Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Investigation the effect of propranolol, metoprolol and carvedilol on spermatogenesis in rat testis

Background: Coronary arterial diseases are one of the increasing disease around the worldwide. Because of common using of the beta blockers, we aimed to investigate the effect of different beta-adrenergic receptor blockers on spermatogenesis in male rats. Methods: Adult male Sprague Dawley rats were obtained. Totally 32 rats homogenized according to their weight and divided into four groups that each one includes eight rats. Three of groups were determined as drug groups and remained groups were determined as a control group. Propranolol 40mg/kg, Metoprolol succinate 60mg/kg, Carvedilol 30mg/kg dosage was given by oral gavage within the saline solution, and the only saline solution was given to control group for 21 days, respectively. After 21 days rats were sacrificed, and testis were extracted. Then, histopathologic evaluation was performed. Results: There was statistical significance both right and left testis volume of experimental between control and carvedilol groups (p<0.05). There was statistical histopathological significance between control and carvedilol (p<0.05), control and propranolol (p<0.05), metoprolol succinate and propranolol (p<0.05), metoprolol succinate and carvedilol groups (p<0.05), respectively. Conclusions: Beta-adrenergic receptor blockers have adverse effects on spermatogenesis. Especially propranolol and carvedilol that were non-selective, effects spermatogenesis worse than selective beta blockers such as metoprolol succinate. Extensive use of these drugs may affect spermatogenesis in male, so male patients who have a complaint of infertility should be questioned regarding the use of beta blockers.
Genome-wide association study and genomic predictions for resistance against Piscirickettsia salmonis in coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) using ddRAD sequencing

Piscirickettsia salmonis is one of the main infectious diseases affecting coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) farming. Current treatments have been ineffective for the control of the disease. Genetic improvement for P. salmonis resistance has been proposed as a feasible alternative for the control of this infectious disease in farmed fish. Genotyping by sequencing (GBS) strategies allow genotyping hundreds of individuals with thousands of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), which can be used to perform genome wide association studies (GWAS) and predict genetic values using genome-wide information. We used double-digest restriction-site associated DNA (ddRAD) sequencing to dissect the genetic architecture of resistance against P. salmonis in a farmed coho salmon population and identify molecular markers associated with the trait. We also evaluated genomic selection (GS) models in order to determine the potential to accelerate the genetic improvement of this trait by means of using genome-wide molecular information. 764 individuals from 33 full-sib families (17 highly resistant and 16 highly susceptible) which were experimentally challenged against P. salmonis were sequenced using ddRAD sequencing. A total of 4,174 SNP markers were identified in the population. These markers were used to perform a GWAS and testing genomic selection models. One SNP related with iron availability was genome-wide significantly associated with resistance to P. salmonis defined as day of death. Genomic selection models showed similar accuracies and predictive abilities than traditional pedigree-based best linear unbiased prediction (PBLUP) method.
The Effect of Board Multiple Directorships and Ceo Characteristics on Firm Performance: Evidence from Palestine

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to empirically examine the effect of board multiple directorships and chief executive officer (CEO) characteristics on firm performance among nonfinancial firms listed on the Palestine Security Exchange (PSE) during the period from 2009 to 2016.Design/methodology/approachBased on 200 observations, this study utilizes panel data to examine the effect of the predictors on firm performance measured by return on assets. The analysis is repeated using the return on equity and two regression methods to evaluate the robustness of the main analysis (pooled regression, and backward stepwise regression analysis). FindingsThe results show that the “busyness” of a CEO reduces their effectiveness and is associated with losses in the companies where they are in charge. On the other hand, the results show that CEO tenure, CEO experience and CEO political connections have a positive effect on corporate performance.Originality/valueThis study is timely given that the practice of multiple directorships is widely common among firms in developing countries. Prior research in Palestine has not investigated the role of multiple directorships and the CEO characteristics on corporate outcomes. This study provides a picture of the potential benefits to firms, policymakers and professional bodies from considering CEO variables. The findings of such an examination can help them to set up suitable policies and enhance the role and the quality of the CEO in firms.
Viscous and electro-osmotic effects upon motion of an oil droplet through a capillary

Abstract In the context of waterflooding in oil recovery, the motion of an oil droplet through a capillary pore initially filled with aqueous liquid is considered. The droplet is affected by capillary and viscous forces, with a thin aqueous film being formed between the droplet and capillary wall. Moreover, the droplet surface and capillary wall surface have opposite and equal electrical charge. Attractive electro-osmotic interactions then tend to thin the film. A case is considered in which electro-osmotic interactions are strong and capillary forces are inherently weak, leading, in the first instance, to a viscous, electro-osmotic balance. Solutions are obtained for the droplet shape close to its front end. Whilst visco-electro-osmotic dominated solutions can indeed be found, additional solution classes are identified for which the film thickness oscillates with longitudinal position, and capillary forces regain importance. A parametric study is presented indicating that oscillation length scales along the film can be selected such that capillary effects never become negligible. Moreover gradients of electro-osmotic conjoining pressures are small in thinner parts of the film, even though electro-osmotic conjoining pressures themselves are not. Thus, rather than a visco-electro-osmotic balance being the norm, a capillary, viscous balance results in thinner parts of the film, giving way to a capillary, electro-osmotic balance in thicker parts. However, solutions are non-unique, and a given system can admit multiple solutions with films of various different thicknesses. Some of these solutions have films that increase monotonically in thickness with position, while others fall into the oscillatory class.
EFEKTIVITAS EKSTRAK DAUN Macaranga tanarius DALAM MENGINAKTIFASI VIRAL NERVOUS NECROSIS IKAN KERAPU TIKUS

ABSTRAK Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengekstraksi senyawa kimia yang terkandung dalam daun Macaranga tanarius dan menguji efektivitasnya dalam menghambat virus Viral Nervous Necrosis (VNN) pada ikan kerapu tikus ( Cromileptes altivelis ) secara invivo melalui parameter hematologi yang meliputi jumlah leukosit, eritrosit, dan trombosit. Proses ekstraksi dilakukan menggunakan pelarut etanol dengan perendaman selama 72 jam. Berdasarkan hasil uji yang dilakukan melalui pemberian pakan pada ikan kerapu tikus dengan variasi berat ekstrak daun Macaranga tanarius yang berbeda diketahui bahwa ekstrak daun Macaranga tanarius efektif menaikkan jumlah eritrosit dan menurunkan jumlah leukosit serta memberikan perbedaan yang signifikan dengan kelompok kontrol. Jumlah eritrosit tertinggi diperoleh pada perlakuan ke-4 (3,73 x 10 6 sel/ml), sedangkan jumlah leukosit terendah pada perlakuan ke-4 (7,8 x 10 5 sel/ml). Kata Kunci : Macaranga tanarius, Ikan kerapu tikus, VNN, Ekstrak etanol, Parameter hematologi ABSTRACT This study aims to extract of the chemical compounds contained in the leaves of Macaranga tanarius and test their effectiveness in impede of Viral Nervous Necrosis (VNN) virus in humpback grouper ( Cromileptes altivelis ) by invivo through hematologic parameters including leukocyte count, erythrocytes and platelets. The extraction process was carried out using ethanol solvent with immersion for 72 hours. Based on the results of the tests conducted through feeding on humpback grouper with weight variations different of macaranga tanarius leaf extract, it is known that m acaranga tanarius leaf extract effectively increase the amount of erythrocytes and decrease the leukocyte count and give significant difference with the control group. The highest amount of erythrocytes was obtained at the 4 th treatment (3.73 x 10 6 cells/mL), while the lowest leukocyte count was in the 4 th treatment (7.8 x 10 5 cells /mL). Keywords: Macaranga tanarius , humpback grouper, VNN, extract of ethanol, hematological parameters
Social Media Account as an Object of Virtual Property

This article analyzes the concept of virtual property as well as the legal nature of social media accounts to explore whether these can be considered objects of property, in particular, of virtual property rights. It examines the essence of virtual property and reveals the specifics of owner’s powers regarding to digital assets. It also specifies what kind of objects should be treated as digital assets. The technical and legal nature of a social media account are analyzed to reveal whether the latter can be considered as “possession” in terms of Protocol No. 1 to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms. Some legal issues regarding to the use of a social media account including the division of rights to business accounts and inheritance of social media accounts are investigated. The approaches in various countries to the problem of determination of the post-mortem fate of digital assets are analyzed, and a unified tendency to consider social media accounts as part of the estate transferred to the heir is revealed. The conclusion is drawn that the extension of the property regime to social media accounts could ensure an appropriate legal protection of users’ rights.
Habitat selection, diet and food availability of European Golden Plover Pluvialis apricaria chicks in Swedish Lapland

Fennoscandian alpine tundra habitats support large numbers of breeding waders, but relatively little is known about their breeding ecology despite the fact that this habitat is threatened by climate change. We studied habitat selection, diet and prey availability of European (Eurasian) Golden Plover Pluvialis apricaria chicks at the Vindelfj€allen Nature Reserve, Ammarn€as, Sweden. Information from 22 chicks tracked using radio-transmitters was analysed. By analysing 149 faecal samples, four main prey taxa were identified, Coleoptera (40%), Bibionidae (31%), Hymenoptera (13%) and Tipulidae (10%). We found that chicks switched from feeding on Tipulidae to feeding on Bibionidae as they grew, and that this switch coincided with a shift from the use of the habitat where Tipulidae were abundant (alpine meadow/heathland) to the use of the habitat were Bibionidae were abundant (Willow shrub). Although chicks track food availability to some extent, the link between prey availability and habitat use was not perfect, indicating that additional factors other than food abundance, such as shelter from predators, determine habitat selection. Bibionidae are an important prey for Golden Plover chicks as it is the only prey group that has a late summer flush in abundance, in contrast to the general decline of total arthropod biomass during the chick-rearing period. However, Bibionidae imagoes only occurred in 2011 and were virtually absent in 2013, which relates to the species’ ecology with 2- to 5-year cycles in mass occurrence. Extreme annual variation in an essential food source such as Bibionidae imagoes might have an important effect on the condition and survival of Golden Plover chicks, an important subject for future studies. The foraging conditions for Golden Plover chicks in Fennoscandia appear to be different to those in the UK, where the chicks rely mainly on a Tipulidae flush only.
Faunal input at host plants: Can camel thorn trees use nutrients imported by resident sociable weavers?

Abstract “Islands of fertility” result from the focussing of water and nutrients around many shrub or tree species due to plants foraging for resources. Plant–animal feedbacks may amplify the development of such islands through environmental modification due to, for example, faunal deposition of nutrients and seeds. Fauna residing within vegetation clumps are likely to exert stronger feedbacks on their hosts than itinerant species. We studied the interaction between camel thorn trees (Vachellia erioloba) and the colonial nests of sociable weavers (Philetairus socius) in the Kalahari. We hypothesized that the accumulation of biological material below the nests will alter the nutrient status of the soil beneath the nest trees, in relation to unoccupied trees and the surrounding grassland. We also suggested that this association will have both positive and negative effects on the camel thorn trees. We found that soil concentrations of N, P, and K were, respectively, 4, 4.6, and 1.2 times higher below trees with nests compared to control trees, indicating faunal concentration of nutrients. Soil δ15N values were higher below trees with nests than below control trees without nests. Foliar δ15N values were also higher in nest trees than in control trees, showing the trees accessed faunally derived N. Furthermore, foliar biomass per diameter of terminal branches was 27% higher in nest trees, suggesting that trees respond to nutrient input from the weavers with increased growth. Large barren areas in the subcanopy vegetation directly beneath the colonies were attributed to decreased water infiltration rates, as a result of accumulation of organic matter due to continuous deposition of feces, possibly limiting competitive species from establishing in the subcanopy. On the other hand, canopy volume was reduced in trees with nests due to nests occupying large volumes within the canopy, and nests frequently causing branch fall, indicating costs associated with hosting weaver colonies. Synthesis: We found nutritional benefits to camel thorn trees when hosting sociable weaver colonies. These benefits can potentially overcome important environmental constraints, but these are partially offset by the resulting costs to the host trees.
Transcranial magnetic stimulation devices for biphasic and polyphasic ultra-high frequency protocols

Objective: This paper describes the development of ultra-high frequency transcranial magnetic stimulators for biphasic and polyphasic quadripulse stimulation (QPS) of the human cortex in order to investigate neural plasticity. QPS originally describes a set of four monophasic stimuli with an inter-stimulus-interval (ISI) in the range of 1.5 to 100 ms, typically repeated every five seconds. Besides QPS, the described devices are able to set a quadripulse at much higher repetition rates (IBIs down to 200 ms) enabling quadri-Theta-Burst-Stimulation (qTBS). Methods: Insulated gate bipolar transistors (IGBT) were used as high voltage/high speed switch to control the current flowing through the stimulation coil. Biphasic and the polyphasic stimuli were applied over the human primary motor cortex (M1-HAND) to elicit motor evoked potentials (MEP). Technically parameters of the devices were determined and applicability for qTBS proto-cols is derived. Results: We built two devices, which allow the application of quadripulses with biphasic and polyphasic pulse currents, respectively. ISI as short as 1.0 ms with a IBI down to 200 ms is possible. In addition the devices allow to apply user defined protocols enabling individualized treatment. Conclusion: The biphasic as well as the polyphasic qTBS device is able to clearly elicit MEPs and is strong enough to apply qTBS protocols to subjects. Significance: This paper describes a novel topology of a stimulation device, which enables QPS and qTBS with biphasic or polyphasic pulse shapes at ultra-high frequencies. This enables research on protocols that can modulate cortico-spinal excitability within short stimulation times.
A review of explored uses and study of nutritional potential of tamarind (Tamarindus indica L.) in Northern Ghana

Tamarind (Tamarindus indica) is increasingly becoming a commercially important underutilized tree crop worldwide. Due to its multi-purpose use and market demand the tree and its processed products are been traded in many towns and villages. Despite its potential, major setbacks are the lack of knowledge on its uses and nutritional potential within the Ghanaian context. This study reviews and exposes the beneficial potential of tamarind whiles studying with empirical data its nutritional composition for proximate analysis. Indigenous to tropical Africa and naturalized to many regions of the world, the tree is seen in over 50 countries. Within Ghana and other parts of the world, tamarind is distinctively called by different vernacular names either referring to the tree or its product. Almost every part of the tree is used in one way or the other from food including beverage drinks, jams, and curries, to pharmaceutical, textile, timber, fodder, and as a fuel source. It is rich in vitamins, minerals and other proximate elements. Proximate composition of locally sourced fruit pulp showed high levels of fats and oils 51.39% and fibre 15.10% while other parameters like protein, ash, vitamin C and moisture were similar to test results from other countries. The tamarind plant has undoubtedly great potential based on its benefits, and uses. Key words: Tamarind, Tamarindus indica, Ghana, multipurpose, benefits, nutritional potential, medicinal, proximate composition.
Re-politicizing financial regulation: a sociological analysis of the debate on loan-to-value regulation in Norway

Abstract While financial regulation became highly contested in the aftermath of the financial crisis, the specifics of such regulation is usually debated among professionals, in specialized fora. This article analyses an exception to this; the debate on the loan-to-value ratio regulation introduced in Norway in 2010. Newspaper articles are analysed, using Boltanski & Thevenot’s pragmatic perspective on how actors legitimize their arguments and critique. Unlike other critical approaches (i.e., critical discourse analysis) this perspective focuses on actors own critical capacity and it is argued that the approach is useful in analyzing re-politicizing efforts of social actors. The main finding is that most arguments opposing the regulation are based in the civic “regime of justification”, while arguments supporting the regulation are based in the industrial regime of justification. Few arguments enact the market regime as justification. The article discusses reasons why the regulation has not been repelled, despite the widespread criticism.
Optimal weighted hybrid pattern for content based medical image retrieval using modified spider monkey optimization

The current approaches for image retrieval are more concentrating on numerous image features. Texture, shape, spatial information, and color are the fundamental features to deal with flexible image datasets. This paper aims to develop new Content‐Based Image Retrieval System based on Optimal Weighted Hybrid Pattern. Two relevant patters like Local Vector Pattern and Local Derivative Pattern are intended to develop a novel Content‐Based Image Retrieval system. The optimal weighted hybrid pattern is implemented to derive a new feature vector, so that the weight is optimized by a modified optimization algorithm called Improved Local Leader‐based Spider Monkey Optimization to maximize the precision and recall of the retrieved images. The retrieval of the image is done by measuring the similarity based on Mean Square Distance between the features of query image as well as training image. Finally, the performance comparison of the proposed and the traditional patterns shows its reliable performance.
Badger social networks and their implications for disease transmission

1. Diseases that infect wildlife populations pose a significant threat to public health, agriculture, and conservation efforts. The spread of these diseases can be influenced by the social structure of the population, and, therefore, often need to be accounted for in disease models. 2. In this thesis I use high-resolution contact data to explore the social structure of a high-density population of European badgers (Meles meles). I explore how this structure might influence the spread of bovine tuberculosis (bTB), a debilitating disease of cattle for which badgers are a wildlife reservoir. Denning and home range data collected using radio tracking is also used to determine how this social structure is related to badger space use. 3. I use social network analysis to identify the community structure of the badger population, revealing that badgers interact in fewer, more distinct groups than previously assumed. This is likely to inhibit the spread of disease through the population, given that the probability of infection entering a new social group will be reduced. However, among-group contact is still found to occur even between the most isolated groups. 4. I show that this among-group contact is more likely to occur between less related individuals, possibly suggesting that breeding behaviour may drive among-group contact as a mechanism for inbreeding avoidance. 5. To gain additional insight into this among-group contact, I determine how badger spatial behaviours are related. I show that the use of dens (setts) away from the social group’s main sett (outlier setts) in the spring is associated with extra-territorial ranging. I also show that this extra-territorial ranging is associated with more central network positions. The seasonality of this behaviour further suggests that this may be related to breeding activity. 6. These findings suggest that behaviours associated with extra-group ranging may increase the risk of acquiring and transmitting infection. Therefore, use of outlier setts in the spring could act as a spatial proxy to identify high-risk individuals for disease spread, offering potential targets for disease control. 7. Finally, I discuss the implications of these findings in regard to what they reveal about badger behaviour, disease transmission, and the design of effective disease control strategies. The importance of understanding population social structure for the study of wildlife disease in general is also discussed.