Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
RANGE CHARACTERISTICS OF PACIFIC COAST BOTTLENOSE DOLPHINS (TURSIOPS TRUNCATUS) IN THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA BIGHT

Boat-based photoidentification surveys of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) were conducted from 1982 to 1989 in three discrete coastal study areas within the Southern California Bight: (1) Santa Barbara, California; (2) Orange County, California; (3) Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico. A total of 207 recognizable dolphins were identified in these three “secondary” study areas. These individuals were compared to 404 dolphins identified from 1981 to 1989 in our “primary” study area, San Diego, California, to examine the coastal movement patterns of bottlenose dolphins within the Southern California Bight. A high proportion of dolphins photographed in Santa Barbara (88%), Orange County (92%), and Ensenada (88%) were also photographed in San Diego. Fifty-eight percent (n= 120) of these 207 dolphins exhibited back-and-forth movements between study areas, with no evidence of site fidelity to any particular region. Minimum range estimates were 50 and 470 km. Minimum travel-speed estimates were 11-47 km/d, and all dolphin schools sighted during the study were within 1 km of the shore. These data suggest that bottlenose dolphins within the Southern California Bight are highly mobile within a relatively narrow coastal zone. Home-range dimensions and movement patterns for many vettebrate species are influenced, in part, by variation in food resources. The unique range characteristics documented during this study may reflect the highly dynamic nature of this coastal ecosystem and the associated patchy distribution of food resources available to these bottlenose dolphins.
Decline of peccaries in a protected subtropical forest of Brazil: toward conservation issues

Abstract While once abundant in the subtropical forest of Iguaçu National Park (INP) in Brazil, white-lipped and collared peccary seem to have declined considerably in the last decade. Basic information on the influence of anthropogenic factors on peccary abundance in INP is scarce. To assess the conservation status of white-lipped and collared peccaries in INP and surrounding areas, we recorded encounter rates from 1997 to 2000 along transects in eight study sites subjected to different levels of illegal hunting and vehicle traffic. The average encounter rate for the eight study sites for collared peccaries was 0.022±0.021 (±SD). Despite our intensive monitoring of transects, no signs of white-lipped peccaries were recorded and this species seemed to be locally extinct. In addition, we analyzed the attitude of local people towards peccaries and INP through interviews. Perceptions of local people were strongly positive towards peccaries and INP and seemed to be influenced by the potential of illegally exploiting peccaries within the limits of INP. Our results suggest that efforts to minimize the intensity of vehicle traffic and illegal hunting should be implemented if remaining collared peccaries are to survive in INP.
EVALUATION OF ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY OF ETHANOL EXTRACT OF ROOTS OBTAINED FROM ASPARAGUS RACEMOSUS BY IN VITRO AND EX VIVO MODELS

Asparagus racemosus Willd. (Family: Liliaceae) commonly known as satawar, satavari or shatavari, is a tall climber, undershrub, distributed in low jungles of tropical and subtropical parts of India, Ceylon, Africa, Java and Ausrtalia . The roots of the plant has been used as antidiarrhoeal, appetizer, stomachic, expectorant, laxative, tonic, inflammations biliousness, useful in dysentery, diuretic. The plant contains a number of secondary metabolites namely sterols and saponins. From extensive literature survey it was revealed that no reports were available on in vitro and ex vivo antioxidant activity of Asparagus racemosus. The objective of the study was to explore the antioxidant activity of ethanol extract of roots of Asparagus racemosus by in vitro and ex vivo models to substantiate the folklore claim of the traditional practitioners. The roots of the plant showed sufficient antioxidant activity by in vitro (determination of total antioxidant activity through estimation of the conjugated dienes and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances formed, total phenolic content, reducing power, free radical scavenging activity by DPPH method, nitric oxide scavenging activity, hydroxyl radical scavenging activity and super oxide scavenging activity by NBT and DMSO methods) and ex vivo (inhibition of haemolysis of RBC induced by phenyl hydrazine, inhibition of lipid peroxidation induced by ferrous sulphate and carbon tetrachloride) models. The experimental data were compared with that of standard antioxidant like ascorbic acid, alpha-tocopherol acetate, butylated hydroxyl anisol (BHA) and butylated hydroxyl toluene (BHT). All observed results indicated ethanol extract of roots of Asparagus racemosus to possess antioxidant activity in a concentration dependant manner and the activity of the extract was found to be very much comparable to that of the selected standard drugs.
Membrane signaling and progesterone in female and male osteoblasts. II. Direct involvement of Gαq/11 coupled to PLC‐β1 and PLC‐β3

We have shown that progesterone (10 pM–10 nM) and progesterone covalently bound to bovine serum albumin (P‐CMO BSA; 100 pM–1 μM) rapidly increased (within 5 s) the cytosolic free Ca2+ concentration and inositol 1,4,5 trisphosphate (InsP3) formation in confluent female and male rat osteoblasts via a pertussis toxin‐insensitive G‐protein. The activation of G‐proteins coupled to effectors such as phospholipase C (PLC) is an early event in the signal transduction pathway leading to InsP3 formation. We used antibodies against the various PLC isoforms to show that only PLC‐β1 and PLC‐β3 were involved in the Ca2+ mobilization and InsP3 formation induced by both progestins in female and male osteoblasts, whereas PLC‐β2, PLC‐γ1, andPLC‐γ2 were not. We also used antibodies against the subunits of heterotrimeric G‐proteins to show that the activation of PLC‐β1 and PLC‐β3 by both progestins involved the Gαq/11 subunit, which was insensitive to pertussis toxin, whereas Gαi, Gαs, and Gβγ subunits were not. The membrane effects were independent of the concentration of nuclear progesterone receptor, because the concentration of nuclear progesterone receptors was lower in male than in female osteoblasts. These data suggest that progesterone and P‐CMO BSA, which does not enter the cell, directly activate G‐protein leading to the very rapid formation of second messengers without involving the nuclear receptor. J. Cell. Biochem. 79:173–181, 2000. © 2000 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Temperate shelf water dispersal by Australian boundary currents: Implications for population connectivity

Boundary currents have been recognized as potential drivers of spatial heterogeneity in the ocean because of their role in physical transport and influence on large-scale coastal processes. In this study, we used particle tracking methods in a data-assimilating eddy-resolving ocean circulation model to determine the effect of multiple boundary currents on connectivity around temperate Australia during the austral winter. Results demonstrated that oceanographic connectivity was asymmetric around Australia, having greater eastward trajectories due to more favorable ocean boundary currents during this season. We validated connectivity patterns with genetic data from an ecologically important species, the kelp, Ecklonia radiata, which has greater genetic similarity between the west and south coasts of Australia, compared with the east coast, likely due to predominantly eastward propagule dispersal. Boundary current circulation was a coarse predictor of kelp genetic connectivity on multigeneration time scales, and the nature of these relationships varied among the three boundary current systems according to mean current strength.
Ultrastructural Changes in Cambial Cell Derivatives during Xylem Differentiation in Poplar

: The changes in cellular structures that occur in cambial cell derivatives during xylogenesis were examined in Populus trichocarpa Torr et Gray. During dormancy, the cells of the vascular cambium are characterised by dense cytoplasm, many small vacuoles and lipid bodies. During cambial activation, cambial cells are highly vacuolated, the cytoplasm is rich in organelles and the nucleus contains distinctly enlarged nucleoli. The plasma membrane forms vesicle-filled invaginations which mediate uptake of vesicular material into the vacuole. The mitotic patterns in dividing fusiform cells are fragmentary due to their strong vacuolisation. During cell enlargement, cambial cell derivatives remain strongly vacuolated and cytoplasmic structures are similar to active fusiform cells. From the beginning of secondary cell wall formation many changes in cytoplasmic structures occur in newly-formed fibres and vessels. In fibres, the cytoplasm is characterised by components of secondary cell wall synthesis, as indicated by increased amounts of endoplasmic reticulum, vesicle-producing dictyosomes and microtubules. In contrast, vessels show a more or less distinct occurrence of these components and remain more strongly vacuolated than fibres. Similar to cambial cells, a distinct flow of vesicular material into the vacuole through invaginations of the plasma membrane is apparent in fibres, as well as in vessels. After completion of the secondary cell walls, the loss of tonoplast integrity causes the collapse of the vacuole and initiates cell death in vessels and fibres. In vessels the tonoplast exhibits unusually strong staining prior to the collapse of the vacuole, indicating subsequent cell death. Overall, our results indicate an important role for the vacuole in the xylogen differentiation of cambial derivatives.
Biochemical markers of type 1 diabetes: clinical use

In type 1 diabetes, a number of specific and non-specific antigens have been identified. The major autoantigens involved in the destructive process of cells leading to the development of type 1 diabetes are proinsulin/insulin, glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) and the transmembrane protein tyrosine phosphatase (IA-2). These are the only autoantigens that partially satisfy the criteria by which an autoantigen or cross-reactive nonself antigen could be evaluated for a pathogenic role in autoimmune diseases. Antigens by definition induce antibody production and in type 1 diabetes, such (auto) antibodies are accepted as biochemical markers for the disease. Here we describe the main features and usefulness of these markers for disease prediction.
Estimates of Genetic Parameters of Serum Cholesterol Level

Abstract THIS investigation was conducted to obtain evidence on the relationship between serum cholesterol level and subsequent performance in respect to productive traits. According to Cook (1958), “cholesterol has now been definitely established as a key precursor of the steroid hormones. ” Since several of the steroid hormones are involved in control of reproduction in the female, it appeared that cholesterol level might be related to hormone production and hence, reproduction. A small amount of information on the relationship between cholesterol level and egg production and body weight has been published, but none on its relationship to other productive traits. Several workers have reported no significant correlation between egg production and adult cholesterol level, based on small numbers of birds (Lorenz et al., 1938; Weiss and Fisher, 1957; Johnson et al., 1959); however Bumgardner (1955) observed a significant negative correlation. Weiss and Fisher (1957) found no relationship between adult body weight and …
MYCOTOXINS IN FRUITS AND VEGETABLES

Rositsa K. Enikova1, Mariyana R. Stoynovska1, Milena D. Karcheva2 1) Department of Hygiene, Medical Ecology, Professional Diseases and Disaster Medicine, Faculty of Public Health, Medical University Pleven, Bulgaria 2) Department of Epidemiology, Parasitology and Tropical Medicine, Faculty of Public Health, Medical University Pleven, Bulgaria. Journal of IMAB Annual Proceeding (Scientific Papers). 2020 Apr-Jun;26(2) Journal of IMAB ISSN: 1312-773X https://www.journal-imab-bg.org
WHAT QUALIFIES AS EVIDENCE OF EFFECTIVE PRACTICE? Clinical Expertise

Evidence-based practice is the integration of best research evidence with clinical expertise and patient values. Best research evidence refers to clinically relevant research, often from the basic health and medical sciences, but especially from patient centered clinical research . Cfinical expertise means the ability to use clinical skills and past experience to rapidly identify each patient's unique health state and diagnosis, individual risks and benefits of potential interventions, and personal values and expectations. Patient values refers to the unique preferences, concerns and expectations that each patient brings to a clinical encounter and that must be integrated into clinical decisions if they are to serve the patient, (p. 147)
Tourism in Ethiopia: An urgent opportunity for economic diversification

‘Ethiopia! ’. The name conjures up images of poverty, starvation, and conflict – remnants of the horrors of the ill-fated communist Derg era of the 1970’s. Yet the Ethiopian economy is growing at one of the highest rates in the world driven by massive infrastructural investment, much of which is financed by the Chinese (Sisay, 2016). Ethiopia still requires extraordinary growth and development to satisfy the development needs of the country, although policy makers are lethargic in taking advantage of the significant role tourism can play in this regard. Urgent attention is drawn to the opportunity cost of not developing the tremendous inherent potential of this industry. Drawing on theory, observation, analysis and case study research, the article describes the context of tourism in Ethiopia, and how tourism can support Ethiopia’s development needs. It provides a range of recommendations to develop the tourist industry, including prioritising tourism development through the initiation of a tourism strategy and immediate destination development and marketing for Addis Ababa.
The Redox/Methylation Hypothesis of Autism

The prevalence of autism has increased more than 10-fold in the US during the past two decades, raising public concern and increasing research efforts to identify factors that might be responsible. Earlier work established the importance of genetic factors, but it is highly unlikely that such a dramatic increase reflects purely genetic factors. Consequently, there has been increasing attention on the role of one or more ‘environmental factors’ whose exposure might lead to impaired development. Not surprisingly, many theories have been put forth, in part reflecting the vast number of xenobiotic substances encountered in contemporary society. Most controversial among these is the proposal that mercury, derived from the vaccine preservative thimerosal, might play an important role. However, removal of mercury from most childhood vaccines has not been associated with a decrease in autism. Nonetheless, the mercury debate continues as other potential toxins receive attention, including heavy metals (e.g. lead and aluminum), drugs (e.g. pre-natal terbutaline, antibiotics), and chemicals (e.g. bisphenol A, pesticides). Emerging awareness of the role of neuroinflammation and oxidative stress in autism not only illuminates the origins of this neurodevelopmental disorder, but also sheds light on other neurological, neuropsychiatric, and neurodegenerative disorders. This review focuses on those metabolic pathways regulating the redox status of cells (i.e. the balance between reduced and oxidized states), because these pathways also support the process of methylation, in which a carbon atom (methyl group) is added to a molecule. The importance of methylation reactions is increasingly appreciated, especially for its central role in the epigenetic regulation of gene expression.
Visualisation of Myelomonocytic Cells in Tumors

Emerging evidence suggests that inflammation is one of the major contributing factors for tumor development and progression. In this context, myelomonocytic cells, as key mediators of inflammatory responses, are essential components of the malignant microenvironment. Numerous studies have provided evidence to show that infiltrating tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) play a critical role in promoting tumor growth. Similarly, human studies also revealed that a high frequency of infiltration by TAMs is associated with poor prognosis in many human cancers (reviewed in (Bingle et al. 2002)). There is now substantial evidence that tumor-associated neutrophils (TANs), like TAMs, have a critical role in tumor development (reviewed in (Gregory and Houghton 2011)). Despite major research efforts in this area, the role of neutrophils in cancer pathogenesis remains controversial. This is likely due to the fact that neutrophils can play a dual role in primary tumors: neutrophils can mediate tumor rejection but also promote angiogenesis and tissue remodelling which favour tumor growth. Furthermore, emerging evidence suggests that neutrophils may also have the ability to promote metastasis. Hence there is great potential for novel neutrophil-based therapies in the treatment of cancer if the contrasting roles of neutrophils in tumor growth are fully elucidated.
Végétation marine de l'Ile de Port-Cros (Parc National). XII: Sur Acrochaetium molinieri sp. nov. et Lophosiphonia cristata Falkenberg

Abstract Marine vegetation of Port-Cros Island (National park). XII: on Acrochaetium molinieri sp. nov. and Lophosiphonia cristata Falkenberg. – Acrochaetium molinieri sp. nov. is characterized by its bicellular base; only one of these cells originates an erect filament. Lophosiphonia cristata, rarely mentioned from the Mediterranean, is richly illustrated and described in detail
OPTIMIZE 3D GRAPHIC FOR CULTURE GAME BY USING POLYGON REDUCTION

These days, almost every release major game are made in 3D or use a heavy amount of 3D graphic. The 3D graphics is made to resemble the original object or to design according to the manufacturer. In the culture-based games, using 3D graphics can be means to introduce and propagate a particular culture. This research has been used in games of Indonesian culture in the time of Majapahit. Optimization focused on the 3D graphic for characters, (non-player character) NPCs and some environment. By using poly reduction algorithms for optimizing on part of the game can make the performance run more quickly. Preliminary data onto use of personal computer games without optimization is around 30 fps, while in game on mobile devices around 5 fps. The initial frame which is generated from game character has 17.928 vertices and the 3.522 vertices for NPC. Moreover, the amount of some environment consist of a Gazebo, houses of Kentongan, Palm trees, Banana trees, and Cottage has 15.897 vertices. After the optimization process produce three times of the gaming performance is better able to reach around 62 fps for personal computers and more than 21 fps with using mobile devices.
PAPR Reduction by Symbol Preference

— Lower Peak to Average Power Ratio (PAPR) is critical to the performance of an OFDM system. This paper discusses a new proposal for PAPR reduction based on symbol preferences. The basic idea of the proposed method is to estimate the power required for a symbol and choose a set of symbols that consume less power. The effect of various coding techniques on power consumption and choice of symbol set is discussed. This can result in asymmetric allocation of symbol set that is hard to decode. However, newer ANN based classification methods can alleviate the decoding problem. We have presented simulation results based on a 64-set of symbols.
Emerging and recurring diseases in cetaceans worldwide and the role of environmental stressors

Emerging and recurring infectious diseases known or suspected to have the potential to significantly impact cetacean populations, and possible synergistic effects of environmental factors are reviewed. Cetacean morbilliviruses and papillomaviruses and brucellosis may affect population densities through high mortality rates or interference with reproduction. Evidence is available for the role of environmental factors in the emergence/recurrence and severity of at least six infectious conditions i.e. lobomycosis, toxoplasmosis, tattoo skin disease, generalized bacterial infections, miscellaneous skin diseases and morbillivirus epizootics. Other micro-parasites of potential importance include rhabdo-, herpesand parainfluenza-viruses as well as Helicobacter spp. , Streptococcus spp. , Salmonella spp. and Mycobacterium marinum. The population impact and aetiology of newly emerging skin diseases in South America are unknown and represent a cause of concern.
Altering the DNA-binding Specificity of the Yeast Matα2 Homeodomain Protein*

Homeodomain proteins are a highly conserved class of DNA-binding proteins that are found in virtually every eukaryotic organism. The conserved mechanism that these proteins use to bind DNA suggests that there may be at least a partial DNA recognition code for this class of proteins. To test this idea, we have investigated the sequence-specific requirements for DNA binding and repression by the yeast α2 homeodomain protein in association with its cofactors, Mcm1 and Mata1. We have determined the contribution for each residue in the α2 homeodomain that contacts the DNA in the co-crystal structures of the protein. We have also engineered mutants in the α2 homeodomain to alter the DNA-binding specificity of the protein. Although we were unable to change the specificity of α2 by making substitutions at residues 47, 54, and 55, we were able to alter the DNA-binding specificity by making substitutions at residue 50 in the homeodomain. Since other homeodomain proteins show similar changes in specificity with substitutions at residue 50, this suggests that there is at least a partial DNA recognition code at this position.
Automated Headgear for the Visually Impaired

his paper presents the design and implementation of automated headgear for the visually impaired. The idea is a mechanism that can aid a vision impaired person to participate in social activities like a sighted person without human guides. Conversely, the mechanism serves as the ‘eye’, making the user to act normal without restraints or confinement. This product therefore aim to replace the traditional stick or human guide used mostly by a visually impaired person to walk around. The artefact was designed to replicate the basic functions of the eyes to include ability to sighting obstacles far and near, the depth of the obstacle and the position or location of the obstacle. Engineering requirements were gathered by observation of the visually impaired persons to understand how they navigate and relate with various environments as well as how they respond to dangers or obstacles. The design is based on embedded system principles, using Raspberry Pi platform to integrate the appropriate sensors such as proximity sensor, ultrasonic sensor, motion sensor, GPS as well as software programs that control the physical devices. The resulting visual Headgear senses and collect data from the environment dynamically and communicate to the system controller. The data collected is processed by the inbuilt algorithm, and appropriately, directs the user accordingly with voice output.