Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Psychological Health Influences of Legal-Marriage and -Partnerships on Same-Sex Couples

This chapter explores whether Californians in same-sex legal marriages and partnerships reported lower levels of psychological distress than other adult Californians after the 2008 California Supreme Court Decision that legalized same-sex marriage. We pooled 10 years of California Health Interview Survey (CHIS) data and employ a T1-T2 design to approximate a time series design. Dependent variables include overall self-related health, psychological distress, and household income. Independent variables include sexual identity and same-sex spouse. Bi-variate analyses compared self-reported mental and physical health between the two periods. We found decreased reports of poorer health and increased reports of very good health among gay men and lesbian women with legal spouses. Psychological distress decreased for legally coupled gay men and lesbians while increased slightly among unpartnered lesbian women and gay men. Household income increased among coupled lesbian women and gay men and decreased among others. Our project demonstrated positive health influences for Californians with legal same-sex spouses. We recommend future research projects that explore whether and how same- and opposite-sex marriage benefits health, well-being, and prosperity, and for marital status survey questions that are inclusive of sexual and gender identities and elicit the sex/gender of a respondent’s spouse.
A comparison of metal‐induced lethality and behavioral responses in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans

Behavioral changes are believed to be a sensitive indicator of toxicant exposure but can be very difficult to quantify. Using the free‐living soil nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, a computer tracking system was used that measures several behavioral parameters for approximately 100 subjects on a real‐time basis. Toxicant exposures can be performed in soil, on agar plates, or in aquatic media. Following the exposure period, the worms are transferred to a thin‐layered agar slab for viewing in dark‐field illumination by a video camera interfaced directly to a computer. Information can be obtained on a number of behavioral parameters including number of subjects moving, their individual rates of locomotion, and the frequency of change in direction. Exposure to five metals (Pb, Cu, Cd, Al, and Zn) were tested in this study to evaluate behavioral changes in the worm. The nematodes were exposed for 24 h to concentrations of an individual metal in aquatic medium representing the interstitial pore water within the soil. Under identical conditions, concurrent LC50 and BC50 (concentration at which movement is reduced by 50% compared with controls) values were determined for each metal tested. The results from computer tracking revealed significant changes in rate of locomotion at concentrations of less than 10% of the respective LC50 value.
The Genetic Diversity of Eight Chicken Populations Assessed by 102 Indels Markers

1 United Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima 890-0065, Japan 2 Faculty of Agriculture, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima 890-0065, Japan 3 Frontier Science Research Centre, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima 890-0065, Japan 4 Kagoshima Prefectural Institute for Agricultural Development (KIAD), Kagoshima, 899-4461, Japan 5 Faculty of Agriculture, University of the Ryukyus, Okinawa, 903-0213, Japan
A new measure of health motivation influencing food choices and its association with food intakes and nutritional biomarkers in European adolescents

Abstract Objective: To develop a scale to assess health motivation influencing food choices and to explore its performance in the associations with food intakes and nutritional biomarkers. Design: Psychometric study using cross-sectional self-report questionnaires and nutritional biomarkers. Setting: Multi-centre investigation conducted in ten European cities. Participants: 2954 adolescents who were included in the HELENA study and completed the Food Choices and Preferences (FCP) questionnaire. Results: Nineteen out of 124 items of the FCP questionnaire were in the same dimension. Sixteen presented adequate parameters for the Scale of evaluatiOn of Food choIcEs (SOFIE). The scores were positively associated with the intakes of cereals, dairy products, meats and eggs, and fish, as well as with blood concentrations of vitamin C, β-carotene, n-3 fatty acids, cobalamin, holo-transcobalamin and folate; scores were negatively associated with the intake of alcohol. Conclusions: SOFIE can improve the assessment of motivation influencing food choices based on items with the best performance and is proposed as a new measure to health-related studies.
Ecosystem and Landscapes - A Critical Comparative Appraisal

Ecosystem and Landscapes - A Critical Comparative Appraisal Ecosystems and landscapes are the two major spatial units for ecological research and practice, but their definitions and meanings are vague and ambiguous. Examining critically the meaning and complexity of both terms from a holistic landscape ecological systems view, the confusing applications of the ecosystem concept could be avoided by conceiving ecosystems as functional interacting systems, characterized for the flow of energy, matter and information between organisms and their abiotic environment. As functional systems they are intangible with vaguely defined borders. On the other hand, landscapes should be recognized as tangible, spatially and temporally well defined ecological systems of closely interwoven natural and cultural entities of the Total Human Ecosystem. Ranging from the smallest discernable landscape cell or ecotope to the global ecosphere, they serve as the spatial and functional matrix and living space for all organisms, including humans, their populations and their ecosystems. Both are medium-numbered complex ecological systems. However, the organized complexity of ecosystems is based solely on the monodimensional complexity of material processes of flow of energy/matter and biophysical information. But the organized complexity of landscapes is multidimensional and multifunctional, dealing not only with the functional dimensions of natural bio-ecological processes and the natural biophysical information, but also with the cognitive mental and perceptual dimensions, transmitted by cultural information and expressed in the closely interwoven natural and cultural landscape.
A Predictive Equation of State to Perform an Extending Screening of Working Fluids for Power and Refrigeration Cycles

This chapter presents the features of the Enhanced - Predictive -PR78 equation of state (E-PPR78), a model highly suitable to perform “ physical fluid screening ” in power and refrigeration cycles. It enables, in fact, the accurate and predictive (i.e., without the need for its preliminary optimization by the user) determination of the thermodynamic properties of pure and multicomponent fluids usable in power and refrigeration cycles: hydrocarbons (alkanes, alkenes, alkynes, cycloalkane, naph-thenic compounds, and so on), permanent gases (such as CO 2 , N 2 , H 2 , He, Ar, O 2 , NH 3 , NO 2 /N 2 O 4 , and so on), mercaptans, fluorocompounds, and water. The E-PPR78 equation of state is a developed form of the Peng-Robinson equation of state, which enables both the predictive determination of binary interaction parameters and the accurate calculation of pure fluid and mixture thermodynamic properties (saturation properties, enthalpies, heat capacities, volumes, and so on).
#Mapping a movement: social media, feminist hashtags, and movement building in the digital age

ABSTRACT Online feminist-based hashtag(#) campaigns, such as #WhyIStayed and #MaybeHeDoesntHitYou, have coalesced into the current #MeToo movement: a global movement to end gender-based violence, on and offline. This study examines issue framing domains within the #WhyIStayed campaign, illustrating how social media campaigns serve as a central component in social movement building. Results indicate #WhyIStayed participants contested dominant representations of intimate partner abuse (IPA) in multiple ways, including demonstrating the ubiquity of IPV and challenging victim-blaming. We argue these subversive acts lay the foundation for the contemporary #MeToo movement. Implications for social work and digital social movement scholarship will be discussed.
Synthesis, characterization of Okra mucilage as a potential new age therapeutic intervention

The application of natural polysaccharides in novel drug delivery systems to deliver the bioactive agents has been hampered by the synthetic polymers. The main benefits of the natural polysaccharides are their biodegradable, biocompatible, non-toxic, abundant and economic. Because of the advances in drug delivery technology, natural polysaccharides are included in novel drug delivery to fulfill multitask functions and in some cases directly or indirectly control the extent and/or rate of drug release. Substantial research efforts have been directed towards developing safe and efficient natural based polysaccharide particulate drug delivery systems. The present work outlines the natural based okra mucilage and their isolation, purification, standardization and characterization along with their biological applications are covered.
Increasing Information Seeking About Antibiotic Risks: Testing a Clinical Intervention Message Using the Risk Information Seeking and Processing Model

We employed the risk information seeking and processing (RISP) model to inform the design of antibiotic stewardship messages aiming at influencing intentions to seek or avoid antibiotic risk information. College-age respondents (N = 400) from a national sample viewed one of three versions of a RISP-informed message or no message (control group). Relative to the control group, all RISP-informed messages increased perceptions of information insufficiency. The most complete version of the RISP-informed message increased severity perceptions and information seeking intention and decreased information avoidance intention. Approaches to designing antibiotic stewardship messages are recommended accordingly.
Magmatic and Metasomatic Effects of Magma–Carbonate Interaction Recorded in Calc-silicate Xenoliths from Merapi Volcano (Indonesia)

Magma–carbonate interaction is an increasingly recognized process occurring at active volcanoes worldwide, with implications for the magmatic evolution of the host volcanic systems, their eruptive behaviour, volcanic CO2 budgets, and economic mineralization. Abundant calc-silicate skarn xenoliths are found at Merapi volcano, Indonesia. We identify two distinct xenolith types: magmatic skarn xenoliths, which contain evidence of formation within the magma; and exoskarn xenoliths, which more likely represent fragments of crystalline metamorphosed wall rocks. The magmatic skarn xenoliths comprise distinct compositional and mineralogical zones with abundant Ca-enriched glass (up to 10 wt % relative to lava groundmass), mineralogically dominated by clinopyroxene (En15-43Fs14-36Wo41-51) + plagioclase (An37-100) ± magnetite in the outer zones towards the lava contact, and by wollastonite ± clinopyroxene (En17-38Fs8-34Wo49-59) ± plagioclase (An46-100) ± garnet (Grs0-65Adr24-75Sch0-76) ± quartz in the xenolith cores. These zones are controlled by Ca transfer from the limestone protolith to the magma and by the transfer of magma-derived elements in the opposite direction. In contrast, the exoskarn xenoliths are unzoned and essentially glass-free, representing equilibration at sub-solidus conditions. The major mineral assemblage in the exoskarn xenoliths is wollastonite + garnet (Grs73-97Adr3-24) + Ca-Al-rich clinopyroxene (CaTs0-38) + anorthite ± quartz, with variable amounts of either quartz or melilite (Geh42-91) + spinel. Thermobarometric calculations, fluid-inclusion microthermometry and newly calibrated oxybarometry based on Fe3+/ΣFe in clinopyroxene indicate magmatic skarn xenolith formation conditions of ∼850 ± 45°C, < 100 MPa and at an oxygen fugacity between the NNO (nickel–nickel oxide) and HM (hematite-magnetite) buffer. The exoskarn xenoliths, in turn, formed at 510–910°C under oxygen-fugacity conditions between NNO and air. These high oxygen fugacities are likely imposed by the large volumes of CO2 liberated from the carbonate. Halogen- and sulphur-rich mineral phases in the xenoliths testify to infiltration by a magmatic brine. In some xenoliths, this is associated with the precipitation of copper-bearing mineral phases by sulphur dissociation into sulphide and sulphate, indicating potential mineralization in the skarn system below Merapi. The compositions of many xenolith clinopyroxene and plagioclase crystals overlap with that of magmatic minerals, suggesting that the crystal cargo in Merapi magmas may contain a larger proportion of skarn-derived xenocrysts than previously recognized. Assessment of xenolith formation timescales demonstrates that magma–carbonate interaction and associated CO2 release could affect eruption intensity, as recently suggested for Merapi and similar carbonate-hosted volcanoes elsewhere.
Induction of lignans and phenolic compounds in cell culture of Linum album by culture filtrate of Fusarium graminearum

Cell suspension cultures of Linum album Kotschy ex Boiss. have been reported to produce anticancer podophyllotoxin and its related lignans. In the present study, we investigated the effect of culture filtrate of Fusarium graminearumon growth, and lignan and phenolic compounds in L. album cell culture. After 7 days of pre-culture, the cells were treated with 1% (v/v) of the culture filtrate. Cell growth was reduced, while phodophyllotoxin and lariciresinol production was stimulated reaching a maximum 0.0187 mg/g fresh weight (FW) and 0.0136 mg/g FW 5 days after the treatment, respectively. Also, our results provide evidence that the culture filtrate of F. graminearum can be effective on phenylalanine ammonia-lyase activity and phenolic compounds.
Studentized Extreme Eigenvalue Based Double Threshold Spectrum Sensing Under Noise Uncertainty

: The eigenvalue based spectrum sensing is a low - cost spectrum sensing method that detects the presence of the licensed user signal in desired frequency. Traditional single - threshold eigenvalue sensing methods, which are widely used in the literature, can exhibit inadequate performance under low SNR and noise uncertainty. Therefore, in this study an eigenvalue - based spectrum sensing method is proposed using a double threshold with the studentized extreme eigenvalue distribution function. The results that threshold values obtained for the proposed method were simulated in Rayleigh fading channels. The results were compared with traditional methods and they were observed to be more accurate.
Secretome analysis of thermophilic mould Myceliophthora thermophila cultivated on rice straw and hydrolysis of lignocellulosic biomass for bioethanol production

Abstract Myceliophthora thermophila encodes for large number of carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes) involved in lignocellulosic biomass degradation. The mould was grown on rice straw in solid state fermentation at pH 5.0 and 45 °C that produced high levels of cellulolytic and xylanolytic enzymes i.e. 2218.12, 515.23, 478.23, 13.34 U/g DMR for xylanase, CMCase, FPase and β-glucosidase, respectively. The secretome analysis of M. thermophila BJAMDU5 by mass spectroscopy, described 124 different proteins with majority of CAZymes consisting of glycosyl hydrolases (GH), lytic polysaccharide mono-oxygenases (LPMO), carbohydrate esterases (CE) and polysaccharide lyases (PL). Furthermore, the enzyme cocktail of the mould was evaluated for hydrolysis of steam treated rice straw that produced 184.59 mg/g substrate reducing sugars after 24 h, which was used for production of bioethanol by using fast fermenting yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae resulting in high production of bioethanol. Graphical Abstract
A molecular phylogeny of the Odonata (Insecta)

Abstract. We estimated the phylogeny of the order Odonata, based on sequences of the nuclear ribosomal genes 5.8 S, 18S, and ITS1 and 2. An 18S‐only analysis resolved deep relationships well: the order Odonata, as well as suborders Zygoptera and Epiprocta (Anisoptera + Epiophlebia), emerged as monophyletic. Some other deep clades resolved well, but support for more recently diverged clades was generally weak. A second, simultaneous, analysis of the 5.8S and 18S genes with the intergenic spacers ITS1 and 2 resolved some recent branches better, but appeared less reliable for deep clades with, for example, suborder Anisoptera emerging as paraphyletic and Epiophlebia superstes recovered as an Anisopteran, embedded within aeshnoid‐like anisopterans and sister to the cordulegastrids. Most existing family levels in the Anisoptera were confirmed as monophyletic clades in both analyses. However, within the corduliids that form a major monophyletic clade with the Libellulidae, several subclades were recovered, of which at least Macromiidae and Oxygastridae are accepted at the family level. In the Zygoptera, the situation is complex. The lestid‐like family groups (here called Lestomorpha) emerged as sister taxon to all other zygopterans, with Hemiphlebia sister to all other lestomorphs. Platystictidae formed a second monophylum, subordinated to lestomorphs. At the next level, some traditional clades were confirmed, but the tropical families Megapodagrionidae and Amphipterygidae were recovered as strongly polyphyletic, and tended to nest within the clade Caloptera, rendering it polyphyletic. Platycnemididae were also non‐monophyletic, with several representatives of uncertain placement. Coenagrionids were diphyletic. True Platycnemididae and non‐American Protoneurids are closely related, but their relationship to the other zygopterans remains obscure and needs more study. New World protoneurids appeared relatively unrelated to old world + Australian protoneurids. Several recent taxonomic changes at the genus level, based on morphology, were confirmed, but other morphology‐based taxonomies have misclassified taxa considered currently as Megapodagrionidae, Platycnemididae and Amphipterygidae and have underestimated the number of family‐level clades.
Proteomic analysis of the enhancement of seed vigour in osmoprimed alfalfa seeds germinated under salinity stress

Abstract Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) yield is severely compromised by soil salinity, especially at the level of seedling establishment. This question was addressed by proteomics to decipher whether specific changes in protein accumulation correlate with germination performance of alfalfa seeds submitted to a salinity stress as obtained by imbibing seeds in the presence of NaCl. This study used alfalfa seeds submitted to an osmopriming invigoration treatment that proved very efficient in counteracting the negative effect of salinity stress on germination performance. Comparative proteomic analyses disclosed 94 proteins commonly characterizing the response of both the untreated control and osmoprimed seeds to the experimental salinity stress. Remarkably, many of them, representing 84 proteins, showed contrasting accumulation patterns when comparing the untreated control and osmoprimed seeds submitted to the same salt stress. Thus numerous changes observed in the proteome of the untreated control seeds imbibed in the presence of salt, and presumably accounting for the loss in seed vigour associated with salinity stress, can be substantially reversed in osmoprimed seeds undergoing this stress. These data therefore provide a biochemical understanding of the increase in seed vigour generally observed with primed seeds.
Pinus uliginosa from Czarne Bagno peat-bog (Sudetes) compared morphologically to related Pinus species.

Pinus uliginosa is an interesting taxon from the Pinus mugo complex with controversial systematic position andspecific characteristics, intermediate among P. mugo, P. uncinata and P. sylvestris. The peat-bog pine is rare andprotectedin Poland. All its' known populations have a relict character andare slightly differ- ent from each other. The aim of the present study was comparison of the individuals from the Czarne Bagno of the "Torfowisko pod Zielencem" Nature Reserve (Sudetes), determined in the field on the basis of morphological characteris- tics as Pinus uliginosa, with four samples of this taxon from the northern limits of its range in PolandandGer - many andwith Pinus sylvestris, P. mugo and P. uncinata, to verify morphological andtaxonomic relations be - tween them. The material collected from 30 individuals determined as P. uliginosa, was closest to populations of P. uliginosa from the Bory Dolnośląskie, andto P. mugo from the Tatra Mts. , concerning the needle characters. The cone characteristics of P. uliginosa individuals from the Czarne Bagno appeared similar to all other of that taxon. In spite of that, the cone characters first of all differentiate P. uliginosa from P. sylvestris, P. mugo and P. uncinata. The combination of needle and cone morphological characters are a good tool to distinguish P. sylvestris, P. uncinata, P. mugo and P. uliginosa with a very high probability.
Preparation of Synthetic Seeds of Citrus jambhiri Using in vitro Regenerated Multiple Plantlets

Biotechnological tools are useful for true-to-type propagation. Shoot tips encapsulation is potential for plant development from pre-existing meristematic tissue. MS medium fortified with 1 and 2 mg/L of BAP (6-bezylaminopurine) was found to be suitable for in vitro mass-multiplication of plantlets (10.18 and 13.05 plantlets/explant, respectively) of Citrus jambhiri from nodal segments. Nodal segments were more appropriate than the shoot tips for in vitro multiplication of plantlets. Synthetic seeds were prepared using 2.5% sodium alginate dropping into 3.0% CaCl2 solution. Maximum germination was recorded when beaded shoot tips were cultured on MS medium fortified with 1 and 2 mg/L of BAP (96.67 and 100.00%, respectively). However, the germination of synthetic seeds was found to be comparatively high than the earlier findings. The results support the use of encapsulated unipolar explants for synthetic seed preparation. These type of capsules could be useful in exchange of sterile material between laboratories, germplasm conservation and direct plant propagation. Original Research Article Sharma and Roy; BJI, 24(2): 22-29, 2020; Article no.BJI. 56035 23
Reactive Oxygen Species- and Dimerization-induced Activation of Apoptosis Signal-regulating Kinase 1 in Tumor Necrosis Factor-α Signal Transduction*

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) have been implicated in the induction of apoptosis by tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα) and other cytotoxic insults, although the molecule(s) regulated by ROS in TNFα signaling have not been identified. Apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1 (ASK1) is a member of the mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase (MAPKKK) superfamily that has been shown to be activated during TNFα-induced apoptosis. ASK1 increases apoptosis when overexpressed, but the mechanism of ASK1 activation and the mechanisms of ASK1-induced apoptosis are unclear. We now report that hydrogen peroxide induces the activation of ASK1 in 293 cells. TNFα-induced activation of ASK1 was inhibited by antioxidants. Hydrogen peroxide-induced apoptosis was markedly enhanced by the expression of ASK1. These results suggest that TNFα-induced activation of ASK1 is mediated by ROS. We also examined how ASK1 activity is regulated by ROS. We found that ASK1 formed dimers or higher order oligomers in 293 cells. TNFα or hydrogen peroxide treatment increased the dimeric form of ASK1, and pretreatment withN-acetylcysteine decreased it. Furthermore, synthetic dimerization of an ASK1-gyrase B fusion protein by coumermycin resulted in substantial activation of ASK1, suggesting that dimerization of ASK1 is sufficient for its activation. These results taken together suggest that TNFα causes ASK1 activation via ROS-mediated dimerization of ASK1.