Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Culturing Chaetoceros muelleri using simplified media with different N sources: effects on production and lipid content

Land-based bivalve aquaculture depends on large-scale cultures of live microalgae for food. The intensity of large-scale microalgal production is important for cost-effectiveness. Using Walne’s medium as the control, simplified media containing nitrogen, phosphorus, silica, iron, manganese and vitamins were designed to determine the impact of nitrogen source and molar N:P ratio (sodium nitrate, NO3 9:1, ammonium chloride, NH4 9:1 and NH4 25:1) on growth, dry-weight biomass, culture longevity and lipid content of Chaetoceros muelleri, a diatom commonly used in shellfish aquaculture. During the exponential phase (day 6), dry-weight production in simplified media was similar to controls, indicating that this microalga can grow successfully on simplified media and use ammonium as the nitrogen source. The cultures grown on nitrate or ammonium differed in their time-course. Low nitrogen concentration in cultures grown with nitrate caused the collapse of these cultures within 11–13 days, after a short stationary phase. Cultures grown with ammonium had a longer stationary phase and were still alive on day 20, in spite of the low nitrogen concentrations observed after day 13 in cultures grown with NH4 9:1. During stationary phase (day 18) there was an increase in lipid content of algae under conditions of low nitrogen availability (NH4 9:1) and extended low phosphorus availability (NH4 25:1). Considering dry weight production, culture longevity, nutrient efficiency and lipid composition, simplified media containing ammonium, phosphorus, silica, iron, manganese and vitamins are a viable and profitable choice for batch culture of C. muelleri. In the exponential phase, the simplified medium NH4 9:1 was as effective as the control. Overall, both of the simplified media using ammonium are effective and suitable, depending on the purpose of the cultures and whether lipid contents (NH4 9:1), dry weight biomass (NH4 25:1) or nitrogen input and output (NH4 9:1) are desired.
Ketimpangan Ekonomi, Kemiskinan dan Akses Informasi : Bagaimana Pengaruhnya Terhadap Kriminalitas ?

This study aims to assess the linkage between inequality and information access concerning criminal acts in Indonesia. Macro-level data of 33 provinces in Indonesia during 2012-2017 from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) were analyzed using panel data regression methods. The analysis affirms that Fixed Effect Model (FEM) is the most appropriate model in explaining criminal behavior. Interestingly, poverty reduction leads in increasing crime activity. There is not enough evidence that inequality and information access influence crime. It is necessary to reconsider the use of microdata to determine the effect of inequality and access to information on crime.
Spatiotemporal modelling for the annual egg production method of stock assessment using generalized additive models

Generalized additive models (GAMs) are used to model the spatiotemporal distribution of egg density as a function of locational and environmental variables. The main aim of using GAMs is to improve precision of egg abundance estimates needed for the annual egg production method. The application of GAMs requires a survey design with good coverage in space and time. If the only results available are from less optimal survey designs, they can be improved by using historical data for spawning boundaries. The method is applied to plankton egg survey data of Atlantic mackerel (Scomber scombrus) in 1995. The GAM-based method improves the precision of estimates substantially and is also useful in explaining complex space-time trends using environmental variables.
Revisit of Password-Authenticated Key Exchange Protocol for Healthcare Support Wireless Communication

Wireless communication is essential for the infrastructure of a healthcare system. This bidirectional communication is used for data collection and to control message delivery. Wireless communication is applied in industries as well as in our daily lives, e.g., smart cities; however, highly reliable communication may be more difficult in environments with low power consumption, many interferences, or IoT wireless network issues due to resource limitations. In order to solve these problems, we investigated the existing three-party password-authenticated key exchange (3PAKE) and developed an enhanced protocol. Currently, Lu et al. presented a 3PAKE protocol to improve the security flaws found in Farash and Attari’s protocol. This work revisits the protocol proposed by Lu et al. and demonstrates that, in addition to other security weaknesses, the protocol does not provide user anonymity which is an important issue for healthcare environment, and is not secure against insider attacks that may cause impersonation attacks. We propose a secure biometric-based efficient password-authenticated key exchange (SBAKE) protocol in order to remove the incidences of these threats, and present an analysis regarding the security and efficiency of the SBAKE protocol for practical deployment.
Cooking with biomass fuel and cardiovascular disease: a cross-sectional study among rural villagers in Phitsanulok, Thailand.

Background: Burning biomass fuel is a major source of indoor air pollution; about 40% of Thai people still use biomass for cooking. There is increasing evidence of the association between biomass smoke exposure and serious health effects including cardiovascular disease. The object of this cross-sectional study was to investigate the association between biomass use for household cooking and cardiovascular outcome, including coronary heart disease, hypertension, high cholesterol, diabetes mellitus, and stroke among rural villagers in Phitsanulok, Thailand. Methods: Data from 1078 households were collected using a face-to-face interview questionnaire. Results: After being adjusted for gender, age, cigarette smoke, secondhand smoke, and exposure to other sources of air pollution, it was found that the family members of cooks using biomass fuel were at risk of coronary heart disease (CHD; OR=4.35; 95%CI 0.10-18.97), high blood pressure (HBP; OR=1.61; 95%CI 1.10-2.35), high cholesterol (HC; OR=2.74; 95%CI 1.66-4.53), and diabetes (OR= 1.88; 95%CI 1.03-3.46). Compared to LPG use, using wood was associated with stroke (OR=7.64; 95%CI 1.18-49.61), and using charcoal was associated with HC (OR=1.52; 95%CI 1.04-2.24). Compared to never user, household cooks who sometimes use charcoal had an increased risk of HBP (OR=2.04; 95%CI 1.32-3.15), HC (OR=2.61; 95%CI 1.63-4.18), and diabetes (OR=2.09; 95%CI 1.17-3.73); and cooks who often use charcoal had an elevated risk of stroke (OR=3.17; 95%CI 1.04-9.71), and HC (OR=1.52; 95%CI 1.02-2.27) to their family members. Conclusions: The study results were consistent with those found in studies from other parts of the world, and supports that exposure to biomass smoke increase cardiovascular diseases. The issue should receive more attention, and promotion of clean fuel use is a prominent action.
Comparison of the 25(OH)D Levels Between Sarcopenia and Frailty in Elder Women: A Cross-Sectional Observation Analytic Study in Elderly Community in Surabaya

The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in the elderly, specifically in post-menopausal women, are very high. Deficiency of 25(OH)D has a direct impact on decreasing muscle strength and mass that can lead into sarcopenia and frailty. This study aimed to compare the difference levels of 25(OH)D between sarcopenia and frailty in elderly community. Methods: This was a cross-sectional design study. The blood sample were collected to evaluate the levels of 25(OH)D using The Chemiluminescent Immune Assay (CLIA) method. Results: Most of the subjects were at deficiency of 25(OH)D with mean of 16.1 (range level of 6.2-32.7). Subjects with deficiency level of 25(OH)D were 20 (71.4%) with sarcopenia and 23 (85.1%) with frailty. Subjects with an insufficiency level of 25(OH)D were 6 (21.4%) with sarcopenia and 23 (85.1%) with frailty. Subjects with sufficiency level of 25(OH)D were 2 (7.1%) with sarcopenia and 1 (3.7%) with frailty. The median 25(OH)D levels were 17.1 and 13.2 for sarcopenia and frailty, respectively. There was significant differences in levels of 25(OH)D in both groups (p = 0.014). Conclusions: The levels of 25(OH)D of subjects with sarcopenia was significantly higher than those with frailty.
Grasshoppers amensalistically suppress caterpillar performance and enhance plant biomass in an alpine meadow

Amensalism may be common between non-trophically linked animals in natural ecosystems, where variation among species in body sizes and foraging modes may give rise to one-sided interference. However, species and ecosystem-level consequences of animal-animal amensalism are largely unknown. In a Tibetan alpine meadow, dominant herbivorous grasshoppers trigger a death feigning anti-predator response of co-occurring grassland caterpillars despite posing no consumptive threat. We hypothesized that: 1) grasshoppers reduce the performance of caterpillars while incurring no cost to themselves; and 2) this amensalism reduces top-down control of plant composition and biomass. We tested these hypotheses by factorial manipulation of both herbivores within replicate field enclosures. Grasshoppers significantly suppressed caterpillar feeding, growth rate, survival, reproductive effort and delayed metamorphosis. In contrast, grasshopper performance was unaffected by the caterpillars. Suppression of caterpillar feeding decreased overall herbivore suppression of plant biomass by 58% and shifted the functional composition of the plant community (i.e. increased sedge: forb ratio). These results suggest that consideration of non-trophic interactions such as amensalism will help predict the consequences of species losses for the structure and functioning of ecosystems.
Near-infrared Methanol Bands Probe Energetic Processing of Icy Outer Solar System Objects

Frozen methanol was detected in the outer solar system on the surfaces of the Centaur 5145 Pholus, the Trans-Neptunian Object (55638) 2002 VE95, and more recently on (486958) Arrokoth. The icy surfaces of these objects are subjected to solar and cosmic ions that modify the physico-chemical properties of their surface. To study the effects of ion bombardment on methanol-rich surfaces, we performed experiments of ion irradiation of H2O:CH3OH mixtures and we monitored the evolution of the methanol near-infrared bands. We observed significant variations of the 2.34/2.27 μm methanol band ratios as a function of the irradiation dose. We then used the Arrokoth and Pholus spectra to test the 2.34/2.27 μm band ratio as a probe of irradiation of methanol-rich surfaces, and we estimated the timescales of processing by solar and cosmic ions. Our results indicate that solar energetic particles are the main drivers of changes in the near-infrared spectra of frozen surfaces in the outer solar system.
Genetic variation and population stucture in the blacklip abalone, Haliotis rubra

Populations of blacklip abalone (Haliotis rubra) from southern Australia have been investigated genetically using protein gel electrophoresis. Allele frequency and genotype distributions were analysed to provide information on population structure, gene flow patterns and genetic differentiation among local populations. Breeding populations appear to be large. Measures of genetic distance reveal an 'isolation by distance' broad-scale population structure, although significant genetic heterogeneity can occur between sites < 3 km apart. Reasons for this apparent contradiction are discussed. It is concluded that zones of about 500 km of coastline, corresponding to 'neighbourhood size', could be recognized for the conservation of regional gene pools, but that stock-recruitment relationships need to be established on a localized basis.
Conservation Easements in California Blue Oak Woodlands: Testing the Assumption of Livestock Grazing as a Compatible use

ABSTRACT: Blue oak woodland is an endemic natural community in the Central Valley region of California. It is dominated by blue oak (Quercus douglasii Hook. & Arn.) and has an understory of annual grasses and forbs. Most blue oak woodlands are found on privately owned cattle ranches which are currently threatened by conversion to housing, vineyards, and cropland. Land trusts are acquiring conservation easements which include terms that allow for continued commercial grazing. Some studies suggest that livestock grazing negatively impacts biodiversity, although others show that it creates a beneficial disturbance regime and can play an important role in controlling invasive plants. There is also concern that grazing may be negatively impacting blue oak seedling regeneration. Our study begins to address the assumption that livestock grazing is a conservation-compatible land use on ranches with conservation easements. Our study questions whether livestock grazing reduces oak seedling density, if invasive non-native plants such as medusahead (Taeniatherum caput-medusae L.) are reduced, and if native species richness is promoted. We monitored oak seedling density and herbaceous plant species cover in grazing exclosures over a period of five years on five cattle ranches in eastern Tehama County. Ranches were all grazed under easement terms set by The Nature Conservancy. Our study demonstrates that commercial livestock grazing practices had mixed affects on some of the conservation values of blue oak woodlands. Livestock grazing reduced oak seedling density, but it remains unknown if reduced densities will affect the long-term reproduction and health of the woodlands. Grazing also reduced the cover of invasive medusahead grass; yet native species richness and cover were not improved by livestock grazing.
Population Viability Analysis for Two Isolated Populations of Haianan Eld’s Deer

World-wide species extinction has attracted the attention of conservation biologists (Ehrlich & Ehrlich 1981; Soule 1986, 1991; Club of Earth 1990; Wilson 1992), and identification of the causes of extinction and estimation of their relative importance have become focal issues. The study of the ways in which habitat loss, environmental uncertainty, demographic stochasticity, and genetic factors interact to determine extinction probability for individual species has been termed population viability analysis (PVA; Soule 1987; Shaffer 1990). Several PVA models have been developed to estimate the probabilities of population extinction within certain periods of timne under the influences of demography, stochasticity, and habitat space (Lande 1987; 1988a; Goodman 1987; Lacy 1991). A PVA can help identify the most important factors that threaten an endangered species (Boyce 1992). In China PVA has not been widely used to assess the effects of genetic and demographic factors on the longterm persistence of natural populations. I used the VORTEX PVA program to determine the essential requirements for conservation of Hainan eld's deer (Cervuce eldi hainanus or C. e. siamensis). The model examined the effects of demography and environmental variation with a fixed probability of catastrophe on two artificially separated populations of the deer that had undergone population bottlenecks. I also simulated the effects of translocations between the two populations to help develop management strategies that would ensure the long-term persistence of the deer.
Influence of glass network ionicity on the mixed‐alkali effect

Most studies of the mixed-alkali effect (MAE) have focused on relating the differences between the cations to the strength of the MAE; here we examine the effect of the glass former by comparing the MAE in aluminofluorophosphate (FP) and aluminosulfofluorophosphate (FPS) glasses. The sulfate anion in the FPS series does not bond directly to the aluminophosphate network, decreasing connectivity and increasing the ionicity of the FPS glasses. The increased degrees of freedom imparted by the sulfate are evi-dent in the single-alkali FPS glasses, which have lower E a , hardness, shear moduli, and Young's moduli, and higher T g than the corresponding single-alkali FP glasses (without sulfate). Conversely, for the mixed-alkali FPS compositions, the sulfate's mobility is reduced by the mixed cations, resulting in a magnified MAE for the FPS series. For dynamic properties, this phenomenon is explained by reduced plasticity and slippage along ion channels, while understanding T g and elastic properties requires examination of the shape of the sulfate's potential energy well and the resulting regions of compressive and tensile stress. We posit that glass compositions with higher plasticity, that is, less covalent bonding,
ESSENTIAL PATHOGENETIC ROLE FOR INTERFERON (IFN-)γ IN CONCANAVALIN A-INDUCED T CELL-DEPENDENT HEPATITIS: EXACERBATION BY EXOGENOUS IFN-γ AND PREVENTION BY IFN-γ RECEPTOR-IMMUNOGLOBULIN FUSION PROTEIN

Abstract We have studied the effects of either exogenously-administered interferon (IFN-)γ or of a nonimmunogenic mouse IFN-γ receptor-Immunoglobulin (IFN-γ R-Ig) fusion protein on the development of Concanavalin (Con)A-induced hepatitis in NMRI mice. PBS-treated control mice injected with 20 mg/kg ConA developed classical serological and histological signs of hepatitis with elevation of transaminases in the blood and infiltration of the liver by mononuclear cells and neutrophils. Treating the mice with rat IFN-γ 24 h prior to and 1 h after ConA-challenge markedly exacerbated these signs of hepatitis in a dose-dependent fashion. Moreover, mice injected with lower, non hepatitogenic, doses of ConA (10, 5 mg/kg) became fully susceptible to develop hepatitis upon similar treatment with IFN-γ. Concordantly, ConA-induced hepatitis was abrogated by either IFN-γ R-Ig fusion protein or anti-IFN-γ mAb. These data provide further evidence for the central pathogenetic role of endogenous IFN-γ in ConA-induced hepatitis and demonstrate the feasibility to prevent disease development by means of a non immunogenic IFN-γ R-Ig fusion protein.
Rice protein concentrate partially replaces dried whey in the diet for early-weaned piglets and improves their growth performance

BACKGROUND: Recently, rice protein concentrate (RPC), a much cheaper source of dietary protein, has become commercially available for use in the feed industry. Importantly, dietary supplementation with RPC can increase feed intake by early-weaned pigs. The objective of this study was to determine whether RPC can replace milk protein in the diet for early-weaned pigs. RESULTS: Neither average daily gain (ADG), average daily feed intake (ADFI), nor the feed/gain ratio differed among the treatment groups in weeks 1 and 2. In week 3, the addition of 5 or 10% RPC to diets increased (P < 0.05) ADFI and ADG of pigs compared to those in the control group fed a 60% dried whey diet. During the entire 21-day trial, ADFI and ADG were greater (P < 0.05) in pigs fed the 5 and 10% RCP diets than in pigs fed the 60% dried whey and 15% RCP diets. There were no differences in the serum concentrations of growth hormone on days 14 and 21, serum concentrations of insulin growth factor-I (IGF-I) on day 14, or IGF-I gene expression in liver and skeletal muscle on days 14 and 21 among the dietary treatments. Serum concentrations of IGF-I in pigs fed the 5, 10 and 15% RPC diets were greater than those in pigs fed the 60% dried whey diet. CONCLUSION: Findings indicate that up to 10% RPC can be used to replace dried whey in the diet for 7- to 21-day-old weaned piglets and can improve their growth performance. Copyright © 2008 Society of Chemical Industry
Minimum Wage as a Social Policy Instrument: Evidence from Germany

Abstract The minimum wage is often considered a social policy instrument that can help reduce both poverty and welfare receipt. The introduction of the statutory minimum wage in Germany in 2015 provides an interesting case study to analyse not only the potential but also the limitations of minimum wages as an instrument to achieve socially desirable goals such as reduced welfare receipt or poverty. Based on the results of simulation models, descriptive analyses and causal effects studies of the short-term effects, we argue that minimum wages are a rather badly targeted measure when attempting to reduce poverty and welfare receipt.
Crypsis and masquerade

A ‘signaller’ (for example, a prey) can avoid detection by a ‘receiver’ (for example, a predator) if its visual signals are difficult to separate from the background. There are two ways by which signallers match the coloration of their background— ‘crypsis’ and ‘masquerade’. We draw attention to the relationships between these two phenomena and how they differ from Batesian mimicry, another adaptation against detection.
Studies on 5'-Phosphodiesterases in Microorganisms

During investigations conducted on the mode of degradation of ribonucleic acid by Microorganisms, it was found that one strain of Penicillium produces nucleoside-5′-monophosphates from ribonucleic acid. Identification of these nucleoside-5′-monophosphates was carried out by means of chromatography on anion exchange column, ultraviolet spectrophotometry, paper electrophoresis, and characteristic color reactions using orcinol, carbazole, and rosaniline. It is suggested that this strain contains 5′-phosphodiesterase (or 5′-phosphodiesterase system) which cleaves all of the 5′-phosphodiester linkages in ribonucleic acid thus giving rise to nucleoside-5′-monophosphates. It is a point of interest in this study to indicate the presence of 5′-phosphodiesterase for the first time in a common microorganism, as 5′-phosphodiesterase has been recognized only in somewhat particular materials such as snake venom.
Modeling of structural, elastic, mechanical, acoustical, electronic and thermodynamic properties of XPdF3 (X = Rb, Tl) perovskites through density functional theory

The present article reports a comprehensive study on structural, elastic, mechanical, acoustical, electronic and thermodynamic properties of XPdF3 (X = Rb, Tl). This study has been carried out using Wien2k computational code written in Fortran language and based on density functional theory. The obtained results explored the ground state stability of these compounds in non magnetic phase. The calculated structural properties including lattice constant, bulk modulus, ground state energy, energy of formation were compared with available literature. In addition, from elastic constants, bulk, shear and elastic moduli, Poisson’s ratios and anisotropy factors were calculated. Furthermore, from criteria of Pugh’s ratio and Cauchy pressure, the materials were found as ductile. The sound velocities in TlPdF3 were examined as lower than RbPdF3 because of comparatively heavier mass of Tl than Rb atom. The obtained electronic properties give the indications of inclusion of these compounds in category of metallic perovskites. Moreover, the thermodynamic parameters like thermal expansion, heat capacity, Debye temperature and Grüneisen parameter were computed using Debye model.