Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Adverse weather conditions reduce food availability and increase glucocorticoid metabolite levels in barn swallow nestlings

Stimuli perceived as stressful by animals increase glucocorticoid secretion over basal levels. This is an adaptive response that by altering energy metabolism and animal behavior facilitates survival during acute stress. Secretion of corticosterone increases in adult insectivorous bird species after a short period of adverse weather conditions, which may determine a decreased availability of insect prey as well as thermoregulatory stress. Hormone response to stress in altricial nestlings is not yet clear. In some species (e.g. northern mockingbird, white-crowned sparrow) early age nestlings show a reduced or null response to stress stimulation, and the hypothalamus–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis seems to be fully active only at an age close to independence. In other species (e.g. barn swallow, canaries) the HPA axis seems to be active even in young nestlings. However, most of the data refer to experimentally induced stress while the physiological response to natural environmental perturbations has been scarcely investigated. The main aim of our study was to evaluate corticosterone secretion response to short periods of adverse weather conditions in two different age groups of barn swallow nestlings (7–14 days old and 15–21 days old). Furthermore, stress responses were compared between medium aged nestlings, late aged nestlings and adults, to understand whether HPA axis activity changed with age. A fecal non-invasive hormone assessment method was used. Our results showed that during adverse weather conditions, insect abundance decreased and corticosterone metabolites levels increased significantly and to a similar extent in droppings of medium and late aged barn swallow nestlings as well as in adults. Our data support previous findings, that the HPA axis is already fully functional in 7–14 days old nestlings. Further studies are required to verify the existence of a hyporesponsive period in younger barn swallow nestlings.
Exploration of Active Site-Directed Plasmin Inhibitors: Beyond Tranexamic Acid

Plasmin (Plm), a trypsin-like serine protease, is responsible for fibrinolysis pathway and pathologic events, such as angiogenesis, tumor invasion, and metastasis, and alters the expression of cytokines. A growing body of data indicates that a Plm inhibitor is a potential candidate as an anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer agent. A class of active site-directed plasmin inhibitors containing tranexamic acid residue has been designed. As evidenced by docking studies, the inhibitor binds to the active site not to the lysine binding site (LBS) in plasmin, thus preventing plasmin from digesting the substrate. Further optimization of the series, concerning both activity and selectivity, led to the second generation of inhibitors. This review focuses on the Plm inhibitory activity-structure relationship of Plm inhibitors with the goal of realizing their design and clinical application.
Encrypting human rights: The intertwining of resistant voices in the UK state surveillance debate

The Snowden revelations in 2013 redrew the lines of debate surrounding surveillance, exposing the extent of state surveillance across multiple nations and triggering legislative reform in many. In the UK, this was in the form of the Investigatory Powers Act (2016). As a contribution to understanding resistance to expanding state surveillance activities, this article reveals the intertwining of diverse interests and voices which speak in opposition to UK state surveillance. Through a computational topic modelling-based mixed methods analysis of the submissions made to the draft Investigatory Powers Bill consultation, the article demonstrates the diversity and intersection of discourses within different actor groups, including civil society and the technology industry. We demonstrate that encryption is a key issue for these groups, and is additionally conflated with a human rights discourse. This serves to unite seemingly disparate interests by imbuing encryption with a responsibility for the protection of human rights, but also threatens to legitimate corporate interests and distract from their own data-driven activities of surveillance capitalism.
An edge-assisted smooth method for potential field data

Edge detection is one of the most commonly used methods for the interpretation of potential field data, because it can highlight the horizontal inhomogeneous of underground geological bodies (faults, tectonic boundaries, etc.). A variety of edge detection methods have been reported in the literature, most of which are based on the combined transformation results of horizontal and vertical derivatives of the observations. Consequently, these edge detection methods are sensitive to noise. Therefore, noise reduction is desirable ahead of applying edge detection methods. However, the application of conventional filters smears discontinuities in the data to a certain extent, which would inevitably induce unfavourable influence on subsequent edge detection. To solve this problem, a novel edge-preserving smooth method for potential field data is proposed, which is based on the concept of guided filter developed for image processing. The new method substitutes each data point by a combination of a series of coefficients of linear functions. It was tested on synthetic model and real data, and the results showed that it can effectively smooth potential field data while preserving major structural and stratigraphic discontinuities. The obtained data from the new filter contain more obvious features of existing faults, which brings advantageous to further geological interpretations.
Called to the ministry: Narratives of career choice amongst female pastors in South Africa

There is a noted shift in society, characterised often by women’s entry, especially in careers that may traditionally be the domain of men. This shift may be responsible for challenging the old order of thinking. For instance, Cooper (1995)’s values of ‘strength, robustness, boldness, stoutness, bravery’ (pp. 146–147) may be questioned as to their relevance to men alone. Some (e.g. Gagnon & Sandoval, 2020) argue for the need to question the relevance in contemporary society of gender stereotyping with their argument being for the need for inclusivity as is being performed in the career paths in the sciences and technology. Part of this process concerns exploring pay differences between women and men (Albrecht, Bronson, Thoursiec, & Vroman, 2018). The process also entails understanding continually those barriers affecting the career development of minority groups such as women.
Investigating Factors Affecting Consumers’ Intentions to Use Online Food Delivery Services During Coronavirus (COVID-19) Outbreak in Jabodetabek Area

Currently, mobile applications are rapidly developing. One of the most frequently used services by society is online food delivery services. The research intended to scrutinize aspects affecting intentions to use online food delivery services during extraordinary event, like Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak in Jabodetabek (Jakarta metropolitan) area. The research adopted TRA (Theory of Reasoned Action) that integrated perceived trustworthiness, perceived relative advantage, perceived risk and attitude toward using to give insights on factors affecting consumers’ intention when using online food delivery services. The data collection was conducted through quantitative, non-probability, purposive sampling method using online questionnaires, that were spread out to all people who have experienced in using online food delivery services at least once, during COVID-19 outbreak (Feb-May 2020). In total, there were valid 127 questionnaires used to analyze the data variables using PLS-SEM method through SMART-PLS 2.0 M3 software. The results find that perceived trustworthiness, perceived relative advantage and perceived risk positively affect consumers’ attitudes toward using. Perceived trustworthiness and attitude toward using positively affects intention to use online food delivery services during Coronavirus outbreak in Jabodetabek area. However, perceived risk negatively affects intention to use online food delivery services during Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak in Jabodetabek area.
Aluminum oxide/titanium dioxide nanolaminates grown by atomic layer deposition: Growth and mechanical properties

Atomic layer deposition (ALD) is based on self-limiting surface reactions. This and cyclic process enable the growth of conformal thin films with precise thickness control and sharp interfaces. A multilayered thin film, which is nanolaminate, can be grown using ALD with tuneable electrical and optical properties to be exploited, for example, in the microelectromechanical systems. In this work, the tunability of the residual stress, adhesion, and mechanical properties of the ALD nanolaminates composed of aluminum oxide (Al 2O3) and titanium dioxide (TiO2) films on silicon were explored as a function of growth temperature (110–300 °C), film thickness (20–300 nm), bilayer thickness (0.1–100 nm), and TiO2 content (0%–100%). Al 2O3 was grown from Me3 Al and H2O, and TiO2 from TiCl4 and H2O. According to wafer curvature measurements, Al 2O3/TiO2 nanolaminates were under tensile stress; bilayer thickness and growth temperature were the major parameters affecting the stress; the residual stress decreased with increasing bilayer thickness and ALD temperature. Hardness increased with increasing ALD temperature and decreased with increasing TiO2 fraction. Contact modulus remained approximately stable. The adhesion of the nanolaminate film was good on silicon.
Analysing the relationship between foreign real estate investment and tourism development

ABSTRACT The primary aim of this research is to analyse the effect of Foreign Real Estate Investment (FREI) on tourist development using a panel dataset of 33 countries over the time period 2000–2016. Given the potential dynamic and endogenous relationship in the FREI-Tourism development nexus, this paper employs a Panel Vector Error Correction Model (PVECM) and a comparative analysis is further conducted by segregating the sample into sub-samples of developed and developing countries. The empirical results indicate that FREI is positively significant, although to varying extent, in explaining tourist growth. There is also evidence of reverse causality, as tourism is observed to also affect FREI in a positive and significant way, at least in the long run. This study is believed to contribute to the debate by bringing additional evidences in the developing countries context while also analysing the link between tourism development and FREI in a comparative setting of developed countries and developing countries.
Innovation, governance, and capabilities: implications for competition policy

Oliver Williamson’s contributions to many subfields of economics are salutary. However, he was recognized by the Nobel Laureate Committee primarily for his work on the boundaries (scale and scope) of the firm. This tribute endeavors to marry Williamson’s transaction cost economics with a capabilities framework to obtain new insights into how the scope and scale of technology companies influence their competitive performance in today’s digital economy. The role of big data and learning are highlighted. Strong implications for competition policy, and for management, emerge from the fusion of the two frameworks. Such fusion yields a more granular view of management and policy issues but requires the policy analyst to understand not just industrial economics but also the technology management literature which also has useful insights for competition policy and regulatory professionals.
An Estimator for the Kinematic Behaviour of a Mobile Robot Subject to Large Lateral Slip

In this paper, the effects of wheel slip compensation in trajectory planning for mobile tractor-trailer robot applications are investigated. Firstly, a kinematic model of the proposed robot architecture is marked out, then an experimental campaign is done to identify if it is possible to kinematically compensate trajectories that otherwise would be subject to large lateral slip. Due to the close connection to the experimental data, the results shown are valid only for Epi.q, the prototype that is the main object of this manuscript. Nonetheless, the base concept can be usefully applied to any mobile robot subject to large lateral slip.
One‐step synthesis of hierarchical structured nickel copper sulfide nanorods with improved electrochemical supercapacitor properties

Nanorods‐like structured ternary metal sulfides of Ni1‐xCuxS with various compositions (x = 0.1, 0.2 and 0.3), and binary sulfides of NiS and Cu9S5 were synthesised via a single‐step hydrothermal process. The structural properties and the functional groups of the synthesized materials were characterized by X‐ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) studies. Surface structure and chemical composition of the samples were inspected using field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE‐SEM) and energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy (EDAX). The electrochemical properties of the as‐synthesised metal sulfide based electrodes were investigated by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and galvanostatic charge‐discharge (GCD) analyses and the maximum specific capacitance (SC) of ~1092 F/g was achieved for the Ni0.8Cu0.2S at a current density of 15 mA/g, while pure NiS and Cu9S5 electrodes showed the minimum SC of ~575 and ~70 F/g, respectively. Further, the electrochemical impedance studies (EIS) revealed low Rct value (3.4 Ω) for the Ni0.8Cu0.2S electrode and improved electrochemical supercapacitor properties of Ni0.8Cu0.2S electrode because of to the synergistic effect and its well crystalline nanorods structure which offers more electrochemical active sites for faradaic reactions and fast electrolyte ions diffusion in to electrode. Additionally, the stability performance of the Ni0.8Cu0.2S electrode was performed at a fixed current density of 20 mA/g, and the Ni0.8Cu0.2S sample possesses the good cycling stability with the retention of 80% capacitance after 3000 GCD cycles. These results demonstrate that the as‐synthesised binary and ternary metal sulfides are suitable cost effective and pollution free electrode materials for supercapacitors.
Evolving Up‐regulation of Biliary Fibrosis–Related Extracellular Matrix Molecules After Successful Portoenterostomy

Successful portoenterostomy (SPE) improves the short‐term outcome of patients with biliary atresia (BA) by relieving cholestasis and extending survival with native liver. Despite SPE, hepatic fibrosis progresses in most patients, leading to cirrhosis and a deterioration of liver function. The goal of this study was to characterize the effects of SPE on the BA liver transcriptome. We used messenger RNA sequencing to analyze global gene‐expression patterns in liver biopsies obtained at the time of portoenterostomy (n = 13) and 1 year after SPE (n = 8). Biopsies from pediatric (n = 2) and adult (n = 2) organ donors and other neonatal cholestatic conditions (n = 5) served as controls. SPE was accompanied by attenuation of inflammation and concomitant up‐regulation of key extracellular matrix (ECM) genes. Highly overexpressed genes promoting biliary fibrosis and bile duct integrity, such as integrin subunit beta 6 and previously unreported laminin subunit alpha 3, emerged as candidates to control liver fibrosis after SPE. At a cellular level, the relative abundance of activated hepatic stellate cells and liver macrophages decreased following SPE, whereas portal fibroblasts (PFs) and cholangiocytes persisted. Conclusion: The attenuation of inflammation following SPE coincides with emergence of an ECM molecular fingerprint, a set of profibrotic molecules mechanistically connected to biliary fibrosis. The persistence of activated PFs and cholangiocytes after SPE suggests a central role for these cell types in the progression of biliary fibrosis.
Learning diagnostic skills for adaptive teaching – a theoretical foundation

Abstract Diagnostic abilities required during the on-going process of teaching include perception, interpretation and decision-making skills. They are regarded as important prerequisites for adaptive teaching. To teach these skills, several teacher education programs have been developed. However, a theoretical foundation is still missing. Here, we introduce a model for learning these diagnostic skills. With this model, we derive guiding principles for designing a framework using video analysis in teacher education programs. We show that some implications of this model have already been integrated in current programs. However, we also present new aspects. In particular, reflection on unexpected events might be a good way to enhance teacher education programs.
GC-MS Analysis of Nematicidal Essential Oil of Mentha canadensis Aerial Parts against Heterodera avenae and Meloidogyne incognita

Abstract The essential oil of Mentha canadensis aerial parts was obtained by hydrodistillation and analyzed by gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromaotography-mas spectrometry (GC-MS). A total of 36 components of the essential oil were identified. The major constituents in the essential oil of M. canadensis were menthol (28.8 %), α-pinene (16.4 %), menthone (12.7 %), α-terpineol (6.3 %) and limonene (5.5 %). Four active constituents (limonene, menthol, α-pinene and α-terpinol) were isolated from the essential oil of M. canadensis based on bioactivity-directed fractionation. The essential oil of M. canadensis aerial parts exhibited nematicidal activity against cereal cyst nematodes (Heterodera avenae) and root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne incognita) with LC values of 385.7 μg/ml and 139.0 μg/ml, respectively. The isolated constituents, menthol and α-terpinol possessed nematicidal activity against H. avenae and M. incognita with LC50 values of 242.5 μg/ml, 190.3 μg/ml and 147.4 μg/ml, 115.2 μg/ml, respectively. The study indicated that the essential oil of M. canadensis aerial parts and its two major constituents, α-terpineol and menthol have a potential to be developed to a natural nematicides for the control of nematodes.
Physical, chemical and microbiological characterization of cupuassu seed during fermentation

The cupuassu’s seeds are similar to cocoa, being possible to apply fermentative techniques used to obtain nibs and cupulate. The aim of this work to study the physicochemical transformations during the cupuassu´s seeds fermentation. For this purpose, frozen seeds from a pulp processing industry were fermented in three batches of 20 kg for seven days at room temperature. During the fermentation process, seed mass temperature, dimensions, density and composition of the kernels, color indexes (L*, C* and H*), microbiological analyzis (mesophiles, molds and yeasts), cut-proof, physicochemical analyzis (pH, acidity and glucose reducing sugars and non sucrose reduction) and centesimal composition (ashes, lipids, proteins and carbohydrates) were analyzed from triplicates. The results were expressed as dry basis. During the fermentations, the great temperatures were reached. The maximus were 43,44 and 47 ºC in three fermentations. It was observed during the fermentation process: seed darkening (L*) and color intensity reduction (Chroma), pH increase, sugar reduction and acidity reduction. The ash, lipid and protein contents were not significantly influenced by the fermentation time. According to the cut test, the kernels of 3rd fermentation, whose maximum temperature was higher, were classified as type 2 and the others as type 3. The values of apparent density, dimensions, mass and composition of seeds demonstrated that during the fermentation there was a decrease in volume with a higher proportion of cotyledon compared to testa. There was an increase in counts of total mesophiles aerobic microorganisms, molds and yeasts, during the fermentative process.
Computational Simulation of Filters Used in the Removal of Heavy Metals Using Rice Husks

The biofiltration technique is of great importance for the removal of heavy metals. In the present work, a laboratory-scale biofilter was modeled using rice husk as a filter material. The Wolborska model was used to know the dimensions necessary for the biofilter to function. The Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms were performed to quantify the filter adsorption process, showing that the Langmuir isotherms are the ones that present the highest correlation coefficient and best represent the removal process of Cd (II), Cu (II) and Cr (VI). According to the Langmuir isotherms, the maximum operating temperature allowed for this model was chosen, which was 303.15 K, because it presents the maximum removal of heavy metals. Regarding the pH variations for Cd (II) and Cu (II), the maximum removal was presented with a pH = 9.0 and for Cr (VI) with a pH = 3.0 the maximum removal was presented. According to the rupture curves, the blocking times were obtained for each height: for Cd (II) the highest tb for h = 0.55, Cu (II) the highest tb for h = 0.40 and for Cr (VI) the highest tb for h = 0.40.
Development and Optimization of Rabbit Polyclonal Antibodies for Cu/ZnSOD detection in Rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity is an important measure of plant stress tolerance used in cultivar improvement. At present, we are unaware of any widely available immunological reagents for the detection of SOD in Oryza sativa (common Asian rice) or other plants. In this study, we used insilico B-cell epitope prediction tools to generate peptides which were immunized into rabbits to yield polyclonal antibodies against Cu/Zn SODs. Immunoblotting demonstrated that the antibody specifically recognized both native and denatured Cu/Zn SODs in rice. In addition, this antibody can confirm the expression tendency of endogenous OsCu/Zn SODs under heat stress by immunoblotting, and has a positive reaction in tomato leaf extracts, as well as human Hela cells. Chloroplast content of Cu/Zn SODs in rice can be identified by ELISA indirect competition method using this antibody. These results suggest that this Cu/Zn SOD rabbit polyclonal antibody may be a useful tool for elucidating the biological functions of Cu/Zn SODs in plants.
Telocytes reduce oxidative stress by downregulating DUOX2 expression in inflamed lungs of mice

Telocytes (TCs), a novel type of interstitial cells, have been found to participate in tissue protection and repair. In this study, we investigated the antioxidative effects of TCs in inflamed lungs of mice. Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) mice were used as models of inflamed lungs of mice. Gene sequencing was used to screen the differentially expressed miRNAs in TCs after lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation. AntagomiR-146a-5p-pretreated TCs were first injected into mice, and antioxidant activity of TCs was estimated. TCs, RAW264.7 cells, and MLE-12 cells were collected for the detection of expressions of NOX1–4, DUOX1–2, SOD1–3, GPX1–2, CAT, Nrf2, miR-146a-5p, and miR-21a-3p after LPS stimulation. Silencing miRNAs were delivered to examine the involved signaling pathways. Oxidative stress was examined by measuring malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. We found that microRNA-146a-5p and microRNA-21a-3p were upregulated in TCs after LPS stimulation. ARDS mice that were preinfused with TCs had lower lung tissue injury scores, lung wet-dry ratios, white blood cell counts in alveolar lavage fluid and lower MDA concentrations in lung tissue. However, in antagomiR-146a-5p-pretreated ARDS mice, the infusion of TCs caused no corresponding changes. After LPS stimulation, DUOX2 and MDA concentrations were downregulated in TCs, while DUOX2 was restored by antagomiR-146a-5p in TCs. Dual-luciferase reporter assay confirmed that CREB1 was downregulated by miR-146a-5p, while DUOX2 was downregulated by CREB1, which was confirmed by treating TCs with a specific CREB1 inhibitor. This study demonstrates that LPS stimulation upregulates miR-146a-5p in TCs, which downregulates the CREB1/DUOX2 pathway, resulting in a decrease in oxidative stress in cultured TCs. TCs reduce LPS-induced oxidative stress by decreasing DUOX2 in inflamed lungs of mice.