Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Ascending projections of the lateral lemniscus in the cat and monkey

The ascending connections of the lateral lemniscus were studied in the cat and squirrel monkey (Saimiri sciureus). In both species, the central nucleus of the inferior colliculus receives a massive projection from the lateral lemniscus. Only a few lemniscal fibers were found to terminate in the external nucleus of the inferior colliculus. The commissure of the lateral lemniscus originates from the dorsal nucleus of the lateral lemniscus and projects to the contralateral dorsal nucleus and the contralateral central nucleus of the inferior colliculus. No lemniscal fibers were seen ascending in the inferior brachium or terminating in the principal division of the medial geniculate body. A bundle of fibers was observed, however, which passed medial to the inferior brachium and terminated in the magnocellular or internal division of the medial geniculate. The bundle degenerated after lesions confined to the lateral lemniscus and is probably identical with the central acoustic tract of earlier workers. Evidence is presented that the fibers of the bundle are of spinal origin. Since the lemniscal fibers which ascend to the thalamus appear to be non‐auditory, it is suggested that the inferior colliculus is an obligatory relay station in the classical auditory system and that the inferior brachium is the only ascending pathway of the system to project upon the thalamus.
Emerging Opportunities at the Interface of Photonics, Nanotechnology and Biotechnology

This paper presents some examples of emerging opportunities at the interface of photonics, nanotechnology and biotechnology. The examples provided here are in the areas of bioimaging for optical diagnostics and nanomedicine, and they are taken from the work conducted under a multidisciplinary program at our Institute for Lasers, Photonics and Biophotonics.
Relationships between foliar number and the cross-sectional areas of sapwood and annual rings in red oak (Quercusrubra) crowns

Correlations and functional relationships of sapwood and annual ring cross-sectional areas versus the number of leaves supported inside the live crowns of red oak (Quercusrubra L.) were found, based on analyses of six 20- to 25-year-old oaks from monocultures in southern Ontario. Differences in numbers of leaves supported across intervals inside the crowns were compared, using correlation analyses, with the corresponding differences in conductive sapwood (outer two annual rings) cross-sectional areas, and the current and previous year's annual ring's cross-sectional areas. These analyses showed that the current year's annual ring area had a lower correlation with number of current leaves supported (R = 0.918, P < 0.0001) than did the previous year's annual ring area (R = 0.953, P < 0.0001) or the conductive sapwood area (R = 0.939, P < 0.0001). Functional relationships between foliar numbers supported and sapwood and annual ring cross-sectional areas inside the live crowns were found with regression analy.
Antioxidant and antimicrobial activity of East Black Sea Region honeys)

Objective: Honey possesses antioxidant and antimicrobial activities. Many chronic diseases are associated with increased oxidative stress caused by an imbalance between free-radical production and the antioxidant level. For that purpose, the total phenolic contents, antioxidant potentials and antimicrobial activities of nine honey samples obtained from East Black Sea Region was investigated. Methods: The average phenolic contents for honey samples obtained from East Black Sea Region was determined according to Folin-Ciocalteu method. For evaluation of the antioxidant activity three different methods were used, the ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay, the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity assay and cupric reducing antioxidant capacity (CUPRAC) assay. The antimicrobial activity was studied by the disc diffusion method, using ten bacteria and three yeasts. Results: The average phenolic content for these samples was determined as 0.224 mg gallic acid equivalents per g honey. According to FRAP assay, antioxidative activity of honeys was between 0.973 and 9.053 μmol FeSO4.7H2O/g. But the average CUPRAC activity was found as 7.815 mol Trolox/g honey. IC50 values were found as between 29.388 and 458.450 mg/mL at the end of DPPH radical scavenging activity assay. The samples showed moderate antimicrobial activity against many microorganisms. Conclusion: All the analyzed East Black Sea Region honey samples demonstrated antioxidant and antimicrobial activity level can be considered effective.
Comparison of Lohmann white and Lohmann brown strains in embryo physiology

Chicken post-hatch performance is known to be related to embryonic developmental parameters. However, strain or genotype differences with regard to embryo physiological parameters have received little attention. A total of 1,200 hatching eggs produced by Lohmann Brown (LB) and Lohman White (LW) breeders of the same age were studied. Between 62 and 150 h of incubation, eggs Resonance Frequency (RF) was measured as indicator of early embryonic development. Also, albumen pH was measured between setting and d 8 of incubation. From d 10 to 18 of incubation, remaining albumen and embryos were weighed. During the last days of incubation, hatching occurrences were monitored after every four hours and hatched chicks were recorded. Results indicate that RF of LW eggs were lower than that of LB eggs (p<0.01) and starting time point of RF decrease occurred earlier in LB eggs than in LW eggs. Albumen pH of LB eggs was lower than that of LW eggs at day 8 of incubation. Remaining albumen weight at 14 and 16 d of incubation was lower in LB than in LW (p<0.05) while embryo weights increased more rapidly in LB strain than in LW strain. It is concluded that LB and LW embryos have different growth trajectories and should be incubated at different conditions.
Food-Borne Intestinal Bacterial Pathogens

The foods we eat are rarely sterile. They often provide an ideal environment for microbial survival and growth. Microorganisms present in food can originate from the natural microora of the raw material or can be introduced in the course of harvesting, slaughter, processing, storage and distribution. Microbial growth in foods involves changes including intrinsic or extrinsic factors interacting with the microbial community over time. Undesirable microorganisms in foods can manifest their presence in two different ways: they can cause spoilage of food and/or they can cause food borne illness. On the other hand, some microorganisms can transform food in a beneficial way; this is called food fermentation.
Warm microhabitats drive both increased respiration and growth rates of intertidal consumers

Rocky intertidal organisms are often exposed to broadly fluctuating temperatures as the tides rise and fall. Many mobile consumers living on the shore are immobile during low tide, and can be exposed to high temperatures on calm, warm days. Rising body temperatures can raise metabolic rates, induce stress responses, and potentially affect growth and survival, but the effects may differ among species with different microhabitat preferences. We measured aerial and aquatic respiration rates of 4 species of Lottia limpets from central California, and estimated criti- cal thermal maxima. In a variety of microhabitats in the field, we tracked body temperatures and measured limpet growth rates on experimental plates colonized by natural microalgae. Limpet species found higher on the shore had lower peak respiration rates during high temperature aerial exposure, and had higher critical thermal maxima. Using our long-term records of field body temperatures, we estimated cumulative respiration to be 5 to 14% higher in warm microhabitats. Growth rates in the field appear to be driven by an interaction between available microalgal food resources, low tide temperature, and limpet species identity, with limpets from warmer micro - habitats responding positively to higher food availability and higher low tide temperatures. Stressful conditions in warm microhabitats make up a small portion of the total lifetime of these limpets, but the greater proportion of time spent at non-stressful, but warm, body temperatures may result in enhanced growth compared to limpets living in cooler microhabitats.
Response of Some Oryza Glaberrima Genotypes to Submergence Tolerance in Kaduna State, Nigeria

We evaluated Oryza glaberrima genotypes tolerance to complete submergence, and the environmental effects of its surrounding conditions at seedling stage. Six candidate genotypes (TOG6790A, TOG9266, TOG933, TOG9281, TOG9047, TOG7428) with submergence tolerant (SWARNA SUB1) and susceptible (TOG7943) checks were subjected to submergence stress 21 days after seeding for two weeks. Submergence tolerant genotypes showed reduced plant growth, with greater reductions in all morphological growth parameters. This implies a reduction in energy utilization thus conserving energy by maintaining low growth rate. However, genotypes showing rapid shoot elongation and leaf width expansion competed for energy required for the maintenance processes for survival by increasing plant photosynthesizing ability. Thus, elongation ability negatively correlated with submergence tolerance and survival percentage after de-submergence. Shoot elongation positively correlated with leaf number (r= 0.51*) and leaf width (r= 0.74*) and negatively with submergence tolerance and survival percentage after de-submergence. Environmental characterization of water conditions during complete submergence did not confer toxicity to the genotypes. Submergence tolerant Oryza glaberrima genotypes could be useful for growing in flood prone areas and can be used in conferring submergence tolerance in breeding programmes for plant advancement.
Winter foraging strategy of white-tailed deer at the northern limit of its range

ABSTRACT In winter ungulates must compete for forage of low quality that may be energetically costly to obtain due to high locomotion costs associated with snow. We hypothesized that white-tailed deer would select plant species and plant parts to maximize their net energy budget based on snow conditions and forage availability. We predicted that as winter progress or under deep snow conditions, deer would 1) reduce selectivity, 2) enlarge bite size, and 3) increase cropping rate. For three winters, we studied white-tailed deer found in the Pohénégamook wintering area (southeastern Québec), at the northeastern periphery of the species range. Utilization rates of plant species varied in relation to fibre contents but were not related to protein, ash, or phenolic contents, suggesting that energy represented the key nutritive element during winter. Deer were less selective as winter progressed and snow depth increased. Deer consumed all available plant species, but their foraging strategy was centred around deciduous twigs; deer were reluctant to increase the amount of coniferous twigs in their diet. However, snow conditions affected diet composition. During a very mild winter, deer reduced their intake of balsam fir and consumed some species that were likely unavailable when snow was deep. Bite size increased over the winter, whereas cropping rate increased with snow sinking depth. To cope with changing locomotion costs in snow, white-tailed deer adjusted three variables: travelling distance, forage intake, and cropping rate.
Mannose Binding Lectin (MBL) and Its Clinical Significance

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Mannose Binding Lectin (MBL) is a key molecule in innate immunity, this acute phase protein, synthesized in the liver, binds to various microorganisms and damaged cells and destroys them by opsonization of aggressive agents and activation of the complement by relevant serine associated proteases. METHODS: In this review study, we investigated the literature from Scopus, Pubmed and Google Scholar databases using the following keywords: Genetic, Molecular Epidemiology Mannose Binding Lectin, Immunity, and Infectious disease. FINDINGS: There are significant differences in serum levels of MBL and its genetic stability and this is due to genetic polymorphism of MBL and because of alteration of structural gene and the promoter region. CONCLUSION: Homozygous or heterozygous individuals with compound structural MBL gene are susceptible to some malignancies, infectious and autoimmune diseases. Administration of plasma-free or recombinant MBL, may be helpful to treat certain patients have limited amount of it.
Effect of aqueous extract of chañar (Geoffroea decorticans Burkart) on Botrytis cinerea, as possible alternative for control in post-harvest of table grape.

Botrytis cinerea es un hongo parásito, que produce enfermedades destructivas en muchos cultivos y causa daños económicos importantes. En vid produce podredumbre blanda de la baya, disminuyendo rendimientos y calidad de uva, mostos y vino. Para asegurar la calidad, se emplean distintas estrategias. Entre éstas, la aplicación de fungicidas, que pueden producir efectos adversos en el ambiente y dejar residuos que afectan la salud. Los extractos de plantas son un método de control alternativo válido. Los objetivos de este trabajo fueron determinar el efecto biológico del extracto acuoso de chañar sobre la germinación y crecimiento del tubo germinativo de conidios de B. cinerea y determinar su eficiencia en el control in vivo. Para ello se puso en contacto el extracto a distintas concentraciones, con los conidios del patógeno. Para determinar la eficiencia del control in vivo, sobre racimos de vid cv. Red Globe, se comparó el extracto a distintas concentraciones con dicloran y difusores de dióxido de azufre. De estos estudios, pudo determinarse que el extracto fue capaz de inhibir la germinación y crecimiento del tubo germinativo de conidios de B. cinerea. En los ensayos in vivo, el extracto disminuyó el porcentaje de bayas afectadas por el patógeno.
An Experimental Performance Investigation of an Ultra-Wideband Directional Antenna in the Microwave Imaging of Breast Cancer Tumor

─ The purpose of this study is testing the performance and success of a compact-sized, ultrawideband and directional printed circular monopole antenna proposed in a previous study for detection of the small breast cancer tumors. For this aim, simple but basic experimental studies of the radar-based ultra-wideband microwave measurement system are presented. In the measurements, different breast phantoms that have low dielectric constant materials representing the fat tissue and high dielectric constant object representing the tumor are formed and used. The object is located at different positions and the reflected signals are observed. The monostatic system which uses the same antenna to perform both the transmitting and receiving task of the signals is preferred in the study. According to the measured frequency domain signals, the reflected energy increases when the tumor is present. According to the amplitude and phase of the time domain signals, the presence, position and size of the tumor are inferenced. In order to provide more clear information about the tumor, a sample image is also created by implementing delay-and-sum algorithm. Furthermore, specific absorption rate of the breast is discussed. In summary, the performance of the antenna is valid for using in the radar-based ultrawideband microwave imaging with respect to its features of the size, bandwidth, directivity, and beamwidth. Index Terms ─ Breast cancer, microwave measurement, radar imaging, scattering parameters, ultra-wideband antenna.
A Study on Characteristic Analysis of BLDC Motor Considering Various PWM Modes

Brushless DC motor (BLDCM) is driven by 120 degree square wave voltage and use PWM pulse patterns in two-phase feeding scheme to control the speed. In this paper, we propose the computational method for the BLDCM, which is driven by four PWM modes using time-stepped voltage source finite element method. And then we investigate motor characteristics at each PWM modes. According to a comparison based on each analysis result, we select a better PWM mode in the motor characteristics aspect. We also show that the proposed analysis method is appropriate to analyze a BLDC motor by comparing experimental results.
THE EFFECTS OF PSYCHOLOGICAL VARIABLES ON EFL TEACHERS` ATTITUDE TOWARD TECHNOLOGY: CASE STUDY OF IRAN

Nowadays, with the fast development of information and communication technology, the role of technology in learning and teaching environment has remarkably increased and been stressed. To boost the influential use of technology in instruction and teaching, English language teachers could focus on strategies such as integrating pervious methods of teaching with new methods in which technological tools could be used, utilizing beneficial software, and create an interacting learning environment. The objective of the present study is to explore the impacts of psychological variables on teachers` attitude towards technology use. In this research, most versatile models like technology acceptance are used as the basis for developing a conceptual framework. Variables such as perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, self-efficacy, subjective norms, compatibility, trialability and attitude are retrieved from these models. The participants of the present research are high school English language teachers in Shiraz. The researcher uses stratified sampling to identify a suitable sample from the population. The present study is conducted by using five questionnaires to evaluate and assess variables. The data are analyzed by means of path analysis to find the contribution of each independent variable to the dependent variables that ultimately predicted the final outcome. Self-efficacy, subjective norms, compatibility and trialability are found to be the determinants of perceived usefulness. However, perceived ease of use is found to be only affected by self-efficacy, subjective norms, and trialability, which in turn determined the attitude of teachers toward using technology in their teachings. The results suggest that the impact of trialability on attitude is meaningful. On the other hand, perceived usefulness has a significant influential effect on attitude. Subjective norms has an indirect but important effect on attitude, and self-efficacy has an indirect effect on attitude.
FAULT LOCATION ALGORITHM USING IMPEDANCE COMPENSATION METHOD (ICM) FOR FACTS DEVICES COMPENSATED TRANSMISSION LINES

Accurate fault location is essential in transmission lines to facilitate quick repair and resolution of the faulty line, to improve reliability and availability of the power supply. In this paper, a new distance protection algorithm is developed for locating fault in a transmission line compensated with shunt FACTS devices like STATCOM using an impedance compensation method (ICM). The proposed protection scheme/algorithm considers the impedance deviation angle () to correct/compensate the magnitude and phase of the fault loop, apparent impedance and accordingly calculates the actual distance of the fault location. The performance of the proposed method is evaluated and tested with an Indian test transmission system compensated with shunt FACTS devices for various fault types and locations. The results show that the new protection method effectively estimates the exact fault location by mitigating the impact of STATCOM on distance relay performance.
A study of erythro-cyte methaemoglobin concentration for diagnosis and monitoring of therapeutic events in malarial disease

In the present in-vivo study, the capacities of five antimalarial drugs (Fansidar, Halfan, Quinine, Coartem and Chloroquine phosphate) to alter/distort methaemoglobin concentrations of three human erythrocyte genotypes (HbAA, HbAS and HbSS) was investigated. Spectrophotometric method was used to ascertain this erythrocyte parameter. The male participants enrolled for this study were grouped according to their genotypes, pathologic status, (that is, non-malarious and malarious individuals). Determination of erythrocyte methaemoglobin concentration was carried out before (control; t = 0 h) and after (tests; that is, at t = 3, 6 and 18 h) the five (5) antimalarial drugs were administered to various corresponding groups of participants. The results showed that methaemoglobin concentrations of these individuals ranged between 1.45+/-0.13 and 2.50+/0.43%; 8.27+/-2.41 and 14.78+/-2.45%, for non-malarious and malarious male individuals respectively. There was no significant difference (p > 0.05) between methaemoglobin concentrations of HbAA and HbAS erythrocyte of non-malarious participants. The doses of the five antimalarial drugs administered to non-malarious individuals did not cause toxic methaemoglobinemia. Under the same experimental conditions, erythrocytes obtained from persons of HbSS genotype exhibited significant (p < 0.05) elevation of methaemoglobin concentration. Relatively high levels of methaemoglobin concentration of parasitized red blood cells decreased in a time dependent manner after administration of the five antimalarial drugs. Therefore, erythrocyte methaemoglobin evaluation is a reliable biochemical marker and rational for diagnostic and therapeutic potential in malaria. Furthermore, moderate increases of erythrocyte methaemoglobin in HbSS individuals served as point of caution when administering these drugs to this category of human subjects.
Optical Flow Based Approach for Face Recognition under Expression s and Lighting Variations

- In this paper, we propose an integrated face recognition system that is robust against facial expressions by combining information from the computed intraperson optical flow and the synthesized face image in a probabilistic framework. Making recognition more reliable under uncontrolled lighting conditions is one of the most important challenges for practical face recognition systems. We tackle this by combining the strengths of robust illumination normalization. Our experimental results show that the proposed system improves the accuracy of face recognition from expressional face images and lighting variations.
Influence of free floating plants on the structure of a natural phytoplankton assemblage: an experimental approach

The influence of free-floating plants on the structure of natural phytoplankton was assessed using field mesocosms. Poor underwater light climate (natural macrophyte cover and dark mesh treatments) determined the dominance of shade-adapted, slow-growing filamentous and colonial cyanobacteria [S and L 0 functional groups; Reynolds, C. S. , Huszar, V. , Kruk, C. et al. (2002) Towards a functional classification of the freshwater phytoplankton. J. Plankton Res., 24, 417-428]. Biovolume and chlorophyll a (Chl a) remained low, anoxic conditions prevailed, pH was circumneutral and nutrient levels did not differ significantly. Conversely, the improvement in light availability by removal of floating plants brought about major changes on the phytoplankton and in the physicochemical environment: the S-L 0 assemblage was replaced by fast-growing unicellular green algae (X1 and X2) and eukaryotic picophytoplankton (X3) increased, anoxia was reverted and ammonium and phosphate concentrations decreased significantly. We propose that in warm nutrient-rich wetlands, the shading effect posed by floating plants is the driving force in shaping the phytoplankton and in determining a newly described alternative state. Notwithstanding, if the shading constraint is released, a strong phytoplankton enhancement occurs and nitrogen becomes limiting. This experimental approach confirms the behaviour of dominant functional groups as described in nature and thus reinforces the validity and deepens the comprehension of this novel scheme for phytoplankton control.