Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
MAPPING OIL SPILLS IN THE CASPIAN SEA USING ERS-1/ERS-2 SAR IMAGE QUICK-LOOKS AND GIS

This application study highlights the potential of the synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imagery for regional oil pollution mapping. The paper presents an approach and methodology for oil spill mapping in the Caspian Sea based on analysis of the ERS-1/ERS-2 SAR image quick-looks; this image seta has been collected in May 1996. By using expert evaluation all oil spill candidates on the SAR images have been detected, analyzed and finally introduced into geographical information system (GIS). GIS consisting of layers (databases) including coastal line, oil production infrastructure, hydrography, currents, bathymetry, allowed, first, to create oil spill distribution map and, second, to define oil spill accumulations and outline risk areas. Detected oil slicks were mostly located in the southern part of the Caspian Sea and were related to the oil exploitation and production areas, oil rigs, terminals, river runoff and bottom seepages. Results indicate that periodically refreshing oil spill distribution maps are a value source of information on oil spill distribution, statistics and sources. Moreover, GIS-based oil spill maps together with ground truth data is considered to be an important element in establishing of oil spill monitoring and risk management system
Detection of penicillia, aspergilli and their toxins from dehydrated vegetables

A comparative investigation of mycoflora and associated mycotoxins was carried out from samples of dehydrated vegetables viz., brinjal, tomato, cauliflower, bottle gourd, turnip and bitter gourd. Among the mycoflora, Aspergillus species and their perfect states were the most dominant, followed by Penicillium species. Subsequent analysis for probable mycotoxins indicated the presence of patulin and citrinin in the samples of brinjal, tomato and turnip, whereas, only patulin was detected in bottle gourd and bitter gourd samples. Co-occurrence of citrinin and patulin was also detected in some of the tomato and turnip samples. In all these samples, amount of patulin detected was much higher than that of citrinin.
Circulatory responses of seals to periodic breathing: heart rate and breathing during exercise and diving in the laboratory and open sea

In terms of a seal's success as a predator, the ability to spend a high fraction of time submerged and yet remain in a steady state is at least as important as that to make long dives. This aspect of seal physiology has received much less attention than has the ability to dive for extended periods and yet is important to the context in which dive-related morphological and physiological specializations are considered. We found, in seals exercising in the laboratory, that as increased, heart rate during breathing bouts was high and unchanging. Heart rate during dives was 25 to 33% of the rate during breathing and was insensitive to metabolic rate. However, the fraction of time seals spent breathing and overall average heart rate increased with exercise. We have confirmed these patterns using very high frequency and acoustic telemetry in freely diving harbour seals in the open sea. Heart rate at the surface was virtually constant at 120 beats/min and independent of dive duration. While the seals were diving,.
Genetic Diversity in Peach (Prunus persica L. Batch) Revealed by Randomly Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) Markers and Compared to Inbreeding Coefficients

Previous studies of peach germplasm using pedigree information and isozyme polymorphism data have shown limited diversity in the U.S. gene pool. To further investigate the genetic diversity among peach cultivars grown in different regions of the United States, 94 RAPD markers were used to estimate the genetic distances among 136 cultivars. Of the 12 clusters formed in a dendrogram, the 90 U.S. cultivars and breeding lines and most of those from Europe and Latin America grouped to only three clusters, while the 23 peach entries from India, Pakistan, Russia, Okinawa, and China, as well as the almond cultivar used as an outgroup, were distributed among the other nine clusters. Therefore, the genetic diversity within temperate U.S. peach germplasm is quite limited, and to expand the variability, additional germplasm should be obtained, especially from Asia. Comparison of genetic similarity based on inbreeding coefficients with similarity coefficients based on the RAPD data produced a correlation of 0.395, which is comparable to values in similar investigations in other crops. Thus, similar conclusions can be drawn from these two sources of information. RAPD data are useful particularly when pedigree information is incomplete, there has been substantial selection within breeding populations, and a high proportion of alleles are identical in state but not by descent.
Agroecosystem Management and Nutritional Quality of Plant Foods: The Case of Organic Fruits and Vegetables

Organic and conventional crop management systems differ in terms of the fertilisers and plant protection methods used. Ecological and agronomic research on the effect of fertilization on plant composition shows that increasing availability of plant available nitrogen reduces the accumulation of defense-related secondary metabolites and vitamin C, while the contents of secondary metabolites such as carotenes that are not involved in defense against diseases and pests may increase. In relation to human health, increased intake of fruits and vegetables is linked to reduced risk of cancer and cardiovascular disease. This benefit may be primarily due to their content of defense-related secondary metabolites, since most other constituents of fruits and vegetables either are not unique to these foods or have been shown to not provide health benefits when the intake is increased. A meta-analysis of the published comparisons of the content of secondary metabolites and vitamins in organically and conventionally produced fruits and vegetables showed that in organic produce the content of secondary metabolites is 12% higher than in corresponding conventional samples ( P< 0.0001). This overall difference spans a large variation among sub-groups of secondary metabolites, from a 16% higher content for defence-related compounds ( P< 0.0001) to a nonsignificant 2% lower content for carotenoids, while vitamin C showed a 6% higher content ( P= 0.006). Based on the assumption that increasing the content of biologically active compounds in fruits and vegetables by 12% would be equivalent to increasing the intake of fruits and vegetables by the same 12%, a model developed to calculate the health outcome of increasing the intake of fruits and vegetables was then used to tentatively estimate the potential increase in life expectancy that would be achieved by switching from conventional to organic produce without changing the amount consumed per day, to 17 days for women and 25 days for men.
Dormancia en semillas de papaya cv Maradol Roja durante el almacenamiento

The objective of this work was to determinethe effect of humidity content of papaya cv MaradolRoja and storage temperatura on dormany. The work wasconducted at the Laboratorio Nacional de Semillas, EmpresaProductora y Comercializadora de Semillas, La Habana,Cuba, from November 2006 to January 2008. Seeds wereextracted from papaya fruits cv Maradol Roja and driedto three humidiy contents (12%, 10,56% y 9,26%), andaconditioned in polyiethylene bags and stored at 15oC and4oC. Percentaje of seed germination, heigth and fresh weightof the seedlings were measured at 3, 6, 9 and 12 months instorage. There was a trend towards reduced seed germinationduring the fi rst 6 months in storage (55,6%). After 9 and12 months a signifi cant incresase in germination wasobserved, independent of seed water content. Seeds storedin environment at 15oC favored germination after longersotrage compared to seeds kept in storage for shorter periods(3 months). Seed dormany concluded between 9 and 12months in storage irrespective of seed water content.
Histomorphological study of renal tumors in a tertiary care hospital

Introduction: Renal tumors can present as a mass or lump on the side or lower back along with other clinical symptoms such as fatique, loss of apetite and weight loss. Nephrectomy is done as a surgical management for renal masses. Aim: To study the histopathological spectrum of neoplastic lesions in nephrectomy specimen Methods: Study included all the nephrectomy cases done for renal tumor over a period of 10 years (November 2008-october2018) Results: Out of 85 neoplastic lesions, renal cell carcinoma was the most common lesion diagnosed in 68 (80%) specimens, followed by Wilms tumor in 9(10.58%) specimens, followed by metanephric adenoma in 3(3.52%) and squamous cell carcinoma in 2(2.35%) while angiomyolipoma, multicystic nephroma and renal sarcoma were diagnosed in 1 (1.17%) specimen each.
Neuroprotective Effects of 17β-Estradiol and Nonfeminizing Estrogens against H2O2 Toxicity in Human Neuroblastoma SK-N-SH Cells

Neuroprotective effects of estrogens have been shown in various in vitro and in vivo models, but the mechanisms underlying protection by estrogen are not clear. Mounting evidence suggests antioxidant effects contribute to the neuroprotective effects of estrogens. In the present study, we assessed the protective effects of estrogens against H2O2-induced toxicity in human neuroblastoma cells and the potential mechanisms involved in this protection. We demonstrate that 17β-estradiol (17β-E2) increases cell survival against H2O2 toxicity in human neuroblastoma cells. 17β-E2 effectively reduced lipid peroxidation induced by 5-min H2O2 exposure. Furthermore, 17β-E2 exerts the protective effects by maintaining intracellular Ca2+ homeostasis, attenuating ATP depletion, ablating mitochondrial calcium overloading, and preserving mitochondrial membrane potential. Two nonfeminizing estrogens, 17α- and ent-estradiol, were as effective as 17β-E2 in increasing cell survival, alleviating lipid peroxidation, preserving mitochondrial function, and maintaining intracellular glutathione levels and Ca2+ homeostasis against H2O2 insult. Moreover, the estrogen receptor antagonist fulvestrant (ICI 182,780) did not block effects of 17β-E2, but increased cell survival and blunted intracellular Ca2+ increases. However, these estrogens failed to reduce cytosolic reactive oxygen species, even at concentrations as high as 10 μM. In conclusion, estrogens exert protective effects against oxidative stress by inhibiting lipid peroxidation and subsequently preserving Ca2+ homeostasis, mitochondrial membrane potential, and ATP levels.
Stage IA Patients With Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma Cannot Benefit From Chemotherapy: A Propensity Score Matching Study

Purpose: Adjuvant chemotherapy following resection is recommended by clinical practice guidelines for all patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of adjuvant chemotherapy among the staging groups of the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) for PDAC. Patients and Methods: This retrospective cohort analysis was performed by the Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) (2004–2015) database and multi-institutional dataset (2010–2018). Baseline clinicopathologic characteristics of PDAC patients, including age, gender, ethnicity, marital status, education level, county income level, county unemployed rate, insurance status, grade, stage, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy, were collected. Overall survival (OS) was analyzed using the Kaplan–Meier method. The SEER and multi-institutional data were adjusted with 1:1 ratio propensity score matching (PSM). Results: In total, 6,274 and 1,361 PDAC patients were included from the SEER database and multi-institutional dataset, respectively. Regardless of the count of resected lymph nodes, adjuvant chemotherapy prolonged the long-term OS time for stage IB, IIA, IIB, and III patients in both SEER and multi-institutional cohorts. Nevertheless, adjuvant chemotherapy did not provide additional clinical benefits even after a PSM adjustment for stage IA patients in both SEER and multi-institutional cohorts. Conclusion: Adjuvant chemotherapy improved the long-term survival of stage IB, IIA, IIB, and III PDAC patients; however, it demonstrated no survival benefit in stage IA PDAC patients. Thus, adjuvant chemotherapy should not be recommended for stage IA PDAC patients. These would significantly reduce the economic burden of society and improve the life quality of stage IA PDAC patients.
Ozone depletion and increased UV-B radiation: is there a real threat to photosynthesis?

This critical review of recent literature questions earlier predictions that photosynthetic productivity of higher plants is vulnerable to increased ultraviolet-B (UV-B) radiation as a result of stratospheric ozone (O 3 ) depletion. Direct UV-B-induced inhibition of photosynthetic competence is observed only at high UV-B irradiances and primarily involves the loss of soluble Calvin cycle enzymes and adaxial stomatal closure in amphistomatous plants. However, even under these extreme UV-B exposures, acclimation (e.g. induction of UV-B absorbing flavonoids) can protect the photosynthetic processes. In plants irradiated with UV-B throughout development a reduction in productivity is usually associated with a reduced ability to intercept light (i.e. smaller leaf area) and not an inhibition of photosynthetic competence. Finally, a review of field experiments utilizing realistic UV-B enhancement is made to evaluate whether the mechanisms involved in UV-B-induced depressions of photosynthesis are likely to impact on the photosynthetic productivity of crops and natural vegetation in the future. Predictions of plant responses to O 3 depletion are suspect from square-wave irradiance experiments in the field and controlled environments due to the increased sensitivity of plants to UV-B at relatively low photosynthetically-active photon flux densities (PPFD) and ultraviolet-A (UV-A) irradiances. Realistic modulated UV-B irradiances in the field do not appear to have any significant effects on photosynthetic competence or light-interception. It is concluded that O 3 depletion and the concurrent rise in UV-B irradiance is not a direct threat to photosynthetic productivity of crops and natural vegetation.
The Phylogenetic Affinities of the Mysterious Anguilliform Genera Coloconger and Thalassenchelys as Supported by mTDNA Sequences

Abstract The family Colocongridae and the genus Thalassenchelys are two enigmatic anguilliform taxa whose phylogenetic affinities are poorly understood. Here we present results from parsimony and Bayesian phylogenetic analyses of mitochondrial ribosomal RNA sequences from a taxonomic sample designed to test alternative placements of colocongrids and Thalassenchelys among anguilliforms. The phylogenetic analysis invariably and robustly supports a clade composed of Coloconger and Thalassenchelys, which, in turn, is supported as most closely related to the derichthyids. The degree of DNA sequence divergence observed between Coloconger and Thalassenchelys is comparable to that observed between congeners in the genus Ophichthus and lower than that observed between two members of the subfamily Muraeninae. Because no evidence has been offered to support an alternative placement of Thalassenchelys, we propose that it be included in the Colocongridae. In addition, the results of the present study are congruent with recent molecular-based hypotheses that suggest a close relationship between Anguillidae, Serrivomeridae, and Nemichthyidae, and a monophyletic group comprised of the families Congridae, Ophichthidae, Colocongridae, Derichthyidae, Muraenesocidae, and Nettastomatidae. We found no support for the three major anguilliform lineages that have been proposed based on morphology.
The Informatics (R) Evolution in Biology:: The Case of Genomics

Biology has been revolutionized by the introduction of new disciplines, such is the case of genomics that introduced in the 80s has turned unlikely to modern science, the discipline refers to the study not only of genes but their roles, relations among themselves and with the environment. Arises, with the consolidation of the Human Genome Project and introduces us to a period of transition in which specific genetic Acta biol. Colomb. , Vol. 16 n.o 3, 2011 115 128
ß-Mannan and mannanase in poultry nutrition

Dietary plant ß-mannans are one of the major anti-nutritional components in monogastric nutrition. The presence of ß-mannans in poultry diets has been associated with many negative features ranging from high intestinal viscosity and low nutrient digestibility to adverse effects on innate immune response and microbial proliferation in the gut. ß-Mannanase supplementation to the feed of domestic fowl is one of the strategies for optimisation of nutritional value of ß-mannan containing diets. Research has shown positive effects of ß-mannanase supplementation on performance and nutrient digestibility in poultry fed corn-soybean meal-based diets as well as diets containing guar meal, copra meal, and palm kernel meal. Such performance and nutrient digestibility improvements are the result of single or combined modes of action due to ß-mannanase addition. Particularly over the last decade, it has become increasingly clear that these modes of action might be very complex and versatile. The identification and understanding of the mechanisms by which ß-mannanase supplementation affects nutrient digestion, metabolism, overall performance and health of birds, is important for the optimisation and broadening of the application of this enzyme in avian nutrition. This paper reviews various modes of action by ß-mannanase supplementation in poultry. Additionally, significance of single modes of action under different conditions is also discussed.
Long-term selection for yearling weight or postweaning gain in Angus cattle

Abstract Two selection herds with Angus cattle were maintained at Waikeria near Te Awamutu, New Zealand, from 1964 to 1981, with experimental calvings comprising 3355 recorded calves. The selection criterion was yearling weight in one herd (the YW herd) and postweaning weight gain in the other (the PWG herd). In the absence of a control herd, genetic responses were estimated using best linear unbiased prediction (BLUP) methods. Annual direct selection differentials averaged 6.45 kg in the YW herd and 5.00 kg in thePWG herd, respectively 0.90 and 0.79 phenotypic standard deviations of selection per generation. The average generation intervals were 3.23 and 2.88 years respectively. Direct responses were estimated to be 1.96 and 0.97 kg/year respectively (both P < 0.01), whereas correlated responses in yearling weight (pWG herd) were 1.52 kg/year and in postweaning gain (YW herd) were 0.68 kg/year. Significant increases were obtained in birth and weaning weights in the YW herd but not in the PWG herd. Patern.
The pleiotropic effects of the bar gene and glufosinate on the Arabidopsis transcriptome

The Arabidopsis transcriptome was studied using the Affymetrix Arabidopsis ATH1 GeneChip in wild-type plants and glufosinate-tolerant transgenic plants expressing the bialaphos resistance (bar) gene. Pleiotropic effects were specifically generated in the transcriptomes of transgenic plants by both the bar gene and glufosinate treatments. In the absence of glufosinate, four genes were differentially expressed in the transgenic lines and another 80 genes were differentially expressed in the presence of glufosinate, 29 of which were specific to transgenic plants. In contrast, the number of differentially expressed genes specific to wild-type plants was 194 during the early response at 6 h of glufosinate treatment, and increased to 3711 during the late response at 48 h. Although the wild-type plants undergo extensive transcriptional reprofiling in response to herbicide-induced stress and, finally, plant death, the transgenic plants appear to activate other detoxification processes to offset the toxic effects of the residual herbicide or its derivatives. This study provides the first description of the pleiotropic effects of the bar gene and glufosinate on the plant transcriptome.
Variation in stomatal aperture in leaves of Avena fatua L. observed by low‐temperature scanning electron microscopy

Abstract. A novel technique to record the variability of stomatal aperture over the leaf surface is described. This combines observations of leaf surfaces using low-temperature scanning electron microscopy (LTSEM), with digital image analysis to produce the most accurate aperture measurements obtained to date. Leaf samples are rapidly immobilized by cryo-fixation in liquid nitrogen and stored in a purpose-built cryo-storage system. Specimens can be collected in the field, remote from the cryopreparation system, and stored for up to several weeks before being examined on the LTSEM. The advantages of this method are that the time frame of the measurements is accurately known, and is identical for all stomatal apertures in a sample, and the precision of the measurements is not limited by the resolving power of the microscope. Measurements of stomatal aperture were obtained from leaves of field grown Avena fatua using the above procedure. Leaf surface conductance (gsur) was determined by porometry immediately before cryo-fixation of the same region of the leaf. Measurements of aperture size showed a high degree of variability within each specimen, with coefficients of variation similar to those found in previous studies. Stomatal conductance (gs) was calculated from stomatal dimensions using formulae derived elsewhere. A linear regression between the computed values of gs and porometric estimates of gsur showed good agreement with the regression line passing through the origin with a slope of 1.0 (R2=0.96). Applications of the experimental system are discussed.
The Relationship between Job Satisfaction, Organizational Commitment and Leader-Member Exchange on Turnover Intention (Case Study in Head Office Employee of PT. WG)

The problem of turnover is experienced by many companies, including PT. WG. Head office of PT. WG has the highest rate of turnover among all locations of PT. WG. This study aims to determine the effect of job satisfaction, organizational commitment, and the relationship between leaders and the employees (Leader-Member Exchange - LMX) on employee turnover intention at the Head Office of PT. WG. It also aims to provide input to the management of PT. WG regarding things that need to be done to improve job satisfaction, organizational commitment, and LMX. This study uses a correlational method with primary data collected using a survey method in the form of a questionnaire. Collected data will be analyzed the suitability of the model with the hypothesis that has been proposed. Based on research that has been done, it was found that job satisfaction, organizational commitment, and LMX have a significant effect on turnover intention. Therefore PT. WG needs to pay attention to factors that influence job satisfaction and organizational commitment. In addition, leaders also need to pay attention to their relationships with subordinates. It is expected to reduce employee turnover intention at the Head Office of PT. WG.