Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Inflation Deviations Assessments of OCA Properties in the WAMZ

This paper traced the historical developments of monetary intrgration of West African and discussed the OCA theory and properties. Similarities in inflation is one of the properties of an optimum currency area (OCA). Literatures on inflation (as a property of an OCA) have been able to spell out the implications of inflation rates similarities among members or would-be members of a monetary union. This paper therefore aimed principally at the examination of the homogeneity in the patterns of inflation across the West African Monetary Zone (WAMZ) consisiting of Guines and the Anglophone West African countries (comprising of The Gambia, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria and Sierra Leone); as well as investigating the degree of inflation deviations from some benchmarks. Annual data of consumer price index and GDP deflator inflation for the WAMZ countries, the United States (US) and the EMU employed here spans between 1980 and 2015. Data analyses were performed in six stages to assess inflation convergence, majorly by checking the feasibility of exchange fixation in the monetary zone through the measure of absolute inflation rate differentials generated by the deviations of the WAMZ's individual member's inflation rate from: (i) the US and the Eurozone's inflation rates, (ii) the convergence criterion policy inflation target rate of 5%, and (iii) the WAMZ's average inflation over a convergence 12-year period. These were further to some necessary correlation studies. These properties of integration of inflation rate differentials are very revealing for inflation rate convergence among WAMZ member countries. From the evaluations, there were evidences to suggest that The Gambia is the most country feasible for the exchange rate integration and fixation with the euro and the US dollars while Nigeria, the lead economy yielded unfavourable results in the inflation evaluation. Empirical findings also suggested that shocks to inflationary trends in the WAMZ would have permanent and long lasting effects on inflation rates in the zone as inflation may not return to the trend path overtime. This denote that the cost implications of following disinflationary policies in WAMZ countries may be high while it is very likely to be difficult forecasting or predicting future inflation movements which are based on past inflationary behaviours
Potencial e qualidade da madeira de desbaste de teca para produção de biocombustível

O presente trabalho teve como objetivo analisar o potencial energetico e a qualidade da madeira de Tectona grandis Linn F. proveniente de diferentes desbastes para producao de energia. O material de estudo foi oriundo de um plantio no municipio de Sao Jose dos Quatro Marcos, MT. Foram realizadas as analises de poder calorifico superior, composicao quimica imediata e densidade basica. A analise de variância nao mostrou diferenca ao longo do fuste para todas as propriedades estudadas. Entretanto, houve variacao significativa a 1% de probabilidade para a densidade em funcao da idade, no qual as maiores medias foram provenientes do segundo desbaste (0,584 g.cm -3 ). As medias entre posicao e idade de desbaste foram de 4.594 kcal.kg -1 para o poder calorifico superior; 80,37% para materiais volateis; 18,39% para carbono fixo e 0,59% para cinzas.
DNA'S EVOLUTIONARY DILEMMA GENETIC STUDIES COLLIDE WITH THE MYSTERY OF HUMAN EVOLUTION

Just a few years ago, genetic researchers assumed the status of a scientific Supreme Court in the debate over humanity's prehistoric roots. The coils of human DNA appeared to have hardened into a molecular gavel with which these scientists could issue a final ruling on how best to explain the evolution of modern Homo sapiens. During the late 1980s, initial studies of global DNA diversity encouraged a vigorous bout of gavel pounding. One after another, investigators concluded that modern humans probably arose in Africa around 200,000 years ago and then spread elsewhere, replacing Neandertals and any other species in our evolutionary past. Analyses of mitochondrial DNA-inherited only through the maternal line-in people from different parts of the world traced the origin of these genes back to one or a few African women dubbed "mitochondrial Eve. " Decades of anthropological debate over modern human origins that was based on interpretations of measurements and a host of bumps and grooves on ancient fossils teetered on the verge of irrelevance. However, even some admirers of mitochondrial Eve now say that the jury is out on whether state-of-the-art DNA studies can live up to their early billing. Accumulating data prove compatible with either of the two main theories of how H. sapiens came about. The recent African-origin model championed by many genetic researchers relies on genetic findings that fit just as easily into a contrasting multiregional model. That is, populations of H. sapiens living in different parts of Africa, Asia, and Europe interbred enough over at least the past 1 million years to evolve collectively as a single species. The various populations around the world derived from even older ancestors of H. sapiens in this scenario. Practitioners of what has been dubbed anthropological genetics now operate with a sense of caution and a hunger for better explanations of how evolutionary forces produce genetic diversity among individuals and groups. "A lot of us have been too eager to assume that a strict out-of-Africa model is correct because it's compatible with the genetic data, without considering that the data also fit with the multiregional theory," says anthropologist John H. Relethford of the State University of New York at Oneonta. "It's time to go back to the drawing board on this issue. "
The sensory evaluation of dairy products

History of Sensory Analysis. - Psychological Considerations in Sensory Analysis. - Physiology of Sensory Perception. - Dairy Products Evaluation Competitions. - Fluid Milk and Cream Products. - Butter. - Creamed Cottage Cheese. - Yogurt. - Cheddar and Cheddar-Type Cheese. - Ice Cream and Related Products. - Concentrated and Dried Milk Products. - Pasteurized Process Cheese. - Sour Cream and Related Products. - Swiss Cheese and Related Products. - Mozzarella. - Latin American Cheeses. - Modern Sensory Practices.
Low‐intensity agriculture increases farmland bird abundances in France

Summary 1. Farmland biodiversity continues to decline mainly because of agricultural intensification and land abandonment. Agri-environment schemes can be designed to halt this loss by favouring extensification of agricultural practices and through sympathetic management of field boundaries and fallow land. In Europe, High Nature Value (HNV) farmland is defined as low-intensity farmland supporting or associated with a high rate of biodiversity, in terms of species richness or habitat diversity and therefore plays a crucial role in the maintenance of European biodiversity. However, no large-scale analysis has explored the role of these areas in achieving conservation goals. 2. We analysed information from widely used indicators in order to describe the impact of low-intensity agriculture on farmland biodiversity in France. We used the HNV farmland indicator, based on agricultural statistics such as the Farm Structure Survey and the grassland survey, and common bird indicators, i.e. the Farmland Bird Indicator (FBI), the Community Specialization Index (CSI) and species richness indexes, based on the French Breeding Bird Survey. 3. Temporal trends in the farmland bird indicator showed that populations of farmland birds were more likely to increase inside HNV areas compared to non-HNV areas. Although species richness is not higher within HNV farmland, bird communities are composed by more specialist species than in non-HNV areas. In addition, these specialist bird species are significantly more abundant in HNV areas. 4. Synthesis and applications. Further farmland biodiversity decline is potentially reversible through an appropriate management of HNV areas. Existing and future agri-environment schemes should focus on preserving and extending HNV farmland, by favouring the maintenance of low-intensity agriculture and landscape complexity. Priority should be given to preserving diversity at the community level, with the help of adequate indicators, such as the ones presented here. The role of HNV farmland or similar concepts in combining agriculture and biodiversity goals should be further analysed and further used as large-scale conservation tools.
Mecanismos endócrinos e moleculares envolvidos na formação do corpo lúteo e na luteólise - revisão de literatura

O corpo luteo (CL) e uma estrutura endocrina transitoria formada por celulas luteais esteroidogenicas pequenas (SLC) e grandes (LLC), que associadas aos fibroblastos e a uma ampla rede de capilares constituem uma estrutura especializada na sintese de progesterona (P4). De maneira geral, para a sintese de P4 nas celulas luteais esteroidogenicas, o colesterol se liga a receptores especificos na membrana celular e e transportado ao citosol. Posteriormente, o colesterol dirige-se a membrana mitocondrial interna e por acao da enzima P450scc transforma-se em pregnenolona. No reticulo endoplasmatico liso a pregnenolona e convertida a P4 pela enzima 3²-hidroxiesteroide deidrogenase (3²-HSD). A proteina de regulacao aguda da esteroidogenese (StAR), o receptor benzodiazepinico tipo periferico (PBR) e a endozepina participam no transporte do colesterol para os diferentes compartimentos mitocondriais. Assim, supoe-se que a capacidade de sintese de P4 no CL esteja relacionada a concentracao celular de receptores que captam o colesterol, as enzimas P450scc e 3²-HSD, e as proteinas celulares transportadoras de colesterol. Na especie bovina, as LLC sao responsaveis por mais de 80% da producao deste hormonio no CL. A menor concentracao de proteinas transportadoras de colesterol na mitocondria parecem limitar a sintese de P4 nas SLC. A P4 favorece um meio ambiente uterino apropriado para o desenvolvimento do(s) concepto(s), dependendo da especie. Na maioria das especies, a ausencia da fertilizacao ou a incapacidade do concepto em sinalizar sua existencia no utero estabelecem a luteolise. Tal evento fisiologico caracteriza-se pela regressao funcional e estrutural do(s) corpo(s) luteo(s). Para o estabelecimento e a manutencao da prenhez torna-se necessario o bloqueio da luteolise por mecanismos que diferem entre as especies. Em primatas e equideos esse reconhecimento ocorre pela secrecao de gonadotrofinas especificas e em ruminantes pela presenca de fatores anti-luteoliticos. Esta revisao tem como objetivo caracterizar os mecanisnos endocrinos e moleculares envolvidos na formacao do corpo luteo e na luteolise.
Genetic diversity of safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) germplasm as revealed by SSR markers

Safflower is a multi-purpose oilseed crop, primarily known for good quality oil containing highest polyunsaturated fatty acid content (>80%) among edible oils. In this study, a core subset of 148 safflower accessions representing 15 countries, predominantly of Indian origin, was evaluated for agronomic traits and characterized for genetic diversity, population structure and linkage disequilibrium (LD) using 44 simple sequence repeat (SSR) loci across 11 linkage groups to enable its utilization in breeding and genetic mapping purposes. The collection had substantial variation for seed yield-related traits. SSR allelic variation was low as indicated by average number of alleles (3.6) per locus, gene diversity (0.314) and polymorphism information content (0.284). Cluster analysis (neighbour-joining tree) revealed five major genotypic groups with very low bootstrap support. STRUCTURE analysis showed recognizable population structure; based on membership coefficients ( ≥ 0.75), 52% accessions were classified into four populations (K= 4) and the remaining 48% accessions into admixture group. High F st values (0.30–0.48) suggested that the populations were substantially differentiated. Analysis of molecular variance results showed that maximum of genetic variation (85%) was explained between individuals within the population suggesting that the population structure was only weak. About 1.9% of SSR locus pairs were in LD, which appeared to be low. High phenotypic variation, mild population structure and low level of LD among unlinked loci suggested that the core subset can be explored for association mapping of seed yield components in safflower.
Neurulation in the human embryo revisited

ABSTRACT It used to be widely accepted that neural tube closure in the human initiates at the level of the future neck and proceeds both cranially and caudally like zip fastener closing. This continuous closure model was recently challenged, and observation of human embryos at the neurulation stage revealed that the closure of the human neural tube initiates at multiple sites. Multi‐site closure of the neural tube has been observed in many other animal species, but the initiation sites and the process of neural tube closure are variable among species. Therefore we should be careful when extrapolating the data of normal and abnormal neurulation in laboratory animals to the human. Recent studies in mouse genetics and developmental biology have shown that neural tube defects are quite heterogeneous both etiologically and pathogenetically. Gene mutations responsible for human neural tube defects are largely unknown, but molecular studies of human cases of neural tube defects and their comparison with the mouse genome data should provide a molecular basis for human neural tube defects.
Assessment of the true ileal digestibility of reactive lysine as a predictor of lysine uptake from the small intestine of the growing pig

The aim of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of a newly developed assay for determining digestible reactive lysine in processed protein sources. Pigs were fed either a heated skim milk powder based diet or one of two control diets in which the sole source of nitrogen was a mixture of enzymatically hydrolyzed casein (EHC) and synthetic amino acids. One control diet (EHC diet A) was formulated to contain the same amount of digestible lysine (determined using a conventional true ileal amino acid digestibility assay) while the other (EHC diet B) was formulated to contain the same amount of digestible reactive lysine (determined using the new assay) present in the test diet. Lysine was the first limiting amino acid in all three diets. The whole body lysine deposition and empty body weight gain of pigs fed the heated skim milk powder diet were not significantly different from those of pigs fed EHC diet B but were significantly higher than those of animals fed EHC diet A. This experiment demonstrates that the new assay for determining digestible reactive lysine could be more accurate when applied to this heated protein source than the conventional true ileal amino acid digestibility assay.
Possible consequences of the Copenhagen climate change meeting for conservation of animals

1 Nathalie Pettorelli, Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, London, UK 2 Todd Katzner, National Aviary Allegheny Commons West, Pittsburgh, PA, USA 3 Iain Gordon, CSIRO Dacies Laboratory, Aitkenvale, Australia 4 Wildland Resources Department, Utah State University, Logan, UT, USA 5 Aberdeen Centre for Environmental Sustainability (ACES), University of Aberdeen & Macaulay Institute, Aberdeen, UK 6 School of Natural Resources, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, USA
Interplay of Cofilin and Capping Proteins in Branched Actin Networks and Integration of Linear and Branched Nucleation in Actin Comets

Nck adaptor protein plays an important role in recruiting and increasing the local concentration of cytosolic effectors that induce formation of pathogenic actin comet tails. Comet tails are dynamic elongated filamentous actin (F-actin)-rich structures that drive movement of pathogens both within the cytoplasm and from one host cell to the next. In our studies we characterize comet tails induced by experimental aggregation of Nck SH3 domains at the membrane, which are similar in their shape and dynamics to comets induced by Vaccinia virus. We show that experimental manipulation of the balance between unbranched/branched nucleation altered the morphology and dynamics of Nck SH3 actin comets. Inhibition of linear formin-based nucleation with the small molecule inhibitor SMIFH2 resulted in formation of predominantly circular-shaped actin structures with decreased mobility (actin blobs). Overexpression of the formin FH1 domain to inhibit the binding of endogenous full-length formin to the Nck SH3 membrane clusters, also resulted in slow moving actin blobs. Furthermore, enhancement of branched Arp2/3mediated nucleation by N-WASP overexpression similarly caused loss of the typical
Characterization of NFκB Activation by Detection of Green Fluorescent Protein-tagged IκB Degradation in Living Cells*

Activation of the transcription factor NFκB requires rapid degradation of its inhibitor, IκBα. To facilitate the study of IκBα degradation, we fused IκBα protein to enhanced green fluorescent protein to construct IκBα-enhanced green fluorescent protein (IG). We demonstrated by both flow cytometry and Western blot analysis that the half-life of IG in the presence of human tumor necrosis factor (TNF) α is approximately 5 min, which is similar to the half-life of native IκBα. The degradation coincided with NFκB translocation from the cytoplasm to the nucleus and NFκB-mediated induction of transcription. Phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), but not forskolin, also induces degradation of IG fusion protein. The half-life of IG in the presence of PMA is approximately 15 min, longer than when induced with TNFα. Co-treatment with TNFα and PMA did not result in a synergistic effect on IG degradation, although they stimulate different kinases in two different signaling pathways. Degradation of IG was inhibited by mutations at serine residues 32 and 36, which are the target sites of the phosphorylation modification that initiates degradation of IκBα. We also demonstrated that basal degradation of IG in the presence of cycloheximide is inhibited by such mutations, suggesting that basal degradation of IκBα also requires phosphorylation as the signal for degradation. Finally, we showed that the rate of TNFα-induced degradation of IG remains almost constant throughout the cell cycle, except at the mitotic phase, in which IG degrades more slowly.
Biodiversidad y estado actual de los mamíferos marinos en México

The marine mammals in Mexico include representatives of the Orders Sirenia, Cetacea and Carnivola (fissipeds and pinnipeds). The only sirenid for mexican waters is the manatee (Trichechus manatus mantus), and the only fissiped is the sea otter (Enhydra lutris). The pinnipeds which include 35 species in the world, are represented by 2 families and 4 species in Mexico. A fifth species, the Caribean monk seal (Monachus tropicalis), was declared extinct in 1986. The Order Cetacea has 2 suborders, 9 families and 78 species; from those, 7 families and 35 species (44.8%), are present in ous country. It is possible that 8 more species would be recoerded in Mexico in the next future, which would account for 55.1% of the world diversity. Tow endemic and endangered species inhabit the coast of Mexico: The Guadalupe fur seal (Arctocephalus townsendi), with less than 5000 individuals and the cetacean Vaquita (Phocoena sinus), with a population smaller than 1000. Tha Vaquita is currently protected, but with serious difficulties for surviving. The pinnipeds are by far the best studies marine mammals in Mexico, while some cetaceans such as the gray whale (Eschrichtius robustus), the humpback whale (Megaptera novaengliae) and the Genera Tursiops, Delphinus and Stenella, are also fairly known. Some highly pelagic cetaceans in the Ziphiidae and Delphinidae families, are known in Mexico only because their occasional strandings. In 1991, the tropical beaked whale (Mesoplodon pew vianus) was described simultaneously in Peru and Mexico. The research on marine mammals has grown rapidly from 1975, in spite of the reduced financial support.
Rapid Evolution of Introduced Plant Pathogens via Interspecific Hybridization

P lant disease epidemics resulting from introduction of exotic fungal pathogens are a well-known phenom- enon. Limited resistance in the host and excessive aggres- siveness in the pathogen (reflecting their lack of prior co- evolution) can result in an explosive outbreak of disease. Introduction events also present a window of evolutionary op- portunity for the pathogen. In its endemic location, a plant pathogen tends to be subject to routine selection constraints, favoring maintenance of a relatively stable, if fluctuating, population structure over time. When introduced into a new environment, it will often be subject to novel or episodic se- lection, reflecting sudden exposure to new biotic and abiotic influences, such as a new host population, new vectors, new competitors, or a different climate. These influences provide the potential for rapid evolution (Brasier 1995). Falling within the category of episodic selection is the sud- den contact that can occur between closely related but pre- viously geographically isolated pathogens as a result of in- troductions. Theoretically, this process presents an opportunity for rapid emergence of new or modified pathogens via interspecific gene flow (Brasier 1995). Until recently, this phenomenon has been little studied. Now Dutch elm disease, a major ecological accident of the 20th century (Heybroek 1993), is providing remarkable insights into rapid evolution of a plant pathogen outside its en- demic environment. This article describes the migratory events and unusual genetic events that have occurred in this fungus and other new examples of rapid pathogen evo- lution via interspecific gene flow, and discusses some of the wider environmental, evolutionary, and quarantine impli- cations. The Dutch elm disease pathogens Elm trees (Ulmus) are confined mainly to the temperate re- gions of the Northern Hemisphere. China and Japan have a total of about 25 elm species, while Eurasia, North Amer- ica, and the Himalayas each have about five or six species. Dutch elm disease (so called because the early seminal re- search was in The Netherlands (Holmes and Heybroek 1990)) is the elm's main enemy. It is a wilt disease, caused by ascomycete fungi of the genus Ophiostoma, that spreads within the tree's vascular system. The pathogens are trans- mitted from diseased to healthy elms by elm bark beetles of the genus Scolytus (Fransen 1935, Webber and Brasier 1984).
In vitro Study of Muscle Aerobic Metabolism in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

AbstractThe purpose of this study was to establish if muscle aerobic metabolism is abnormal in chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). Myoblast cultures from muscle biopsies of 16 patients with CFS and 10 healthy controls were established. Micromethods were used to determine the lactate/pyruvate (L/P) ratio, respiratory chain function and cytochrome oxidase and lactic dehydrogenase activities. Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) volume was measured and mtDNA rearrangements sought. The results showed that myoblasts from ten of 16 cases of CFS had defects in aerobic metabolism: two had increased L/P ratios, suggestive of a defect in oxidative phosphorylation while eight had decreased ratios, consistent with a deficiency in pyruvate dehydrogenase. There was a statistically significant broader range of L/P ratios in the patients' cultures, compared to controls (p = 0.011). No mtDNA rearrangements were present. This in vitro study confirms that there is convincing evidence of mild aerobic defects in skeletal muscle in some case.