Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of Various Levels of Raw Citrullus lanatus Seed Meal Diets on Growth Performance of Cyprinus carpio Fingerlings

The nutritional value of feeding Cyprinus carpio various levels of raw watermelon seed meal was evaluated in this study. Five diets of 35% crude protein were formulated with different levels of raw seed meal at 0%, 5%, 10%, 15% and 20% inclusion. Twenty fingerlings were randomly allocated in triplicate for each treatment in 70 liters plastic bowls, aeration was provided to culture bowls throughout the 12-week trial period. The results revealed that the inclusion level of 10% raw watermelon seed meal in the diet gave the best mean weight gain, feed conversion ratio, feed conversion efficiency, protein efficiency ratio, apparent net protein utilization, specific growth rate and survival rate. The growth performance decreased with increasing the inclusion level of raw seed meal beyond 10% (P<0.05). The inclusion level of 10% raw watermelon seed meal in the diet of common carp is found to be ideal for enhancing growth and better nutrient utilization.
Linking spatial patterns of bird and butterfly species richness with Landsat TM derived NDVI

The ability to predict spatial patterns of species richness using a few easily measured environmental variables would facilitate timely evaluation of potential impacts of anthropogenic and natural disturbances on biodiversity and ecosystem functions. Two common hypotheses maintain that faunal species richness can be explained in part by either local vegetation heterogeneity or primary productivity. Although remote sensing has long been identified as a potentially powerful source of information on the latter, its principal application to biodiversity studies has been to develop classified vegetation maps at relatively coarse resolution, which then have been used to estimate animal diversity. Although classification schemes can be delineated on the basis of species composition of plants, these schemes generally do not provide information on primary productivity. Furthermore, the classification procedure is a time- and labour-intensive process, yielding results with limited accuracy. To meet decision-making needs and to develop land management strategies, more efficient methods of generating information on the spatial distribution of faunal diversity are needed. This article reports on the potential of predicting species richness using single-date Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) derived from Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM). We use NDVI as an indicator of vegetation productivity, and examine the relationship of three measures of NDVI—mean, maximum, and standard deviation—with patterns of bird and butterfly species richness at various spatial scales. Results indicate a positive correlation, but with no definitive functional form, between species richness and productivity. The strongest relationships between species richness of birds and NDVI were observed at larger sampling grains and extent, where each of the three NDVI measures explained more than 50% of the variation in species richness. The relationship between species richness of butterflies and NDVI was strongest over smaller grains. Results suggest that measures of NDVI are an alternative approach for explaining the spatial variability of species richness of birds and butterflies.
Children's Attitudes toward Reading: A National Survey.

Cette etude a porte sur les attitudes envers la lecture d'un echantillon national par quotas de 18185 enfants allant de la 1ere a la 6eme annee aux Etats-Unis. Les eleves ont repondu a un groupe d'echelles d'evaluation illustrees, qui comprenait deux sous-echelles consacrees aux attitudes envers la lecture a des fins recreatives ou educatives. Les resultats obtenus ont ete etudies en fonction du sexe, de la classe frequentee, de l'ethnicite, du savoir lire et de l'utilisation de manuels. De maniere generale, les resultats vont dans le sens du modele d'acquisition de l'attitude envers la lecture de McKenna
Evaluation of Irradiated Corneas Using Scatterometry and Light and Electron Microscopy

Objective: To determine if sterilization of donor corneas by irradiation alters optical, histologic, or ultrastructural tissue characteristics. Methods: Blinded assessment of 10 irradiated and 10 nonirradiated donor corneas by a scatterometer used to objectively measure backscattered corneal light. Light and electron microscopy were performed on samples from both groups. Results: The mean scattering of the nonirradiated (control) corneas was significantly lower (0.0060 ± 0.0034, mean ± SD) than the scattering of the irradiated corneas (0.023 ± 0.0078; P = 0.0001). There was no statistical difference between ages, days in storage, or central corneal thickness of the 2 groups. Light microscopic evaluation revealed attenuation of the irradiated corneal epithelium with superficial stromal clefting. Transmission electron microscopy demonstrated similar fibril diameter in the nonirradiated and irradiated corneas. Although the mean interfibrillar distance was similar between the nonirradiated and irradiated groups, the interfibrillar distance in the superficial stroma was increased in the nonirradiated compared with the irradiated groups (15.4 ± 2.4 vs. 11.8 ± 0.98 nm; P ≤ 0.05). Conclusions: Our data quantitatively support increased light scatter after irradiation, which cannot be attributed to increased corneal thickness. Irradiation alters the histology of the epithelium and the ultrastructure of the superficial corneal stroma. Increased light scatter because of epithelial changes would not be expected to impact postoperative visual function. However, increased light scatter because of stromal changes may affect postoperative visual function if used for optical corneal rehabilitation. Further investigation is warranted to determine whether attenuated epithelium or superficial stromal changes are the cause of increased light scatter in the irradiated corneal tissue.
Design and analysis of compact triangular microstrip antennas integrated with novel defective ground structure

In this paper triangular microstrip antenna with a novel defective ground structure are proposed. Without the defective ground structure (DGS) the structures are found to be resonant at 5.2 GHz. When the DGS are introduced a frequency shift of 5.2 GHz to 1.8 GHz is observed. The main essence of this paper is the miniaturization of the antenna.
Selective Pelvic Autonomic Nerve Stimulation with Simultaneous Intraoperative Monitoring of Internal Anal Sphincter and Bladder Innervation

Background: Pelvic autonomic nerve preservation avoids postoperative functional disturbances. The aim of this feasibility study was to develop a neuromonitoring system with simultaneous intraoperative verification of internal anal sphincter (IAS) activity and intravesical pressure. Methods: 14 pigs underwent low anterior rectal resection. During intermittent bipolar electric stimulation of the inferior hypogastric plexus (IHP) and the pelvic splanchnic nerves (PSN), electromyographic signals of the IAS and manometry of the urinary bladder were observed simultaneously. Results: Stimulation of IHP and PSN as well as simultaneous intraoperative monitoring could be realized with an adapted neuromonitoring device. Neurostimulation resulted in either bladder or IAS activation or concerted activation of both. Intravesical pressure increase as well as amplitude increase of the IAS neuromonitoring signal did not differ significantly between stimulation of IHP and PSN [6.0 cm H2O (interquartile range [IQR] 3.5–9.0) vs. 6.0 cm H2O (IQR 3.0–10.0) and 12.1 µV (IQR 3.0–36.7) vs. 40.1 µV (IQR 9.0–64.3)] (p > 0.05). Conclusions: Pelvic autonomic nerve stimulation with simultaneous intraoperative monitoring of IAS and bladder innervation is feasible. The method may enable neuromonitoring with increasing selectivity for pelvic autonomic nerve preservation.
Comparative analyses of phase noise in differential oscillator topologies in 28 nm CMOS technology

This paper reports comparative analyses of phase noise in common-source cross-coupled differential pair, differential Colpitts, Hartley and Armstrong LC oscillator topologies designed in 28 nm CMOS technology for 10 GHz operations. The Impulse Sensitivity Function is used to carry out qualitative and quantitative analyses of the phase noise exhibited by each circuit component in each topology. The analyses show that the lowest phase noise is exhibited by the differential Armstrong topology. Additionally, the results show the impact of flicker noise on phase noise performances.
Optimal average cost manufacturing flow controllers: convexity and differentiability

The authors consider the control of a production facility consisting of a single workstation with multiple failure modes and part types using a continuous flow control model. Technical issues concerning the convexity and differentiability of the differential cost function are investigated. It is proven that under an optimal control policy the differential cost is C/sup 1/ on attractive control switching boundaries.
Optimisation of chloroquine phosphate loaded nanostructured lipid carriers using Box–Behnken design and its antimalarial efficacy

Abstract Chloroquine was once the most widely used antimalarial for nearly eight decades for its safety, efficiency, stability, low cost and finally for its less toxic nature. But its use and efficacy got slowly decreased with the increase of chloroquine resistant strains of Plasmodium species throughout the world. Lipid based nanodrug delivery systems have been very popular in the recent times as they are very less toxic, have drug targeting capabilities and also reduces the dosing frequency by increasing efficacy of the drug. In the present research work, response surface methodology was employed to optimise chloroquine phosphate (CQ) loaded nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) using a modified double emulsion technique. The optimised CQ loaded NLC showed a particle size of 66.50 ± 1.21 nm, PDI of 0.210 ± 0.016, ZP of +38.4 ± 1.44 and EE of 78.2 ± 1.2%, respectively. The in vitro and in vivo antimalarial studies of CQ loaded NLCs showed an enhanced antimalarial efficacy of the nanoformulation with a better suppression of parasitemia and with an increased efficacy of more than 23% in comparison to pure drug. This study demonstrated that by loading a drug into an NLCs system can help in overcoming the problems associated with the present antimalarials available.
White Matter and Behavioral Neurology

Although the study of higher brain function has traditionally focused on the cortical gray matter, recent years have witnessed the recognition that white matter also makes an important contribution to cognition and emotion. White matter comprises nearly half the brain volume and plays a key role in development, aging, and many neurologic and psychiatric disorders across the life span. More than 100 disorders exist in which white matter neuropathology is the primary or a prominent feature. A variety of neurobehavioral syndromes may result from these disorders; the concept of white matter dementia has been introduced as characteristic of many patients with white matter involvement, and a wide range of focal neurobehavioral syndromes and psychiatric disorders can also be related to dysfunction of myelinated tracts. Understanding the neurobehavioral aspects of white matter disorders is important for clinical diagnosis, treatment, prognosis, and research on brain‐behavior relationships. Central to these investigations is the use of modern neuroimaging techniques, which have already provided substantial information on the characterization of white matter and its disorders, and which promise to advance our knowledge further with continued innovation. Diffusion tensor imaging is an exciting method that will assist with the identification of critical white matter tracts in the brain, and the localization of specific lesions that can be correlated with neurobehavioral syndromes. A behavioral neurology of white matter is thus emerging in which clinical observation combined with sophisticated neuroimaging will enable elucidation of the role of white matter connectivity in the distributed neural networks subserving higher brain function.
Anterograde Axonal Transport in Rats During Intoxication with Acrylamide

Abstract: Anterograde axonal transport was examined in sensory nerves of rats intoxicated with a low dose (group I) or a high dose (group II) of acrylamide. After injection of either [35S]methionine and [3H]fucose or [3H]proline into the dorsal root ganglia of the 5th lumbar roots, distribution of protein label was measured in 3‐mm segments of the sciatic nerve at intervals of 2 h, 4 h, 10 days, and 26 days. No difference in ganglion incorporation was present at 4 h, and the fast transport velocity of methionine label also remained normal [14.7 ± 1.3 mm/h (mean ± SD) in controls versus 14.6 ± 0.3 mm/h and 15.4 ± 1.2 mm/h in acrylamide group I and II, respectively]. Neither was there any decrease in transport velocity of proline label of slow component b (4.18 ± 0.29 mm/day in controls versus 4.29 ± 0.17 mm/d and 4.22 ± 0.29 mm/day in acrylamide group I and II, respectively). In slow component a, however, a significant reduction in the fractional amount of proline label was found (20.8 ± 4.0% in controls versus 17.6 ± 14.9% and 9.7 ± 5.9% in acrylamide group I and II, respectively). Again no decrease in transport velocity was observed (1.03 ± 0.02 mm/day in controls versus 1.06 ± 0.08 mm/day and 1.07 ± 0.03 mm/day in acrylamide group I and II, respectively), and closer inspection of the activity along the nerve did not reveal any alteration in skewness or ‘peakedness’ of the distribution curve. The reduction in amount of protein carried in the slow axonal transport component in rats with severe acrylamide neuropathy (group II) could be associated with fibre breakdown at a late stage of the neuropathic process. The most important consequence of the study is, however, that in contrast to previous suggestions, during acrylamide intoxication no changes are present in protein incorporation or in anterograde axonal transport which can explain the initial pathological or functional abnormalities of the distal axons.
Risk Factors for Liver Dysfunction in Middle Aged Men based on Four Year Health Examination Data

Risk Factors for Liver Dysfunction in Middle Aged Men based on Four Year Health Examination Data: Kumiko Tajima, et al. Department of Public Health, Gunma University School of Medicine—In order to develop a better lifestyle improvement program, the relationship between lifestyle and changes in liver function were compared through data‐linkage of a self‐administered questionnaire to the results of annual health examinations over 4 years. In this study, 2,511 male subjects aged 40‐69 yr were asked to fill in the questionnaire. Of these, 824 subjects had a health examination in 1993. Two hundred and twenty‐eight of these remained within the normal range in liver function tests (LFT) in each of annual health examinations between 1994 and 1996, whereas 63 had worsened LFT results after the initial examination and were therefore called the decreased liver function (DLF) group. Controls age‐matched to the DLF group were chosen from the normal liver function group. Discriminant function analysis was carried out to identify the differences between the DLF group and the control group. The independent variables were selected from the variables which showed significant differences in the univariate analysis, considering multicollinearity. The independent variables used for the discriminant analysis were therefore alcohol consumption, diastolic blood pressure (DBP), BMI and “aggression” by THI. The Wilks' Lambda value was 0.787 (p value=0.0001). The overall correct identification rate in the discriminant analysis was 75.0%. The results of the present study suggest that men who are heavy drinkers, hypertensive, obese and aggressive had a high risk of developing liver dysfunction within a few years, even if their LFT values were within normal limits in any single year.
Structural flexibility at a major conserved antibody target on hepatitis C virus E2 antigen

Significance Hepatitis C virus is an important human pathogen, and its E2 envelope glycoprotein is the major target of neutralizing antibodies (NAbs) and, hence, a promising vaccine candidate. Many broadly NAbs (bNAbs) to E2 recognize the conserved receptor-binding site, but immunization with soluble E2 antigen rarely elicits a potent bNAb response. Here, we show that soluble E2 is highly stable except for the receptor-binding site and variable loops. Thus, despite high sequence conservation, structural flexibility at the receptor-binding site may distract the immune system from eliciting bNAbs that recognize the conformation required for its function on virions. Stabilization of the E2 CD81 receptor-binding site (CD81bs) by structure-based design may improve its performance as a vaccine candidate. Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major cause of liver disease, affecting over 2% of the world’s population. The HCV envelope glycoproteins E1 and E2 mediate viral entry, with E2 being the main target of neutralizing antibody responses. Structural investigations of E2 have produced templates for vaccine design, including the conserved CD81 receptor-binding site (CD81bs) that is a key target of broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs). Unfortunately, immunization with recombinant E2 and E1E2 rarely elicits sufficient levels of bNAbs for protection. To understand the challenges for eliciting bNAb responses against the CD81bs, we investigated the E2 CD81bs by electron microscopy (EM), hydrogen–deuterium exchange (HDX), molecular dynamics (MD), and calorimetry. By EM, we observed that HCV1, a bNAb recognizing the N-terminal region of the CD81bs, bound a soluble E2 core construct from multiple angles of approach, suggesting components of the CD81bs are flexible. HDX of multiple E2 constructs consistently indicated the entire CD81bs was flexible relative to the rest of the E2 protein, which was further confirmed by MD simulations. However, E2 has a high melting temperature of 84.8 °C, which is more akin to proteins from thermophilic organisms. Thus, recombinant E2 is a highly stable protein overall, but with an exceptionally flexible CD81bs. Such flexibility may promote induction of nonneutralizing antibodies over bNAbs to E2 CD81bs, underscoring the necessity of rigidifying this antigenic region as a target for rational vaccine design.
TÜRKİYE’DE ANADİLİ SORUNU: KÜRT ÖĞRENCİLERİN DENEYİMLERI

Bu calismada, anadili Kurtce olan ogrencilerin egitim sureclerinde Kurtcenin kullanilmamasinin ve yasaklanmasinin, bu ogrenciler icin dilden kaynakli ne gibi dilsel, psikolojik, egitsel ve toplumsal sorunlara yol actigi arastirilmistir. Bu amacla, soz konusu durumun bilesenleriyle derinlemesine gorusmeler yapilmistir. Elde edilen bulgular, mevcut tekdilli egitim politika ve pratiklerinin siyasi, dilsel, egitsel ve kulturel acilardan ayrimci ve dislayici oldugunu gostermistir. Bu politika ve pratikler, ogretmenler ve ogrenciler arasinda baskici iliskilerin gelismesine, ogrencilerin egitime geriden baslamalarina ve dolayisiyla sinifta kalmalarina, okulu terk etmelerine ve okulda basarisiz olmalarina, Kurtce konustuklari icin damgalanmalarina, farkli siddet turlerine maruz kalmalarina, bunlarin etkilerinin hayatlarinin ileriki asamalarinda da devam etmesine ve kendilerini ifade etmekte sorunlar yasamalarina, anne-babalariyla iliskilerinin zedelenmesine ve nihayetinde anadillerini kaybetmelerine yol acmistir. Ayrica, mevcut egitim politikalari, ogretmenlerin calisma kosullarini da olumsuz yonde etkileyerek, verimli ve etkin bir egitim-ogretim surecini engellemektedir. Bu sonuclar, daha once yapilmis yerel ve uluslararasi calismalarla ve kuramsal tartismalarla birlikte ele alinip detayli bir sekilde tartisildiktan sonra cozume yonelik gerek kisa vadede gerekse de uzun vadede gerceklestirilebilecek oneriler sunulmustur. Bu onerilerin paralel bir okumasini yapmak uzere ise, uc ulke ornegi incelenmistir: Korsikaca-Fransa, Baskca-Ispanya ve Uygurca-Cin ornekleri, sosyo-politik sartlar ve egitimde anadilinin kullanilmasina yonelik uygulamalar incelenerek mevcut durum ve yakin gelecege yonelik yorumlarla ele alinmistir. Calisma, bu yorumlarin Kurtce – Turkiye ornegi icin ne tur anlamlar tasidigi uzerine bir degerlendirme ile son bulmaktadir
A LOGÍSTICA REVERSA DO LIXO TECNOLÓGICO: UM ESTUDO SOBRE A COLETA DO E-LIXO EM UMA IMPORTANTE UNIVERSIDADE BRASILEIRA

E cada vez maior a preocupacao com o destino correto do lixo no mundo inteiro. Neste trabalho estudou-se o processo de coleta especificamente do lixo eletronico numa importante universidade publica brasileira. Com o objetivo de mapear, compreender e descobrir o que poderia ser feito para melhorar a eficiencia do atual sistema de coleta, foram feitas entrevistas com funcionarios envolvidos com a questao do lixo eletronico nas diversas faculdades de um dos campus e, na analise dos resultados, utilizou-se a tecnica de analise de conteudo. Do ponto de vista teorico, este trabalho contribuiu para suprir uma escassez de estudos envolvendo logistica reversa de equipamentos eletronicos em universidades. Como implicacoes praticas, foi possivel obter um desenho do atual processo, assim como sugestoes e criticas, contribuindo para melhorias futuras.
Executive processes in visual and spatial working memory tasks

Three experiments are reported, which have investigated the nature of the cognitive mechanisms that underlie performance on specific visuo-spatial working memory tasks, with the emphasis on exploring the extent of central executive involvement. Experiments 1 and 2 employed oral random digit generation as an executive task within a dual-task paradigm. The results of both experiments indicated that visuo-spatial tasks that involve sequential processing of information show more interference with random digit generation than do visuo-spatial tasks that involve simultaneous processing. The third experiment substituted oral random digit generation for executive tasks that did not involve memory for serial order (vigilance tasks adapted from Vandierendonck, De Vooght, & Van der Goten, 1998b). The results indicated significant interference between the vigilance tasks and the sequential visuo-spatial task, but not with the simultaneous visuo-spatial task. Overall the results of the three experiments are interpreted as indicating that serial sequential visuo-spatial tasks involve executive resources to a significantly greater extent than do simultaneous visuo-spatial tasks, and that this can have implications for studies that attempt to make use of such tasks to fractionate separable visual and spatial components within working memory.
Data-based controllability analysis for generalised linear discrete-time system

ABSTRACT In this paper, we aim to propose a data-based method to testify whether the system is a normal linear system or a generalised linear system and then analyse its controllability via the measured state data and the control input satisfying certain condition. For this purpose, we first describe a linear discrete-time system in a general form and derive a necessary and sufficient condition for the equivalent condition of complete controllability with a normal linear discrete time system. Second, we check whether the system is normal or singular, and then construct the controllability matrices only based on the input and measured state data. Third, the controllability of the corresponding system is investigated thoroughly based on available data without identifying system parameters. Finally, a numerical example and a stock price example are used to show the effectiveness and feasibility of the proposed data-based method.