Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Imposex in endemic volutid from Northeast Brazil (Mollusca: Gastropoda)

Imposex is characterized by the development of masc uline sexual organs in neogastropod females. Almost 120 mollusk species are known to present imposex when eto organic tin compounds as tributyltin (TBT ) and triphenyltin (TPT). These compounds are used as bio cide agents in antifouling paints to prevent the in crustations on boats. Five gastropod species are known to present imposex in Brazil: Stramonita haemastoma, Stramonit a rustica, Leucozonia nassa, Cymathium parthenopeum and Olivan cillaria vesica. This paper reports the first recor d of imposex observed in the endemic gastropod Voluta eb raea from Pacheco Beach, Northeast Brazil. Animals presenting imposex had regular female reproductive organs (capsule gland, oviduct and sperm-ingesting gland) and an abnormal penis. As imposex occurs in mollusks ex posed to organotin compounds typically found at har bors, marinas, shipyards and areas with high shipping act ivities, probably contamination of Pacheco Beach is a consequence of a shipyard activity located in the n earest areas.
Performances in English Proficiency Course with Students’ Ability in Answering Higher Order Thinking Skills Questions

The English language is the medium of instruction and knowledge deliverance in Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM). This study looks into whether or not English writing skills affect the students’ performance in answering Higher Order Thinking Skills (HOTS) in the final examination of Molecular Biology (BIO615). The samples comprised BSc (Hons) Biology students from two consecutive semesters in two of UiTM campuses (UiTM Shah Alam and UiTM Jengka). Mean percentage between students answering the December 2015 and June 2016 final examinations in the respective campus was obtained and correlated with marks obtained in English for Academic Writing course (ELC550). The results demonstrated a weak correlation between students’ achievement in ELC550 and their ability in answering HOTS questions in BIO615 final examination in UiTM Shah Alam. In contrast, in UiTM Jengka, the moderate correlation was shown in Semester Sept-Jan 2015. The results of this study are hoped to assist biology educators in crafting appropriate and effective teaching approaches, especially in teaching complicated subjects as well as in strengthening English language proficiency. Keywords: Higher Order Thinking Skills; Molecular Biology; English Proficiency; Bloom’s Taxonomy. eISSN: 2398-4287 © 2020. The Authors. Published for AMER ABRA cE-Bs by e-International Publishing House, Ltd., UK. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/). Peer–review under responsibility of AMER (Association of Malaysian Environment-Behaviour Researchers), ABRA (Association of Behavioural Researchers on Asians) and cE-Bs (Centre for Environment-Behaviour Studies), Faculty of Architecture, Planning & Surveying, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia. DOI:https://doi.org/10.21834/ebpj.v5iSI1. 2314
Reintroduction and restocking: guidelines for bird recovery programmes

Summary Reintroduction and restocking programmes are conservation tools which may be employed when a wild population is otherwise beyond recovery. The decision to undertake such programmes should be based on a series of “feasibility” assessments (e.g. the bird's ecology, current threats, suitability of available stock and regional human socioeconomic implications). Releases should only take place when the habitat is capable of sustaining a viable population and the original constraining factors no longer operate. Releasing birds into near-saturated areas may be harmful and should be avoided. Local, national and international support for the programme should be secured. The birds should be of optimal quality in terms of behaviour, health and genetics and they should be reared, released and monitoring according to sound strategies and criteria. Assessment and adjustments of the programme should periodically be made after initial releases. Documentation of the programme should be circulated and/or published.
The Antioxidant Activity of Some Medicinal Plants

The antioxidant properties of the methanol extracts of 10 medicinal plants were evaluated with the DPPH (1,1-diphenyl- 2-picryl hydrazyl) test, hydroxyl scavenging test, and lipid peroxidation assay. The methanol extract of Emblica officinalis was the most active according to the DPPH test, with an IC50 value of 7.92 ± 0.1 μg/ml, followed by Asparagus racemosus, with an IC50 value of 9.28 ± 0.2 μg/ml. The minimum free radical scavenging activity was shown by Zingiber officinale, with an IC50 value of 44.48 ± 1.8 μg/ml. The hydroxyl radical scavenging activity of the methanolic extracts of various plants was as follows: Asparagus racemosus > Terminalia chebula > Emblica officinalis > Centella asiatica > Withania somnifera > Terminalia bellerica > Glycyrrhiza glabra > Evolvulus alsinoides > Zingiber officinale > Andrographis paniculata. According to the lipid peroxidation assay the extracts of Emblica officinalis and Evolvulus alsinoides showed the greatest effectiveness, with inhibition values of 39.14 ± 2.1% and 36.38 ± 1.3%, respectively, at the 100-μg/m concentration (P < 0.05). Results of the present study suggest that all the tested plant materials had moderate to potent antioxidant activity.
Mating Disruption of Oriental Beetle (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) in Cranberry Using Retrievable, Point-Source Dispensers of Sex Pheromone

Abstract We evaluated the potential management of oriental beetle, Anomala orientalis (Waterhouse), in cranberry by disruption of communication between the sexes through application of the female sex pheromone deployed from wax disks in 2003 and 2004. Mean weekly catch of males in pheromone traps on each untreated bog minus that on each pheromone-treated bog was significantly greater than zero throughout the male flight period for both years of the experiment. Captures of males in traps placed on the edge of pheromone-treated bogs were intermediate between those on control and treated sites; thus, disruption may be limited a short distance from pheromone-treated plots, and treatment of surrounding areas that harbor beetles may be necessary. We deployed a limited number of tethered virgin females in the field for two nights in 2003; when returned to the laboratory, only females on control sites laid fertile eggs. In 2004, we assessed whether delayed mating occurred in the field by deploying tethered females within soil-filled pots and estimated mating rates over five nights by the presence or absence of fertile eggs within soil samples. Only one female among the treated sites laid fertile eggs, whereas the cumulative percentage of females laying fertile eggs in control sites rose steadily over five nights to 96%. The results of this study suggest the strong potential of mating disruption of oriental beetle in cranberry using retrievable, high-dose, point-source dispensers of pheromone.
Pratiques d’évaluation en ASR et biais de performance (Evaluation methodology in ASR and performance bias)

Nous proposons une réflexion sur les pratiques d’évaluation des systèmes de reconnaissance automatique de la parole (ASR). Après avoir défini la notion de discrimination d’un point de vue légal et la notion d’équité dans les systèmes d’intelligence artificielle, nous nous intéressons aux pratiques actuelles lors des grandes campagnes d’évaluation. Nous observons que la variabilité de la parole et plus particulièrement celle de l’individu n’est pas prise en compte dans les protocoles d’évaluation actuels rendant impossible l’étude de biais potentiels dans les systèmes.
Characterisation of lactic starters based on acidification and reduction activities

The acidification and reduction activities of lactic starters have been followed by continu- ous measurement of the pH and the Eh during the course of milk fermentation. These measurements allowed the calculation of the maximum acidification and reduction rates, and the time, pH and Eh at which these values occurred. Nine strains of Lactococcussp. , 6 strains of Streptococcus thermophilus and 5 strains of Lactobacillus helveticuswere studied. In general, the maximum reduction rate of the lactococci was six-fold higher than those of the streptococci and lactobacilli. On the other hand, the streptococci and the lactobacilli acidified with a higher maximum acidifying rate than those of lactococci. Consequently, it was observed that all the cultures with lactococci reached their final Eh before the end of the lactic acid fermentation, while acidifications with the streptococci or the lactobacilli finished before the end of the reduction phase. A principal components analysis clearly differentiates the three species on the basis of their aptitudes for acidification and reduction. This new approach might be used to select adequate starters for the manufacture of fermented dairy products. Acidification / reduction / Lactococcus / Streptococcus thermophilus / Lactobacillus helveticus Resume - Caracterisation de levains lactiques sur la base de leurs activites acidifiantes et re- ductrices. Le suivi de l'acidification et de la reduction du lait par des levains lactiques a ete realise par l'enregistrement en continu du pH et du Eh. Les valeurs mesurees ont permis de calculer les vitesses maximales d'acidification et de reduction, et le temps, le pH et le Eh auxquels ces maxima sont obte- nus. L'etude a porte sur 9 souches de Lactococcussp. , 6 souches de Streptococcus thermophilus ,e t 5 souches de Lactobacillus helveticus. D'une maniere generale, la vitesse maximale de reduction des lactocoques etait six fois plus grande que celle des streptocoques et des lactobacilles. Par contre, les streptocoques et lactobacilles acidifiaient avec une vitesse maximale superieure a celle des lactoco- ques. En consequence, toutes les cultures avec les lactocoques atteignaient leur Eh final avant la fin de la fermentation lactique, alors que l'acidification avec les streptocoques et les lactobacilles se
Understanding Reintensified Multiyear El Niño Events

To understand the unique temporal evolution of the 2014–2016 multiyear El Niño event, which can be characterized as a successive and reintensified event preceded by a weak El Niño, this study examines similar events in a 2,200‐yr simulation of Community Earth System Model, version 1. By contrasting multiyear El Niño events with single‐year ones, we find that the succession characteristics of multiyear El Niño events are primarily caused by a negative North Pacific Oscillation (NPO) in the first‐year winter via subtropical Pacific coupling processes. By contrasting reintensified multiyear El Niño events with lingering ones, we find that the reintensification characteristics are caused by a negative Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) in the first‐year fall via tropical interbasin coupling processes. The phase information of the preceding winter NPO and fall IOD together can be used to project the evolution characteristics of El Niño events, particularly the reintensified multiyear and transitional single‐year events.
Polarisation‐insensitive dual‐band transmissive rasorber designed on a single layer substrate

: In this study, a frequency selective surface (FSS)-based rasorber has been proposed by combining the designs of split-ring absorber and dual bandpass FSS, which are printed on the front and backside of 0.8-mm thick FR-4 substrate, respectively. The proposed FSS-based rasorber is a thin single layer structure and also exhibits the polarisation-insensitive behaviour due to its four-fold symmetry. The split-ring structure at the front contributes to the resonant absorption at 6.2 GHz, while the bandpass FSS structure at the backside provides two transmission windows at 3.1 and 8.4 GHz, respectively. The parameters of the design are optimised such that at the absorption frequency, the bandpass FSS acts as a complete metallic ground. The operating principle of the proposed rasorber is analysed using an equivalent circuit model. The effects of design parameters on the performance of the rasorber are studied, and accordingly an optimum range of lower and upper transmission bands with respect to the absorption band are determined. A 21 × 21 array of the proposed rasorber unit cell is fabricated, and the results are experimentally verified.
Alternative Splicing and Genome Evolution

The alternative splicing of pre-messenger ribonucleic acids is an important mechanism of proteomic diversity and plays a significant role in determining a protein's structure, function and localisation. Because of its ubiquity as a mechanism (affecting most human genes) and its broad functional role (in development and physiology), it is expected to make an important contribution to the evolution of trait complexity. Here, we consider the evolutionary consequences of this key cellular mechanism, which are being uncovered by important developments in genomic technology and methodology. Key Concepts Alternative splicing is a key cellular process driving phenotypic diversity and functional innovation. Gene duplication and other molecular processes can interact with alternative splicing in highly complex ways to drive genome evolution. Gene regulation, including alternative splicing, is thought to account for the extraordinary divergence in traits between closely related species given the small degree of molecular divergence between orthologous protein sequences. Nonsense-mediated decay (with its conserved machinery and targets across large evolutionary time spans) can act as a quality control mechanism on alternative splicing to guard the cell against potentially deleterious gene products. In studies of the evolutionary landscape of alternative splicing (in multiple tissues across hundreds of millions of years of evolutionary time span), the identity of the species is the primary source of the variability in overall alternative splicing patterns, whereas tissue type is the main source for overall gene expression patterns. Keywords: alternative splicing; genome; evolution; transcriptome; proteome; complexity; gene duplication; nonsense-mediated decay; splicing regulatory elements; neo-functionalisation; sub-functionalisation
Hearing Aid Self-Adjustment: Effects of Formal Speech-Perception Test and Noise

While listening to recorded sentences with a sound-field level of 65 dB SPL, 24 adults with hearing-aid experience used the “Goldilocks” explore-and-select procedure to adjust level and spectrum of amplified speech to preference. All participants started adjustment from the same generic response. Amplification was provided by a custom-built Master Hearing Aid with online processing of microphone input. Primary goals were to assess the effects of including a formal speech-perception test between repeated self-adjustments and of adding multitalker babble (signal-to-noise ratio +6 dB) during self-adjustment. The speech test did not affect group-mean self-adjusted output, which was close to the National Acoustics Laboratories’ prescription for Non-Linear hearing aids. Individuals, however, showed a wide range of deviations from this prescription. Extreme deviations at the first self-adjustment fell by a small but significant amount at the second. The multitalker babble had negligible effect on group-mean self-selected output but did have predictable effects on word recognition in sentences and on participants’ opinion regarding the most important subjective criterion guiding self-adjustment. Phoneme recognition in monosyllabic words was better with the generic starting response than without amplification and improved further after self-adjustment. The findings continue to support the efficacy of hearing aid self-fitting, at least for level and spectrum. They do not support the need for inclusion of a formal speech-perception test, but they do support the value of completing more than one self-adjustment. Group-mean data did not indicate a need for threshold-based prescription as a starting point for self-adjustment.
Optimization of metalloprotease production by Eupenicillium javanicum in both solid state and submerged bioprocesses

Proteases are enzymes that have great importance in industries and can be produced through bioprocess by microorganisms. Changes in parameters can influence the production rate of these enzymes. The current study evaluated the influence of these parameters on the production of proteases by the fungus Eupenicillium javanicum under both solid state bioprocess (SSB) and submerged bioprocess (SmB), and determined the partial biochemical characterization of the crude enzymatic extract. Our studies have indicated that the best conditions for the production of proteases under SSB were a 10% albumin, 90% wheat bran incubated at 30°C. Under SmB the optimal conditions were medium supplemented with 0.25% casein, medium pH of 5.0 and incubation at 30°C. The biochemical characterization showed that the enzyme is a metalloprotease that presented collagenolytic activity, with optimal pH and temperature of 5.5 and 60°C, respectively.
Concordance in prediction body fat percentage of Brazilian women in reproductive age between different methods of evaluation of skinfolds thickness

ABSTRACT Objective To assess the utility of bioimpedance (BIA) and skinfolds thickness (SF) in body fat percentage measuring (%BF) compared to the reference method dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) in Brazilian reproductive age women, as well as to estimate of inter- and intra-observer precision for SF. Subjects and methods 170 women aged 18-37 years with BMI between 18 and 39.9 kg/m2 were selected for this cross-sectional study. Body density was evaluated through equations proposed by Jackson, Pollock and Ward (1980) (EqJPW) and Petroski (1995) (EqPET), and %BF was estimated by BIA, DXA and Siri’s formula (1961). The SF were measured by two separate observers: A and B (to determine inter-observer variability), who measured the folds at three times with 10-minute interval between them (to determine intra-observer variability – we used only observer A). Results The %BF by DXA was higher than those measured by SF and BIA (p<0.01, for all) of 90 volunteers. The Lin coefficient of agreement was considered satisfactory for %BF values obtained by EqJPW and BIA (0.55) and moderate (0.76) for sum of SF (ΣSF) values obtained by EqJPW and EqPET. No agreement was observed for the values obtained by SF (EqJPW and EqPET), BIA and DXA. Analysis of inter- and intra-observer of 59 volunteers showed that different measures of SF thickness met acceptability standards, as well as the % BF. Conclusion BIA and SF measurements may underestimate %BF compared with DXA. In addition, BIA and SF measurements are not interchangeable with DXA. However, our results suggest the equation proposed by Jackson, Pollock and Ward (three skinfolds) compared to BIA are interchangeable to quantify the %BF in Brazilian women in reproductive age. Furthermore, our results show acceptable accuracy for intra- and inter-observer skinfold measurements. Arch Endocrinol Metab. 2020;64(3):257-68
New guidelines for diagnosis of rheumatic fever; do they apply to all populations?

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES To evaluate the efficacy of recently updated Jones criteria for diagnosis of rheumatic fever in high incidence populations like Egypt. METHODS Clinical data of 891 Egyptian patients with rheumatic fever, aged 5-15 years in a highly specialized rheumatic fever clinic were reviewed retrospectively from March 2014 to March 2016. Discriminant analysis was used to detect the most effective predictors for diagnosis of rheumatic fever in our patients incorporating echocardiographic criteria. We compared our results to the most recent update by the American Heart Association. RESULTS The most effective predictors of rheumatic fever included arthritis, carditis, chorea, aortic regurgitation, grades of mitral regurgitation ≥10mm length and velocity ≥2.5 m/s, thick anterior mitral valve leaflets, elevated acute phase reactants, positive family history and prolonged PR interval. Our predictors showed a high sensitivity of 93%, a specificity of 62% and an overall prediction accuracy of 81.4%. CONCLUSION We concluded that strict application of updated Jones criteria may lead to under diagnosis of rheumatic fever in highly endemic countries. We recommend further studies to examine the sensitivity of the most recent update of Jones criteria on other highly endemic populations.
Modeling Inflation Dynamics with Fractional Brownian Motions and Lévy Processes

The article studies a novel approach of inflation modeling in economics. We utilize a stochastic differential equation (SDE) of the form d X t = a X t dt + b X t d B t H , where d B t H is a fractional Brownian motion in order to model inflationary dynamics. Standard economic models do not capture the stochastic nature of inflation in the Eurozone. Thus, we develop a new stochastic approach and take into consideration fractional Brownian motions as well as Lévy processes. The benefits of those stochastic processes are the modeling of interdependence and jumps, which is equally confirmed by empirical inflation data. The article defines and introduces the rules for stochastic and fractional processes and elucidates the stochastic simulation output.
Coral bleaching: the winners and the losers

Sea surface temperatures were warmer throughout 1998 at Sesoko Island, Japan, than in the 10 preceding years. Temperatures peaked at 2.8 °C above average, resulting in extensive coral bleaching and subsequent coral mortality. Using random quadrat surveys, we quantitatively documented the coral community structure one year before and one year after the bleaching event. The 1998 bleaching event reduced coral species richness by 61% and reduced coral cover by 85%. Colony morphology affected bleaching vulnerability and subsequent coral mortality. Finely branched corals were most susceptible, while massive and encrusting colonies survived. Most heavily impacted were the branched Acropora and pocilloporid corals, some of which showed local extinction. We suggest two hypotheses whose synergistic effect may partially explain observed mortality patterns (i.e. preferential survival of thick-tissued species, and shape-dependent differences in colony mass-transfer efficiency). A community-structural shift occurred on Okinawan reefs, resulting in an increase in the relative abundance of massive and encrusting coral species.