Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Peary caribou distribution within the Bathurst Island Complex relative to the boundary proposed for Qausuittuq National Park, Nunavut

How caribou ( Rangifer tarandus ), including Peary caribou ( R. t. pearyi ), use their annual ranges varies with changes in abundance. While fidelity to some seasonal ranges is persistent, use of other areas changes. Consequently, understanding changes in seasonal distribution is useful for designing boundaries of protected areas for caribou conservation. A case in point is the proposed Qausuittuq (Northern Bathurst Island) National Park for Bathurst Island and its satellite islands in the High Arctic of Canada. Since 1961, Peary caribou have been through three periods of high and low abundance. We examined caribou distribution and composition mapped during nine systematic aerial surveys (1961–2013), unsystematic helicopter surveys (1989–98), and limited radio-collaring from 1994–97 and 2003–06. While migration patterns changed and use of southern Bathurst Island decreased during lows in abundance, use of satellite islands, especially Cameron Island for winter range, persisted during both highs and lows in abundance. The northeast coast of Bathurst Island was used to a greater extent during the rut and during summer at low abundance. We suggest that Park boundaries which include Cameron Island and the northeast coast of Bathurst Island will be more effective in contributing to the persistence of Peary caribou on the Bathurst Island Complex.
Exploring the Relationship between Transport Interventions, Mode Choice, and Travel Perception: An Empirical Study in Beijing, China

Transport interventions help to facilitate the sustainable travel behavior. The effects of transport interventions on travel choices have been addressed extensively. However, little research has been devoted to the influence of transport interventions and travel choice on travel perception. This study aimed to investigate the relationship among the three aspects. Two intervention measures, information intervention and public transport service improvement, were selected. Intervention experiments were designed to collect mode choice and corresponding travel perception in different experiment stages. Process models of information intervention and public transport service improvement were proposed. The results show that information intervention only had a minor effect on mode choice and had no direct effect on travel perception. Public transport service improvement in in-vehicle time and comfort enhanced public transport use dramatically. Comfort improvement also had positive effects on travel perception. Walking had positive and public transport trips had negative effects on travel perception. For travelers who had a high evaluation of car trips, the probability of green mode use would decrease. Travelers who gave high marks to trips by green mode would have a higher probability to keep traveling by green mode. This study contributes to facilitating public transport use and enhancing positive perception during traveling.
Evaluation of Phenotypic and Genotypic Diversity of Iranian strains of Xanthomonas citri subsp citri by RAPD-PCR in Fars Province

Citrus bacterial canker is one of the most important citrus diseases caused by Xanthomonas citri subsp citri (Xcc). To assess the phenotypic and genotypic diversity of Xcc, 30 strains were isolated from infected areas of Fars province. All isolates were studied for physiological, biochemical and nutritional characters, host range and the existence of rpf gene using XAC02 and XAC01 primers. All strains were compared using seven RAPD primers. All strains were rod-shaped, motile, Gram-negative and obligative aerobic. They were negative in oxidase reaction but positive in catalase and hypersensitive reaction on tobacco. Using NTsys-PC software, numerical analysis of phenotypic characteristics showed that isolates are similar to each other at level 95%. In pathogenicity tests on limes (Citrus aurantifolia), all isolates showed typical symptoms of the disease after two weeks. In RAPD-PCR, using compositional analysis of seven random primers, two main groups at 75% similarity level were observed, Group one consisted of all isolates except the ones of Laar, whereas group two consisted of the ones from Laar. The first group was made of five subgroups with similarity level of 89%. The first subgroup consisted of six isolates from Jahrom (J1, J2, J4, J7, J8 and J3), the second subgroup included other isolates of Jahrom (J5, J6, J9 and J10) plus one isolate from Ghir-o- Karzin (GH4), the third subgroup included most of the isolates from Darab (D1, D5, D4 and D3), the fourth subgroup included most of the isolates from Ghir-o- Karzin (GH1, GH2, GH3 and GH5) and the fifth subgroup included one isolate from Darab (D2). The results show that using this method, it is possible to distinguish between isolates from different geographical areas. In addition, comparing the results obtained from analysis of phenotypic and genotypic tests shows that grouping of isolates based on phenotypic and biochemical characteristics is inconsistent with the grouping used in RAPD-PCR.
Kidney Histology of Mice After Seven Days Oral Intake of Cyanobacterial Extract

At the end of the dry season, during October 2004, a dense cyanobacteria bloom was observed in Monjolinho Reservoir (Sao Carlos city, Sao Paulo State, Brazil), and a great amount of scum accumulated on the water surface. Samples were collected in order to identify phytoplankton species and to determine its toxicity. Anabaena circinalis and Anabaena spiroides were the dominant species in this bloom. Initially, mouse bioassays (LD 50 -24 h) and analysis by ELISA were performed, to detect toxic compounds in crude extracts of the natural samples. After toxicity was confirmed, an oral chronic toxicity test was carried out using three doses of cyanotoxins, in male Swiss albino mice, for 7 days. To prepare the extract, cyanobacterial cells were broken by repeated freeze and thaw cycles. Mice received the following doses of crude cyanobacterial extract diluted in drinking test solutions: 0.5 mg L –1 ; 1.0 mg L –1 and 2.0 mg L –1 . Mortality, clinical signs, body weight and weight gain were recorded during the study. In addition, histological slides were prepared to detect toxic injuries to the kidney. Toxin analysis by ELISA revealed 1.77 to 6.12 µg L –1 total microcystins in the mouse drinking water. This study indicated that administration of low doses of cyanotoxins in mouse drinking test solutions did not result in histological injury in the kidney of animals exposed to cyanotoxins, as observed by optical microscopy.
Microstructure Characterisation and Identification of the Mechanical and Functional Properties of a New PMMA-ZnO Composite

In this research work, we synthesised poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) enriched with 2 wt. % zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO) through conventional heat polymerisation and characterised its microstructure. It was found that the distribution of ZnO nanoparticles was homogeneous through the volume of the PMMA. The mechanical testing of the PMMA-ZnO composite primarily included the determination of the compressive properties on real dentures, while density measurements were performed using a pycnometer. The testing of functional properties involved the identification of the colour of the new PMMA-ZnO composite, where pure PMMA acted as a control. In the second step, the PMMA-ZnO cytotoxicity assays were measured in vitro, which were shown to be similar to the control PMMA. Based on this, it could be concluded that the newly formed PMMA-ZnO composite did not induce direct or indirect cytotoxic effects in L929 cell cultures; therefore, according to ISO/DIN 10993-5:2009, this composite was categorised as non-cytotoxic.
Long non-coding RNA steroid receptor activator in polycystic ovary syndrome: possible association with metabolic syndrome

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrine disorder affecting women of reproductive age [1]. Patients with PCOS are characterized by obesity, hirsutism, insulin resistance, and increased risks of metabolic syndrome [2]. Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a cluster of endocrinopathic and metabolic disturbances including hyperglycemia/insulin resistance, central obesity, dyslipidemia, and hypertension [3]. It is associated with a two-fold increased risk of cardiovascular disease and a five-fold increased risk of type 2 diabetes [4]. Several features of metabolic disturbances, insulin resistance, and hyperinsulinemia particularly have been observed also in most women with PCOS [5]. Obesity and visceral obesity are common among PCOS women associated with metabolic syndrome (MetS) [6]. Some studies report that MetS is more common among women with PCOS due to the high prevalence of insulin resistance, obesity, and visceral obesity in these patients [7, 8]. There are number of the genes associated with PCOS and also involved in the insulin receptor signaling pathway, steroid biosynthesis, and in the regulation of gonadotropin secretion [9]. lncRNAs have vital role in reproduction, such as germ cell specification, sex determination and gonadogenesis, sex hormone responses, meiosis, gametogenesis, placentation, non-genetic inheritance, and pathologies affecting reproductive tissues [10]. The lncRNA-steroid receptor activator (SRA) is a unique coregulator that functions as a non-coding RNA [11]. LncRNA-SRA has since been shown to modulate the activity of androgen, estrogen ESR1, and progesterone receptors through direct association with hormone receptors [11, 12]. Steroid receptor RNA activator (SRA) expressed by the SRA1 gene (5q31.3), 0.87 kB in size, is initially characterized as long non-coding RNA by Lanz et al. in 1999 [11]. LncRNA SRA is able to coordinate the functions of various transcription factors and coregulators, and enhance the transcriptional activity of steroid receptors on reporter genes, serving as a distinct scaffold [13, 14]. The aim of this study was to compare the expression level of lncRNA-SRA in PCOS patients and healthy control women, then to elucidate the association between lncRNA-SRA and MetS in PCOS.
Prokaryotic and tissue-specific expression of RglKAT gene from Rehmannia glutinosa

A 1640-bp full-length cDNA of the 3-ketoacyl-CoA thiolase gene was cloned from Rehmannia glutinosa L. leaf using RT-PCR and RACE. Bioinformatics analyses indicated that it contained one 1395-bp open reading frameencoding a thiolase of 464 amino acids with the predicted molecular weight of 49 kDa, and had a similarity of 73-82% to other species at the nucleotide level and 63-88% to other species at the amino acid level, respectively. The recombinant RglKAT was expressed in a bacterial system in an active form, analyzed by PAGE-CBB staining and purified using Ni-agarose chromatography. Real Time quantitative PCR analysis showed that relative expression levels of the RglKATgene differed between R.glutinosa tissues, with the highest levels in the petals and the lowest in the early senescing stems. These results revealed that RglKAT gene could be cloned and heterogeneously expressed, and related to R. glutinosa growth and development.
An empirical analysis of Brazilian courts law documents using learning techniques

This paper describes a survey on investigating judicial data to ﬁnd patterns and relations between crime attributes and corresponding decisions made by courts, aiming to ﬁnd import directions that interpretation of the law might be taking. We have developed an initial methodology and experimentation to look for behaviour patterns to build judicial sentences in the scope of Brazilian criminal courts and achieved results related to important trends in decision making. Neural networks-based techniques were applied for classiﬁcation and pattern recognition, based on Multi-Layer Perceptron and Radial-basis Functions, associated with data organisation techniques and behavioral modalities extraction.
Pesos longitudinais para a Pesquisa Nacional por Amostra de Domicílios contínua (PNAD contínua)

1 INTRODUÇÃO Estudos longitudinais visam à observação de características de indivíduos ou empresas ao longo do tempo e sua realização depende da existência de informações para as mesmas unidades em repetidas ocasiões. No âmbito das estatísticas públicas brasileiras, análises longitudinais podem ser realizadas a partir de registros administrativos ou de pesquisas amostrais cuja coleta de dados repetida no tempo possibilite a identificação e o acompanhamento das unidades. Este estudo tem como foco as pesquisas amostrais, cuja representatividade é assegurada pela incorporação de pesos amostrais nos procedimentos de expansão dos resultados.
Isolation and characterization of 1-aminocyclopropane- 1-carboxylate (ACC) deaminase-containing plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria from carnation soil and roots

Five strains of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) with 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC) deaminase activity were isolated from carnation soil and roots using ACC as the sole nitrogen source. Based on their growth morphological, microscopic cell properties and 16S rRNA sequence analysis, the results showed that three strains were identified as Enterobacter section and one as Erwinia among four strains from the soil, and one from carnation roots wAS identified as Acinetobacter; there are some differences in ACC deaminase activities among all isolated strains in this study. It is suggested that ACC deaminase-containing PGPR could be a cost-effective, environment-friendly and promising potential strategy to promote plant growth, alleviate biotic and abiotic stresses and ensure sustainable agriculture, especially for ethylene-sensitive flowers production.
Multi-agent Collision Avoidance Using Interval Analysis and Symbolic Modelling with its Application to the Novel Polycopter

Coordination is fundamental component of autonomy when a system is defined by multiple mobile agents. For unmanned aerial systems (UAS), challenges originate from their low-level systems, such as their flight dynamics, which are often complex. The thesis begins by examining these low-level dynamics in an analysis of several well known UAS using a novel symbolic component-based framework. It is shown how this approach is used effectively to define key model and performance properties necessary of UAS trajectory control. This is demonstrated initially under the context of linear quadratic regulation (LQR) and model predictive control (MPC) of a quadcopter. The symbolic framework is later extended in the proposal of a novel UAS platform, referred to as the ``Polycopter" for its morphing nature. This dual-tilt axis system has unique authority over is thrust vector, in addition to an ability to actively augment its stability and aerodynamic characteristics. This presents several opportunities in exploitative control design. With an approach to low-level UAS modelling and control proposed, the focus of the thesis shifts to investigate the challenges associated with local trajectory generation for the purpose of multi-agent collision avoidance. This begins with a novel survey of the state-of-the-art geometric approaches with respect to performance, scalability and tolerance to uncertainty. From this survey, the interval avoidance (IA) method is proposed, to incorporate trajectory uncertainty in the geometric derivation of escape trajectories. The method is shown to be more effective in ensuring safe separation in several of the presented conditions, however performance is shown to deteriorate in denser conflicts. Finally, it is shown how by re-framing the IA problem, three dimensional (3D) collision avoidance is achieved. The novel 3D IA method is shown to out perform the original method in three conflict cases by maintaining separation under the effects of uncertainty and in scenarios with multiple obstacles. The performance, scalability and uncertainty tolerance of each presented method is then examined in a set of scenarios resembling typical coordinated UAS operations in an exhaustive Monte-Carlo analysis.
IDENTIFICATION OF METHICILLINǧ RESISTANT STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS BY A RAPID POLYMERASE CHAIN REACTION TECHNIQUE

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus is one of the most important causes of hospital infections worldwide. High-level resistance to methicillin is caused by the mecA gene, which encodes an alternative penicillin-binding protein. S. aureus is an important cause of bloodstream infections and a leading cause of severe health care-Associated infections. Laboratory diagnostics S. aureus is a Gram-positive, catalase positive aerobic or anaerobic coccus showing hemolytic and large yellow colonies. S. aureus strains resistant to methicillin and many other antibiotics are major causes of nosocomial infections worldwide. It is of great necessity to check for those genes and check for the potential to clone partial or major fragments into vectors, which can be a potential candidate for DNA vaccines. Novel methods are being developed for the production of antibodies to specific antigens and thus helping in the process of development of protein-based vaccines. mecA (methicillin-resistant) gene was isolated and ligated into pTZ57R/T cloning vector. The ligated product was then cloned into DH5α strain and allowed to propagate. The plasmids thus cloned were purified and later expressed for the gene of interest in an expression vector. The proteins specific to the gene of interest was then isolated and purified. This proteins purified can in turn be used for protein-based vaccines.
The ultrastructure of the anterior sensory anatomy of the marine monhysterid nematode Geomonhystera disjuncta

The sensory anatomy of the monhysterid nematode GeomonhYSlera disjuncla is studied electron-microscopically. The soma tic post-foveal sensilla are composed of rwo dendritic processes, in which a modified ciliary structure is developed. The shorter of these processes ends in the body cuticle, at the base of the seta. The longer process runs inside the seta towards the pore at its apex. The lateral sense organ, the amphid, is composed of fourteen dendritic processes with modified ciliary structures, and a short fifteenth dendrite, without ciliary structure. The latter leaves the fusus amphidialis tO become situated and to tenninate beside the canalis amphidialis. The terminal regions of the fourteen dendritic processes run inside the canalis amphidialis and reach the fovea amphidialis through the dorsally situated porus canalis amphidialis. The terminal regions of the dendrites make a double helicoidal winding inside the fovea amphidialis. The cephalic and labial sensilla are composed of three dendrites, one short, poody developed, and two with a modified ciliary structure. The shorter of the latter ends in the head curicle, while the longer enters the setae (cephalic and external labial sensilla) or setiform papillae (internai labial sensilla). Each setiform papilla of the internai labial sensilla is surrounded by a crater-shaped elevation of the lip cuticle.
Chlorophyll pigmentation and photosynthetic parameters in Ornithogalum longibracteatum L. as affected by varying temperatures in hydroponics solution

The effects of different temperature regimes of hydroponic solution on the chlorophyll pigmentation and photosynthesis of Ornithogalum longibracteatum L. were determined in the glasshouse for 10 weeks in 2009 and 2010. The plants were irrigated with hydroponic solution, heated to various temperatures (26, 30 and 34°C) via pumps connected to 4 sets of water tanks, each maintained at the experimental temperatures using dolphin aquarium heaters. Unheated water supplied from the fourth tank served as control (temperature ranged between 10 and 15°C (day/night) throughout the experiment period). All plants were supplied with 1 mgL -1 nutrient solution of (hortical) and the solution was changed at weekly intervals. After 2 to 10 weeks of experimentation, data showed that chlorophyll a, b and total, were significantly increased by elevating hydroponic solution temperature from 26 to 30°C, and started decreasing at 34°C compared with the control in both 2009 and 2010. Photosynthesis rate (A) and the gas exchange parameters; stomata conductance (gs), intercellular CO2 concentration (Ci) and transpiration (E), were significantly increased by elevating the hydroponic solution temperatures from 26 to 30°C compared with the control, and then decreased significantly at 34°C. The findings from this study suggest that the performance of O. longibracteatum can be improved during winter seasons by heating the hydroponic solution up to 30°C. Beyond this, temperature led to impaired chlorophyll formation and reduced photosynthesis.
Emerging Roles of Post-Translational Modifications in Nucleotide Excision Repair

Nucleotide excision repair (NER) is a versatile DNA repair pathway which can be activated in response to a broad spectrum of UV-induced DNA damage, such as bulky adducts, including cyclobutane-pyrimidine dimers (CPDs) and 6–4 photoproducts (6–4PPs). Based on the genomic position of the lesion, two sub-pathways can be defined: (I) global genomic NER (GG-NER), involved in the ablation of damage throughout the whole genome regardless of the transcription activity of the damaged DNA locus, and (II) transcription-coupled NER (TC-NER), activated at DNA regions where RNAPII-mediated transcription takes place. These processes are tightly regulated by coordinated mechanisms, including post-translational modifications (PTMs). The fine-tuning modulation of the balance between the proteins, responsible for PTMs, is essential to maintain genome integrity and to prevent tumorigenesis. In this review, apart from the other substantial PTMs (SUMOylation, PARylation) related to NER, we principally focus on reversible ubiquitylation, which involves E3 ubiquitin ligase and deubiquitylase (DUB) enzymes responsible for the spatiotemporally precise regulation of NER.
A New Genus for the Indo-Pacific Goby Species Gobius baliurus Valenciennes (Teleostei, Gobiidae, Gobiinae)

A new genus, Arcygobius, is created to include the gobiid fish species previously known as Gnatholepis baliurus (Valenciennes) and Gnatholepis calliurus Jordan and Seale. It is a gobiine, not a gobionelline (as is Gnatholepis), resembles the genus Acelllrogobius and is distinguished from other Indo-Pacific gobiines by having the gill opening wide and reaching to below mid-eye, cheeks fully scaled, opercle scaled dorsally and with transverse sensory papillae rows ventrally, papillae row a below eye formed by many short transverse rows, mouth large and oblique, chin prominent and a distinctive colour pattern. lsthmogobius Koumans, based on Bleeker 's museum name for the genus, is not available. Gnatholepis calliurus is a junior synonym of Arcygobius baliurus.
Genetic Variation and Genetic Structuring of a Numerically Declining Species of Darter, Etheostoma moorei Raney & Suttkus, Endemic to the Upper Little Red River, Arkansas

Abstract Gene products of 17 putative loci were analyzed to determine the genetic diversity for 85 individuals of Etheostoma moorei Raney & Suttkus, a darter species endemic to Arkansas, that has been subjected to severe habitat and numerical decline. Number of alleles per locus (1.3), heterozygosity (0.048) and polymorphism (25.9%) values were high relative to those of other darter species. Geographic samples did not exhibit isolation-by-distance, which may be associated with repeated extirpation and recolonization events. Of concern is the high number of polyallelic loci in Hardy-Weinberg disequilibrium (26%), indicative of populations undergoing genetic change. Several causative explanations were investigated with founder effect and inbreeding being the most plausible hypotheses. As these populations continue to decline in numbers, loss of genetic diversity appears imminent.