Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Common nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer sequences occur in the sibling species Ophiostoma piceae and O. quercus

To determine the feasibility of using internal transcribed spacers (ITS1 and ITS2) and 5.8S ribosomal DNA sequences as genetic markers in molecular systematic and phylogenetic studies of Ophiostoma , the presence of multiple types of ITS in the two sibling sapstain fungi, Ophiostoma piceae and O. quercus were examined in 22 isolates from diverse geographic regions. PCR and sequence analysis revealed that two different versions of ITS sequences were present in the PCR-products amplified with the ITS primers, ITS1-ITS4 or ITS5-ITS4 or ITS1-F-ITS4, in every isolate of the two Ophiostoma species tested. Surprisingly, the two ITS sequences were shared by both species. One ITS sequence which was major in O. piceae was designated as the OPC type, and the other ITS sequence which was minor in O. piceae was designated as the OPH type. In O. quercus the OPH type was major and the OPC type was minor. The major ITS comprised more than 99% of the amplicons in both species. The results suggest that common ITS gene pools have been maintained at different levels within these sibling species.
Influence of Water Activity on Physico-Chemical Properties of Proteins from Selected Oilseed Flours

The objective of investigation was to study the influence of water activity on physicochemical properties (PCP) of defatted groundnut (Arachis hypogea), sunflower (Helianthus annus), rice bran (Oryza sativa) and soybean (Glycine max). Moisture free samples equilibrated at relative humidity (RH) levels from 22 - 84% were used for determination of PCP. Bulk density of samples decreased with increasing RH levels for sunflower, rice bran and soybean. Water absorption and emulsion activity of groundnut and sunflower increased with RH levels. However, an opposite trend was seen for rice bran and soybean. Fat absorption of all samples increased with increasing RH. Protein solubility of groundnut and sunflower was very high at RH of 84% in alkaline pH range. Protein solubility of rice bran was not affected by RH, whereas for soy flour it decreased with increasing RH. It can be concluded that water activity influenced the PCP of oilseed flour to a significant extent.
Artificial defoliation, decapitation of the terminal bud, and removal of the apical tip of the shoot in sessile oak seedlings and consequences on subsequent growth

Des plants de chene sessile (Quercus petraea (Matt.) Liebl. ), âges d'un an et cultives en pepiniere, ont ete soumis soit a une defoliation, soit a une decapitation, soit aux deux simultanement, soit encore a une ablation de l'extremite apicale, de la portion de pousse de la tige mise en place au cours de la premiere vague de croissance, appelee unite de croissance (UC). Ceci etait realise dans le but de simuler les degâts provoques par les herbivores vertebres et invertebres et par les champignons, et de comparer ensuite le developpement des plants endommages et des plants non endommages. Le temps de latence au demarrage de la deuxieme vague de croissance apres application des modalites, les longueurs des UC terminales mises en place au cours des vagues de croissance ulterieures, le nombre de feuilles portees par ces UC, le nombre de ramifications portees par l'UC endommagee, ainsi que l'allongement annuel, ont ete mesures. L'ablation des feuilles, le pincement du bourgeon terminal conjugue a l'ablation des feuilles, ainsi que l'ablation de l'extremite apicale de l'UC reduisent le temps de latence, reduisent l'allongement et le nombre de feuilles de la deuxieme vague de croissance et diminuent par consequence l'allongement annuel. Par contre, la decapitation retarde le temps de latence au debourrement. Elle n'a pas apparemment d'effet sur les composantes de la croissance en hauteur. Le nombre de ramifications portees par les UC de la premiere vague de croissance a ete stimule par toutes les modalites.
Euclidean TSP in Narrow Strip

We investigate how the complexity of Euclidean TSP for point sets $P$ inside the strip $(-\infty,+\infty)\times [0,\delta]$ depends on the strip width $\delta$. We obtain two main results. First, for the case where the points have distinct integer $x$-coordinates, we prove that a shortest bitonic tour (which can be computed in $O(n\log^2 n)$ time using an existing algorithm) is guaranteed to be a shortest tour overall when $\delta\leq 2\sqrt{2}$, a bound which is best possible. Second, we present an algorithm that is fixed-parameter tractable with respect to $\delta$. More precisely, our algorithm has running time $2^{O(\sqrt{\delta})} n^2$ for sparse point sets, where each $1\times\delta$ rectangle inside the strip contains $O(1)$ points. For random point sets, where the points are chosen uniformly at random from the rectangle~$[0,n]\times [0,\delta]$, it has an expected running time of $2^{O(\sqrt{\delta})} n^2 + O(n^3)$.
Nitrogen immobilization in decomposing litter contributes to productivity decline in ageing pastures of green panic (Panicum maximum var. trichoglume)

SUMMARY The extent and rate of N release from nylon bags containing green panic (Panicum maximumvar.trichoglume)litter was measured for up to 319 days (long-term studies) in 1978/79 and 1979/80 in Gayndah, Australia. Dry matter (DM) decomposition rates were measured in 41 periods of 39 days and related to environmental variables and initial litter N concentrations (short-term study). About half of litter DM decomposed during the long-term studies, while N concentration in the remaining litter increased from an initial average of 0–57 % N, to 0–95 % N. Net release of N from bags began when its concentration in the residue increased to c.0–65% N (or when the C:N ratio decreased to 75:1). Only a net 20–30 % of the initial N was released for potential plant uptake by the end of the study. The short-term study showed that DM decomposition was rapid and independent of pasture age. Decomposition rate increased with soil moisture and average daily temperature but was unaffected by initial litter N concentration. Release of N from decomposing litter was slow, despite rapid DM decomposition. It was concluded that a major cause of declining productivity in sown grass pastures is the immobilization of N in decomposing grass litter.
On Indeterminate Strings Matching

Given two indeterminate equal-length strings p and t with a set of characters per position in both strings, we obtain a determinate string p_w from p and a determinate string t_w from t by choosing one character per position. Then, we say that p and t match when p_w and t_w match for some choice of the characters. While the most standard notion of a match for determinate strings is that they are simply identical, in certain applications it is more appropriate to use other definitions, with the prime examples being parameterized matching, order-preserving matching, and the recently introduced Cartesian tree matching. We provide a systematic study of the complexity of string matching for indeterminate equal-length strings, for different notions of matching. We use n to denote the length of both strings, and r to be an upper-bound on the number of uncertain characters per position. First, we provide the first polynomial time algorithm for the Cartesian tree version that runs in deterministic 𝒪(nlog² n) and expected 𝒪(nlog nlog log n) time using 𝒪(nlog n) space, for constant r. Second, we establish NP-hardness of the order-preserving version for r=2, thus solving a question explicitly stated by Henriques et al. [CPM 2018], who showed hardness for r=3. Third, we establish NP-hardness of the parameterized version for r=2. As both parameterized and order-preserving indeterminate matching reduce to the standard determinate matching for r=1, this provides a complete classification for these three variants.
Anonymisation de trajectoires d'appels mobiles à l'aide de modèles en grilles et de chaines de Markov

Résumé. Dans cet article, nous proposons une méthodologie pour anonymiser un ensemble de trajectoires individuelles d’appels mobiles. L’objectif est de publier un ensemble de trajectoires anonymes construit à partir de l’ensemble initial, qui protège contre le risque de ré-identification. En d’autres termes, on ne doit pas pouvoir lier une trajectoire dans les données publiées à un individu présent dans la base originale. La solution proposée associe la segmentation des trajectoires d’appels à l’aide de modèles en grille, à un modèle générateur basé sur les chaines de Markov, pour produire des trajectoires d’appels synthétiques qui peuvent ensuite être publiées à la place des trajectoires originales. L’utilité des données synthétiques, ainsi que le niveau de protection offert sont évalués à travers différents indicateurs statistiques.
Home range and habitat use of introduced rusa deer (Cervus timorensis russa) in a mosaic of savannah and native sclerophyll forest of New Caledonia

Abstract New Caledonia's unique flora evolved in the absence of ruminant herbivores until the 19th century. Native sclerophyll forests have been drastically reduced in extent, and browsing by introduced rusa deer is considered a major threat. We carried out a radio‐tracking study on wild rusa deer on a mosaic of savannahs and sclerophyll forest. The estimated mean home range size was 501 ±33 ha, with little seasonal variation. Deer showed a remarkable site fidelity (the average distance between the site of capture and the geographic centre of activity was 1042 ± 149 m). They used preferentially the sclerophyll forest and flood plains, especially during the dry season. These results confirm that rusa deer are likely to have a significant impact on the threatened sclerophyll forests, and they give some positive prospects for population control implemented locally.
Distribution of Monoamine Oxidase-Containing Neurons in the Grass Parakeet (Melopsittacus undulatus) Brain

The distribution of monoamine oxidase (MAO) -containing neuronal somata was studied in the grass parakeet (Melopsittacus undulatus) brain by using a histochemical technique involving the coupled peroxidatic oxidation method, and compared with the distribution of the tyrosine hydroxylase-, aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase-, serotonin-immunoreactive cells in the grass parakeet brain. MAO-containing neurons were located in the nucleus locus coeruleus, around the nucleus n. facialis (nVII), lateral region to the nucleus olivaris inferior and nucleus tractus solitarius, where noradrenaline neurons exist. Another group was located in the ventral region of nervi oculomotorii, caudal region of nucleus n. oculomotorii (nIII), the nucleus raphe and ventral to the nucleus olivaris superior, where serotonin neurons exist. A third group was the non-monoaminergic neurons which were located in the lobus parolfactorius, pareostriatum augmentatum and ventrolateral part of formatio reticularis mesencephali.
Comparing effects of low glycemic index/high-fat, high-calorie diet and high-fat, high-calorie diet on cytokine levels of patients with cystic fibrosis: A randomized controlled clinical trial

The importance of the host inflammatory response, as a central pathological feature of cystic fibrosis, is well recognized. Additionally, hyperglycemia can induce an immune response and consecutively may exacerbate symptoms of this disease. Hence, adherence to a low glycemic index diet, through normalizing blood glucose levels, may reduce inflammation in patients with this disease. This study aimed to compare effects of a low glycemic index/high-fat, high-calorie diet and routine high-fat, high-calorie diet on inflammatory biomarkers in patients with cystic fibrosis. In this randomized clinical trial, 44 children and adolescents with cystic fibrosis were randomly assigned to receive for three months either a high-fat, high-calorie diet (n = 22) or a low glycemic index/high-fat, high-calorie diet (n = 22) with similar calorie and macronutrients composition to the control diet. Patients in first arm were allowed to use all sources of carbohydrates with different glycemic indices, whereas those in another arm consumed carbohydrates from low glycemic index sources. Serum levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6, IL-17A, and IFNg, and the antiinflammatory cytokine IL-10 were measured at baseline and after the end of the trial. There were significant differences between groups for IL-6 (P = 0.02) and IL-17 (P = 0.01), in favor of the low glycemic diet, but no between-group differences were detected in IL-10 and IFN-γ. Although serum levels of IL-17 were reduced in both the groups as compared with the baseline values, this reduction was only significant in the group assigned to the low glycemic diet (P= 0.007), In addition, IL-6 serum levels decreased and those of IL-10 increased significantly as compared with the baseline values in the low glycemic diet (P= 0.01). It seems that adherence to a low glycemic index/high-fat, high-calorie diet for three months can improve some inflammatory biomarkers in children and adolescents with cystic fibrosis compared with the high-fat, high-calorie diet.
Editorial

The editors of the Asia-Pacific Journal of Social Work and Development have devoted this special issue to the subject of social inclusion. Social inclusion has always been at the heart of social policy and social work practice, in a variety of forms. The past 20 years, however, have seen major social changes that only serve to reemphasise its importance. Conflicts, mainly in the Eastern hemisphere have important consequences in the form of displacement, migration and immigration with associated requirements for social support and intervention. However, most forced migration in the world is not international. At the end of 2014, forcibly displaced (internal to the country) persons totalled 38 million, whereas refugee numbers were half this total and asylum seekers only one and a half million. The proportion of these people reaching developed countries is less than 1% of the total. This means that many countries face internal or international migration (or in some cases both) and social work and social development interventions are needed at the heart of national and international responses. One needs to recognise the positive impact that internal migration can bring. As Deshingkar (2006) put it
Chromosome numbers in Aconitum sect. Cammarum (Ranunculaceae) from the Carpathians

Abstract Chromosome numbers for four species and two nothospecies of the sect. Cammarum ser. Variegata, ser. Toxicum, and nothoser. Toxigata in the Carpathians amount to 2n = 16, and in one case to 2n = 32. For the nothospecies: A. ×gayeri Starmühl. and A. ×pawlowskii Mitka et Starmühl. chromosome numbers are given for the first time. According to the cytological evidence a new combination Aconitum degenii subsp. degenii var. intermedium (Zapał.) Mitka [=A. hebegynum non DC. ] is proposed.
Long term multiple sclerosis drug delivery using dendritic polyglycerol flower-like microspheres

Abstract The purpose of this study was to produce and characterize the dendritic polyglycerol microspheres (DPGlyM) carrier with potential for use in the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS). This novel drug delivery system is comprised of DPGlyM as carrier for dimethyl fumarate (DMF) and curcumin (CUR). Molecular docking (MD) was used as in-silico tool to guide the drug entrapment and indicates a spontaneous interactions of DPGlyM with DMF (ΔG° = −11.3 kJ mol−1) and CUR (ΔG° = −23.8 kJ mol−1). The DPGlyM morphology and size distribution were determined using a scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The average size of the microspheres was 30–40 μm. The highest encapsulation efficiency and loading efficiency for CUR and DMF were 94.1% and 65.3%, respectively. The zeta potential indicates that CUR and DMF loaded DPGlyM form stable suspension in phosphate buffer solution (PBS) at pH 7.4. Cytotoxicity and hemocompatibility studies suggest that CUR and DMF loaded DPGlyM not influenced cell viability and are well tolerated in hemolysis assays without any damaging effects even at high concentrations up to 50 mg/mL. The in-vitro release of DMF and CUR in phosphate buffer of pH 7.4 followed a kinetics type super case II transport. The activation energy for CUR and DMF release from DPGlyM was found to be 56.95 kJ/mol and 13.87 kJ/mol for CUR and DMF, respectively. The in vitro release assays show that the DPGlyM has good sustained release of CUR and DMF for 5 days. CUR and DMF loaded DPGlyM have shown promising results for a sustained release during enhanced time duration.
Paralympic athletics: the primavera school training model

Paralympic athletics (PA) are part of the programme of high-performance sports for people with impairments, known as Paralympic Sports (PS). In the light of our involvement with and interest in PS, the objective of this study was to highlight and present a training model for PA developed in the after school Paralympic Sports project1 at the Primavera Specialized School2 in Curitiba, PR, Brazil. The project’s aims are to: (1) provide students with social inclusion through sport; (2) develop autonomy, discipline, respect and persistence among participants; and (3) promote the participation in state, regional and national competitive events in addition to other festivals and friendly matches for people with disabilities. Being qualitative in nature, the research involved approximately 81 h of observations between the months of March and June of 2014. During the training, the project was carried out with 10 athletes with intellectual disabilities (ID) between the ages of 12 and 20. Our analysis of the actions carried out in the project was based on a sports pedagogy theoretical framework from the studies of Abrantes (2012), Balbino (2005), Bento (2006), Joaquim (2013) and Pedrinelli and Nabeiro (2012) . The observations revealed that the coach conducted the training sessions according to the following structure: warm-up or recreational games, followed by lessons on racing. Regarding the recreational games, Abrantes (2012) and Joaquim (2013) consider them to be fundamental instruments in the teaching–learning process for people with ID. This is because they favour the development of technical abilities, as well as containing physical and psychological elements. Several phases were evident at the stage when techniques were applied. For example, the relay race consisted of learning to pass the baton, receive the baton, use starting blocks, and, of course, to race. In each phase, the coach offered brief, verbal orientations to the group and, frequently, to individuals. Such actions agree with the guidance provided by the Special Olympics3 (2014), which advises the repetition of skills, the establishment of short, clear pieces of information, individualised work, and the division of sequences into steps, to assist the learning of people with ID. After mastering each step, the athletes ran a complete relay, taking into consideration
Foundations of deep convolutional models through kernel methods. (Méthodes à noyaux pour les réseaux convolutionnels profonds)

La disponibilite de quantites massives de donnees, comme des images dans les reseaux sociaux, des signaux audio de telephones mobiles, ou des donnees genomiques ou medicales, a accelere le developpement des techniques d'apprentissage automatique. Ces methodes exploitent des motifs statistiques dans ces grandes bases de donnees pour effectuer de bonnes predictions sur des nouvelles images, signaux, ou sequences de proteines. Recemment, les systemes d'apprentissage profond ont emerge comme des algorithmes d'apprentissage tres efficaces. Ces modeles multi-couche effectuent leurs predictions de facon hierarchique, et peuvent etre entraines a tres grande echelle avec des methodes de gradient. Leur succes a ete particulierement marque lorsque les donnees sont des signaux naturels comme des images ou des signaux audio, pour des tâches comme la reconnaissance visuelle, la detection d'objets, ou la reconnaissance de la parole. Pour de telles tâches, l'apprentissage profond donne souvent la meilleure performance empirique, mais leur comprehension theorique reste difficile a cause du grand nombre de parametres, et de la grande dimension des donnees. Leur succes est souvent attribue a leur capacite d'exploiter des structures des signaux naturels, par exemple en apprenant des representations invariantes et multi-echelle de signaux naturels a travers un bon choix d'architecture, par exemple avec des convolutions et des operations de pooling. Neanmoins, ces proprietes sont encore mal comprises theoriquement, et l'ecart entre la theorique et pratique en apprentissage continue a augmenter. Cette these vise a reduire cet ecart grâce a l'etude d'espaces de fonctions qui surviennent a partir d'une certaine architecture, en particulier pour les architectures convolutives. Notre approche se base sur les methodes a noyaux, et considere des espaces de Hilbert a noyaux reproduisant (RKHS) associes a certains noyaux construits de facon hierarchique selon une architecture donnee. Cela nous permet d'etudier precisement des proprietes de regularite, d'invariance, de stabilite aux deformations du signal, et d'approximation des fonctions du RKHS. Ces proprietes sur la representation sont aussi liees a des questions d'optimisation pour l'entrainement de reseaux profonds a tres grand nombre de neurones par descente de gradient, qui donnent lieu a de tels noyaux. Cette theorie suggere egalement des nouvelles strategies pratiques de regularisation qui permettent d'obtenir une meilleure performance en generalisation pour des petits jeux de donnees, et une performance etat de l'art pour la robustesse a des perturbations adversariales en vision.