Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Níveis de cálcio em rações de frangos de corte na fase inicial suplementadas com fitase

With the objective of evaluating increasing levels of calcium in diets supplemented with the enzyme phytase for chickens from 1 to 21 days of age, an experiment was conducted using 600 1-d old Hubbard-MPK strain chicks. The broilers were allotted to a completely randomized design, factorial arrangement five x two (levels of calcium x sexes), three replicates and 20 birds per plot. The basal ration with 0.54% total phosphorus and 600 units of phytase/kg, was formulated to meet the nutritional requirements of the broilers, according to NRC (1994), except for calcium, whose levels were 0.46; 0.67; 0.88; 1.09 and 1.30%. At 14 days, two chicks of each treatment were transferred to metabolism cages for total collection of the excreta during four consecutive days. At 21 days of age, two broilers from each treatment were slaughtered for removal of the left tibia for subsequent analyses. The males presented higher fed intake and weight gain, and shown a linear reduction as the level of calcium was increased. The levels of 0.67 and 0.71% presented better digestibility of dry matter and higher nitrogen retention, respectively. The females presented content of ashes and calcium in the tibia higher than those of males (1.68 and 2.34% respectively). The level of 0.55% of calcium in the diets provided the maximum deposition of ashes (51.5%) while the level of 0.59% was enabled to reach the maximum calcification (17.8%). Phosphorus deposition showed quadratic effect in relation to increasing levels of calcium in the diets, and 0.75% of calcium provided to reach the largest deposition (10.8%), while deposition of manganese was reduced linearly with the increasing levels of calcium in the diets. It was concluded that high levels of calcium in the diets supplemented with phytase decreased weight gain and shown negative effect on the phosphorus and manganese deposition in the broilers tibia from one to 21 days of age. Low levels of calcium impaired the digestibility of dry matter and nitrogen retention of diets of broilers one to 21 day old broilers.
Vibrio penaeicida sp. nov., a pathogen of kuruma prawns (Penaeus japonicus)

Six similar strains which were isolated as pathogens of cultured kuruma prawns (Penaeus japonicus) in Japan had characteristics of the genus Vibrio. These organisms were distinguished from previously described Vibrio species by their positive results in tests for gelatinase and lipase activities and their negative reactions in tests for arginine dihydrolase and lysine and ornithine decarboxylase activities, growth in the presence of 6% NaCl and at 35°C, acid production from sucrose, utilization of d-glucuronate and propionate, and luminescence. The G+C contents of the DNAs of these organisms were 46.2 to 47.0 mol%. The levels of DNA relatedness among these six strains were 87 to 99% (as determined by the membrane filter method), while the levels of DNA relatedness between prawn pathogen strain KH-1T (T = type strain) and members of 28 previously described Vibrio species were less than 18%. The name Vibrio penaeicida sp. nov. is proposed for the prawn-pathogenic strains. The type strain is strain KH-1 (= IFO 15640 = JCM 9123).
STUDIES ON ANTIBODY PRODUCTION

After an antigenic stimulus, antibody is first demonstrable in the cytoplasm, and often in a spot in the nucleus, of large, immature cells in the medullary areas of the lymph node draining the site of injection. Morphologically, these cells have basophilic cytoplasm and a large nucleus, and are typical hematogenous stem cells. As these cells multiply and differentiate, the concentration of antibody in their cytoplasm increases, until colonies of typical mature plasma cells containing antibody have developed. There is a marked difference between the primary and the secondary responses, the former characterized by the development of very few antibody-containing cells while in the latter there are hundreds in a similar area. The morphology of the cells involved in both responses is identical. Occasionally, antibody was also found in low concentration in association with the lymphoid follicles. The implications of these findings for an understanding of antibody synthesis are discussed.
Clinical and demographic profile of paediatric patients presenting with acute diarrhea

Diarrhea is defined as, ‘passage of three or more loose or liquid stools per day or more frequent passage than is normal for the individual. It is one of the biggest public health problems globally. All children tend to suffer from diarrhea at some time during their childhood. WHO has estimated that globally there are nearly 1.7 billion cases of childhood diarrheal disease every year and that it remains the 2nd leading cause of death in children under 5 years worldwide. Sometimes, diarrhea my co-exist with vomiting, fever, abdominal pain etc. depending upon its etiology. Diarrheal diseases can also lead to significant malnutrition and dehydration. Repeated attacks of diarrhea, infections, poor hygiene etc. may be responsible for such outcomes. Basically, each diarrheal episode deprives the child of nutrition along with fluid loss, thus aggravating the severity of malnutrition and dehydration.
Grateloupia doryphora (Halymeniaceae, Rhodophyta) in Rhode Island waters (USA): geographical expansion, morphological variations and associated algae

Abstract Within a five-year period (1994–1999), the population of the invasive seaweed Grateloupia doryphora expanded from its initial location on a central, southern coastline in Rhode Island, USA. It spread north, east and west in Narragansett Bay, and south along the open coast of Rhode Island Sound. Large numbers of G. doryphora thalli were found in the lower intertidal (below + 0.2 m mean low water [MLW]), the subtidal (down to −5.5 m MLW), and tide pools (as high as +1.5 m MLW). Because the species has survived six winters and summers, it seems firmly established in Rhode Island. Regression analyses at nine stations on a latitudinal gradient indicate strong relationships between location in the bay and average maximum blade length (r = 0.91), width (r = 0.92), and polymorphism (r = 0.85). We also found significant differences in blade size and shape among the stations and in relation to depth. Near its exposed southern reaches, at its upper vertical limits, and in tide pools, this species was frequently dissected (> 71% of observed individuals) and polymorphic. In the sheltered northern regions of this estuary and towards the lower vertical limit, down to −5 m MLW, blades were predominantly simple (74% of observed individuals) and either broadly linear or lanceolate. These included specimens as long as 175 cm, with a surface area over 3000 cm2, making this alga one of the largest Florideophyceae reported in the western North Atlantic. Throughout the study, 95–100% of blades were reproductive. No relationship was observed between the percentage of reproductive blades and the latitudinal position in the bay or vertical gradients. At the nine stations studied, 40 associated algal species were recorded within 1 m of G. doryphora thalli, and, of these, 33% were epiphytic. One endoepiphyte, Laminariocolax tomentosoides (Phaeophyta) appeared on no other host in Rhode Island waters. Data from this study may be incorporated in a model to examine expansion patterns of new invasions of G. doryphora and other introduced species, such as escapees from shipping or aquaculture.
A Method of Estimating Insect Defoliation of Soybean

A linear relationship was shown to exist between the total area of the trifoliate soybean leaf and the product of length and width (widest point) of the terminal leaflet. The equation, area (cm2) = 0.018 × LW (mm), accurately estimated leaf area for 7 soybean varieties grown in the field; however, varieties reacted differently when grown in the greenhouse. A high degree of correlation existed between area determined by linear measurements of the terminal leaflet and area determined using an electronic area integrator. This nondestructive technique can be used in the field to determine percent defoliation caused by soybean insect pests.
The inductive activity of the spinal cord in urodele tail regeneration

According to recent reviews (Nicholas, '55 ; Needham, '52) regeneration of the urodele tail and limb is accomplished by different processes. Tissues of the tail, it is contended, are reconstituted by direct budding from parent tissues of the stump, whereas the tissues of the limb are stated to differentiate from an aggregation of indifferent blastema cells. With respect to tail regeneration spinal cord cells are viewed as forming neural cells, muscle cells as forming muscle cells, cartilage cells as forming cartilage, etc. In contrast, Weiss ( '25b) and Thornton ( '42), working with salamander limbs and Winnick ('52) and Goss ('53) studying frog limbs, demonstrated that the amphibian limb does not regenerate in this fashion. Amputation through the upper arm following removal of the humerus resulted in a normal regenerated limb possessing the usual complement of limb cartilages even though cartilage was absent in the stump. In a previous report (Holtzer, Holtzer and Avery, '55, see also for bibliography of older literature on tail regeneration) it was stated that following amputation of the larval
8fJ/Step Bandpass ADC With Digitally Assisted NTF Re-Configuration

In this work we propose a single channel band-pass (BP) SAR ADC with dynamic noise transfer function (NTF) re-configuration. The proposed ADC employs a low-power two-stage architecture. After the SAR finishes quantization, the residue is extracted by firing the comparator multiple times. An estimate of the residue is obtained by employing a maximum likelihood based estimator (MLE). The output of the ADC is obtained by subtracting a delayed version of the estimated residue from the SAR output thus generating a complex NTF with multiple notches in the spectrum. A 65nm ADC prototype achieves 74.1/78dB SNDR/DR over a 101.2kHz bandwidth while consuming <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$17~\mu \text{W}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> from a 1V supply at 2.43MS/s. The ADC core occupies an area of 0.12mm<sup>2</sup>. The ADC achieves 8fJ/c-step bandpass FoM which is <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$85\times $ </tex-math></inline-formula> better than state-of-the-art BP ADCs with similar bandwidth and <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$8.7\times $ </tex-math></inline-formula> better than all reported state-of-the-art BP ADCs.
On the utility of DNA barcoding for species differentiation among brown macroalgae (Phaeophyceae) including a novel extraction protocol

The generation of a species‐rich DNA barcode database in combination with rapid and affordable sequencing techniques will dramatically change specimen identification in ecological, biogeographical and taxonomic applications. Though cytochrome c oxidase 1 has been shown to be a useful tool for differentiating some groups of marine algae, its wide application in the Phaeophyceae has yet to be studied. The presence of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) inhibiting compounds in members of the Fucales, Laminariales and Tilopteridales, that are often co‐extracted with DNA, has hampered the rapid processing associated with barcode projects. Polyphenolics and polysaccharides are present in concentrations such that DNA extraction methods typically include extensive series of washes, organelle extractions and/or cesium columns. In this paper we examine the utility of cytochrome c oxidase 1 for barcoding the Phaeophyceae and present a method for extracting PCR friendly DNA from brown macroalgae in about 2 h, dramatically reducing the time required from previous methods, some of which take days. This method is easily adapted to a 96 well, high‐throughput format and may have applications in other organisms where the presence of similar PCR inhibiting compounds hinders molecular analyses. We extracted DNA from 106 isolates representing 29 species from 20 genera in nine families from five orders of Phaeophyceae. We were able to amplify the barcode marker (cytochrome c oxidase 1) from all samples and a nuclear marker (internal transcribed spacer region) from 54 selected samples. Cytochrome c oxidase 1 was able to differentiate clearly among species, showing within species divergence of 0.00–0.46%, with the exception of one previously studied genus, and between species divergences of greater than 3%.
Variation in [75 Se]selenate uptake and partitioning among tomato cultivars and wild species.

Eight Lycopersicon esculentum cultivars and six wild taxa from four Lycopersicon species were tested for their ability to transport and distribute Se under low and high sulphate salinity conditions. Plants were exposed to [75 Se]selenate for 1 h. Significant variation was observed in both morphological and transport characteristics that control the short-term uptake and accumulation of selenate in tomato species. Among L. esculentum cultivars under low salinity, selenate uptake ranged from 126-184 pmol g f. wt root-1 h-1 and shoot 75 Se concentrations ranged from 40-66 pmol g f. wt shoot-1 . Shoot accumulation was affected by both specific root weight (SRW, root fresh weight/total plant fresh weight) and uptake of the cultivar. Distribution of tracer between root accumulation and transport to the shoot, expressed on a root weight basis, was similar in all cultivars. High sulphate salinity reduced uptake to around 22 pmol g f. wt root-1 h-1 in all cultivars and only small differences in shoot 75 Se concentration (7.4-10.5 pmol g f. wt shoot-1 ) were observed, indicating that root uptake rate was the primary determinant of shoot 75 Se concentration under these conditions. In the low-salinity treatment wild accessions showed a wider range of uptake rates (52-190 pmol g f. wt root-1 h-1 ) and shoot Se concentrations (12-79 pmol g f. wt shoot-1 ) than the cultivars. High sulphate salinity had a less inhibitory effect on Se uptake in the wild taxa than in the cultivars, with uptake rates of 18-63 pmol g f. wt root-1 h-1 and shoot concentrations of 7-28 pmol g f. wt shoot-1 measured. Differences in uptake, partitioning and SRW all contributed to the variation in shoot 75 Se uptake in these taxa at both salinity levels. One cultivar (UC82B) was tested under high chloride salinity. Uptake was reduced by 40% relative to the low salt control, compared with the 87% reduction observed under high sulphate salinity. The apparent inhibition in the presence of chloride salinity could be explained by the 40% reduction in selenate activity calculated for this solution relative to the control. Reduced selenate activity was insufficient to account entirely for the reduced uptake observed in this taxon under high sulphate salinity. In contrast, after allowing for reduced selenate activity, uptake by L. pennellii LA716 was little affected by an increase in sulphate from 2.9 and 38 mM, showing that considerable variation in selectivity of the transport system for selenate versus sulphate exists among Lycopersicon species.
Eating habits and food knowledge in a sample of Portuguese university students

Adoptar una dieta saludable es una decision compleja, ya que esta supeditada a factores de indole diversa (biologicos, sociales, ambientales, demograficos y psicologicos). La transicion de la escuela secundaria a la universidad es un periodo critico que acarrea muchos cambios ambientales sociales y fisicos, que pueden llevar a un estilo de vida poco saludable. Este estudio investigo los habitos alimentarios, el conocimiento de los alimentos y el nivel de informacion sobre una dieta saludable en una muestra de 670 estudiantes universitarios en Portugal. Los principales hallazgos revelaron que, en general, los participantes tenian un buen conocimiento de la comida y habitos alimenticios satisfactorios, asi como un nivel satisfactorio de informacion sobre una dieta saludable. Se encontraron diferencias significativas en el conocimiento alimentario de los participantes entre los grupos de edad y segun el area de estudios. La mayoria de los estudiantes revelo habitos alimenticios satisfactorios, con diferencias significativas entre los grupos de edad, el area de estudios y la practica de deportes de alta competicion. Los resultados apuntaron a la necesidad de mejorar los programas educativos, que pueden contribuir a aumentar el conocimiento sobre los alimentos de los estudiantes universitarios y, en consecuencia, mejorar sus habitos alimenticios.
Capacity Building and Public Service Delivery in Nigeria: A Critical Appraisal

The essence of government at whatever levels is to ensure efficient service delivery to the citizenry. Efficient service delivery depends largely on the training, expertise and entire staff development. Mediocrity, redundancy, low level of productivity and inefficiency are some of the features in the Nigerian civil service that have impaired viable capacity building in the public sector. There is a nexus between staff development, capacity building and service delivery. Appropriate skills, knowledge and ideas can be acquired through seminars, workshops and training. The acquisition of these skills will help to equip civil servants to perform their daily routines and tasks in the most efficient manner. This paper therefore takes a critical examination of capacity building in the Nigerian civil service with the view to re-invigorating the service to meet the challenges of the 21 st century. It utilizes historical and descriptive approach to analyze the patterns of public service delivery in Nigeria. The paper concludes that capacity building in the public sector has been subjected to numerous critical analyses; while particular attention should be focused on how more empirical works are to be carried out and more resources can be deployed in public sector capacity building in the country. Keywords: Public Service, Capacity Building, Service Efficiency, Challenges DOI: 10.7176/PPAR/10-4-04 Publication date: April 30 th 2020
Low-Power Embedded System for Gait Classification Using Neural Networks

Abnormal foot postures can be measured during the march by plantar pressures in both dynamic and static conditions. These detections may prevent possible injuries to the lower limbs like fractures, ankle sprain or plantar fasciitis. This information can be obtained by an embedded instrumented insole with pressure sensors and a low-power microcontroller. However, these sensors are placed in sparse locations inside the insole, so it is not easy to correlate manually its values with the gait type; that is why a machine learning system is needed. In this work, we analyse the feasibility of integrating a machine learning classifier inside a low-power embedded system in order to obtain information from the user’s gait in real-time and prevent future injuries. Moreover, we analyse the execution times, the power consumption and the model effectiveness. The machine learning classifier is trained using an acquired dataset of 3000+ steps from 6 different users. Results prove that this system provides an accuracy over 99% and the power consumption tests obtains a battery autonomy over 25 days.
Analysis and Different Modifications of Empirical Mode Decomposition Method of Heart Rate Extraction from PPG Signal

In this paper, a method is shown to estimate the heart rate (HR) from fingertip type devices. Fingertip devices are commonly cheap and easily wearable. As the skin of fingertip is thin, it is easy to extract heart rate from there. A promising feature in today’s world of HR monitoring is Photoplethysmography (PPG). However, during physical exercise HR estimation accuracy is seriously affected by noise and motion artifacts (MA). To estimate HR changes an algorithm is used named ensemble empirical mode decomposition (EEMD) along with spectrum subtraction (SS). EEMD algorithm decomposes a PPG signal and an acceleration signal into several intrinsic mode functions (IMFs) respectively. Due to a common sparsity constraint on spectral coefficients, this method can easily identify the noise related IMFs. After that correlation coefficient (CC) is determined by the spectrum of the acceleration signal and that PPG signal in the band of [0.4 Hz-5Hz]. If CC>0.5, SS is applied to remove the spectrum of the acceleration signal from the spectrum of the PPG signal. Finally, HR related peak is estimated. Here in this paper, some modification techniques are applied to have better-estimated HR peak. There were 12 subjects from where experimental datasets are recorded. The average absolute error, average absolute error percentage, and root mean square (RMS) error of HR was estimated. In this work, the average percentage error is lower when the CC is equal to 0.7.
Current Trends in MXene-Based Nanomaterials for Energy Storage and Conversion System: A Mini Review

MXene is deemed to be one of the best attentive materials in an extensive range of applications due to its stupendous optical, electronic, thermal, and mechanical properties. Several MXene-based nanomaterials with extraordinary characteristics have been proposed, prepared, and practiced as a catalyst due to its two-dimensional (2D) structure, large specific surface area, facile decoration, and high adsorption capacity. This review summarizes the synthesis and characterization studies, and the appropriate applications in the catalysis field, exclusively in the energy storage systems. Ultimately, we also discussed the encounters and prospects for the future growth of MXene-based nanomaterials as an efficient candidate in developing efficient energy storage systems. This review delivers crucial knowledge within the scientific community intending to design efficient energy storage systems.
Effects of nitrogen and phosphorus deficiencies on levels of carbohydrates, respiratory enzymes and metabolites in seedlings of tobacco and their response to exogenous sucrose

A simple method of growing plants in agar was exploited to investigate the effect of long-term nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) deficiencies on respiratory metabolism and growth in shoots and roots of Nicotiana tabacum seedlings, and their interaction with exogenously supplied sucrose. Levels of hexose phosphates and 3-phosphoglyceric acid (3-PGA) were low in P-deficient shoots and roots and high in N-deficient shoots and roots. The ratio of hexose phosphates to 3-PGA and levels of fructose-2,6-bisphosphate were high in P-deficient plants and low in N-deficient plants. These data reflect differences in the way metabolism was perturbed, yet both deficiencies were associated with increased root growth relative to shoot growth, starch accumulation in the shoots, and soluble carbohydrate accumulation, especially hexoses, in the roots. Enzymes for sucrose degradation (sucrose synthase, acid and alkaline invertase) and glycolysis (phosphofructokinase, pyrophosphate-dependent phospho-fructokinase and pyruvate kinase) remained unaltered or declined in the shoots and roots. The accumulation of hexoses in roots of N- and P-deficient plants may result from maintenance of high invertase activities relative to sucrose synthase and glycolytic enzymes in the roots. The possibility that hexose accumulation may drive preferential root growth osmotically in N and P deficiencies is discussed. The addition of sucrose to roots to further investigate the interaction of carbohydrates with growth and allocation in low N and low P produced clear effects even though endogenous levels of soluble carbohydrate were already high in the nutrient-deficient plants. In complete nutrition, growth was stimulated, protein content particularly of the roots was increased and there was a preferential increase in activity of sucrose synthase in roots. At low P, enzyme activities in roots were increased, including sucrose synthase, and protein content increased, particularly in the roots, but there was no increase in growth. In N-deficient plants, exogenous sucrose led to decreased protein, Rubisco and chlorophyll content in shoots, in contrast to the other conditions, and a higher protein content and a general increase of catabolic enzyme activities and growth in the roots.