Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Health Risk Evaluation of Trace Elements in Geophagic Kaolinitic Clays within Eastern Dahomey and Niger Delta Basins, Nigeria

The deliberate consumption of earthly materials is a universally recognised habit with health benefits and risks to those that practice it. Thirteen (13) samples comprising of six (6) Cretaceous and seven (7) Paleogene/Neogene geophagic kaolinitic materials, respectively, were collected and analysed for trace element concentrations (V, Cr, Co, Ni, Zn, Pb, and Fe), and possible risk on consumers’ health. The trace element compositions were obtained using laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICPMS) and X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (XRF) analytical methods. Based on their average concentrations, Fe > V > Cr > Ni > Zn > Pb > Cu > Co and Fe > V > Cr > Zn > Cu > Pb > Ni > Co for the Cretaceous and Paleogene/Neogene geophagic clays, respectively. Iron concentrations were significantly higher in Paleogene/Neogene geophagic clays than in Cretaceous geophagic clays. The nutritional value of Cu and Zn were lower whereas, Cr and Fe were higher than the recommended dietary intake. The index of geoaccumulation (0 < Igeo ≤ 1) showed that the geophagic materials were uncontaminated to moderately contaminated by the trace elements. The overall hazard indices (HI) for non-carcinogenic effects showed that the geophagic clays pose threat to children (HI > 1) and no threat to adults (HI < 1) health. However, the carcinogenic risk indices (CRI) for Cr, Ni, and Pb were within acceptable cancer risks (10−6 < CRI < 10−4) for children and adults. Hence, based on the trace element s HI and CRI, this study concluded that the consumption of Cretaceous and Paleogene/Neogene geophagic kaolinitic clays poses no risks to adult health but children might suffer health risk if the geophagic clays are not beneficiated before ingestion.
Seasonal and Sex-Biased Survival of Adult Interior Western Screech-Owls (Megascops kennicottii macfarlanei) in Southeast British Columbia

Abstract In Canada and in British Columbia, the interior Western Screech-Owl (Megascops kennicottii macfarlanei) has been assessed as a species at risk primarily as a result of loss and degradation of low-elevation riparian habitat. Few data exist on population demographics of this subspecies. We analyzed annual survival of 19 radio-tagged adult owls from 2009 through 2013 using known-fate models. Time and sex dependence in annual survival rates were examined. The best approximating models suggested that female annual survival (28%) was lower than male survival (83%). Owl survival was lowest prior to incubation and during brood rearing, times when owls are most vocal. Mortality was attributed to avian predation and road mortality. Management practices to preserve habitat during the critical breeding period are encouraged in light of this research.
Enhancing Growth, Productivity and Quality of Tomato Plants Using Phosphate Solubilizing Microorganisms

In contribution to a more sustainable agriculture, a comparison was carried out between two plant growth promoting rhizobacteria, namely Paenibacillus polymyxa (PP) and Bacillus megaterium var. phosphaticum (BM) as phosphate dissolvers, in presence of rock phosphate. Biofertilizer treatments were applied individually to tomato plants (Lycopersicon esculentum L.) cv. Super Strain B during 2008 and 2009 spring seasons. Effects of rock phosphate and phosphate solubilizing microorganisms on some microbial activities, vegetative characteristics as well as fruit yield and quality of tomato were studied and compared with uninoculated treatment fertilized with mineral phosphate fertilizer (calcium super phosphate) as control. Significant positive effects were obtained with microbial activities (dehydrogenase and phosphatase) vegetative characteristics, photosynthetic pigments, mineral contents (N, P, K and Mg), total sugars, total carbohydrates and crude protein in leaves as well as fruit set, early, total yields and quality (T.S.S., Vit. C and acidity) of tomato in response to addition of rock phosphate with phosphate solubilizing microorganisms when compared with uninoculated treatments. The highest records of all tested parameters were recorded with rock phosphate inoculated with Paenibacillus polymyxa plus Bacillus megaterium treatment. This work shows that by inoculating phosphate solubilizing microorganisms with rock phosphate under field conditions in Egypt it is possible to obtain tomato yields comparable to those produced by using the expensive calcium super phosphate fertilizer.
Synergistic Regulation of β2-Adrenergic Receptor Sequestration: Intracellular Complement of β-Adrenergic Receptor Kinase and β-Arrestin Determine Kinetics of Internalization

Two of the common mechanisms regulating G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) signal transduction are phosphorylation and sequestration (internalization). Agonist-mediated receptor phosphorylation by the β-adrenergic receptor kinase (βARK) facilitates subsequent interaction with an arrestin protein, resulting in receptor desensitization. Studies of the β2-adrenergic receptor (β2AR) receptor in human embryonic kidney (HEK) 293 cells indicate that βARK and arrestin proteins (β-arrestins) also regulate sequestration. Consistent with this notion, we show in HEK 293 cells that reduction in or removal of the ability of the β2AR to be phosphorylated by βARK or to interact normally with β-arrestin substantially reduces agonist-mediated sequestration. To evaluate βARK and β-arrestin regulation of β2AR sequestration, we examined the relationship between βARK and/or β-arrestin expression and β2AR sequestration in a variety of cultured cells, including HEK 293, COS 7, CHO, A431, and CHW. COS cells had both the lowest levels of endogenous β-arrestin expression and β2AR sequestration, whereas HEK 293 had the highest. Overexpression of β-arrestin, but not βARK, in COS cells increased the extent of wild-type β2AR sequestration to levels observed in HEK 293 cells. However, a βARK phosphorylation-impaired β2AR mutant (Y326A) required the simultaneous overexpression of both βARK and β-arrestin for this to occur. Among all cell lines, sequestration correlated best with the product of βARK and β-arrestin expression. Moreover, an agonist-mediated translocation of wild-type β2AR and endogenous β-arrestin 2 to endocytic vesicles prepared from CHO fibroblasts was observed. These data suggest not only that the complement of cellular βARK and arrestin proteins synergistically regulate β2AR sequestration but also that β-arrestins directly regulate β2AR trafficking as well as desensitization.
Fear of falling in community-dwelling older adults presenting to the emergency department for minor injuries: Impact on return to the ED and future falls.

OBJECTIVES 1) To characterize mild, moderate, and severe fear of falling in older emergency department (ED) patients for minor injuries, and 2) to assess whether fear of falling could predict falls and returns to the ED within 6 months of the initial ED visit. METHODS This study was part of the Canadian Emergency and Trauma Initiative (CETI) prospective cohort (2011-2016). Patients ages ≥ 65, who were independent in their basic daily activities and who were discharged from the ED after consulting for a minor injury, were included. Fear of falling was measured by the Short Falls Efficacy Scale International (SFES-I) in order to stratify fear of falling as mild (SFES-I = 7-8/28), moderate (SFES-I = 9-13/28), or severe (SFES-I = 14-28/28). Many other physical and psychological characteristics where collected. Research assistants conducted follow-up phone interviews at 3 and 6 months' post-ED visit, in which patients were asked to report returns to the ED. RESULTS A total of 2,899 patients were enrolled and 2,009 had complete data at 6 months. Patients with moderate to severe fear of falling were more likely to be of ages ≥ 75, female, frailer with multiple comorbidities, and decreased mobility. Higher baseline fear of falling increased the risk of falling at 3 and 6 months (odds ratio [OR]-moderate-fear of falling: 1.63, p < 0.05, OR-severe-fear of falling 2.37, p < 0.05). Fear of falling positive predictive values for return to the ED or future falls were 7.7% to 17%. CONCLUSION Although a high fear of falling is associated with increased risk of falling within 6 months of a minor injury in older patients, fear of falling considered alone was not shown to be a strong predictor of return to the ED and future falls.
Estimation of genetic parameters for body weight traits in Baluchi sheep

Genetic parameters for birth weight (BW), weaning weight (WW), 6 months weight (6MW), 9 months weight (9MW) and yearling weight (YW) in Baluchi sheep were estimated using data collected during a 26-year period (1984-2010). Estimates of (co)variance components were obtained by REML procedures by fitting a linear mixed animal model. Significant random effects for each trait were explored by fitting direct additive genetic effects, maternal additive genetic effects, covariance between direct additive and maternal additive genetic effects, maternal permanent environmental effects and common litter effects in different models. The Akaike's information criterion (AIC) test was applied to determine the most appropriate model for each trait. The estimated direct heritabilities for BW, WW, 6MW, 9MW and YW were 0.34, 0.09, 0.06, 0.12 and 0.16, respectively. Corresponding maternal heritability estimates were 0.12, 0.07, 0.05, 0.03 and 0.01, respectively. The variance ratios due to maternal permanent environment (c 2 ) decreased from 0.06 in BW to 0.02 for YW. The variance ratios due to litter component were 0.23, 0.07, 0.08 and 0.12 for BW, WW, 9MW and YW, respectively. Direct genetic correlations between body weight traits were positive and high and ranged from 0.52 for BW-YW to 0.96 for 9MW-YW.
Behavioural syndromes and structural and temporal consistency of behavioural traits in a social lizard

Understanding how behavioural traits co-vary within and between individuals is a major aim of behavioural ecologists working across a wide range of taxa. Here we attempted to measure five key behavioural traits (aggression, boldness, exploration, activity and sociability) in a native Australian social skink, Egernia whitii . Specifically, we documented the temporal consistency of trait structural definition, the temporal consistency of trait expression and the relationships between behavioural traits (i.e. behavioural syndromes). We found (1) that the structural consistency of some traits (boldness), but not others (aggressiveness and exploration), changed across time and according to sex (i.e. the relationship between the raw behaviours that were measured in the boldness assay was different for males and females); (2) that three of the five behavioural traits exhibited moderate-to-high adjusted repeatability while two were not repeatable; (3) covariances between behavioural traits were weak to non-existent and did not support the presence of any behavioural syndromes. These results indicate that structural consistency of traits or the behavioural ‘definition’ of an aggregate score is potentially variable over time. This may limit inference on any subsequent estimates of repeatability of behavioural traits, as well as estimates of potential syndromes. Repeatability of behavioural traits may reflect underlying ecological importance, or measurement processes, and lack of behavioural syndromes may reflect lack of selection pressure for trait covariance. Studies examining multiple behavioural traits under a measurement as well as an ecological framework are crucial to make meaningful inferences regarding the ecological and evolutionary significance of behavioural traits.
Genetic diversity in Bradyrhizobium japonicum Jordan 1982 and a proposal for Bradyrhizobium elkanii sp.nov.

Fourteen randomly selected clones from cosmid libraries of Bradyrhizobium were used as hybridization probes in Southern blot analysis. Seven of the probes used were from strain USDA 83, a group II strain, and the other seven were from strain I-110, a group Ia strain. The 30 strains examined included 9 strains of Rj4-incompatible soybean bradyrhizobia. Considerable polynucleotide sequence dissimilarity between DNA homology groups was evidenced by striking differences in the number of hybridizing bands, except where the probe carried repetitive DNA. Predictable, simple restriction fragment length polymorphism differences were observed only within DNA homology groups. The previous description that 8 of 9 Rj4-incompatible strains belonged to DNA homology group II was verified. The new data, together with many previously documented differences, make it clear that the DNA homology group II organisms should be classified as a new species, for which the name Bradyrhizobium elkanii is proposed, and strain USDA 76 .
Microbial processes and temperature in Chesapeake Bay: current relationships and potential impacts of regional warming

The importance of temperature in regulating physiological processes is without question; however, the interpretation of the relationship between temperature and ecological data is much more complicated. Consequently, it is difficult to decide how the nature of the temperature response terms should be included in models used to predict responses of microbial processes to increasing regional temperature. This analysis compiles several years of data from a research programme conducted in Chesapeake Bay, in an effort to examine how individual microbial processes − as well as the balance between autotrophy and heterotrophy − have responded to temperature, and to predict changes in microbial trophic state based on realistic increases in global temperature. The upper boundary on all of the pelagic microbial rate processes that were measured could be described remarkably well as a linear function of temperature, although there was substantial scatter in the data. Pelagic microbial rate processes (e.g. phytoplankton production, respiration, bacterial productivity) showed a remarkably constrained range of Q10 values from 1.7 to 3.4. The one notable exception to this was nitrogen uptake in the North and Mid Bay, which exhibited Q10 values < 1.0. Proxies for phytoplankton biomass (e.g. chlorophyll) were largely independent of temperature while bacterial abundance was significantly related to temperature and was found to have a Q10 of 1.88.
The Application of Enzyme Immunoassay in the Diagnosis of Autoimmune Disease

The production of antibodies to self components is recognized as a hallmark of autoimmune disease. Such antibodies are measured and detected in most clinical laboratories by the indirect fluorescein-labelled antibody technique using tissue substrate. This classical technique for the detection of antinuclear antibody (ANA) has been used in the diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and other autoimmune diseases for about 20 years. From several clinical points of view it is also desirable to use other assay systems that can quantify specific antibodies such as those directed against double-stranded DNA (dsDNA). In theory, the ELISA technique [lo] could be readily adapted to measure anti-dsDNA and other autoantibodies, but there are, as yet, few reports on the use of this technique to quantify autoantibodies. There appear to be two major problems in making it more widely applicable; these are technical and biological.
Mixtures of Glyphosate with CGA 362622 for Weed Control in Glyphosate-Resistant Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum)1

Field studies were conducted in 1999, 2000, and 2001 to evaluate broadleaf weed control in glyphosate-resistant cotton by glyphosate plus CGA 362622 applied postemergence. Treatments included 560 and 1,120 g ai/ha glyphosate-isopropylamine alone or in mixtures with CGA 362622 at 3.8 and 7.5 g ai/ha, and CGA 362622 at 7.5 g/ha alone. Cotton injury 7 d after treatment (DAT) was 3 to 11% from glyphosate alone and 16 to 24% from glyphosate plus CGA 362622. Injury 28 DAT with CGA 362622 or herbicide mixtures did not exceed 6%. Broadleaf weed control by herbicide mixtures was generally more consistent than control from either herbicide applied alone. Glyphosate plus CGA 362622 controlled common cocklebur and smooth pigweed better than glyphosate alone. In most instances, the mixtures also controlled common ragweed, common lambsquarters, ivyleaf morningglory, pitted morningglory, and tall morningglory better than glyphosate applied alone. Common cocklebur and smooth pigweed were controlled at least 85% by all treatments. CGA 362622 did not control spurred anoda or jimsonweed. Cotton yields generally reflected weed control. According to these results, glyphosate plus CGA 362622 mixtures can consistently control many broadleaf weeds in cotton. Nomenclature: CGA 362622 (proposed common name trifloxysulfuron sodium), N-[(4,6-dimethoxy- 2-pyrimidinyl)carbamoyl]-3-(2,2,2-trifluoroethoxy)-pyridin-2-sulfonamide sodium salt; glyphosate; common cocklebur, Xanthium strumarium L. #3 XANST; common lambsquarters, Chenopodium album L. # CHEAL; common ragweed, Ambrosia artemisiifolia L. # AMBEL; ivyleaf morningglory, Ipomoea hederacea (L.) Jacq. # IPOHE; jimsonweed, Datura stramonium L. # DATST; pitted morningglory, Ipomoea lacunosa L. # IPOLA; smooth pigweed, Amaranthus hybridus L. # AMACH; spurred anoda, Anoda cristata (L.) Schlecht. # ANVCR; tall morningglory, Ipomoea purpurea (L.) Roth # IPOPU; cotton, Gossypium hirsutum L. ‘PM 1220 RR’, ‘PM 1218 BG/RR’, ‘SG 521 RR’. Additional index words: Herbicide mixtures, morningglory species. Abbreviations: DAT, days after treatment; POSD, postemergence directed; POST, postemergence.
Forest management strategies for dealing with fire-related uncertainty when managing two forest seral stages

Ecological values are an important aspect of sustainable forest management, but little attention has been paid to maintaining these values when using traditional linear programming (LP) forest management planning models in uncertain planning environments. We embedded an LP planning model that specifies when and how much to harvest in a simulation model of a “managed” flammable forest landscape. The simulation model was used to evaluate two strategies for dealing with fire-related uncertainty when managing mature and old forest areas. The two seral stage areas were constrained in the LP planning model to a minimum of 10% of the total forest area and the strategies were evaluated under four representative fire regimes. We also developed a risk analysis tool that can be used by forest managers that wish to incorporate fire-related uncertainty in their decision-making. We found that use of the LP model would reduce the areas of the mature and old forest to their lower bound and fire would further reduce the s.
Phenology and spatial distribution of Cephalcia (Hym., Pamphiliidae) imagines in a Danish spruce forest

Investigations on flying Cephalcia spp. imagines were carried out in a Danish spruce plantation 1980–81 by different means of trapping. Five species were caught, viz C. arvensis, C. abietis, C. alashanica, C. pallidula and C. erythrogaster, the two former species dominating the catches. The three latter species were scarce but occurred in at least three out of six spruce stands investigated. The flight period of the species are described, C. erythrogaster appearing as the first species in May followed by C. abietis and C. pallidula and later by C. arvensis and C. alashanica. The overall male:female ratio was 85:1. Males of all species were mainly caught in yellow traps situated on the soil surface, whereas the few females were caught in traps within the tree canopy as well. The results of the trappings are discussed in relation to flight periods of Cephalcia elsewhere in Europe, development time, trap efficiency and insecticide treatment.
Morphological and molecular identification of Fusarium isolated from cumin wilt.

Received : June, 2011 Accepted : September, 2011 Cumin (Cuminum cyminum) is one of the spices grown in India. It is commonly used as spice in our daily life. Recent studies have indicated its pharmaceutical and medicinal importance (Aruna and Sivaramakrishnan, 1996). Cumin is produced in the warm regions of the world. There has been increased demand of cumin while its production is limited and decreased (Abu-Nahoul and Ismail, 1995). Significant loses in cumin yield can be attributed to the adverse effects caused by biotic stresses of which Fusarium wilt disease is the most serious one (Omar et al. , 1997). Cumin plants are attacked by Fusarium species responsible for wilt diseases . Wilt of cumin generally infects the crop during the last week of December when the crop is about a month old. The disease generally appears in patches and is characterised by wilting of affected plants. After the appearance of wilting, the whole plant dries up. A preliminary survey was carried out and the loss from the disease was estimated to vary between 5 to 25 per cent in North Gujarat, and 5 to 60 per cent in Rajasthan, the average in the latter case being 20 per cent. It is very difficult to control
ASSESSMENT OF SCELIC BASED HIGH-POWER BIDIRECTIONAL DC-DC CONVERTER FOR EFFECTIVE ENERGY MANAGEMENT IN PHEV

: In this paper novel self-computational emotional learning based intelligent controller is proposed for battery charging control in Plug in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV). PHEV plays a significant role in world’s vehicle market for its reduced fuel consumption and less emission of gasoline. The large capacity of a battery in PHEV reduces fuel consumption, but it is an unexpected load in a residential power system. It may cause a Voltage drop in a power system in case of uncoordinated charging of many PHEVs at a time. A high power bidirectional DC-DC converter is introduced in PHEV to charge the battery when the motor in PHEV acts as a generator. Effective of charging of battery reduces the load to the grid which is proposed by novel SCELIC controller in this paper. Effectiveness of the proposed system is simulated using Matlab and compared to the Adaptive neuro-fuzzy controller based charging system. This paper proposes a method to reduce load demand on the distribution grid.
Spatial scale of observation affects α, β and γ diversity of cavity‐nesting bees and wasps across a tropical land‐use gradient

Aim Anthropogenic changes in land use may have major consequences for global biodiversity. However, species diversity is determined by a suite of factors that may affect species differently at different spatial scales. We tested the combined effects of land use and spatial scale on α, β and γ diversity in the tropics using experimental communities of cavity‐nesting bees and waSPS (Hymenoptera: Aculeata). We aimed to determine whether: (1) land‐use intensity negatively affects species richness of cavity‐nesting Hymenoptera, (2) β diversity, both within and between plots, is higher in more natural systems, (3) species richness of flowering herbs correlates positively with species richness of Hymenoptera within and across habitats, (4) richness of cavity‐nesting Hymenoptera in highly modified habitats declines with increasing distance from natural or semi‐natural habitats, (5) the effects of land use, herb diversity and forest distance on Hymenoptera α and β diversity vary at different spatial scales, and (6) bees and waSPS respond to land use in a similar way.