Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Visual reading strategies and its relation to plant morphology comprehension of senior high school students

One of several factors that influence students’ successfully to uunderstanding the various concepts contained in the diagram is the use of effective visual reading strategies. The results of previous studies prove that students’ comprehension of the diagram is still low, although diagrams are often used to facilitate students in understanding concepts. This was a descriptive study involving 20 high school students in Bandung. The research aims to analyze the relation between visual comprehension strategies and students comprehension toward plant morphology diagrams. The students were asked to analyze the morphological diagram of magnoliophyte plants for 15 minutes. The strategies emerge from students will be analyzed and categorized into low-level strategies, high-level strategies, and metacognitive strategies Then the students will be given questions to measure the level of comprehension after learning a morphological diagram of magnoliophyta plants. The results showed that many students did a more low-level strategy that tends to memorize, to rereads diagrams, and to text signaling. It suits to the level of student’s comprehension about plant morphology that is still in the low category. The outcome shows that knowledge of plant morphology possessed by high school students was still at the level of memorization.
Constitutive expression of nitrate reductase changes the regulation of nitrate and nitrite transporters in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii

Summary The effect of constitutive expression of nitrate reductase (NR) on the regulation pattern of nitrite and nitrate transporters (NT) has been analysed in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. Strain Tx11-8, bearing the chimeric Nia1 gene for NR under the control of the cabll-1 gene promoter, showed a constitutive NR which was inactive in ammonium-grown cells. In contrast to the wild-type, incubation of Tx11-8 in ammonium media containing nitrate at micromolar concentrations resulted in reactivation of inactive NR and excretion of nitrite. In addition, negligible amounts of NT gene transcripts were induced by nitrate in this strain. However, NT transcripts from Tx11-8 cells were induced in amounts similar to those in the wild-type, by preventing constitutive NR expression from the cabll-1 gene promoter in the dark. Strains lacking high-affinity NT and nitrite reductase activity and having the chimeric Nia1 gene have been constructed by genetic crosses. All these strains were sensitive to chlorate in ammonium-containing media and excreted nitrite when nitrate was present at millimolar concentrations. Spontaneous chlorate-resistant mutants isolated from these strains lacked constitutive NR activity though they constitutively expressed NR mRNA. The data strongly suggest that nitrate plays an important post-transcriptional regulatory role and that NR is involved in the regulation of the nitrate/ nitrite transport activities in C. reinhardtii.
WHEN THE ART OF MACROECONOMIC MANAGEMENT CONFRONTS THE EVOLUTION OF BUSINESS CYCLES: ZOOMING INTO THE EGYPTIAN CASE

The growing importance of macroeconomic management over time dictates the need to understand what constitutes effective management of monetary and fiscal policies during business cycles. This study aims at scrutinizing this topic empirically using Egypt as a case study during the timeframe FY 1988/89 ? FY 2015/16. The business cycles have been dated during that period, and the correlation between some monetary and fiscal tools with industrial production has been tested. Deficit spending was found to be counterproductive in the near team up to the fourth quarter, while expansionary monetary policy is unfavorable for economic growth up to two subsequent quarters due to its consequential inflationary effect.
The Effect of Topography on Long-Term Spontaneous Development of Soil and Woody Cover on Graded and Untreated Overburden

We studied the development of soil and soil fauna, as well as selected vegetation parameters important for litter input into soil, in two chronosequences of postmining sites after opencast lignite mining near the town of Most (Czechia). Both chronosequences did not have tree planting. On the first chronosequence, no leveling or any other measures had taken place after heaping, and the site kept the wavelike appearance created by the dumping process. The second chronosequence was formed by sites levelled by earthmoving machinery and in which shallow topsoil layers were spread. Both chronosequences were about 30 years old, and consisted of 8 and 11 sites for wavelike and levelled sites, respectively. In addition, samples were taken from a birch site outside of the heaps. Results showed differences in the development of tree and herb layers in both chronosequences. In the levelled sites, herb and tree cover increased after levelling, and woody cover developed much slower. In ungraded sites, woody cover developed faster, and the herb layer slower. Soil chemistry showed a similar pattern in both sites over time, characterized by a decrease in pH and sodium ion content. Soil macrofauna in levelled sites showed random oscillations, while it gradually increased with time in wavelike sites. The study suggested that site levelling alters long-term ecosystem development in postmining sites. Wavelike sites tend to develop towards pioneer forests, while leveled sites tend to be covered by grass and herb vegetation.
Visual identification of individual manta ray (Manta alfredi) in the Maldives Islands, Western Indian Ocean

Abstract Despite the worldwide distribution of manta ray (Manta alfredi) in tropical and subtropical regions, there is very little published information on their biology or ecology. Knowledge of the abundance of mantas and their migration patterns is essential for conservation, and the first stage in any study is a method to identify individuals. The purpose of this paper is to present a method of visual identification of individuals of manta which can be used at any site where mantas are regularly observed. In mantas, each individual has a characteristic pattern of dark markings on the ventral side. The most important individual identifying marks are patterns of ovals in the area between the gill slits, supported by distinctive patterns of mottles and spots in the lower abdominal area (posterior to the gill slits) and areas of dark pigmentation around the head and posterior wing margins. Significant changes in ventral makings have not been observed in observation periods exceeding 5 years. Scars and missing tissue may be distinctive for an individual, but significant healing may occur in 12 months. The method was designed for identification of chevron colour-type mantas, but is equally useful in identifying black colour-type individuals, and has a wider application for other mantas or marine megafauna taxa including whale sharks and cetaceans.
Long‐Term Observations of Stratosphere‐Troposphere Exchange Using MST Radar and Aura MLS Measurements Over a Tropical Station Gadanki

This paper presents the climatology of stratospheric intrusion into the troposphere during the Indian Summer Monsoon (ISM) observed using the mesosphere‐stratosphere‐troposphere (MST) radar located at Gadanki (13.5°N, 79.2°E). The most significant and new observation is the presence of enhanced signal‐to‐noise ratio (SNR) of 3 dB and half‐power full spectral width of >0.2 m s−1 in the vicinity of tropopause during the ISM. Downdrafts (updrafts) are dominated in the vicinity of tropopause from April to June (July to March). The result of stratospheric air intrusion is also supported with 10 years of ozone measurements obtained from Aura‐Microwave Limb Sounder (MLS) and 5 years of in situ ozonesonde observations. Detailed analysis shows that the horizontal advection along with turbulence in the vicinity of tropopause caused by the tropical easterly jet and tropopause altitude variability is the prime candidate for stratosphere to troposphere transport of ozone. In contrast, the tropical tropopause temperature plays a significant role in the troposphere to stratosphere transport of water vapor during the ISM. The significance of the present study is to qualitatively constitute the climatology of these exchange processes over Gadanki using Indian MST radar.
Correlação entre fertilidade e níveis de proteína, açúcar e aminoácidos livres no plasma seminal de touros Nelore

Correlations between fertility and the concentrations of proteins, reducing sugars and 17 types of free amino acids in the seminal plasma of Nelore bulls were estimated. The samples were collected from 19 bulls that had high quality semen, according to physical and morphological analyses. The bulls had their fertility scores estimated based on the pregnancy of the females mated to them during three consecutive breeding seasons, either by artificial insemination or by natural breeding. A large variability in the concentrations of the molecules was observed among the samples and a significant correlation coefficient (r= 0.90) between levels of proteins and reducing sugars was estimated. None of the components showed a significant correlation with fertility.
Biomineralization by Gallionella

A new environmental scanning electron microscopic (ESEM) technique at low vacuum (5 torr) and 99% humidity, where the sample never has been exposed to high vacuum and coating of carbon or gold, has revealed a new insight into the nature of iron mineralization that develops in association with the stalked bacteria Gallionella. The stalk fibers contain minute flaky iron precipitates. The size of the crystallites is 0.1–0.5 micron and some of them exhibit a hexagonal feature. EDAX analyses on individual crystallites give an atomic ratio between Fe and O very close to 0.67. The stoichiometric formula would thus be Fe2O3. Stoichiometry and crystallinity are in accordance with the mineral hematite. The mineralization seems to take place inside the fibers of the stalk. With time the Gallionella stalk is covered with iron oxihydroxides of different kinds that probably are controlled by inorganic processes more than by the organic chemistry of the stalk. From a thermodynamic point of view, oxygen as well as carbon dioxide are required to explain the formation of hematite inside the fibers. The precipitation takes probably place at a pH close to 5.
Performance Improvement of Artificial Neural Network Model in Short-term Forecasting of Wind Farm Power Output

Due to the low dispatchability of wind power, the massive integration of this energy source in power systems requires short-term and very short-term wind power output forecasting models to be as efficient and stable as possible. A study is conducted in the present paper of potential improvements to the performance of artificial neural network (ANN) models in terms of efficiency and stability. Generally, current ANN models have been developed by considering exclusively the meteorological information of the wind farm reference station, in addition to selecting a fixed number of time periods prior to the forecasting. In this respect, new ANN models are proposed in this paper, which are developed by: varying the number of prior $1-h$ periods (periods prior to the forecasting hour) chosen for the input layer parameters; and/or incorporating in the input layer data from a second weather station in addition to the wind farm reference station. It has been found that the model performance is always improved when data from a second weather station are incorporated. The mean absolute relative error (MARE) of the new models is reduced by up to 7.5%. Furthermore, the longer the forecasting horizon, the greater the degree of improvement.
Interleukin-18 Activates NF-κB in Murine T Helper Type 1 Cells

: Interleukin-18 (IL-18) activated T helper type 1 (Th1) cells, OVA#4, and induced production of interleukin-2 (IL-2) in costimulation with anti-CD3 antibody. Upon stimulation with IL-18, IkappaB disappeared from cytoplasm and subsequently nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) (p65) accumulated in the nucleus. Corresponding with that, DNA binding activity of NF-kappaB (p65 homodimer or p65/p50 heterodimer) was detected in the nucleus. In the transfection experiments, an IL-2 promoter-driven reporter construct showed the similar responsiveness against IL-18 to that of the intrinsic IL-2 gene, and a construct lacking kappaB site failed to respond to IL-18. These results suggest that IL-18 activates NF-kappaB and it is important for enhancement of IL-2 gene expression by Th1 cells stimulated with IL-18.
Podridão‑vermelha‑da‑raiz da soja em cultivos com diferentes sistemas de manejo e coberturas do solo

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o efeito dos sistemas de manejo do solo e de coberturas de inverno sobre o numero de propagulos de Fusarium spp. no solo, a incidencia da podridao‑vermelha‑da‑raiz (PVR) e a produtividade das cultivares de soja CD 206 e FT Fenix. Foram realizados dois experimentos nos anos agricolas de 2006/2007 e 2007/2008. Utilizou-se o delineamento experimental de blocos ao acaso, em parcelas subsubdivididas, com tres repeticoes. Foram avaliados dois sistemas de preparo do solo: plantio direto e revolvimento do solo na profundidade de 25 cm. As coberturas de inverno utilizadas foram: aveia‑preta, com duas densidades de plantio; aveia‑preta + ervilhaca; azevem; e pousio. A incidencia da doenca, na safra de 2006/2007, na cultivar FT Fenix, foi menor que na CD 206. Na safra 2007/2008, nao houve diferenca significativa. Houve incremento na produtividade, de 125 kg ha‑1, com o solo revolvido, em comparacao ao plantio direto. A cobertura com aveia‑preta + ervilhaca apresentou maior numero de propagulos de Fusarium spp. no solo, na safra de 2006/2007. No entanto, no segundo ano, essa diferenca nao foi observada. Os sistemas de preparo do solo e as coberturas de inverno utilizadas nao influenciam a incidencia da PVR em cultivares de soja ou o numero de propagulos de Fusarium spp. no solo. O sistema com solo revolvido proporciona aumento de produtividade da soja, no segundo ano de manejo.
Interferência de plantas daninhas na cultura da soja (Glycine max (L.) Merrill)

Soybean represents one of the main crops grown in Brazil. Among the problems faced by this crop, weed interference is one of the most remarkable to emphasize. In order to prepare this article, it was utilized data selected from several experiments conducted at the Agronomic Experimental Station of Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, RS, Brazil, during a set of years, all of them dealing with treatments related to weed control. It was intented to elucidate some aspects related to soybean x weed competition, being clear from the search that these species cause negativo effects to the crop, mainly to its grain yield. Grass weeds are capable to produce greater loss to soybean yield than broadieaf weeds. To eliminate this interference, aiming to increase soybean yield, there was no difference between using hoeings or herbicides, eitheir applied to the soil or to weed foliage. These methods were all equally efficient, since correctly utilized.
A High Voltage Gain DC–DC Converter With Common Grounding for Fuel Cell Vehicle

The essential features of a DC–DC converter for fuel cell vehicle are to ensure the higher voltage gain to meet out the higher DC link voltage demand, continuous input current to improve the life span of the fuel cell, presence of common grounding to avoid electromagnetic interference issue and lower voltage stress with reduced components. This paper presents a high voltage gain DC–DC converter by combining the switched capacitor and quasi switched boost network modules. The proposed high voltage gain converter provides the continuous input current, lower voltage stress, utilizes a fewer number of elements and common grounding feature. The operating characteristics, steady-state analysis both in continuous current mode (CCM) and discontinuous current mode (DCM), comparative analysis with contemporary converters are discussed. The theoretical claimed analysis is validated by the simulation and experimental study. The proposed converter is operated for 200 W output power rating and tested for providing the voltage gain in the range of 5–8 times the input voltage gain by varying the input voltage from 25 V–40 V. The efficiency of the proposed converter is also reported for different output power rating which is in the range 91.3%–93.7%.
The C-Truncated δ-Opioid Receptor Underwent Agonist-Dependent Activation and Desensitization☆

Abstract The agonist-dependent activation and desensitization of a recombinant analog of δ-opioid receptor lacking the carboxyl-terminal (C-terminal) 31 residue peptide segment were discussed. The cDNA of the C-truncated δ-opioid receptor was created by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), stably expressed in Chinese hamster ovary cells and characterized by binding assay and function assay. Agonist [ D -Pen 2 , D -Pen 5 ]-enkephalin (DPDPE) stimulated the specific [ 35 S]GTPγS binding to membrane fragments of cells expressing the C-truncated and the wild-type δ-opioid receptors in different levels dose-dependently. EC 50 values of DPDPE on truncated and wild-types in stimulation were very similar. Agonist-dependent desensitization, which could be blocked by protein kinase inhibitor staurosporine (Stau), was observed after pretreating truncated receptors with 1 μM DPDPE for 10 min, the same as wild-types. The results reveal that the C-terminal of the δ-opioid receptor is not involved in controlling the G-protein activation and phosphorylation-related functional desensitization.
Ecotoxicogenomics: Emerging Technologies for Emerging Contaminants 1

Abstract: In recent years, new classes of aquatic pollutants have received attention from environmentalists, scientists, and regulators due to their introduction into the environment, unforeseen effects associated with the pollutants, or enhanced analytical techniques presently capable of detecting them. Many of these emerging contaminants are not well studied, making predictions regarding their toxicity to aquatic organisms or environmental fate difficult. Genomic technologies, including DNA microarrays, have been employed in many areas of biology to study disease states and the interaction of chemicals and nutrients with organisms. Here, we present the potential utility of DNA microarrays to address the challenges of emerging contaminants. DNA microarrays produce gene expression profiles creating an illustration of how a pollutant is acting within an exposed organism. Homology searches and online tools such as Gene Ontology can aid in the inferring a Mode of Toxicity, which may guide toxicity testing and risk characterization. Signature gene expression profiles offer the potential to uncover novel biomarkers of exposure and predict the presence of these contaminants in aquatic organisms. The No Observed Transcriptional Effect Level may play a role in determining if a predicted environmental concentration poses a risk to a sensitive species within an ecosystem. Additionally, DNA microarrays may add a complementary approach to Toxicity Identification Evaluations and help characterize causal agents in complex effluents.
Integrative taxonomy of extant maras supports the recognition of the genera Pediolagus and Dolichotis within the Dolichotinae (Rodentia, Caviidae)

The subfamily Dolichotinae (Rodentia, Caviidae) includes two living species (Dolichotis patagonum and D. salinicola) of cursorial, long-legged rodents that inhabit semiarid thorn scrubs and shrublands in southern South America. Some authors consider that the morphological differences between D. patagonum and D. salinicola warrant circumscription of the latter in its own genus, Pediolagus. Based on a phylogeny and divergence times grounded on molecular data, as well as a qualitative and quantitative assessment of morphological differences, the distinction between Dolichotis and Pediolagus is equal to or greater than differences seen for other intergeneric comparisons within Cavioidea. Based on these results, we argue that the taxonomic designations of Dolichotis and Pediolagus should be retained.
Roles for USF‐2 in lung cancer proliferation and bronchial carcinogenesis

The upstream stimulatory factors USF‐1 and USF‐2 dimerize to regulate transcription through E‐box motifs in target genes. Although widely expressed, they can mediate tissue‐specific transcription and we previously reported that USF‐2 can enhance transcription of arginine vasopressin, a neuropeptide growth factor in small cell lung cancer. Here we determine the expression and role of USF‐2 in lung cancer subtypes and examine USF‐2 distribution in the bronchial epithelium. For a panel of 12 cell lines and 10 frozen human tumour samples, immunoblotting demonstrated that USF‐2 expression was more frequent and abundant in small cell lung cancer than in non‐small cell lung cancer. An immunohistochemical study of 108 formalin‐fixed and paraffin‐embedded human samples was undertaken to localize USF‐2 expression and included 44 small cell and 32 non‐small cell lung cancers, and 32 samples with bronchial dysplasia. USF‐2 was restricted to ciliated cells in normal bronchial epithelium, but was more strongly expressed in dysplastic epithelium (72%) and certain lung cancer types, including small cell lung cancer (71%), squamous cell carcinoma (69%) and a large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma, but was less common in adenocarcinoma (11%). In a small series, expression was assessed adjacent to positively staining tumours; in phenotypically normal bronchial tissues, USF‐2 was more highly expressed at 1 cm than at 5 cm from the tumour. Transient USF‐2 overexpression in non‐small cell lung cancer cell lines significantly stimulated in vitro cell proliferation; this response was most apparent for NCI‐H460 (p < 0.005), reducing the mean cell doubling time from 19 to 16 h. Dominant‐negative USF‐2 mutants had no significant effect on cell growth. Taken together, these data suggest that USF‐2 represents a relatively early molecular marker for the development of bronchial dysplasia and non‐adenocarcinoma lung cancer. USF may also play a role in bronchial carcinogenesis, perhaps through promoting cell proliferation, although the genes through which this is regulated remain to be determined. Copyright © 2005 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Detecting Amyloid-β Aggregation with Fiber-Based Fluorescence Correlation Spectroscopy

Soluble aggregates critically influence the chemical and biological aspects of amyloid protein aggregation, but their population is difficult to measure, especially in vivo. We take an optical fiber-based fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS) approach to characterize a solution of aggregating amyloid-β molecules. We find that this technique can easily resolve aggregate particles of size 100 nm or greater in vitro, and the size distribution of these particles agrees well with that obtained by conventional FCS techniques. We propose fiber FCS as a tool for studying aggregation in vivo.