Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
THE PROOXIDANT-ANTIOXIDANT SYSTEM IS THE PRIMARY STAGE OF THE ANSWER OF ORGANISM ON UNBALANCED DIET

The influence of the by animal proteins and vitamin s unbalanced diet (PVU diet) on some characteristics of prooxidant and antioxidant syste ms activity in rats obtaining on such diet during 2 months was investigated. This diet was not influenc e the somatometric characteristics of animals but the products of free radical reactions increased in liver microsomes and mitochondria and also in the blood serum. Such changes of prooxidant activity were shown simultaniusely with decreased activity of glutathione peroxidase and other antioxidant enz ymes. The changes in the balance of pro ‐ and antioxidants not depended on age of experimental an imals. Addition of Aronia melanocarpa fruits to the diet of animals did not affect the activity of antioxidant enzymes, but decreased the content of peroxidation products to the control level. This ef fect is due to the presence of antioxidant non enzymatic components in fruits of Aronia melanocarpa . The peroxidation in animals on the PVU can be achieved by the inclusion of sodium selenite in such diet. PVU-induced changes in the prooxidant system of the animals can be removed by different s trategies.
Study of the anaerobic decomposition of valeric acid using variable stoichiometry and thermodynamic control

The stoichiometry of biological decomposition reactions of many organic compounds depends on the environmental conditions and the relative concentrations of reactants and products, making that, often the calculation models based on constant stoichiometric coefficients are not able to describe experimental values. This is the case of proteins in anaerobic medium, for which an effective and realistic method for expressing the dynamics of aminoacids reactions has not been found yet. A methodology that has begun to be explored is to raise the reactions using variable stoichiometric coefficients, depending on thermodynamic relations expressing the energy available for the microorganisms growth. Since the reactions of aminoacids in anaerobic environment gives volatile fatty acids (VFA) and H2, a preliminary step to raise variable stoichiometry reactions of aminoacids is to clearly define the subsequent reactions related to its products using the same methodology, that is, to estimate a variable stoichiometry depending of thermodynamic variables. The aim of this work has been to study the biological decomposition reaction in anaerobic environment of valeric acid, one of the VFA produced. This acid produces propionate, acetate and hydrogen, propionate produces acetate and hydrogen, and the methane is produced finally from the last two compounds. The system is composed by four microorganism populations, catalysing four different interrelated biological reactions. The method applied has been to estimate the change of the Gibbs free energy of every reaction depending on the concentrations of reactants and products, and to determine the energy available for the microorganisms growth, which is variable along time during the system dynamics evolution. Variable maximum growth constant for every microorganism has been estimated based on the derived variable stoichiometry, obtaining a kinetic model with thermodynamic control. Published data related to batch experiments designed to study the kinetics of valerate decomposition were used to contrast results of the numerical simulations performed. Numerical simulations obtained, considering different hypothesis, present a good approximation to experimental data, with determination coefficients higher than 0.9 in many cases. Although these good results, more work must be done in order to consider the gas-liquid mass transfer, the effect of the pH variation or the estimation of some parameters accurately, such as the electron transfer efficiency for every reaction or microorganism, . This work could be considered a first stage for further developments with promising applications to biological systems modelling.
Attitudes, Adoption, and Awareness of Conservation Agriculture Techniques by Farmers in the Karatu Highlands

Rising temperatures and varying rainfall, as results of anthropogenic climate change, are threatening the livelihoods and food security of small-scale agro-pastoralists throughout East Africa. However, the use of conservation agriculture (CA) techniques as climate change mitigation strategies remains largely unexplored in this region. This study interviewed 101 participants using questionnaires to examine the awareness, challenges, and uses of different CA techniques in the rural village of Kilimatembo in the Karatu highlands of Tanzania. While the use of CA techniques, such as terracing (69.13%), intercropping (82.18%), and cover cropping (46.35%) is prevalent in the area, awareness of climatic changes varies greatly, and knowledge of the use of CA techniques as climate change mitigation strategies is relatively nonexistent. No correlation was found between the use of CA techniques and the respondents’ levels of climate change awareness, and, as such, it could be determined that knowledge of the use of CA techniques as climate change mitigation strategies is similarly lacking. Many respondents cited rainfall variation (67.33%) and higher temperatures (43.6%) as the most prevalent climate change impacts and 88.12% of respondents additionally noted decreasing crop yields as a major consequence of these climatic changes. CA techniques could provide necessary relief from the negative impacts of climate change; however, challenges such as cost (31.68%), labor (24.75%), and neighbor conflicts (17.82%) still prevent many farmers from implementing these strategies. Increased soil fertility (68.32%), increased crop yield (73.27%), and reduced soil erosion (80.20%) were the three benefits of CA implementation most often answered by interview respondents. A majority of farmers in Kilimatembo village stated themselves as very likely (91.09%) to continue implementing CA techniques or implement CA techniques in the future. However, the extension of educational opportunities and monetary support to local small-scale agropastoralists is needed before the use of CA can be fully realized in the region.
Using social psychology theory for modelling farmer decision-making

Many agent-based models (ABMs) use typologies to classify diverse actors into few simplified conceptual categories (e.g., hobby farmer, commercial farmer) with uniform decision-making strategies. This approach usually assumes that a representative agent can belong to only a single conceptual category at any one time. However, Social Psychological Theory (SPT) asserts that individual actors' identities are constructed of multiple hierarchical self-concepts that drive decisions and behaviour. Identities may also change through time. Recent empirical and theoretical work has used this theory to investigate agricultural transitions and cultural change, but its use in an agent-based framework has yet to be explored. To investigate the potential of using SPT in ABMs of natural resource use and show proof of concept, we present an exemplary agent-based modelling framework that explicitly represents multiple and hierarchical agent self-concepts. Using the model we explore dynamics of change in farmer self-concepts and agricultural land use for different macro-structural conditions (i.e., the social network of agents, land resources, agricultural policy and political economy). Initial results suggest that productivist farmer identities are stubborn to change, the spatial distribution of land resources influences identity change, and rules for social network formation influence likelihood of agents' identity change. These results suggest it will be fruitful to continue to explore the use of SPT in ABMs of natural resource use.
Supersymmetric Partition Functions and a String Theory in 4 Dimensions

We propose a novel string theory propagating in a non-commutative deformation of the four dimensional space T* T^2 whose scattering states correspond to superconformal theories in 5 dimensions and the scattering amplitudes compute superconformal indices of the corresponding 5d theories. The superconformal theories are obtained by M-theory compactifications on singular CY 3-folds or equivalently from a web of 5-branes of type IIB strings. The cubic interaction of this string theory for primitive winding modes corresponds to the (refined) topological vertex. The oscillator modes of the string theory correspond to off-shell states and carry information about co-dimension 2 defects of the superconformal theory. Particular limits of a subset of scattering amplitudes of this string theory lead to the partition functions of A_n Gaiotto theories for all n, compactified on S^4, i.e., to amplitudes of all Toda theories.
Estimate of a spatially variable reservoir compressibility by assimilation of ground surface displacement data

Abstract. Fluid extraction from producing hydrocarbon reservoirs can cause anthropogenic land subsidence. In this work, a 3-D finite-element (FE) geomechanical model is used to predict the land surface displacements above a gas field where displacement observations are available. An ensemble-based data assimilation (DA) algorithm is implemented that incorporates these observations into the response of the FE geomechanical model, thus reducing the uncertainty on the geomechanical parameters of the sedimentary basin embedding the reservoir. The calibration focuses on the uniaxial vertical compressibility cM, which is often the geomechanical parameter to which the model response is most sensitive. The partition of the reservoir into blocks delimited by faults motivates the assumption of a heterogeneous spatial distribution of cM within the reservoir. A preliminary synthetic test case is here used to evaluate the effectiveness of the DA algorithm in reducing the parameter uncertainty associated with a heterogeneous cM distribution. A significant improvement in matching the observed data is obtained with respect to the case in which a homogeneous cM is hypothesized. These preliminary results are quite encouraging and call for the application of the procedure to real gas fields.
MEF2B gene SNP markers of meat productivity in Severokavkazskaya sheep breed

One of the new promising candidate genes defining productive qualities of sheep is MEF2B. Protein from the MEF2 group encoded by it affects the production of myostatin and the expression of the genes responsible for the growth of skeletal muscle fibers. Thus, the knowledge of the MEF2B gene structure is important for genomic selection. We have studied the structure of the MEF2B gene at sheep of Severokavkazskaya breed bred in Russia. To detect alleles we use NimbleGen sequencing technology by Roche (USA). As a result, it was revealed 14 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) at the given breed. The discovered SNPare located in not coding areas. From them 7 polymorphisms are in the area of 5’ upstream gene in loci: c. -1713, c. -1319, c. -839, c. -321, c. -246, c. -161, c. -3; 6 polymorphisms are in introns, loci: c.55-51, c.258+312, c.258+380, c.259-52, c.452+95, c.452+103, 1 SNP is in 3’ downstream gene, c.
The Potential Impact of United States Tourists on the Cuban Market if Travel Sanctions are Lifted; as well as the Identification of their Push-Pull Travel Motivational Factors

This investigative study will focus on the potential impact on Cuba’s tourism industry by United States citizens if travel sanctions are lifted. The research will also aid in understanding the push and pull (push-pull) travel motivational factors that United States (U.S.) citizens exhibit towards booking a vacation to Cuba. Through this study, collected data will assist in future marketing endeavors so that when the travel sanction is lifted, U.S. travel agencies will be able to prioritize the push-pull travel motivational factors and translate them into captivating promotional packages for this new market segment. Although current travel is prohibited by U.S. citizens to Cuba unless they have a government issued visa, debating the topic of lifting the travel sanction is a high priority for the current administration.
Earth ’ s Future Quantifying Anthropogenic Dust Emissions

Anthropogenic land use and land cover change, including local environmental disturbances, moderate rates of wind-driven soil erosion and dust emission. These human-dust cycle interactions impact ecosystems and agricultural production, air quality, human health, biogeochemical cycles, and climate. While the impacts of land use activities and land management on aeolian processes can be profound, the interactions are often complex and assessments of anthropogenic dust loads at all scales remain highly uncertain. Here, we critically review the drivers of anthropogenic dust emission and current evaluation approaches. We then identify and describe opportunities to: (1) develop new conceptual frameworks and interdisciplinary approaches that draw on ecological state-and-transition models to improve the accuracy and relevance of assessments of anthropogenic dust emissions; (2) improve model fidelity and capacity for change detection to quantify anthropogenic impacts on aeolian processes; and (3) enhance field research and monitoring networks to support dust model applications to evaluate the impacts of disturbance processes on local to global-scale wind erosion and dust emissions.
Habitat specialisation and the distribution and abundance of coral-dwelling gobies

Many fishes on coral reefs are known to associate with particula~ microhabitats If these associations help determine population dynamics then we would expect (1) a close assoclation between the abundances of these fishes and the abundances of the most frequently used mlcrohabitats and (2) changes in the abundance of microhabitats would result in a corresponding change In fish population sizes We examined habitat associations among obligate coral-dwelling g o b ~ e s (genus Goblodon) and then investigated relationships between the spatial and temporal ava~labillty of habitats and the abundances of Goblodon species among locations and anlong zoncs on the leef at Lizard Island (Great Barrler Reef) Out of a total of 11 Acropora species found to be used by Gobiodon, each specic3s of Goblodon occupied 1 01 2 species of Acropora significantly more often than expected from the availability of these corals on the reef Across reef zones, the abundance of most species of Gobiodon was closely correlated with the abundance of coral species most frequently inhabited However, the abundance of 1 species G a x ~ l l a r ~ s . iiras not conelated with the availability of most frequently used corals aci oss reef zones or among locations Foi G axlllarls the1 efoi e factors other than habitat availab~lity weie more important In determining differences In abundance among zones and locations Also corielations between the abundance of 2 species, G histrlo and G quinquestrigatus, and the coral species they most frequently used was less cons~stent anlong locations than among zones This suggests that the relative importance of habitat availability in determining the abundance of these species of Goblodon is reduced at the spatial scale of locations around Lizard Island The population dynamics of Gob~odon during this study were closely linked to the population dynamics of host corals Because of a crown of thorns starfish (Acanthaster plancl) outbreak the abundance of corals declined in paiticular reef zones Cor~esponding with t h ~ s loss of h a b ~ t a t was a decline in Goblodon abundance This study demonstrated that the abundance of habitat specialised fishes can be closely correlated with the spatlal and temporal availab~lity of suitable habitats among and w ~ t h i n reefs
The Excessively Post-Communist Manifesto of George Monbiot

There has been a vacuum over the last 10-20 years where SocialDemocracy used to be. This was a theory and practice, related to a major social movement (the labour one, for folks insufficiently aware, or born too late), that contributed signally to the birth and development of liberal democracy, acted as a loyal opposition within it, and in government rather than power brought about a considerable redistribution of income and significant social reforms out of capitalist growth. Social Democracy rightly claims credit for the welfare state, which was a reality in much of the NorthWest of the world, an aspiration in much of the Rest. (In other parts of the Rest there were aspirations for social revolution, but this could be seen as an attempt to get a welfare state with One Mighty Heave, in One Fell Swoop).
Aerosol size spectra and CCN activity spectra: Reconciling the lognormal, algebraic, and power laws

physics for over 4 decades to relate the number of cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) and droplets formed on them to cloud supersaturation, s. The deficiencies of this parameterization are that the parameters C and k are usually constants taken from the empirical data and not directly related to the CCN microphysical properties and this parameterization predicts unbounded droplet concentrations at high s. The activation power law was derived in several works from the power law Junge-type aerosol size spectra and parameters C and k were related to the indices of the power law, but this still does not allow to describe observed decrease of the k-indices with s and limited NCCN. Recently, new parameterizations for cloud drop activation have been developed based upon the lognormal aerosol size spectra that yield finite NCCN at large s, but does not explain the activation power law, which is still traditionally used in the interpretation of CCN observations, in many cloud models and some large-scale models. Thus the relation between the lognormal and power law parameterizations is unclear, and it is desirable to establish a bridge between them. In this paper, algebraic and power law equivalents are found for the lognormal size spectra of partially soluble dry and wet interstitial aerosol, and for the differential and integral CCN activity spectra. This allows derivation of the power law expression for cloud drop activation from basic thermodynamic principles
CEEC Accession Countries and the EMU -An Assessment of Relative and Readiness for Euro-Area Membership

Eastward enlargement of the Eurozone will result in transition economies sharing a currency with well-established market economies. We compare the suitability of the candidates relative to current members at a similar time before joining, as well as their readiness to comply with Maastricht criteria. Using fuzzy clustering and principal components, we assess patterns of convergence, possible inhomogeneities within the future Eurozone and create readiness and suitability indexes. We find the CEECs more suitable in terms of OCA criteria and more ready than some of the current members once were. Moreover, they are not found to follow distinct convergence paths.
Isolation and risk assessment of Geotrichum spp. in the white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei Boone, 1931) from culture ponds

The present study was done in order to identify the fungus invading some of the supralittoral ponds used for shrimp aquaculture in the CIBNOR facilities in La Paz, Baja California Sur (BCS), Mexico during the summer season. From the walls and bottoms of the ponds, two strains of Geotrichum spp. were isolated and morphologically identified. Fungal adhesion towards hemocytes and primary cultures of various white shrimp (Litopeneaus vannamei) tissues (gill, tegument, and gut) was analyzed to determine infectivity. Extracellular protease, lipase, and amylase activity were evaluated as virulence factors. Survival of shrimp post- larvae (PL8) exposed to fungal culture supernatant or to their filaments was also investigated. The results showed that shrimp tegument cells and hemocytes were very susceptible to Geotrichum spp. invasion, and that this fungus provokes great mortality of post-larvae. Hence, Geotrichum spp. could be considered an opportunistic pathogen that might represent a serious health risk to shrimp in culture.
Effects of Particle Concentration on Chemical Mechanical Planarization

Effects of particle concentration on removal rates in chemical mechanical planarization (CMP) were investigated. Experimental data shows the removal rate scales with the cubic root of weight percent solids and is proportional to mean separation distance between particles in the slurry. Results show similar removal rate scaling with solid concentration for both silicon dioxide and copper films. This work also identifies a critical solid concentration needed to initiate removal for oxide or copper surfaces. The effects of particles on copper surface oxidation and roughness are further characterized by voltammetry and atomic force microscopy. Results show copper films become progressively smoother with additional solids in the slurry.
A General Approach Based on Sampled‐Current Voltammetry for Minimizing Electrode Fouling in Electroanalytical Detection

Electrochemical analysis of species known to passivate electrode surfaces remains challenging. We previously proposed a new method dealing with sampled-current voltammetry performed on an electrode array to mimic polarography at a dropping mercury electrode for the detection of copper. In this work, we study the effectiveness of this method to circumvent electrode fouling with the analysis of phenol solutions at high concentrations (10-2 mol L-1), known to polymerize on electrode surface during its oxidation. Electrode arrays well-adapted to the analysis with such system are prepared by photolithography and characterized by X-Ray photoelectron spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction and voltammetry. While analyses performed in conventional linear voltammetry or sampled-current voltammetry on a single electrode are considerably affected by electrode fouling, a linear calibration plot was achievable using our method. Modelling of the electrochemical signal showed that the current depends only on the applied potential and a parameter characteristic of the passivation phenomenon. It also underlined that sampled-current voltammetry on electrode array can circumvent the problem of passivation by a judicious choice of the sampling time.
Giants and Bizarres: Body Size of Some Southern South American Cretaceous Dinosaurs

Body masses of some South American dinosaurs are estimated. The sauropod Argentinosaurus huinculensis reached 73 tonnes, and therefore, is the largest of all land animals whose mass has been rigorously obtained. Another sauropod, Antarctosaurus giganteus, was the second largest, at nearly 69 tonnes, while Antarctosaurus wichmannianus reached 34 tonnes. A third sauropod, the bizarre-looking Amargasaurus cazaui, was much smaller, with a body mass of only 2.5 tonnes. Among theropods, the body mass of the strangely looking, horned Carnotaurus sastrei, was volumetrically estimated at 1.5 tonnes, while allometric equations on limb measurements yielded overestimations. Moreover, the holotype specimen of Giganotosaurus carolinii (MUCPv-CH-1) was about as large as the average-sized Tyrannosaurus rex, and only marginally smaller than “Sue”, the largest specimen. However, a new dentary of Giganotosaurus (MUCPv-95) is 8% longer than that of the holotype. Assuming geometric similarity, that individual must have had a body mass above 8 tonnes and hence must have been the largest theropod ever found.