Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Microsatellites as a Tool for the Study of Microevolutionary Process in Native Forest Trees

The main aim of this work is an attempt to help researchers that use microsatellite markers to analyze microevolutionary forces in natural populations of native forest species. This kind of studies drives the researchers to make decisions regarding management or conservation of such species. This chapter pays attention to the entire process—from development of microsatellite markers, going through data analysis and ending with interpretation of these results. This work helps to researchers that are not familiarizing with methods and population genetics theories to analyze nuclear and chloroplast microsatellite data. These methods allow quantification of genetic variation and genetic structure in native forest species, and theoretical content allows knowledge about the past and the present genetic states of populations for making inferences about the future of these populations.
Optimization of log-periodic dipole antenna with LTE band rejection

This study presents an optimized design of a 10-dipole logperiodic antenna for UHF TV reception with LTE band rejection. The simulation of the antenna was performed in CST simulation software followed by optimization of the design using TRF (Trusted Region Framework) algorithm in the frequency range of 450 MHz-900 MHz. The parameters optimized are S11, realized gain and front-to-back ratio of the antenna. TV reception passband is 450 MHz-790 MHz and LTE band is 810 MHz-900 MHz. The proposed antenna design provides a good matching with a low S11 in the passband (470 MHz-790 MHz) and a high S11 in the stopband (i.e. LTE region of 810 MHz-900 MHz). The antenna provides a realized gain between 7 dBi and 8 dBi whereas front-to back ratio above 14 dB in the passband.
The analytic hierarchy process as a support for decision making

The first part of this text deals with a convention site selection as one of the most lucrative areas in the tourism industry. The second part gives a further description of a method for decision making - the analytic hierarchy process. The basic characteristics: hierarchy constructions and pair wise comparison on the given level of the hierarchy are allured. The third part offers an example of application. This example is solved using the Super - Decision software, which is developed as a computer support for the analytic hierarchy process. This indicates that the AHP approach is a useful tool to help support a decision of convention site selection.
Distribution and Encounter Rates of Large Herbivores in Chang Chenmo and Daulat Beg Oldi, Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir, India

The Ladakh region of the Indian Trans-Himalaya supports twelve large herbivores, including eight mountain ungulates. Many of the species like the Tibetan antelope are highly endangered with rapidly declining populations. Yet there is little information on their status and distributions, especially in remote, inaccessible areas. We report on the status and distribution of five large herbivores in the Chang Chenmo and the Daulat Beg Oldi (DBO) areas of Ladakh, which remain the least known areas in Ladakh in terms of wildlife populations because they are very remote and politically highly sensitive. During the surveys, we observed 246 Tibetan antelopes and 40 blue sheep in DBO. In Chang Chenmo we observed 40 Tibetan antelopes, 2 wild yaks, 42 Tibetan argalis, 67 Tibetan wild asses and 30 blue sheep. In DBO, the encounter rate was higher for the Tibetan antelope (mean = 2.54, SE = 0.63) than the blue sheep (mean = 0.29, SE = 0.19). In Chang Chenmo the highest encounter rate was for the Tibetan wild ass (mean = 0.48, SE = 0.26), whereas the wild yak had the lowest (mean = 0.02, SE = 0.01). Since Chang Cehnmo and DBO are important areas for rare species in India, and are located right at the border with China, there is an urgent need for international collaboration to protect these threatened animals. DOI: http://dx.doi. org/10.3126/on.v9i1. 5734
Youth, gender and livelihoods in West Africa: Perspectives from Ghana and the Gambia

Abstract In this paper we report on preliminary fieldwork conducted in Ghana and The Gambia on the interrelationships among youth, gender and livelihoods. We examine how policy in developing countries, typically characterised as related to child labour or education, needs to emphasise the linkage across processes that affect young people. We argue that policy will be improved if young people are given voice to express how work, education, social networks, and culturally-bound notions of responsibility are linked and how they perceive the opportunities and constraints on their ‘life chances’.
GM-CSF Antibodies and Peripheral Treg Cells as Potential Markers of Disease Activity to Guide Therapeutic Decisions in Pediatric IBD

Objectives: 1. To measure and compare granulocytemacrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) antibodies and peripheral regulatory T cells (Tregs) cells as non-invasive biomarkers in active inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and remission in pediatric IBD. 2. To determine the ability of these biomarkers to predict severity/type and choice of therapy in pediatric IBD. Methods: We hypothesized that patients with severe IBD requiring biologics will have higher circulating GM-CSF antibodies and lower Foxp3+ Tregs at baseline, with subsequent improvement in response to therapy. 28 patients were prospectively analyzed. Blood collected preand post-treatment was analyzed for GM-CSF antibodies by ELISA and Tregs by flow cytometry. Clinically, PCDAI and PUCAI were scored. Wilcoxon Rank Sum tests were used to compare baseline values between groups, and paired signed-rank tests used to compare pre- and posttreatment values. Results: Median GM-CSF antibodies trended higher (0.50 µg/mL vs. 0.37) and Tregs lower (5.23% vs. 6.71%) in the biologic cohort with no significant difference between cohorts. In response to biologics, 37% showed decrease in GM-CSF antibodies and 75% showed increase in Tregs. GM-CSF antibodies trended higher in Crohn’s disease (CD) than ulcerative colitis (UC) (0.81 vs. 0.31, p=0.073). Activity indices showed significant improvement in the biologic cohort of UC patients (p=0.04). Conclusion: GM-CSF antibodies and peripheral Tregs may reflect disease activity and thereby guide IBD therapy. Although no individual biomarker could predict need for biologics, their trend favors their use in a predictive model to identify the most effective treatment strategy in pediatric IBD.
Clinical Review : Herbal Hepatotoxicity and the Call for Systematic Data Documentation of Individual Cases

Considerable clinical and regulatory interests exist for herbal hepatotoxicity, also called herb induced liver injury [HILI]. It often is uncertain whether causality can firmly be attributed to a specific herbal preparation marketed as tea, vegetable, herbal drug, herbal dietary supplement [HDS], or herbal traditional Chinese medicine [TCM]. Confounding variables and methodological problems of poor case data documentation require substantial improvements in future presentations of suspected HILI cases to clarify these discrepancies. Essentials of systematic data documentation of individual HILI cases focus on complete narrative case details extracted from raw data, herbal product identification, herbal treatment modalities, symptom latency, liver enzyme evaluation, laboratory hepatotoxicity criteria, liver injury pattern, biliary tract imaging, hepatitis serology, comedication, exclusion of alternative causes, and causality estimation by the CIOMS scale [Council for International Organizations of Medical Sciences], syn. RUCAM [Roussel Uclaf Causality Assessment Method], best to be used as its update. For HILI cases, we strongly recommend clinical evaluation and concomitant causality assessment by the updated CIOMS scale, which considers all core elements of hepatotoxicity, is specific and validated for hepatotoxicity, structured, itemized, and quantitative, with obligatory transparent documentation of each CIOMS item and an individual score for each patient with suspected HILI; an optional expert opinion that is based on scored CIOMS items may follow, if uncertainty remains. Thus, a diagnostic framework with systematic data management and mandatory documentation of individual cases with suspected HILI will provide the basis for robust and transparent clinical and causality evaluation. This is highly appreciated by the scientific community and regulatory agencies for reasons of reassessing and gaining valid information of HILI caused by a specific plant.
Fast audio-haptic prototyping with mass-interaction physics

This paper presents ongoing work on the topic of physical modelling and force-feedback interaction. Specifically, it proposes a frame- work for rapidly prototyping virtual objects and scenes by means of mass-interaction models, and coupling the user and these objects via an affordable multi-DoF haptic device. The modelled objects can be computed at the rate of the haptic loop, but can also operate at a higher audio-rate, producing sound. The open-source design and overall simplicity of the proposed system makes it an interesting solution for introducing both physical simulations and force-feedback interaction, and also for applications in artistic creation. This first implementation prefigures current work conducted on the develop- ment of modular open-source mass-interaction physics tools for the design of haptic and multisensory applications.
Convergence of the equi-energy sampler

In a recent paper 'The equi-energy sampler with applications statistical inference and statistical mechanics' Kou, Zhou & Wong ( Ann. Statist. , 34 , 1581-1619, 2006.) have presented a new stochastic simulation method called the equi-energy (EE) sampler. This technique is designed to simulate from a probability measure π , perhaps only known up to a normalizing constant. The authors demonstrate that the sampler performs well in quite challenging problems but their convergence results (Theorem 2) appear incomplete. This was pointed out, in the discussion of the paper, by Atchade & Liu ( Ann. Statist. , 34 , 1620-1628, 2006.) who proposed an alternative convergence proof. However, this alternative proof, whilst theoretically correct, does not correspond to the algorithm that is implemented. In this note we consider the difficulties of the proofs as well as pointing out an alternative convergence result established by the authors (Andrieu et al. 2007b).
A Dry Phase of Life . Freeze-drying and storage stability of Lactobacillus coryniformis Si 3 in sucrose-based formulations

Freeze-drying is a commonly used drying technique for sensitive biologicals, such as lactic acid bacteria. Freeze-drying survival and storage viability of freeze-dried lactic acid bacteria have been shown to depend upon many factors including species, fermentation and formulation procedure, freeze-drying process, storage conditions and rehydration conditions. Lactobacillus (Lb.) coryniformis strain Si3 was selected as the model strain for this thesis work mainly due to its low freeze-drying survival but also potential usefulness as biopreservative, i.e. broad antifungal activity. Preconditioning Lb. coryniformis Si3 with mild stress during fermentation induced changes in the lipid membrane (increased the degree of unsaturation) or increased the uptake of the solute betaine. However, freeze-drying survival was significantly lowered after preconditioning Lb. coryniformis Si3 with cold, base, acid or salt stress prior to freeze-drying. After either optimal growth or preconditioning by mild heat stress, Lb. coryniformis Si3 survived to approximately 70% in a skim milk and sucrose formulation. Betaine was shown to be a poor cryoprotective and lyoprotective agent compared to sucrose. Betaine crystallised upon drying resulting in survival rates of below 3%. By adding small amounts of sucrose to the betaine, crystallisation was inhibited and a 10-fold increase in survival was achieved. Betaine was an effective plasticiser for sucrose, lowering the Tg both in the freeze-concentrate and the freeze-dried product. Our design of experiments approach revealed interactions between the formulation (cell density and sucrose concentration) and freeze-drying process (i.e. cooling rate) with regard to survival of Lb. coryniformis Si3. It was possible to vary the survival rate from 6% to ~70% by varying the different parameters. Storage stability was dependent on the formulation, humidity and temperature. At low temperatures, the matrix stability and cell viability of freeze-dried Lb. coryniformis Si3 in sucrose could be increased by addition of polymers. The suggested ‘rule of thumb’ of keeping the product 50 degrees below the Tg for retained stability of the amorphous matrix was applicable in our system to maintain high cell viability and technical quality of the products. By combining this ‘rule’ with the effect of moisture on the Tg, it was possible to determine product-specific storage conditions to ensure high viability and good technical product quality.
Welfare During Stunning and Slaughter of Poultry

This paper describes research on the electrical stunning of poultry and the problems of achieving an effective humane stun with water bath stunners. The welfare and meat quality advantages of using gas mixtures to stun and kill birds are then described. The evidence strongly suggests that chickens and turkeys can be killed very humanely using either 90% argon in air or a mixture of 30% carbon dioxide and 60% argon in air. (
A Comparison of Two Business Rules Engineering Approaches

We compare two contemporary approaches under development for business rules engineering with the aim to understand their coverage of business rules and their potentials for requirements engineering. One approach, Aspect Oriented Modeling, focuses on events, state transitions and the synchronization of transitions between objects. The other approach, Ampersand, focuses on invariant rules that should be complied with regardless of the business events taking place. Our comparison brings out that either method can adequately capture some types of business rule, but not others. We conclude that a combination of the two approaches may be a significant contribution to the methods and tools for business rules engineering currently available.
Synchrony — An emergent property of recreational fisheries

1Nebraska Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, School of Natural Resources, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Nebraska 2School of Natural Resources, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Nebraska 3Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, Lincoln, Nebraska 4U.S. Geological Survey—Nebraska Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, and School of Natural Resources, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Nebraska
r-Java: an r-process code and graphical user interface for heavy-element nucleosynthesis

We present r-Java, an r-process code for open use that performs r-process nucleosynthesis calculations. Equipped with a simple graphical user interface, r-Java is capable of carrying out nuclear statistical equilibrium (NSE), as well as static and dynamic r-process calculations, for a wide range of input parameters. In this introductory paper, we present the motivation and details behind r-Java and results from our static and dynamic simulations. Static simulations are explored for a range of neutron irradiation and temperatures. Dynamic simulations are studied with a parameterized expansion formula. Our code generates the resulting abundance pattern based on a general entropy expression that can be applied to both degenerate and non-degenerate matter, allowing us to track the rapid density and temperature evolution of the ejecta during the initial stages of ejecta expansion. At present, our calculations are limited to the waiting-point approximation. We encourage the nuclear astrophysics community to provide feedback on the code and related documentation, which is available for download from the website of the Quark-Nova Project: http://quarknova.ucalgary. ca/.
Mass concentration phenomena for the $L^2$-critical nonlinear Schrödinger equation

In this paper, we show that any solution of the nonlinear Schr{o}dinger equation $iu_t+\Delta u\pm|u|^\frac{4}{N}u=0,$ which blows up in finite time, satisfies a mass concentration phenomena near the blow-up time. Our proof is essentially based on the Bourgain's one~\cite{MR99f:35184}, which has established this result in the bidimensional spatial case, and on a generalization of Strichartz's inequality, where the bidimensional spatial case was proved by Moyua, Vargas and Vega~\cite{MR1671214}. We also generalize to higher dimensions the results in Keraani~\cite{MR2216444} and Merle and Vega~\cite{MR1628235}.
Blend of Roselle Calyx and Selected Fruit Modulates Testicular Redox Status and Sperm Quality of Diabetic Rats

Mammalian fertilization, a species-specific event, is the net result of a highly orchestrated process that collectively results in the fusion of two radically different-looking haploid cells, sperm and egg, to form a diploid zygote, a cell with somatic chromosome numbers. Prior to the interaction of the opposite gametes, mammalian spermatozoa undergo many fascinating changes during development in the testis, maturation in the epididymis, and capacitation in the female genital tract. Only the capacitated spermatozoa interact with the extracellular coat, the zona pellucida, which surrounds the mammalian oocyte. The tight and irreversible binding of the opposite gametes in the mouse and many other mammals studied, including human, starts a ca2+- dependent signal transduction pathway that results in the exocytosis of acrosomal contents at the site of the sperm binding. The hydrolytic action of the acrosomal glycohydrolases and proteinases, released at the site of the sperm-egg binding, along with the enhanced thrust generated by the hyperactivated spermatozoon, are important factors that regulate the penetration of the zona pellucida and fusion of the oppositegametes. The purpose of this editorial is to highlight the well programmed molecular events that are necessary before sperm-egg adhesion. In addition, my intention is to discuss the increasing controversy about the mechanism(s) that regulate mammalian sperm-egg interactions.
Back to the Future in Acadian French

Our article presents a variationist analysis of future verb forms in Acadian French. The main variants considered are the inflected future (e.g. je partirai) and the periphrastic future (e.g. je vais partir). The purpose of this study is two-fold: a) it will determine the distribution of these variants and their linguistic correlates; b) it will compare the use of future verb forms with other varieties of French. Our results reveal that the inflected future is used with greater frequency in Acadian French than in other Canadian varieties and that the factors that condition the variable in Acadian are not the same as in other varieties.
The effects of acute administration of the hydroalcoholic extract of rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) (Lamiaceae) in animal models of memory

Rosmarinus officinalis (Rosemary) demonstrates antioxidant, antidepressant, diuretic, antinociceptive and antiulcerogenic activities. The present study was designed to examine the effects of the hydroalcoholic extract of R. officinalis on the memory of male mice. The behavioral tasks employed were social recognition (SR), the Morris water maze (MWM) and an inhibitory avoidance task (IA). The treatment with 150 and 300 mg/kg of R. officinalis improved the acquisition phase of learning of a new social memory in the SR task because a decrease was observed in the duration of social investigation. In the Morris water maze, no significant effect was observed on spatial memory when the groups were compared for the time spent in the correct quadrant. In the inhibitory avoidance task, the decrease in the step-down latencies in the test session indicate that 150 mg/kg of R. officinalis improved long-term memory when administered in the consolidation phase of learning. In conclusion, the present study showed that, the hydroalcoholic extract of R. officinalis at 150 and 300 mg/kg modulated the short- and long-term memories of mice, in a social recognition and inhibitory avoidance task, respectively. This modulator effect was shown to improve learning and memory processes.
DISSOCIATION OF LOCOMOTOR AND CONDITIONED PLACE PREFERENCE RESPONSES FOLLOWING MANWULATION OF GABAA AND AMFA RECEPTORS IN VENTRAL PALLIDUM WJZNHE

1. This study examined the roles of GABAergic and glutamatergic neurotransmission in ventral pallidum (VP) in conditioned place preference and locomotor activity. 2. Picrotoxin (O.lpg), a GABA antagonist, and (*)a-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methylisoxazole-4-propionate (AMPA; O.l4pg), a non-NMDA glutamatergic agonist, were injected bilaterally into VP through implanted cammlae. 3. Both drugs produced a robust increase in locomotion, but neither produced conditioned place preference. 4. These results suggest a dissociation of locomotor activity and reward at the level of ventral pallidum. In addition, it was argued that the GABAergic projection corn nucleus accumbens to ventral pallidum may not be involved in the processing of reward initiated from dopaminergic activation in nucleus accumbens.
Fusing Visual Saliency for Material Recognition

Material recognition is researched in both computer vision and vision science fields. In this paper, we investigated how humans observe material images and found the eye fixation information improves the performance of material image classification models. We first collected eye-tracking data from human observers and used it to fine-tune a generative adversarial network for saliency prediction (SalGAN). We then fused the predicted saliency map with material images and fed them to CNN models for material classification. The experiment results show that the classification accuracy is improved than those using original images. This indicates that human's visual cues could benefit computational models as priors.
Survey on Wireless Sensor Routing Protocols

Wireless sensor networks is a group of sensor nodes which works jointly to perform a common application, it consists of low cost, low power, small in size and multi functional sensor nodes. They are densely deployed in the field. Because sensors are operated by battery power life time of the wireless nodes are limited. So we need some efficient routing techniques by which we can save the life time of the senor node. In this paper we discuss the different types of routing protocol. Routing protocols are application dependent based on the network structure we can classify the routing techniques in three categories: data centric, hierarchical and location base. This survey paper is a base paper to understand WSN routing techniques its merits and demerits so one can easily identify routing protocol for specific application.