Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of UV-B Radiation on Antioxidative Enzyme Activity in Cucumber Cotyledons

Ultraviolet-B (UV-B) radiation negatively affects plant cells, causing reactive oxygen species (ROS) to be generated. To study the effects of increased UV-B exposure on antioxidant processes, we exposed germination-stage cucumber seedlings to increased ultraviolet radiation and analyzed hydrogen peroxide content and the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), guaiacol peroxidase (GPX) and syringaldazine peroxidase (SPX). Enzymatic antioxidant system activity generally increased after UV-B supplementation. Activation of CAT, GPX and SPX in cucumber cotyledons correlated positively with increases in SOD activity and hydrogen peroxide content. The results indicate that ROS accumulated despite higher engagement of the enzymatic antioxidant system, and that elevated UV-B radiation triggered oxidative stress in the cucumber cotyledons.
A Novel Approach towards Database Exploration using Collaborative Filtering Ms .

Recommender systems play an important role in today’s applications which need to satisfy diverse user needs. Recommendation systems are widely used in web applications, e.g. online book shop, movie recommendation etc. It also plays an important role in the field of database systems, where users retrieve interesting information from database by submitting SQL queries. In this case such a system suggests potentially useful queries to the user. In this paper we have presented a system which follows collaborative filtering technique. We have converted the queries submitted by user into general form which is suitable for further calculations. Our system maintains sessions of users. Session is nothing but sequence of queries submitted by the user. We first determines the past session which is similar to current user session, and subsequently use queries in that session to give recommendations.
ROLE OF ICT IN ENHANCING THE PERFORMANCE OF THE TEACHING STAFF IN HIGHER INSTITUTIONS IN SUDAN UNIVERSITY OF BAHRI AS A CASE STUDY

Information and communication technologies (ICT) can be used to support and enhance teaching and learning process. The following ICT tools: computer, video conference, projector, mic and other technologies have been used in classrooms. These tools deliver different types of contents and serve various purposes in the lecture hall. This empirical research aims at finding out (a) the real situation of ICT used in the higher institutions in Sudan. (b) to explore solutions to overcome challenges of ICT use (c) come up with specific recommendations can be generalized to all universities throughout the country in regard to ICT use. Structured questionnaire was designed to obtain primary data, in addition to secondary data collected from references and internet. It presents results of a survey to a number of 74 of teaching staff representing eight faculties at University of Bahri - Sudan. The findings of this study revealed that teaching staff had a strong willingness to integrate ICT into teaching-learning processes. The innovations that ICT has brought in teaching and learning process come through presentation via computer (PPT), video conference, social networks, e-courses, internet, email to communicate with students. Moreover, the existence of all these media increased the opportunity to excellent practice of teaching-learning process. The study introduced the following recommendations; equipping the lecture halls with the suitable digital equipment to enable teaching and learning with computer programs, developing new curricula for applying the ICT as presentation tools, encouraging ICT use by teaching staff accompanied by training and capacity development, integrating the ICT use into the university strategy, and finally transformation of positive attitudes towards ICT into effective practices. Keywords : ICT, Enhancing, Teaching-Learning, Teaching Staff
Aging of Antiviral CD8+ Memory T Cells Fosters Increased Survival, Metabolic Adaptations, and Lymphoid Tissue Homing

Aging of established antiviral T cell memory can foster a series of progressive adaptations that paradoxically improve rather than compromise protective CD8+ T cell immunity. We now provide evidence that this gradual evolution, the pace of which is contingent on the precise context of the primary response, also impinges on the molecular mechanisms that regulate CD8+ memory T cell (TM) homeostasis. Over time, CD8+ TM generated in the wake of an acute infection with the natural murine pathogen lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus become more resistant to apoptosis and acquire enhanced cytokine responsiveness without adjusting their homeostatic proliferation rates; concurrent metabolic adaptations promote increased CD8+ TM quiescence and fitness but also impart the reacquisition of a partial effector-like metabolic profile; and a gradual redistribution of aging CD8+ TM from blood and nonlymphoid tissues to lymphatic organs results in CD8+ TM accumulations in bone marrow, splenic white pulp, and, particularly, lymph nodes. Altogether, these data demonstrate how temporal alterations of fundamental homeostatic determinants converge to render aged CD8+ TM poised for greater recall responses.
GEOPHYSICAL EVIDENCE FOR AN IMPACT CRATER IN VICHADA, NORTHWESTERN SOUTH AMERICA AND ITS ECONOMIC POTENTIAL

A prominent positive free-air gravity anomaly mapped over a roughly 50-km diameter basin is consistent with a mascon centered on (4°30'N, -69°15'W) in the Vichada Department, Colombia, South America. The inferred impact crater is nearly one third the size of the Chicxulub Crater. It must have formed recently, in the last 30 m.a because it controls the path of the Vichada River. The impact crater structure has been partially eroded and is almost completely covered by vegetation. No antipodal relationship has been established. The proposed impact appears to have contributed to the development of mineral deposits of economic interest. The impact shock waves extensively thinned and disrupted the Precambrian cratonic crust. Athick sedimentary cover, dense vegetation and erosional processes greatly limits direct geological testing of the inferred impact basin. Ground follow up gravity and magnetic surveys are recommended for confirming the regional free air gravity anomalies.
Viscous potential flow analysis of electroaerodynamic instability of a liquid sheet sprayed with an air stream

The instability of a thin sheet of viscous and dielectric liquid moving in the same direction as an air stream in the presence of a uniform horizontal electric field has been carried out using viscous potential flow theory. It is observed that aerodynamic-enhanced instability occurs if the Weber number is much less than a critical value related to the ratio of the air and liquid stream velocities, viscosity ratio of two fluids, the electric field, and the dielectric constant values. Liquid viscosity has stabilizing effect in the stability analysis, while air viscosity has destabilizing effect.
Photoperiod Affects Organ Specific Glucose Metabolism in Male Siberian Hamsters (Phodopus sungorus)

Objective: Photoperiodic mammals such as Siberian hamsters (Phodopus sungorus) provide useful animal models to test metabolic plasticity. In short day (photoperiod) conditions, hamsters steadily reduce their body mass primarily through decreased white adipose tissue. Over time, hamsters reduce locomotor activity and energy expenditure in response to short days. We hypothesized that short photoperiods alter whole body and organ/tissue specific glucose metabolism. We predicted that hamsters exposed to short days would decrease whole body energy expenditure, specifically in tissues that significantly contribute to energy balance including the liver and brain. Methods: We collected biodistribution data after administration of the glucose analogue fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG), as well as 24 h indirect calorimetry data from adult male Siberian hamsters following 10 weeks of exposure to either long (16:8) or short (8:16) photoperiods. Results: Short days reduced body and reproductive tissue masses, and increased splenic mass. Photoperiod influenced body mass adjusted volume of O2 consumed, heat production, and respiratory exchange ratio, with short day animals marginally reducing their energy expenditure (heat). Additionally, short-day hamsters altered the metabolic demand and efficiency of several organs, including the spleen, heart, lungs, and lower gastrointestinal system. Conclusions: These data suggest that short days elicit a reorganization of energy allocation from reproductive functions to somatic organ maintenance in response to short days as a winter adaptation.
Modeling Cascading Demand: Accounting for the Effects of Captive Consumer Relationships

One of the most popular, and apparently profitable, product-mix strategies involves “cascading demand,” where the sale of an initial product locks in an on-going stream of future sales. Locking in customers increases switching costs, thus decreasing the price-elasticity of demand. A firm may take advantage of this by pricing to increase profitability in the short run. However, overpricing products can create resentment and alienate customers in the long run. This paper discusses how to model the “cascading demand” phenomenon in a marketing simulation game, accounting for the both the short- and long-term effects, and addressing the conditions determining their relative impact on performance.
Effects of immunoregulatory drugs on human peripheral blood T lymphocytes function in vitro

BACKGROUND: The purpose of the study was to evaluate the mode of action of different immunoregulatory drugs in lymphocyte proliferation and activation METHODS: The drugs studied were prednisolone (PRED), cyclosporin A (CsA) the recombination of PRED and CsA, L-asparaginase and cytosine-arabinose (ara-C). Peripheral blood lymphocytes from normal blood donors were stimulated by phytohemagglutinin (PHA). Lymphocytes proliferation and activation were determined by tritiated thymidine ([3H]TdR) incorporation secretion of interleukin-2, level of soluble interleukin-2 receptors in the supernatant of the culture medium, and immunophenotyping analysis of T lymphocyte subsets. RESULTS: Among PRED CsA and their combination, the strongest inhibition of cell proliferation was induced by PRED while L-asparaginase and ara-C inhibited PHA stimulated T cells proliferation in concentration and time dependent manner. Among PRED, CsA and their combination, CsA induced the greatest inhibition of IL-2 production. All the immunoregulatory drugs inhibited lymphocyte proliferation and expression of activation antigens. CONCLUSION: The immunoregulatory drugs inhibit both lymphocyte proliferation and activation but in a different way.
Methods for Developing Evidence Reviews in Short Periods of Time: A Scoping Review

Introduction Rapid reviews (RR), using abbreviated systematic review (SR) methods, are becoming more popular among decision-makers. This World Health Organization commissioned study sought to summarize RR methods, identify differences, and highlight potential biases between RR and SR. Methods Review of RR methods (Key Question 1 [KQ1]), meta-epidemiologic studies comparing reliability/ validity of RR and SR methods (KQ2), and their potential associated biases (KQ3). We searched Medline, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, grey literature, and checked reference lists, used personal contacts, and crowdsourcing (e.g. email listservs). Selection and data extraction was conducted by one reviewer (KQ1) or two reviewers independently (KQ2-3). Results Across all KQs, we identified 42,743 citations through the literature searches. KQ1: RR methods from 29 organizations were reviewed. There was no consensus on which aspects of the SR process to abbreviate. KQ2: Studies comparing the conclusions of RR and SR (n = 9) found them to be generally similar. Where major differences were identified, it was attributed to the inclusion of evidence from different sources (e.g. searching different databases or including different study designs). KQ3: Potential biases introduced into the review process were well-identified although not necessarily supported by empirical evidence, and focused mainly on selective outcome reporting and publication biases. Conclusion RR approaches are context and organization specific. Existing comparative evidence has found similar conclusions derived from RR and SR, but there is a lack of evidence comparing the potential of bias in both evidence synthesis approaches. Further research and decision aids are needed to help decision makers and reviewers balance the benefits of providing timely evidence with the potential for biased findings.
Gravitational Bending of Starlight: Does the Factor 2 Vindicate Einstein?

As currently understood, the predictions of Newtonian and Einsteinian gravitation on the issue of the gravitational bending of starlight differ by a factor 2 and this factor has been used to post Einsteinian gravitation as the superior gravitational model. The pioneering May 29, 1919, total eclipse observational measurements led by Sir Arthur S. Eddington heralded Einsteinian gravitation as the new superior model of gravitation by confirming this factor 2 which is assumed to be a prerogative prediction of Einsteinian gravitation. Subsequent eclipse observational measurements in the years (1922-1973) have reasonably agreed with the Eddington team. However, apart from the most precise quasar observational measurements made using the latest technologies of Very Large Baseline Array (VLBA), the factor 2 as measured in total eclipse observations is not exactly reproduced with the same hairs-breath accuracy as in the case of the VLBA measurements. Our result unequivocally demonstrates that if one where to preserve the identity of the inertia and gravitational mass of the photon in their calculations in the framework of Newtonian gravitation, the Newtonian gravitational paradigm can be brought into complete tandem with both the VLBA and eclipse observational measurements. Given the present result, the dominance of the Einsteinian gravitational paradigm since the Eddington measurement, and, the centrality and importance of this factor 2 in posting the Einsteinian paradigm as the superior model, this letter brings the reader to ponder and rethink the position of this factor 2 vis-a-vis its importance in overthrowing Newtonian gravitation as first assumed by the Eddington team.
First report of Angiostrongylus vasorum in coyotes in mainland North America

Angiostrongylus vasorum , commonly known as French heartworm, is a metastrongyloid nematode widely distributed in Europe, South America and Africa. This helminth uses gastropods as intermediate hosts, and has as definitive hosts various species of canids including foxes, coyotes and domestic dogs. Clinical signs of A vasorum include respiratory distress and bleeding disorders. Infection may take months to detect and present no clinical signs, but can also lead to death. As part of a larger study on coyotes, helminths were extracted from tracheae, hearts and lungs using a flushing technique. Four out of 284 coyotes were infected with A vasorum , confirmed by sequencing the cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 gene ( cox1 ) on the mitochondrial genome. To our knowledge, this is only the second report of coyotes infected with A vasorum in North America, and the first for mainland North America. Veterinarians now need to watch for clinical signs of this parasite in domestic dogs. Coyotes ( Canis latrans ) evolved in savannah, prairie and woodland habitats,1 but now are commonly found in urban areas.2–4 As contact becomes more frequent between coyotes and humans, coyotes have begun ingesting higher proportions of anthropogenic food.4–7 This change in diet brings coyotes into close contact with domestic dogs ( C familiaris ), leading to increased risk of both species exchanging parasites and permitting prolonged …
Mathematical analysis of the 1D model and reconstruction schemes for magnetic particle imaging

Magnetic particle imaging (MPI) is a promising new in vivo medical imaging modality in which distributions of super-paramagnetic nanoparticles are tracked based on their response in an applied magnetic field. In this paper we provide a mathematical analysis of the modeled MPI operator in the univariate situation. We provide a Hilbert space setup, in which the MPI operator is decomposed into simple building blocks and in which these building blocks are analyzed with respect to their mathematical properties. In turn, we obtain an analysis of the MPI forward operator and, in particular, of its ill-posedness properties. We further get that the singular values of the MPI core operator decrease exponentially. We complement our analytic results by some numerical studies which, in particular, suggest a rapid decay of the singular values of the MPI operator.
Application of Modified LECA in Removing Nickel from Wastewater

In the present study, lightweight expanded clay aggregate (LECA) coated with iron oxide was investigated as a low cost sorbent to remove from wastewater. Iron oxide coated LECA (IOCL) as a new sorbent was tested for its efficiency as sorbent using operational parameters such as contact time, the initial pH of the solutions, and sorbent dosage concentration in batch systems. The adsorption characteristics of the natural LECA and IOCL were investigated through scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. The maximum sorption efficiency was found to be 96% for IOCL at an initial pH of 6.0 and a sorbent dosage of 5 . The results revealed that the sorption kinetic data were well fitted to a pseudo second–order kinetic model. The experimental data showed that sorption was considerably high on IOCL and the new sorbent is an economical method for Ni (II) removal from effluents and aqueous media.
Merged SAGE II, Ozone_cci and OMPS ozone profile dataset and evaluation of ozone trends in the stratosphere

Abstract. In this paper, we present a merged dataset of ozone profiles from several satellite instruments: SAGE II on ERBS, GOMOS, SCIAMACHY and MIPAS on Envisat, OSIRIS on Odin, ACE-FTS on SCISAT, and OMPS on Suomi-NPP. The merged dataset is created in the framework of the European Space Agency Climate Change Initiative (Ozone_cci) with the aim of analyzing stratospheric ozone trends. For the merged dataset, we used the latest versions of the original ozone datasets. The datasets from the individual instruments have been extensively validated and intercompared; only those datasets which are in good agreement, and do not exhibit significant drifts with respect to collocated ground-based observations and with respect to each other, are used for merging. The long-term SAGE–CCI–OMPS dataset is created by computation and merging of deseasonalized anomalies from individual instruments. The merged SAGE–CCI–OMPS dataset consists of deseasonalized anomalies of ozone in 10° latitude bands from 90° S to 90° N and from 10 to 50 km in steps of 1 km covering the period from October 1984 to July 2016. This newly created dataset is used for evaluating ozone trends in the stratosphere through multiple linear regression. Negative ozone trends in the upper stratosphere are observed before 1997 and positive trends are found after 1997. The upper stratospheric trends are statistically significant at midlatitudes and indicate ozone recovery, as expected from the decrease of stratospheric halogens that started in the middle of the 1990s and stratospheric cooling.
Short term sub lethal temperature treatment increases starvation resistance in D. melanogaster

Today’s changing environment imposes challenge to the regular homeostasis of organisms, which forces them to face periods of stressful conditions. The changing environmental conditions can evoke a genetic response in organisms which is of a major interest of study in population biology. Influence of short term sub lethal temperature exposure on starvation resistance has been studied in out bred population of Drosophila melanogaster. It was noticed that short term sub lethal temperature treated flies significantly mated faster, copulated longer, transferred greater quantity of Accessory proteins to mated females and these females had greater resistance to starvation than untreated flies suggesting that during extreme thermal conditions and food deprivation, mating is highly beneficial for females as it confers resistance towards starvation. This study rules out the idea that mating may impair female fitness as proposed earlier.
Mechanisms of Cell Motion in Confined Geometries

We present a simple mechanism of cell motility in a confined ge ometry, inspired by recent motility assays in microfabricated channels. This mechanism relies mainly on the coupling of actin polymerisation at the cell membrane to geometric confinement. We first show analytically using a minimal model of polymerising viscoelastic gel confi ned in a narrow channel that sponta- neous motion occurs due to polymerisation alone. Interestingly, this mechanism does not require specific adhesion with the channel walls, and yields velocit ies potentially larger than the polymeri- sation velocity of the gel. We then study the effect of the contractile activity of myosin motors, and show that whilst it is not necessary to induce motion, it quantitatively increases the velocity of motion in the polymerisation mechanism we describe. Our model qualitatively accounts for recent experiments which show that cells without specific adhesion proteins are motile only in confined environments while they are unable to move on a flat surface. I t also constitutes a first step in the study of cell migration in more complex confined geometries s uch as living tissues.
31 theory givers and takers : clinical biopsychological perspectives on relationship behavior

To date, limited progress has been made in advancing a comprehensive biopsychological model to explain behavior patterns in human relationships. This paper describes such a model. A simplified description of a theory of cortical functioning is presented, followed by a discussion of two patterns of human relationship behaviors that are explained within the context of the model. A comparison of the current model and the dominant Big Five model of personality traits is then briefly discussed. Conclusions focus on the need for future research to determine the effectiveness of a clinical biopsychology approach, including the accuracy of the relationship patterns.
Awe Weakens the Desire for Money

This research examined whether feeling awe weakens people's desire for money. Two experiments demonstrated that, as a self-transcendent emotion, awe decreased people's money desire. In Experiment 1, recalling a personal experience of awe makes people place less importance on money, compared with recalling an experience of happiness and recalling a neutral experience. In experiment 2, we examined different variants of awe, such as negative awe and non-nature awe. Viewing images that elicited awe, no matter what kind of awe, can induce people to put less effort into obtaining money. Process evidence suggested that awe's weakening of money desire was due to its power to make people transcend their mundane concerns. Our findings have implications for willingness to donate, price sensitivity, religious practices, and economic utilities.