Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Germination Potential of Jute, Kenaf and Mesta to Chromium Toxicity

The study was carried out using seven varieties of jute, two varieties of kenaf and one variety of mesta to evaluate their germination potential to chromium (Cr) toxicity. Percent germination and primary growth parameters of these varieties in Cr contaminated medium were observed. Six levels (0, 20, 40, 80, 120 and 160 mg Cr L -1 ) of Cr were applied in artificial germinating medium following CRD with three replication. All the jute, kenaf and mesta varieties showed decreasing trend of germination with increasing levels of Cr. Germination of kenaf (HC-95 and HC-3), mesta (Samu-93) and jute (CVE-3 and BJC-7370) were satisfactory levels up to 160 mgCr L -1 . The root and shoot lengths and fresh and dry weights also reduced with increased concentrations of Cr as the toxic effect of Cr retards the growth of meristematic tissues of young roots and shoots. Morphological deformities like twisting, curling of leaves and shoot and rottening of roots appeared at high concentrations of Cr. Due to receiving higher concentrations of Cr the color of the roots became dark brown to black. The potentiality of the varieties to Cr toxicity were kenaf HC-95 > kenaf HC-3 > mesta Samu-93 > jute CVE-3 and > jute BJC- 7370. The findings of the present study can be applied for sowing kenaf , mesta and jute seeds in Cr contaminated soil. J. Environ. Sci. & Natural Resources, 8(1): 51-57 2015
Estimation and Forecasting of Large Realized Covariance Matrices and Portfolio Choice

In this paper we consider modeling and forecasting of large realized covariance matrices by penalized vector autoregressive models. We propose using Lasso-type estimators to reduce the dimensionality to a manageable one and provide strong theoretical performance guarantees on the forecast capability of our procedure. To be precise, we show that we can forecast future realized covariance matrices almost as precisely as if we had known the true driving dynamics of these in advance. We next investigate the sources of these driving dynamics for the realized covariance matrices of the 30 Dow Jones stocks and find that these dynamics are not stable as the data is aggregated from the daily to the weekly and monthly frequency. The theoretical performance guarantees on our forecasts are illustrated on the Dow Jones index. In particular, we can beat our benchmark by a wide margin at the longer forecast horizons. Finally, we investigate the economic value of our forecasts in a portfolio selection exercise and find that in certain cases an investor is willing to pay a considerable amount in order get access to our forecasts.
Asymptotic behaviour of monotone multi-valued dynamical systems

We introduce the concept of a monotone multi-valued semi-flow as an order-preserving map. This definition is motivated by the applications in the theory of differential equations without uniqueness of solutions. For an order-preserving multi-valued semi-flow we prove several results on the structure of the global attractor. Some applications to models governed by ordinary differential equations and delay equations with continuous right-hand side are presented. In particular, the abstract results are applied to a biochemical control circuit.
Predicting Consumer Preferences for Fresh Salmon: The Influence of Safety Inspection and Production Method Attributes

A rank-ordered logit model is estimated using data collected by a mail survey of consumers in the northeastern and mid-Atlantic United States. The methodology, based on conjoint analysis, determines the average relative importance and value of three product attributes for fresh salmon (seafood inspection, production method, and price), and estimates the relative attractiveness of particular products to consumers. When used in combination with demographic data and responses to questions on perceptions, the analysis suggests market segmentations and potential marketing strategies based on the heterogeneity in preferences among consumers.
Explosive growth in African combustion emissions from 2005 to 2030

Emissions of gases and particles from the combustion of fossil fuels and biofuels in Africa are expected to increase significantly in the near future due to the rapid growth of African cities and megacities. There is currently no regional emissions inventory that provides estimates of anthropogenic combustion for the African continent. This work provides a quantification of the evolution of African combustion emissions from 2005 to 2030, using a bottom-up method. This inventory predicts very large increases in black carbon, organic carbon, CO, NOx, SO2 and non-methane hydrocarbon emissions if no emission regulations are implemented. This paper discusses the effectiveness of scenarios involving certain fuels, specific to Africa in each activity sector and each region (western, eastern, northern and southern Africa), to reduce the emissions. The estimated trends in African emissions are consistent with emissions provided by global inventories, but they display a larger range of values. African combustion emissions contributed significantly to global emissions in 2005. This contribution will increase more significantly by 2030: organic carbon emissions will for example make up 50% of the global emissions in 2030. Furthermore, we show that the magnitude of African anthropogenic emissions could be similar to African biomass burning emissions around 2030.
University of Groningen Cognitive Compensation of Speech Perception With Hearing Impairment, Cochlear Implants, and Aging Başkent,

External degradations in incoming speech reduce understanding, and hearing impairment further compounds the problem. While cognitive mechanisms alleviate some of the difficulties, their effectiveness may change with age. In our research, reviewed here, we investigated cognitive compensation with hearing impairment, cochlear implants, and aging, via (a) phonemic restoration as a measure of top-down filling of missing speech, (b) listening effort and response times as a measure of increased cognitive processing, and (c) visual world paradigm and eye gazing as a measure of the use of context and its time course. Our results indicate that between speech degradations and their cognitive compensation, there is a fine balance that seems to vary greatly across individuals. Hearing impairment or inadequate hearing device settings may limit compensation benefits. Cochlear implants seem to allow the effective use of sentential context, but likely at the cost of delayed processing. Linguistic and lexical knowledge, which play an important role in compensation, may be successfully employed in advanced age, as some compensatory mechanisms seem to be preserved. These findings indicate that cognitive compensation in hearing impairment can be highly complicated—not always absent, but also not easily predicted by speech intelligibility
Gender May Affect the Dose-Dependent Action of Capsaicinoids on Plasma and Hepatic Cholesterol Levels of Rats *#

Sex differences on the effect of dose-dependent capsaicinoids on lipid metabolism were studied in rats. 24 rats of each sex were administered orally 0 mg/kg, 2.5 mg/kg, 5 mg/kg or 7.5 mg/kg capsaicinoids daily for 28 days. In male rats, body weight gained, and the levels of total lipids, total cholesterol and triglycerides in the liver were significantly decreased as the dose of capsaicinoids increased. On the other hand, plasma total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), HDL- and LDL-cholesterol concentration and liver weight were not affected by capsaicinoids. While in female rats, plasma TC, TG, HDL-C and LDL-C concentration, liver total lipids, TC and TG concentration were significantly decreased as the dose of capsaicinoids increased. The mRNA level of hepatic TRPV1, ileac ASBT and IBABP were increased as the dose of capsaicinoids increased in all rats groups. The mRNA level of hepatic HMG-CoA reductase, CYP7A1 and FXR were significantly decreased in female rats groups. These results show that the hypocholesterolemic effect of capsaicinoids in dose-dependent manner in rats was mediated by inhibited synthesis of endogenous cholesterol, female rats were more sensitive than male rats on hypolipidemic effect of capsaicinoids.
AIIozyme and mitochondrial DNA evidence of population subdivision in the purple sea urchin Strongylocentrotus purpuratus

Despite high potential for dispersal, the purple sea urchin Strongylocentrotus purpuratus was found to have significant genetic subdivision among locations. Ten geographic locations along the coast of California and Baja California were sampled between 1994 and 1995. Samples from some locations included both adult and recruit urchins. Allozyme analyses revealed a genetic mosaic, where differentiation over short geographic distances could exceed differentiation over much larger distances. Significant allozyme differentiation was found among subpopulations of adults (standardized variance, Fsr=0.033), among subpopulations of recruits (Fsr = 0.037), and between adults and recruits from the same location. DNAsequence data for the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I gene also showed significant heterogeneity among locations, with a mild break in haplotype frequencies observed ~300 km south of Point Conception, California. Repeated sampling over time is necessary to determine whether these patterns of differentiation are stable and to begin to understand what forces produce them.
Simulation of Arctic Diamond Dust, Ice Fog, and Thin Stratus Using an Explicit Aerosol–Cloud–Radiation Model

Abstract In support to the development of the Northern Aerosol Regional Climate Model, a single column model with explicit aerosol and cloud microphysics is described. It is designed specifically to investigate cloud–aerosol interactions in the Arctic. A total of 38 size bins discretize the aerosol and cloud spectra from 0.01- to 500-μm diameter. The model is based on three equations describing the time evolution of the aerosol, cloud droplet, and ice crystal spectra. The following physical processes are simulated: coagulation, sedimentation, nucleation, coalescence, aggregation, condensation, and deposition. Further, the model accounts for the water–ice phase interaction through the homogeneous and heterogeneous freezing, ice nuclei, and the Bergeron effect. The model has been validated against observations and other models. In this paper, the model is used to simulate diamond dust and ice fog in the Arctic during winter. It is shown that simulated cloud features such as cloud phase, cloud particle diame.
Effect of legume-cereal mixtures on the diversity of bacterial communities in the rhizosphere

Aboveground plant diversity is known to influence belowground diversity and ecosystem processes. However, there is little knowledge of soil microbial succession in legume-grass mixtures. Therefore, this study was designed to de termine the effect of oat and common vetch binary mixtures at three seeding rates on soil bacterial communities. Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) of 16S rDNA fragments was used to profile the structure of the bacterial community in the rhizosphere. Compared with a monoculture of common vetch and oat, the ShannonWeaver index and species richness of the mixtures were increased. Thirteen cloned monocultures and mixtures of oat and common vetch soil 16S rDNA sequences were deposited to NCBI. Based on the sequencing results, the bands could be identified as related to Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes and Cyanobacteria. Common vetch did not have some bacteria relatives to Sphingomonas spp. Some bacterial taxa could be detected in the ratio of 1:1 and 1:2, but not in the ratio of 1:3, e.g. Myxococcales. The results suggested that the belowground diversity could be pro moted by mixed cropping systems.
Comparison of Nimodipine Administration Routes in Cerebral Vasospasm After Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

Background and purpose: Increasingly numerous studies have indicated that nimodipine can be recommended as an effective and safe agent for the treatment of symptomatic vasospasm after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH). However, data regarding its delivery route in the treatment of aSAH are inconsistent. The aim of this study was to assess and compare the effects of different administration routes on the functional improvement of patients with aSAH. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 27 patients with aSAH. Of these 27 patients, 2 had intraventricular bleeding and 10 had cerebral hematoma. All patients were divided into 3 groups as follows: the topically applied nimodipine group, the systemically applied nimodipine group and the control group. Patients were treated with nimodipine and the neurological status at discharge and at 3 months were recorded. Transcranial doppler sonography (TCD) was used to monitor cerebral vasospasm following surgical clipping. Liver function and intracranial infection were assessed among three groups. Results: The blood flow velocity was significantly increased at days 1, 5 to days 7, 10 and day 14 after surgery in the topically applied nimodipine group. 2 out of 10 (20%) patients had intracranial infection in the topically applied nimodipine group. There were no intracranial infections in the systemically applied nimodipine group and the control group. Conclusion: Different administration routes may affect the functional improvement in patients with aSAH. The combined use of systemically and topically applied nimodipine may be effective for treatment of cerebral vasospasm following surgical clipping of aneurysms.
eview ffects of triterpenes on the immune system

Ethnopharmacological relevance: Triterpenes, which comprise a broad chemical group of active principles, are implicated in the mechanisms of action and pharmacological effects of many medicinal plants used in folk medicine against diseases in which the immune system is implicated. They have been described as anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antimicrobial, and antitumoral agents, as well as being immunomodulator compounds. Several of them are implicated in the resolution of immune diseases, although their effects have not always been clearly correlated. Aim of the review: The aim of this review is to compile relevant data on the mechanisms of action of triterpenes isolated from active ethnomedicinal plants and their role in the resolution of diseases in which the immune system is implicated to examine the mechanism by which they are useful as ethnopharmacological medicines. Methods: The selection of papers was made using the most relevant databases for the biomedical sciences on the basis of their ethnopharmacological use. We principally chose those studies that examined the resolution of allergic responses in vivo and those that studied the effects of the more relevant mediators implicated in the immune response in vitro. Results: The number of compounds actually studied is limited compared with the high number of principles that have been isolated and identified. Many studies focus on specific pathologies such cancer or inflammation, but in many cases they are clearly correlated with the immune response. Lanostanes, cucurbitanes, and oleananes are probably the most interesting groups; however, other compounds are also of potential importance. Conclusions: Studies of specific mechanisms against mediators or transcription factors could be the objective for future research on ethnomedicinal plants used to combat immune diseases since the results obtained with cucurbitacins or derivatives of oleanolic acid support the use of different medicinal plants, thereby opening up a new frontier for future studies. © 2010 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.
THE MORAVA K-THEORIES OF EILENBERG-MACLANE SPACES AND THE CONNER-FLOYD CONJECTURE

Introduction. Of the many generalized homology theories available, very few are computable in practice except for the simplest of spaces. Standard homology and K-theory are the only ones which can be considered somewhat accessible. In recent years, complex cobordism, or equivalently, Brown-Peterson homology, has become a useful tool for algebraic topology. The high state of this development is particularly apparent with regard to BP stable operations, which are understood well enough to have many applications to stable homotopy; see for example [16]. Despite this achievement, it is still virtually impossible to compute the Brown-Peterson homology of any but the nicest of spaces; for example: some simple classifying spaces, spaces with no torsion and spaces with few cells. As a replacement for Brown-Peterson homology in this respect, we present the closely related generalized homologies known as the Morava K-theories. These are a sequence of homology theories, K(n) *(-), n > 0, for each prime p. The n = 1 case is essentially standard mod p complex K-theory. These theories are periodic of period 2(pn - 1) and fit together to give Morava's beautiful structure theorem for complex cobordism; see [11]. Because of their close relationship to complex bordism, information about them will sometimes suffice for bordism, and thus geometric, problems. This is the case with our proof of the Conner-Floyd conjecture. The Morava K-theories each possess Kiunneth isomorphisms for all spaces. This feature enhances their computability tremendously. We demonstrate this point by computing the Morava K-theories of the Eilenberg-MacLane spaces. These spaces are difficult to handle even for
A reconnaissance study of herbicides and their metabolites in surface water of the midwestern united states using immunoassay and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry

Preemergent herbicides and their metabolites, particularly atrazine, deethylatrazine, and metolachlor, persisted from 1989 to 1990 in the majority of rivers and streams in the midweatern United States. In spring, after the application of herbicides, the concentrations of atrazine, alachlor, and simazine were frequently 3-10 times greater than the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency maximum cortaminant level (MCL).
Revisiting IF/TA Category of Banff Working Classification of Renal Allograft Pathology: Have the Objectives been Achieved?

Interstitial fibrosis/tubular atrophy (IF/TA) is, like its predecessor of Chronic Allograft Nephropathy (CAN), a purely descriptive designation depicting the morphological appearances of Chronic Sclerosing lesions observed on renal allograft biopsies in a variety of clinical settings. The term was introduced by the Banff classification in its 2005 meeting as a replacement for the then popular and often misunderstood category 5 of the Banff classification, i.e., the CAN. The aim was to encourage the transplant pathologists to look for and identify the specific causes of late allograft dysfunction on renal allograft biopsies and not just simply dump all the chronic transplant lesions into the paper wastebasket category of CAN. This editorial explores the rationale behind this change and whether the objectives stipulated have been achieved in real practice. We are of the view that the time has arrived to revisit this change of category and its impact on clinical practice in a systematic manner perhaps by one of the Banff working groups.
180 nm Low Power CMOS Voltage Comparator

The comparators are main component of many analog to digital converters. The CMOS comparators are widely used in the current technology due to its fast operational speed and high accuracy. The fast growing portable devices requires low power and high operational capabilities which need to be improved. Many of comparator uses CMOS technology, greatly scaled up to 12nm technology file. A brief study of conventional dual tail voltage comparator is done and based on that, a low power and area efficient comparator is presented. A new comparator is designed in order to reduce the delay of conventional comparators and reduce the power consumption of the device. The post layout simulation of proposed comparator is carried out in 180nm CMOS technology consumes 69μW at 1.2V supply voltage.
Lifestyle Diseases and the Hair Growth Cycle: A multidisciplinary approach using Nourkrin® with Marilex®, a proteoglycan replacement therapy, for anagen induction and maintenance

Multiple studies have investigated the relationship between androgenetic alopecia and cardiovascular disease, including studies that have identifi ed elevated rates of cardiovascular disease in patients with vertex hair loss, vertex and frontal hair loss, early onset hair loss and rapidly progressive hair loss. In addition, increased risks for hypertension, excess weight, abnormal lipids, insulin resistance, carotid atheromatosis and death from diabetes or heart disease have been reported in this population. Studies investigating an association between androgenetic alopecia and metabolic syndrome have yielded confl icting fi ndings. Distinct guidelines for the detection and prevention of cardiovascular disease in individuals with androgenetic alopecia have not been established. In addition to the traditional risk factors for developing cardiovascular disease, included in the defi nition of the metabolic syndrome, several skin diseases have recently been shown to be markers of conditions relating to the patient’s overall health. Physicians should be aware of the possible connection between relatively frequent skin diseases, such as psoriasis and hair growth disruptions, including androgenetic alopecia and female pattern hair loss and cardiovascular disease. This review is concentrated on the association between insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, abdominal fat, cardiovascular disease and hair growth disruptions as an early indicator of these underlying conditions. We have investigated the importance of robust primary clinical treatment measures to address the manifestation of hair loss due to a disruption caused by metabolic syndrome as an eff ective means to alleviate further stress induced hair loss, which can exacerbate the underlying cause
Going beyond zero-shot MT: combining phonological, morphological and semantic factors. The UdS-DFKI System at IWSLT 2017

This paper describes the UdS-DFKI participation to the multilingual task of the IWSLT Evaluation 2017. Our approach is based on factored multilingual neural translation systems following the small data and zero-shot training conditions. Our systems are designed to fully exploit multilinguality by including factors that increase the number of common elements among languages such as phonetic coarse encodings and synsets, besides shallow part-of-speech tags, stems and lemmas. Document level information is also considered by including the topic of every document. This approach improves a baseline without any additional factor for all the language pairs and even allows beyond-zero-shot translation. That is, the translation from unseen languages is possible thanks to the common elements —especially synsets in our models— among languages.
Temperature sensibility of the birefringence properties in side-hole photonic crystal fiber filled with Indium

We report on the temperature sensitivity of the birefringence properties of a special kind of photonic crystal fiber containing two side holes filled with Indium metal. The modulation of the fiber birefringence is accomplished through the stress field induced by the expansion of the metal. Although the fiber was made at low gas pressures during the indium infiltration process, the birefringence showed anomalous property at a relatively low temperature value, which is completely different from those reported in conventional-like fibers with two holes filled with metal. By modeling the anisotropic changes induced by the metal expansion to the refractive index within the fiber, we are able to reproduce the experimental results. Our results have practical relevance for the design of devices based on this technology.