showed an overall good agreement between the two cloud-cover estimations, the correlation was slightly lower (10%) than that obtained by comparing SYNOP against SYNOP. Compared with SYNOP observations, SPOT tended to slightly underestimate cases of broken cloud-cover. One of the most important sources of disagreement was the lack of quantitative information in the three-class cloud quality index code found in 30% of the SPOT images used in this study. When processed as described here, the information contained in the SPOT cloud cover quality index is consistent with the surface observation of cloud cover.
Electrostatic Self‐Assembly of Nanosized Carbon Nitride Nanosheet onto a Zirconium Metal–Organic Framework for Enhanced Photocatalytic CO2 Reduction

UiO‐66, a zirconium based metal–organic framework, is incorporated with nanosized carbon nitride nanosheets via a facile electrostatic self‐assembly method. This hybrid structure exhibits a large surface area and strong CO2 capture ability due to the introduction of UiO‐66. We demonstrate that electrons from the photoexcited carbon nitride nanosheet can transfer to UiO‐66, which can substantially suppress electron–hole pair recombination in the carbon nitride nanosheet, as well as supply long‐lived electrons for the reduction of CO2 molecules that are adsorbed in UiO‐66. As a result, the UiO‐66/carbon nitride nanosheet heterogeneous photocatalyst exhibits a much higher photocatalytic activity for the CO2 conversion than that of bare carbon nitride nanosheets. We believe this self‐assembly method can be extended to other carbon nitride nanosheet loaded materials.
Digital Technology and Health: Evaluating the Impact of Mobile Health-Tracking Applications on Patients Well-Being

The number of mobile health applications has witnessed a soaring during the recent years. According the IMS Institute for Healthcare Informatics, more than 165,000 digital health applications have been available in the Apple iTunes Store and the Android App Store in 2015. Despite the enthusiasm aroused by such a growth, the main concern is the lack of evidence regarding the safety and the efficacy of these devices in terms of health benefits. This study attempts to bring in new insight on this problematic by trying to identify the causal effect of the use of technology on health status. For this purpose, we focus on the specific case of health-tracking applications which are among the most used health applications. Our analysis is based on 1020 subjects suffering from Diabetes and High Blood Pressure to compare the results of those using health-tracking applications to monitor their health and those who are not using these applications. We have estimated the model by Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) and multinomial logit regressions methods. We have also corrected potential selection bias in technology adoption by using the Heckman approach. In terms of results, our estimations show significant positive association between technology use and reported health status and quality of life. In particular, we have found that patients who use digital health-tracking feel better and report better health status than those who do not use them. For example, we have found that HealthApps users are 38 % more likely to achieve "good" health status and are 27% more likely to achieve "excellent" health status as compared to non-HealthApps users. These results appear robust to various sensitivity and robustness checks. However, although its promising nature, the effect of technology identified in this study should be regarded as short-term effect since the configuration of the data does not allow to capture potential contextual-effect in health status declaration and possible novelty-effect in technology use.
Autophoretic locomotion in weakly viscoelastic fluids at finite Péclet number

In this work, we numerically investigate the dynamics of a self-propelling autophoretic Janus particle in a weakly viscoelastic fluid. The self-propulsion is achieved by an asymmetry in the properties of the surface of the Janus particle that drives a surface slip velocity and bulk flow. Here we investigate the effect of viscoelasticity on this advection-diffusion problem over a range of Peclet and Damkohler numbers. Particles are found to swim faster, or slower, in viscoelastic fluids, and we show how reaction and diffusion rates affect the viscoelastic stresses that lead to changes in propulsion.
A Farewell to Innocence? African Youth and Violence in the Twenty-First Century

This is a broad examination of the issue of youth violence in twenty-first-century Africa, looking at the context within which a youth culture of violence has evolved and attempting to understand the underlining discourses of hegemony and power that drive it. The article focuses specifically on youth violence as a political response to the dynamics of (dis)empowerment, exclusion, and economic crisis and uses (post)conflict states like Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Nigeria to explain not just the overall challenge of youth violence but also the nature of responses that it has elicited from established structures of authority. Youth violence is in many ways an expression of youth agency in the context of a social and economic system that provides little opportunity.
KERNEL BEHAVIORS ON TIME SCALES

: This paper is a ﬁrst attempt to introduce the behavioral approach into dynamical systems deﬁne on a time scale. The notion of kernel behavior on a time scale as the kernel of a delta differential matrix operator is introduced. Basic properties, as surjectivity and injectivity, of this operator are studied. A characterization of equivalent kernel representations is given. Additionally, the question whether a behavior that admits a representation with auxiliary variables is also a kernel behavior is analyzed. Copyright CONTROLO2012
Goodness of Fit in Confirmatory Factor Analysis : The Effects of Sample Size and Model Complexity

The purpose of the present investigation is to examine the influence of sample size (N) and model complexity on a set of 23 goodness-of-fit (GOF) indices, including those,typically used in confirmatory factor analysis. The focus was on two potential problems in assessing GOF: (1) some fit indices are substantially influenced by N so that tests of the same model based on the same variables for . a new sample from the same population are not directly comparable unless N is also held constant; and (2) the inclusion of additional parameters may provide an idusory improvement in fit. For data simulated from each of two different population models, values for 17 of the 23 fit indices were at least moderately influenced by N, and many of these indices failed to control sufficiently for the inclusion of superfluous parameters (i.e., parameters that had zero values in the population model). Four of the indices were relatively independent of N and were not significantly affected by the inclusion of superfluous parameters. The four recommended indices are two measures of fit based on the non-centrality parameter proposed by R. P. McDonald, the widely known incremental ( dative) index developed by L. R. Tucker and C. Lewis (1973), and a new incremental index--the McDonald-Marsh Index--that is based un one of McDonald's non-centrality indices. Descriptions of the 23 GOF indices used, 10 graphs, and 5 data tables are provided. (Author/TJH) *********************************************************************** Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. *********************************************************************** Goodness of Fit in Confirmatory Factor Analysis: The Effects of Sample Size and Model Complexity
Theoretical Evolutionary Biology of Sex and Disease

Theoretical Evolutionary Biology of Sex and Disease Alison Marie Wardlaw Doctor of Philosophy Graduate Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology University of Toronto 2016 Theoretical approaches have the potential to improve our conceptual understanding of evolutionary biology. Using mathematical modeling and computer simulations we can test verbal hypotheses about biological processes and make qualitative predictions about how biological factors interact to produce the patterns we observe in nature. My thesis is a series of theoretical chapters, each focused on a different aspect of evolutionary biology. In Chapter 2, I explore the accumulation of deleterious mutations by Muller’s ratchet in asexual populations experiencing temporal fluctuations in selection. My finding that temporal autocorrelation in selection increases the rate of fitness decline contributes to our understanding of the role of environmental heterogeneity and drift in the extinction of asexual lineages. In Chapter 3, I investigate virulence evolution of parasites infecting host populations that have multiple host types differing in their contact patterns and their susceptibility and resistance to disease. I found susceptibility and resistance interact with contact pattern to change evolutionarily stable virulence, highlighting the importance of considering non-random contact patterns between different host types when modeling biologically realistic host populations. In Chapter 4, I model the coevolution of virulence of a sexually transmitted disease (STD) in a host population experiencing sexual conflict over mating rate. In my model, a coevolving STD selects for higher sexually antagonistic host trait values, escalating the conflict and demonstrating that disease could be an important factor in sexually antagonistic coevolution. Overall, my chapters make advancements in their respective fields by adding some dimension of biological realism to the general model and analyzing how this addition affects the evolutionary outcome.
Queries on the Linguist List : A move-structure analysis of a computer-mediated genre.

Computer mediated communication (CMC) is a widely used communicative tool within various professional and social groups. The focus of the present article is on the Linguist List (LL), which can be described as an edited person-to-group international academic mailing list, and with a particular speech act: a request for information (RFI). Because RFIs are found on most CMC mailing lists, they can be argued to be the reason for such lists. The purpose of this study is two-fold: to find out whether LL inquiries can be labeled a genre, and to detect some of the established or emergent requesting conventions of this new and relatively unexplored medium in terms of the discourse strategies manifested in it. (Contains 39