Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Segmentation and Extraction of Individual Leaves from Plant Images for Species Classification

Plant species classification through the examination of images of plant leaves requires as input an image of a single leaf with no stems or other non-leaf objects. Images of plants, however, usually include more than one leaf, stems, branches, flowers, and other non-leaf objects. For such images each individual leaf needs to be extracted into a unique sub-image, and these sub-images must be cleaned to remove all non-leaf objects. A target leaf could then be selected from the group of sub-images to be provided as the input to the plant species classification program. As a part of the research on this thesis, an algorithm was developed to automate the tasks of detecting and extracting leaf sub-images from plant images and to clean the leaf sub-images by removing all non-leaf objects. To implement the algorithm, software was developed in Java. The proposed algorithm produced at least one perfect leaf result in 18 of the 21 (86%) plant images used in this research, while the remaining three (14%) plant images produced acceptable leaves.
Prevalence of hypothyroidism in women with recurrent pregnancy loss in the first trimester in the Indian rural population

Aim: To determine the frequency of hypothyroidism in women with recurrent pregnancy loss in first trimester in the Indian rural population. Study Design: The study included 50 women with one successful pregnancy and no history of miscarriages were selected as a control and total of 50 similar age group of pregnant women with recurrent pregnancy loss in gestational age up to 12 weeks verified by pregnancy test or ultrasonography. Method: Levels of thyroid hormones T3, T4 and TSH were estimated in pregnant and non pregnant women with recurrent pregnancy loss and controls. Result: The hypothroidism was found to be more significant cause of recurrent pregnancy loss in women as comparative to the euthyroid women. Conclusions: The study demonstrates that hypothyroidism has a statistically significant relationship with recurrent pregnancy loss in the first trimester and suggests that diagnosis of hypothyroidism could help couples with recurrent pregnancy loss to have a successful outcome in subsequent pregnancies.
SEASONAL INCIDENCE OF POD BUGS AND THEIR NATURAL ENEMIES IN VEGETABLE COWPEA ECOSYSTEMS OF KERALA

Studies were undertaken at the College of Agriculture, Vellayani,Thiruvananthapuram, S. India during 2005-2006 to assess the seasonal incidence of pod sucking bugs infesting vegetable cowpea and their natural enemies. The nymphal and adult population of the pentatomid stink bug, Nezara viridula (L.) attained peak values during May 2006 and the first fortnight of April 2006, respectively. The nymphal population of the alydid pod bugs, Riptortus pedestris F. and Riptortus ? linearis (F.) was significantly higher during the first fortnight of May 2006 and the succeeding three fortnights. Adult population of R. pedestris and R? linearis peaked significantly during the first and second fortnights of June 2006 respectively, when compared to most other periods of the year. Minumum temperature was positively correlated with the population of nymphs of Riptortus spp. , adult R. pedestris and adult N. viridula. Preying mantids and spiders were also documented in the cowpea ecosystem.
The Effects of R&D and High Technology Exports on Economic Growth: A Comparative Cointegration Analysis for Turkey and South Korea

The importance of technology and research and development (R&D) on economic development through international trade has been discussed in many studies. However, the empirical studies focusing on the role of high technology exports has been limited. The study aims at filling this gap by evaluating the relationship between high technology exports and GDP per capita levels with structural unit root tests and cointegration methodologies for Turkey and South Korea for the 1989-2014 period. The following hypothesis is evaluated: by increasing high technology manufactured goods’ exports, countries could increase their GDP per capita which also requires increased R&D that translates itself as high technology manufactured exports. The empirical methodology is as follows: both GDP per capita and high-tech exports variables are tested with traditional ADF, PP unit root and KPSS stationarity tests. The series are further evaluated with Zivot-Andrews single break and Lee-Strazicich two break unit root tests. The structural break tests are necessary; it is well-known that structural breaks lead to biased results in the traditional unit root and additionally in the cointegration tests. Lastly, both variables are tested for cointegration with Engle-Granger and Johansen tests by incorporating the break dates as exogenous dummy variables. The estimated models are further checked for parameter instability with CUSUM type tests. The results obtained for Turkey and South Korea are slightly different: i. both variables are cointegrated for both countries; ii. For South Korea, the positive impact of high-tech exports on GDP cannot be rejected in the long and short run; ii. This conclusion cannot be obtained for Turkey, iii. the parameter estimates for Turkey hint a limited positive effect of high tech exports in the short-run only. The results suggest that, in the future, Turkey should increase the investments in human capital and R&D directed to high tech exports to which could accelerate the economic growth.
A mathematic model for relating the drug sensitivity of tumors to their spontaneous mutation rate.

Abstract A mathematic model has been developed relating the drug sensitivity of a tumor to its own spontaneous mutation rate towards phenotypic drug resistance. The proportion as well as the absolute numbers of resistant cells will increase with time and the fraction of resistant cells within tumor colonies of the same size with vary depending on whether mutation occurs as an early or late event. Analysis of the model indicates that the probability of the appearance of a resistant phenotype increases with the mutation rate. Furthermore, for any population of tumors with a non-zero mutation rate the likelihood of there being at least one resistant cell will go from a condition of low to high probability over a very short interval in the tumor's biologic history.
Utilisation d'une approche de chimie biologie intégrative dans la recherche de nouvelles molécules actives sur la prolifération et la différenciation des cellules souches cancéreuses

Depuis l’emergence du concept de cellules souches cancereuses (CSC), de telles cellules ont ete isolees a partir de diverses tumeurs solides, dont les glioblastomes. Les CSC et les proprietes qui les caracterisent permettent de mieux comprendre l’heterogeneite tumorale, ainsi que l’agressivite de certaines tumeurs et les recidives apres traitement. Avec la mise en evidence des CSC, un nouveau paradigme est apparu dans le domaine de la therapie anticancereuse visant a cibler non seulement les cellules de la masse tumorale, mais egalement les CSC, plus resistantes aux chimio- et radiotherapies, mais aussi capables d’entrer en quiescence et de reformer la tumeur d’origine. L’isolement de CSC a partir des tumeurs, leur physiopathologie et la recherche de molecules capables de les detruire ou de les differencier afin de les rendre plus sensibles aux traitements mobilisent un nombre croissant d’equipes de recherche et certaines industries pharmaceutiques. Cette these presente un travail sur des CSC isolees de glioblastomes humains et s’inscrit dans la demarche enoncee ci-dessus.
Quantitative analysis of metabolic pathways in Catharanthus roseus hairy roots metabolically engineered for terpenoid indole alkaloid overproduction

The important anticancer pharmaceuticals, vinblastine and vincristine, are produc ed by Catharanthus roseus. Given their cytotoxicity, these valuable alkaloids are produced in very small quantities within the aerial parts of the plant. The high cost of isola ting the drugs has led to research efforts to increase the alkaloid content of C. r seus cell cultures, tissue cultures, and seedlings. The metabolic engineering of C. roseus strives to overcome the strict regulation of the biosynthetic pathways. Seedlings of C. roseus were elicited with methyl jasmonate (MeJA) to induce expression of octadecanoid-responsive Catharanthus AP2-domain 3 (ORCA3), a transcription regulator of several biosynthetic genes. ORCA3 exhibited increases up to 25fold observed 0.5 h after MeJA treatment with the transcript levels of biosyntheti c genes following with variable timing. The amounts of certain terpenoid indole alkaloid (TI A) metabolites, including the important vinblastine precursors, catharanthine and vindo line, were increased significantly. Three hairy root cultures of C. roseus were investigated. The ASAB-1 line expressing a feedback-resistant anthranilate synthase (AS) α subunit from Arabidopsis under the control of a glucocorticoid-inducible promoter and an AS β subunit from Arabidopsis under the control of the constitutive CaMV 35S promoter, the EHIDXS-4-1 line express ing 1-deoxy-D-xylulose 5-phosphate synthase (DXS) under the control of a glucocor ti idinducible promoter, and the EHIT16H-34-1 line tabersonine 16-hydroxylase (T16H) under the control of a glucocorticoid-inducible promoter. These lines were used to investi gat the regulatory nature of the biosynthetic network by quantifying the effect of l ight-adaptation, biosynthetic enzyme overexpression, and the combination of these two factors on the
Methodological aspects of determining nitrogen fixation of different forage legumes.

Knowledge about the amount of fixed nitrogen of different legume crops is very important for calculation of farm N balances. According to literature the choice of determination method may have an impact on the estimated amount of N fixed by a legume sward. The aim of the study was to compare the three most important field methods for determination of nitrogen fixation under different sward management systems. In the present study the natural 15N abundance method gave lower fixation rates than the two alternative methods (total-N-difference method and 15N enrichment technique). The determination of N fixation based only on N in harvestable plant material underestimated the amount of fixed N on average by 70 kg ha-1 compared to techniques including also the amount of N in non harvestable plant parts
Brain Succinic Semialdehyde Dehydrogenase; Reaction of Arginine Residues Connected with Catalytic Activities

The succinic semialdehyde dehydrogenase from bovine brain was inactivated by treatment with phenylglyoxal, a reagent that specifically modifies arginine residues. The inhibition at various phenylglyoxal concentrations shows pseudo-first-order kinetics with an apparent secondorder rate constant of 30 for inactivation. Partial protection against inactivation was provided by the coenzyme , but not by the substrate succinic semialdehyde. Spectrophotometric studies indicated that complete inactivation of the enzyme resulted from the binding of 2 mol phenylglyoxal per mol of enzyme. These results suggest that essential arginine residues, located at or near the coenzyme-binding site, are connected with the catalytic activity of brain succinic semialdehyde dehydrogenase.
Models for Tumour Cell Adhesion and Invasion

The prevention of death in most cancer patients is dependenton understanding the mechanisms of cancer cell spread fromthe primary tumour to distant organ sites. Although thepathogenesis of metastasis is the subject of numerous studiesin basic and clinical research, the complex mechanisms thatmake a tumour cell metastatic are not well understood. Thedevelopment of metastases is a non-random process, wherethe implantation, invasion, survival, and growth of a singlecell or small numbers of cells can lead to morbidity anddeath.The sequential model for the development of metastasesinvolves tumour growth, neovascularization, and invasionat the primary sites, followed by penetration into lym-phatic and blood vessels or into body cavities. Malig-nant cells that loose cellular contacts with surroundingcells or extracellular matrix (ECM) can undergo pheno-typic change to greater motility. Subsequently, malignantcells can be released from the primary tumour and be dis-tributed throughout the body via the blood or lymphaticcirculation. To survive, the circulating tumour cells usu-ally have to adhere to the vessel walls of distant hostorgans, and eventually penetrate the wall to avoid bloodshear forces. Finally, the metastasizing cells have to survivethe host defence mechanisms and grow (Nicolson, 1988a,b)(see
Targeting the Reactive Stroma Niche in Prostate Cancer

Abstract : Rate of prostate cancer progression is affected by the reactive stroma microenvironment. Our previous studies have shown that reactive stroma is recruited to the cancer foci and functions to promote angiogenesis and tumorigenesis via TGF-Beta regulated pathways. The objectives of the proposed research is to assess the origin / ontogeny of reactive stroma in cancer and the fundamental mechanisms of recruitment / activation in prostate cancer. To date, we have addressed studies proposed for Tasks 1 and 2. We have developed an in vivo matrix trapping approach to isolate, characterize and culture reactive stromal cells recruited to Matrigel plugs. We have also developed a three dimensional co-culture model that permits co-culture of prostate carcinoma cell spheroids with prostate stromal progenitor cells. We have evaluated reactive stroma recruitment in mice that receive xenograft implants of prostate cancer cells. These studies will allow us to dissect key mechanisms that mediate recruitment of reactive stroma to the tumor microenvironment and to target these mechanisms in order to inhibit tumorigenesis.
The function of exonuclease I in meiotic recombination : a genetic and physical analysis

Exo1 is a member of the Rad2 protein family and possesses both 5! -3! exonuclease and 5! flap endonuclease activities. In addition to performing a variety of functions during mitotic growth, Exo1 is also important for the production of crossovers during meiosis. However, its precise molecular role has remained ambiguous and several models have been proposed to account for the crossover deficit observed in its absence. Here, physical evidence that the nuclease activity of Exo1 is essential for normal 5! -3! resection at the Spo11-dependent HIS4 hotspot in otherwise wild-type cells is presented. This same activity was also required for normal levels of gene conversion at the locus. Nevertheless, gene conversions were frequently observed at a distance beyond that at which resection was readily detectable arguing that it is not the extent of the initial DNA end resection that limits heteroduplex formation. In addition to these nuclease-dependent functions, nuclease-deficient exo1 mutants were found to be capable of maintaining crossing-over at wild-type levels in a number of genetic intervals, suggesting that Exo1 also plays a nuclease-independent role in crossover promotion. Furthermore, the results of both physical and genetic analyses imply that Sgs1 does not contribute significantly to resection during meiosis in exo1! cells, indicating that the mitotic and meiotic resection machinery differs. In light of these new insights, a model describing the formation of heteroduplex DNA and crossovers during meiosis is proposed.
A survey of farmer practices and attitudes to nitrogen management in the northern New South Wales grains belt

Summary. The use of nitrogen fertilisers to arrest the decline in soil nitrogen fertility in the northern grains belt of New South Wales has been the subject of many years of research, however, little is known about how farmers make decisions about nitrogen fertiliser. A survey of 400 wheat farmers in northern New South Wales in April 1997 revealed that many have recently changed their fertiliser practices. Although most respondents had been growing wheat since the 1960s, regular applications of nitrogen only commenced in the mid 1980s. Initially only low rates of nitrogen were applied, but in the last 2–5 years, the nitrogen rates have substantially increased. These changes are notable because until this decade, most were content to rely mainly on mineralisation of soil organic nitrogen, whereas, now, half the respondents in the survey plan to add as much nitrogen in fertiliser in 1 year as was removed in the previous year’s wheat crop. Farmers were asked to rate the importance of a number of factors that have been promoted as means of tactically adjusting fertiliser rates. This study found a disparity between the level of measurement and precision suggested by the majority of research, development and extension programs compared with the methods used by farmers. In general, the respondents to the survey have rejected, or are yet to adopt, regular soil testing, the use of climate forecasts and decision support programs. Rather, they rely on simple rules of thumb based on readily accessible data such as past grain protein content and cropping history.
A Nicotinic Cholinergic Agonist (GTS - 21) andEyeblink Classical Conditioning: Acquisition, Retention, and Relearning in Older Rabbits

Previously we demonstrated that GTS-21, a nicotinic cholinergic agonist, ameliorated eyeblink classical conditioning deficits in older rabbits. The present experiment was undertaken to replicate and extend these results by examining the effects of GTS-21 on retention and relearning. Retired breeder rabbits received 15 daily injections of 0.5 mg/kg GTS 21 (n = 8) or sterile saline vehicle (n = 8) during acquisition training, and no further injections occurred. Acquisition of conditioned responses (CRs) was significantly better in GTS-21-treated rabbits. During the first tone-alone retention session in week 6 of the experiment, rabbits initially treated with GTS-21 produced significantly more CRs than vehicle-treated rabbits. There were no group differences in retention at the 13-week retest. Differences in relearning were in the predicted direction but did not attain statistical significance. Results indicate that treatment with GTS-21 ameliorates learning beyond the period when the drug is actually administered.
Efficiency assessment of public higher education with the application of data envelopment analysis: The evidence from Poland

Higher education is a form of a merit good. This is why governments usually support the delivery of this good. However, one could doubt the efficiency of such solution. How well do public higher education institutions (HEIs) do their job? How to measure their performance? This paper discusses these issues. First, we discuss the problem of defining and measuring efficiency in the case of publicly held HEIs with particular emphasis put on the Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) method. Secondly, we present the results of our empirical investigation of efficiency assessed using the DEA method conducted on the sample of 33 Poland faculties specialized in social sciences . We use Charnes-Cooper-Rhodes (CCR) output oriented model with two inputs and three outputs. Next, we present some important differences in efficiency of those faculties. We also define benchmarks for inefficient HEIs and quantify the gaps to be fulfilled by them in order to become efficient. Finally, we pinpoint the directions of further research.
Molecular Karyotyping by Array CGH. Linking gene dosage alterations to disease phenotypes.

Chromosomal rearrangements can lead to various serious clinical manifestations, including mental retardation and congenital malformation syndromes. Chromosomal rearrangements larger than 5-10 Mb in size can be detected by conventional karyotyping. A considerable number of clinical disorders, however, is caused by submicroscopic chromosomal rearrangements smaller than 5-10 Mb in size. To routinely detect these rearrangements, an efficient and robust genome-wide technology is needed. One such technology is array-based comparative genomic hybridization (array CGH), an approach which is also referred to as molecular karyotyping. In analogy to the application of array CGH in cancer research, we reasoned that this technology might also be suited for the detection of submicroscopic chromosomal rearrangements in patients with unexplained mental retardation and/or congenital malformation syndromes. The specific aim of this thesis was to explore the feasibility of the array CGH technology for the delineation of DNA copy number alterations for applied clinical genetic and basic genome research purposes. During the course of the project, the concept of molecular karyotyping rapidly changed the field of clinical genetics and genome research and, without any doubt, will continue to do so in the years to come. In case of clinical genetics, we conclude that molecular karyotyping has led to a significant increase in the diagnostic yield in patients with unexplained mental retardation and/or malformation syndromes; the identification of a gene underlying CHARGE syndrome, and the identification of a novel microdeletion syndrome involving chromosome 17q21.31. In case of genome research, we conclude that molecular karyotyping has led to novel insight into the occurrence of copy number variation within the human genome, and into the recombination mechanisms and genomic architectural features underlying the occurrence of copy number variation. Based on the above, we conclude that molecular karyotyping serves as a powerful tool for linking gene dosage alterations to (disease) phenotypes
CHALLENGES IN THE CONTROL OF NEMATODIASIS IN SMALL RUMINANTS : A REVIEW

Out of various diseases affecting sheep, parasitic gastroenteritis caused by gastro-intestinal nematodes, mainly Haemonchus contortus, is very important for the sheep in India and is responsible for high mortality and morbidity (Yadav, 1997). The gastrointestinal nematodes of sheep include H. contortus, Telodorsagia circumcinta, Trichostrongylus axei, Nematodirus spp. and Cooperia spp. The proportions of each of these nematodes in sheep populations vary according to geographic location. H. contortus and T. circumcincta represent most of the parasite burdens seen in sheep, with H. contortus being present in highest numbers. Anthelmintic resistance is present in all of these parasites, but the prevalence is highest for H. contortus, making it the most economically important gastrointestinal nematodes of sheep (Fleming et al., 2006).
IN VITRO ANTIPROLIFERATIVE EFFECT OF AJOENE ON Microsporum canis

Objectif Cette etude a pour but d'evaluer l'effet antiproliferatif de l'ajoene sur trois isolats cliniques de Microsporum canis. Materiels et methodes. Trois isolats de M. canis, provenant de patients atteints de tinea corporis, tinera capitis et tinea pedis ont ete utilisees. Les courbes de croissance des cultures ont ete realisees en milieu de Sabouraud liquide par mesure du poids sec afin de determiner le temps de generation (GT). L'effet de l'ajoene (aux concentrations de 0,1 a 50 μM) a ete etudie par mesure turbidimetrique de la croissance en fonction du temps, en presence et en l'absence de la drogue. Les graphiques (DO vs concentration d'ajoene) et DO vs log ont permis de calculer la concentration minimale inhibitrice (CMI) et la concentration inhibitrice 50 % (IC 50 ). L'effet inhibiteur de l'ajoene a ete compare a celui de la griseofulvine et du ketoconazole (1 μM). Resultats et conclusions. Des courbes de croissance typiques ont ete obtenues avec les trois isolats etudies. La phase exponentielle a dure 48 heures et la phase stationnaire a ete atteinte au 8 e jour pour les isolats I et II, et au 12 e jour pour l'isolat III. Le temps de generation a ete de 10, 11 et 24 heures respectivement pour les isolats I, II et III. La CMI a ete de 7, 8 et 3 μM, et l'IC50 de 0,47, 0,56 et 0,36 μM. , respectivement pour les trois isolats. Les antifongiques commerciaux ont cause 90-99 % d'inhibition de croissance a 1 μM, tandis qu'un effet similaire a ete obtenu pour 3 a 10 μM d'ajoene. Cette etude, de maniere similaire a d'autres, confirme l'interet de l'ajoene comme antifongique non toxique et peu onereux.