Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Identification of nutrient-specific receptors in the intestine and their role in signaling

The present thesis aimed at identifying and characterizing novel nutrient-sensing pathways leading to hormone secretion in the intestine. Therefore, established enteroendocrine models were used in combination with newly adapted ex vivo models to assess initial processes involved in chemo-sensation in the intestinal mucosa. We identified and characterized two novel nutrient-sensing pathways in human enteroendocrine cells, using a combination of physiological and molecular tools. These original data address a new sensing pathway selective for tetrapeptides found in a human enteroendocrine cell model secreting GLP-1, and a novel bitter receptor-mediated secretion of CCK in human enteroendocrine cells also demonstrated to operate in a ex vivo rat intestinal model. These findings may hopefully foster additional research in the field of nutrient-sensing, particularly concerning the role of taste receptors present in the intestine that lead to hormone secretion and affect satiety.
Ectoparasites diagnosed in laying hens from comercial farms in Cuba. Information of the presence of a new mite from the feathers: Megninia ortari (Acari: analgidae)

Con el objetivo de actualizar la fauna de acaros y piojos de la gallina domestica, se realizo un pesquisaje a todas las granjas de ponedoras comerciales de Cuba en el periodo 2002-2004. Los resultados de la provincia La Habana se obtuvieron de los casos recibidos en el Laboratorio de Investigacion y Diagnostico Aviar. Del total de granjas investigadas 52 resultaron positivas a Megninia ginglymura (89.6 %) y 12 a Menopon gallinae (22.4 %), en cuanto a las muestras trabajadas, 290 fueron positivas a ectoparasitos de 295 investigadas (EI=98.3 %); Megninia ginglymura y Menopon gallinae fueron los de mayor extension de invasion (EI=89.8 % y EI=23.7 % respectivamente). Se informo la presencia del acaro Megninia ortari por primera vez en Cuba, fue diagnosticado en la Provincia de Ciego de Avila. Se describieron sus caracteristicas morfologicas lo cual permitio su clasificacion taxonomica.
Security Auditing Tools: A Comparative Study

Purpose – This paper concentrates on the comparison of security auditing tools specifying password cracking tools based on different matrices. Passwords are the most popular and dominant means of access control in every authentication process. Every password is vulnerable in the virtual world; all we can do is to delay it for one to break into us. Password cracking used in two opposite intentions; either it can be used for an administrator to protect from unauthorized access and for users to recover forgotten passwords or for an intruder to break into a secure system.Method – A great number of attacks on many systems are related to passwords. Awkwardly, the randomness and length of user-chosen passwords remain the same over time, but in contrast, hardware enhancement continuously gives intruders increasing computational power. So, password cracking has been one of the favorite vulnerable aspects for intruders to gain access to any unauthorized system. Among all available freeware password cracking tools, we choose five renowned tools based on offline and online categories.Results – Cain and Abel is the winner in the offline category, and TCH-Hydra is the winner in the online category in their performance among the tools we have tested.Conclusion – In this paper, the data has been collected by testing each tool several times in different systems as well as all tools in the same system based on different matrices. We have come to a knowledgeable result by comparing data among themselves. The results of the comparison will help in the adoption and usage of these tools and also promote the development and usage of security auditing tools.Recommendations – The results of the comparison will help in the adoption and usage of these tools and also promote the development and usage of security auditing tools.
Potential of Crotalaria juncea as cover crop for cyst nematode suppression under Central Europe conditions

Interest in the use of cover crops for soil health improvement and soil amelioration with organic matter is increasing. In addition to more general benefits, cover crops have also long been implemented for biological nematode suppression. For example for more than three decades, Heterodera schachtii has been managed by cultivating nematode-resistant brassica cover crops in Central Europe and more recently in North America. Production systems may require additional cover crop species when brassica cover crops are undesirable because of the potential increase of other soil-borne diseases, e.g., club root, that could negatively impact brassica cash crops. Alternative plant species fit for nematode suppression are needed. The tropical legume Crotalaria juncea has been successfully implemented for the suppression of Meloidogyne spp. in climates most typical to its growth requirements. This plant combines the benefits of nitrogen fixation with nematode antagonistic properties. Crotalaria juncea poses no consumption risk for ruminant animals in contrast to other species of this genus. The current study determined the C. juncea host status to five cyst nematodes, and examined the vegetation period requirements of the crop of exemplary two commercial cultivars. Both cultivars were resistant to the nematode species tested, and grew most vigorously when planted in May or June when soil temperatures were conducive for germination. This widely known nematode-suppressing plant can be grown in Central Europe. Further field studies will need to address the implementation of this plant species.
Comparative study of the effects of diosmin and diosmetin on fat accumulation, dyslipidemia, and glucose intolerance in mice fed a high‐fat high‐sucrose diet

Abstract This study compared the effects of diosmin and its aglycone, diosmetin, on body weight, liver fat, serum cholesterol, and glucose intolerance in male C57BL/6 mice fed a high‐fat high‐sucrose (HFHS) diet for 12 weeks. The mice were divided into four groups that received the following diets: normal diet (ND), HFHS diet, HFHS diet with 0.5% diosmin, and HFHS diet with 0.5% diosmetin. The body weight increased significantly in the HFHS diet group but decreased significantly in the HFHS diet with 0.5% diosmin group. The diosmin and diosmetin treatment inhibited fat accumulation in liver and epididymal tissues, and improved glucose intolerance by lowering glucose levels during a glucose tolerance test; these effects were greater in the diosmin group than those in the diosmetin group. Furthermore, only diosmin significantly ameliorated dyslipidemia, by reducing TC and LDL‐C levels, while diosmetin had little effect on these parameters. Taken together, the results showed that diosmin and diosmetin can prevent fat accumulation and glucose intolerance; however, diosmin was more effective and also showed an antidyslipidemic effect.
Seismoacoustic analysis of underground explosions using the Rayleigh integral

A coupled seismoacoustic model is developed for the analysis of acoustic signals produced by underground explosive events with an aim to develop a means of improving estimated depth and yield for explosion monitoring. A ground spall model is used to predict surface motion characteristics produced by an underground explosion and the Rayleigh integral is applied to relate the surface motion to the acoustic signal some distance from surface ground zero. The low-frequency component of the ground motion associated with the prolonged free fall of lofted material during spall is found to dominate the acoustic signal propagating away from surface ground zero at shallow angles. The model is applied to observed ground motion and acoustic signals recorded during the Source Physics Experiment (SPE) with promising results. In addition to accurately predicting characteristics of the observed acoustic signals from several of the SPE events, the model provides a means of explaining the lack of signals observed during several events in the SPE due to the directionality of the higher frequency acoustic signals associated with the uplift and closure components as well as the lack of a spatially localized, longer duration dwell.
Evolutionary role of seed oils in plants: The case of Jatropha curcas L.

Seed oils in higher plants function as an energy source for germination, emergence and establishing as a new plant. Then, the seed oil must be a trait subjected to natural selection. In this work we revise the evolutionary function of seed oils in angiosperms, analyzing the patterns of seed oil accumulation and their fatty acids composition among species differing in habit, habitat and relatedness. We review some relevant hypotheses about the evolutionary role of seed oils and their influence on plant fitness, using as case study the, apparently, inconsistent fatty acid profile of the tropical biofuel plant Jatropha curcas L. (Euphorbiaceae). Key words: Fitness, tropical plants, selection factors, oleaginous plants, biofuels, Jatropha.
Entomological Scheimpflug lidar for estimating unique insect classes in-situ field test from Ivory Coast

Acquisition of entomological data with high-frequency lidar is an emerging research field in rapid development. The technique offers very high numbers of observations per time unit, suitable for statistical models. In this work, we use a near-infrared Scheimpflug lidar with a sampling frequency of 3.5 kHz to assess the activity of free flying organisms. In-situ measurements were done during the rainy season in Ivory Coast, and hierarchical cluster analysis was used to quantify the amount of unique modulation signatures. Here we propose a method to estimate the number of observed species within a certain air volume for a given time span. This paves the way for rapid in-situ biodiversity assessment in accordance with recent priorities for protection of pollinator diversity during global changes.
Do gender differences in academic attainment correspond with scholastic attitudes? An exploratory study in a UK secondary school

Research has examined how standardized tests give rise to gender differences in English and STEM attainment, but little research has explored gender differences in classroom-based attainment and the degree to which these correspond to differences in school-related attitudes. To explore the extent to which gender-achievement gaps in classroom-based performance parallel differences in self-perceptions and scholastic attitudes. An independent sample of first ( n = 187, age 11–12, Study 1) and second-year
Live Demonstration: Performance Evaluation of Electrical Impedance Tomography Systems using a Color-Coded Full Reference SNR Method

A color-coded full reference signal-to-noise (FR-SNR) method is proposed as a simple and reproducible performance evaluation method for EIT systems. It will be demonstrated with a 16-electrode high-speed EIT system and a resistive phantom. The performance of the EIT system can be altered by artificially introducing non-ideal operating conditions such as low drive current, low ADC resolution, dc offset in the readout front-end and large electrode impedance. The performance under these conditions will be measured and displayed using the FR-SNR method.
Survival Potential of Trichoderma harzianum in Alginate Prius

Viable population of five isolates of Trichoderma harzianum were processedl formulated as prills using CaCl 2 and Ca-gluconate (Ca-G) as gellant for increasing shelf life of a biocontrol agent. The results showed that survivability of T. harzianum was higher (60-77 days) when Ca-G was used than when CaCl 2 (32-45 days) was used as gellant. Survivability of most isolates was higher when initial population of 10 9 was used than when it was 10 6 /g of prills.
Clinical And Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring In Subjects With Stent Implanted Aortic Coarctation

Abstract Background: This study aimed to investigate the frequency of systemic hypertension by clinical and ambulatory blood pressure monitoring in subjects with stent implanted aortic coarctation. Material and Methods: The study included in 31 subjects with stent implanted aortic coarctation before at least 6 months to 3 years. Related features of subjectes, procedure, echocardiografhic findings were evaluated retrospectively. Blood pressure were examined by classical method and 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring. Results: 22 of subjects were male and 9 were female. Mean age was 14,50 ±6,56 years. The mean body mass index was found to be 18,61 ±4,02.16 of them had native coarctation, others had recoarctation. The efficiency of procedure on blood pressure, echocardigraphic and angiocardiographic gradients was found to be statistically significant. 11 subjects were using antihypertensive drug. Six normotensive subjects had hypertensive in ambulatory blood pressure monitoring.17 subject were considered hypertensive group, others normotensive. There was not statistically significant difference between hypertensive group and normotensive group in demographic paramaters, coarctation type and diameter, the stent type and size, echocardiographic and catheter gradients before and after the procedure. Conclusions: Despite optimal treatment, hypertension persists in an important part of the subjects. Some normotensive subjects had hypertensive with ambulatory blood pressure monitoring. The study showed that clinical blood pressure monitoring does not sufficient to determined hypertension alone. Ambulatory blood pressure measurement with regular intervals will be beneficial in the follow-up of these subjects for hypertension.
Otolith microchemistry identifies diadromous populations of Patagonian river fishes

The geographical characteristics of Chile may provide excellent habitat for the establishment of diadromous fish species. The objective of this study was to document migratory life histories of native galaxiids and introduced salmonids from a wide latitudinal range in Chilean Patagonia (39-48°S). Otolith microchemistry data were analysed using a recursive partitioning approach, with the main goal of testing the hypothesis of diadromy for several populations of galaxiids and salmonids. Based on annular analysis of Sr:Ca ratios, a diadromous life history was detected for populations of native Aplochiton taeniatus, A. marinus, and Galaxias maculatus. Residency in freshwater was suggested for populations of A. zebra and confirmed for G. platei. Among introduced salmonids, populations of Oncorhynchus tshawytscha and O. kisutch exhibited anadromous migratory patterns consistent with their life history in the native range, whereas the populations of O. mykiss examined appeared restricted to freshwater areas. Salmo trutta exhibited variable habitat use consistent with the establishment of more than one type of life cycle. Multivariate classification and regression trees (CART) were used to assess changes in ratios of all elements assayed (Sr, Mg, Mn, Ba, Ca) across chronological sequences of otoliths. Changes in Sr had highest relative influence in species that dwell prevalently in saltwater and brackish habitats, whereas changes in Mg and Mn appeared to discriminate fishes that moved exclusively between freshwater environments. Some species (e.g., O. tshawytscha) showed equally strong variation in all elements assayed suggesting that time spent between fresh headwaters and the sea jointly influenced otolith microchemistry. As accelerated growth in hydropower capacity further disrupts migratory routes of native and introduced fishes alike, special concern in conservation assessments should be given to diadromous species and populations with dire conservation status or economic importance.
Ion Transport in Plant Cells

Work on ion transport in plant cells and tissues is largely concerned with the properties of cells rather than of cell layers, and the evidence is on the whole against an important role for asymmetric ion transport across cell layers equivalent to animal epithelia. Cells structurally specialized for transport, having a large increase in surface area, seem to occur singly or in small groups, but not to be organized into closely packed layers; they are known as transfer cells and were described in a wide variety of situations by Gunning & Pate (1969). At the cell level, ion transport is best characterized in giant algal cells, but the situation may well be similar in higher plants. In Nitella translucens an ouabain-sensitive ATP-dependent sodium-potassium exchange pump at the plasmalemma maintains the high K/Na of the cell, and the high internal osmotic pressure is achieved by net salt uptake by a (chloride + cations) pump, also at the plasmalemma. The linkage between chloride and cations seems more likely to be chemical than electrogenic. This pump may be energized by a membrane redox system, but is not ATP-powered. The mechanism for initial entry of chloride to the cell seems also to control the distribution of tracer chloride between cytoplasm and vacuole, since the two processes of entry and transfer to the vacuole are very closely linked. The kinetics of vacuolar transfer are consistent with a pinocytotic entry of salt at the plasmalemma, fusion ofpinocytotic vesicles with the endoplasmic reticulum, from which new vacuole is formed. The process of discharge to the vacuole seems to be quantized, but the mechanism and significance of this observation are not understood.
Leveraging allele-specific expression to refine fine-mapping for eQTL studies

Many disease risk loci identified in genome-wide association studies are present in non-coding regions of the genome. It is hypothesized that these variants affect complex traits by acting as expression quantitative trait loci (eQTLs) that influence expression of nearby genes. This indicates that many causal variants for complex traits are likely to be causal variants for gene expression. Hence, identifying causal variants for gene expression is important for elucidating the genetic basis of not only gene expression but also complex traits. However, detecting causal variants is challenging due to complex genetic correlation among variants known as linkage disequilibrium (LD) and the presence of multiple causal variants within a locus. Although several fine-mapping approaches have been developed to overcome these challenges, they may produce large sets of putative causal variants when true causal variants are in high LD with many non-causal variants. In eQTL studies, there is an additional source of information that can be used to improve fine-mapping called allele-specific expression (ASE) that measures imbalance in gene expression due to different alleles. In this work, we develop a novel statistical method that leverages both ASE and eQTL information to detect causal variants that regulate gene expression. We illustrate through simulations and application to the Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx) dataset that our method identifies the true causal variants with higher specificity than an approach that uses only eQTL information. In the GTEx dataset, our method achieves the median reduction rate of 11% in the number of putative causal variants. Contact JaeHoonSul@mednet.ucla. edu, eeskin@cs.ucla. edu
Nightjars, rabbits, and foxes interact on unpaved roads: spatial use of a secondary prey in a shared‐predator system

We thank Sonia Sanchez and Basti Palacios for help during data collection, Carlos Davila and Carlos Molina for logistic support, and Lorenzo Perez for scientific discussion. Carlos Camacho thanks Airam Rodriguez for encouraging him to measure individual plant stands and the CNIO (Madrid) for hospitality during manuscript preparation. Constructive comments by Chris Whelan and an anonymous reviewer substantially improved this manuscript. Field work was conducted with no specific funding. The Portuguese Science Foundation (FCT) provided funds to Jose M. Fedriani (IF/00728/2013) through the strategic research program PEst/CC6316. Carlos Camacho received financial support from the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (SVP-2013-067686). The authors have no conflict of interest to declare. Data arc available at: https://digital.csic. es/handle/10261/139765.
Impact Assessment of Photovoltaic Distributed Generation on Celesc Low-Voltage Network

The presence of distributed generation (DG) in low-voltage networks is increasing, aiming at the use of photovoltaic solar energy. In the current model of energy compensation, only the injection of active power is foreseen. There is no commitment from the generating units to contribute to the voltage system regulation. For utilities, it is necessary to research the consequences caused by DG growth in the technical losses and consumers power quality. In this context, this work presents a study on the impacts caused by distributed photovoltaic generation in Celesc’s low-voltage network. Four feeders are evaluated, with different load profiles, using the OpenDSS simulation software. The results show profile changes in the technical losses and feeders voltages, depending on the DG power in the networks.
Development Of Chemical Tools To Investigate Protein S-Glutathionylation In Response To Metabolic Alteration

DEVELOPMENT OF CHEMICAL TOOLS TO INVESTIGATE PROTEIN S-GLUTATHIONYLATION IN RESPONSE TO METABOLIC ALTERATION by KUSAL T. G SAMARASINGHE August 2017 Advisor: Prof. Young-Hoon Ahn Major: Chemistry (Biochemistry) Degree: Doctor of Philosophy Oxidative stress is a common characteristic of age-related diseases such as vascular diseases, diabetes and cancer. Many diseases are known to be regulated by glutathionylation. Glutathionylation is referred to as the formation of disulfide bond between a protein cysteine and a glutathione. To understand the molecular mechanisms behind the disease initiation and progression, identification of such glutathionylated proteins is important. Even though existing methods have been widely used, several limitations of these methods hinder the identification of such proteins in disease conditions. Therefore, we developed a versatile chemical method that generates clickable glutathione inside the cells. In this method, we generated a mutant form of glutathione synthetase (GS M4) to metabolically synthesize clickable glutathione for studying and identifying proteins in disease conditions. Using clickable glutathione approach, we uncovered a regulatory role of glucose metabolism in glutathionylation. Also, we have identified over 1400 of glutathionylated proteins in response to mitochondrial dysfunction and glucose deprivation, a common characteristic found in metabolic disorders. Moreover, we have identified several new glutathionylated proteins including ser/thr
Classifying bladder cancer subtypes

Urothelial carcinoma of the bladder is is estimated to have killed over 16,000 people in the United States in 2016. Like breast cancer, bladder cancer is a heterogeneous disease, and characterization of it’s various subtypes can be useful for forecasting prognosis and treatment efficacy. According to The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) project, the mRNA expression profiles of bladder tumours can be used to cluster the tumors into four different categories: I - Papillary-like, II ‐Luminal A, III - basal/squamous-like, and IV - other (similar to III). However it is not clear whether these mRNA expression based clusters correlate with other molecular and genetic features of the tumor cells. In other words, do differences in mRNA expression profile contain the same information as differences in protein expression, micro RNA (miRNA) expression, copy number variation and somatic mutation data. We tried to recreate mRNA based bladder tumor clusters from other multi-omic data for 328 bladder cancer tumor samples using a special deep and wide belief network composed of restricted Boltzmann machines and a multilayer perceptron. For 10-fold cross validation, we got 79% average test accuracy which implies that that differences in mRNA expression between bladder tumor cells can be reliably, though not perfectly, inferred from different molecular and genetic features of the tumors.